Imagining Disarmament, Enchanting International Relations


Book Description

This book explores the global politics of disarmament through emerging international relations (IR) theories of discourse and imagination. Each chapter reflects on an aspect of contemporary activism on weapons through an analogous story from literary tradition. Shahrazade, convenor of the 1001 Nights, offers a potent metaphor for the humanitarian advocacy seeking to moderate the behaviour of violent people. The author reads Don Quixote in Cambodia’s minefields, reflects on Lysistrata at Greenham Common and considers how tropes in The Tempest were enrolled in both Pacific nuclear testing and efforts to resist it. The book draws on ethnographic fieldwork in communities affected by weapons and disarmament advocacy at the UN and calls for a re-enchantment of IR, alive to affect, ritual and myth.




Re-enchanting the Text


Book Description

In an age when the Bible has been stripped of its sacredness and functional biblical illiteracy reigns, this book makes the case that we must work to re-enchant the text in order to return the Bible to its rightful place in the lives of Christians. Cheryl Bridges Johns explains how the Enlightenment's turn to the rational human subject made it possible to objectify the Bible and has distorted our interpretations of Scripture. This move generated a belief that studying the Bible was primarily a means of supporting facts and providing evidence of competing visions of reality. This "modern" version of the Bible does not trouble our nights with apocalyptic images. It has been stripped of its power. She also shows that both "liberal" and "fundamentalist" interpretation are failed forms of disenchanted readings. Johns argues that we must rediscover the Bible as a sacred, dangerous, mysterious, and presence-filled wonderland to counteract biblical illiteracy in an increasingly post-Christian landscape.




The Enchanted Life


Book Description

A book of natural wonders, practical guidance and life-changing empowerment, by the author of the word-of-mouth bestseller If Women Rose Rooted. 'To live an enchanted life is to pick up the pieces of our bruised and battered psyches, and to offer them the nourishment they long for. It is to be challenged, to be awakened, to be gripped and shaken to the core by the extraordinary which lies at the heart of the ordinary. Above all, to live an enchanted life is to fall in love with the world all over again.' The enchanted life has nothing to do with escapism or magical thinking: it is founded on a vivid sense of belonging to a rich and many-layered world. It is creative, intuitive, imaginative. It thrives on work that has heart and meaning. It loves wild things, but returns to an enchanted home and garden. It respects the instinctive knowledge, ethical living and playfulness, and relishes story and art. Taking the inspiration and wisdom that can be derived from myth, fairy tales and folk culture, this book offers a set of practical and grounded tools for reclaiming enchantment in our lives, giving us a greater sense of meaning and of belonging to the world.




Enchanting Existence


Book Description

Collected here are the best of 10 years' worth of essays from ideonexus.com celebrating astronomy, evolution, general science, and the human place in the cosmos.




Imagine a Forest


Book Description

Imagine a Forest will pull you into a whimsical world where you learn to draw scenes of nature, fantasy, and human beings in a distinctive Eastern European folk art style.




As If


Book Description

Many people throughout the world "inhabit" imaginary worlds communally and persistently, parsing Harry Potter and exploring online universes. These activities might seem irresponsibly escapist, but history tells another story. Beginning in the late nineteenth century, when Sherlock Holmes became the world's first "virtual reality" character, readers began to colonize imaginary worlds, debating serious issues and viewing reality in provisional, "as if" terms rather than through essentialist, "just so" perspectives. From Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos and Tolkien's Middle-earth to the World of Warcraft and Second Life, As If provides a cultural history that reveals how we can remain enchanted but not deluded in an age where fantasy and reality increasingly intertwine.







Images from Within


Book Description

Touching evocative imagery makes these poetic pictures appealing to all. Visualise the places captured, the feelings evoked, and let the poet hold your attention provoking unexpected responses. From the heart searching imagery of World War I to playtime on a rainy day for children jumping into puddles as the rain falls -- all hit chords whatever one''s age. Let the words lighten your darkness. Jane Dyson was lonely and drifting heedlessly through life until touched by the thirst-quenching waters of Jesus Christ. Since then she has utilized all she see around her for use in her mill of poetical word picture-pictures that can, if allowed, speak to all people whatever their beliefs.




The Enchanting Chronicles


Book Description

Step into a realm where imagination knows no bounds and the ancient echoes of forgotten magic resound. "The Enchanting Chronicles: Tales of a Forgotten World" beckons you to explore a land untouched by the passage of time, where the tendrils of fantasy and reality intertwine to weave tales of wonder and adventure. Within the pages of this mesmerizing collection, you'll be transported to a time when civilizations of old shared their existence with mythical creatures of unimaginable splendor. Join heroes on quests that span continents, where their bravery and determination are put to the test against insurmountable odds. Witness the dazzling feats of wizards who wield arcane powers beyond comprehension, and roam alongside mythical beasts through landscapes untouched by the modern world. The stories of "The Enchanting Chronicles" will immerse you in enchanted forests, where every rustling leaf holds a secret waiting to be unveiled. Stand shoulder to shoulder with noble knights as they battle malevolent forces, defending their honor and the hopes of their people. Explore the ruins of ancient civilizations, where whispers of past glories hint at the potential to unlock powers long forgotten. But this collection is not merely a tapestry of adventures. It's a tribute to the triumph of the human spirit, the enduring power of love, and the indomitable courage that can stand against even the darkest of shadows. As you journey alongside these characters, you'll unravel mysteries that span generations and bask in the glow of unwavering determination. From the soaring heights of majestic mountains to the fathomless depths of hidden underwater realms, "The Enchanting Chronicles" unfurls a universe where the mundane is imbued with magic, and dreams take flight on wings of imagination. Each story invites you to suspend disbelief and embrace the unknown, to reimagine what's possible and embrace the allure of the extraordinary. Prepare to be captivated by tales that bridge the chasm between past and present, where the legends of yore inspire the aspirations of tomorrow. "The Enchanting Chronicles" promises to reignite your sense of wonder and rekindle the fires of belief in magic. So, embark on this journey, dear reader, and let yourself be transported to a realm where the heart of forgotten magic awakens once more.