"Zurvanism For Beginners" is an insightful exploration of the ancient Persian philosophy of Zurvanism, which delves into the concepts of time, eternity, and cosmic dualism. From its roots in Zoroastrianism to its influence on historical mysticism, this book offers a comprehensive guide to understanding the principles and practices of Zurvanism. Through engaging narratives and scholarly analysis, readers will gain a profound insight into the philosophical underpinnings of this enigmatic belief system, shedding light on its relevance in today's world. Whether you're a novice seeker or a seasoned scholar of spirituality, "Zurvanism For Beginners" provides a thought-provoking journey into the depths of ancient wisdom.
Zoroastrianism is of enormous importance in the history of religions. It became the state religion of the three great Iranian empires and influenced other world faiths: northern Buddhism and Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
This fascinating book explores the evolution of religious dualism, the doctrine that man and cosmos are constant battlegrounds between forces of good and evil. It traces this evolution from late Egyptian religion and the revelations of Zoroaster and the Orphics in antiquity through the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Mithraic Mysteries, and the great Gnostic teachers to its revival in medieval Europe with the suppression of the Bogomils and the Cathars, heirs to the age-long teachings of dualism. Integrating political, cultural, and religious history, Yuri Stoyanov illuminates the dualist religious systems, recreating in vivid detail the diverse worlds of their striking ideas and beliefs, their convoluted mythologies and symbolism. Reviews of an earlier edition: "A book of prime importance for anyone interested in the history of religious dualism. The author's knowledge of relevant original sources is remarkable; and he has distilled them into a convincing and very readable whole."--Sir Steven Runciman "The most fascinating historical detective story since Steven Runciman's Sicilian Vespers."--Colin Wilson "A splendid account of the decline of the dualist tradition in the East . . . both strong and accessible. . . . The most readable account of Balkan heresy ever."--Jeffrey B. Russell, Journal of Religion "Well-written, fact-filled, and fascinating . . . has in it the making of a classic." --Harry T. Norris, Bulletin of SOAS
In many of the world's religions, both polytheistic and monotheistic, a seemingly enigmatic and paradoxical image is found--that of the god who worships. Various interpretations of this seeming paradox have been advanced. Some suggest that it represents sacrifice to a higher deity. Proponents of anthropomorphic projection say that the gods are just "big people" and that images of human religious action are simply projected onto the deities. However, such explanations do not do justice to the complexity and diversity of this phenomenon. In Religion of the Gods, Kimberley C. Patton uses a comparative approach to take up anew a longstanding challenge in ancient Greek religious iconography: why are the Olympian gods depicted on classical pottery making libations? The sacrificing gods in ancient Greece are compared to gods who perform rituals in six other religious traditions: the Vedic gods, the heterodox god Zurvan of early Zoroastrianism, the Old Norse god Odin, the Christian God and Christ, the God of Judaism, and Islam's Allah. Patton examines the comparative evidence from a cultural and historical perspective, uncovering deep structural resonances while also revealing crucial differences. Instead of looking for invisible recipients or lost myths, Patton proposes the new category of "divine reflexivity." Divinely performed ritual is a self-reflexive, self-expressive action that signals the origin of ritual in the divine and not the human realm. Above all, divine ritual is generative, both instigating and inspiring human religious activity. The religion practiced by the gods is both like and unlike human religious action. Seen from within the religious tradition, gods are not "big people," but other than human. Human ritual is directed outward to a divine being, but the gods practice ritual on their own behalf. "Cultic time," the symbiotic performance of ritual both in heaven and on earth, collapses the distinction between cult and theology each time ritual is performed. Offering the first comprehensive study and a new theory of this fascinating phenomenon, Religion of the Gods is a significant contribution to the fields of classics and comparative religion. Patton shows that the god who performs religious action is not an anomaly, but holds a meaningful place in the category of ritual and points to a phenomenologically universal structure within religion itself.
Iran, Israel, and the Jews have a relationship that is in the news all the time. But it cannot be understood just in modern terms. Its roots are 2,500 years old. This volume surveys that history through case studies and broad overviews--from the first intensive contacts under Cyrus the Great, through Persian influence on Judaism evident in the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Babylonian Talmud, into the Middle Ages and the flourishing of Judeo-Persian literature and culture, and finally into modern times, when the political, social, and cultural ties are multifaceted and profound. Written by experts in both Iranian and Jewish studies, these essays convey the richness and complexity of a long and tumultuous relationship between two ancient and great civilizations, which continues to shape the world today.
Whoever wants to understand the genesis of modern Science has to follow three lines of development, all starting in antiquity, which were brought together in the work of ISAAC NEWTON, namely 1. Ancient Mathematics => DESCARTES 2. Ancient Astronomy => COPERNICUS : ~~~~ I=> NEWTON 3. Ancient Mechanics => GALILEO => HUYGENS In Science Awakening I (Dutch edition 1950, first Eng1ish edition 1954, second 1961, first German edition 1956, second 1965) I have followed the first 1ine, giving an outline of the development of Mathematics in Egypt, Babylonia, and Greece. Volume II, dealing with Egyptian and Baby1onian Astronomy first appeared in German under the title 'Die Anfänge der Astronomie' (Noordhoff, Groningen 1965 and Birkhäu ser, Basel 1968). The volume was written in collaboration with PETER HUBER (Swiss Federal School of Technology, Zürich). HUBER has written considerable parts of Chap ters 3 and 4, in particular all transcriptions of cuneiform texts in these chapters. I also had much help from ERNST WEIDNER (Graz), MARTIN VERMASEREN (Amsterdam), JOSEF JANSEN (Leiden) and MANU LEUMANN (Zürich).
This book contains a complete analysis of the legendary myths of civilizations like Roman, Greek, Celtic, Arabian, British, Japanese and Chinese. From the stories of the Trojan war and adventures of Hercules, Perseus and Theseus to the stories of the White Snake and Battle of Red Cliffs, this book is about the mesmerizing past of our ancestors.
Preliminary material -- THE BACKGROUND -- THE PRE-ZOROASTRIAN RELIGION OF THE MEDES AND PERSIANS -- THE SPREAD OF ZOROASTRIANISM IN WESTERN IRAN -- CYRUS THE GREAT (550-530 B.C.) -- CAMBYSES (530-522 B.C.) -- BARDIYA AND 'GAUMĀTA THE MAGUS' (522 B.C.) -- DARIUS THE GREAT (522-486 B.C.) -- FINDS OF RELIGIOUS INTEREST AT PERSEPOLIS -- CONTACTS AND INFLUENCES IN IONIA IN THE MEDIAN AND EARLY ACHAEMENIAN PERIODS -- XERXES (486-465 B.C.) -- ARTAXERXES I (465-424 B.C.) -- DARIUS II (423-404 B.C.) -- ARTAXERXES II (404-358 B.C.) -- ARTAXERXES III (358-338 B.C.) -- DARIUS III (336-331 B.C.) -- SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY -- INDEX.
The Bible of the Adversary "Adversarial Flame" 10th Anniversary Edition is both a philosophical introduction to Luciferian Magick. Published originally in 2007, The Bible of the Adversary provided a modern unification and clarification of the Left Hand Path initiatory power recognized as "The Adversary" and Luciferianism. The Adversarial Flame edition presents a completely re-edited and expanded edition which begins with the 11 Points of Power and the philosophical foundations; guiding the reader into the depths of darkness and by using Will, Desire and Belief, illuminating the Black Flame or Light within. Features: - Philosophy of Luciferianism from the 11 Points of Power to the Laws of Belial. - Symbols and Sigils of Lucifer, Satan, Lilith, Samael and Lilith explained. - Techniques of strengthening the Mind via Meditation, Discipline and focus of Will. - Ceremonies and Rituals of Luciferianism which focus on Liberation, Illumination and Apotheosis.
