Understanding Differing Religions Reveals Common Thread of Similar Ethical Teachings
Golden, CO (ContentDesk) May 16, 2006 -- Today we have people of diverse backgrounds and faiths living among us and affecting policies at neighborhood, state and national levels. It is crucial that we understand each other, and that includes understanding each other's religious beliefs.
By studying the major religions of the world, we raise the possibility that no one has the absolute answer, that we can learn from each other, and that we can respect and tolerate those who have different ideas.
The Path: A Spiritual Journey (ISBN 0976285800), recently authored by Heather and Verne Thomas, teaches us that many religions have similar ethical teachings.
This is a difficult concept for people who believe their religion has the one and only truth, explains Heather.
Believing that your version of religion is the only true version leads you onto dangerous ground.
It can take you to a place where other people are condemned to hell for not believing as you do, or even to a place where you are justified in killing them because of what they believe. The story opens with Nathan as a devout, ten year old Jewish boy, living in Jerusalem at the time of Jesus.
His only living relative, his father, dies saving the life of a visiting Indian merchant, and in gratitude the merchant takes a reluctant Nathan on an adventurous journey on the old Silk Road back to India.
The merchant promises to provide for Nathan and give him a fine education, but Nathan vows to remember his Jewish identity and to return to Jerusalem one day.
On his travels he meets a Confucian cook, studies with a Hindu guru, enters a Buddhist monastery, works for a Taoist inn-keeper, and meets Zoroastrian magi.
As a young man, he struggles back to the land of Israel, finding refuge in the Essene monastery at Qumran. Finally, he meets John the Baptist and encounters Jesus of Nazareth.
Weve heard comments that the novel appeals to both high school age and adult readers, because it combines a compelling and fast moving story line with an introduction to the various religions, Verne adds. The book has been very popular with groups, too.
There are four church groups currently involved in studying world religions, in courses based on The Path .
And the book has been discussed by book clubs. The Thomass state We are great believers in the old saying that knowledge and understanding are antidotes to fear and hatred.
We hoped that if people read about these different religions, and understood them better, they would be less afraid of them and less likely to view them with hatred and suspicion. W. LaVerne (Verne) Thomas received his B.A. education at Nebraska Wesleyan University and earned his M.A. in Sociology at the University of Denver.
A high school teacher for twenty-six years, he taught comparative religion, sociology and history. He served for twelve years in the Methodist church as minister, associate minister and youth minister. He has written behavioral science materials for major publishers, including Sociology: The Study of Human Relationships. Heather Thomas received her Associate Degree in Social Work from the University of Sydney, Australia. She worked in a psychiatric clinic for children, a family counseling agency, and an information and volunteer program. Later she worked as the director of a community housing program for the mentally ill, as president of a statewide advocacy organization, and as co-owner of a womens magazine.Read more about The Path at www.thepathbook.com.
Individual copies can be ordered through www.Amazon.com.
The Thomas also offer a substantial discount to churches, reading groups and other organizations ordering multiple copies; reach them through their website for more information.
Readers are also encouraged to add comments to the Our Blog section of the website..
The Lowly Vinyl Banner is happy to take your abuse
In the hierarchy of advertising and promotional media, the lowly Vinyl Banner has to be one of the most under-rated of them all. Often viewed as a temporary substitute for a real sign, or a cheap backdrop when you can't afford something better, vinyl banners rarely gets their due.As with most things, changes in technology have had a big impact on the vinyl banner. Just four or five years ago if you wanted a durable and weather-resistant banner, the production guy had two choices. He could either print them one color at a time using a silk screen process, or he could generate self-adhesive letters and manually stick them down on the vinyl backing. The limitations of both these processes are pretty obvious.
They are both time-consuming, amateurish, and usually too expensive. Including company logos, photographs, or special typefaces could only be done with much work and considerable expense.Until recently graphic designers and advertising people ? the creative types who like pretty...
The Lowly Vinyl Banner is happy to take your abuse
Silk > The Lowly Vinyl Banner is happy to take your abuse
Where to Buy Discount Down Comforters
Many people love the look and feel of down comforters, but can't afford the high price tag. Luxury down comforters can cost in excess of $5000, more than some people's cars. Luckily, discount down comforters are available.
The Internet is an excellent resource in finding cheap down comforters. Overstock, for example, offers other store's leftover inventory at reduced prices. Though their product selection is ever changing, it is well worth it to visit the site periodically and search for down comforters.
When they do offer the comforters, it is at a deep discount. At the time of this writing, they were offering a Queen sized 600-thread count white goose down comforter for $129.
Outdoor Adventures offers goose down comforters at a discount over retail prices. Their products range from ultra-lightweight to heavyweight. At the time of this writing, their prices ranged from $139 for a King-sized, 525-fill power European down comforter, to $799 for a King-sized,...
Silk > Where to Buy Discount Down Comforters
Misamu -- Ireland’s First Online Fashion Boutique
Dublin, Ireland (ContentDesk) June 30, 2006 -- With top designer labels like Ya Ya, Twinkle, Grass jeans and Rachel Pally, and new styles added to the range each week,
Misamu.com is the place to go for high fashion clothing, easily available at your fingertips. 
Misamu.com is Irelands first online fashion boutique, offering a stunning selection of
directional and highly desirable designs.
This eclectic collection features easy to wear shapes, with simple styling and fluid lines that is guaranteed to make a
fashion statement every time We never tire of fashion and nor will you.
New styles are added to the collection every week, so that those dedicated fashionistas amongst you, can keep up with the latest looks.
New styles...
Silk > Misamu -- Ireland’s First Online Fashion Boutique
NEW SILK HOUSE IN TOWN - Featuring over 300 high-end silk fabrics, this entertainment industry source is now open to the public.
Ever wondered why we have so many fashion choices for our person, and so few for our home?
So has HYENA (www.hyenaproductions.com), a new fabric house in Hollywood, California.HYENA was founded on Thomas Huxley's philosophy that "the secret of genius is to carry the spirit of childhood into maturity."
As expected, they cater to the rock-n-roll jet set, or as they insist, "the rock star in us all."
Co-founder and Paramount Pictures alumni, Delight Underwood, insists we are in a rut.
"Our mission is to be the Vivienne Westwood of the home.
We have long settled for the ordinary without asking why."
Thus, their logo, Never Settle.
The HYENA collection includes over 300 high-end silk fabrics including silk dupioni, silk taffeta, silk velvet and custom silks.
While the collection includes plenty of solids, plaids, stripes and flowers, you'll also...
Silk > NEW SILK HOUSE IN TOWN - Featuring over 300 high-end silk fabrics, this entertainment industry source is now open to the public.
John Kropf's Unknown Sands: Journeys Around the World's Most Isolated Country
Houston, TX (ContentDesk) December 5, 2005 -- Dusty Spark Publishing is proud to announce that John Kropfs nonfiction book about Turkmenistan, Unknown Sands, is in pre-publication and scheduled to be released on February 20th, 2005.
John W. Kropf served at the American Embassy in Turkmenistan as the Country Director for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Because of his work with the Embassy, he was able to travel extensively through Turkmenistan.
His writing credits include creative nonfiction and humor articles that have appeared in The Washington Post, The Baltimore Sun, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Marco Polo Magazine, and Flak Magazine (online, humor).
He also contributed a story to Sports Car Illustrated (now defunct) that detailed his grandfather's 1919 cross-country trek in a FIAT roadster ("Tales of the Mudbound").
Professionally, Mr. Kropf has served as a lawyer for the U.S. Department of State specializing in international...
Silk > John Kropf's Unknown Sands: Journeys Around the World's Most Isolated Country