More than just how to view the Great and Wondrous Sign, spoken of in Revelation 12, this book covers the historic event that only happens once in the history of mankind with never before seen research, illustrations, star charts and more. Researcher and author, David M. Willhite draws from Egyptian, Babalonian, Chinese and Jewish history to reveal the identity of the Great Red Dragon as we delve deeper into understanding the original meaning behind the constellations.

This startling study of early Christian attitudes toward sexuality begins with an account of the different stances adopted by the Church—from the Early Fathers’ view that sex and the female body were irredeemably unholy, to Augustine’s contention that sex was natural, but lust was evil. While the Church Fathers struggled to reach consistent theoretical conclusions, the underlying conflation of ‘women’ with ‘sex’ meant that patristic statements on chastity, virginity and marriage effectively read as ecclesiastical law governing women’s conduct. Joyce Salisbury explains the relationship between Church doctrine and the position of women by placing these official views alongside an ascetic tradition which resisted the constraints imposed by sexual intercourse. Through an examination of texts of female and popular authorship, and the extraordinary lives of seven women saints—including the transvestites Castissima and Pelagia—she presents a markedly different picture of sexual and social roles. For many of these women, celibacy became a form of emancipation. Church Fathers, Independent Virgins bears witness to the entrenched power of the Church to oppress, the continuing power of women to overcome, and the enduring effects of medieval sexual attitudes.

"Beginning with the persecution of early Christians by the Roman Empire, Witness of the Body explores the place of martyrdom in the church through all ages -- and into the future. Throughout, it reminds readers that Christian martyrdom is neither a quick ticket to heaven nor a cheap political ploy, but rather the firm and faithful witness of Christ's church in a hostile world."--From publisher description.