Disenchantment is a key term in the self-understanding of modernity. But what exactly does this concept mean? What was its original meaning when Max Weber introduced it? And can the conventional meaning or Max Weber's view really be defended, given the present state of knowledge about the history of religion? In The Power of the Sacred, Hans Joas develops the fundamentals of a new sociological theory of religion by first reconstructing existing theories, from the eighteenth century to the present. Through a critical reading and reassessment of key texts in the three empirical disciplines of history, psychology, and sociology of religion, including the works of David Hume, J.G. Herder, Friedrich Schleiermacher, William James, Emile Durkheim, and Ernst Troeltsch, Joas presents an understanding of religion that lays the groundwork for a thorough study of Max Weber's views on disenchantment. After deconstructing Weber's highly ambiguous use of the concept, Joas proposes an alternative to the narratives of disenchantment and secularization which have dominated debates on the topic. He constructs a novel interpretation that takes into account the dynamics of ever new sacralizations, their normative evaluation in the light of a universalist morality as it first emerged in the "Axial Age," and the dangers of the misuse of religion in connection with the formation of power. Built upon the human experience of self-transcendence, rather than human cognition or cultural discourses, The Power of the Sacred challenges both believers and non-believers alike to rethink the defining characteristics of Western modernity.

How to enhance well-being by reconnecting to sacred womanhood • Shares ways to embody the power, wisdom, and compassion of the Great Mother • Reveals a woman’s purpose is to give birth not only to new life but also to new levels of consciousness • Shows how female illnesses represent a disconnection from our true identity as women Four thousand years ago, women were seen as living representatives of the Great Mother, whose cyclical and potent energy gave birth to all existence. Today, this sacred awareness has been lost or distorted, causing a collective amnesia among women around the world. However, there is one symbol of the Great Mother’s loving presence that has remained unchanged for tens of thousands of years: the physical body. Its curves, sensuality, softness, and monthly flow are constant reminders of this deep loving connection. When illness appears, especially within the breasts and fertility organs, a woman is being reminded to return to her pure and sacred identity, where death and birth are essential for growth and love flows without expectations. Combining more than 30 years’ experience in health care with in-depth research into the history and mythology of the divine feminine, Christine R. Page, M.D., reveals that women are the foundation of the birth of new levels of consciousness, without which the evolution of humanity will become barren and dry. Yet, such birth can occur only when women have the courage to reject the beliefs and images of the feminine imposed upon them four thousand years ago and reclaim their true identity. Through a fascinating journey into the body, Dr. Page shows the importance of self-love and self-respect and explains how sex is a natural process of unification where women take the lead, similar to the ancient sacred priestesses. Dr. Page reminds women to reconnect to the potent and creative energy of Mother Earth, which gives power to the intuitive voice of the heart and nurtures new seeds of inspiration and enlightenment through the womb.

Jeanne Halgren Kilde's survey of church architecture is unlike any other. Her main concern is not the buildings themselves, but rather the dynamic character of Christianity and how church buildings shape and influence the religion. Kilde argues that a primary function of church buildings is to represent and reify three different types of power: divine power, or ideas about God; personal empowerment as manifested in the individual's perceived relationship to the divine; and social power, meaning the relationships between groups such as clergy and laity. Each type intersects with notions of Christian creed, cult, and code, and is represented spatially and materially in church buildings. Kilde explores these categories chronologically, from the early church to the twentieth century. She considers the form, organization, and use of worship rooms; the location of churches; and the interaction between churches and the wider culture. Church buildings have been integral to Christianity, and Kilde's important study sheds new light on the way they impact all aspects of the religion. Neither mere witnesses to transformations of religious thought or nor simple backgrounds for religious practice, church buildings are, in Kilde's view, dynamic participants in religious change and goldmines of information on Christianity itself.

Have you ever found yourself at a crossroads, unsure of which way to turn? Maybe you reached a fork in the road and felt overwhelmed by the choices before you. Or perhaps you felt stuck, held back by the fear of making the wrong decision—with one foot rooted firmly in the past and the other dangling into the unknown. But there is a pathway out of your challenges and into a space of freedom, happiness, and lasting fulfillment. For thousands of years, divine solutions have been whispered directly into the hearts of priests, shamans, wizards, medicine women, and healers. In Sacred Powers, internationally renowned meditation master davidji reveals the deepest secrets of this timeless wisdom and distills their essence into the Five Divine Principles of the Universe: · The Divine Principle of One · The Divine Principle of Awareness · The Divine Principle of Rebirth · The Divine Principle of Infinite Flow · The Divine Principle of Inner Fire Each step on the path will unfold eternal truths to guide you on a lifelong journey of clarity and connection, expansion and abundance, love and happiness, courage and confidence, and passion and purpose. This moment is a defining moment. This is the moment to awaken your sacred powers. And this is the time to manifest your dream life!

“Through the voices of ordinary Native Americans . . . LaDuke is able to transform highly complex issues into stories that touch the heart.” —Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, author of An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States The indigenous imperative to honor nature is undermined by federal laws approving resource extraction through mining and drilling. Formal protections exist for Native American religious expression—but not for the places and natural resources integral to ceremonies. Under what conditions can traditional beliefs be best practiced? From the author of All Our Relations: Native Struggles for Land and Life, Recovering the Sacred features a wealth of native research and hundreds of interviews with indigenous scholars and activists. “Documents the remarkable stories of indigenous communities whose tenacity and resilience has enabled them to reclaim the lands, resources, and life ways after enduring centuries of incalculable loss.” —Wilma Mankiller, author of Every Day is a Good Day

""Disenchantment" is a key term in the self-understanding of modernity. But what exactly do we mean when we use this concept? What was its original meaning when Max Weber introduced it? And can the conventional meaning or Max Weber's view really be defended, given the present state of knowledge about the history of religion? This book is an attempt to divest this concept of its enduring enchantment. The first chapters of the book deal with the three empirical disciplines history, psychology and sociology of religion to develop an understanding of religion that then lays the groundwork for what is presented in chapter 4, namely the most thorough study of Weber's views on disenchantment that has ever been undertaken. It turns out that Weber's use was highly ambiguous and that his grand narrative leading from the prophets of ancient Judaism to the crisis of meaning on the eve of the First World War collapses when we recognize this ambiguity. This makes it possible to construct an alternative that takes into account the dynamics of ever new sacralizations, their normative evaluation in the light of the values of a universalist morality and the dangers of the misuse of religion in connection with the formation of power. This book constitutes a challenge - for believers and non-believers alike"--

This is an eclectic assortment of stories by popular authors, storytellers, psychologists and spiritual teachers.

From Zora Neale Hurston to Derek Walcott to Toni Morrison, New World black authors have written about African-derived religious traditions and spiritual practices. The Sacred Act of Reading examines religion and sociopolitical power in modern and contemporary texts of a variety of genres from the black Americas. By engaging with spiritual traditions such as Vodou, Kumina, and Protestant Christianity while drawing on canonical Eurocentric literary theory, Anne Margaret Castro presents a novel, nuanced reading of power through the physical and metaphysical relationships portrayed in these great works of New World black literature. Castro examines prophecy in the dramas of Derek Walcott, preaching in the ethnography of Zora Neale Hurston, and liturgy in the novels of Toni Morrison, offering comparative readings alongside the works of Afro-Colombian anthropologist Manuel Zapata Olivella, Jamaican sociologist Erna Brodber, and Canadian fiction writer Nalo Hopkinson. The Sacred Act of Reading is the first book to bring together literary texts, historical and contemporary anthropological studies, theology, and critical theory to show how black authors in the Americas employ spiritual phenomena as theoretical frameworks for thinking within, against, and beyond structures of political dominance, dependence, and power.

When you're born, you're given your own individual magical word—your name. It holds the keys to your soul's energies and abilities. If you come to know and use your name properly, you can uncover your soul's purpose, manifest abundance, and open up to unlimited possibilities. The Sacred Power in Your Name includes entries for nearly two hundred names with meanings, affirmations, sound and chakra elements, and meditations. Using the techniques and information in this book, you will be able to: Analyze the sounds and rhythms of your name Transform your name into a magical incantation Awaken creative energies related to your name Create an inner talisman Discover your purpose in life Use your name for empowerment and healing Your name is your direct link to the infinite possibilities of the universe. In this book, you will discover new worlds and wonders as you uncover the true power of your very own magical word. Praise: "Ted explores the names themselves, and he goes into every nuance of naming. This is a very in-depth study of the sacred power of names."—Phoenix McFarland, author of The New Book of Magical Names

Throughout history people have sensed a special energy at sacred places and tried to draw on this natural power. Many great religious leaders had mystical experiences in the desert or mountains and told the world of their revelations and prophecies. People responded to sacred places by building churches or temples or medicine wheels, and they attracted pilgrimages and vision quests.Many believe that all sacred sites, from the most famous such as Stonehenge and Sedona to lesser-known spots, form a worldwide web of light and communicate on some level. These energy hubs could potentially serve as acupuncture points on the body of Mother Earth, which is in dire need of healing. Sacred places on the network of light stand ready to receive divinely inspired wisdom, a taste of the wonderful things to come as humanity moves toward a global shift in consciousness.A deep link between spirit and nature once brought harmony and balance, yet today it seems that we have lost our way, squandered our connection to Mother Nature and to the “old ways” of magic and mysticism. This power can be retrieved at sacred sites, where we can experience Zero or Nothingness, Oneness, and the ecstasy of sexual Orgasms. This is The Power of O.