Holy Rascals

God is real. Everything we say about God is made up. Holy Rascals is a rousing call to anyone ready to go beyond "isms" and ideologies, and live in the world as a liberating force of justice, compassion, and joy. "Holy rascals are spiritual culture jammers who use humor, play, creativity, and critical thinking to reveal the human origins of religions—and how religions mask their true origins behind the conceit of divine origins," writes Rabbi Rami. Here, he illuminates: • The making of a holy rascal and the great task of "freeing religion from the parochial and for the perennial" • The art of "hacking the holy," or pulling back the curtain on religion’s fear-based mechanisms of control • The provocative tools and one-of-a-kind practices of the holy rascal, with guidance for creating your very own "rascally" ways "Holy rascality is about rekindling spiritual creativity and critical thinking," explains Rabbi Rami. "It is about freeing the human capacity for religiosity—the capacity for making meaning—from the confines of brand-name religion. Holy rascals are playful and lighthearted. While our task is serious—the liberation of humanity from the madness of unhealthy and harmful religions and religious beliefs—our attitude is not." Holy Rascals brings you Rabbi Rami’s one-of-a-kind inspiration, humor, and practical insight to help you on your mission.

"... More than an essay collection, this is a call for worldwide action." — Publishers Weekly Essential to survival, seeds have profound spiritual implications. For centuries the planting of seed in the earth not only nourished humanity, but also symbolized the mystery of life and the journey of the soul. In our current supermarket lifestyle of pre-packaged products, far removed from the cycles of planting, we have nearly forgotten this mystery. Now as the integrity of the seed is threatened, so is its primal meaning. Inspired by physicist and environmental leader Dr. Vandana Shiva, each essay draws on the wisdom of ancient and modern traditions. Mystics, shamans, monastics and priests remind us of the profound sacredness of the seed—how in its purity, it is the source and renewal of all of life. Tenderly composed of original writings and vibrant photos, this book bears witness that the Earth is alive, and establishes that only by working together with the Earth—with its wonder and mystery—can we help in its healing and regeneration and once again bring meaning back into the world. Edited and compiled by the Global Peace Initiative of Women, the book includes contributions from His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, H. H. the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, Sister Joan Chittister, Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee, Pir Zia Inayat-Khan, Swami Veda Bharati, Rabbi Arthur Waskow, Chief Tamale Bwoya, Blu Greenberg & others. “The way we live and act is determined by the perceptual lenses that are shaped by our beliefs and values. Our belief that it is our right to use as we wish, any part of the biosphere—air, water, soil, other life forms—has created problem after problem. If life is sacred, then we cannot treat other organisms as if they are cars or computers, we must act with humility, respect and love. This book provides a powerful perspective to temper our unseemly rush to engineer everything within the biosphere.” —David Suzuki, author, The Sacred Balance There is no more beautiful gift from nature than the seed—and its protection is vital to our survival. Vandana Shiva, Navdanya, the Global Peace Initiative of Women, and the brilliant spiritual leaders who contributed their voices to this book are all elevating our dialogue about seeds, and the profound role they hold for the future of all humankind." —Alice Waters, chef, author, culinary visionary, and proprietor of Chez Panisse “Ever since I watched the women in Bangladeshi farm families carefully saving seed from one generation to the next, I’ve pondered on this greatest symbol of our connection through time to those who came before and those who will come after. This book is a rich storehouse of wisdom for all the springs to come.” —Bill McKibben, founder, 350.org “Preserving seed diversity—our vast and beautiful heritage of seeds—is one of the most pressing crises facing the human community. Our future depends on our courageous actions now. May these essays by great spiritual voices from around the world awaken us to value, care for, and stand up for the seeds that nature has gifted to us.” —Frances Moore Lappé, author, Diet for a Small Planet and EcoMind “This book is timely and timeless in its importance. The seeds that bring forth life and food for our planet and its people are indispensable for the continuity of all living things. Thus our care for seeds is one of the most vital things we can do amid our many challenges of the present. These articles light a luminous path forward.” —Mary Evelyn Tucker, co-director, Forum on Religion and Ecology at Yale University and Emerging Earth Community; executive producer and co-writer, Journey of the Universe

Awarded with the ‘Companion of the Star of Melanesia’ for their distinguished service to the islands of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, the late Rev. John Pasterkamp shares his firsthand account of the revival which transformed the islands of Melanesia with thousands of people coming to faith and over 400 churches being planted. From the wilderness of Australia’s Cape York peninsula, to tropical Papua New Guinea, Rev. Pasterkamp will take you on a journey of surviving tribal wars, malaria infested swamplands, demonised witchdoctors and merciless jungles all for the sake of the gospel. His firsthand accounts of healings, deliverance and radical salvation that impacted every spectrum of society - from workers on rural plantations to government officials. This autobiography talks about the price paid in raw courage, dedication and self-sacrifice to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ and see revival come, transforming nations.

A new 2023 systematic of Luther's works across 7 volumes. This volume contains new translations of the following major works: A. Disputation on the Power of Indulgences (The Ninety-Five Theses) (1517) B. Gott und die Seele / God and the Soul (1518) C. Ein Sermon von dem Heiligen Hochwürdigen Sakrament der Taufe/ A Sermon on the Holy Reverend Sacrament of Baptism (1519) D. Briefe an den Papst Leo den Zehnten / Letters to the Pope Leo the Tenth (1520) E. Von den guten Werken / Treatise on Good Works (1520) F. Verteidigungsrede auf dem Reichstag zu Worms / Defense speech at the Diet of Worms (1921) G. Vom ehelichen Leben / On Married Life (1522) I. Von der Wiedertaufe, an zwei Pfarrherrn/ On Rebaptism, for two pastors (1528) J. Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott/ Our God is a Mighty Fortress (1529) K. Vermahnung zum Sacrament des Leibes und Blutes des Herrn/ Admonition to the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of the Lord (1530) L. Wider das Bapstum zu Rom vom Teuffel gestifft/ Against the baptism of Rome founded by the Devil (1545) M. Widerruf der Lehre vom Fegefeuer / Revocation of the Doctrine of Purgatory (1530) This is volume I of "The Essential Luther" from NLP. This series lays out Luther's complete major writings along with the original German or Latin text in the back of the book for quick reference. These are the only Bilingual editions of Luther's works ever printed. These manuscripts have been meticulously translated into English from the Original Fraktur manuscript. The German texts have been transcribed into the modern German text. This series is intended to introduce Luther's works systematically and includes all of Luther's writings including minor and obscure texts in 7 editions. Some of these sermons and letters have had no modern English translation until now. Volume I. Luther Contra Mundum: The Ninety-five Theses and other Major Treaties Volume II. Luther & Scripture: Writings on Hermeneutics, Exegesis and Patristics Volume III. Luther on Divine Sovereignty & Human will: Conversations with Erasmus Volume IV. Luther & the State: Writings on Secularism Volume V. Luther's Creeds: Catechisms & Confessions Volume VI. Luther's Table Talk Volume VII. Luther's Sermons and Letters

"A brilliant account of what history will recognize as one of the most significant lives of the 20th century" (Ken Wilber, author of The Religion of Tomorrow). Paramahansa Yogananda was called "the 20th century's first superstar guru" (Los Angeles Times), and today, nearly a century after he arrived in the United States, he's still the best known and most beloved of all the Indian spiritual teachers who have come to the West. In this captivating book, newly available in paperback, Yogananda's story finally has the authoritative telling it deserves. Considered by many to be the father of modern yoga, Yogananda has had an unsurpassed global impact thanks to the durability of his teachings, the institutions he created or inspired, and especially his iconic memoir, Autobiography of a Yogi. Since its publication in 1946, that book has sold millions of copies and changed millions of lives. But it doesn't tell the whole story. Much of Yogananda's seminal text is devoted to tales about other people, and it largely overlooks the three vital decades he spent living, working, and teaching in America. Huge chunks of his life--challenges, controversies, and crises; triumphs, relationships, and formative experiences--remain unknown to even his most ardent devotees. Scholar and teacher Philip Goldberg fills the gaps, charting a journey that spanned six decades, two hemispheres, two world wars, and unprecedented social changes. The result is an objective, thoroughly researched account of Yogananda's remarkable life in all its detail, nuance, and complex humanity. But this is more than a compelling life story. "Yogananda would, I believe, want any book about him to not only inform but transform," Goldberg writes. "It is my hope that readers will be enriched, expanded, and deepened by this humble offering." That is sure to be the case for both Yogananda enthusiasts and those who discover him for the first time in these illuminating pages.