Unmasking'Enlightenment': 'Spiritual Nonsense" Flips Spirituality on its Head!" Prepare yourself for a journey that’s equal parts enlightenment and irreverence; “Spiritual Nonsense – The Sacred Art of Self-Deception”. The first book in the BULLSHITTO series. If you’re expecting a book filled with solemn discourses on spiritual practices, brace for impact because this is not it. Crafted with wit sharper than a samurai’s blade, this book slices through the fluffy nonsense of the spiritual marketplace with unapologetic humor and a dash of sarcasm. Shadow and her co-conspirator in literary crime Lucas, have penned a manifesto for those weary of the spiritual hamster wheel. They start with a premise so simple it’s almost ridiculous: “There is only one thing, and YOU are it.” From there, the ride only gets wilder. Imagine a book that makes you laugh out loud while simultaneously dismantling your deeply held beliefs—this is that book. “Spiritual Nonsense” is your invitation to a party where the revered gurus, solemn practices, and esoteric jargon are turned on their heads. Expect to laugh until you cry, and then pause mid-giggle to ponder some unexpectedly deep truths. This book does not respect your beliefs; instead, it respects you too much to let you cling to them unexamined. Expect no paths to enlightenment, no secrets to unlocking your inner potential through high vibrations or positive thinking. Instead, get ready to challenge every notion you’ve ever had about spirituality, culture, and the pursuit of truth. Through a mix of provocative stories, insightful commentary, and outright mockery, the authors guide you on a quest not for answers, but for better questions. The authors use common terms like Consciousness, The Absolute, and Enlightenment not as destinations but as signposts on a journey where the only real direction is inward. “Spiritual Nonsense” is for the brave souls who can laugh at the cosmic joke of existence, for those willing to confront the illusions that comfort them, and for the adventurers eager to explore the depths of their own folly in the quest for TRUTH. Prepare to have your beliefs challenged, your preconceptions shattered, and your funny bone tickled. “Spiritual Nonsense – The Sacred Art of Self-Deception” is more than a book; it’s a spiritual detox, offering liberation not through solemn wisdom but through the joyful realization that, in the end, we might not know anything at all. So, if you’re ready to embark on the least serious spiritual journey of your life, where laughter is the only guru and every page turns your world a little more upside down, welcome to “Spiritual Nonsense.” Enlightenment has never been so much fun.
Houses Divided provides new insights into the significance of the nineteenth-century evangelical schisms that arose initially over the moral question of African American bondage. Volkman examines such fractures in the Baptist, Methodist, and Presbyterian churches of the slaveholding border state of Missouri. He maintains that congregational and local denominational ruptures before, during, and after the Civil War were central to the crisis of the Union in that state from 1837 to 1876. The schisms were interlinked religious, legal, constitutional, and political developments rife with implications for the transformation of evangelicalism and the United States from the late 1830s to the end of Reconstruction. The evangelical disruptions in Missouri were grounded in divergent moral and political understandings of slavery, abolitionism, secession, and disloyalty. Publicly articulated by factional litigation over church property and a combative evangelical print culture, the schisms were complicated by the race, class, and gender dynamics that marked the contending interests of white middle-class women and men, rural church-goers, and African American congregants. These ruptures forged antagonistic northern and southern evangelical worldviews that increased antebellum sectarian strife and violence, energized the notorious guerilla conflict that gripped Missouri through the Civil War, and fueled post-war vigilantism between opponents and proponents of emancipation. The schisms produced the interrelated religious, legal and constitutional controversies that shaped pro-and anti-slavery evangelical contention before 1861, wartime Radical rule, and the rise and fall of Reconstruction.
Thomas Beecham was one of Britain's greatest conductors of orchestral music and opera as well as an entrepreneur and impresario of exceptional energy and brilliant wit. This new life places him - musically, politically and socially - in the troubled times in which he lived and corrects the stories and myths, many of them Beecham's own making, that have grown up around this uniquely gifted and controversial figure.Drawing upon extensive research, Lucas presents new material on his early years, his complicated private life, his father's catastrophic attempt to buy a large part of Covent Garden - which brought the family to its knees financially - and the orchestras and opera companies that Beecham founded. New light is shed on his visits to Nazi Germany and his view of its leaders, as well as the much misunderstood and previously unchronicled years of the Second World War, which he spent in Australia and America.Thomas Beecham: An Obsession with Music will change the way we view this complex personality and remain the standard biography for years to come.JOHN LUCAS was on the staff of the Observer for 25 years, completed Peter Heyworth's monumental biography of Otto Klemperer, wrote the biography of Reginald Goodall, and is responsible for the current entries on Beecham and Klemperer in the New Grove.BEECHAM IN REHEARSAL: This book will include a full-length CD of Beecham rehearsing the RPO. It features music by Haydn, Mozart, Handel, Liszt and a remarkable movement from Beethoven's 5th Symphony.
Unpacking Globalization examines the experiences of people living with the forces that are transforming economic systems, culture, gender relationships and governance. The book offers interdisciplinary analysis of the well-being of women and men as they cope with the changes of globalization. Through theory, case studies, and data, several themes emerge indicating that from the household to the continental level, change is leading to new awareness and new survival strategies for both women and men. The contributors to the volume come from Africa, Asia, Europe, and North and South America. They present analysis of global changes and historical background from diverse perspectives and offer case studies on social security, gender, and macroeconomy. They employ feminist theory as well as detail the experiences of current and future women entrepreneurs. An exciting interdisciplinary text, Unpacking Globalization can supplement women's studies, anthropology, sociology, and economic development courses.
Unmasking'Enlightenment': 'Spiritual Nonsense" Flips Spirituality on its Head!" Prepare yourself for a journey that’s equal parts enlightenment and irreverence; “Spiritual Nonsense – The Sacred Art of Self-Deception”. The first book in the BULLSHITTO series. If you’re expecting a book filled with solemn discourses on spiritual practices, brace for impact because this is not it. Crafted with wit sharper than a samurai’s blade, this book slices through the fluffy nonsense of the spiritual marketplace with unapologetic humor and a dash of sarcasm. Shadow and her co-conspirator in literary crime Lucas, have penned a manifesto for those weary of the spiritual hamster wheel. They start with a premise so simple it’s almost ridiculous: “There is only one thing, and YOU are it.” From there, the ride only gets wilder. Imagine a book that makes you laugh out loud while simultaneously dismantling your deeply held beliefs—this is that book. “Spiritual Nonsense” is your invitation to a party where the revered gurus, solemn practices, and esoteric jargon are turned on their heads. Expect to laugh until you cry, and then pause mid-giggle to ponder some unexpectedly deep truths. This book does not respect your beliefs; instead, it respects you too much to let you cling to them unexamined. Expect no paths to enlightenment, no secrets to unlocking your inner potential through high vibrations or positive thinking. Instead, get ready to challenge every notion you’ve ever had about spirituality, culture, and the pursuit of truth. Through a mix of provocative stories, insightful commentary, and outright mockery, the authors guide you on a quest not for answers, but for better questions. The authors use common terms like Consciousness, The Absolute, and Enlightenment not as destinations but as signposts on a journey where the only real direction is inward. “Spiritual Nonsense” is for the brave souls who can laugh at the cosmic joke of existence, for those willing to confront the illusions that comfort them, and for the adventurers eager to explore the depths of their own folly in the quest for TRUTH. Prepare to have your beliefs challenged, your preconceptions shattered, and your funny bone tickled. “Spiritual Nonsense – The Sacred Art of Self-Deception” is more than a book; it’s a spiritual detox, offering liberation not through solemn wisdom but through the joyful realization that, in the end, we might not know anything at all. So, if you’re ready to embark on the least serious spiritual journey of your life, where laughter is the only guru and every page turns your world a little more upside down, welcome to “Spiritual Nonsense.” Enlightenment has never been so much fun.
BMX bikes are iconic. There’s something about them that appeals to kids, adults and cyclists. And, of course, BMX is now an Olympic sport. Rad Rides is the most in-depth exploration of the world of BMX bikes through their riders and the culture that surrounds them. The introduction explains and contextualizes the birth of BMX culture and where it is now, while the main body features bikes ranging from those that are well-worn through years of riding to beautiful, sculptural works of art – gleaming, built-but-never-ridden keepsakes. The featured bikes are organized decade by decade and are BMXs drawn from the best collections in the world. There are also in-depth details of specifications and interviews with some of the collectors, many of whom have had their bikes exclusively shot for the book. This is the indispensable companion for anyone who loves the BMX.
Reproduction of the original. The publishing house Megali specialises in reproducing historical works in large print to make reading easier for people with impaired vision.
Christians often agree about their core moral principles, but disagreement and confusion reign when it comes to bringing these values into politics. A host of simplistic and fallacious views can paralyse the faithful - muffling what should be the prophetic voice.This book untangles the muddle and clarifies what Christians should be aiming for in politics and how they should enter into the world of political parties and elections. It's readable, short, logical, original and provocative. The author is the leader of the Scottish Family Party, but the arguments presented apply universally. If bringing Godly values into the political arena is your passion, this is the book for you.
David Foster Wallace is invariably seen as an emphatically American figure. Lucas Thompson challenges this consensus, arguing that Wallace's investments in various international literary traditions are central to both his artistic practice and his critique of US culture. Thompson shows how, time and again, Wallace's fiction draws on a diverse range of global texts, appropriating various forms of world literature in the attempt to craft fiction that critiques US culture from oblique and unexpected vantage points. Using a wide range of comparative case studies, and drawing on extensive archival research, Global Wallace reveals David Foster Wallace's substantial debts to such unexpected figures as Jamaica Kincaid, Julio Cortázar, Jean Rhys, Octavio Paz, Leo Tolstoy, Zbigniew Herbert, and Albert Camus, among many others. It also offers a more comprehensive account of the key influences that Wallace scholars have already perceived, such as Fyodor Dostoevsky, Franz Kafka, and Manuel Puig. By reassessing Wallace's body of work in relation to five broadly construed geographic territories -- Latin America, Russia, Eastern Europe, France, and Africa -- the book reveals the mechanisms with which Wallace played particular literary traditions off one another, showing how he appropriated vastly different global texts within his own fiction. By expanding the geographic coordinates of Wallace's work in this way, Global Wallace reconceptualizes contemporary American fiction, as being embedded within a global exchange of texts and ideas.
Colonel Brander's service in and eventual command of the 32nd Sikh Pioneers put him in personal contact with the problems of India's frontiers a century ago and reveal how little has changed other than the scale of weaponry and cost of conflict in a savage landscape and barbarous region. America's ten year War in Afghanistan has seemed interminable to her people. To her Taliban opponents it has been a short phase in their Holy Jihad which has continued for hundreds of years since the birth of the Wahhabi cult, and for Waziri tribesmen violence has seemed the natural state of society ever since the invasion of Alexander the Great. "Waziristan to Tibet" tells the story of Colonel Brander's experiences in the 32nd Sikh Pioneers, using his history of the Regiment, his personal recollections of its campaigns 1882-1910, and other contemporary sources. Its background covers the relationship of Britain and Afghanistan from a troubled beginning with accounts of the disasters and successes of the 1st and 2nd Afghan Wars, the perennial political problems along India's' tribal frontiers, the role of the Wahhabi sect which developed into the Taliban as it is today, the 'Great Game' of political strategy played out between Britain and Russia, and the British Invasion of Tibet 1903/04 which was motivated by fears of the Tsar's conquests in central Asia and his expansionist intentions towards the jewel of the British Empire, only to be marred by political indecision and incompetent military leadership. The feats of personal endurance demanded by service in the 'Indian Army' of Colonel Brander's day may seem to surpass fiction but they are recorded by history as fact. His colorful personal story portrays vanished days of the Raj at its apogee, as well as the unchanging dynamics underlying today's conflict in Afghanistan and the dire consequences of Tibet's attempt to preserve its treasured mediaeval isolation in a changing world.
This book offers something new, a full-length study of printing Anglo-Saxon (Old English) from 1566 to 1705, combining analysis of content and form of production. It starts from the end-product and addresses the practical issues of providing for printing Anglo-Saxon authentically, and why this was done. The book tells a story that is largely Cambridge-orientated until Oxford made an impact, largely thanks to Franciscus Junius from Leiden. There is a catalogue of all books containing Anglo-Saxon, with full details of their use of manuscript or printed sources. This information allows us to see how knowledge of Anglo-Saxon grew and developed.
The roots of controversy surrounding higher education in the US extend deep into the past. This original, incisive history goes far in offering a needed sense of perspective on current debates over such issues as access, costs, academic quality, social equity, and curricula. Eminently readable and always lively, this timely historical account is sure to be an invaluable resource for assessing the present condition and future prospects of American colleges and universities.
In 1811, architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe spurred American builders into action when he called for them to reject "the corrupt Age of Dioclesian, or the still more absurd and debased taste of Louis the XIV," and to emulate instead the ancient temples of Greece. In response, people in the antebellum trans-Appalachian region embraced the clean lines, intricate details, and stately symmetry of the Grecian style. On newly built public buildings, private homes, and religious structures, references to classical Greek architecture became the preferred ornamentation. Several antebellum cities and towns adopted the moniker of "Athens," styling themselves as centers of culture, education, and sophistication. As the trend grew, American citizens understood the name as a link between the Grecian style and the founding principles of democracy—signaling a change of taste in service to the larger American cultural ideal. In Athens on the Frontier, Patrick Lee Lucas examines the material culture of Grecian-style buildings in antebellum America to help recover nineteenth-century regional identities. As communities worked to define their built landscape and develop a shared Western identity, Lucas's study invites readers to question many of the assumptions Americans have made about divisions and cultural formation in antebellum society.
This book explores the theoretical basis of our ethical obligations to others as self-knowing beings - this task being envisaged as an essential supplement to a traditional ethic of respect for persons. Authoritative knowledge of others brings with it certain obligations, which are reflected in (inter alia) the moral and legal safeguards designed to ensure that certain information is ‘put out of play’ for job selection purposes etc. However, the theoretical basis for such obligations has never been fully clarified. This book begins by identifying a distinctive class of ‘interpretive’ moral wrongs (including stereotyping, discrimination and objectification). It then shows how our obligations in respect of these wrongs can be understood, drawing on insights from the tradition of philosophical reflection on recognition. The book will be of interest to anyone concerned with the adequacy of a modern ethic of respect for persons – particularly in applied and professional ethics.
Everywhere we turn in Canadian local politics – from policing to transit, education to public health, planning to utilities – we encounter a peculiar institutional animal: the special purpose body. These “ABCs” of local government – library boards, school boards, transit authorities, and many others – provide vital public services, spend large sums of public money, and raise important questions about local democratic accountability. In Fields of Authority, Jack Lucas provides the first systematic exploration of local special purpose bodies in Ontario. Drawing on extensive research in local and provincial archives, Lucas uses a “policy fields” approach to explain how these local bodies in Ontario have developed from the nineteenth century to the present. A lively and accessible study, Fields of Authority will appeal to readers interested in Canadian political history, urban politics, and urban public policy.
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