Charles Morgan, a confirmed atheist, argues that the Christian church does in fact have a vital message and could play a major role in modern society. However it insists of making itself inaccessible to modern people with its layers of mumbo jumbo and strange and unlikely beliefs. In this book he maps out just how the church might apply the philosophy of Jesus Christ in a secular world order. Morgan also shows how, from the point of view of a scientist, the intelligent design and Creation theories have some of the truth in them and goes on to show how meditation and the use of designer mood drugs could fit into modern society and Christian ethics.

Have you ever wondered why people have faith? Why don't they choose not to have faith? How does it help you to believe things for which no reasons or evidence can be provided? Is faith pure wish fulfillment? Is it social conditioning, brainwashing, mind control? Imagine a world where no one had ever heard of Moses, the Buddha, Jesus, and Mohammed, but everyone had heard of Pythagoras, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Would our world be better or worse? Imagine that not a single person believed in anything. Imagine that no one placed any faith in anything. Imagine that everyone was rational, logical, and committed to evidence and proof. Imagine that everything was rejected that didn't involve reason, logic, evidence and proof. How would that lead to a worse world? Wouldn't humans be much smarter? Wouldn't they evolve much faster?

In their study of religion and film, religious film analysts have tended to privilege religion. Uniquely, this study treats the two disciplines as genuine equals, by regarding both liturgy and film as representational media. Steve Nolan argues that, in each case, subjects identify with a represented 'other' which joins them into a narrative where they become participants in an ideological 'reality'. Finding many current approaches to religious film analysis lacking, Film, Lacan and the Subject of Religion explores the film theory other writers ignore, particularly that mix of psychoanalysis, Marxism and semiotics - often termed Screen theory - that attempts to understand how cinematic representation shapes spectator identity. Using translations and commentary on Lacan not originally available to Screen theorists, Nolan returns to Lacan's contribution to psychoanalytic film theory and offers a sustained application to religious practice, examining several 'priest films' and real-life case study to expose the way liturgical representation shapes religious identity. Film, Lacan and the Subject of Religion proposes an interpretive strategy by which religious film analysts can develop the kind of analysis that engages with and critiques both cultural and religious practice.

Philosophy of Religion for OCR is an ideal guide for students taking the Philosophy of Religion component of the OCR Religious Studies AS and A Level course. Drawing on insights gained from many years of teaching experience, Dennis Brown and Ann Greggs’ landmark book follows the OCR specification closely and includes: ·clear and comprehensive discussion of each topic in the specification ·discussion of both historical and cutting-edge philosophical approaches ·use of excerpts from primary sources to engage students in philosophical debate ·profiles of important philosophical and religious thinkers, a glossary and helpful chapter summaries ·discussion questions, activity boxes, thought points and suggestions for further reading ·practical ideas on study skills, essay-writing and assessment objectives Philosophy of Religion for OCR provides a clear, accessible and comprehensive introduction to each of the topics on the course, including ancient philosophy, mind, body and soul, arguments for and against God’s existence, religious experience and religious language. Written by two experienced teachers and textbook authors, Philosophy of Religion for OCR will assist students of every ability to achieve their best. This book, which covers component 01 of the OCR H173 and H573 specifications, should be paired with Religion and Ethics for OCR, by Dennis Brown and Mark Coffey, which covers component 02.

Be joyful Have fun Be the happy person you were born to be Understanding, developing, and nurturing the human capacities of knowing and loving are the keys to finding deep and long lasting human happiness. Who am I? What am I? Why am I here? Is there a God? What will really make me happy? These are questions all of us ask ourselves from time to time. Our answers to or avoidance of those questions shape the practical and moral choices we make every day. Those choices, in turn, determine our level of happiness. As human beings, we are born to know and love. With a grasp of this basic concept, we can make choices and decisions which will enable us to live authentic, good, and happy lives in the short term and the long run. It is never too early or too late in life to be deeply happy Robert Beezat is a successful businessman, public official, and community leader whose life is devoted to working for social justice, peace and the common good. He has been engaged for over 50 years with business, social, political, and religious issues at the local, national, and international levels. As a practical man and a man of faith, he addresses the important questions which confront all of us regarding the critical decisions and choices we make as we try to build a good and happy life for ourselves, our families, and society at large. He holds Bachelor and Master Degrees and has been an adjunct faculty member at several colleges and universities. He is currently a speaker at colleges and universities regarding social justice issues and the concept of the Common Good. He has been married to a wonderful woman for 44 years. They have two daughters and two grandchildren.

The sequel and companion volume to C.A. Bayly's ground-breaking The Birth of the Modern World, 1780-1914, this wide-ranging and sophisticated study explores global history since the First World War, offering a coherent, comparative overview of developments in politics, economics, and society at large. Written by one of the leading historians of his generation, an early intellectual leader in the study of World History Weaves a clear narrative history that explores the themes of politics, economics, social, cultural, and intellectual life throughout the long twentieth century Identifies the themes of state, capital, and communication as key drivers of change on a global scale in the last century, and explores the impact of those ideas Interrogates whether warfare was really the pre-eminent driving force of twentieth-century history, and what other ideas shaped the course of history in this period Explores the causes behind the resurgence of local conflict, rather than global-scale conflict, in the years since the turn of the millennium Delves into the narrative of inequality, a story that has shaped and been shaped by the events of the last hundred years Part of The Blackwell History of the World Series The goal of this ambitious series is to provide an accessible source of knowledge about the entire human past, for every curious person in every part of the world. It will comprise some two dozen volumes, of which some provide synoptic views of the history of particular regions while others consider the world as a whole during a particular period of time. The volumes are narrative in form, giving balanced attention to social and cultural history (in the broadest sense) as well as to institutional development and political change. Each provides a systematic account of a very large subject, but they are also both imaginative and interpretative. The Series is intended to be accessible to the widest possible readership, and the accessibility of its volumes is matched by the style of presentation and production.

Incorporating a diversity of approaches from a variety of disciplines, this book provides a major reassessment of the question of nihilism in modernity and interrogates this through the growing interest in angels and demons in contemporary philosophy. The collection examines the uncanny return of angelic and demonic principles in current cultural production and thinking and aims to show that the repression of thought about spiritual entities at the onset of modernity is linked to the appearance of a new form of evil that manifests itself through nihilism.

How many ways are there to approach life? Who is trying to get you to buy into their view of the world? And what do they have to gain by convincing you they are "right?" In his book Naked Guide To Life And Death author David Jon Peckinpaugh seeks to unmask the attempts to convince us that things are a certain way, according to how the so-called "experts" see the world, often resulting in a far more narrow and limited perspective than one might initially suppose. His main thesis is that expertise of all kinds can result in our being seduced into knowing something as being so, when it, in fact, is not nearly so evident as the experts tend to make it seem. In throwing off the veil of religion and science, psychology and philosophy, consumerism and commercialism, Mr. Peckinpaugh performs an endearing service on behalf of us all, humanity. Suggesting that beyond the often contracted and tight spaces of expertise, hence, extremism, there are wide open spaces still inviting to those who dare to entertain the wisdom of not-knowing.

Back To Basics And Other Stories is an eclectic mix of 20 stories from Giles Ekins, author of Sinistrari and Gallows Walk. This anthology includes the whimsical, award-winning 'Back to Basics,' the comedic 'Call me Ruby' and 'A Long, Long, Finish.' Historical tales in the collection include the acclaimed 'Shadows of a Dream,' 'The Lemonade Stall' and 'Portents,' while 'As it was, as it is,' is a tongue-in-cheek satire on student life in the 1980's. Rounding up the collection is 'In the Shimmering Light of Dawn', a heartbreaking love story. This anthology will delight readers of all reading tastes.

Josep Llobera offers an original approach to anthropology through integrating knowledge produced from a wide variety of perspectives. The volume introduces the topic to students of social and cultural anthropology.