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"A groundbreaking reinterpretation that draws on cognitive theory to show that belief wasn’t absent from―but rather was at the heart of―Roman religion
Belief and Cult argues that belief isn’t uniquely Christian but was central to ancient Roman religion. Drawing on cognitive theory, Jacob Mackey shows that despite having nothing to do with salvation or faith, belief underlay every aspect of Roman religious practices―emotions, individual and collective cult action, ritual norms, social reality, and social power. In doing so, he also offers a thorough argument for the importance of belief to other non-Christian religions.
At the individual level, the book argues, belief played an indispensable role in the genesis of cult action and religious emotion. However, ...>>
"Discover some of the world’s most awe-inspiring and holy places, from Stonehenge to Uluru, and Walden Pond to Angkor Wat.
Humans have always searched for and created meaning in the world around them, whether in breathtakingly stunning natural features and phenomena, acknowledging the ancient home of a particular faith or movement, or honoring the location of a significant event. In this beautifully illustrated guide, Alice Peck discusses what makes a place spiritual—whether reaches of time, geography, the provision of sustenance or inspiration, or mystery and magic—and then explores 80 such locations around the globe. Rather than a comprehensive travel guide, the description of each one includes a detail or tip—something beautiful, strange, relatively unknown or ...>>
