In this slim and readable book, Helms analyzes the most familiar and powerful stories about Jesus, and suggests that the Gospels are works of narrative art, contrived and creative interpretations, the supreme fictions of our culture.
A controversial look at the therapy profession today. Noted psychological research scientist Dawes critically examines some of the most cherished clinical assumptions and therapeutic methods now in use. In addition, he takes issue with many of the treatment methods commonly used in therapy practices.
Showalter takes on the history of mass cultural hysteria, from witch hunts to mesmerism, and discusses today’s versions–ranging from chronic fatigue or Gulf War Syndrome to recovered memories–and the attendant publicity.
The last decade saw the arrival of a new player in the creation/evolution debate–the intelligent design creationism (IDC) movement, whose strategy is to act as “the wedge” to overturn Darwinism and scientific naturalism. This anthology of writings by prominent creationists and their critics focuses on what is novel about the new movement. It serves as […]
In a profound and provocative work of scholarly detection, Professor Robert Eisenman establishes James–a figure marginalized in the New Testament–as the leader of all opposition groups in the Jerusalem of his day and spiritual heir–rather than Peter–to his famous brother, Jesus.
A collection of essays from various perspectives addressing basic issues inherent in a philosophy of death, exploring themes such as the meaning of death, the nature of the soul, and the prospects for immortality. This second edition includes ten new essays and a new introduction.
Description William Lobdell’s journey of faith—and doubt—may be the most compelling spiritual memoir of our time. Lobdell became a born-again Christian in his late 20s when personal problems–including a failed marriage–drove him to his knees in prayer. As a newly minted evangelical, Lobdell–a veteran journalist–noticed that religion wasn’t covered well in the mainstream media, and […]
When world-class biblical scholar Bart Ehrman first began to study the texts of the Bible in their original languages he was startled to discover the multitude of mistakes and intentional alterations that had been made by earlier translators. In Misquoting Jesus, Ehrman tells the story behind the mistakes and changes that ancient scribes made to […]
Mormons believe that the Book of Mormon was revealed to church founder Joseph Smith on gold plates. Brent Lee Metcalfe and other important Mormon researchers present the linguistic, textual, archeological and other evidence which shows that that Book of Mormon was probably written in the 19th century based on the King James Version of the […]
Although the works of many early critics of the Church were burned by Christian emperors or were otherwise destroyed in the second and third centuries, the major work of the Greek philosopher, Celsus, is an exception. His polemical attack on the beliefs and practices of Christianity, On the True Doctrine, written around 178 A.D., is […]
New Testament scholar Gerd Lüdemann continues his exploration of the life and teachings of Paul in this groundbreaking monograph, which synthesizes the research of his four previous books on Christianity’s leading apostle. As the subtitle of the present work makes clear, Lüdemann comes to the conclusion that Paul should be considered not only Christianity’s most […]
It all started on November 15, 2034: the night the impenetrable gray shield slid into place around our solar system. Some see the Bubble as the revenge of an insane God. Some see it as justice. Some even see it as protection. But it seems the earth is completely cut off from the universe–until a […]
Russell recalls the the conflicts between science and traditional religion during the last four centuries. Examining accounts in which scientific advances clashed with Christian doctrine or biblical interpretations of the day, from Galileo and the Copernican Revolution, to the medical breakthroughs of anaesthesia and inoculation, Russell points to the constant upheaval and re-evaluation of our […]
Robert G. Ingersoll (1833-1899) was a complex figure – a brilliant lawyer and orator who courageously advanced the concept of freethought; a magnetic extrovert whose public esteem, eagerly sought, never earned him the private favors he so generously bestowed on others. Ingersoll was a staunch republican in the great tradition of Abraham Lincoln, and he […]
The most serious threat facing America today is the rise of violent, well-organized white supremacists within our own borders. Fueled by the explosive events at Waco, Ruby Ridge, and the Freeman stand-off in Montana, and intensified by the Oklahoma City bombing, these powerful groups wage a holy war against an oppressive government and the ever-darkening […]
Book Description From uttering a prayer before boarding a plane, to exploring past lives through hypnosis, has superstition become pervasive in contemporary culture? Robert Park, the best-selling author of Voodoo Science, argues that it has. In Superstition, Park asks why people persist in superstitious convictions long after science has shown them to be ill-founded. He […]
In their groundbreaking bestseller, The Five Gospels, Robert Funk and The Jesus Seminar offered their controversial analysis of what Jesus really said. Now, in The Acts of Jesus, these distinguished scholars reveal their startling assessment of what Jesus really did — and didn’t — do. Publishers Weekly calls the Jesus Seminar “one of the most […]
Description Bestselling author Michael Shermer’s comprehensive and provocative theory on how beliefs are born, formed, reinforced, challenged, changed, and extinguished. In this work synthesizing thirty years of research, psychologist, historian of science, and the world’s best-known skeptic Michael Shermer upends the traditional thinking about how humans form beliefs about the world. Simply put, beliefs come […]
Description In this volume, eighteen of the world’s leading experts in their fields present original essays, relevant to both philosophy and religion, on various aspects of atheism: its history (both ancient and modern) defense, and implications. The topic is examined in terms of its implications for a wide range of disciplines including philosophy, religion, feminism, […]
This new edition should become an indispensable tool for students of the Jesus tradition and others interested in the development and interpretation of Christian scripture. Gathered together in one volume are new English translations of all the known gospels–canonical and extracanonical, complete and fragmentary–from the first centuries of the Christian era. Each translation is preceded […]
There is an ill-concealed skeleton in the closet of physics: “As they are currently formulated, general relativity and quantum mechanics cannot both be right.” Each is exceedingly accurate in its field: general relativity explains the behavior of the universe at large scales, while quantum mechanics describes the behavior of subatomic particles. Yet the theories collide […]
From the Oklahoma City bombing to the Vladimir Zhirinovsky phenomenon in Russia, manifestations of extremism remain a feature of the post-Cold War era, presenting a danger to both established and emerging democracies. This timely volume examines the threats to freedom and security posed by right-wing extremism in established democracies and by the blend of left- […]
On September 11, 2001, Americans witnessed horrific carnage inspired by religious extremism. We saw that religious fundamentalists will stop at nothing to reign terror on those they regard as their enemies. In our response, we began to focus on the oppressive treatment of women and children in other parts of the world where religious fundamentalism […]
Seconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway. Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend, researcher Ford Prefect. Together they hitch a ride to parts unknown, encounter creatures unheard of, and take part in comic adventures unparalleled.
“In The Jesus Myth, the latest in G.A. Wells’s series of eagle-eyed scrutinies of the Gospels and of contemporary New Testament scholarship, the author once again takes the role of the Diogenes of the theologians. Charitable yet unflinching, Well’s analysis forces one to the inevitable conclusion that the apologists for the historical Jesus are less […]
A reconstructed collection of sayings attributed to Jesus reveals Jesus as a Jewish sage who was later mythologized into the “Christ” revered by the world’s Christian communities.
What’s next–The Girl Scouts: The Untold Story? How could anybody write a debunking book about Mother Teresa and her Missionaries of Charity order? Well, in this little cruise missile of a book, Hitchens quickly establishes that the idea is not without point. After all, what is Mother Teresa doing hanging out with a dictator’s wife […]
The New Left: The Anti-Industrial Revolution contains essays by Rand on politics, focussing on the New Left. The “New Left” is a rather vague term created by the media in the 1960’s to refer to a new liberal movement characterized by concern with the environment, racism and state oppression. The members of this movement often […]
Released by Humanist Press in its degenerized eighth edition, this powerful book is the definitive study of the history and growth of the humanist movement in North America. Renowned philosopher and activist Corliss Lamont offers a vigorous argument for humanism and provides an affirmative, intelligent guidebook for shaping a better life in today’s complex world.
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