Religion Theory

On November 10, 1975, the General Assembly of United Nations passed Resolution 3379, which declared Zionism a form of racism. Afterward, a tall man with long, graying hair, horned-rim glasses, and a bowtie stood to speak. He pronounced his words with the rounded tones of a Harvard academic, but his voice shook with outrage: "The United States rises to declare, before the General Assembly of the United Nations, and before the world, that it does not acknowledge, it will not abide by, it will never acquiesce in this infamous act."

Why did Jesus die? Did Jesus die so that God could forgive us for our sins? Many believe so. The most ancient view of the atonement teaches that Jesus did not die to appease the wrath of God or gain forgiveness for human sin, but rather to defeat sin, death, and the devil, and reveal to us the unconditional love and grace of God.

What does it mean to accept God’s grace? New York Times best-selling author Max Lucado believes, “When grace happens, generosity happens.” God’s grace is always there, ready to do wonders in your life. In Grace Happens Here, you’ll learn how to accept His grace and forgiveness and how to extend the same blessing toward others.

At any time in our history, you will find significant and seemingly indisputable events occurring, the kind that can change the course of our lives - the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Yet for every one of them, somebody, somewhere will loudly dispute the "official" account, doubting that the truth has been told. In today's environment, with trust in authorities at an all-time low, conspiracy theories have found a new currency, and websites and social networking ensure they receive a wider and more rapid spread than ever before.

In this audio Bible study, author and pastor Jay Kim guides small-group members through Paul's letter to the believers in Colossae, revealing what his words meant to his original readers . . . and how they apply to us today.

Do you find yourself doubting God and weary of religion? Are you tired of the confusing answers, the hypocrisy, and the feeling that God isn’t enough? If so, you’re not alone. Like many believers, author and pastor Zach Maldonado experienced the same disappointment with Christianity. He asked questions - about God, about Jesus, about himself - that he didn’t have answers for. Yet, despite all this, something sparked his passion for Jesus and compelled him to devote his life to sharing a simple message.

This book details the 20 top conspiracy theories. The book describes the history, the beliefs surrounding the theories, and the reasons for the conspiracy theories. You will learn that some people believe that the government is releasing toxic chemicals into the air and the water. There are also numerous theories about the government and their knowledge of aliens and UFOs.

Tanto el psicoanálisis como la espiritualidad se adentran en un espacio sagrado: el interior del ser humano. Ambas son una forma de contemplación. Roberto Longhi comparte su experiencia psicoanalítica y señala sugerentes afinidades entre las sesiones de psicoanálisis y la meditación, y va integrando diversas polaridades: dos sujetos (yo y no-yo), dos mediaciones (palabra y silencio), dos estados (plenitud y vacío). Todo ello no lo hace de una forma sistemática, sino que va apareciendo, como las flores silvestres que uno va encontrando a medida que recorre un paisaje lleno de sutiles ondulaciones.

How do Christians account for the widespread presence of goodness in a fallen world? Richard Mouw, one of the most influential evangelical voices in America, presents his mature thought on the topic of common grace. Addressing a range of issues relevant to engaging common grace in the 21st century, Mouw shows how God takes delight in all things that glorify him - even those that happen beyond the boundaries of the church-and defends the doctrine of common grace from its detractors.

Consciousness and Shamanism is the result of the author's Ayahuasca voyage in 2004 to Ecuador, where he was drinking the sacred brew in the presence of an experienced Shuar shaman. He puts up the hypothesis that when the traditional Ayahuasca brew is ingested, it is not, or not directly, the plant's DMT that causes the spiritual voyage as it is assumed in the overwhelming part of the literature on shamanism and entheogens. It is the shaman's super-consciousness impacting directly upon the consciousness of the shaman's client, the seeker of truth who comes to drink the brew.

Love is mysterious! On one hand, it is the only thing that can save us from perpetual darkness; the world from chaos and disintegration. On the other hand, very few of us feel any love day in and day out for our entire lifetimes. Love is self-luminous bliss; it is light; it is life. It is the core of our being and yet it has been lost and forgotten to the world because it means the death of our egos.

Among the traditional tenets of the Christian faith is the belief that God chooses or elects people for salvation. For some Christians, such an affirmation is an indication of God's sovereign and perfect will. For others, such a notion is troubling for it seems to downplay the significance of human agency and choice. Throughout the church's history, Christians have sought to understand the meaning of relevant biblical texts and debated this theological conundrum.

Longtime pastor Douglas Wilson takes a hammer to some of our very favorite graven images, and (surprise, surprise) we've set up display cases for most of them in our churches: liturgy, tradition, systematics, infant baptism, and that crafty old Baal doctrine. Alongside a critique of philosophical assumptions about human nature, dualism, and grace, Wilson stresses the unavoidable and absolute necessity of individual hearts being born again. He concludes by laying out the case for the church.

In her inimitable style of memoir and personal reflection, Nora Gallagher explores the beauty and mystery of this most fascinating of topics. Whether exploring the history of Christian communion, taking us inside the workings of a soup kitchen, or sharing times of joy and sadness with friends, she reminds us what it means to partake of, and be part of, the body of Christ.

The foundation of the Christian faith is built on Jesus Christ and his word to us, the Holy Bible. This Biblical Foundation Series includes elementary principles every Christian needs to help lay a strong spiritual foundation in his or her life. In this sixth Biblical Foundation book we learn that due to Adam and Eve’s disobedience to the Lord when they chose to believe the lies of the devil in the Garden of Eden, we now live in a “cursed or fallen” world. In the fall of Adam, sin gained entrance into the human race.

The alleged spontaneous and even intelligent movements of various inanimate objects, under some circumstances, without the application of any known mechanical force, is a phenomenon which has never been explained to the satisfaction of scientific men. I do not think it possible to explain away the allegations of the fact on the assumption that all the persons who have testified to the evidence of their senses in this matter have been either mistaken or mendacious.

The salvation of the soul is probably one of the most misunderstood concepts in the church today. Most people think that the salvation of the spirit and the salvation of the soul are the same thing, even though the Scriptures tell us something different. The salvation of a person’s spirit is very simple. Acts 16:30-31 tells us: "30) 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' 31) So they said, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.'" The salvation of the spirit is based on the finished work of our savior Jesus Christ at Calvary.

John Wesley was a man of God who was soaked in the oil of heaven. He helped to spark revival in America and across Europe with his unorthodox style of outdoor preaching. His sermon Salvation by Faith is an important piece of literature that is filled with truth and grace. It is straightforward and is a famous sermon of Wesley's. It is my prayer that this book influences you to receive all that God desires for you, and that you would be edified and encouraged to pursue Christ in holiness and humble devotion.

Colleges, universities, and seminaries do more than just transfer knowledge to students. They sell themselves as "experiences" that transform young people in unique ways. The conservative evangelical Protestant network of higher education has been no different. In Fundamentalist U, Adam Laats shows that these colleges have always been more than just schools; they have been vital intellectual citadels in America's culture wars. These unique institutions have defined what it has meant to be an evangelical and have reshaped the landscape of American higher education.

Are you for Christ or are you against him? You know you are either one or the other, for he says so. We learn in Matthew 12:30 in the words of Jesus himself: He that is not with me is against me. Everyone is either with Jesus wholeheartedly, confessedly, and openly, or else they are against Jesus. Which are you? For Christ or against him?