Primary religion, which is popularly known as Paganism, was founded in the worship of personified nature that, according special homage to the imaginary genii of the stars, and inculcating supreme adoration to the divinity supposed to reside in the sun, it was anciently known by the general name of Astrolatry, and by the more specific one of solar worship and that its founders, arrogating to themselves the title of Astrologers, gave to its dogmatic element the name of Astrology.

Author Jean-Marie Abgrall is Europe's foremost expert on cults, a practicing psychiatrist and a professional criminologist. This book is the fruit of 15 years of research, and delivers the first methodical analysis of the cult phenomenon, decoding of the mental manipulation. In order to describe this psychopathology and the means to resist it, the author applies the framework of criminology and forensic psychiatry dealing with a "crime against individual rights."

This book comprises the first major collection of articles in English translation by University of Erlangen Professor Dr. Berndt Hamm, one of the most important and innovative scholars of the intellectual history of late-medieval and Reformation Germany. The articles herein trace the evolution of Christian theology and piety from the twelfth through the sixteenth centuries, employing a variety of disciplines and interpretative models to chart transformations with extraordinary attention to historical context.

This volume reconstructs the contents of the library in Roman Palestine of Eusebius of Caesarea (ca. 265-339) by examining Eusebius’ major works, the Ecclesiastical History, Chronicon, Preparation for the Gospel, and Life of Constantine.

Founded in 1540, the Society of Jesus was viewed for centuries as an impediment to the development of modern science. The Jesuit educational system was deemed conservative and antithetical to creative thought, while the Order and its members were blamed by Galileo, Descartes, and their disciples for virtually every proceeding against the new science. No wonder a consensus emerged that little reason existed for historians to take Jesuit science seriously.

Combining current trends, academic theories, and historical insights, this travel guide brings both lesser-known and famous European spiritual locales into perspective by explaining the significance of each sacred site. The cultural relevance, history, and spirituality of each site—including Stonehenge, the Acropolis, Mont Saint Michel, Pompeii, and Saint Peter’s Basilica—are explained, creating a moving and artistic travel experience. Each destination—with selections spanning more than 15 countries throughout Europe—is accompanied by easy-to-follow maps and directions.

David Gushee argues convincingly that there is in U.S. politics an evangelical center of voters who do not identify with the politics and religion of either the right or the left. Although evangelical Christians are portrayed by the media as conservatives, Gushee claims that the evangelical movement includes nearly even numbers of voters on the right, in the center, and on the left of the political spectrum.

How perfectible is human nature as understood in Eastern and Western philosophy, psychology, and religion? Harold Coward examines some of the very different answers to this question. He poses that in Western thought, including philosophy, psychology, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, human nature is often understood as finite, flawed, and not perfectible--in religion requiring God's grace and the afterlife to reach the goal.

In this volume, Daniel A. Dombrowski defends the ontological argument against its contemporary critics, but he does so by using a neoclassical or process concept of God, thereby strengthening the case for a contemporary theistic metaphysics.

Augustine offers students, scholars, and interested readers new insights into one of antiquity's most important and influential philosophers. This lucid survey takes readers on a thought-provoking tour through the life and work of Augustine. Topics discussed include skepticism, language acquisition, mind - body dualism, philosophical dream problems, time and creation, faith and reason, foreknowledge and free will.

Nancy Levene reinterprets a major early modern philosopher, Benedict de Spinoza – a Jew who was rejected by the Jewish community of his day but whose thought contains, and critiques, both Jewish and Christian ideas. It foregrounds the connection of religion, democracy, and reason, showing that Spinoza’s theories of the Bible, the theologico-political, and the philosophical all involve the concepts of equality and sovereignty. Original and thoughtfully argued, this book offers new insights into Spinoza’s thought and should have wide appeal.

From the Mormon Church's public announcement of its sanction of polygamy in 1852 until its formal decision to abandon the practice in 1890, people on both sides of the "Mormon question" debated central questions of constitutional law. Did principles of religious freedom and local self-government protect Mormons' claim to a distinct, religiously based legal order? Or was polygamy, as its opponents claimed, a new form of slavery--this time for white women in Utah? And did constitutional principles dictate that democracy and true liberty were founded on separation of church and state?

This groundbreaking book surveys the entire history of popular religious sects in Chinese history. In part one the reader will find a thorough treatment of the formation of the notions of orthodoxy and heterodoxy in the contexts of Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism. Chronologically organized, the work continues to deal with each new religious movement; its teachings, scriptures, social organisation, and political significance.