An Earthy Entanglement with Spirituality offers compelling perspectives on the human spirit as represented in literature and art. Authors approach the inquiry using distinct critical approaches to varied primary sources—poetry of various genres and periods, Shakespearean drama, contemporary theater, Renaissance sculpture, and the novel, short story, sketch, and dialogue.
"An exciting vision of the future" --Michael Eric Dyson Everything Is Spiritual is an unexpected and compelling invitation to see your life in a whole new way. We have the great moments of our lives, the highs, those times when we soar, when it all makes sense, when it feels like it all has purpose and meaning. And then there are all those other moments—the lows and aches and failures and struggles and experiences that leave us wondering what the point of it all is. Are our lives ultimately bits and pieces and fragments—you try to find a little peace and hope and then it’s over? Or is there more going on here? In our increasingly polarized and disoriented world, Everything Is Spiritual gives us a radical new take on how it all fits together, how it works, how it’s all connected. Part memoir, part extended riff on the quantum nature of reality, part history of the universe, Rob Bell takes us back through the twists and turns and struggles of his story in order to help us see the larger story so that we can reconnect with our story.
The Nobel Prize-winning physicist and bestselling author of The First Three Minutes describes the grand quest for a unifying theory of nature--one that can explain forces as different as the cohesion inside the atom and the gravitational tug between the sun and Earth. Wirting with dazzling elegance and clarity, he retraces the steps that have led modern scientists from relativity and quantum mechanics to the notion of super-strings and the idea that our universe may coexist with others. But Weinberg asks as many questions as he answers, among them: Why does each explanation of the way nature works point to other, deeper explanations? Why are the best theories not only logical but beautiful? And what implications will a final theory have for our philosophy and religious faith? Intellectually daring, rich in anecdote and aphorism, Dreams of a Final Theory launches us into a new cosmos and helps us make sense of what we find there.
Like never before in history, humans are becoming increasingly interconnected with one another and with the other inhabitants and habitats of Earth. There are numerous signs of planetary interrelations, from social media and international trade to genetic engineering and global climate change. The scientific study of interrelations between organisms and environments, Ecology, is uniquely capable of addressing the complex challenges that characterize our era of planetary coexistence. Whole Earth Thinking and Planetary Coexistence focuses on newly emerging approaches to ecology that cross the disciplinary boundaries of sciences and humanities with the aim of responding to the challenges facing the current era of planetary interconnectedness. It introduces concepts that draw out a creative contrast between religious and secular approaches to the integration of sciences and humanities, with religious approaches represented by the "geologian" Thomas Berry and the whole Earth thinking of Stephanie Kaza and Gary Snyder, and the more secular approaches represented by the "geophilosophy" of poststructuralist theorists Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari. This book will introduce concepts engaging with the ecological challenges of planetary coexistence to students and professionals in fields of environmental studies, philosophy and religious studies.
In 2015 a conference on "Rediscovering the Spiritual in God's Creation" was held at the Serafino winery complex in the McLaren Vale region of South Australia. The aim of the conference was not to seek consensus but to survey the landscape with a view to intentional responsible action in caring for God's creation. Delegates were challenged to recognize their own worldviews and to widen their horizons to encompass the enormity of the transcendence and immanence of God's presence in all creation. A group of leading international scholars and experts in the fields of science, ecology, theology, and ethics participated in a multidisciplinary conversation on the spiritual in creation, with the aim of discovering fresh horizons with regard to creation care, liturgy, justice, and discipleship within the Christian community. The chapters in this volume reflect the diversity of perspectives summarized in The Serafino Declaration, which was crafted towards the end of the conference. This declaration (which opens the volume) outlines a range of views relating to the presence of the spiritual in creation, views that are both traditional and radical. This volume highlights the current concern over ecological destruction and finds sources of inspiration in the deepest roots of our traditions and forms of spirituality to sustain efforts towards custodianship of the land and care for God's creation. Contributors: David Rhoads Paul Santmire Denis Edwards Bob White Heather Eaton Ernst Conradie Vicky Balabanski Celia Deane-Drummond Mark Worthing Emily Colgan Dianne Rayson Anne Gardner Mark Liederbach Patricia Fox Anne Elvey Mick Pope
Distinct practices of eating are at the heart of many of the world's faith traditions -- from the Christian Eucharist to Muslim customs of fasting during Ramadan to the vegetarianism and asceticism practiced by some followers of Hinduism and Buddhism. What we eat, how we eat, and whom we eat with can express our core values and religious devotion more clearly than verbal piety. In this wide-ranging collection, eminent scholars, theologians, activists, and lay farmers illuminate how religious beliefs influence and are influenced by the values and practices of sustainable agriculture. Together, they analyze a multitude of agricultural practices for their contributions to healthy, ethical living and environmental justice. Throughout, the contributors address current critical issues, including global trade agreements, indigenous rights to land and seed, and the effects of postcolonialism on farming and industry. Covering indigenous, Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, Muslim, and Jewish perspectives, this groundbreaking volume makes a significant contribution to the study of ethics and agriculture.
Since the middle/ end of 1993 I have been grappling intensively with questions about our existence. This book is the result of my long-term study, with which I have tried to inspect our current worldview - the materialistic worldview. It shows that the sciences have come up with answers that question their own assumptions and ideas about this world. E.g. the world-famous physicist Stephen W. Hawking said that it is not really possible for physics to clarify whether the material world is a real world. According to the latest findings in physics, the material world can also be an imaginary world. I'm investigating this question in detail and come to the conclusion that we need a new worldview. This is the spiritual worldview. This new worldview clearly states that there is a non-material spirit that is responsible for the material world. What this means for each and every one of us is revealed in this study.
In the Name of God of Wisdom will reveal the innermost light of the scriptures in regards to the events of end times and all times by providing a simple yet hard-to-understand numerical philosophy and method for understanding and decoding the true messages of the sacred texts and of the field of consciousness by use of simple calculations that are based on the numerical patterns of the text of the Holy Quran that covers the root of all major religions. By understanding the concepts of these writings, you will discover that the text of the Holy Quran is not a historical book that was revealed for a particular group but it was an intelligent design and guideline for implementation of the events of the end-time programming for angels of the skies and the earth and for those who were in the know from among humanity. In these writings you will learn about the nature of reality and its relation to yourself as the microcosms of creation. You will learn about the existence of the “mathematical field of information” and the two “worlds of concepts” and “spirits” and their relations to human design. Read In the Name of God of Wisdom and discover for yourself that everything in creation, including your entire being and soul, is made of light-information, and this light-information or God particles are encoded within your cellular structure and are also inside every other atom in creation. About the Author Mr. Reza Zolfaghari's story begins in the picturesque town of Omidiyeh, Iran, in 1967. He was born into a loving family, with a father employed by the National Iranian Oil Company and a devoted mother who placed family above all else. Despite the modesty of their surroundings, Reza was raised amidst the richness of his parents' values—kindness, integrity, and generosity. Tragedy struck early in Reza's life when his eldest brother, Farzad, passed away while Reza was still in high school. This loss marked a turning point, but Reza's family remained a steadfast source of support and love. Encouraged by his family's unwavering belief in him, Reza pursued higher education in Information Technology at the Iran University of Science and Technology in Tehran, a decision that required his family to uproot themselves and move to the bustling capital city. Life took a somber turn when Reza's father was diagnosed with skin cancer, but Reza devoted himself entirely to caring for his father during this heartbreaking period, leaving an indelible mark on his soul. In 1995, Reza married his beloved wife, Mojgan, and together they began a family. Their journey led them to the United States in 2000, where they settled in New Jersey. The arrival of their daughters, Tiam and later Tiara, brought immeasurable joy, but also unforeseen challenges. Tiara's health struggles, including a life-threatening need for a liver transplant at just two weeks old, tested the family's resilience and strength. In 2012, Reza embarked on a transformative spiritual retreat in Brazil, returning with a newfound perspective on life and spirituality. His deep dive into religious texts such as the Quran and the works of Rumi led him to uncover profound insights, shaping his worldview in every way. Tragedy struck once again in 2016 when Tiara passed away at the age of 11, leaving Reza and his family devastated. The loss propelled Reza deeper into his spiritual and intellectual pursuits, leading him to isolate himself from many, but drawing closer to his family and a select circle of friends. Despite his solitude, Reza's impact on those around him was undeniable. In February 2022, he completed his life's work before passing away in March, leaving behind a legacy of love, resilience, and spiritual exploration that continues to inspire all who knew him.
Humanity operates like a force of nature capable of affecting the destiny of the Earth System. This epochal shift profoundly alters the relationship between humankind and the Earth, presenting the conscious, thinking human animal with an unprecedented dilemma: As human power has grown over the Earth, so has the power of nature to extinguish human life. The emergence of the Anthropocene has settled any question of the place of human beings in the world: we stand inescapably at its center. The outstanding question—which forms the impetus and focus for this book—remains: What kind of human being stands at the center of the world? And what is the nature of that world? Unlike the scientific fact of human-centeredness, this is a moral question, a question that brings theology within the scope of reflection on the critical failures of human irresponsibility. Much of Christian theology has so far flunked the test of engaging the reality of the Anthropocene. The authors of these original essays begin with the premise that it is time to push harder at the questions the Anthropocene poses for people of faith.
This book foregrounds entanglement as a guiding concept in Derrida’s work and considers its implications and benefits for ecocritical thought. Ergin introduces the notion of "ecological text" to emphasize textuality as a form of entanglement that proves useful in thinking about ecological interdependence and uncertainty. She brings deconstruction into a dialogue with social ecology and new materialism, outlining entanglements in three strands of thought to demonstrate the relevance of this concept in theoretical terms. Ergin then investigates natural-social entanglements through a comparative analysis of the works of the American poet Juliana Spahr and the Turkish writer Latife Tekin. The book enriches our understanding of complicity and accountability by revealing the ecological network of material and discursive forces in which we are deeply embedded. It makes a significant contribution to current debates on ecocritical theory, comparative literature, and ecopoetics.
