The Serpent Of Genesis

People have been reading the Book of Genesis for more than twenty-five hundred years, yet new commentaries, scholarly studies, and literary analyses continue to appear. In this new treatment of Genesis, the author adapts ancient approaches to the text for a contemporary sensibility in order to arrive at readings that are both surprising and satisfying. He thus places himself in a modern tradition of Jewish biblical study that is flourishing in Israel, Europe, and the United States.

In this study, Brian A. Verrett argues that 1–2 Samuel contains a serpent motif by practicing biblical theology and literary criticism. This motif derives from the serpent in Genesis 3, and its function within the Samuel narrative is to heighten the reader’s anticipation in the coming messiah, who is the son of David and the seed of the woman from Genesis 3:15. This messiah will defeat the serpent and inaugurate his glorious reign over a renewed world. When 1–2 Samuel is read in this way, one appreciates previously unnoticed features of the text, understands aspects of the text that were formerly confusing, and rightly sees that the whole of 1–2 Samuel is a messianic document.

The serpent of ancient times was more often associated with positive attributes like healing and eternal life than it was with negative meanings. This groundbreaking book explores in plentiful detail the symbol of the serpent from 40,000 BCE to the present, and from diverse regions in the world. In doing so it emphasizes the creativity of the biblical authors' use of symbols and argues that we must today reexamine our own archetypal conceptions with comparable creativity.--From publisher description.

This book is not a grimoire of witchcraft, but offers a quasi-scientific look at its subjects: Astral Forces, Spells, Incantations, Charms, Evocations and more. His author was a true scholar and a precursor of modern occultism.

N.T. Wright explores all aspects of evil and how it presents itself in society today. Fully grounded in the story of the Old and New Testaments, this presentation is provocative and hopeful; a fascinating analysis of and response to the fundamental question of evil and justice that faces believers.

The works of Stanislas de Guaita (1861-1897) are not grimoires of witchcraft, contrary to what their titles may evoke, but, in the author's own words, Essais de sciences maudits (Essays on the Cursed Sciences), meaning that he had the ambition to take a quasi-scientific look at the subjects in question. Stanislas de Guaita become one of the leading figures of the reborn occultism of the late XIX century in France. He was a true scholar and an important precursor of modern occultism. This book, the first volume of the Serpent of Genesis: The Temple of Satan, deals with black magic and the use of astral forces. The next volume of the series, The Key to Black Magic offers an overview of witchcraft through the ages and the continents most often referred to by symbolists and occultists of the time. Guaita died before finishing the third volume, The Problem of Evil, although it was published posthumously, many years after his death. The Temple of Satan includes a Bibliographical Catalogue and an Alphabetical Index. The topics covered in its seven chapters are: 1. THE DEVIL: In the intellectual world it is called Error; in the moral world it is called Selfishness; in the physical world it is incarnated in all forms of Ugliness. 2. THE SORCERER: The ambition of a despotism without control, based on the monopoly of knowledge forbidden to the common man. The Sabbath. 3. WORKS OF WITCHCRAFT: Spells, Charms, Incantations and Evocations. 4. HUMAN JUSTICE: Persecution of sorcerers. The Inquisition The case of the Knights Templar, the Military Order than became a Secret Society. 5. THE SORCERER'S ARSENAL: Interesting and unique list of material resources, astral forces, spirits, etc., used by the sorcerers. 6. MODERN AVATARS OF THE SORCERER: History of some modern sorcerers 7. FLOWERS FROM THE ABYSS: Poetry and the attraction of evil. Ego and Non-Ego. Psychic pollution. Apollo, Hecate, Eros, Atropos.

In The Unseen Realm, Dr. Michael Heiser examines the ancient context of Scripture, explaining how its supernatural worldview can help us grow in our understanding of God. He illuminates intriguing and amazing passages of the Bible that have been hiding in plain sight. You'll find yourself engaged in an enthusiastic pursuit of the truth, resulting in a new appreciation for God's Word. Why wasn't Eve surprised when the serpent spoke to her? How did descendants of the Nephilim survive the flood? Why did Jacob fuse Yahweh and his Angel together in his prayer? Who are the assembly of divine beings that God presides over? In what way do those beings participate in God's decisions? Why do Peter and Jude promote belief in imprisoned spirits? Why does Paul describe evil spirits in terms of geographical rulership? Who are the "glorious ones" that even angels dare not rebuke? After reading this book, you may never read your Bible the same way again. Endorsements "There is a world referred to in the Scripture that is quite unseen, but also quite present and active. Michael Heiser's The Unseen Realm seeks to unmask this world. Heiser shows how important it is to understand this world and appreciate how its contribution helps to make sense of Scripture. The book is clear and well done, treating many ideas and themes that often go unseen themselves. With this book, such themes will no longer be neglected, so read it and discover a new realm for reflection about what Scripture teaches." --Darrell L. Bock, Executive Director for Cultural Engagement, Senior Research Professor of New Testament Studies, Howard G. Hendricks Center for Christian Leadership and Cultural Engagement "'How was it possible that I had never seen that before?' Dr. Heiser's survey of the complex reality of the supernatural world as the Scriptures portray it covers a subject that is strangely sidestepped. No one is going to agree with everything in his book, but the subject deserves careful study, and so does this book." --John Goldingay, David Allan Hubbard Professor of Old Testament, School of Theology, Fuller Theological Seminary "This is a 'big' book in the best sense of the term. It is big in its scope and in its depth of analysis. Michael Heiser is a scholar who knows Scripture intimately in its ancient cultural context. All--scholars, clergy, and laypeople--who read this profound and accessible book will grow in their understanding of both the Old and New Testaments, particularly as their eyes are opened to the Bible's 'unseen world.'" --Tremper Longman III, Robert H. Gundry Professor of Biblical Studies, Westmont College

A unique contribution to the God/religion debate: a scientific take on the Bible that doesn't take sides. Many of the subjects studied by physicists or by biologists are found in the texts of the world's religions: the origins of the universe, of life and of mankind; fate, sex, age and death; and the prospects of eternal life or of fiery doom. The Bible is a handbook for understanding Nature and, in its own way, it succeeds. As a factual account, of course, it is out of date, but many of its statements can be rephrased in modern terms. Distinguished geneticist Steve Jones has done that: written a rivetingly accessible work on recent advances in our understanding of ourselves, using the Bible as a framework. His narrative is structured around the Good Book's grand themes, from Genesis to Revelations, and weaves a series of unexpected facts into a coherent whole. The struggle of rationalism with its opposite has, after decades of torpor, returned to centre stage. Polemics against and in favour of religion and atheism fill the shelves. Instead of adding to that pile, Steve Jones stands back and take a fresh look at that issue in a volume that is not an attack or a defence but which explores scriptural motifs--Creation, the Garden of Eden, original sin, the Exodus, virgin birth, the Resurrection, and the Last Judgment--using the methods and results of the latest scientific research. It is a remarkably quick jump, shows Professor Jones, from Adam to astrophysics. Although some of the questions raised are beyond the capabilities of science, at least a scientist can ask them in a new way. Steve Jones shows there is a better route to understanding the universe than through doctrine.

Human reproductive cloning is an assisted reproductive technology that would be carried out with the goal of creating a newborn genetically identical to another human being. It is currently the subject of much debate around the world, involving a variety of ethical, religious, societal, scientific, and medical issues. Scientific and Medical Aspects of Human Reproductive Cloning considers the scientific and medical sides of this issue, plus ethical issues that pertain to human-subjects research. Based on experience with reproductive cloning in animals, the report concludes that human reproductive cloning would be dangerous for the woman, fetus, and newborn, and is likely to fail. The study panel did not address the issue of whether human reproductive cloning, even if it were found to be medically safe, would beâ€"or would not beâ€"acceptable to individuals or society.