Author: Leon Kass Publisher: Simon and Schuster ISBN: 0743242998 Category : Philosophy Languages : en Pages : 722
Book Description
Imagine that you could really understand the Bible...that you could read, analyze, and discuss the book of Genesis not as a compositional mystery, a cultural relic, or a linguistic puzzle palace, or even as religious doctrine, but as a philosophical classic, precisely in the same way that a truth-seeking reader would study Plato or Nietzsche. Imagine that you could be led in your study by one of America's preeminent intellectuals and that he would help you to an understanding of the book that is deeper than you'd ever dreamed possible, that he would reveal line by line, verse by verse the incredible riches of this illuminating text -- one of the very few that actually deserve to be called seminal. Imagine that you could get, from Genesis, the beginning of wisdom. The Beginning of Wisdom is a hugely learned book that, like Genesis itself, falls naturally into two sections. The first shows how the universal history described in the first eleven chapters of Genesis, from creation to the tower of Babel, conveys, in the words of Leon Kass, "a coherent anthropology" -- a general teaching about human nature -- that "rivals anything produced by the great philosophers." Serving also as a mirror for the reader's self-discovery, these stories offer profound insights into the problematic character of human reason, speech, freedom, sexual desire, the love of the beautiful, pride, shame, anger, guilt, and death. Something as seemingly innocuous as the monotonous recounting of the ten generations from Adam to Noah yields a powerful lesson in the way in which humanity encounters its own mortality. In the story of the tower of Babel are deep understandings of the ambiguous power of speech, reason, and the arts; the hazards of unity and aloneness; the meaning of the city and its quest for self-sufficiency; and man's desire for fame, immortality, and apotheosis -- and the disasters these necessarily cause. Against this background of human failure, Part Two of The Beginning of Wisdom explores the struggles to launch a new human way, informed by the special Abrahamic covenant with the divine, that might address the problems and avoid the disasters of humankind's natural propensities. Close, eloquent, and brilliant readings of the lives and educations of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Jacob's sons reveal eternal wisdom about marriage, parenting, brotherhood, education, justice, political and moral leadership, and of course the ultimate question: How to live a good life? Connecting the two "parts" is the book's overarching philosophical and pedagogical structure: how understanding the dangers and accepting the limits of human powers can open the door to a superior way of life, not only for a solitary man of virtue but for an entire community -- a life devoted to righteousness and holiness. This extraordinary book finally shows Genesis as a coherent whole, beginning with the creation of the natural world and ending with the creation of a nation that hearkens to the awe-inspiring summons to godliness. A unique and ambitious commentary, a remarkably readable literary exegesis and philosophical companion, The Beginning of Wisdom is one of the most important books in decades on perhaps the most important -- and surely the most frequently read -- book of all time.
Author: Adam H. Becker Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press ISBN: 0812201205 Category : Religion Languages : en Pages : 315
Book Description
The School of Nisibis was the main intellectual center of the Church of the East in the sixth and early seventh centuries C.E. and an institution of learning unprecedented in antiquity. Fear of God and the Beginning of Wisdom provides a history both of the School and of the scholastic culture of the Church of the East more generally in the late antique and early Islamic periods. Adam H. Becker examines the ideological and intellectual backgrounds of the school movement and reassesses the evidence for the supposed predecessor of the School of Nisibis, the famed School of the Persians of Edessa. Furthermore, he argues that the East-Syrian ("Nestorian") school movement is better understood as an integral and at times contested part of the broader spectrum of East-Syrian monasticism. Becker examines the East-Syrian culture of ritualized learning, which flourished at the same time and in the same place as the famed Babylonian Rabbinic academies. Jews and Christians in Mesopotamia developed similar institutions aimed at inculcating an identity in young males that defined them as beings endowed by their creator with the capacity to study. The East-Syrian schools are the most significant contemporary intellectual institutions immediately comparable to the Rabbinic academies, even as they served as the conduit for the transmission of Greek philosophical texts and ideas to Muslims in the early 'Abbasid period.
Author: Mark DeMoss Publisher: Thomas Nelson Inc ISBN: 1595553541 Category : Business & Economics Languages : en Pages : 210
Book Description
DeMoss gathers insights for living wisely from history, Scripture, and a lifetime of listening. The result is a handy, accessible book that gives readers a new way to enjoy lasting success in the work world and beyond.
Author: Allan Moseley Publisher: Lexham Press ISBN: 1683590112 Category : Religion Languages : en Pages : 148
Book Description
Wise proverbs stick with us and help us navigate life. Our financial decisions might be guided by "a penny saved is a penny earned," or we might remember not to be lazy from "the early bird catches the worm." God has given us a book filled with such memorable wisdom--the Old Testament book of Proverbs. In Living Well, you'll look at a different topic in each chapter and learn how Proverbs can guide us to live wiser, more God-honoring lives. Whether in our finances or our relationships, our approach to work or play, following the way of wisdom is often countercultural, but always best. Living Well gives us the blueprint for such a life--starting with God's own wisdom from the book of Proverbs.
Author: Bob Marley Publisher: Harmony ISBN: 0385518838 Category : Music Languages : en Pages : 114
Book Description
Collected from interviews, the words of the most renowned Jamaican singer-songwriter paint an vivid and inspiring picture of the artist who sought to bring faith, unity and love to his listeners through his music and lyrics. 40,000 first printing.
Author: Bryan M. Litfin Publisher: Harvest House Publishers ISBN: 0736984623 Category : Religion Languages : en Pages : 257
Book Description
Old ideas. New insights. Timeless relevance for the church. Studying the views and lifestyles of your forerunners in the faith can provide incredible guidance for how you live out your spiritual convictions today. In Wisdom from the Ancients, author and scholar Bryan Litfin paints a vivid portrait of the first five centuries of the Christian church, packed with fascinating history and applicable insights for modern believers. As you encounter the wisdom of early Christians, you’ll be challenged to revisit the building blocks of your faith in light of ancient beliefs and spiritual practices. This book will help you reframe common evangelical ideas, including questions Christians face today, such as when it makes sense to read the Bible literally and when God’s truth shines through symbolism how the beliefs and practices of early believers should inform your worship whether the church should cooperate with political power or resist it Wisdom from the Ancients reveals life-changing lessons from the early church that you can take to heart today. When you set aside your modern perspectives and approach ancient truths with an open mind, the beliefs of the early Christians will illuminate your faith in a brand-new way.
Author: Bob Seelert Publisher: John Wiley & Sons ISBN: 0470480408 Category : Business & Economics Languages : en Pages : 168
Book Description
"Seelert's stories and wisdom demonstrate that the principles and practices leading to winning results in sports are highly transferable to the building of brands, businesses, and organizations. This book tells you how." —Jack Twyman, NBA Hall of Fame player, former ABC Game of the Week announcer, and former Chairman and CEO, Super Food Services Inc. "Seelert's comprehensive revelation of his leadership wisdom is priceless—especially the management of culture through innovative communications, fueled by rock-solid personal spirit and style. Read and succeed . . . it's that actionable. Bob's the real leadership deal." —John W. Luther, President, Luther & Company, Strategic Growth Consulting "I've never been at my best when working for a boss in the traditional sense . . . Authority is not my favorite cultural tool. I am at my best (maybe like you) when I have a coach and mentor. Bob Seelert has played that role for over a decade, providing me with counsel, guidance, perspective, and unconditional love and support. Oh yes, and wisdom. Lots of it! You'll find out what I mean when you read this book." —Kevin Roberts, CEO Worldwide, Saatchi & Saatchi "Bob Seelert entered Saatchi & Saatchi in early 1995 when the company was in flux and extremely unstable. In a few short years, he not only stabilized the business, he grew it into an even greater advertising powerhouse than it once was. If anyone is qualified to write about business turnarounds, it's Seelert!" —David Herro, Chief Investment Officer-International, Harris Associates LP "Spencer Stuart placed Bob Seelert into leadership positions at Kayser-Roth and Saatchi & Saatchi at times when success seemed impossible, but failure was not an acceptable option. In both situations, he achieved highly successful turnarounds, and his stories tell you why." —Thomas Neff, Chairman, Spencer Stuart USA "Bob Seelert and I worked together for twenty years, and I saw firsthand how the wisdom in this book enabled him to build businesses and organizations. For MBA students and other aspiring business leaders, this book will become their well-thumbed how-to guide for constructing a successful career." —Erv Shames, Lecturer, University of Virginia Darden Graduate School of Business andformer President and CEO, General Foods USA and Borden, Inc.
Author: Joseph Telushkin Publisher: Harper Collins ISBN: 006201286X Category : Religion Languages : en Pages : 874
Book Description
When, if ever, should lying be permitted? If you've damaged a person's reputation unfairly, can the damage be undone? Is a person who sells weapons responsible for how those weapons are used? if the fetus is not a life, what is it? How, as an adult, can one carry out the command to honor one's parents when they make unreasonable demands? What are the nine biblical challenges a good person must meet? What do the great Jewish writings of the last 3,500 years tell us about these and all other vital questions about our lives? Rabbi Joseph Telushkin has devoted his life to the search for answers within the teachings of Judaism. In Jewish Wisdom, Rabbi Telushkin, the author of the highly acclaimed Jewish Literacy, weaves together a tapestry of stories from the Bible and Talmud, and the insights of Jewish commentators and writers from Maimonides, Rashi, and Hillel to Einstein, Isaac Bashevis Singer, and Elie Wiesel. A richer source of crucial life lessons would be hard to imagine. Accompanying this extraordinary compilation is Teluslikins compelling commentary, which reveals how these texts continue to instruct and challenge Jewsand all people concerned with leading ethical livestoday As he discusses these texts, Rabbi Telushkin addresses issues of fundamental interest to modern readers: how to live with honesty and integrity in an often dishonest world; how to care for the sick and dying; how to teach children to respect both themselves and others, how to understand and confront such great tragedies as antisemitism. and the Holocaust; what God wants from humankind. Within Jewish Wisdom's ninety chapters the reader will find extended sections illuminating Jewish perspectives on sex, romance, and marriage, what kind of belief in God a Jew can have after the Holocaust, how to use language ethically, the conflicting views of the Bible and Talmud on the death penalty, and much, much more. Jewish Wisdom adds a new dimension to the many widely read contemporary books that retell the stones and reveal the essence of classic religious and secular literature. Possibly the most far-ranging volume of stories and quotations from Jewish texts, Jewish Wisdom will itself become a classic, a book that not only has the capacity to transform how you view the world, but one that well might change how you choose to live your life.
Author: Myrna Alexander Publisher: Our Daily Bread Publishing ISBN: 1572939397 Category : Religion Languages : en Pages : 121
Book Description
Whether you’re planning an individual or group study of the book of Proverbs, Woman of Wisdom is the place to start. This in-depth guide by Bible teacher and author Myrna Alexander will help you discover how to make wise choices by applying the timeless principles of Proverbs. Helps you discover how to make wise choices Covers every chapter of Proverbs Shows the way to live life with skill Designed for small group and individual Bible study
Author: Leon Kass
Author: Adam H. Becker
Author: Mark DeMoss
Author: C. Hassell Bullock
Author: Allan Moseley
Author: Bob Marley
Author: Bryan M. Litfin
Author: Bob Seelert
Author: Joseph Telushkin
Author: Myrna Alexander