Academic theology is in need of a new genre. In "Transgressive Devotion" Natalie Wigg-Stevenson articulates a theological vision of that genre as performance art. She argues that theology done as performance art stops trying to describe who God is, and starts trying to make God appear. Recognising that the act of studying theology or practicing ministry is always a performance, where the boundaries between what we see, feel, experience and learn are not just blurred but potentially invisible, Wigg-Stevenson brings together ethnographic theological fieldwork, historical and contemporary Christian theological traditions, and performance artworks themselves. A daring vision of theology which will energise anybody feeling ‘boxed in’ by the discipline, Transgressive Devotion blurs borders between orthodoxy, heterodoxy and heresy to reveal how the very act of doing theology makes God and humanity vulnerable to each other. This is theology which is a liturgy of Divine incantation. In other words: this is theology which is also prayer.

From the late 16th to the end of the 18th centuries, when Brazil was a Portuguese colony, painting and sculpture was almost entirely religious in nature. Fired with zeal for the conversion of the indigenous peoples of Brazil, Jesuit, Franciscan and Benedictine missionaries exploited the sensory impact of painting, sculpture, music and drama to promote the faith there. The opulent, majestic and theatrical Catholicism that gradually took root appealed to the imagination and to the senses -- as did the Baroque art of Counter-Reformation Europe. This book has been published to mark the first exhibition in Britain of Brazilian Baroque Art. Edited and largely compiled by Dr Catherine Whistler, the book also contains an art-historical survey by Dr Cristina Avila, of The Federal University of Minas Gerais, and an essay on Patronage and Expressions of the Baroque by Professor A J R Russell-Wood of The Johns Hopkins University. The colour plates demonstrate the vitality and virtuosity of the individual sculptures, domestic altarpieces, and pieces of liturgical silver loaned to the exhibition from private collections and Museums in Brazil.

There are over 600 New Religious Movements (NRMs) in Great Britain alone, and more than 2000 in the United States. A Reader in New Religious Movements provides an introduction to the main teachings of a selection of these organizations, focusing on those that are well established in the West. The contemporary—and in some cases controversial—NRMs covered include the Unification Church, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, the Family, Osho, Soka Gakkai International and the Western Buddhist Order.

Returning to the iconic cites that marked the beginning of their adventures, Ravi and Leela find themselves standing once again at the heart of the Golden Triangle. As they revisit historical landmarks such as the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort, and the resplendent palaces of Jaipur, they are confronted by the intricate interplay of their individual aspiraƟons and the sacrifices required to sustain their love. The journey through these majesƟc ciƟes not only rekindles cherished memories but also unveils new layers of their connecƟon, leading them to quesƟon the true meaning of happiness and fulfillment. Amidst opulence and grandeur, Ravi and Leela confront the essence of their dreams and desires, and the sacrifices they may entail.

We cannot be happy without satisfying our fundamental desire to love. Discover all the intricacies of spiritual love, bhakti, in this devotional classic. This is a summary study of Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu, the Vaishnava classic written by Rupa Goswami that analyzes the various stages of bhakti (devotion) as a methodical practice resulting in love of God. Rupa Goswami uses a metaphor comparing an ocean (sindhu) to a devotional relationship with God. The title of the book conveys that loving relationships are enjoyable like sweet nectar and deep like an ocean. However, devotion is truly only meant for the supreme beloved, Krishna. Srila Prabhupada has written this summary study to show the essential understanding of the practices and ideals of Krishna consciousness, and to introduce the Western world to the beauty of devotional concepts. The spiritually thirsty can develop their relationship with Krishna by drinking from the unlimited reservoir of The Nectar of Devotion. Drink deeply.

Joseph Woodward brings fresh perspective and real clarity, in a way that will renew your faith in the unfailing goodness of a magnificent heavenly Father. Your love for the Lord and your love of His Word will be perceptibly enhanced as you assimilate the timely and important message contained in this volume. As you begin to understand that it is not your heavenly Father that is arranging and setting in motion the bitter trials and tragedies in your life, your love for Him will immediately, naturally, and sweetly increase. There are many sources of severe trials, but your heavenly Father is not one of them. In "Understanding Trials, To Better Understand God," those sources, and how to close the door on many of them, are clearly revealed.

Vitthal, also called Vithoba, is the most popular god in the western Indian state of Maharashtra, and the best-known Hindu god of that region outside of India. This book by Ramchandra Chintaman Dhere is the foremost study of the history of Vitthal, his worship, and his worshippers.