No One Is Going To Force Us Onto The Spiritual Path; It Is Up To Each Of Us To Decide What To Make Of Our Life. But After Reading The User’s Manual For An Appliance, We Find Ourselves Inspired To Try To Make It Run As Efficiently As Possible. Likewise, When We Sincerely Study The Life And Teachings Of The Great Masters, We Will Surely Want To Make The Most Of This Rare And Precious Blessing Of A Human Life. In The Blessed Life, Swami Ramakrishnananda Points Out That Amma’s Blessings And Grace Are Always There For Us. However, Just As A Room Will Remain Dark On The Brightest Of Summer Days If We Don’t Bother To Open The Windows, To Become Receptive, We May Have To Make Some Adjustments In The Way We Lead Our Life. With Characteristic Wit, Lively Examples And Profound Insights Gleaned From 28 Years Of Living With Amma, Swami Ramakrishnananda Explores The Kinds Of Actions And Attitudes That We Can Adopt In Order To Allow Divine Grace To Flow Into Us, Making Our Life Truly Blessed. Published By The Disciples Of Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, Affectionately Known As Mother, Or Amma The Hugging Saint.

For decades, Sallie McFague has lent her voice and her theological imagination to addressing and advocating for the most important issues of our time. In doing so, she has influenced an entire generation, and empowered countless people in their efforts to put religion in the service of meeting human needs in difficult times. In this timely book, McFague recalls her readers to the practices of restraint. In a world bent on consumption it is imperative that people of religious faith realize the significant role they play in advocating for the earth, and a more humane life for all. The root of restraint, she argues, rests in the ancient Christian notion of Kenosis, or self-emptying. By introducing Kenosis through the life stories of John Woolman, Simone Weil, and Dorothy Day, McFague brings a powerful theological concept to bear in a winsome and readable way.

Most people spend many hours working with just one aim – to be rich! Unfortunately, riches elude many people as they vehemently seek riches. Why? because they want to be rich but there is a higher purpose, other than riches, why God wants you to labour. This book seeks to explain the things the Bible says you must give your life to. Instead of merely labouring to be rich, you will learn to labour for higher things! Receive a new vision to be a blessing to others as you study this new and absorbing book by Dag Heward-Mills!

This volume in Biblical Theology for Life series dives deeply into the topic of human violence. Before exploring what the Bible says about violence, Old Testament scholar Helen Paynter sets out the contours for the study ahead by addressing the various definitions of violence and the theories of its origins, prevalence, and purpose. What is violence? Is there such a thing as "natural violence"? Is violence a human or social construct or can we describe natural phenomena as violent? How does the concept of violence relate to the concept of evil? Violence is everywhere; is it escapable? How do we resist violence? Having queued up the questions, Paynter takes us to the Bible for answers. Starting with the creation narratives in Genesis considered in comparison with the ancient Near Eastern myths and moving to the conquest of Canaan--the most problematic of biblical narratives--she investigates how these deep myths speak to the origins of human violence and its consequences. The prevalence of violence through biblical history is inescapable. Scripture reveals the hydra-like nature of human violence, investigating types of violence including but not limited to: structural violence, verbal violence, sexual violence, violence as public /political act, racialised violence, including "othering." Through the voices of the prophets and then in the teaching of Jesus, the Bible reveals that the seeds of violence exist within every human heart. Even though we see evidence of resistance movements in the Bible, such as the responses to attempted genocide in Exodus and Esther, it is only on the cross that an absorption of violence by God takes place: a defeat of violence by self-sacrifice. Along the way, Paynter considers other relevant biblical themes, including the apocalypse, "crushing the serpent's head," and the concept of divine vengeance, culminating in the resurrected Christ's lack of vengeance against those who did him to death. In light of the New Testament, we will consider how the first Christians responded to the structural violence of slavery and patriarchy and how they began to apply Jesus' redemptive, non-vengeful theology to their own day. The book concludes by discussing of what this means for Christians today. For many of us who live without routine encounters with or threats of violence, we must consider our responsibility in a world where our experience is the exception. With attention to the multi-headed hydra that is violence and the concealed structures of violence in our own Western society, Paynter challenges readers to consider their own, perhaps inherited, privilege and complicity. The question of how we regard "others," both as individuals and as societies, is a deeply relevant and urgent one for the church: The church can and should be a wholly non-othering body. So what implications does this have for the church and, for example, Black Lives Matter or the rampant xenophobia in our society or immigration and global migration issues? How do we resist evil? What does it mean to turn the other cheek when the cheek that has been slapped is not our own? How do we resist the monster without becoming the monster?

Constantine the Great (Latin: Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus Augustus; February c. 272 AD - 22 May 337 AD), also known as Constantine I or Saint Constantine (in the Orthodox was a Roman Emperor from 306 to 337 AD. Constantine was the son of Flavius Valerius Constantius, a Roman army officer, and his consort Helena. His father became Caesar, the deputy emperor in the west in 293 AD. Constantine was sent east, where he rose through the ranks to become a military tribune under the emperors Diocletian and Galerius. In 305, Constantius was raised to the rank of Augustus, senior western emperor, and Constantine was recalled west to campaign under his father in Britannia (Britain). Acclaimed as emperor by the army at Eboracum (modern-day York) after his father's death in 306 AD, Constantine emerged victorious in a series of civil wars against the emperors Maxentius and Licinius to become sole ruler of both west and east by 324 AD.

Already have all mankind united in celebrating with joyous festivities the completion of the second and third decennial period of this great emperor’s reign; already have we ourselves received him as a triumphant conqueror in the assembly of God’s ministers, and greeted him with the due meed of praise on the twentieth anniversary of his reign: and still more recently we have woven, as it were, garlands of words, wherewith we encircled his sacred head in his own palace on his thirtieth anniversary.

In the light of A Blessed Tree presents an absolutely original, experientially textured introduction to Islamic belief, practice, and history for both the intrigued newcomer as well as for those who already possess some basic literacy in Islam. Slowly crafted over the years following the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, this modest book speaks with scholarly integrity but in an everyday voice, full of real-life narratives that "illuminate" the beliefs, practices, and histories described. More, it brings the reader in touch with the psychological, social, and cultural forces that shape the way we come to the question of Islam in a wounded world, still grappling with the trauma of 9/11 and very much still in a state of war. For these and other reasons, In the Light of a Blessed Tree speaks to contemporary images and realities, even as it walks through the ancient origins of Islam.

This text addresses the host of ethical questions that has arisen recently in response to the development of new reproductive technologies. Addresses the ethical questions which have arisen in response to new reproductive technologies. Helps students of theology, philosophy and health studies, as well as lay readers tackle these issues. Provides readers with relevant medical and scientific facts. Explains how different metaphysical frameworks affect the ways in which people solve these ethical problems. Topics covered include human embryo and embryonic cell stem research, infertility and its treatments, and prenatal screening and diagnosis. The author takes a balanced approach, acknowledging his loyalty to Catholicism, yet exploring freely the new options provided by advancing biological science.