Utilizing contemporary scholarship on secularization, individualism, and consumer capitalism, this book explores religious movements founded in the West which are intentionally fictional: Discordianism, the Church of All Worlds, the Church of the SubGenius, and Jediism.
The Witchcraft Reader offers a wide range of historical perspectives on the subject of witchcraft in a single, accessible volume, exploring the enduring hold that it has on human imagination.
From the New York Times bestselling author of American Fascists and the NBCC finalist for War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning comes this timely and compelling work about new atheists: those who attack religion to advance the worst of global capitalism, intolerance and imperial projects.
Ron Geaves demonstrates how the convergence of Prem Rawat, formerly known as Guru Maharaj Ji, and Glastonbury Fayre in 1971 was a key event in understanding the jigsaw that came to be known as 'New Age' spirituality.
Step into the enigmatic world of Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor, whose reign marked a unique crossroads between mysticism, art, and emerging scientific thought.
How sacred sites amplify the energies of consciousness, the earth, and the universe *; Examines the web of geometrical patterns linking sacred sites worldwide, with special focus on the sacred network of ley lines in Paris *; Unveils the coming state of shared consciousness for humanity fueled by the sacred network *; Reveals how consciousness is a tangible form of energy First marked by the standing stones of our megalithic ancestors, the world's sacred sites are not only places of spiritual energy but also hubs of cosmic energy and earthly energy.
Urban Apologetics examines the legitimate issues that Black communities have with Western Christianity and shows how the gospel of Jesus Christrather than popular, socioreligious alternativesrestores our identity.
This ground-breaking biography of Bishop Francis Hutchinson (1669-1739) provides a detailed and rare portrait of an early eighteenth century Irish bishop and witchcraft theorist.
New Religious Movements (NRMs) can involve vast numbers of followers and in many cases are radically changing the way people understand and practice religion and spirituality.
All three volumes of the occult classic available together as a deluxe boxed set for the first timeVolume I includes translations of rare texts alongside rites, practices, and arcane magical knowledge Volume II offers studies of mystery traditions throughout history and shares authentic initiatic wisdom and a rigorous selection of initiatory exercises Volume III explores esoteric practices for individual development and realization of immortal and divine potential, handed down from a primordial tradition In 1927 Julius Evola and other leading Italian esotericists formed the mysterious UR group.
In this book, Henrik Lagerlund offers students, researchers, and advanced general readers the first complete history of what is perhaps the most famous of all philosophical problems: skepticism.
In 2013, when the state of Oklahoma erected a statue of the Ten Commandments on the grounds of the state capitol, a group calling themselves The Satanic Temple applied to erect a statue of Baphomet alongside the Judeo-Christian tablets.
This book offers a detailed analysis of the Gospel of Thomas in its historic and literary context, providing a new understanding of the genesis of the Jesus tradition.
The first decade of the twenty-first century saw a number of best-selling books which not only challenged the existence of god, but claimed that religious faith was dangerous and immoral.
In THE WAY OF THE WIZARD, Deepk Chopra sheds light on 20 life-enhancing principles for rediscovering the magic that we have lost, but that remains within our grasp.
This volume offers 18 studies linked together by a common focus on the circulation and reception of motifs and beliefs in the field of folklore, magic, and witchcraft.
This book explores the cross- and trans-cultural dialectic between Tantra and intersecting 'magical' and 'shamanic' practices associated with vernacular religions across Monsoon Asia.
This book, first published in 1974, shows how social class and origins in mid-nineteenth century Aberdeen were reflected in religious belief and observance, and how in turn this acted as a catalyst for change in society.
This book draws on a study of the Sunday Assembly- a "e;godless congregation"e;- to reflect on how the Church might better deal with suffering, lament and theodicy.
Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility.
While atheists such as Richard Dawkins have now become public figures, there is another and perhaps darker strain of religious rebellion that has remained out of sight--people who hate God.
Julius Evola's masterful overview of the political and social manifestations of our time, the "e;age of decline"e; known to the Hindus as the Kali Yuga.
In Christmas as Religion, Christopher Deacy explores the premise that religion plays an elementary role in our understanding of the Christmas festival, but takes issue with much of the existing literature which is inclined to limit the contours and parameters of 'religion' to particular representations and manifestations of institutional forms of Christianity.
An exploration of the traditional rites of auspicious building and crafting*; Explains the ceremonial beginnings and Hermetic principles in the laying out of foundations not only for sacred buildings like temples but also for homes and barns*; Examines the principles and ceremonies of electional astrology and details how to compute natural time, as opposed to clock time*; Shares examples from ancient Egypt, Iran, India, and Europe that range from the Stone Age to the Renaissance and include secret societiesWhen we make things--whether a building, a sacred space, or a magical object--there is a precise moment when the artifact comes into being as a separate entity.
This monograph begins with a puzzle: a Babylonian text from late 5th century BCE Uruk associating various diseases with bodily organs, which has evaded interpretation.
An exploration of the origins, influences, and legacy of the scandalous Hell-Fire Clubs of the 18th century and beyond *; Reveals the club's origins in the work of Rabelais and the magical practices of John Dee and how their motto, ';Do What You Will,' deeply influenced Aleister Crowley *; Explores the cross-fertilization of liberty and libertinage within these clubs that influenced both U.
The sacred texts of Ifa, repository of the accumulated wisdom of countless generations of Yoruba people, are an invaluable source not only for all students of African oral literature and Yoruba civilization, but also for future generations interested in the continuing vitality of Ifa divination and a Yoruba way of life and thought.
Examining the intersection of occult spirituality, text, and gender, this book provides a compelling analysis of the occult revival in literature from the 1880s through the course of the twentieth century.
This book explores the inter-relationship between religious groups and wider society and examines the way religious groups change in relation to societal norms, potentially to the point of undergoing processes of 'internal secularisation' within secular and secularist cultures.
Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility.
Between the years of 1898 and 1926, Edward Westermarck spent a total of seven years in Morocco, visiting towns and tribes in different parts of the country, meeting local people and learning about their language and culture; his findings are noted in this two-volume set, first published in 1926.
Ernesto de Martino was a major critical thinker in the study of vernacular religions, producing innovative analyses of key concepts such as 'folklore', 'magic' and 'ritual'.
