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Collected together in this volume are the following three works by Martin Luther: «The Ninety-Five Theses», «On Christian Liberty», and «Address to the Christian Nobility». Martin Luther, the founder of the Protestant movement and one of the most important figures in all of religious history puts forth his objections to the Catholic Church in these classic religious texts. «The Ninety-Five Theses on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences» is Martin Luther's list of concerns on corruption in the Roman Catholic Church. This 1517 document has since been widely acknowledged as the catalyst for the Protestant Reformation. «On Christian Liberty» is Luther's third major treatise in which he details his doctrines on justification by faith and the priesthood of all believers, and eventually expands on the concept of freedom through grace and its meaning for mankind. Finally in this work we find the «Address to the Christian Nobility» which predates «On Christian Liberty» and further discusses the religious beliefs of Martin Luther. This collection of foundational works of the Protestant movement is essential reading for religious scholars and laymen alike.

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"The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius" is a collection of Christian meditations intended to guide one on a 28-30 day process of spiritual purification and connection with Jesus. This text, written by the great St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) has been extensively practiced and studied for hundreds of years. It has become a major text of the Christian canon and is a fundamental text of Ignatian and Jesuit spirituality. This volume presents the complete and original set of Ignatian prayers and meditations, organized into five parts: Creation, Mankind, The Kingdom of God, Christ, and the Trinity. Intended to be carried out over four weeks in retreat, these exercises are full of theological insight, Christian revelation, and contemplative guidance that, together, offers a path toward personal solace. «Spiritual Exercises» is a methodical approach to Jesuit spirituality, though it is accessible to a wide audience of lay people and curious readers alike. Beautifully composed, the work is a moving account of the nature of the soul and human spirituality. This timeless work of Christian Mysticism continues to resonant around the world, offering a path of spiritual meditation and awakening.

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A classic work of Hindu scripture, the «Bhagavad-Gita» is the story of Prince Arjuna who is faced with a decision with serious moral consequence, the decision to go to war. With the armies arrayed on the battlefield, Arjuna in a moment of hesitation is counseled by Vishnu, the Supreme God, who takes the form of Krishna wearing the disguise of a charioteer. A classic tale of Hindu spirituality, the «Bhagavad-Gita» provides great insight into dealing with the morally ambiguous challenges that face us all.

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From the notes for Pascal's contemplated «Apology for the Christian Religion» the Port-Royalists compiled and edited the book known as his «Pensées» or «Thoughts.» The early texts were much tampered with, and the material has been frequently rearranged; but now at last it is possible to read these fragmentary jottings as they came from the hand of their author. In spite of their incompleteness and frequent incoherence, the «Thoughts» have long held a high place among the great religious classics. Much of the theological argument implied in these utterances has little appeal to the modern mind, but the acuteness of the observation of human life, the subtlety of the reasoning, the combination of precision and fervid imagination in the expression, make this a book to which the discerning mind can return again and again for insight and inspiration.

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When John Wesley (1703-1791) was rescued from a burning rectory at five years old, he felt that he was saved for a reason. This incensed in him a feeling of purpose which greatly fueled his pursuit of spreading Methodist ideals and messages of faith. Wesley was a major proponent of Christian Perfection, the idea of having the most supreme love for god, thus elevating one's existence. His «Sermons on Several Occasions» is a collection of over 140 sermons, compiled into five series. The first series is Wesley's interpretation of what the Bible says concerning the way to heaven, the second concerns important Christian doctrines and practices. The final three series were published without Wesley's knowledge and therefore have no topical arrangement, and may even be of questionable authorship. Regardless, the collection is a significant representation of Wesley's views on love, death, faith and even natural disaster. Contained in this edition is the first volume of Wesley's «Sermons on Several Occasions».

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A Christian evangelical preacher during the early 1700's, during the First Great Awakening, Jonathan Edwards is considered one of America's most important and original philosophical theologians. His polemic work «Freedom of the Will» refutes the notion that humans have complete free will over the choices they make. Instead, Edwards claims that will is driven by human desire. In Edwards' beliefs, people are sinners at heart. They do not naturally follow God's wish for their future. However, the preacher says that there is a way for humans to «regain» their will; they must wholly believe in God's path for them. Understanding God's plans and accepting them allows someone to choose their own way. They can make a conscious effort to choose the best path for their life. Edwards took his beliefs to heart and followed what he thought was God's plan for his own life and in so doing helped to start a religious revival in America. He also is credited with starting the New Light Calvinist movement, which was comprised of a group of his closest followers and ministers. To this day his work continues to be admired and commemorated by countless churches, colleges, writers, and theologians.

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Considered one the four canonical texts of the Hindu religion, known collectively as «The Vedas», «The Rig Veda» is one of the most important works of Hindu scripture. The work is a collection of poems, sayings, prayers and origin myths. Written sometime between 1700-1100 BCE, «The Rig Veda» is one of the oldest works of the Indo-European languages. The hymns included in the collection are dedicated to various deities in Hindu mythology, including Vishnu, Rudra, Indra, Soma, and Surya. Many Hindu priests and philosophers have revived and re-interpreted the poems contained in «The Rig Veda» for use in their modern religious practices. This text is an excellent introduction for English-speakers into the Hindu mythology and religion. Amongst the tales readers will find moral allegory and ethical guidelines common to Western religion and philosophy. «The Rig Veda» is a must read for anyone interested in Eastern history, religion, and mythology.

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The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ is the detailed account of the suffering and death of Jesus Christ beginning hours before his crucifixion. Based on the ecstatic visions of the Venerable Anne Catherine Emmerich, «The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ» is a controversial and often-debated account of the events that lead up to and the suffering endured during the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

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The «Mahabharata» tells the narrative of the Kurukshetra War and the fates of the Kaurava and the Pandava princes who are part of it. Along with the «Ramayana» it is one of two Sanskrit epics of ancient India. The authorship of the work is generally attributed to Vyasa, who is also a major character in the epic. Intermixed within the descriptions of conflict between the warring factions of this epic are numerous philosophical digressions and discussions of Hinduism. One of the more famous of these digressions is the «Bhagavad-Gita», a battlefield conversation between Pandava prince Arjuna and his guide Lord Krishna on a variety of theological and philosophical issues. Also included within the «Mahabharata» are the story of «Damayanti» and «Rishyasringa,» often considered as works in their own right. This sweeping epic, the longest every written in Sanskrit, is widely considered as one of the most important works to ever be authored in any language. This four volume edition collects together the complete epic in a translation by Kisari Mohan Ganguli. Here we have the second volume which includes books four through seven.

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"The Koran" is the ultimate authority and the foundation of the Islamic faith. Believed by Muslims to be the word of God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad through the archangel Gabriel, it is the source of all Islamic tenets. «The Koran» is composed in Arabic verse and divided into 114 suras, or chapters. The fundamental religious text of Islam, the Koran is recited by millions everyday and is widely considered the finest piece of Arabic literature. Situated amidst the other defining religious tomes of the world, the Koran is a powerful and rich text. Tremendously influential since its creation 1,400 years ago, the Koran remains a breathing text all over the world. In this edition we find the highly annotated and critical translation of J. M. Rodwell.

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