17.02.2021

“The Oxford Handbook of the Abrahamic Religions” edited by Adam J. Silverstein, Guy G. Stroumsa et al

Magick Matters
"The Oxford Handbook of the Abrahamic Religions" edited by Adam J. Silverstein, Guy G. Stroumsa et al
"The Oxford Handbook of the Abrahamic Religions includes authoritative yet accessible studies on a wide variety of topics dealing comparatively with Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, as well as with the interactions between the adherents of these religions throughout history. The comparative study of the Abrahamic Religions has been undertaken for many centuries. More often than not, these studies reflected a polemical rather than an ecumenical approach to the topic. Since the nineteenth century, the comparative study of the Abrahamic Religions has not been pursued either intensively or systematically, and it is only recently that the comparative study of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam has received more serious attention. This volume contributes to the emergence and...>>
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17.02.2021

“The Mythological Evolution of the Universe” by Devdutt Pattanaik

Magick Matters
"The Mythological Evolution of the Universe" by Devdutt Pattanaik
"Ancient texts—or Vedas—were written for us to make sense of the universe that we live in. It is, however, believed that that the Vedas are of non-human origin and contain timeless wisdom. The Vedas acknowledge the existence of 'jiva' or soul and that each unique 'jiva' contributes to the constant shaping of the universe. But how does that affect us? Are we collectively moving toward a particular destination that has already been determined? Read on as Devdutt Pattanaik explores these questions and more in The Mythological Evolution of the Universe."...>>
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17.02.2021

“Handbook of Religion and the Authority of Science” edited by James R. Lewis and Olav Hammer

Magick Matters
"Handbook of Religion and the Authority of Science" edited by James R. Lewis and Olav Hammer
"There has been a significant but little-noticed aspect of the interface between science and religion, namely the widespread tendency of religions to appeal to science in support of their truth claims. Though the appeal to science is most evident in more recent religions like Christian Science and Scientology, no major faith tradition is exempt from this pattern. Members of almost every religion desire to see their 'truths' supported by the authority of science - especially in the midst of the present historical period, when all of the comforting old certainties seem problematic and threatened. The present collection examines this pattern in a wide variety of different religions and spiritual movements, and demonstrates the many...>>
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17.02.2021

“System: The Shaping of Modern Knowledge” by Clifford Siskin

Magick Matters
"System: The Shaping of Modern Knowledge" by Clifford Siskin
"The role that “system” has played in the shaping and reshaping of modern knowledge, from Galileo and Newton to our own “computational universe.” A system can describe what we see (the solar system), operate a computer (Windows 10), or be made on a page (the fourteen engineered lines of a sonnet). In this book, Clifford Siskin shows that system is best understood as a genre—a form that works physically in the world to mediate our efforts to understand it. Indeed, many Enlightenment authors published works they called “system” to compete with the essay and the treatise. Drawing on the history of system from Galileo's “message from the stars” and Newton's “system of the world” to...>>
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