David Alexander, an American professor of Russian, is called to task about an offhand remark he made concerning Tsar Boris Godunov, an historical figure portrayed as a villain and prince-murderer in history, as well as in literature and opera. David's remark precipitates an academic dispute, and his teaching job is on the line. So is his historical research into Russia's Cult of Sophia, which is part of the religious ideal of The Divine Feminine. His research takes him back to the early 1600's, and he and a Soviet archivist colleague chance upon long-concealed letters written by three Orthodox monks. The hunt is on for the long-suppressed mystical papers to which these monks refer. William Jack has an MA and PhD in Slavic Languages and Literature, with a specialization in Russian literature, from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

The book that changed the consciousness of a country—and the world. Landmark, groundbreaking, classic—these adjectives barely describe the earthshaking and long-lasting effects of Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique. This is the book that defined "the problem that has no name," that launched the Second Wave of the feminist movement, and has been awakening women and men with its insights into social relations, which still remain fresh, ever since. A national bestseller, with over 1 million copies sold.

'To see a World in a Grain of Sand 'And a Heaven in a Wild Flower Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand And Eternity in an hour' William Blake wrote some of the most moving and memorable verse in the English language. Deeply committed to visionary and imaginative experience, yet also fiercely engaged with the turbulent politics of his era, he is now recognised as a major contributor to the Romantic Movement. This edition presents Blake's poems in their literary categories and genres to which they belong: his much-loved lyrics, ballads, comic and satirical verse, descriptive and discursive poems, verse epistles, and, finally, his remarkable 'prophetic' poems, including the whole of his two diffuse epics, Milton and Jerusalem. Blake's poetry is intellectually challenging as well as formally inventive, and this edition has a substantial critical introduction which places his ideas in the contemporary context of the Enlightenment and the artistic reaction against its key assumptions.

An easy-to-learn, easy-to-use tool for in-depth Bible study Beloved and acclaimed for more than five generations, the Thompson Chain-Reference® Bible is unparalleled in its ability to enrich personal devotions, topical study, and sermon preparation. This unique reference Bible enables you to search the breadth of Scripture’s teachings on thousands of topics and allows you to follow those topics throughout the entire Bible. With over 100,000 references, covering over 8,000 topics, the Chain-Reference System is an ideal tool for comprehensive topical study. The Thompson Chain-Reference Bible also offers a library of additional study resources that allows readers to interpret the Bible using related scripture passages rather than consulting a commentary. The NIV Thompson Chain-Reference Bible is printed in Zondervan’s exclusive NIV Comfort Print® typeface for easy reading. Expertly designed specifically to be used for the New International Version (NIV) text, Comfort Print offers an easier reading experience that complements the most widely read modern-English Bible translation. It also features a fresh, two-color design that preserves the original look of the chain-reference system, while making each page cleaner and easier to read. Features: Complete text of the accurate, readable, and clear New International Version (NIV) Easy-to-understand Chain-Reference System with over 100,000 references Alphabetical and numerical indexes highlight study materials for over 8,000 topics, each with its own topic number, for exhaustive topical study An extensive study resource section includes biographical sketches, illustrated studies of the Bible, a concordance, Bible harmonies, and many other helpful study tools Fresh, two-color page design 66 book introductions 16-page full-color map section with map index Words of Jesus in red

The principal doctrines defining Mormonism today often bear little resemblance to those it started out with in the early 1830s. This book shows that these doctrines did not originate in a vacuum but were rather prompted and informed by the religious culture from which Mormonism arose. Early Mormons, like their early Christian and even earlier Israelite predecessors, brought with them their own varied culturally conditioned theological presuppositions (a process of convergence) and only later acquired a more distinctive theological outlook (a process of differentiation). In this first-of-its-kind comprehensive treatment of the development of Mormon theology, Charles Harrell traces the history of Latter-day Saint doctrines from the times of the Old Testament to the present. He describes how Mormonism has carried on the tradition of the biblical authors, early Christians, and later Protestants in reinterpreting scripture to accommodate new theological ideas while attempting to uphold the integrity and authority of the scriptures. In the process, he probes three questions: How did Mormon doctrines develop? What are the scriptural underpinnings of these doctrines? And what do critical scholars make of these same scriptures? In this enlightening study, Harrell systematically peels back the doctrinal accretions of time to provide a fresh new look at Mormon theology. “This Is My Doctrine” will provide those already versed in Mormonism’s theological tradition with a new and richer perspective of Mormon theology. Those unacquainted with Mormonism will gain an appreciation for how Mormon theology fits into the larger Jewish and Christian theological traditions.

With intellectual reference points that include Foucault and Freud, Wittig, Kristeva and Irigaray, this is one of the most talked-about scholarly works of the past fifty years and is perhaps the essential work of contemporary feminist thought.

The resurgent interest in the wisdom of the Goddess and ancient matriarchal religions makes "Sophia" a timely read! Schaup explains that the Divine Feminine has been with us all along, hidden in ancient Christian scripture, and has taken many different forms and names in Eastern and Western culture. She is Sophia, or Divine Wisdom. Dr. Schaup heralds a paradigm shift in our concept of God with this provocative chronicle of the manifestation of the Divine Feminine throughout history and in the world's diverse cultures. With this beautifully written book, Dr. Schaup teaches us to recognize Sophia and Her relevance to our time so that we can restore Her to Her rightful place in our hearts and minds, alongside the "Fathergod", and gain a new sense of wholeness.

Scott Sernau’s clear writing and vivid examples help readers to understand their role as global citizens. Part one begins with the challenges of inequality in life chances, wages and work, and gender and education; inequality lies at the heart of many global problems. Part two focuses on conflict and violence—from crime to politics, terrorism to war—with an emphasis on connections of violence to social justice and human rights. Part three looks at sustainability and the problems of urbanization, crowding, and environmental destruction. Each chapter begins with a “Global Encounters” vignette that provides examples of college students encountering striking situations and being asked to think about broader implications. Though people across the globe lead seemingly very different lives, the author emphasizes interconnectedness, with discussions of the local–global connection. Chapters explore social problems by considering key theories, both classical and contemporary, and by providing enough history to understand the background of contemporary issues. The book’s approach is both multinational and multidisciplinary. Chapters conclude with positive possibilities for global change. While problems are substantial, many people are working to make a difference, and this book offers an invitation to participate. In addition to “Key Ideas” and “For Review and Discussion,” every chapter concludes with “Making Connections” that offers reliable websites for more information and “Making a Difference,” which provides options for involvement. These sections can form the basis for assignments, for further study, or for class or group projects.

French Women Authors examines the importance afforded the spiritual in the lives and works of French women authors over the centuries, thereby highlighting both the significance of spiritually informed writings in French literature in general, as well as the specific contribution made by women writers. Eleven different authors have been selected for this collection, representing major literary periods from the medieval to the (post)modern. Each author is examined in the light of a Christian worldview, creating an approach which both validates and interrogates the spiritual dimension of the works under consideration. At the same time, the book as a whole presents a broad perspective on French women writers, showing how they reflect or stand in opposition to their times. The chronological order of the chapters reveals an evolution in the modes of spirituality expressed by these authors and in the role of spiritual belief or religion in French society over time. From the overwhelmingly Christian culture of the Middle Ages and pre-Enlightenment France to the wide diversity prevalent in (post)modern times, including the rise of Islam within French borders, a radical shift has permeated French society, a shift that is reflected in the writers chosen for this book. Moreover, the sensitivity of women writers to the individual side of spiritual life, in contrast with the practices of organized religion, also emerges as a major trend in this book, with women often being seen as a voice for social and religious change, or for a more meaningful, personal faith. Lastly, despite a blatant rejection of God and religion, spiritual threads still run through the works of one of France’s most celebrated contemporary writers (Marguerite Duras), whose cry for an absolute in the midst of a spiritual vacuum only reiterates the quest for transcendence or for some form of spiritual expression, as voiced in the works of her female predecessors and contemporaries in France, and as demonstrated in this book. Published by University of Delaware Press. Distributed worldwide by Rutgers University Press.

Dear Reader, It has been fun, catharctic, heart wrenching, inspiring and powerful to write this travel novel after a month long trip to France, Germany and Serbia. Initially, it started out by writing down my research about Mary Magdalene, the Holy Grail and the mystic sites, but then I also looked for new jobs in Germany and prepared for my final trip to Serbia, where I longed to connect with a man, whom I admired from far. Essentially, this book represents the results of my soul journey, which reached the end of a cycle in 2012, when realized I am at crossroads in my life where I was in the situation to make a decision where to live - Germany or the United States of America, This was part of external reality, but psychologically I found the pressing need to make some internal changes in my very personal relationships This is book is as much about the holy grail the legend of Mary Magdalene as much as it is about my own story.