Religious Traditions

Hercules, Zeus, Thor, Gilgamesh - these are the figures that leap to mind when we think of myth. But to David Leeming, myths are more than stories of deities and fantastic beings from non-Christian cultures. Myth is at once the most particular and the most universal feature of civilization, representing common concerns that each society voices in its own idiom.

Steve Saint was five years old when his father, missionary pilot Nate Saint, was speared to death by a primitive Ecuadorian tribe. In adulthood, Steve, having left Ecuador for a successful business career, never imagined making the jungle his home again. But when that same tribe asks him to help them, Steve, his wife, and their teenage children move back to the jungle. There, Steve learns long-buried secrets about his father's murder, confronts difficult choices, and finds himself caught between two worlds.

A LIVING LEGACY: CULTURE, FAITH, AND THE FUTURE OF APPALACHIA (Part 2 of "Beyond Elegy: Appalachia's True Story of Resilience and Hope") By Laurel Ridgewater In this compelling second volume, A Living Legacy delves deeper into the heart and soul of contemporary Appalachia, exploring the vibrant cultural traditions, spiritual foundations, and emerging future of this complex region. Through rich storytelling and meticulous research, this work illuminates how Appalachia’s traditional values and modern aspirations interweave to create a tapestry of resilience and innovation. Key explorations ...

In a series of personal letters to his sons, Omar Saif Ghobash offers a short and highly listenable manifesto that tackles our current global crisis with the training of an experienced diplomat and the personal responsibility of a father. Today's young Muslims will be tomorrow's leaders, and yet too many are vulnerable to extremist propaganda that seems omnipresent in our technological age.

America's Favorite Holidays explores how five of America's culturally important holidays - Christmas, Valentine's Day, Easter, Halloween, and Thanksgiving - came to be what they are today, seasonal and religious celebrations heavily influenced by modern popular culture.

"Lebanon" Levi Stoltzfus, star of the hit Discovery Channel reality show Amish Mafia, delivers a sizzling tell-all about Amish life today. From the forbidden joyrides to the senseless shunnings to the colorful family feuds, he shares his frank insider's view of this fascinating and secretive society.

Once Upon an Eid is a collection of short stories that showcases the most brilliant Muslim voices writing today, all about the most joyful holiday of the year: Eid! Eid: The short, single-syllable word conjures up a variety of feelings and memories for Muslims.

Pastor Creflo Dollar offers 10 compelling reasons why God hates religion - but loves for people to have real relationships with Christ. Religion has broken churches, fueled wars, and driven people away from the true Gospel of Jesus. Why I Hate Religion is a clarion call for people to ditch religion and embrace relationship.

In this provocative and thoughtful book, Gerald McDermott explores the theological concept of revelation and how evangelicals have responded to world religions. He then makes a case for God's having revealed himself outside of Israel and the church.

The time has come to reenvision Christian theology without contradictory teachings laced with fear. It is time for a theology of love and miracles. Richard Smoley reframes Christian theology using logical, consistent, and easy-to-understand teachings of unconditional love and forgiveness. He draws inspiration not only from the Bible, but also from Hinduism, Buddhism, Gnosticism, and from esoteric and mystical teachings, such as A Course in Miracles and the Sefer Yetzirah, the oldest known Kabbalistic text.

Judaism, one of the world's oldest and most influential religions, is deeply rooted in history, culture, and spirituality. With a history that spans over three millennia, it is more than just a religion; it's a comprehensive way of life that has had a profound impact on the world. This is not a theological exploration but an intellectual voyage into Judaism and its practices, to give you all-you-need-to-know in a quick and easy-to-read format. In an increasingly interconnected world, a comprehensive understanding of Judaism is not only valuable but also necessary for promoting tolerance, ...

Fazlur Rahman was one of the great 20th-century Muslim modernists, whose prolific writing and sheer number of students who make up a who’s who of Islamic studies throughout North America reveal the impact that he has had on both academe and on Muslim communities throughout the world. The modernist approach is contrasted with the radical approach of Mawlana Mawdudi of Pakistan.

Unlock the mysteries of a faith that has guided hearts and minds for centuries. Serbian Orthodox Church for Beginners: Rituals, Saints, and Sacred Spaces is your ultimate guide to the rich traditions, spiritual practices, and inspiring history of Serbian Orthodoxy. Dive into the essence of a timeless tradition: Experience the Meaning of Rituals: Explore the significance behind sacred practices like the Divine Liturgy, Slava celebrations, and fasting periods, and how they shape the lives of believers. Connect with Inspiring Saints: Learn about Saint Sava and other pivotal figures whose faith...

What does it mean to be both devout and modern? To live a life shaped by Jewish law while thriving in a world of technology, academia, and cultural diversity? Modern Orthodox Judaism for Beginners is your roadmap to understanding a faith that embraces tradition without retreating and engages with modernity without surrendering. Master the foundations of Jewish law. What is Halakha, and why does it still shape Jewish life today? Discover how it governs everything from ethics to daily routines, guiding everything from keeping kosher to handling workplace dilemmas. Faith and reason go hand in ...

Physician, activist, and author Charles Alexander Eastman was the first Native American certified in Western medicine and one of the first authors of any background to emphasize the Native American perspective. In The Soul of the Indian, he shares the customs, rituals, celebrations, and beliefs of Native American spirituality, and in so doing provides a powerful account of the “Great Mystery” at their core.

Noah and the ark makes it on everyone’s list of top-10 favorite Bible stories - right up there with Jonah and the whale, and David and Goliath. No biblical account has raised as many questions and has generated as much controversy as Noah and the ark. The story in the Bible is just the beginning! Was the massive ark seaworthy? Did the Flood cover the whole Earth? Has the ark been found on Mount Ararat? Where can you see the ark today? These questions and more are answered in Noah: The Real Story.

The Mystic Heart chronicled Brother Wayne Teasdale's journey into a multifaceted spirituality blending his traditional Catholic training and the Eastern way of sannyasa (Indian monkhood). A Monk in the World tells what the journey has meant for him - living as a monk outside the monastery, integrating teachings from the world's religions with his own Catholic training, combining his vigorous spiritual practice with the necessities of making a living, and pursuing a course of social justice in a major American city.

Islamic law is one of the major legal systems in the world today, yet it is often misunderstood, particularly in the West. It is applicable in different forms as part of state law in countries across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, and also has a strong influence on Muslim communities throughout the Western world. This Very Short Introduction provides an authoritative perspective on the evolution and nature of Islamic law.

Religion lurks in the floorboards of our daily lives, whether we want it to or not. A departure from more traditional approaches to "Religion 101," Religion Is Not Done with You gives thought-provoking context to the basics of religious studies by challenging listeners to consider the origins of their assumptions about religion and broaden their perspectives on what religion is and does. Religion scholars and Keeping It 101 podcast duo Ilyse Morgenstein Fuerst and Megan Goodwin offer their straightforward, plainspoken overviews of religious studies theory.

Mexican Christmas Cookbook In Mexico, Christmas is celebrated from December 12th to January 6th. From December 16th to Christmas Eve, children often perform the 'Posada' processions or Posadas which is Spanish for Inn or Lodging. There are nine Posadas. These celebrate the part of the Christmas story where Joseph and Mary looked for somewhere to stay. For the Posadas, the outside of houses are decorated with evergreens, moss and paper lanterns. In each Posada, children are given candles and a board, with painted clay figures of Mary riding on a donkey and Joseph to carry through the streets...