This is the first English-language work devoted to the Avignon Society, which ranks as one of the most remarkable and influential initiatic societies in Europe between 1779 and 1807. Influenced by the burgeoning strand of illuminist high-degree freemasonry, the Avignon Society, nevertheless, developed a unique culture that incorporated strands of Western esotericism within a millenarian framework.
In Initiating the Millennium, Robert Collis and Natalie Bayer fill a substantial lacuna in the study of an initiatic society--known variously as the Illuminés d'Avignon, the Avignon Society, the New Israel Society, and the Union--that flourished across Europe between 1779 and 1807. Based on hitherto neglected archival material, this study provides a wealth of fresh insights into a group that included members of various Christian confessions from countries spanning the length and breadth of the Continent. The founding members of this society forged a unique group that incorporated distinct strands of Western esotericism (particularly alchemy and arithmancy) within an all-pervading millenarian worldview. Collis and Bayer demonstrate that the doctrine of premillennialism--belief in the imminent advent of Christ's reign on Earth--soon came to constitute the raison d'être of the society. Using a chronological approach, the authors chart the machinations of the leading figures of the society (most notably the Polish gentleman Tadeusz Grabianka). They also examine the way in which the group reacted to and was impacted by the tumultuous events that rocked Europe during its twenty-eight years of existence. The result is a new understanding of the vital role played by the so-called Union within the wider millenarian and illuministic milieu at the close of the eighteenth century and beginning of the nineteenth century.
In 1750 at the age of twenty-seven Sarah Scott published her first novel, a conventional romance. A year later she left her husband after only a few months of marriage and devoted herself thereafter to writing and to promoting such causes as the creation of secular and separatist female communities. This revolutionary concept was given flesh in Millenium Hall, first published in 1762 and generally thought to be the finest of her six novels. The text may be seen as the manifesto of the ‘bluestocking’ movement—the protean feminism that arose under eighteenth-century gentry capitalism (originating in 1750, largely under the impetus of Scott’s sister Elizabeth Montagu), and that rejected a world which early feminists saw symbolized in the black silk stockings demanded by formal society. It is a comment on Western society as well as on the strengths of Scott’s novel that the message of Millenium Hall continues to resonate strongly more than two centuries later.
Through various realignments beginning in the Revolutionary era and continuing across the nineteenth century, Christianity not only endured as a vital intellectual tradition contributed importantly to a wide variety of significant conversations, movements, and social transformations across the diverse spheres of intellectual, cultural, and social history. The Oxford Handbook of Nineteenth-Century Christian Thought proposes new readings of the diverse sites and variegated role of the Christian intellectual tradition across what has come to be called 'the long nineteenth century'. It represents the first comprehensive examination of a picture emerging from the twin recognition of Christianity's abiding intellectual influence and its radical transformation and diversification under the influence of the forces of modernity. Part one investigates changing paradigms that determine the evolving approaches to religious matters during the nineteenth century, providing readers with a sense of the fundamental changes at the time. Section two considers human nature and the nature of religion. It explores a range of categories rising to prominence in the course of the nineteenth century, and influencing the way religion in general, and Christianity in particular, were conceived. Part three focuses on the intellectual, cultural, and social developments of the time, while part four looks at Christianity and the arts-a major area in which Christian ideas, stories, and images were used, adapted, changes, and challenged during the nineteenth century. Christianity was radically pluralized in the nineteenth century, and the fifth section is dedicated to 'Christianity and Christianities'. The chapters sketch the major churches and confessions during the period. The final part considers doctrinal themes registering the wealth and scope through broad narrative and individual example. This authoritative reference work offers an indispensible overview of a period whose forceful ideas continue to be present in contemporary theology.
This is a ‘Whole Earth Catalog’ for the 21st century: an impressive and wide-ranging analysis of what’s wrong with our societies, organizations, ideologies, worldviews and cultures – and how to put them right. The book covers the finance system, agriculture, design, ecology, economy, sustainability, organizations and society at large.
Scattered across the globe, the Isma'ilis constitute the second largest Shi'i community in the Muslim World. This study traces their history and doctrinal developments from their origins to the present day over a period of twelve centuries.
E-Collaboration in Modern Organizations: Initiating and Managing Distributed Projects combines comprehensive research related to e-collaboration in modern organizations, emphasizing topics relevant to those involved in initiating and managing distributed projects. Providing authoritative content to scholars, researchers, and practitioners, this book specifically describes conceptual and theoretical issues that have implications for distributed project management, implications surrounding the use of e-collaborative environments for distributed projects, and emerging issues and debate related directly and indirectly to e-collaboration support for distributed project management.
The Americas have always been fertile grounds for millenarian movements, which found their expression through the spirit of revolutionaries and the practical aspirations of the founding fathers. More recently, millenarian themes have also marked the political fringe in spectacular and often violent ways. These eleven original essays, authored by established scholars in the field, explore the ways in which millenarianism pervades late twentieth century life, explain how ancient ways of millenarian thinking affect modern thinking, examine the theoretical roots of millenarianism, and detail a number of millenarian movements. Filling an important gap in the existing literature, the essays provide a thorough analysis of the phenomenon of modern millenarianism, focusing on the Americas and on modern controversial movements. This unique and important volume will facilitate analysis and comparison of the various aspects of millenarianism in the Americas. The first section is comprised of essays that examine the meaning of millennial ideas, and why and how millennial themes can be found across history, from Robespierre's ideas to The X-Files. The second section of the book contains essays that focus on specific millennial movements. These essays explore and reflect the wide range of millenarianism in the modern Americas, from Black and White supremacist movements to American fundamentalists, and from the UFO subculture to Catholic sects. This unique collection of essays clearly and carefully explores the millennial urge, the theory and practice of millenarianism, and its expression in the Americas.
The Revelation to John has been with us for about 2000 years and has been the subject of diverse attempts at interpretation. The Revelation as given is a vision of the end time work of the Son of Man and the sole purpose is to prepare humanity for that mission and offer them the chance to recognise the last Envoy of God when He does come. It is only with this understanding in view that the Revelation can be appreciated. All the promised messages for the end-time are now available to us and I believe we are in a better position to understand the message of The Revelation. Indeed, I believe that we urgently need to understand its message. The urge and pressure amongst all striving human spirits to unravel the mysteries of The Revelation represents this need. This study is not a substitute for The Revelation, but may be regarded as a call for a deeper study and hopefully an awakening to the need to experience the times in a more alert manner. The work is offered in the recognition that the Revelation is being fulfilled in this epoch and as such is a must read for all striving human spirits
