This fascinating study of the Mandeans of Iraq—considered the last of the Gnostics—traces their history back to John the Baptist and the days of early Christianity.Among the casualties of western intervention in Iraq and ISIS are the Mandeans of Southern Iraq. These peace-loving people are now fleeing to the west. They are the last Gnostics—the only surviving remnant of the ancient sects who taught the direct knowledge of God, created their own gospels and myths, a...

Become the leader people want to follow.Leadership Toolbox equips new and experienced managers with practical tools to lead confidently, communicate clearly, and drive meaningful change. Drawing from real-world leadership experience and grounded in proven organizational research, this book helps you build the essential skills that define effective leadership in today's fast-paced workplace.Inside you'll discover how to:• Build trust and shar...

Running with Scissors meets Bewitched in this irresistible memoir, as Philip Smith describes growing up in 1960s Miami with his decorator father, who one day discovers he has the miraculous power to talk to the dead and heal the sick.After a full day of creating beautiful interiors for the rich and famous, Lew Smith would come home, take off his tie, and get down to his real work as a psychic healer who miraculously cured thousands of people. For ...

Can we ever confidently know the purpose of human life? Absolutely; and with the same level of certainty that we recognise the purpose of a light bulb. This book thoroughly explores the challenging question of purpose, and while doing so, also examines why our purpose is what it is. This very powerfully reinforces what is an already satisfying and convincing conclusion. 'What is life about?', 'Why am I here?'. These examples show that the question about our most fundamental purpose, has ma...

This second edition of Cultural Theory provides a concise introduction to cultural theory, placing major figures, traditional concepts, and contemporary themes within a sharp conceptual framework.Provides a student-friendly introduction to what can often be a complex field of studyUpdates the first edition in response to reader feedback and to the changing nature of the fieldIncludes additional coverage of theorists from the classical period to in...

Sociologist Émile Durkheim’s theory of collective effervescence describes an overwhelming sense of excitement, empowerment, and unity. While originally tailored to examine religious phenomena, the theory has proven remarkably powerful in explaining secular experiences, from raves and military marches to sporting events and protest crowds.The editors and contributors to Collective Effervescence make a deep dive into new waters. They investigate solo experiences, virtual col...

Climate change is not just a scientific fact, nor merely a social and political problem. It is also a set of stories and characters that amount to a social drama. This drama, as much as hard scientific or political realities, shapes perception of the problem. Drs Smith and Howe use the perspective of cultural sociology and Aristotle's timeless theories about narrative and rhetoric to explore this meaningful and visible surface of climate change in the public sphere. Whereas most research w...

New Orleans artist George Valentine Dureau (1930–2014) has always been an enigma. His status as an important artist gained momentum beginning with his first exhibition at the New Orleans Museum of Art, then the Isaac Delgado Museum of Art, in the mid-1960s. Not only did his career undergo a meteoric rise, but his work proved at once controversial and provocative, nuanced and groundbreaking. Critics and collectors embraced his bold images, describing them as sexual, sensual, exploitative, e...

Get access to over 600 high quality Stable Diffusion Dalle-3 Midjourney image generating prompts!Learn the techniques to create breathtaking landscapes and stunning panoramas like professional prompt engineers.

Though the title of this book may sound ominous or foreboding, it should not to be feared or avoided. The content is meant to benefit every follower of Jesus the Savior. Whether you belong to a particular denomination or nondenominational church, you will benefit from the information in this book, bringing to light the many false teachings within the worldwide church. It is written in simple layman language for any Christian to comprehend.Jesus said: "Beware of false prophets." His...

Examines the ways in which writers and artists have attempted to address children's experience of atrocity.Atrocity presents a problem to the writer of children's literature. To represent events of such terrible magnitude and impersonal will as the Holocaust, the transatlantic slave trade, or the Rwandan genocide such that they fit into a three-act structure with a comprehensible moral and a happy ending is to do a disservice to the victims. Yet to confront childre...

Children's literature has been taught in undergraduate classrooms since the mid-1960s and has grown to become a staple of English literature, library science, and education programs. Children's literature classes are typically among the most popular course offerings at any institution. It is easy to understand why; children's literature classes promise students the opportunity to revisit familiar works with fresh eyes. With the growth of the children’s publishing industry and the celebrati...