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The acknowledged masterpiece of one of Spain's most influential thinkers. Between despair and the desire for something better, Unamuno finds that «saving incertitude» that alone can console us. Dynamic appraisal of man's faith in God and in himself.

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One of the most original and penetrating philosophers of all time, Spinoza is also one of the clearest and easiest to understand. His works constitute an important adjunct to understanding Goethe, Hegel, Schelling, Coleridge, Whitehead, Schopenhauer, Wittgenstein, and other writers who were influenced by his thinking. Spinoza's works retain an endless wealth of lucidly expressed and deeply profound analyses of such concepts as God, the universe, pantheism, the role of society, revealed religion, the state, democracy, the mind, the emotions, freedom, and human nature.<BR>In <I>A Theologico-Political Treatise</I>, Spinoza presents an eloquent plea for religious liberty, demonstrating that true religion consists of the practice of simple piety, independent of philosophical speculation. Anticipating the methods of modern rationalists, he examines the Bible at length to show that freedom of thought and speech are consistent with the religious life. In the unfinished <I>Political Treatise</I>, Spinoza develops a theory of government founded on common consent.<BR>This volume is part of Dover's Philosophical Classics series, a collection of the major works in Western and Eastern philosophy that ranges from ancient Greece to modern times. Its low-priced, high-quality, unabridged editions are ideal for teachers and students as well as for other readers.

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The fourteenth-century anchoress known as Julian of Norwich offered fervent prayers for a deeper understanding of Christ's passion. The holy woman's petitions were answered with a series of divine revelations that she called «showings.» Her mystic visions revealed Christ's sufferings with extreme intensity, but they also confirmed God's constant love for humanity and his infinite capacity for forgiveness.Julian of Norwich's Revelations have had a lasting influence on Christian thought. Written in immediate, compelling terms, her experiences remain among the most original and accessible expressions of medieval mysticism. This edition contains both the short text&#8212;which is mainly an account of the «showings» themselves and Julian's initial analysis of their meaning&#8212;as well as the long text, completed some 20 years later and offering daringly speculative interpretations.

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Modestly described by its author as «a little rule for beginners,» this masterpiece of spiritual wisdom dates from the sixth century. It was originally intended as a manual for aspiring monks, a diverse group composed of serfs, scholars, shepherds, and sons of the nobility. St. Benedict's little book eventually developed into the preeminent monastic legislative code, a distinction it maintains to this day.In addition to its importance in the organization and spread of Western monasticism, this volume also offers sound suggestions for readers outside the abbey. Benedict explores issues related to charity, personality, integrity, and spirituality. Mindful of human frailty, he counsels an ever-increasing self-discipline, supported by community worship. His teachings have guided readers from every walk of life for 1,500 years, encouraging and inspiring them with advice regarding the dignity of labor, the challenge of responsibility, and the proper use of resources.

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Some view it as a prophecy of events already fulfilled, and others as a foretelling of things yet to come. Still others regard it as an expression of eternal spiritual truths, rather than specific incidents. The biblical Book of Revelation supports a variety of interpretations &#8212; and controversies &#8212; and it exerts an endless fascination on readers of every generation.This compilation features highlights from the King James edition of Revelation, along with other prophetic&nbsp;books of the Bible: Isaiah, which envisions the overthrow of Babylon and the restoration of Israel; Ezekiel, rich in proverbs that inspire hope and declare the certainty of a coming judgment; Daniel, in which the prophet interprets dreams and omens; and Zechariah, which assures that God is at work and planning to dwell again with his people in Jerusalem.

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"Believe me, count as lost each day you have not used in loving God." &#8212; Brother LawrenceThis simply written little book about prayer and Christian life conveys a humble man's thoughts on the importance of experiencing God's love. A seventeenth-century French Carmelite, Brother Lawrence spent much of his time in the kitchen of a Paris monastery. Of this experience, he said: «The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer, and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen &#8230; I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees at the blessed sacrament.»A collection of Lawrence's messages given to those who lived around him, this book contains The Practice of the Presence of God and The Spiritual Maxims. Both have much to say to modern man about living a spiritual life in a busy world. More widely read today than ever, these two classics &#8212; each an easily accessible primer of practical Christian devotion &#8212; comprise a particularly good selection with which to begin spiritual studies.

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"Men despise religion. They hate it and are afraid it may be true," declared Pascal in his Pense&#233;s. «The cure for this,» he explained, «is first to show that religion is not contrary to reason, but worthy of reverence and respect. Next make it attractive, make good men wish it were true, and then show that it is.» Motivated by the 17th-century view of the supremacy of human reason, Pascal (1623&#8211;1662) intended to write an ambitious apologia for Christianity, in which he argued the inability of reason to address metaphysical problems. While Pascal's untimely death prevented his completion of the work, these fragments published posthumously in 1670 as Pense&#233;s remain a vital part of religious and philosophical literature. Introduction by T. S. Eliot.

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As the sacred book of Islam, the Koran, or Qur'an in transliteration, is believed by devout Muslims to be the direct word of God, inscribed in Heaven and revealed by the archangel Gabriel to the prophet Muhammad before his death in A.D. 632. Written in Arabic, in rhymed prose, the text is not only regarded by believers as a guide to daily life but is also considered to be the finest work of Arabic prose in existence and one of the most important and influential books known to mankind.J. M. Rodwell's accessible translation restores the traditional ordering of the suras, or chapters, with early text dealing with God as creator, his greatness and authority, the role of Muhammad as God's messenger and of Islam in history. Later chapters deal with legal, social, and ethical issues. The text is divided into 114 chapters, each of which, like the Bible, is subdivided into verses.This edition of the Koran, in a convenient size that is ideal for prayer or study, will be invaluable to students of religion, history, and politics and of interest to anyone concerned with cultures of the Middle East.

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"Question with boldness even the existence of a god," Thomas Jefferson asserted, «because if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear.» America's third president regarded Jesus as a moral guide rather than a divinity, and in The Jefferson Bible, he highlights Christ's ethical teachings from the Gospels. Discarding the scriptures' supernatural elements and dogma, this volume reflects the deist view of religion, focusing on Jesus' message of absolute love and service.Jefferson undertook his self-appointed task in 1794, consulting not only the King James Bible but also Greek, French, and Latin versions. He selected verses from the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and arranged them in chronological order to form a single narrative. Although Jefferson shared his interpretation with friends and family, he declined to publish it, in keeping with his conviction that religion is a private matter&#8212;and also to avoid providing his political enemies with ammunition. Not until the turn of the twentieth century did the book appear in print, when it became a tradition to present it to new members of Congress. Unique and influential, this volume reflects not only the thinking of one of the nation's most brilliant statesmen, but also the ideology of the Enlightenment era.

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Kama means desire, love, and lust; sutra means teachings and «verses.» The Kama Sutra, then, is the book of love, teaching the best methods of cultivating sensual pleasure, sexual desire, and loving union. A classic of world literature for 1,700 years, this is the most explicit and fascinating book ever written for lovers.This immortal work also serves as a window into Indian culture and mysticism. Its unique approach &#8212;combining meditations on politics and social customs with counsel on love and intimacy &#8212; features frank, direct advice on bodily pleasures, from aphrodisiacs and kissing to orgasm-delaying techniques. This edition is the renowned translation by the great 19th-century explorer and writer Richard Burton. Its crisp style sets a new standard for Sanskrit translation, and its unblushing faithfulness to the original text sparked controversy in certain corners of the Victorian world. A wellspring of erotic knowledge, it remains an inspiration to readers of every era.

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