Author: Stephen H. Schneider File Type: pdf Scientists Debate Gaia is a multidisciplinary reexamination of the Gaia hypothesis, which was introduced by James Lovelock and Lynn Margulis in the early 1970s. The Gaia hypothesis holds that Earths physical and biological processes are linked to form a complex, self-regulating system and that life has affected this system over time. Until a few decades ago, most of the earth sciences viewed the planet through disciplinary lenses biology, chemistry, geology, atmospheric and ocean studies. The Gaia hypothesis, on the other hand, takes a very broad interdisciplinary approach. Its most controversial aspect suggests that life actively participates in shaping the physical and chemical environment on which it depends in a way that optimizes the conditions for life. Despite initial dismissal of the Gaian approach as New Age philosophy, it has today been incorporated into mainstream interdisciplinary scientific theory, as seen in its strong influence on the field of Earth System Science. Scientists Debate Gaia provides a fascinating, multi-faceted examination of Gaia as science and addresses significant criticism of, and changes in, the hypothesis since its introduction.In the book, 53 contributors explore the scientific, philosophical, and theoretical foundations of Gaia. They address such topics as the compatibility of natural selection and Gaian processes, Gaia and the thermodynamics of life, the role of computer models in Gaian science (from James Lovelocks famous but controversial Daisyworld to more sophisticated models that use the techniques of artificial life), pre-Socratic precedents for the idea of a Living Earth, and the climate of the Amazon Basin as a Gaian system. **

Author: Jerome Murphy-O'Connor File Type: epub Belying the assumption that there is nothing more to discover about the similarities between Jesus and the apostle Paul, Jerome Murphy-O Connor gives us this enticing study. Extracting his information from a variety of sources pagan, Jewish, and Christian Murphy-O Connor imaginatively interweaves geographical, cultural, and historical elements into configurations that reveal important parallel trajectories in the lives of Jesus and Paul. Murphy-O Connor begins by discussing the births, early years, and family settings of Jesus and Paul. He continues with an examination of their education, refugee status, social class, economic position, political circumstances, cultural influences, and conversion experiences. Finally, he explores details surrounding their deaths. In the end, Jesus and Paul Parallel Lives gives us incisive comparisons that include but also go beyond the Scriptures to suggest novel ways of picturing Jesus-Paul. Readers will appreciate the labors of Murphy-O Connor to contextualize Jesus, the God-Man, alongside Paul, Man of God and Apostle to the Gentiles and will thereby have a greater appreciation for the missions of both. Jerome Murphy-O Connor, OP, has been a Professor of New Testament at the Ecole Biblique of Jerusalem since 1967. He has lectured throughout the world and is the author of numerous books, including the popular Oxford Press archaeological guidebook, The Holy Land, as well as Paul the Letter-Writer His World, His Options, His Skills and St. Pauls Corinth Texts and Archeology, both published by Liturgical Press. **From the Inside Flap Belying the assumption that there is nothing more to discover about the similarities between Jesus and the apostle Paul, Jerome Murphy-O?Connor gives us this enticing study. Extracting his information from a variety of sources?pagan, Jewish, and Christian?Murphy-O?Connor imaginatively interweaves geographical, cultural, and historical elements into configurations that reveal important parallel trajectories in the lives of Jesus and Paul. Murphy-O?Connor begins by discussing the births, early years, and family settings of Jesus and Paul. He continues with an examination of their education, refugee status, social class, economic position, political circumstances, cultural influences, and conversion experiences. Finally, he explores details surrounding their deaths. In the end, Jesus and Paul Parallel Lives gives us incisive comparisons that include but also go beyond the Scriptures to suggest novel ways of picturing Jesus-Paul. Readers will appreciate the labors of Murphy-O?Connor to contextualize Jesus, the God-Man, alongside Paul, Man of God and Apostle to the Gentiles?and will thereby have a greater appreciation for the missions of both.Australia and New Zealand?Jerome Murphy-O?Connor charts in this informative and intriguing study parallels between the life of Jesus and the life of Paul.? The Bible Today?Extracting his information from a variety of sources?pagan, Jewish and Christian?the author weaves geographical, cultural and historical elements into configurations that reveal important parallel trajectories in the lives of Jesus and Paul. . . . In the end, the book gives incisive comparisons that include but also go beyond the Scriptures to suggest novel ways of picturing them. By understanding them in comparison, readers get a greater appreciation for the missions of both.? Crux?Jerome Murphy-O?Connor, OP, packs much biblical scholarship and intuition into a hundred pages.? Review for Religious About the Author Jerome Murphy-OConnor is one of the worlds foremost authorities on the writings of Saint Paul of Tarsus. He has been a professor of New Testament at the cole Biblique of Jerusalem since 1967. He is the author of numerous works, including St. Pauls Ephesus, St. Pauls Corinth, and Paul the Letter-Writer, all published by Liturgical Press.

Author: Georg Feuerstein File Type: epub How the mind works according to the ancient yogic traditions, compared and contrasted to the approaches of Western psychologyby one of the greatest yoga scholars of our time. Georg Feuerstein begins the book by establishing the historical context of modern Western psychology and its gradual encounter with Indian thought, then follows this introduction with twenty-three chapters, each of which presents a topic--generally a point of correspondence or distinction--between Western and Eastern paradigms. These are grouped into three general sections Foundations, Mind and Beyond, and Mind In Transition. The book concludes with a brief epilogue as well as three appendices, adding depth to the discussion of the ancient yoga traditions as well as an informative survey of yoga psychology literature. The Psychology of Yoga is a feast of wisdom and lore, assembled from a perspective possible only for one whose monumental scholarship has been tempered and leavened by practice. **

Author: Francesco M. Bongiovanni File Type: pdf Bongiovannis message should be heeded, especially in Brussels,Berlin and Paris John Peet, Political Editor, The Economist Francesco Bongiovanni returns with a sequel to The Decline and the Fall of Europe, a book Guardian journalist Nils Pratley labelled a wake-up call for the twenty-first century. Since 2012 Europe has been confronted with new, unexpected game-changingchallenges such as the refugee crisis and its human tsunami, the surprise ofBrexit and the explosion of alternative politics. Europeans have finally come torealize that the open-societies that they have been comfortably living in are under threat andfragmenting, leaving their survival uncertain. Minorities are fallingprey to an Islamist ideology that conveys values and customs diametricallyopposed to European ones. Terrorist acts have become the new normal, part ofdaily life. The North-South cleavage brought about by the eurozone crisis is nowcompleted by a deep East-West cleavage born from the refugee crisis. Againstthis backdrop, a Germany that is not all that it seems has become Europesde-facto ruler, but is unfit to lead, while Trumps America cannot be counted onas it once used to be, forcing Europe to fend for itself. A beacon of stability and prosperity in the past, a naive and unprepared Europe,facing new and terrifying challenges is today more than ever torn apart,increasingly unstable and adrift. **From the Back Cover Europe is no longer fit for purpose. With his trademark style, Bongiovanni takes an unflinching look at what led the continent to this moment. Do not read this book if youre optimistic about Europes future but read this book if you care about that future. Ian Bremmer, President and Founder of Eurasia Group A valuable and timely wake-up call Europeans ignore at their own peril. Kishore Mahbubani, Author of*Has the West Lost It? A Provocation * Francesco M. Bongiovannireturns with a sequel toThe Decline and the Fall of Europe, a bookGuardian journalist Nils Pratley labelled a wake-up call for the twenty-first century. Since 2012 Europe hasbeen confronted with new, unexpected game-changing challenges such as the refugee crisis and its human tsunami, the surprise of Brexit and the explosion of alternative politics. Europeans have finally come to realize that the open-societies that they have been comfortably living in are under threat and fragmenting, leaving their survival uncertain. Minorities are falling prey to an Islamist ideology that conveys values and customs diametrically opposed to European ones. Terrorist acts have become the new normal, part of daily life. The North-South cleavage brought about by the eurozone crisis is now completed by a deep East-West cleavage born from the refugee crisis. Against this backdrop, a Germany that is not all that it seems has become Europes de-facto ruler, but is unfit to lead, while Trumps America cannot be counted on as it once used to be, forcing Europe to fend for itself. A beacon of stability and prosperity in the past, a naive and unprepared Europe, facing new and terrifying challenges is today more than ever torn apart, increasingly unstable and adrift. Francesco M. Bongiovanniholds an MBA from Harvard, USA, and a doctorate in engineering.He has lived in Europe, Asia, the USA and the Arab World. A former investment banker in WallStreet and London, he subsequently worked as an entrepreneur and advisor in direct investments and private equity. He has been made a Knight of the Order of St Charles for his contribution to humanitarian endeavours and biodiversity protection. Bongiovanni is also an author and composer of classical symphonic music and jazz. About the Author Francesco M. Bongiovanni holds an MBA from Harvard, USA, and a doctorate in engineering. He has lived in Europe, Asia, the USA and the Arab World. A former investment banker in Wall Street and London, he subsequently worked as an entrepreneur and advisor in direct investments and private equity. He has been made a Knight of the Order of St Charles for his contribution to humanitarian endeavours and biodiversity protection. Bongiovanni is also an author and composer of classical symphonic music and jazz. Find out more atwww.francescobauthor.com