Haraldur the northman once joined Jason on his fabled quest for the Golden Fleece, but now he wants nothing more to do with gods and adventure. Returning to his homeland for the first time in many years, he hopes only to settle down on a farm of his own—until he comes across an impenetrable wall of eldritch fire and a lovesick youth determined to breach the wall at any cost. Behind the towering flames, he is told, lies a beautiful Valkyrie trapped in an enchanted sleep, as well as, perhaps, a golden treasure beyond mortal reckoning. It is the gold that tempts Hal to agree, against his better judgment, to assist the youth in his quest. But to find a way past the fiery wall, they must first brave gnomes, ghosts, and the wrath of the gods themselves. For a mighty battle is brewing, and Hal soon finds himself caught up in a celestial conflict between Thor the Thunderer, Loki the Trickster, and most powerful of all, Wodan, the merciless Lord of Battles!

Thunder Gods is the compelling first-hand account of the pilots who pledged themselves to die for their emperor in the closing days of the Pacific War. Known to the world as kamikaze-divine wind-their suicide attacks on American naval forces caused panic and disruption, but they were bourn out of the desperation of the Imperial Command, determined to avoid the shame of surrender at any cost. Using as a rationale the loudly proclaimed belief that suicide attacks by Japanese pilots attested to the spiritural righteousness of Japan's struggle, the Command's exhortations convinced legions of young men of the virtue of bombs were contructed whose only guiding mechanism was their human cargo. The pilots are the thunder gods of the title, and this is the first time they have told their own story.

In the stories of the ancient Vikings, Thor is a warrior without equal, who wields his mighty hammer in battles against trolls, giants, and dragons. He is the god of storms and thunder, who rides to war in a chariot pulled by goats, and who is fated to fall in battle with the Midgard Serpent during Ragnarok, the end of all things. This book collects the greatest myths and legends of the thunder god, while also explaining their historical context and their place in the greater Norse mythology. It also covers the history of Thor as a legendary figure, how he was viewed by different cultures from the Romans to the Nazis, and how he endures today as a popular heroic figure.

The Spirituality of a quarter of all Christians can be characterized as "charismatic." Pentecostalism itself is one of the most rapidly growing religious movements in America and abroad. Despite these facts, little serious effort has been made to develop a systematic Pentecostal theology - until now. Word and Spirit at Play is the first work to outline a theology that does full justice to the Pentecostal experience of God's Word and Spirit. Dutch scholar Jean-Jacques Suurmond, who is himself a Pentecostal, draws on two decades of work in Pentecostalism to demonstrate in a simple yet scholarly way how a charismatic approach shapes the lives of Christians and the church. Suurmond describes the history and characteristics of present-day Pentecostalism, discusses the significance of Spirit baptism to the Pentecostal life, reflects seriously on the "gifts of grace," (including tongues), and celebrates the role of "play" in Pentecostal worship. This book will be invaluable both to theologians - who have long wanted a scholarly synthesis of charismatic theology - and to laypeople, especially Pentecostals wanting to deepen their faith and other believers searching for a spirituality that opens up new sources of Christian community. JEAN-JACQUES SUURMOND is a Reformed minister in Vlaardingen, the Netherlands.

The history of the divine is the history of human thought. For as long as men and women have pondered the mysteries of their existence, they have answered their own questions with stories of gods and goddesses. Belief in these deities shaped whole civilizations, yet today many of their names and images lie buried. The Encyclopedia of Ancient Deities makes those names available to the general reader as well as the scholar. This reference work lists all the known gods through recorded history. Alphabetically arranged entries provide the name of each deity (with alternate spellings), as well as notes on names that may be linguistically or functionally related. The tribe or culture that worshiped the deity is identified, and the god's origins and functions are explained. An extensive bibliography provides opportunities for further research and an exhaustive index provides access to the entries through virtually all names, forms and kinds of deities.

Explores the evolution of life and consciousness according to the cosmology and psychology of Fire, viewing Fire not only as a material but also as a spiritual principle.