History

An extraordinary account of how the Christian Revolution forged the Western imagination “A galloping tour of Christianity’s influence across the last 2,000 years.” —New York Times Crucifixion, the Romans believed, was the worst fate imaginable, a punishment reserved for slaves. How...

How did the shift from matriarchy to patriarchy come about? In fascinating detail, Merlin Stone tells us the story of the Goddess who reigned supreme in the Near and Middle East.

This extraordinary document represents a new form of historical research and straightens out many open questions and misinterpretations. It takes the form of direct dialogues between a modern researcher and a member of the Qumran Essene community....

Paula Fredriksen traces the evolution of early Christianity—or rather, of early Christianities—through five centuries of Empire, mapping its pathways from the hills of Judea to the halls of Rome and Constantinople.

Audiobook narrated by Lee Strobel. Did Jesus of Nazareth really rise from the dead? Of the many world religions, only one claims that its founder returned from the grave. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the very cornerstone of Christianity. But a dead man coming back to life? In our...

From an award-winning historian, the definitive account of the golden age of Rome—an ultimate superpower at the pinnacle of its greatness “Rarely has the distant past seemed so vividly alive.” —Financial Times The Pax Romana has long been shorthand for the empire’s golden age...

The most accessible and informative version of the Buddhist classic available in English, with instruction in meditation, illuminating commentary, and guidance in the practical use of the prayers The so-called “Tibetan Book of the Dead” has been renowned for centuries as a cornerstone of...

A major new history of the Crusades with an unprecedented wide scope, told in a tableau of portraits of people on all sides of the wars, from the author of Powers and Thrones. For more than one thousand years, Christians and Muslims lived side by side, sometimes at peace and sometimes at war...

At last, the world will discover what happens to the greatest salesman when he finally emerges from his lonely retirement to commence a new career. At first, he finds failure - until he receives a special gift from someone he has not seen in half a century....

This extraordinary work delves into the subject of religion in the prehistoric and ancient worlds—humankind's earliest quests for meaning.

Historians know virtually nothing about the two decades following the crucifixion of Jesus, when his followers regrouped and began to spread his message....

In an era of hardening religious attitudes and explosive religious violence, this book offers a welcome antidote....

A study of the spiritual provocations to be found in the work of Philip K. Dick, Terence McKenna, and Robert Anton Wilson, High Weirdness charts the emergence of a new psychedelic spirituality that arose from the American counterculture of the 1970s....

In this highly accessible discussion, Bart Ehrman examines the most recent textual and archaeological sources for the life of Jesus, along with the history of first-century Palestine, drawing a fascinating portrait of the man and his teachings....

NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER · THE SPIRITUAL CLASSIC THAT HAS INFLUENCED MORE THAN 500,000 READERS ""A deep, uncompromising story about human and divine love.” — Los Angeles Times The profoundly moving and heart-rendering classic for anyone who has experienced the depths of love and loss...

Despite the recent ferocious public debate about belief, the concept most central to the discussion "God" frequently remains vaguely and obscurely described....

The bestselling author of Misquoting Jesus, one of the most renowned and controversial Bible scholars in the world today examines oral tradition and its role in shaping the stories about Jesus we encounter in the New Testament—and ultimately in our understanding of Christianity. Throughout...

The basis for the upcoming HBO miniseries and the "definitive account of the Jonestown massacre" (Rolling Stone) -- now available for the first time in paperback. Tim Reiterman’s Raven provides the seminal history of the Rev. Jim Jones, the Peoples Temple, and the murderous ordeal at Jonestown...

Discover the beguiling history of witchcraft, magic, and superstition through the centuries and across the world in this stunningly audiobook. A History of Magic, Witchcraft and the Occult charts the extraordinary narrative of one of the most interesting and often controversial subjects in the...

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER The acclaimed author of Zealot examines humanity’s quest to make sense of the divine in this “timely, riveting, enlightening, and necessary” (HuffPost) history of our understanding of God. “A fascinating exploration of the interaction of our humanity and God...

Sounds True is proud to present the first widely available audio recording of Elaine Pagels as she explores the text that has changed the way many of us think about the message of Christ....

Giants, Fallen Angels and the Return of the Nephilim discusses Biblical prophecies of giants on the Earth, the Last Days demonic plot of engineering genetic hybrids, and what all of it has to do with Israel and the Middle East....

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Is the classic, accepted view of the life of Christ in some way incomplete? The authors of The Messianic Legacy present a provocative and meticulously researched look at Christ and the history of Christianity. “Enough to seriously challenge many traditional...

The Essential Talmud is a masterful introduction by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz to the great repository of Jewish wisdom, the Talmud....

Jesus declared war on an ancient enemy at the very beginning of His ministry. He hinted at the identity of this entity through the locations of His baptism, the Transfiguration, and the Olivet Discourse. This enemy was cast down from the mountain of God.

What if some of the most familiar practices in modern Christianity were never commanded by God? Church steeples. Christmas trees. Easter symbols. Holy days. Clergy titles. Sacred objects. Most believers assume these traditions are biblical. But are they? In Holy or Borrowed?, Nate Fortner takes readers on a powerful, Scripture-first investigation into the origins of widely accepted Christian practices. Rather than relying on tradition, denominational teaching, or cultural assumptions, this book examines what the Bible actually says—and what it doesn’t. From the golden calf to modern ...

Vi fu una donna prima di Eva? La domanda non nasce da un solo testo né da un unico momento storico. Attraversa i secoli, riappare in forme diverse e viene spesso attribuita a scritti che non l’hanno mai posta in questi termini. Tra ciò che è scritto e ciò che in seguito si è cominciato a raccontare, si apre uno spazio — ed è proprio in quello spazio che la leggenda prende forma. Questo libro ricostruisce l’emergere e lo sviluppo di tale idea attraverso i testi e le tradizioni stesse che l’hanno plasmata. Inizia nel mondo antico, dove nomi associati alla notte, al deserto e ...

Melchizedek’s Mystery: A Canonical Investigation of the Biblical Priest-King tackles one of Scripture’s most enigmatic figures with rigorous, text-driven analysis rather than speculation. Appearing briefly in Genesis 14, invoked prophetically in Psalm 110, and expounded in Hebrews 5–7, Melchizedek has been read as everything from a pre-incarnate Christ to a mere literary symbol. This book asks a focused question: when we let Genesis, Psalm 110, and Hebrews speak on their own terms, what portrait actually emerges? Drawing on a nine-variable rubric built directly from these passages—...

Where do demons come from? Are they fallen angels who rebelled with Satan? Are they the disembodied spirits of the Nephilim described in Genesis 6? Were they created as a separate class of spiritual beings? Or are modern readers misinterpreting ancient language altogether? The Origin of Demons offers a structured, comparative investigation of the major theories proposed in biblical and theological history. Rather than assuming a traditional answer, this book evaluates seven competing explanations using a consistent analytic framework. Each theory is tested against carefully defined criteria...

What if one of the most influential Old Testament scholars of the twentieth century has not yet been fully understood? In Yahuwah and the Temple Prophets: A Bibliometric Biography of Sigmund Mowinckel, Antony Hylton offers a groundbreaking study of the Norwegian scholar who transformed modern Psalms research. Best known for his monumental Psalmenstudien and his theory of Kultprophetie (cult prophecy), Sigmund Mowinckel reshaped how scholars understand the Psalms, the Temple, prophetic ministry, and Israel’s liturgical life. But this is not a conventional biography. Using a bibliometric ...

Shadows of Terror and Mystery: Tales of Horror and Suspense by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is a captivating collection that delves into the darker corners of the human imagination. Through masterful storytelling, Doyle weaves tales of suspense, horror, and psychological intrigue, keeping readers on edge with unexpected twists and chilling atmospheres. Each story explores fear, curiosity, and the unknown, showcasing Doyle’s skill in creating tension and vivid, memorable characters. This simplified and illustrated edition brings classic horror and suspense to modern readers, making it accessible...

The Golden Book of Grimm's Fairy Adventures by R. Emmett Owen is a magical collection that brings the enchanting world of Grimm’s timeless fairy tales to life. Filled with wonder, adventure, and lessons in courage, kindness, and cleverness, each story captivates young readers while inspiring imagination and moral growth. Owen’s simplified and illustrated retellings make these classic tales accessible to modern audiences, blending storytelling charm with visual delight. This edition is perfect for children, parents, and educators who wish to explore the magic of folklore while nurturing ...

E se il creatore del nostro mondo non fosse il "Dio Buono" che ti hanno sempre descritto? Per secoli, una domanda ha tormentato i più grandi pensatori dell'antichità: se Dio è perfetto, perché il mondo è pieno di sofferenza, male e imperfezione?. Mentre la Chiesa ortodossa cercava risposte nel mistero e nella fede, un gruppo di ribelli intellettuali — gli Gnostici — propose una soluzione tanto radicale quanto scandalosa: il creatore di questo mondo è un'entità inferiore, ignorante e, in alcuni casi, apertamente malevola. In questo saggio avvincente, Luce L ti guida attraverso un ...

He is an unnamed man, forgotten by the world and remembered by history only for how his life ended — crucified beside Jesus of Nazareth. Set in the hard realities of first-century Judea, "Remember Me" imagines the life Scripture leaves unrecorded. Anchored in the Gospel account of Luke 23, the story explores what might have led one forgotten man there. Drawing from the rhythms of Jewish life, the brutality of Roman justice, and the long-awaited hope of a Messiah, the narrative remains faithful to the historical and spiritual world in which these events unfolded. At the center of the story...

Rama is all of sixteen when Sage Viswamithra takes him to the Dandaka forest, with Lakshmana accompanying them. At first, the spirit of adventure fills the two teenage brothers, but when they enter the forest in broad daylight, it is a curtain of pitch darkness. The smell of decaying flesh...