In this new book, Ian Markham analyzes the atheistic world view, opposing the arguments given by renowned authors of books on atheism, such as Richard Dawkins. Unlike other responses to the new atheism, Markham challenges these authors on their own ground by questioning their understanding of belief and of atheism itself.

* Offers an updated edition of this introduction to the anthropology of religion. * Discusses the origin and development of ideas within the discipline, as well as where the subject is going. * Introduces readers to the central theoretical ideas in the anthropology of religion and illustrates them with specific case studies.

Investigating what the atheists mean when they use the words 'atheism' and 'God', this book explores the differences and similarities between 'old' and 'new' atheism, and places atheism of either variety in context by examining the naturalistic worldview that grounds it. It also examines various arguments against God-belief.

What first prompted prehistoric man, sheltering in the shadows of deep caves, to call upon the realm of the spirits? And why has belief thrived ever since, leading us to invent heaven and hell, sin and redemption, and above all, gods? This book deals with these questions.

Describes the mythological background of Atlantis, shows examples of the Atlantis motif in art, and discusses the meanings associated with Atlantis.

Looks at how the paranormal bridges the sacred and the scientific. This title deals with: the cultural history of telepathy, teleportation, and UFOs; a ghostly love story; the occult dimensions of science fiction; Cold War psychic espionage; galactic colonialism; and, the intimate relationship between consciousness and culture.

In April 2015, Archbishop Tutu travelled to the Dalai Lama's home in Dharamsala, India, to celebrate His Holiness' eightieth birthday. They looked back on their long lives to answer a single burning question: how do we find joy in the face of life's inevitable suffering? This book covers their meeting from the first embrace to the final goodbye.

Tracing the history of faith from the Palaeolithic Age to the present, the author shows that meaning of words such as 'belief', 'faith', and 'mystery' has been entirely altered, so that atheists and theists alike now think and speak about God - and, indeed, reason itself - in a way that our ancestors would have found astonishing.

As well as vividly exploring the tales, the author brings her expertise in the archaeology of the Iron Age and particularly shamanism to bear on the mythical worlds she describes, with evidence as diverse as the Gundestrup Cauldron and the famous bog bodies. She also asks how the myths survived the Christianization of Europe.

In this volume, Johnny Mains dives into the archives to unearth a hoard of twenty-one enthralling tales imbued with elements of Celtic folklore, ranging from the 1820s to the 1980s and including three weird lost gems translated from Gaelic.

Offers an introduction to the field of Chinese religion and culture. This work seeks to guide readers through some of the primary source material and to introduce them to continuing, contemporary debates and interpretations of religious ideas, concepts and practices in China and beyond.

The "Mahapuranas" embody the received tradition of Hindu mythology. This anthology contains fresh translations of these myths. It includes chapters such as: "Origins"; "Seers, Kings and Supernaturals"; "Krsna," "Visnu," and "Siva"; and, "The Goddess" that presents stories of the wives and lovers of the gods, as well as of Kali, the battle goddess.

Building on the best-selling tradition of previous editions, Classical Mythology, International Tenth Edition, is the most comprehensive survey of classical mythology available- and the first full color textbook of its kind. Featuring the authors' clear and extensive translations of original sources, it brings to life the myths and legends of Greece and Rome in a lucid and engaging style.

Communitas is inspired fellowship; a group's pleasure in sharing common experiences; being 'in the zone' - as in music, sport, and work; the sense felt by a group when their life together takes on full meaning. The experience of Communitas, almost beyond strict definition and with almost endless variations, often appears unexpectedly.

The gods and goddesses of ancient Egypt, worshipped for over half of recorded history, are among the most fascinating and complex of any civilization. This is a guide to the deities that lay at the heart of Egyptian religion and society. It examines the evolution, worship and eventual decline of the numerous gods and goddesses.

This translation brings together ancient classical texts derived from Eratosthenes' handbook of astral mythology, Hyginus' guide to astronomy, and Aratus's astronomical poem Phaenomena to provide a complete collection of Greek astral myths.

This book uses history and archaeology to examine the origins of major monotheistic religions: describing the contexts of times, places and societies where Mormonism, Islam, Christianity, Judaism and Zoroastrianism began. It strips away myths and later traditions to provide a secular account of how these faiths first took root. -- .

This book argues that specialized cadres of virgin priestesses in ancient Greece were believed to give birth in miraculous fashion as a means of bringing forth holy political and spiritual leaders.

The Daodejing encapsulates the main tenets of Daoism, a philosophy and religion whose dominant image is the Way, a life-giving stream that enables individuals to achieve harmony and a more profound level of understanding. This new translation draws on the latest archaeological finds and brings out the word play and poetry of the original.

Distills and captures the essence of Greek and Roman mythology. This dictionary is suitable for those with an interest in the Classics or those seeking to explore the many allusions to its mythology that abound in literature.