Searching for Spiritual Unity . . . Can There Be Common Ground?

Searching for Spiritual Unity . . . Can There Be Common Ground?

Author: Robyn E. Lebron

Publisher: WestBow Press

Published: 2016-02-11

Total Pages: 691

ISBN-13: 1512703281

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Searching for Spirituality is an introductory course on forty of the world’s most practiced or most misunderstood religions. Originally born out of author Robyn Lebron’s efforts to create a Christian education course for her husband’s congregation, this easy-to-follow reference guide to international religious beliefs is designed to reduce the fear and skepticism that often comes when we encounter belief systems different than our own, with the ultimate goal of promoting peace and spiritual unity throughout the world. Covering a broad array of different faiths, from mainstream Christian denominations to Buddhism to Islam, Searching for Spiritual Unity breaks down each religion into eleven categories to allow for easy comparative discussions: history, doctrine, God or gods, the role of Jesus Christ, worship practices, infant baptism or blessing, confirmation or initiation, marriage, death and afterlife, judgment, and any special doctrines. Also included are pages for taking notes and comparison charts that can be used as a quick “at a glance” reference. Did you know that ... • pagan beliefs almost line up perfectly with Christian concepts? • voodoo dolls are not commonly used by those who practice Voodoo? • Muslims believe in Jesus Christ’s mission? • the fastest growing religion today is also one of the youngest? Take the challenge to educate yourself, and replace skepticism and fear with peace and understanding.


A Supernatural Condition

A Supernatural Condition

Author: Diana Formisano Willett

Publisher: AuthorHouse

Published: 2016-02-27

Total Pages: 89

ISBN-13: 1504979710

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This book is written because of the numerous hauntings and apparitions seen in my house since the death of my husband in 2005. I wrote this book for everyone to understand that spirits are real and they do try to contact us in many different ways. We do not die. Only our bodies die, and the soul continues to exist for all eternity. We must forgive others and live a more accepting life since we are all truly one with God, the Creator. This book is a concise guidebook to various aspects of paranormal activity, including ghosts, aliens, the afterlife, and the Bermuda Triangle, among others. This book is based on my firsthand experienced coupled with my research. Supernatural beings and phenomena do exist!


Understanding Buddhism

Understanding Buddhism

Author: James D. Holt

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Published: 2023-10-19

Total Pages: 263

ISBN-13: 1350330248

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Buddhism is often the religion that teachers have the least confidence in teaching despite being the sixth largest religion in the UK and being commonly regarded as one of the six major religions to be taught in schools throughout the country. This book explores the beliefs and practices of Buddhism as a lived religion in the UK. This book engages with Buddhist beliefs and practices and provides students and teachers with the confidence to address misconceptions and recognise the importance of beliefs in the lives of believers, in a way that will enable readers to go forward with confidence. Aspects of Buddhism explored include the concepts that form the central beliefs of Buddhism, and then the expression of these beliefs in worship, daily life, and the ethics of Buddhists in the modern day. Each chapter includes authentic voices of believers today and provides opportunities for the reader to consider the concepts and how they can be respected and taught and in the classroom. The book forms part of the Teaching Religions and Worldviews series of guides, each one designed to build teachers' confidence and expertise in teaching a different religion or worldview in the classroom..


The Tao of Craft

The Tao of Craft

Author: Benebell Wen

Publisher: North Atlantic Books

Published: 2016-09-27

Total Pages: 617

ISBN-13: 1623170672

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For the first time in English, Benebell Wen reveals the rich history and theoretical principles underlying the ancient practice of crafting Fu talismans, or magical sigils, in the Chinese Taoist tradition and gives detailed instructions for modern practitioners who would like to craft their own Fu. Fu talismans are ideograms and writings typically rendered on paper and empowered by means of invocations, ritual, and transferences of energy, or Qi. Talismans can be used for many purposes, such as strengthening or weakening personality characteristics, finding love, earning more money, or easing emotional tensions in the home. The Tao of Craft shows how metaphysical energy can be harnessed to amplify, strengthen, weaken, dispel, or block other metaphysical energy and to rectify perceived imbalances in the material plane. Supported by an abundance of detailed charts and images, this book serves as a step-by-step handbook that gives readers the knowledge and confidence to craft their own Fu talismans for personal empowerment. Wen, author of Holistic Tarot, delves into historic and cultural contexts of the Fu, from the neolithic period of Chinese history to contemporary practices of esoteric Taoism. Providing a solid foundation in the principles of Eastern spellcrafting, she highlights the blending of Taoist metaphysical practices with Western approaches to magic by pointing out eclectic, integrating, and harmonizing facets from other cultures and religions. Historically, Fu talismans were used by medieval Chinese for alleviating illness; averting misfortune, magical attacks, and curses; defending against assaults; and avoiding poverty. This book shows Western practitioners that the skill and knowledge to develop an interactive relationship with spirit realms are still available to them today, and serves as a practical handbook for accumulating Qi energy from sources in the environment and channeling it in concentrated form into their own Fu talismans.


The Future of God in the Global Village

The Future of God in the Global Village

Author: Thomas R. Mcfaul

Publisher: AuthorHouse

Published: 2011-10

Total Pages: 211

ISBN-13: 1463423365

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In the long trek of human history, the adage that there will never be peace among the nations until there is peace among the religions has never been truer. The growing trend toward spiritually inspired violence throughout the emerging global village of the twenty-first century has taken a terrible toll on the lives of thousands of innocent victims. The primary purpose of this book is to address this issue head-on by examining the role that the earth's diverse faith communities can play in stopping the needless hatreds and hostilities that all too often arise from the search for spiritual fulfillment. At this stage of human evolution, nothing is more urgent.


In Search of the American Spirit

In Search of the American Spirit

Author: Gregory S. Butler

Publisher: SIU Press

Published: 1992

Total Pages: 296

ISBN-13: 9780809317967

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He found his own views compatible with those of Brownson, who not only disputed the prevalent theory that morality has no place in politics but argued that morality is an integral part of the political process. Extensively utilizing Brownson's lesser-known writings, Butler examines, in chronological order, the phases of Brownson's personal and spiritual development, thereby assessing the importance and contemporary relevance of his thought. He gives special attention to Brownson's belief that the moral interpretation assigned to American political symbols - Liberty, Equality, the Rights of Man - are derived from the American understanding of the nature and destiny of the human soul. Brownson eventually came to believe that humankind can only progress by finding inspiration in the divine and that the American political order must be based in the Christian, especially the Roman Catholic, moral tradition.


Seeking Common Ground

Seeking Common Ground

Author: Andrew Fiala

Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published: 2021-08-26

Total Pages: 271

ISBN-13: 1725275317

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Seeking Common Ground is a dialogue between an atheist philosopher and a Catholic theologian. It is about religion and nonreligion, as well as about dialogue itself. The book provides a framework for dialogue grounded in seven key values: Harmony, Courage, Humility, Curiosity, Honesty, Compassion, and Honor. Unlike typical "debates" about religion and atheism, Fiala and Admirand show that atheists and theists can work together on projects of mutual understanding. They explore the terrain of religion and nonreligion, discussing a range of sources, topics, issues, and concerns, including: adventures in interfaith dialogue, challenging ethical issues, problems interpreting biblical texts, the growth of secularism, and the importance of ritual and community. The authors show that it is possible to disagree about religion while also seeking common ground. The book includes a foreword by Rabbi Jack Moline, president of the U.S. Interfaith Alliance.


Seeking the Common Ground

Seeking the Common Ground

Author: Philip L. Wickeri

Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published: 2011-08-05

Total Pages: 385

ISBN-13: 1610975294

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This is the most comprehensive treatment ever written of the history of the Protestant Church in China over the last forty years. Philip Wickeri takes an unprecedented look at one of the most turbulent periods in Chinese history--the years from 1949 to the present. Wickeri explicates what Chinese Protestants have been saying about themselves in historical and theological perspective. His interpretation is based on one particular dynamic: how Chinese Protestants have sought to situate themselves in a socialist society within the unifying framework of the united front. After an overview of church, Marxism, and Christianity in China, Wickeri discusses the united front. He focuses on ideology, organization, and religious policy. Wickeri then explores the Three-Self Movement as both a Chinese and a Christian movement. His conclusion: the Three-Self Movement, despite problems, has made Christianity more accessible to the average Chinese and the church more acceptable to Chinese society.


In Search of the Lost Eros

In Search of the Lost Eros

Author: Loreta Iftinchi

Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers

Published: 2024-10-11

Total Pages: 121

ISBN-13: 1035811391

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In Search of the Lost Eros is a meditation on love and its challenges in our modern times. This book pairs literary and philosophical quotations from many renowned authors with the author’s own reflections trying to create a framework for contemplation on the predicament of love today. What is love, really? What is the cosmic Eros that ‘moves the sun and the other stars’? Is this the same love that forms the essence of our deepest being? Is falling in love a form of madness? Is love blind or visionary? Does it inevitably cause suffering? And what about marriage – must we stay together at all costs until death do us part? What are the challenges of sexuality today? What distinguishes erotic art from pornography? These are some of the questions this essay seeks to explore, offering answers that are necessarily incomplete, while hoping to inspire readers to gain their own insights into these inexhaustible topics. Mystics of the major spiritual traditions have always maintained that our spiritual essence is love and that we ultimately cannot lose it. Yet, many modern individuals feel that genuine love is missing from their lives. This book aims to make a modest contribution to rediscovering some of the lost Eros that we all so ardently long for.