Ancient Spirituality

Pagans explores the rise of Christianity from a surprising and unique viewpoint: that of the people who witnessed their ways of life destroyed by what seemed then a powerful religious cult. These "pagans" were actually pious Greeks, Romans, Syrians, and Gauls, who observed the traditions of their ancestors. To these devout polytheists, Christians who worshiped only one deity were immoral atheists who believed that a splash of water on the deathbed could erase a lifetime of sin.

Taking listeners on a thought-provoking journey into our ancestors’ beliefs about death, dying, and the afterlife, Gregory Shushan, Ph.D., reveals the powerful influence of near-death experiences (NDEs) on religious beliefs and ritual practices throughout human history. Focusing on five ancient world regions in Egypt, Mesopotamia, India, China, and Mesoamerica, Shushan expertly explores each civilization’s afterlife beliefs.

“If you're a fan of the Abraham/Esther Hicks channeled books, you will enjoy Messages from the Ancient Ones by Stacey Stephens. Well organized by topics such as Compassion, Empowerment, Relationships, Integrity, etc., the ideas presented are upbeat and almost utopian. If everyone took the advice to live by the ideals in this book, it would be a better place indeed. I used the chapters as a daily devotional in the mornings. There are pictures to set the tone for each chapter, which is a creative way to utilize the need freedoms of digital publishing. The messages are reminiscent of A ...

In this book, you'll explore the rich mythology and cultural significance of wind, and discover a powerful system to utilize the subtle, healing energies in your life. Winds of Spirit will teach you how to connect with your true inner self, use your body as a compass, and receive life-changing messages from nature.

I and II Kings provide a record of Israel's history from the beginning of the movement to place Solomon on David's throne through the end of the reign of Zedekiah, Judah's last king. There are great lessons to be learned from Israel's desire to be "like those around us" and its consequences.

This eight-session study of the Book of Psalms masterfully mixes scholarly and practical teaching of one of the most well-read wisdom Books. Sandra Richter’s pedagogy offers every modern listener the scaffolding they cannot bring to the table themselves and introduces the people of God today to their ancestors in the faith in a cross-cultural-experience kind of way. There will be numerous connections to contemporary worship and devotional practices and focus on a few psalms that have become “classics” in the Christian world and need a deeper explanation.

In the earliest centuries of faith, Christians in the deserts of Palestine and Africa sought a short prayer that could be easily repeated, in order to acquire the habit of "prayer without ceasing." The result was The Jesus Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me." This jewel of Eastern Christianity aims at enabling a person to be in God's presence, rather than to focus on feelings or thoughts about God.

“I didn’t think he’d do it. I really didn’t think he would. I thought he’d say, whoa, hold on, wait a minute. We made a deal, remember, the land, the blessing, the nation, the descendants as numerous as the sands on the shore and the stars in the sky.” So begins James Goodman’s original and urgent encounter with one of the most compelling and resonant stories ever told - God’s command to Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac.

Inside The Sky People you will find proof that visitors from other planets exist and have visited Earth since ancient times.You will be shocked to learn that Apollo and other Greek goods were actually visitors from outer space; the Garden of Eden may have been on another planet; visitors from other galaxies and dimensions are working together to save Earth; and much more.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is not about what Jesus can do for your life. It is not even the answer to the question, “How can I be saved?” It is the declaration of a victory. In his coming to earth, his suffering, and his Resurrection, Christ conquered demons, sin, and death. In Arise, O God, author and podcaster Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick introduces us to the spiritual war that Christ won by his victory, how we are caught in that war’s cosmic crossfire, what the true content of the gospel is—and how we are to respond.

This year Christians worldwide will celebrate the 1700th anniversary of Constantine's conversion and victory at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge. No Roman emperor had a greater impact on the modern world than did Constantine. The reason is not simply that he converted to Christianity but that he did so in a way that brought his subjects along after him. Indeed, this major new biography argues that Constantine's conversion is but one feature of a unique administrative style that enabled him to take control of an empire beset by internal rebellions and external threats by Persians and Goths.

"Gods & Goddesses: The Evolution of Human Spirituality” is an enlightening exploration of humanity’s evolving relationship with the divine, tracing the development of religious practices, deities, and spiritual movements across millennia. From the earliest animistic beliefs of prehistoric societies to the rise of monotheistic faiths, this book delves into the core of human spirituality, examining how ancient gods, rituals, and philosophies laid the foundation for modern religious and spiritual practices. Through a blend of historical analysis and cultural insight, the book explores the ...

The most translated book in the world after the Bible, the Tao Te Ching, or “Book of the Tao,” is a guide to cultivating a life of peace, serenity, and compassion. Through aphorisms and parable, it leads readers toward the Tao, or the “Way”: harmony with the life force of the universe. Traditionally attributed to Lao-tzu, a Chinese philosopher thought to have been a contemporary of Confucius, it is the essential text of Taoism, one of the three major religions of ancient China.

Even a busy life can become fertile ground for Christian growth, as Ken Shigematsu explains throughout God in My Everything. Drawing from the wisdom of the monastic “rule of life,” Ken shows how the ancient practice of having daily life-giving rhythms can be adapted to nearly every life stage and vocation.

In this follow-up to Erich von Däniken's worldwide best seller Chariots of the Gods, the author reveals startling new evidence that could prove his theory that ancient Earth had contact with aliens. Von Däniken claims that an alien race helped to create the pyramids of Egypt, a claim he based upon the ruins themselves.

Ancient Faith has produced a fresh update and redesign of a book cherished by a generation of seekers. Written in an accessible manner for the average lay person, Orthodox Worship offers insights into the Orthodox liturgy. Early Christians preserved a continuity of worship from the Old Covenant to the New, employing elements from the Jewish Temple liturgy, the synagogue liturgy, and the rituals of the Jewish home.

With his characteristic clarity and elegance A. C. Grayling takes the listener from the worldviews and moralities before the age of the Buddha, Confucius and Socrates, through Christianity's dominance of the European mind, to the Renaissance and Enlightenment, and on to Mill, Nietzsche, Sartre and philosophy today. And, since the story of philosophy is incomplete without mention of the great philosophical traditions of India, China and the Persian-Arabic world, he gives a comparative survey of them, too.

In The Power of Ho'oponopono, new thought author Craig Beck gives you a brief introduction and grounding in this life changing style of meditation. By implementing the easy to follow steps in this book you can affect positive change in your own life and also in the lives of all those that you love.

A fresh reading of the Old Testament text in light of the ancient Near Eastern context can open new avenues of awareness. Walton provides a clear, helpful guide to the nature of biblical prophecy and apocalyptic literature that will help listeners avoid potential misuse and reclaim the message of the prophets for their lives.

The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India. It is of immense importance to the culture of the Indian subcontinent and is a major text of Hinduism. Its discussion of human goals (artha or 'purpose', kama or 'pleasure', dharma or 'duty' and moksha or 'liberation') takes place in a long-standing tradition, attempting to explain the relationship of the individual to society and the world (the nature of the 'self') and the workings of karma.