European Religion

Brought to you by Penguin. Religion is both unique - as far as we can judge - and universal to humans. Our species diverged from the great apes about six to eight million years ago and since then, along with language, our propensity towards spiritual thinking and ritual emerged. How, when and...

Is religion a force for war, or a force for peace? Some of the most terrible wars in history have been caused and motivated by religion. Much of the violence that fills our screens today springs from the same source. Yet some of the bravest pacifists have also been deeply religious people, and many of the laws and institutions that work to soften or prevent war have deep religious roots. This Very Short Introduction provides an overview of the history of religion and war, and a framework for analyzing it.

Brought to you by Penguin. For over 1,400 years, Muslims have been an integral part of Europe’s story, yet their contributions have been pushed to the margins or erased altogether. In Muslim Europe, award-winning author Tharik Hussain restores this forgotten history. In a revelatory journey...

One of the best-known collections of W. B. Yeats' prose, The Celtic Twilight explores the old connection between the Irish people and the magical world of fairies. Yeats, by traveling the land in the early 20th century and talking to the common people about their experiences with the creatures, yielded a colorful overview of Celtic fairy folklore.

The beloved people's Pope reveals his views on the contentious political issues of our time—from immigration to climate change. Pope Francis met with French reporter and sociologist Dominique Wolton for an unprecedented series of twelve fascinating and timely conversations—open dialogues...

Uncover the chilling historical reality of mass hysteria where thousands faced brutal persecution for alleged witchcraft. Spanning from 1450 to 1750, this immersive journey through early modern Europe explores how neighborly disputes and religious zealotry ignited one of the darkest eras in...

A minor religious dispute ignites a devastating military conflict that permanently reshapes the map of Europe. Perfect for your daily commute, this gripping historical narrative plunges you into the fractured, tense landscape of the Holy Roman Empire. Experience the terrifying escalation from...

Religion has fascinated people for centuries. But with so many faiths practiced by so many followers, it can be difficult to understand why one religion believes one thing while another believes something entirely different. This guide gives you everything you need to know to sort through the...

Orthodoxy, first published 1908, is Chesterton's spiritual autobiography. Subtitled, 'The romance of faith', Chesterton declares that people need a life of 'practical romance; the combination of something that is strange with something that is secure.'

A noted biblical scholar explores how the claim of divine choice has been used from ancient times to the present to justify territorial expansion and prejudice. The Bible describes many individuals and groups as specially chosen by God. But does God choose at all? Michael Coogan explains the...

Trace the thrilling history of ancient polytheism and sacred myths that defined human spirituality for millennia. Perfect for a reflective commute or a deep dive into our collective past, this journey traverses the rich religious landscapes of early civilization. Uncover how everyday people...

It may be the twenty-first century but religious tensions and conflicts continue all across the world. Even today, religion continues to play an unparalleled role in the lives of individuals and nations with people and leaders pitting one religious identity against another. But the question that...

Dante Alighieri is indisputably one of the world's greatest poets. His epic masterpiece, the Divine Comedy, has been frequently referred to as the supreme work of Italian literature and a staple in the Western Christian tradition. Now, you can explore Dante's life and masterwork with a truly gifted Catholic professor as your guide. In this 12-lecture series, Dante's Divine Comedy, Sr. Mary Clemente Davlin will take you through this timeless narrative that has so profoundly influenced Western history, literature, and the Christian faith.

As a compilation of notable fragments from the writings of German philosopher G. W. F. Hegel, this audiobook functions as a helpful and intriguing introduction to the keynotes of his thought. This audiobook, comprised of short selections from Hegel's writings and organized by theme, includes a preface by Elizabeth Haldane and a foreword by Sarah Bacaller. Each Hegelian fragment includes a reference to its original source for those who want to further pursue particular selections.

The Marriage of Heaven and Hell by the English poet William Blake consists of a series of texts written in the style of biblical prophecy but expressing Blake's own beliefs. Composed between 1790 and 1793, the book makes reference to Milton and Swedenborg, and adopts a device from Dante's Divine Comedy and Milton's Paradise Lost: a visit to hell. Blake expresses a deliberately depolarized and unified vision of the cosmos in which the material world and physical desire are both part of the divine order.