Exploring Religion

Are you intrigued by the monumental path Christianity carved through history? This masterful narrative weaves through 1,600 years of history, from Christianity’s origins in the 1st century AD to the transformative Counter-Reformation in 1700.

Is meditation an escape from - or a solution to - our psychological problems? Is the use of antidepressants counter to spiritual practice? Does a psychological approach to meditation reduce spirituality to "self-help"? What can Zen and psychoanalysis teach us about the problems of the mind and suffering?

Neuroscience finds that spontaneous acts of mindfulness decrease stress, depression and anxiety, increasing overall well-being. But studies also show that purposeful mindfulness techniques, such as vipassana or mindfulness meditation, are even more powerful. Mindfulness meditation re-wires the brain in a way that decreases physical pain and psychological suffering.

Love is mysterious! On one hand, it is the only thing that can save us from perpetual darkness; the world from chaos and disintegration. On the other hand, very few of us feel any love day in and day out for our entire lifetimes. Love is self-luminous bliss; it is light; it is life. It is the core of our being and yet it has been lost and forgotten to the world because it means the death of our egos.

Back before Stonehenge or the wheel, back before the pyramids, math, or even the crudest writing existed, ancient peoples gathered and told stories. They told stories of how the world began, what the first people were like, and which of them were heroes or failures. They tried to make sense of the world around them and tried to sort out who the gods were and what those gods wanted from them. More than 10,000 years later, one set of those stories has come down to us in the form of the Old Testament. Perhaps you think you know it. Think again.

Though compassion lies at the heart of the Gospel, it has been little studied in its own right. This book, written by an accomplished scholar yet accessible to the lay listener, fills that void by drawing on the broad and ancient tradition of the Orthodox Church.

Highly esteemed astrophysicist Joseph Silk explores the vast mysteries and speculations of the field of cosmology in a way that balances an accessible style for the general reader and enough technical detail for advanced students and professionals. Indeed, while the physical laws and origins of the universe can be endlessly complex, even Einstein once mused that they could be explained simply enough to be grasped by nonspecialists.

Unlock the secrets of a forgotten faith with Catharism: A Beginner's Guide. This compelling book takes you on a journey through the mysterious world of the Cathars, a medieval Christian sect that challenged the powerful Catholic Church with their unique beliefs and austere lifestyle. Imagine discovering a hidden history, rich with intrigue and drama. Picture yourself delving into a world where spirituality meets rebellion, where ordinary people stood up against immense power. This book is not just about history; it’s about understanding a profound spiritual movement that has influenced ...

In this ten-session Bible study, Faith Under Fire: Exploring Christianity’s Toughest Questions, Lee Strobel hosts interviews and debates between knowledgeable and passionate experts discussing what they believe and why they believe it. This dynamic study answers tough questions about the existence of God, Christianity and Islam, the reliability of the Bible, faith and science, and many others issues. Each session highlights leading Christian and non-Christian voices engaging in forceful but fair debate.

Kyle was nine years old now and he was certain that he was old enough to make decisions on his own. Today was going to be exciting as he decided to take an alternate way home from school and do a little exploring on his own. Read what happens as Kyle finds himself alone, lost and learning lessons about life he and his family would remember for a lifetime.

Previously published as Yeshua's Yoga, The Hidden Message of the Lost Gospel of Thomas unearths the central teaching of this ancient text. The Gospel of Thomas, re-discovered in Nag Hammadi Egypt in 1945, remains one of the most exciting archaeological finds of recent centuries. But how prepared are we to approach this text on its own terms?

Let This Mind Be in You explores God’s call on our lives to servanthood. Aimed specifically at ministers of the Gospel, this book argues that servanthood is essential to every form of Christian service. When we consider the teachings of Scripture and the example of Jesus, we simply cannot be who we are supposed to be without taking the posture of servants.

The way to inner peace is illuminated in this accessible guide to tending one's inner landscape. The lives of outstanding figures such as the Buddha, Walt Whitman, and Gandhi are used to connect the ideal of inner peace with how real people cultivate peace in their everyday lives. Peacefulness as dynamic, selective, and egoless is shown through the constructive act of choosing different ways of life, such as having a smaller family or a more modest career. A message of hope and inspiration permeates this pragmatic approach and is exemplified by the author's own practice of meditation.

This book, The Importance of Seeking Wisdom: Exploring Life's Guidance Through Bible Verses, is an invitation to discover that very light, to explore the timeless wisdom that has provided solace, inspiration, and direction to countless souls throughout history. So, let us embark on this shared expedition, allowing the wisdom of the ages to shine brightly upon our lives. Join me in exploring life's guidance through the timeless wisdom based on the New International Version (NIV) Bible.

What happens after you die? Is there an afterlife? How can I find peace in my fear of death, or comfort after I've lost a loved one? After the tragic death of his father, Adam Dince wrestled with these questions for years. In search of answers, he began to research stories of those who had near-death experiences-people who briefly died but came back to life.

In this course, Father Kirby takes a look at the history and artwork of St. Peter's Square and Basilica through the light of faith. This comprehensive tour explains why St. Peter's Basilica was significant to the early Christians, and why it is still significant today. Just as the ancient pilgrims exclaimed, “Ecco Roma” (Latin for “Behold Rome”), so too does this course begin with wonder at beholding the Eternal City. Aside from visiting Italy in person, this tour will take you as close as possible to experiencing the splendor of Rome, Vatican City, and St. Peter’s Square.

Sacred Sites and Mystical Travel: Exploring the Astral Realms of Sacred Places by Marilynn Hughes is a transformative guide that explores the powerful connection between physical sacred sites and their astral counterparts. This book reveals how sacred places act as energetic gateways, facilitating spiritual growth, healing, and divine connection through both physical and astral travel.

Dreams can be letters coming from someone's unconscious mind. These are also considered as successions of ideas, images, sensations, and emotions that usually happen in an involuntary manner to one's mind. These are highly evident during a specific stage of dreams known as oneirology.

Richard Littledale invites you to push open the garden gate and join him as he discovers the joy of gardening. A reluctant gardener, Richard took up ‘project garden’ to help combat the loneliness of bereavement, only to find that the physical transformation of his garden mirrored a real change in himself too. Follow Richard’s journey through 52 tales and uncover what gardening can teach us about patience, humility, hope, fruitfulness and the abiding goodness of God.

There are many parallels between the ideas of Tao Te Ching, written 2,500 years ago by Lao Tzu, and those of Systems Thinking, which has come into prominence with the advent of modern personal computers, through people like Jay W. Forrester, and other thinkers such as Donella Meadows and Fritjof Capra. This book invites us to consider certain timeless wisdoms related to Systems Thinking and provides us with a few points to explore, as we face major challenges for resolving issues we confront for our future.