Satan's transformation from opaque functionary to chief antagonist is one of the most striking features of the development of Jewish theology in the Second Temple Period and beyond. Once no more than an "accuser" testing members of the human community, Satan, along with his demons, is presented by Jewish apocalyptic texts and the New Testament as a main source of evil in the world. In Satan and the Problem of Evil, noted scholar Archie Wright explores...

Numerous great thinkers have believed in the transmigration of the soul. General Patton, Gandhi, Henry Ford, the Dalai Lama, all discussed memories of, or beliefs in, having past lives. The great philosophers Pythagoras, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and even Saint Augustine believed in the rebirth of the soul. Awakening of a Warrior is the result of Jaco' s investigation- his treasure hunt- into the lifetimes he experienced...

This A-to-Z reference book comprises astrological techniques and concepts as well as the historical figures who have contributed to the study of astrology. Covering astrological traditions from across the globe, this authoritative guidebook offers an in-depth overview of the complex and fascinating world of astrology. Spiritualist and occult scholar Harry E. Wedeck provides a wealth of information on astrological terminology, ideas, theories, and...

During the first half of the 1st millennium CE, an empire arose in Persia that extended its power and influence to Mesopotamia in the east, Arabia in the south, the Caucasus Mountains in the north, and as far east as India. This empire, known alternatively as the Sasanian Empire or Sassanid Empire, was the last of three great dynasties in Persia-the Achaemenid and the Parthian being the first two dynasties-before the rise of Islam. In fact, many scholars...

The Sathya Sai global civil religious movement incorporates Hindu and Muslim practices, Buddhist, Christian, and Zoroastrian influences, and "New Age"-style rituals and beliefs. Shri Sathya Sai Baba, its charismatic and controversial leader, attracts several million adherents from various national, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. In a dynamic account of the Sathya Sai movement's explosive growth, Winged Faith argues for a rethinking of globalization...

Examines the role of plants in botanical mythology, from Aboriginal Australia to Zoroastrian Persia. Plants have a remarkable mythology dating back thousands of years. From the ancient Greeks to contemporary Indigenous cultures, human beings have told colorful and enriching stories that have presented plants as sensitive, communicative, and intelligent. This book explores the myriad of plant tales from around the world and the groundbreaking ideas...

Now more than ever, people are painfully divided politically, religiously, and culturally. And yet, there is a commonality in our faith traditions that can help us turn away from polarization and create a greater sense of community in which our differences are honored. The Peacemaker's Path brings together wisdom from the world's major religious traditions, including Bahá'í, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Native American...

Salmaan the Persian or Salmaan Al-Faarisiy (born Rouzbeh), was a companion of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad SAW and the first Persian who converted to Islam. During some of his later meetings with the other Sahabah, he was referred to as Abu Abdullah ("Father of Abdullah"). He is credited with the suggestion of digging a trench around Medina when it was attacked by Mecca in the Battle of the Trench. He was raised as a Zoroastrian, then attracted to...

A European bestseller, in print continuously since 1946, now for the first time in English. They slip their jailors in Carthage and race across the Mediterranean to fulfill their secret diplomatic mission, pursued by agents and assassins: an elderly Zoroastrian priest and his young teen apprentice. Their mission: to prevent the outbreak of a civil war in Egypt. Their opponents: the Great Phoenician council and the entire state apparatus of Eternal...

With few exceptions, the world's religions are anchored in their sacred texts-core writings that express the ideals and vision of the faiths, forming a basis for belief and action. Humanity's library of sacred writings is a huge canon that includes many of the most influential books ever written. In addition to the Hebrew and Christian bibles and the Quran of Islam, major sacred writings include the Hindu Vedas, the Buddhist Sutras, Daoism's Daodejing,...