FOREWORD On September 11, 2001, Muslim terrorists launched an attack on the United States to punish it for being what Osama bin Laden considered the land of the infidels! In fact, this attack was an attack on the entire Western world and, even more important, it was an attack on Western civilization, the underlying objective being to take civilization back fourteen hundred years to a time of great glory for the Islamic world. In the wake of the attack by young Muslim extremists, which resulted in the collapse of the twin towers of the World Trade Center in Manhattan, our leaders attempted to assure us that the terrorists did not represent the entire Muslim world. It was said that they were the actions of a minority, of an extreme fringe group. It was, and continues to be, troubling, however, that we have heard very little strong condemnation coming from the supposed moderate Muslim community. Who are these moderates? Why have they not spoken out more vociferously? Do they really exist? When will they speak out with moral indignation? Indeed, will they ever? For most Westerners Islam is thought to be just another world religion, equal to Christianity and Judaism. But is this really the case? Upon closer study, Islam seems to be far different from the other two religions. Certainly no one would accuse Muslims of being tolerant, non-judgmental, non-violent or peace-loving! While Muslims have been allowed to build hundreds of mosques in Western countries, Christian churches may only rarely be built, if ever, in Muslim countries! Indeed in some Muslim countries such as the Sudan, it is official government policy to demolish churches! In addition, it is difficult to believe that any world religion would advocate treating women as second-class citizens, and actually get away with it! The concept of brotherhood in Islam is strong. The posture advocated by Prophet Mohammed in the Koran toward non-Muslims, however, is to seek them out and annihilate them. The phenomenon of suicide bombers is at once both pathetic and chilling. On the one hand, it is pathetic that young Muslims are taught that they can gain entrance into paradise by taking peoples lives in such a gruesome manner. Carnal pleasures, of course, await the males upon entrance into heaven! On the other hand, it is chilling to think that there are any people living in the 21st century ready to teach and encourage such savagery. What is the supposed theological justification for holding to such beliefs? Indeed, is there any such thing in Islam as theology in which the tenets of the faith are examined critically? Isnt it the case, rather, that the teachings of Prophet Mohammed are accepted literally, and without question? In his book, The Dawning of a New Dark Age, Mark Alexander explores these questions, and often finds disturbing answers. Unlike many authors on the subject, Mark actually lived and worked among Muslims for many years; so he has first-hand knowledge of the religion and culture. While on his tours of duty in the Middle East, Mark immersed himself in Islam and Arabic culture, studying the religion both from Occidental and Oriental perspectives. He familiarized himself not only with the Koran, but also with the beliefs and attitudes of Muslims in the street. This experience has given him unusually clear insights into the aspirations of the Muslim world. Marks conclusions will not be comforting to those who would like to believe that the long-term threat to the West is limited to the aspirations of a few fundamentalist terrorists. Douglas Kennedy, Ph.D.,

In his famous argument against miracles, David Hume gets to the heart of the modern problem of supernatural belief. 'We are apt', says Hume, 'to imagine ourselves transported into some new world; where the whole form of nature is disjointed, and every element performs its operation in a different manner, from what it does at present.' This encapsulates, observes Peter Harrison, the disjuncture between contemporary Western culture and medieval societies. In the Middle Ages, people saw the hand of God at work everywhere. Indeed, many suppose that 'belief in the supernatural' is likewise fundamental nowadays to religious commitment. But dichotomising between 'naturalism' and 'supernaturalism' is actually a relatively recent phenomenon, just as the notion of 'belief' emerged historically late. In this masterful contribution to intellectual history, the author overturns crucial misconceptions – 'myths' – about secular modernity, challenging common misunderstandings of the past even as he reinvigorates religious thinking in the present.

The Dawning is a radically different and innovative approach to the astrological ages including the Age of Aquarius -providing a fascinating insight into past ages, our current turbulent times, and what might be in store for our world over the next few thousand years! Terry MacKinnell takes us on a journey into the astrological ages and with periscopic detail presents an entertaining and thought-provoking read that challenges astrological assumptions. MacKinnell proposes that an oversight made by the ancients inadvertently impacted conventional astrological calculations and he explores the popular belief that the Age of Aquarius has already arrived when according to conventional astrology it is not due for many centuries to come. He argues that the real Aquarian Age has indeed already arrived and did so in the 15th Century, the same century historians claim as the beginning of modernity. Continuing the journey he dives into our present and our future. This fascinating book will appeal to astrologers, archeo-astronomers, historians and everyone looking for a new perspective on the past, the present and the future.

A study in the meaning of Jesus as seen through the lens of legends and ideas related to Dionysus, Baal, Lucifer, and Ulysses.

The only information we have on Atlantis is from a very ancient Egyptian account that describes it as bigger than all their neighbours combined. Why is this fact ignored by most of the fanciful theories? From Atlantis to our current scientific predictions, the truth about so many things becomes clear and obvious only if all the facts are collected and examined, yet many people just select those that agree with their thinking. The resulting conflict between experience and belief, truth and distortion or good and bad, is only resolved when science, philosophy and theology are harmonized and examined as aspects of one universal truth.

Called to be Holy in the World presents an overview of the history of Christianity from Pentecost to the present. Written from a Lutheran perspective, this book introduces the reader to key Christian figures and movements as it encompasses a broad view of God's work in the world. The story after all is God's story. As His story it is centered in Christ's cross, but extends around the globe as Christians lived and continue to live out their particular vocations as holy people in the world. As a resource for students of all ages, this book surveys how Christianity confronted the world and how Christians tried to balance the challenges of living wholly and holy in the world. Historical information on various controversies provides background information for the volume on Christian doctrine in this series, Called by the Gospel. Organized in a unique style, each of the twenty-one chapters deals with one century of Christian history. Discussion questions and reading guides along with informative side bars provide additional educational resource and reference material for further study.

Kalachakra is a system of highest tantra practice for overcoming the limitations imposed by historical, astrological, and biological cycles so as to become a Buddha for the benefit of all. His Holiness the Dalai Lama and other great Tibetan teachers have been conferring the Kalachakra initiation in the West, empowering prepared practitioners to engage in its meditations. Large numbers of people also attend this initiation as interested observers and gain inspiration for their spiritual growth. Introduction to the Kalachakra Initiation explains on a practical level and in everyday language the theory of tantra, the vows, commitments, and their implications, the factors to consider in deciding if one is ready to attend a Kalachakra initiation as a participant, how to visualize during the initiation, and the most important thoughts and feelings for participants and observers at each step of the empowerment. In preparing this guidebook, Alexander Berzin has done a great service to everyone interested in the Kalachakra initiation. It will help people to prepare for the ceremony and understand the essential points of each step of the procedure.

"Indexes to papers read before the Museums Association, 1890-1909. Comp. by Charles Madeley": v. 9, p. 427-452.

Over 25,000 years ago a humanoid race stumbled upon the earth. They were amazed that the humanoids on the earth were quite similar to them as their colonization efforts had never led them to an inhabited planet. Deciding to watch and wait they witnessed five natural disasters destroy most of the life on Earth, but each time mankind proved resilient. Finally, the leaders of the home planet, Osiriat, decided that mankind could become an ally in space and decided to help him once he reached that point. They also noticed star signs/alignment patterns that would clue man into upcoming disasters if he would learn to read them. The fifth mission to Earth secretly built the pyramids of Egypt and Meso-America, but instead of reading the signs, man interpreted them as signs from the gods. Knowing mankind was doomed to disaster in the earth calendar year 2012, the leaders of the fifth mission decided to send their children on the sixth and final mission to earth to rebuild society, this time as a mixed race. Why didn't mankind locate Osiriat with his long range space based telescopes? Because it is hidden in the binary Sirian system. The two suns of this system are too bright and hide it well. Besides, man was looking into deeper space for habitable planets. Why didn't man read the signs? He did, but his perception created gods and then God. Once he had the "answer", the structures which carried the signs became tourist attractions. Why do I discuss the next 4300 years? To answer the questions, "Will history repeat itself? and Will mankind learn from the past and save himself?" You decide.

We are at the threshold of a transitional period from the Age of Pisces to the Age of Aquarius. What should we expect from this coming New Era? What are its signs? What is the fate of human spirituality? What will the new concepts of God and of religion be? This book attempts to answer these questions based on well researched sources complemented and endorsed by cosmology, archeology, psychology, religion, Near East studies, and mythology, among other scientific disciplines. The book also intends to clarify the confusion created by some Protestant religious leaders and sensationalistic writers who have misinterpreted the signs of the transitional period as the end of the world. The truth is that we are witnessing a shift of ages, that is, the slow evolution from the Piscean Era to the commencing of a new worldwide social order, a new chapter in human history called the Aquarian dispensation. The huge conspiracy propounded by false prophets and some New Age writers, whether overtly or covertly, feeds the fear and anxiety of ordinary people with unfounded apocalyptic propaganda. This book attempts to give the reader an accurate perspective regarding the planetary transformations that are taking place; it offers hope and inspiration as we approach the Golden Age.