Ancient Religion

The landmarks of Freemasonry have existed from time immemorial; however, Albert Mackey was the first Mason to collect them all together and explicitly define them for the greater benefit of the fraternity. Here he outlines what the 25 landmarks are, which bind together all Masonic lodges across the globe. These aren't opinions but instead they are the intellectual and philosophical foundations of our organization and something that every Mason should be familiar with and ready to defend.

How did things progress from that story in the Bible, with a Jewish girl giving birth to the Messiah of Israel in a manager in the city of Bethlehem, to the modern colossus that is the Christmas holiday? How did Santa Claus, the Christmas tree, the snow sleighs, the presents, and family reunions become the distinctive features of the holiday if none of them were there at the beginning? The answers can be attributed to a chain of events, characters, oral traditions, artistic works, and an assimilation of local folklore.

This 2000-year-old scroll reveals the chronology from Creation through Cyrus' decree that freed the Jews in 536 BC. The Ancient Seder Olam uses Biblical prophecy to prove its calculations of the timeline. We have used this technique to continue the timeline all the way to the reestablishment of the nation of Israel in AD 1948.

An Orthodox priest with a doctorate in counseling, Fr. Meletios Webber helps us to understand addiction and explores ways to overcome it. He clearly and skillfully explains the 12 steps of the fellowship of alcoholics anonymous. In correlating the 12 steps with basic Orthodox theology, Fr. Mel identifies the implication of the 12 steps for Orthodox, and for all Christians. Using examples from the life of the Orthodox Church, he shows how the steps can be a valuable resource for our own spiritual journey.

From self-realization and self-promotion to self-help and the selfie, the modern world encourages us to be self-obsessed. We are even told that finding ourselves is the key to happiness. Better to lose yourself! More than 2,500 years ago, the Buddha argued that the self is an illusion—and that our belief in it is the cause of most, if not all, of our suffering. How to Lose Yourself presents lively, accessible, and expert new translations of ancient Buddhist writings about the central, unique, and powerful Buddhist teaching of "no-self."

How did human societies scale up from small, tight-knit groups of hunter-gatherers to the large, anonymous, cooperative societies of today - even though anonymity is the enemy of cooperation? How did organized religions with "Big Gods" - the great monotheistic and polytheistic faiths - spread to colonize most minds in the world? In Big Gods, Ara Norenzayan makes the surprising and provocative argument that these fundamental puzzles about the origins of civilization are one and the same, and answer each other.

The book of Job fits chronologically between Genesis and Exodus, describing events that took place more than 150 years before Moses wrote the Pentateuch. Job was the first book to be written in fully developed Hebrew, and it is undoubtedly one of the first books in the history of mankind. In the end Satan, along with his cruel tactics, subtle deception, and even his system for world domination is completely exposed. Much of the book, however, is written in code that is prophetic of what is happening and about to happen today.

In this book, I have the great honor of introducing you to a number of women about whom I have not previously written, as well as sharing with you additional stories with several of them. Each new story can be applied to help us move into harmony and a state of grace with the world around us...and the articles are designed to make the wisdom of the Sisterhood of the Shield more accessible in our daily lives.

The culture of Native Americans is one of the oldest in the world. Over the centuries, the Shamans and teachers of the tribes have preserved the rich knowledge accumulated in their community in order to pass it on to the next generations. One of the many secrets they have kept is the extraordinary properties of the wheel of colors. The wheel of colors will allow you to discover the colors that are best for you, so you can realize and maximize your potential in the best possible way.

At 44, acclaimed cardiologist Dr. John Day was overweight and suffered from insomnia, degenerative joint disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. On six medications and suffering constant aches, he needed to make a change. While lecturing in China, he'd heard about a remote mountainous region known as Longevity Village, a wellness Shangri-La free of disease where living past 100 was not uncommon.

While Egypt’s sands stand the test of time, these goddesses left a mark of divine femininity that you can feel even to this day… 5,000 years ago, along the banks of the river Nile, a culture blossomed from the desert. Despite the harsh sun and dry winds, this culture became an icon of power, a symbol of progress, and a beacon of resilience throughout history. Today, you cannot discuss history without talking about Ancient Egypt.

Father David Smith shares with us his own personal meditations on Mary, based upon his reflections on the Paraclesis service. If you have a longing to make the Theotokos a greater part of your life to bless her, as commanded by Gabriel, these thoughtful contemplations will encourage and profit you immensely.

Previously published as Yeshua's Yoga, The Hidden Message of the Lost Gospel of Thomas unearths the central teaching of this ancient text. The Gospel of Thomas, re-discovered in Nag Hammadi Egypt in 1945, remains one of the most exciting archaeological finds of recent centuries. But how prepared are we to approach this text on its own terms?

Analyze thousands of years of giant skeletons from seven to 15 feet tall, along with DNA evidence, genetic mutations, newspaper articles, archeological notes, and excerpts from the Smithsonian Institution's own records.

There has always been a price for following Christ, and many have paid the ultimate price. The Voice of the Martyrs, co-authors of the bestseller Jesus Freaks, brings you a daily devotional filled with inspiring stories of courage, commitment, confession and compassion. In an age of extremes, you can find faith, strength, encouragement and hope through the stories of fellow believers from all over the world and from past centuries up to the present. These men and women, young and old, went to the outer limits of devotion. Each story is extreme. Each story will change your life.

Everything you need to know about the ancient form of Jewish mysticism known as Kabbalah and the divinatory practice of astrology. Are you someone who wants to know more about esoteric knowledge? Do you wish to gain insight into the personality and characteristics of yourself or others? Have you ever wished to better understand how zodiac signs and natal charts worked? Would you like to learn to read Tarot cards for insight into the past, present, and future?

Mount Athos: The History of the Greek Mountain and the Center of Eastern Orthodox Monasticism looks at the unique region and what life has been like there since medieval times. You will learn about Mount Athos like never before.

¡Descubre Secretos Ancestrales que Pueden Cambiar tu Vida! Únete a un investigador escéptico, de una universidad estadounidense, mientras viaja al Himalaya, y descubre los secretos de un antiguo linaje de sanación que comenzó con el honorable médico de Buda. Durante miles de años, los más grandes sanadores del Himalaya, han estado refinando una poderosa ciencia de sanación para el tratamiento de dolencias físicas, trastornos psicológicos y desafíos espirituales.

This book presents the doctrine of the pre-tribulational rapture of the church. Many prophecies are explored with biblical passages and terms explained from the scripture itself. Evidence is presented that proves the first century church believed the end times would begin with the return of Israel to her ancient homeland. More than 50 prophecies have been fulfilled since Israel became a state; several more are yet to be fulfilled.

Known as the Keeper of Keys and Guide of Souls, Hekate has stood at the crossroads of history and myth, offering wisdom to those navigating life's deepest mysteries. Her torches illuminate the unseen, her keys unlock the paths between worlds, and her power speaks to anyone seeking clarity, protection, and spiritual evolution.