This book explores the Christian religious experience of the pneuma given in 1 Corinthians 12 and 14. The experience Paul mentions in these texts, as well as the mention of "spirits" in three different places, suggest that Paul was actually writing about communicating with the spirit world.

Ancient civilisations exercise an intense fascination for people the world over. This Handbook provides a vivid, scholarly, and eminently readable account of ancient cultures around the world, from China to India, the Middle East, Egypt, Europe, and the Americas. It examines the development of religious belief from the time of the Palaeolithic cave paintings to the Aztecs and Incas. Covering the whole of society not just the elite, the Handbook outlines the history of the different societies so that their religion and culture can be understood in context. Each chapter includes discussion of the broad field of relevant studies alerting the reader to wider debates on each subject. An international team of scholars convey their own deep enthusiasm for their subject and provide a unique study of both popular and 'official' religion in the ancient world.

Provides an account of the religious history of Rome starting from its mythical origins.

Drawing on the ideology of the Augustan era of constructing ancestors, this book is about Paul's creative construction of Abraham as a spiritual ancestor of "all" people who have the faith of Abraham and Sarah. The book breaks new accademic grounds on the value of ancestors in a 21st century global Christian world.

First Published in 2004. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

This overview of the religious customs of ancient cultures boasts an international selection of contributors, all of whom are leading scholars in their field. The cultural practices of popular as well as formal religion are explored in detail, giving an impression of all, not only elite societies. Every topic is placed in its own cultural context, while bearing in mind its relevance to a wider historical and sociological debate. The result is an erudite and thoroughly readable handbook to ancient religions, from Palaeolithic cave art to the rituals of Aztec and Inca civilizations.