So writes author Mark Briggs as he light-heartedly addresses serious "cow" issues in our lives. Behind the Mask of Religious Traditions exposes the ugliness of dead rituals and reveals the beauty of true, living worship. Removing the masks will: Expose the sacred cows in your life. Create a passion for true worship. Identify the Father as the Shepherd. Guide you through the Sacred Cow Prevention Process. As you destroy the religious cows in your life, you will find yourself grazing with the Shepherd in lush green pastures beside a refreshing flowing stream of living water. Book jacket.
Unitarian Universalist minister G. Peter Fleck explores the role of reason and science, limits on the concept of progress, the lure of other (Eastern) religious traditions, the influence of the Judeo-Christian heritage, and the ways we can interpret that heritage to build our own spiritual home.
Declining church attendance. A growing feeling of betrayal. For Christians who have begun to feel set adrift and disillusioned by their churches, Where Goodness Still Grows grounds us in a new view of virtue deeply rooted in a return to Jesus Christ’s life and ministry. The evangelical church in America has reached a crossroads. Social media and recent political events have exposed the fault lines that exist within our country and our spiritual communities. Millennials are leaving the church, citing hypocrisy, partisanship, and unkindness as reasons they can’t stay. In this book Amy Peterson explores the corruption and blind spots of the evangelical church and the departure of so many from the faith - but she refuses to give up hope, believing that rescue is on the way. Where Goodness Still Grows: Dissects the moral code of American evangelicalism Reimagines virtue as a tool, not a weapon Explores the Biblical meaning of specific virtues like kindness, purity, and modesty Provides comfort, hope, and a path towards spiritual restoration Amy writes as someone intimately familiar with, fond of, and deeply critical of the world of conservative evangelicalism. She writes as a woman and a mother, as someone invested in the future of humanity, and as someone who just needs to know how to teach her kids what it means to be good. Amy finds that if we listen harder and farther, we will find the places where goodness still grows. Praise for Where Goodness Still Grows: “In this poignant, honest book, Amy Peterson confronts her disappointment with the evangelical leaders who handed her The Book of Virtues then happily ignored them for the sake of political power. But instead of just walking away, Peterson rewrites the script, giving us an alternative book of virtues needed in this moment. And it’s no mistake that it ends with hope.” — James K. A. Smith, author of You Are What You Love
The big questions. Is there a God? Is there meaning and purpose to life? What happens after our physical death? Why are religions that claim to access Truth often in violent conflict with each other? If there is a God, why is there so much suffering and evil?Drawing on over forty years of personal transcendent experiences together with studies in spirituality, psychology and theology, the author considers the foundations of spiritual experience, belief and practice. In the process, religious and spiritual beliefs are categorized, basic conceptions about spirituality and knowledge are considered, spiritual paths are described, the role of morality and gender in spirituality is touched upon, and the nature of existence and experience is contemplated. Does 'Inner Spirituality' offer real answers to the big questions or are such adepts mistaken?This second edition outlines a 'Spiritual Matrix'. The main text has been grammatically revised throughout and an index has been added for easy reference.
He was born that way. Few would forgive his appearance. Fear and revulsion, even rage, were not unfamiliar to him. The villagers, but for one small child, have not been kind. The forest, his home, was not only a sanctuary, ironically, it also became his prison. One day, the forest offered him something more. What he found both chilled and excited him. It was a discovery that would change his life forever. The Mask is an allegorical tale that touches upon our human frailties, inspires us to find our inner truth, and dares us to be more courageous than we can imagine. Beautifully illustrated and designed, The Mask compels a reader to ponder important social issues such as bullying and body image as well as the meaning of beauty and truth.
A revisionist account of African masquerade carnivals in transnational context that offers readers a unique perspective on the connecting threads between African cultural trends and African American cultural artifacts
This new study of Menander casts fresh light not only on the techniques of the playwright but also on the literary and historical contexts of the plays. Menander (342/1-292/1 BCE) wrote over a hundred popular comedies, several of which were adapted by Plautus and Terence. Through them, he was a major influence on Shakespeare and Molière. However, his work survived only in excerpts and quotation until some significant texts reappeared in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries on papyrus. The mystery of their loss and rediscovery has raised key questions surrounding the transmission of these and other Greek texts. Theatrical masks from the fourth century BCE discovered on the island of Lipari now also provide important material with which this book examines how the plays were originally performed. A detailed investigation of their historical setting is offered which engages with recent debates on the importance of social status and citizenship in Menander's plays. The techniques of characterization are also examined, with particular focus on women, slaves and power relationships in his Epitrepontes. It appears that the audience was invited, sometimes subversively, behind the mask of this sophisticated comedy to discover that people do not always conform to literary expectations and social norms.
A showcase of Phyllis Galembo's extraordinary photographs of the costume, ritual and traditions of masquerade Mexico Phyllis Galembo has travelled all over the globe to sites of ritual masquerade. In Africa, the Caribbean, and now Mexico, she captures cultural performances with a subterranean political edge. Using a direct, unaffected portrait style, Galembo captures her subjects informally posed but often strikingly attired in traditional or ritualistic dress. Attuned to a moment's collision of past, present and future, Galembo finds the timeless elegance and dignity of her subjects. Masking is a complex, mysterious, and profound tradition in which the participants transcend the physical world and enter the spiritual realm. In her vibrant images, Galembo exposes an ornate code of political, artistic, theatrical, social and religious symbolism and commentary. Galembo highlights the creativity of the individuals morphing into a fantastical representation of themselves, having cobbled together materials gathered from the immediate environment to idealize their vision of mythical figures. While still pronounced in their personal identity, the subject's intentions are rooted in the larger dynamics of religious, political and cultural affiliation. Establishing these connections is a hallmark of Galembo's work.
#1 International Bestseller in 4 Categories on Amazon in the US and CA.Including Religious Biblical Fiction, Middle Eastern Literature, and Christian New Testament Commentaries in the US as well as Christian Fiction in CA. Discover the story of biblical events that ushers in the end of times and how Jesus Christ returns again to save us all from our own demise. As Rachel Williams, a renowned television journalist, covers the signing of a historical peace accord in Jerusalem, a terrorist strike levels several of the Holy Land's most ancient, sacred sites - sites important to Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike. As international tensions rise due to the incident, Rachel finds a long-forgotten email she received months earlier foretelling these events - an email she dismissed because it came from a man whom she considered a "religious nut." When Rachel locates the sender, he gives her a Bible containing handwritten notes deciphering the Book of Revelation. After another terrorist attack occurs - one written about in the man's notes - Rachel embarks on an adventure of spiritual discovery that leads to unraveling the greatest mystery of all time: The rise of the Antichrist and the return of Jesus to Earth, and how she, an agnostic, plays a significant role in the Biblical End Times and the Battle of Armageddon. The story in this book was inspired by scripture, characters, places and events from the Bible as they relate to the End Times and Armageddon. All other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author's imagination, and any resemblance to actual events, places, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
This book highlights the complex identity crises among many Christians as they negotiate their new identities, religious ideas and convictions as both Christians and members of Nigerian-African societies of indigenous religious traditions and identities. Through an interdisciplinary interpretation of religious practices and educational issues in teaching and ritual training, the author provides tools to help analyse empirical cases. These include the negotiation processes among Christians, with focus on the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria (PCN) and members of the Ogo society within the Amasiri, Afikpo North Local Government Area, Ebonyi state, in South-eastern Nigeria. Identifying the power dynamic, identity, role and influence of indigenous religions on Christians and the Ogo society, this book reveals the limited interactions between many Christians and members of the Ogo society. Questions explored include: what makes the Ogo society an integral part of the socio-religious life of Amasiri and what powers and identity does it confer on the initiates; how is the PCN within Amasiri responding to the Ogo society through its religious practices such as baptism, confirmation, local auxiliary ministries and organisational structure; and how does the understanding and application of conversion within the PCN impact on its members’ response to the Ogo society? Demonstrating how complex religious identities and practices of Nigerian-African Christians can balance mission-influenced Christianity with indigenous religious traditions and identities, this book recognises the importance of appropriating the powers of indigenous cultures, ingenuity and creativity in the construction and preservation of community identities. As such, it will be of keen interest to scholars of Christian theology, indigenous religious practice and African lived religion.
