This book, the result of 30 years spent by the author in exhaustive research, attempts to present the basic teachings of religion in the light of modern knowledge and in a manner consistent with modern scientific method. After a thorough investigation of the subject, the writer has reached the conclusion that religious teachings are academically valid and as understandable and intellectually acceptable as any of the theories propounded by men of science

Islam is a religion of peace. Contemporary instances of Muslims resorting to violence in the name of their religion is, according to Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, in complete contrast to Islamic teachings. In the book Non-Violence and Peace-Building in Islam he presents the approach to conflict-prevention, conflict-resolution and peace-building outlined in the Quran and the life of the Prophet. A common thread running through these essays is the assertion that one should differentiate between Islam and Muslims: one should judge Muslims in the light of Islamic teachings and not vice versa. The book explains that whenever a difficult situation arises, the right course is not to take immediate action but to stop and reflect patiently on the possible consequences of one’s response. Those who choose to react by making an immediate emotional response can only cause an exacerbation of their difficulties. On the other hand, those who adopt a well-considered approach will certainly find ways and means of converting problems into opportunities for improving the situation that they are faced with. There is great wisdom in engaging in this sort of result-oriented planning. The author prays that God makes this book a means for bringing about the needed transformation in people’s minds and helps them understand the importance of peace.

Ritual is the oldest, and certainly the most enigmatic, thread in the history of human culture. And it presents a profound paradox: people ascribe the utmost importance to their rituals, but few can explain why they are so important. Apparently pointless ceremonies pervade every documented society, from handshakes to hexes, hazings to parades. Before we ever learned to farm, we were gathering in giant stone temples to perform elaborate rites and ceremonies. And yet, though rituals exist in every culture and can persist nearly unchanged for centuries, their logic has remained a mystery - until now. In Ritual, pioneering scientist Dimitris Xygalatas leads us on an enlightening tour through this shadowy realm of human behaviour. Armed with cutting-edge technology and drawing on discoveries from a huge range of disciplines, he presents a powerful new perspective on our place in the world. In coronations, in silent prayer, in fire-walks and terrifying rites of passage, in all the bewildering variety of human life, Ritual reveals the deep and subtle mechanisms that bind us together.

Tazkiyah literally means purification. In the extended sense it means growth. In this respect, tazkiyah means intellectual development. The mind is not something stagnant, it is ever-growing, like a tree. It is this process which is called ?adding faith to their faith? (48:4) in the Quran. Adding faith to faith means development in consciousness, which is another name for intellectual development. The real faith is one which does not stagnate, but grows continuously in its conviction about God.How does tazkiyah or intellectual development take place? The path to this is contemplation. Contemplation is in itself a continuous process ? contemplating the Quran and Hadith, the life of the Prophet, the lives of the Companions, the various human disciplines, the universe, the earth and the heavens. There is also the kind of contemplation which takes place during serious discussions. In this process of contemplation, new ideas emerge, deeper meanings come to light, new aspects hitherto unexplored of different events and realities are discovered, and every experience will bring him closer to God.

This book contains selected verses from the Quran followed by their explanation and short moral messages. The author Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, a prolific author of Islamic books has drawn from his rich experience and deep knowledge of Islamic theology and presented his message in a lucid, interesting, and thought-provoking manner. This is a book that would help a person to strengthen his belief in the Almighty and help him to lead a life in the moral path leading to his salvation. It is an ideal book for daily meditation

In The Secular Bible: Why Nonbelievers Must Take Religion Seriously, Jacques Berlinerblau explores the Hebrew Bible, or Old Testament, though an explicitly critical and secular perspective, reviewing how it has been interpreted from antiquity to today and how these interpretations impact our current political debates. In separate chapters, he looks at how the Bible continues to be invoked in disputes about Jewish identity, intermarriage, and about homosexuality - offering secular readers background and ideas for joining conversations about scripture. Finally, he suggests ways in which secularists in all countries need to pose such questions about all sacred texts and religious phenomena. Cumulatively, the book is a first attempt to re-invigorate a once-estimable secular, intellectual tradition.

We have entered a new era. Never in history has the world been so connected, diverse, educated and aware. It is an era where, fuelled by curiosity, we find ourselves on a never-ending quest for answers and knowledge and one where confidence in reason prevails over the antiquated ways of superstition. The journey of civilization has brought us to an age where reason has become the strongest voice.