Contemporary Religion

Now in an updated second edition, Gabriel Said Reynolds tells the story of Islam in this brief survey, beginning with Muhammad's early life and rise to power, then tracing the origins and development of the Qur'an juxtaposed with biblical literature, and concluding with an overview of modern and fundamentalist narratives of the origin of Islam. Reynolds offers a fascinating look at the structure and meaning of the Qur'an, revealing the ways in which biblical language is used to advance the Qur'an's religious meaning.

When you think of a Christian pastor, you probably don't envision a tattooed 30-something who wears a motorcycle jacket, listens to hip-hop music, references The Walking Dead and Black Lives Matter in his sermons, and every Sunday draws a standing-room only crowd to a venue normally used for rock concerts - in godless New York City, no less. But then you clearly have never met Carl Lentz. As head pastor of the first United States branch of global megachurch Hillsong, the former college basketball player is on a mission to make Christianity accessible in the 21st century.

More than a hundred years ago, Ellen G. White penned The Desire of Ages, a classic volume on the life of Jesus that has been a source of inspiration and enlightenment to millions of readers all over the world. Author Jerry D. Thomas’s passion to make this powerful story more accessible to today’s listener has given birth to Messiah - a contemporary adaptation of Mrs. White’s great work. Thomas’s friendly style amplifies the beautiful message of this devotional classic, making the sublime themes of the original easier to grasp.

Buddhism aims for the development of a flexible mind and skillful responsiveness-whether toward problems in one's personal life or broader issues like the ecological crisis. But in a culture now saturated with cliches about mindfulness and unrealistic fantasies about happiness, what does it truly mean to walk this path? The key practice is that of embodied aliveness.

في مجتمع يقدس مبدأ التلقَي من علٍ وبأن الأفضل دائماً هو ... ما كان وبأن أسباب النصر تكمن في العودة (إلى) وليس في التقدم (نحو) بين ثنايا ذهنية عامة تخاف من (السؤال) وتُبجل (الإجابة) ترتعب من الجدال وترتكن إلى الاستماع نسقٌ يكره أشد ما يكره أدوات الاستفهام وبخاصة .. لماذا؟ بين كل ما سبق .. تدور موضوعات هذا الكتاب نواجه عقليات اعتادت أن تتلقى في حذر كل ما يٌلقى إليها

Dive into the enigmatic realm of Hermes Trismegistus through "The Hermetica: Contemporary English Translation," now available in a captivating audiobook format. Brought to you by TimeBridge Texts, this rendition of age-old wisdom, translated by Patrick McCormick, is an auditory journey into ancient esoteric knowledge, articulated in a language that speaks to today's listener.

This Very Short Introduction provides both the believer and non-believer with a balanced survey of the central questions of theology. David Ford's approach draws us in to considering the principles underlying religious belief, including the centrality of salvation to most major religions; the concept of God in ancient, modern, and postmodern contexts; the challenge posed to theology by prayer and worship; and the issue of sin and evil. He also probes the nature of experience, knowledge, and wisdom in theology, and discusses what is involved in interpreting theological texts.

When an injured stranger staggers down a Hawaiian mountainside and into her backyard, Monica believes God has directed this mysterious young lady to her. But Monica's brother, an insurance-fraud investigator, isn't so sure. He finds it hard to believe this green-eyed outsider doesn't know who she is, what has happened, or where she is.

“An indispensible study” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) drawing on history, public opinion surveys, and personal experience that presents a provocative examination of the unholy relationship between American Christianity and white supremacy, and issues an urgent call for White Christians to reckon with this legacy for the sake of themselves and the nation.

Heathenry is one of the fastest growing polytheistic religious movements in the United States today. In A Modern Guide to Heathenry, listeners will have the opportunity to explore the sacred stories of the various heathen gods like Odin, Frigga, Freya, and Thor, and will be granted a look into the devotional practices of modern votaries.

We live within the ruins of an ancient civilization whose size has rendered it invisible. Remembered in myth as Atlantis, Lemuria, or other lost world archetypes, the remains of this advanced civilization have lain buried for millennia beneath the deserts and oceans of the world. Investigating the perennial myth of a forgotten fountainhead of civilization, J. Douglas Kenyon presents extensive physical and spiritual evidence of a lost great culture, the collective amnesia that wiped it from planetary memory, and the countless ways ancient catastrophes still haunt modern civilization.

To the world around us, this kind of unconditional love makes little sense. The world is really good at loving some people, sometimes. Most of us are. But what about loving people who don't talk like us, think like us, vote like us, or see the world like we do? In this five-session audio Bible study, Bob points the way to embodying love by doing the unexpected, the intimidating, the seemingly impossible—to love everybody the way Jesus loved them—without fear, insecurity, or reservations.

We must apply Solomon's leadership insights to global missions and outreach. Solomon's fame and influence extended far beyond the borders of Israel. As Christian leaders, we are called to have a global perspective and engage in cross-cultural missions with wisdom and sensitivity. By studying Solomon's approach to international relations, we can learn valuable lessons in fostering unity, building alliances, and promoting peace and justice.

Ghosts and other supernatural phenomena are widely represented throughout modern culture. They can be found in any number of entertainment, commercial, and other contexts, but popular media or commodified representations of ghosts can be quite different from the beliefs people hold about them, based on tradition or direct experience. Personal belief and cultural tradition on the one hand, and popular and commercial representation on the other, nevertheless continually feed each other.

Contemporary Theology: An Introduction by Kirk MacGregor introduces major thinkers and schools of thought from the beginning of the 19th century to the present, including non-Western voices, evangelical perspectives, and philosophical developments alongside the widely acknowledged main streams of modern theology.

Liam once approved of helping others, but not anymore. He lost his mother due to a crazed street person, and he's hardened his heart. Now a successful photographer, he’s returned to set up shop in his hometown - directly across the courtyard from his sister’s best friend. Zoe runs an outreach center and encourages the homeless and needy, especially at Christmas. Nursing a soft spot for Liam that started as a girlhood crush, she sets out to help him by creating her unique brand of encouragement cards. Her hope is to reignite the fire and love for Christmas and God that Liam once had.

An intense and thought-provoking novel, Eli strips away religious tradition to present Jesus fresh and unvarnished. With gripping immediacy, Bill Myers weaves a story whose truth will refresh your faith.

The Practice of the Presence of God is a venerated collection of conversations and letters that capture the wisdom of Nicholas Herman (Brother Lawrence). This fresh contemporary version will reach a new generation with his much-needed message. The message is simple yet utterly profound. The discipline of being aware of God's presence and serving in utter reliance on Him is the core of what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

Cole has fought hundreds of fires in his lifetime, but he had never tasted fear until he came to fighting a fire in his own home. Amongst the Flames is a Christian firefighter romance that tackles real-life situations and problems that exist in Christian marriages today. It brings with it passion, love, and spiritual depth that will leave you feeling inspired. This contemporary Christian romance novel is one book that you'll want to hear over and over again.

Solitary Pagans is the first book to explore the growing phenomenon of contemporary Pagans who practice alone. Although the majority of Pagans in the United States have abandoned the tradition of practicing in groups, little is known about these individuals or their way of practice. Helen A. Berger fills that gap by building on a massive survey of contemporary practitioners. By examining the data, Berger describes solitary practitioners demographically and explores their spiritual practices, level of social engagement, and political activities.