The Sacred Embrace of Jesus and Mary

The Sacred Embrace of Jesus and Mary PDF Author: Jean-Yves Leloup
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1594776296
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 147

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Book Description
An examination of how the teachings of Jesus reveal the essential role of sexuality in spiritual growth and transformation • Shows that Jesus did not come to redeem humanity from the life of the flesh, but to honor it as a spiritual path • Uses Hebrew, gnostic, and early Christian source texts to reveal the true context of the words attributed to Jesus • Explores the spiritual and physical relationship shared by Jesus and Mary Magdalene Of all the major religions, Christianity is the only one that has utterly rejected sexuality as one of the many paths that can lead to enlightenment and salvation. But if Jesus was indeed “the Word made flesh” and serious consideration is given to the mystery of his Incarnation, is it reasonable that physical love would have been prohibited to him? Drawing from the canonical and apocryphal gospels, the Hebrew esoteric tradition, and gnosticism, Jean-Yves Leloup shows that Jesus did not come to save humanity from the life of the flesh but to save the life of the flesh so that it would truly transfigure all people. Leloup explains that when Saint Paul said it was good to be without women, he did not cite any words of Jesus in support of this contention. In fact, Paul’s statement utterly contradicts the words of God in Genesis: “It is not good that man should be alone.” Leloup argues that the elimination of the divine feminine and sacred sexuality set in motion by Paul’s words does not reflect the true teachings of Christ, and that the transformation of Jesus into a celibate is the true heresy. His research restores Christ’s true human sexuality and shows it to be a vital part of humanity’s spirituality. Leloup contends that by understanding the sacred nature of the embrace shared by man and woman as a true reflection of humanity made in God’s image, Christianity can again become the powerful path of transfiguration Christ intended.

The Sacred Embrace of Jesus and Mary

The Sacred Embrace of Jesus and Mary PDF Author: Jean-Yves Leloup
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1594776296
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 147

Get Book Here

Book Description
An examination of how the teachings of Jesus reveal the essential role of sexuality in spiritual growth and transformation • Shows that Jesus did not come to redeem humanity from the life of the flesh, but to honor it as a spiritual path • Uses Hebrew, gnostic, and early Christian source texts to reveal the true context of the words attributed to Jesus • Explores the spiritual and physical relationship shared by Jesus and Mary Magdalene Of all the major religions, Christianity is the only one that has utterly rejected sexuality as one of the many paths that can lead to enlightenment and salvation. But if Jesus was indeed “the Word made flesh” and serious consideration is given to the mystery of his Incarnation, is it reasonable that physical love would have been prohibited to him? Drawing from the canonical and apocryphal gospels, the Hebrew esoteric tradition, and gnosticism, Jean-Yves Leloup shows that Jesus did not come to save humanity from the life of the flesh but to save the life of the flesh so that it would truly transfigure all people. Leloup explains that when Saint Paul said it was good to be without women, he did not cite any words of Jesus in support of this contention. In fact, Paul’s statement utterly contradicts the words of God in Genesis: “It is not good that man should be alone.” Leloup argues that the elimination of the divine feminine and sacred sexuality set in motion by Paul’s words does not reflect the true teachings of Christ, and that the transformation of Jesus into a celibate is the true heresy. His research restores Christ’s true human sexuality and shows it to be a vital part of humanity’s spirituality. Leloup contends that by understanding the sacred nature of the embrace shared by man and woman as a true reflection of humanity made in God’s image, Christianity can again become the powerful path of transfiguration Christ intended.

The Gospel of Philip

The Gospel of Philip PDF Author: Jean-Yves Leloup
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1594776407
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 153

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Book Description
A new translation and analysis of one of the most controversial of the apocryphal gospels • Emphasizes an initiatic marriage between the male and female principles as the heart of the Christian mystery • Bears witness to the physical relationship shared by Jesus and Mary Magdalene • Translated from the Coptic and analyzed by the author of the bestselling The Gospel of Mary Magdalene (over 90,000 sold The mainstream position of the Christian church on sexuality was perhaps best summed up by Pope Innocent III (1160-1216) when he stated that “the sexual act is so shameful that it is intrinsically evil.” Another Christian theologian maintained that the “Holy Ghost is absent from the room shared by a wedded couple.” What Philip records in his gospel is that Christ said precisely the opposite: The nuptial chamber is in fact the holy of holies. For Philip the holy trinity includes the feminine presence. God is the Father, the Holy Ghost is the Mother, and Jesus is the Son. Neither man nor woman alone is created in the image of God. It is only in their relationship with one another--the sacred embrace in which they share the divine breath--that they resemble God. The Gospel of Philip is best known for its portrayal of the physical relationship shared by Jesus and his most beloved disciple, Mary of Magdala. Because it ran counter to the direction of the Church, which condemned the “works of the flesh,” Philip’s gospel was suppressed and lost until rediscovered at Nag Hammadi in 1947. Orthodox theologian Jean-Yves Leloup’s translation from the Coptic and his analysis of this gospel are presented here for the first time in English. What emerges from this important source text is a restoration of the sacred initiatic union between the male and female principles that was once at the heart of Christianity’s sacred mystery.

Judas and Jesus

Judas and Jesus PDF Author: Jean-Yves Leloup
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1594776571
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 189

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Book Description
A radical reinterpretation of the relationship of Judas and Jesus • Reexamines the role and the purpose the key figure of Judas played in the crucifixion story • Reveals how Judas was “betrayed” by Jesus, and how, taken to the limits of his humanity, he lost everything he most cherished on the path to his true self The familiar story of Judas, betrayer of Jesus, is striking because of its incomprehensibility. Why would one of Christ’s disciples and companions of the heart deliver him up to his enemies and a barbarous, ignominious, and certain death for thirty pieces of silver? Jean-Yves Leloup’s careful investigation of the gospels, various apocryphal texts, and most importantly the Coptic codex known as the Gospel of Judas, leads him to conclude that there is more to the familiar story of Judas than a simple demonstration, viewed through one man, of humanity’s inherent failings. The betrayal of Jesus to the Romans was Jesus’s idea, explains Leloup. Jesus persuaded Judas to play the role of “evil” in humankind by telling him that this enactment was crucial to God’s plan and would set Judas by Jesus’s side for eternity: “There where I am,” spoke Jesus to Judas, “is where I wish you, too, to be.” But to get there, Judas--a metaphorical representation of the darker side present in all human beings and the “shadow” counterpart to his Messiah dying on the cross-- must first shed all his human qualities. His failings of greed, deceit, and cowardice--and even his faith and hope--are washed away in the despair that engulfs him. A parallel moment occurs for Jesus on the cross, when he comes to know the despair of separation from God. The moment Judas “loses” his life and all that gave it meaning--his God, his law, his justice, his Messiah--is the very moment he finds that which cannot be discarded--life eternal. Thus, in the moment of his ultimate extremity, Judas receives Jesus’s true message and his intended gift.

The Gospel of Mary Magdalene

The Gospel of Mary Magdalene PDF Author: Jean-Yves Leloup
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1594776415
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 186

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Book Description
Restores to the forefront of the Christian tradition the importance of the divine feminine • The first complete English-language translation of the original Coptic Gospel of Mary, with line-by-line commentary • Reveals the eminence of the divine feminine in Christian thought • Offers a new perspective on the life of one of the most controversial figures in the Western spiritual tradition Perhaps no figure in biblical scholarship has been the subject of more controversy and debate than Mary Magdalene. Also known as Miriam of Magdala, Mary Magdalene was considered by the apostle John to be the founder of Christianity because she was the first witness to the Resurrection. In most theological studies she has been depicted as a reformed prostitute, the redeemed sinner who exemplifies Christ's mercy. Today's reader can ponder her role in the gospels of Philip, Thomas, Peter, and Bartholomew--the collection of what have come to be known as the Gnostic gospels rejected by the early Christian church. Mary's own gospel is among these, but until now it has remained unknown to the public at large. Orthodox theologian Jean-Yves Leloup's translation of the Gospel of Mary from the Coptic and his thorough and profound commentary on this text are presented here for the first time in English. The gospel text and the spiritual exegesis of Leloup together reveal unique teachings that emphasize the eminence of the divine feminine and an abiding love of nature over the dualistic and ascetic interpretations of Christianity presented elsewhere. What emerges from this important source text and commentary is a renewal of the sacred feminine in the Western spiritual tradition and a new vision for Christian thought and faith throughout the world.

Jesus Approaches

Jesus Approaches PDF Author: Elizabeth M. Kelly
Publisher: Loyola Press
ISBN: 0829444734
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 200

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Book Description
2019 Best Book Awards, Winner in Religion: Christianity 2018 Catholic Press Association, 3rd Place in Scripture: Popular Studies 2018 Independent Press Award, Distinguished Favorite: Religion Non-Fiction In Jesus Approaches, Elizabeth Kelly shares vivid stories of New Testament women whose encounters with Jesus freed them to flourish in life. The stories are supplemented with moving accounts from her own life, and from the lives of women like you, to demonstrate that sometimes the best way to find healing, strength, and wholeness in Christ is, ironically, to lead with vulnerability and openness. Ultimately, Jesus Approaches teaches that finding the fullness of life for which you were created begins with bringing your brokenness to the Lord.

You Are a Goddess

You Are a Goddess PDF Author: Sophie Bashford
Publisher: Hay House, Inc
ISBN: 1788171772
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 289

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Book Description
Discover the inner Goddess energies that lie within you through nine Goddess archetypes—an empowering guide on finding healing, strength, and transformation, for readers of Warrior Goddess Training The Goddess is guiding your life . . . You know 'the Goddess' as a divine feminine figure of myth, art and faith—but are you aware that, in truth, the Goddess is a life force that lives in you? Did you know that your multi-faceted experiences of life as a woman are influenced by Goddess consciousness? Do you sense that you have a hidden feminine energy that longs to be seen, accepted, valued—and used for a healing purpose? In this highly engaging and stirring book, leading intuitive Sophie Bashford takes you on a journey to meet nine Goddess archetypes, which will help you to: • Understand the many ups and downs, emotions and cycles of your life through the ‘eyes of the Goddess’ • Discover how the Goddesses can ignite your spiritual growth and uncover your feminine healing gifts • Learn how to work with each Goddess for self-healing, positive inner change and empowerment • Get in touch with a divine feminine support and healing system comprising nine archetypes, including Kali, Mary Magdalene, Aphrodite and Isis Sharing intuitively channeled messages, beautiful guided meditations and moving personal experiences, Sophie leads you into safe territories where your darkest inner fears can be healed, your deepest dreams awakened and your entire life transformed.

Mary Magdalene Beckons

Mary Magdalene Beckons PDF Author: Mercedes Kirkel
Publisher: Mercedes Kirkel
ISBN: 0984002952
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 304

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Book Description
Experience Mary Magdalene as a rising teacher in today's spiritual arena. Through 25 insightful messages, Mary focuses on issues that often aren't addressed by spiritual leaders -- uniting the Feminine and Masculine, healing body shame, the sacredness of sexuality, and emotional mastery -- explaining how these are essential for living in the heart. Mary's universal teaching, paired with the author's clarifying commentary, makes this award-winning book a treasure-trove of Feminine guidance and spiritual truths. Mary describes her partnership with Yeshua (Jesus) as loving equals, including being co-teachers for their shared work. Mary's role was to bring the Feminine aspect of their teaching, which they knew the world wouldn't be ready to receive for 2000 years. In sharing her long-hidden teaching, Mary shows us what it is to be a powerful, spiritual woman in complete union with her beloved male partner (Yeshua) and the Divine Masculine. MARY MAGDALENE BECKONS was birthed over a one month period, when Mary Magdalene came daily to author Mercedes Kirkel with her extraordinary messages. Kirkel soon realized Mary was downloading a book, chapter by chapter, with Mary and Yeshua as the inspiring models. Whether you're new to Mary Magdalene's path or a longtime admirer of hers, MARY MAGDALENE BECKONS is a gift to your soul. WINNER: Spirituality Book of the Year, Books and Authors Award for Literary Excellence WINNER: New Age Book, New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards WINNER: Body Mind Spirit Book, Southwest Book Design Award HONORABLE MENTION, Religion/Philosophy Book, Readers Favorite Award Contest FINALIST, Spirituality Book, National Indie Excellence Awards "MARY MAGDALENE BECKONS offers helpful insights for creating balance and harmony between the Masculine and Feminine within all of us." --John Gray, author of "Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus" "One of the most profound books of our day." --Flo Aeveia Magdalena, author of "I Remember Union" "If you want to hear the real voice of Mary Magdalene, buy this book." --Stuart Wilson and Joanna Prentis, authors of "Power of the Magdalene" and "The Magdalene Version" "An uplifting guide to finding our hope and redemption throughout our lives, MARY MAGDALENE BECKONS has a strong and positive message, highly recommended." --Midwest Book Review "An incredible gift to help those who are going through difficult times. . . . A great deal of insight into spiritual beliefs." --Seattle Post-Intelligencer Book Review "An outstanding spiritual, self-help book. . . . Reading the book, ] I felt love and surrender, forgiveness, and an acceptance of myself such as I have never experienced. A must-read for everybody." --Readers' Favorite Book Review

Mary Magdalene

Mary Magdalene PDF Author: Bruce Chilton
Publisher: Image
ISBN: 0385516975
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 182

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Book Description
After 2,000 years of flawed history, here at last is a magnificent new biography of Mary Magdalene that draws her out of the shadows of history and restores her to her rightful place of importance in Christianity. Throughout history, Mary Magdalene has been both revered and reviled, a woman who has taken on many forms—witch, whore, the incarnation of the eternal feminine, the devoted companion (and perhaps even the wife) of Jesus. In this brilliant new biography, Bruce Chilton, a renowned biblical scholar, offers the first complete and authoritative portrait of this fascinating woman. Through groundbreaking interpretations of ancient texts, Chilton shows that Mary played a central role in Jesus’ ministry and was a seminal figure in the creation of Christianity. Chilton traces the evolving images of Mary Magdalene and the legends surrounding her. He explains why, despite her prominence, the Gospels actually say so little about her and why the Catholic Church for thousands of years has sought to marginalize her importance. In a probing look at the Church’s attitudes toward women, he investigates Christian misogyny in the ancient world, including the suppression of women priests who patterned their activities on Mary’s; explores the impact of Gnostic ambivalence toward women on its depictions of Mary; and shows that these traditions still influence modern portrayals of her. Chilton’s descriptions of who Mary Magdalene was and what she did challenge the male-dominated history of Christianity familiar to most readers. Placing Mary within the traditions of Jewish female savants, Chilton presents a visionary figure who was fully immersed in the mystical teachings that shaped Jesus’ own teachings and a woman who was a religious master in her own right.

The Way of Mary

The Way of Mary PDF Author: Camille Hamilton Adams Helminski
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780939660261
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 512

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Book Description


The Way of the Rose

The Way of the Rose PDF Author: Clark Strand
Publisher: Random House
ISBN: 0812988957
Category : Self-Help
Languages : en
Pages : 321

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Book Description
What happens when a former Zen Buddhist monk and his feminist wife experience an apparition of the Virgin Mary? “This book could not have come at a more auspicious time, and the message is mystical perfection, not to mention a courageous one. I adore this book.”—Caroline Myss, author of Anatomy of the Spirit Before a vision of a mysterious “Lady” invited Clark Strand and Perdita Finn to pray the rosary, they were not only uninterested in becoming Catholic but finished with institutional religion altogether. Their main spiritual concerns were the fate of the planet and the future of their children and grandchildren in an age of ecological collapse. But this Lady barely even referred to the Church and its proscriptions. Instead, she spoke of the miraculous power of the rosary to transform lives and heal the planet, and revealed the secrets she had hidden within the rosary’s prayers and mysteries—secrets of a past age when forests were the only cathedrals and people wove rose garlands for a Mother whose loving presence was as close as the ground beneath their feet. She told Strand and Finn: The rosary is My body, and My body is the body of the world. Your body is one with that body. What cause could there be for fear? Weaving together their own remarkable story of how they came to the rosary, their discoveries about the eco-feminist wisdom at the heart of this ancient devotion, and the life-changing revelations of the Lady herself, the authors reveal an ancestral path—available to everyone, religious or not—that returns us to the powerful healing rhythms of the natural world.