In recent decades, Nepal has witnessed a dramatic shift from its ancient form of Hindu kingship to a federal republican democratic secular order, with the official dissolution of monarchy in 2008. This study deals with the religious lives of the Śāh kings of Nepal, concentrating on such major rituals as the “coronation” (rājyābhiṣeka) and the autumnal navarātri (Goddess-centered) festival. This study unravels how religion and politics were deeply intertwined in the ritual activities, and how the rituals, in their traditional deeply religious and devotional settings, exerted a maximum of socio-political powers for the king and his institutions.

Defending Hope is an inspiring collection of first-hand accounts by Palestinians and Israelis who movingly describe how their lives have been shaped by conflict and who are united by a common goal: to bring about a just peace for the land they call home. Time and again these human rights defenders choose love, non-violence and human connection over division and fear. Their stories will transport you to the olive groves near Bethlehem, the rubble of Gaza and into the law courts in Jerusalem. This book offers a hopeful counter-narrative in an otherwise bleak political landscape and celebrates the indomitable power of the human spirit in the midst of grave adversity. "These essays are voices of conscience which remind us that, in spite of so much suffering, the darkness is often pierced by the light of courageous Palestinian and Israeli human rights defenders. We take hope when we hear the voices of these extraordinary people." - Mairead Maguire, Nobel Peace Laureate and co-founder of the Community of Peace People "This inspirational work provides a much-needed reservoir of sanity, humanity and positivity to counter the forces of oppression and disrespect for the rule of law being displayed by major states on the world stage." Michael Mansfield QC, human rights barrister and member of the jury for the Russell Tribunal on Palestine and the judicial panel for the People's Tribunal on Iran "If there is to be peace in the Middle East it will be because human rights defenders have found hope in the face of the great adversity they face in their everyday work. This work gives us a glimpse of how that hope can be unearthed in these challenging times." - Michel Forst, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders.

"It was easy to love God in all that was beautiful. The lessons of deeper knowledge, though, instructed me to embrace God in all things."St Francis of Assisi In Everyday Sacrament: The Messy Grace of Parenting Laura Kelly Fanucci sees the Catholic sacraments through the smudged and sticky lens of life with little ones. From dinner-time chaos to bath-time giggles to never-ending loads of laundry, Laura stumbles into the surprising truth of what the seven sacraments really mean: that God is present always, even in the messes of parenthood. A spiritual memoir of parenting’s early years and a sacramental theology rooted in family life, Everyday Sacrament offers an honest, humorous and hopeful look at ordinary moments as full of grace.

The present work deals with Islamic law and the law of the Muslim countries. More specifically, the author has studied the constitutional law of the Islamic legal tradition, starting from the perspective of the law of Caliphate. Moreover, this work focuses on the process of institutionalization, which, since the first half of 19th century, led to the adoption of civil law in both sunnī and šī‘ī world. Further, this study combines different methodological approaches, based on Islamic law, analyzing sources in Arabic, especially classical and contemporary fiqh booklets, and also following the approach of comparative public law to highlight how modern Constitutions of Muslim countries differ from western constitutionalism.

Daughter Zion's Trauma offers a new critical reading of the Book of Lamentations through the lens of trauma studies. Through structural analysis and use of the concept of non-referential history as a heuristic lens, Yansen yields fresh insights into the book’s form, language, and larger "historical" significance. Utilizing insights from study of the rhetorical dimensions of the trauma process in cultural trauma, this study asserts that Lamentations strategically adapts certain religious traditions to ensure the survival of those whose voices it echoes.

This work presents to the scholarly world the hitherto unpublished trove of over 500 catchwords that were attached to Masoretic doublet notes in the Leningrad Codex. All the doublets with their catchwords are listed both in the chronological order of their first appearance in the Bible and again on their second appearance. The nature of the catchwords, their purpose, and their relation to other Masoretic notes are described in detail, and suggestions are made how they can be of value to biblical scholars.

The fact that many features are standard to the oldest surviving mosques suggests that a canonical type, mostly a courtyard surrounded by four porticoes, did exist early in Islamic history. While the structure built by the Prophet in Madina, soon after the Hijra in 622 AD, is believed by many to have later provided the prototype of the mosque, the dominant theory that it was only a private residence casts doubt on that belief. The current study provides fresh evidence, based on the Qurʾān, ḥadīth and early poetry, that this structure was indeed built to be a mosque.

The continuing popularity and influence of Søren Aabye Kierkegaard remains something of a minor miracle.Kierkegaard himself would undoubtedly find some humor in this development as a part of his overall philosophical project was to provide a full-frontal assault on the growing dominance of ‘objective’ thinking and the hyper-professionalization of all areas of human thought and life. This book provides yet another attempt to engage with the biting wit and philosophical insights of Kierkegaard’s philosophy.

A study of a homily in praise of Saint Thomas, written in Syriac by a Catholic missionary. The homily, which is preserved in two manuscripts, is an important witness to the interaction between the Indian Syrian Christians and the Western Catholic missionaries.

What is the nature and social role of women? In today’s Shi‘ism, these questions are often answered through the “separate-but- equal” ideology which emphasizes the role of women as wives and mothers, and places men in authority. But is this the only ideology which can be derived from Shi‘i scriptural sources? This book takes a more nuanced approach to that question by exploring how women are portrayed in hadith on ancient sacred narrative – the stories of the prophets. It shows far more diverse views on what it means to be a woman (and, by extension, a man) – and that early Shi‘is held competing views about ideals for women.

The present work provides a new edition and substantial German commentary of the important theological Arabic work Al-Tamhīd fī bayān al-tauḥīd (“Introduction to the explanation of monotheism”) by the 5th/11th century scholar Abū Shakūr al-Sālimī. The work and its author belong to the theological school that succeeded Abū Manṣūr al-Māturīdī (died 333/944) and still serve as important markers of Sunnī theology into the nineteenth century.

‘Act in such a way that all those who come in contact with you will go away joyful. Sow happiness about you because you have received much from God.’ St Faustina Mercy In All Things is a series of prayerful reflections based on the Diary of St Faustina, the Saint of Divine Mercy. Drawing on selected quotations from her Diary, these thoughtful and topical reflections provide an introduction to the prayer of this great saint, who dedicated her life to spreading the message of God’s love through devotion to the Merciful Jesus.

The official directory of the Church's hierarchy, this publication is a must for all who are actively involved in the Catholic Church in Ireland in 2018.A complete address and telephone guide to all Catholic parishes, convents and religious houses in the thirty-two counties of Ireland; Full details of the Irish Episcopate and its various commissions; Details of Catholic societies: addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses and websites; Names and addresses of chaplains in universities, hospitals and prison; Information on retreat and pastoral centres; National Church statistics.

Biblical theology is confronted with tensions between love and justice. There are sometimes attempts to avoid these tensions by dissolving one side of the opposing concept. One such attempt is to identify love and mercy as the essence of Christian theology, overcoming law and reciprocal justice. However, such a dissolution is irresponsible not only ethically, but also theologically—as the discussion in a number of the studies collected in the present volume will demonstrate.

‘How beautiful to have the church always open, so that every tired wayfaring man may come in and be soothed by all that art can suggest of a better world when he is weary with this.’ Ralph Waldo Emerson, Journals, 1833 The history of Dublin is written in the bricks of its churches. In this book, readers will discover the churches that are part of the very fabric of the city and testify to its rich spiritual and architectural heritage. From grand medieval structures to modest edifices built down back alleys during penal times, A Walking Tour of Dublin Churches takes in such iconic Dublin landmarks as Christ Church Cathedral and St Patrick’s Cathedral, alongside lesser known gems like the Church of Adam & Eve and the Rotunda Chapel. The stories of these churches tell of invasion, repression, persecution and, above all, the enduring faith of the citizens of Dublin. This beautiful illustrated book, which includes a numbered map of Dublin, is an invaluable reference guide for locals and tourists seeking a better understanding of the city and its rich Christian heritage. ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR Artist Liam C. Martin (1934-98) was a respected visual chronicler of Dublin city’s changing face. A student of Harry Kernoff and Seán Keating, Martin’s distinctive pen and ink drawings were a regular feature in the Irish Times, the Irish Independent and the Dublin Evening Mail. His column ‘Know Your Dublin’ appeared in the Evening Herald from 1967 until his death in 1998.

Saint Francis, like Pope Francis today, believed love is the most important quality in life, especially love of God, of others and of the world around us. The Story of St Francis is a charmingly illustrated account of the beloved Italian saint who founded the Franciscan Friars and was renowned for showing kindness to all God’s creatures. We learn how illness and his time spent in prison affected Francis deeply and strengthened his relationship with God. We also discover how Francis devoted his life to helping the poor, his taming of the wolf of Gubbio and his great friendship with a noblewoman named Clare. The Story of St Francis teaches us to follow Francis by carrying out small acts of kindness every day to help our friends, our family, our neighbours and the natural world.