What if the original teachings of Jesus were different from the Bible's sanitized 'orthodox' version? What covert motivations might inspire those who decide what the text of the Bible 'says' or what it 'means'? For some who ask conspiratorial questions like these, the Bible is the vulnerable victim of secular forces seeking to divest the USA of its founding identity. For others, the biblical canon suppresses religious truths that could upend the status quo. Such suspicions surrounding the ...

Epiphanius, Bishop of Constantia on Cyprus from 367 to 403 C.E., was incredibly influential in the last decades of the fourth century. Whereas his major surviving text (the Panarion, an encyclopedia of heresies) is studied for lost sources, Epiphanius himself is often dismissed as an anti-intellectual eccentric, a marginal figure of late antiquity. In this book, Andrew Jacobs moves Epiphanius from the margin back toward the center and proposes we view major cultural themes of late...

The stories seem more prevalent today than ever: coaches, and parents pushing kids to the point of "burnout" before high school, parents fighting with referees and umpires, coaches berating kids in front of teammates and parents, and even kids using performance-enhancing drugs. Renowned sport psychologist Dr. Andrew Jacobs, longtime Major League pitcher Jeff Montgomery, and Hall of Fame swimming coach Peter Malone have seen first-hand the issues that are making youth sports increasingly di...

Thecla was one of the most venerated saints in late antiquity. One of her followers created the Life of Thecla as an act of devotion in the fifth century, rewriting the popular Acts of Thecla and transforming it into the heroic saga of a saint. Replete with long speeches, dramatic flourishes, and literary flamboyance, the Life of Thecla gives modern readers insight into the ways a gender-bending apostolic saint could be reframed and reimagined for later audiences. This first modern English...

In the first full-length study of the circumcision of Jesus, Andrew S. Jacobs turns to an unexpected symbol—the stereotypical mark of the Jewish covenant on the body of the Christian savior—to explore how and why we think about difference and identity in early Christianity.Jacobs explores the subject of Christ's circumcision in texts dating from the first through seventh centuries of the Common Era. Using a diverse toolkit of approaches, including the psychoanalytic, postcolonial, ...

In the first full-length study of the circumcision of Jesus, Andrew S. Jacobs turns to an unexpected symbol—the stereotypical mark of the Jewish covenant on the body of the Christian savior—to explore how and why we think about difference and identity in early Christianity.Jacobs explores the subject of Christ's circumcision in texts dating from the first through seventh centuries of the Common Era. Using a diverse toolkit of approaches, including the psychoanalytic, postcolonial, ...

Everyone needs a little boost sometimes. Now you can have 365!Whenever you need inspiration, motivation, or determination, this little book is a fast and uplifting go-to in so many ways! If you need a quote to capture how you’re feeling when you just can’t find the words, you can find it here. There are great tips for inspiration, motivation, or determination inside, too! Share with your friends at parties or impress a date with some thought-provoking questions and conversation sta...

The Handbook of Personalized Persuasion provides the most comprehensive and state-of-the-art review of the expansive literature on personalized messaging in persuasion.The book describes what features of people, messages, and contexts are most effective for personally tailored communication, and how this knowledge can be leveraged to improve the influence of messaging in any domain. It also addresses when such personalization can be counterproductive or backfire. Bringing ...

Hermann L. Strack and Paul Billerbeck's Commentary on the New Testament from the Talmud and Midrash is an important reference work for illustrating the concepts, theological background, and cultural assumptions of the New Testament. The commentary walks through each New Testament book verse by verse, referencing potentially illuminating passages from the Talmud and Midrash and providing easy access to the rich textual world of rabbinic material.Volume 1 comments on the Gos...

Let's not dance around the problem— the vast majority of clients do not rehire the same consultant a second time. The statistics are staggering: 83% of clients slide back to the same old habits within six months of the termination of the contract. Would you go back to Starbucks if 83% of the time the coffee you received was different than the coffee you ordered? What if there was a way for you, as a consultant, to retain your clients beyond the conclusion of the initial contract? How much ...

In "Fires Burn Blue," Andrew Caldecott crafts a compelling narrative that melds elements of mystery, psychological depth, and societal critique within a richly drawn setting. The novel delves into the psyche of its complex characters, exploring themes of ambition, morality, and the enigmatic nature of truth. Caldecott's literary style is characterized by evocative prose and an intricate plot structure, inviting readers to navigate through layers of ambiguity akin to the great literary work...

While philosophers have been interested in animals since ancient times, in the last few decades the subject of animal minds has emerged as a major topic in philosophy. The Routledge Handbook of Philosophy of Animal Minds is an outstanding reference source to the key topics, problems, and debates in this exciting subject and is the first collection of its kind. Comprising nearly fifty chapters by a team of international contributors, the Handbook is divided into eight part...