The Portable World Bible


Book Description

The Portable World Bible presents the fundamental tenets of the world's basic source religions. Contemporary readers are offered, in concise, authoritative translations, the religious thought of the ages, selected, interpreted, and arranged in view of modern man's quest for ultimate truths and values. Robert O. Ballou, the volume's editor, has omitted mere stories, history, and ceremonial detail; what remains in every case is the essence of religion, set down with a clarity and simplicity never before achieved. The Portable World Bible is an unparalleled work of poetic and ethical inspiration, a book that makes a deep appeal to the mind and spirit.







Pagan Every Day


Book Description

Humorous and witty entries for every day of the year provoke new ideas and new ways of exploring paganism as a spiritual practice, revealing how contemporary spiritual experiences show up in the most unexpected places. Original.




Buddha


Book Description

More than twenty-five hundred years ago, an Indian prince achieved enlightenment and became “the Awakened One.” However extraordinary Prince Siddhartha Gautama was, he was no divinity, but a self-perfected human being who brought a sweeping message to mankind. Walter Henry Nelson, a respected historical scholar and author, offers readers a distinctly accessible and authoritative biography of the Buddha and his teachings. In this essential, gripping, and inspiring introduction for the general reader, Buddha explores ancient legends surrounding Buddhism’s founder. It shows how the simple story and profound struggle of Price Siddhartha, who died five hundred years before the birth of Christ, were transformed into one of the world’s great religions. From tales of Gautama’s struggle to parables of the intervention of gods in his journey, Nelson takes readers through the historical existence and ideals at the heart of a religion and philosophy that searches beyond materialism for the true aim of life.




World Bible


Book Description

This book is neither a bible nor a religious lecture or sermon. It begins with a brief historical essay on each of the great world religions. Then it offers a copious selection of the most descriptive, evocative and illustrative verses from each of the great world religions.




The Bahá'í World


Book Description




Anthology of World Scriptures


Book Description

This anthology includes the most notable and instructive scriptures of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Shinto, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The context for applying these readings is also provided through a short introduction at the beginning of each chapter.




Religionless Religion


Book Description

In these perilous times when the very survival of the human species is at stake, there is a desperate need for wisdom to provide guidance. The sacred literature of the world's major religious traditions is a source for such wisdom, but it has largely been misinterpreted and misunderstood, and, thus, instead of being a source for wisdom, it has been a source for confusion and conflict. The ancient scriptures, for the most part, were written in a language which is quite different from ordinary language. It is a mythological language, which is symbolic, and therefore its meaning is hidden. In the Bible, for example, there are many narratives that appear to be historical, but they are history that has been mythologized, and therefore their surface meaning is not their real meaning. Clyde Edward Brown clearly illustrates that the correct interpretation of the world's religious texts would lead to a different concept of religion. Instead of belief in the literal truth of texts that have been misinterpreted, the emphasis would be on having those religious values, such as social and economic justice, which are common to all religions.







Baha'i World


Book Description