Kabbalah is a mystical and esoteric system of Jewish thought and spirituality, which dates back to ancient times and has continued to evolve throughout history. It involves the interpretation of the Hebrew Bible and the quest for understanding the hidden meanings and secrets of the universe.In "The Cabala," Bernhard Pick explores the origins, history, and development of Kabbalah within Judaism. He also examines how Kabbalistic ideas and concepts have influenced Christian mysticism and esot...

The Hebrew word Cabala (from Kibbel) properly denotes “reception,” then “a doctrine received by oral tradition.” The term is thus in itself nearly equivalent to “transmission, like the Latin traditio, in Hebrew masorah, for which last, indeed, the Talmud makes it interchangeable in the statement given in Pirke Abot I, 1: “Moses received (kibbel) the Law on Mount Sinai, and transmitted (umsarah) it to Joshua.” The difference, however, between the word “Cabala” and the cognate term masorah i...

By Cabala we understand that system of religious philosophy, or more properly, of Jewish theosophy, which played so important a part in the theological and exegetical literature of both Jews and Christians ever since the Middle Ages.The Hebrew word Cabala (from Kibbel) properly denotes "reception," then "a doctrine received by oral tradition." The term is thus in itself nearly equivalent to "transmission, like the Latin traditio, in Hebrew masorah, for which last, indeed, the Talmu...

This is a short monograph on the Kabbalah, written from a purely academic and somewhat critical point of view. Pick traces the origins and background of the Kabbalah to Jewish scholars of mediaeval Spain. He does not attribute any deeper roots to it historically, nor does he examine the roots of Jewish mysticism except for a brief mention of the Merkabah. If you are looking for an introduction to the subject written by an advocate of the Kabbalah, it might be better to start with some othe...

This is a short monograph on the Kabbalah, written from a purely academic and somewhat critical point of view. Pick traces the origins and background of the Kabbalah to Jewish scholars of mediaeval Spain. He does not attribute any deeper roots to it historically, nor does he examine the roots of Jewish mysticism except for a brief mention of the Merkabah. If you are looking for an introduction to the subject written by an advocate of the Kabbalah, it might be better to start with some othe...

The Cabalaby Bernhard PickA short critical introduction to the Kabbalah.Although the Cabala belongs to the past, it demands our attention on account of the interest taken in it by such men as Raymond Lully, John Reuchlin and others. Contents: Name and origin of the Cabala; development of the Cabala in the pre-Zohar period; Book of Zohar or splendor; the Cabala in the post-Zohar period; most important doctrines of the Cabala; Cabala in relation to J...

"The Apocryphal Acts of Paul, Peter, John, Andrew, and Thomas" is a collection of early Christian texts that did not make it into the canonical New Testament. These apocryphal acts provide additional stories and legends about the apostles and their missionary activities. The publication of the apocryphal Acts in Greek and Latin by Lipsius and Bonnet as well as Schmidt have opened a large, but very little cultivated field of ancient Christian literature. The oldest of these Acts are those w...

In "The Symbolism of Freemasonry," Albert Gallatin Mackey intricately explores the profound significance of Masonic symbols and their philosophical implications. Employing a meticulous blend of historical analysis and esoteric interpretation, Mackey delves into the rich tapestry of Masonic tradition, highlighting the interplay between its rituals, moral lessons, and the broader metaphysical concepts that underpin Freemasonry. Through his careful examination of symbols such as the square an...

The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius come to life in this book by Louis Puhl. This smoothly and faithfully translated text of The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius has been a favorite of Jesuits, spiritual directors, retreatants, and general readers for decades.

Drawing on the cutting edge of modern scholarship, this astonishing book completely undermines the traditional history of Christianity that has been perpetuated for centuries by the Church and presents overwhelming evidence that the Jesus of the New Testament is a mythical figure.“Whether you conclude that this book is the most alarming heresy of the millennium or the mother of all revelations, The Jesus Mysteries deserves to be read.”

"The reader who has never met Augus-tine before ought to go first of all to the Confessions," reflected the Trappist monk and scholar Thomas Merton. "Augustine lived the theology that he wrote. . . . He experienced the reality of Christ living in his own soul."Saint Augustine, the celebrated theologian who served as Bishop of Hippo from a.d. 396 until his death in a.d. 430, is widely regarded as one of the most influential thinkers in the Western world. Written in the form of a long...

Seven years have passed since this essay was written, and the pages have been lent to many friends and students of mystic lore and occult meanings. It is only at the earnest request of these kindly critics that I have consented to publish this volume. The contents are necessarily of a fragmentary character, and have been collected from an immense number of sources; the original matter has been intentionally reduced to the least possible quantity, so as to obtain space for the inclusion of ...