Weird Religion

The boring debate between fundamentalist believers and non-believers is finally moved on by Alain de Botton's inspiring new book, which boldly argues that the supernatural claims of religion are of course entirely false - and yet that religions still have important things to teach the secular world.

Look down as you buzz across America, and Oklahoma looks like another “flyover state.” A closer inspection, however, reveals one of the most tragic, fascinating, and unpredictable places in the United States In this book, Russell Cobb tells the story of a state rich in natural resources and artistic talent, yet near the bottom in education and social welfare. Raised in Tulsa, Cobb engages Oklahomans across the boundaries of race and class to hear their troubles, anxieties, and aspirations and delves deep to understand their contradictory and often stridently independent attitudes.

The first Christians were weird. Just how weird is often lost on today's believers. Within Roman society, the earliest Christians stood out for the oddness of their beliefs and practices. They believed unusual things, worshiped God in strange ways, and lived a unique lifestyle. They practiced a whole new way of thinking about and doing religion that would have been seen as bizarre and dangerous when compared to Roman religion and most other religions of the ancient world.

Discover the power of being a hot mess with these heartbreaking and hilarious stories of how God uses each "mess" in our lives to bring us closer to Him–showing readers that it's okay to celebrate exactly where they are right now. A lot of people struggle with the concept of being holy. But...

New York Times bestseller One of PW’s Best Books of the Year One of Amazon’s Best Books of the Month Why is religion still around in the twenty-first century? Why do so many still believe? And how do various traditions still shape the way people experience everything from sexuality to...

In Religion and Science (1961), Bertrand Russell's popular polemic against religious dogma, he covers the ground from demonology to quantum physics, yet concedes that science cannot touch the profound feelings of personal religious experience.

The story of human civilization is filled with great achievements, legendary leaders, catastrophic disasters, and profound discoveries. We build monuments to our progress, write books to document our triumphs and failures, and teach each new generation what we believe to be the truth about the past.

In this very short introduction, Tim Bayne introduces the field of philosophy of religion and engages with some of the most burning questions philosophers discuss. 

Dive into the fascinating and overlooked aspects of the Catholic faith with Weird Catholic Handbook by Michael Lichens. This book takes you on a Chestertonian romp through the peculiar and intriguing elements of Catholic history, offering a refreshing perspective on the faith that combines humor, curiosity, and profound insights.

Tom Cruise and John Travolta say the Church of Scientology is a force for good. Others disagree. Award-winning journalist John Sweeney investigated the Church for more than half a decade. During that time he was intimidated, spied on, and followed, and the results were spectacular: Sweeney lost his temper with the Church's spokesman on camera, and his infamous 'exploding tomato' clip was seen by millions around the world.

Have you ever experienced something you couldn't rationally explain—an uncanny coincidence, a psychic episode, an unlikely healing, or something beyond all rationality? If you have, you're not alone. According to Pew Research, 57% of US adults believe they have experienced a miracle, and one in three report having had a psychic episode. Millions of people report near-death experiences, UFO sightings, remarkable healings, and ghost or angelic encounters—and then quietly tuck those events away and never speak of them again.

The emergence of psychic or healing abilities in one partner often causes anxiety, stress, or confusion for the other. How to Live with a Psychic teaches you not only how to survive this shift but how to thrive and strengthen your relationship when your life has detoured down this unfamiliar path. Crystal has already figured out what works and what doesn't. Follow her practical advice, designed to help you take command of your situation and achieve the best possible results for your unique circumstances.

Welcome to Tom Slemen's Tales of the Weird, a journey into the chilling sphere of the supernatural where you will encounter, vampires, werewolves, and even the Devil himself.... Here are just some of the things you will hear about in Tales of the Weird: A centuries-old demonic royal rapist.... A happily-married woman who became possessed by three strange personalities - including that of a nymphomaniac.... The terrifying power of the Evil Eye, which could be upon you at this moment....

Welcome to the second jam-packed volume of Tales of the Weird by the internationally recognized expert of the supernatural - Tom Slemen. From teleportation secrets to a mysterious being that tried to entrap a girl in a nightmare world, you will hear of horrors and intrigues across the world which will send a tingle down your spine and give you nightmares.

Ultimate fighting bears, a fat king who poops himself, zombies, donkey “bits”, and a fart. These are not the things you’d expect to find in the Bible, but they’re all there. If you thought the Bible was dull, think again. This is your chance to discover all the parts of the Bible they don’t teach you in Sunday school - but probably should.

This is a true story of a girl growing up with a spiritual gift she does not fully understand. Written as a guide to her grandchildren, who also exhibit the Gift, this book seeks to help them understand what God had given them and what they are supposed to do with it. It exposes pitfalls and awkward problems involved with the Gift and it tells of the wonderful blessings that go along with it. Designed as a guide, the book also shares a lifetime of paranormal experiences.

Central Massachusetts is a land of oddities and apparitions. Stories of the strange and paranormal have been passed down from generation to generation and only the local populace has any idea of just how vast and deep their superstitions run. It’s time to truly learn that the world around you is much more than you can touch, taste, smell, see, and hear...or at least that’s what a good story is supposed to do!

Not everything in Scotland is as it appears. Some Scots say this is a land haunted by spirits, a place of strange disappearances and unexplained phenomena. There is no shortage when it comes to the strange stories Scotland has to offer, and the legends and lore have compelled many to dig a little deeper and even explore this wonderful land for themselves.

Follow along as we visit the most heart-poundingly spooky graveyards in the United States. Take a tour of spooked out cemeteries from every state A to Z. Discover stories of boogeyman, Grim Reaper, living dead, monsters, spirits, shadowy figures, skeletons, trolls, undead, vampires, werewolves, witches, and zombies.

Although there had been treaties and seemingly cordial trading between the Native Americans and the new settlers in that area, recent fighting in nearby areas like the Battle of Tippecanoe less than a year earlier kept all sides on edge, and the British aim to maintain a barrier between America and Canada by propping up Native American tribes led to a controversial battle in the Illinois Territory at Fort Dearborn, a fort built along the Chicago River, shortly after the War of 1812 broke out.