Celebrating the contributions of Panayotis Pachis to the field, this book discusses the past, present, and future of the study of religion in antiquity and modernity. Panayotis Pachis has dedicated his celebrated career at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki to the study of various aspects of ancient religions. The contents of this book reflect Pachis' conviction that the study of religious ideas and practices should be focused on three pillars: the study of history, the formulation and application of theoretical frameworks, and the utilization of traditional as well as innovative methodological tools. Chapters range from the scientific study of Roman-Graeco religions, cultural evolution, and neurocognitive theories in the history and study of religion, to a look at why we need an integrative approach to study religion, past and present.

This book includes a collection of articles by leading researchers on the topic of religious contact in the study of religion. Resulting from the final conference of the Käte Hamburger Kolleg "Dynamics in the History of Religions"–one of the largest research initiatives in the interdisciplinary study of religion worldwide in recent years (2008-2020)—this book encapsulates the twofold aim of this conference: first, to "step back" and reflect upon the merits and challenges of studying religious dynamics as a result of intra-, inter-, and extra-religious contact, and second "to look beyond" and pave ways for future approaches to study religion as a social phenomenon.

Donald Wiebe, Professor of Philosophy of Religion at Trinity College, University of Toronto, has spent much of his academic career arguing for a clear demarcation between Theology and Religious Studies. The Science of Religion: A Defence offers a brilliant overview of Professor Wiebe's contributions on methodology in the academic study of religion, of the development of his thinking over time, and of his intellectual commitment to 'a science of religion'. The work is divided into three parts. The first part identifies pertinent connections between 'religion', 'religious studies', and 'science' and why 'reductionism' in the academic study of religion, when properly applied, can bridge the explanatory gap between the sceptic and the devotee. The second part treats conceptual debates in the academic study of religion, with particular reference to the place of 'belief', 'understanding', and 'meaning' in the modern study of religion. The third part addresses the theological resistance to the scientific study of religion and how that resistance can be overcome. Finally, two new essays are included: a critique on ‘The Preconceptions of a Science of Religion’ by Anthony J. Palma, and an accompanying reply by Donald Wiebe. The Science of Religion: A Defence is an essential resource for both scholarly and non-scholarly audiences alike, and will be of particular interest to both defenders and critics of a scientific study of religion.

The purpose of this book – "THE HUMANISTIC APPROACH IN PSYCHOLOGY & PSYCHOTHERAPY, SOCIOLOGY & SOCIAL WORK, PEDAGOGY & EDUCATION, MANAGEMENT AND ART: PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT" (Second Edition) – is to achieve an investigation as exhaustive and comprehensive as possible on the presence of the humanistic approach, with an emphasis on the dual-humanistic valences, in a wide range of social and human fields, thus bringing before the reader – as an alternative to the modular, strictly monodisciplinary approaches – a multidisciplinary and complex approach, thus putting almost all the most important social & human disciplines and practices under a single humanistic/ dual-humanistic ”umbrella”, and presented in a single book. The Chapter 1 highlights the diversity of approaches in the social and human domains, focusing on three great approaches: mystical-spiritual and religious, strictly scientific, and humanistic. In Chapter 2, the sources and models of the humanistic orientation are explored, identifying in this sense, with priority, Humanism and philosophical influences such as criticism, ontology, humanistic philosophy, and same oriental-spiritual practices. This chapter highlights also the contribution of phenomenology, existentialism, personalism, gestaltism, neo-Marxism, the Frankfurt School, secular humanism, the human rights movement, postmodernism, feminism, and complex and emergent systems theories. Chapter 3 focuses on the humanistic/ dual-humanistic approach in psychology and psychotherapy.. The basic principles of the humanistic approach to the human psyche were highlighted, as well as the dual-humanistic approach to personality and behavior. Chapter 4 discusses the humanistic/ dual-humanistic orientation in sociology and social work, highlighting the characteristics of social humanism and their different postures in the field of sociology and social work. Chapter 5 brings to the reader's attention the humanistic approach to pedagogy and education, emphasizing the specificity of child/student center education and the characteristics of the dual-humanistic approach in pedagogy/ education. Chapter 6 addresses the issue of humanistic management, emphasizing how this approach generated a significant change in work organizations, focusing on people, employee development and their well-being. Chapter 7 discusses the humanist approach in art, theater and film, highlighting the characteristics of humanistic aesthetics and humanistic theatrology/ filmology. Chapter 8 brings other disciplines into the discourse, such as medicine, politics, religion, technology & science, ecology and economy, highlighting how the humanistic approach influences these fields and brings a dual perspective between person-centeredness and human/ social solidarity. Chapter 9 presents some of the characteristics of the humanistic/dual-humanistic approach to personal development, focusing on the formation of a strong, humane and complete personality. Chapter 10 discusses the humanistic approach, especially through its dual-humanist valence, in community development, emphasizing how it, as philosophy, culture and politics, can contribute to the formation of a strong and humane/ solidary community, with the inclusion of the goals and values of personal development/fulfillment and the happiness of their members. Regarding the usefulness and addressability of this edition, of this book, the design, content and bibliography are made in such a way as to be useful both to the academic community, to students and to teachers, and to the professional community, to psychotherapists, educators, managers, social workers, artists, medical practitioners, politicians, etc. The work being unique in its way because it brings together under the ”umbrella” of a humanistic approach the most important social & human sciences and practices, it is, of course, also addressed to readers interested in such a perspective.

For all the discussion in the media about creationism and 'Intelligent Design', virtually nothing has been said about the evidence in question - the evidence for evolution by natural selection. Yet, as this succinct and important book shows, that evidence is vast, varied, and magnificent, and drawn from many disparate fields of science. The very latest research is uncovering a stream of evidence revealing evolution in action - from the actual observation of a species splitting into two, to new fossil discoveries, to the deciphering of the evidence stored in our genome. Why Evolution is True weaves together the many threads of modern work in genetics, palaeontology, geology, molecular biology, anatomy, and development to demonstrate the 'indelible stamp' of the processes first proposed by Darwin. It is a crisp, lucid, and accessible statement that will leave no one with an open mind in any doubt about the truth of evolution.

Philosophy and the Study of Religions: A Manifesto advocates a radical transformation of the discipline from its current, narrow focus on questions of God, to a fully global form of critical reflection on religions in all their variety and dimensions. Opens the discipline of philosophy of religion to the religious diversity that characterizes the world today Builds bridges between philosophy of religion and the other interpretative and explanatory approaches in the field of religious studies Provides a manifesto for a global approach to the subject that is a practice-centred rather than a belief-centred activity Gives attention to reflexive critical studies of 'religion' as socially constructed and historically located