Showing titles in History

Step into the shadows of time and uncover the fascinating journey of Halloween—one of the world's most beloved and mysterious celebrations. History of Halloween takes listeners from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain to the vibrant, candy filled traditions we enjoy today, revealing how centuries of rituals, folklore, religion, and cultural change shaped this iconic holiday. Discover how bonfires, carved turnips, ghost stories, witchcraft fears, and community gatherings evolved into modern costumes, pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating, and haunted attractions.

Buried around 340 AD, unearthed in 1945 and translated into English in 1959, this text has been studied, debated and analyzed by dozens of scholars and historians searching for clues about the meaning of these cryptic sayings of Jesus. In The Quantum Sayings of Jesus, author Keith Giles offers a look at the text from the perspective of non-duality and divine oneness. If true, these sayings may unlock the key to solving humanity’s greatest challenges and reveal the startling truth that all of us are connected in surprising ways.

Confession is a crucial ritual of the Catholic Church, offering absolution of sin and spiritual guidance to the faithful. Yet this ancient sacrament has also been a source of controversy and oppression, culminating, as prize-winning historian John Cornwell reveals in The Dark Box, with the scandal of clerical child abuse. Drawing on extensive historical sources, contemporary reports, and first-hand accounts, Cornwell takes a hard look at the long evolution of confession.

Don Richardson, author of the best-selling book Peace Child, has studied cultures throughout the world and found startling evidence of belief in the one true God within hundreds of them. In Eternity in Their Hearts, Richardson gives fascinating, real-life examples of ways people groups have exhibited terms and concepts in their histories that have prepared them for the gospel.

In a bold and moving book that is sure to spark heated debate, the novelist and cultural critic James Carroll maps the profoundly troubling 2,000-year course of the Church’s battle against Judaism and faces the crisis of faith it has provoked in his own life as a Catholic. More than a chronicle of religion, this dark history is the central tragedy of Western civilization, its fault lines reaching deep into our culture. 

Easy to Read Bible Summary for Teens and Adults is a Bible summary that covers all of the major stories and themes of the Bible from the first words in the book of Genesis to the last words in the book of Revelation. It is designed in clear and simple language that is easy to understand. It is intended for a person who always wanted to get a general understanding of the entire Bible, but for whatever reason, never read all of it.

Western civilization is becoming increasingly pluralistic,secularized, and biblically illiterate. Many people todayhave little sense of how their lives have benefited fromChristianity’s influence, often viewing the church withhostility or resentment.How Christianity Changed the World is a...

We admire these men for their greatness, but the truth is Augustine grappled with sexual passions, Martin Luther struggled to control his tongue, and John Calvin fought the battle of faith with worldly weapons. Yet each of these men will always be remembered for the messages they...

Luther’s 95 Theses, written in Latin, were famously posted by Martin Luther on the door of the Castle Church, Wittenberg, on October 31, 1517, an event that came to be considered as the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. The Theses focus on three main issues: selling forgiveness through indulgences, the pope’s claimed power of forgiveness, and the damage indulgences caused to sinners. The first thesis states, "When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, "Repent," he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance."

No nation, institution, empire, or dynasty has helped shape the world more than the Catholic Church. Armies have marched upon one another. Kings have risen and fallen. Ideological and political movements have taken hold of entire continents. Diseases and plagues have ravished millions. And through it all, Holy Mother Church has endured, standing as the one source of light in a world so often covered by shadows. In this thrilling narrative, Phillip Campbell takes children on a journey through Church history.

The Book of Enoch is a significant historical text that describes important facets of life, with rich words that deserve deeper exploration.

How have millions of American Christians come to measure spiritual progress in terms of their financial status and physical well-being? How has the movement variously called Word of Faith, Health and Wealth, Name It and Claim It, or simply prosperity gospel come to dominate much of our contemporary religious landscape? Kate Bowler's Blessed is the first book to fully explore the origins, unifying themes, and major figures of a burgeoning movement that now claims millions of followers in America.

Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity, Third Edition traces Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity from their roots in early Christian churches to the way these religions are observed today. Recounted here is the historical passage of the Catholic and Orthodox faiths, from the original teachings of Jesus Christ to the early separation of the Eastern and Western Churches to recent attempts at reconciliation.

There are over 100 million Pentecostals in Africa. In Latin America, Pentecostalism now vies with Catholicism for the soul of the continent, and some of the largest pentecostal congregations in the world are in South Korea. In To the Ends of the Earth, Allan Heaton Anderson explores the historical and theological factors behind the phenomenal growth of global Pentecostalism.

Is there more about the story of Christmas you wish you understood or that you have specific questions about? In this storybook of biblical truth and history, Rick Renner takes you on the magical journey of Christ's coming to earth as a baby—and the purpose of his coming—in a way you’ve probably never heard it before.

What Lies Ahead for Christians around the World? If you follow the works of bestselling authors Malcolm Gladwell, Faith Popcorn, Daniel Pink, and other trend forecasters, you’ll appreciate learning about over 25 rings of fire that lie ahead for Christians around the world. Len Sweet once again...

A generation today is asking, where are all god's miracles that our fathers told us about? From 1960-1966, author Tommy Welchel answered this question, living among the youth of one of the greatest spiritual outpourings ever experienced - the Azusa Street Revival. During this time, Tommy recorded first-hand accounts of the miracles that they had witnessed - and even performed themselves!

In Baptists in America, Thomas S. Kidd and Barry Hankins explore the long-running tensions between church, state, and culture that Baptists have shaped and navigated. Despite the moment of unity that their early persecution provided, their history has been marked by internal battles and schisms that were microcosms of national events, from the conflict over slavery that divided North from South to the conservative revolution of the 1970s and '80s.

Down swept the Vikings from the frigid North. Across the English coastlands and countryside they raided, torched, murdered, and destroyed all in their path. Farmers, monks, and soldiers all fell bloody under the Viking sword, hammer, and axe. Then, when the hour was most desperate, came an unlikely hero. King Alfred rallied the battered and bedraggled kingdoms of Britain and after decades of plotting, praying, and persisting, finally triumphed over the invaders.

Translated by Father Neil Xavier O'Donoghue, St. Patrick: His Confession and Other Works from Catholic Book Publishing gives the reader an excellent perspective on this beloved Saint, making him even more relevant for modern times. This book details two of the Saint's written works: Confession...