Most Popular Books by Thomas Taylor

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This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Orpheus occupied one of four great seats of learning in ancient Egypt. He brought the Indian Mysteries of Initiation to Greece, nine millennia before Homer and Hesiod. Pythagoras was initiated to the Orphic Mysteries and Plato received a perfect knowledge of them. H.P. Blavatsky explains: 1. How the Orphic Mysteries were disfigured by the exoteric rites of Bacchus. Dionysos is god Dis from Mount Nys in India. Bacchus, crowned with kissos or ivy, is Krishna. Orpheus is orphnos or a tawny-coloured Hindu. 2. And why Initiates were persecuted, tortured, exiled, executed, murdered. Orpheus-Enoch is the possessor of the phorminx, the 7-stringed lyre. He is one of seven Primordial Creators, a branch of the Tree of Salvation grown out of One Seed. He called Nature “resourceful Mother,” and taught the “god-given” doctrine of the seven “Star-Regents” of the Unknown to Grecian philosophers. He also taught how to affect a whole audience by means of a lodestone. He even imparted the art of oömancy.

Writings Against Christians is a compelling anthology that delves into the intellectual, cultural, and religious confrontations between early Pagan philosophy and the nascent Christian movement. This rigorously assembled collection offers a profound examination of the tensions that shaped ancient thought, presenting a spectrum of rhetorical and philosophical approaches. From critiques of Christian doctrine to discourses on morality and divinity, the anthology showcases a remarkable array of literary styles, each preserving its cultural significance while contributing to an overarching narrative of dissent. A notable piece ignites conversation about the societal complexities of the era, resonating with timeless inquiry. The anthology features works from a cadre of eminent thinkers such as Thomas Taylor, Flavius Josephus, Porphyry, and Tacitus, providing a rich tapestry of perspectives drawn from varied backgrounds. These contributors, some of whom were direct observers of the early Christian era, bring a wealth of historical and philosophical knowledge. The collection aligns with classical traditions and Greco-Roman thought, offering readers insight into how these critical voices influenced the discourse and intellectual resistance surrounding burgeoning Christian ideologies. Recommended to scholars and lay readers alike, this anthology serves as an essential resource for understanding the diversity of ancient perspectives on Christianity. Offering educational enrichment and a multifaceted exploration of classical counter-narratives, Writings Against Christians encourages a deeper engagement with the historical dialogue that shaped religious and philosophical identities. This volume is a treasure trove for those seeking to navigate the intricate interplay of faith and reason across history''s pages, revealing the enduring impact of these early debates on contemporary thought.

Against the Christians: Arguments of Celsus, Porphyry and the Emperor Julian is a masterful anthology that captures the intellectual vigor and poignant contestations of early Christian thought in antiquity. The collection is a testament to the profound critiques penned by some of the sharpest minds of the classical era against the nascent Christian faith. Spanning a diverse array of literary styles, from philosophical treatises to historical narratives, the anthology brings to light the multifaceted opposition that early Christians faced. Standout pieces within the collection challenge religious doctrines with rigorous argumentation, offering invaluable insights into the religious and philosophical dialogues of the time. The anthology is curated skilfully to reflect the rich backgrounds of its contributors, renowned figures such as Celsus, Porphyry, and Emperor Julian. These influential philosophers and scholars, alongside others like Thomas Taylor and Tacitus, provide a profound exploration of the intellectual milieu that engaged with and resisted the spread of Christianity. These authors, some linked to significant cultural and philosophical movements like Neoplatonism, offer diverse critiques that collectively enrich the discourse surrounding early Christian and pagan interactions, illustrating the complexity of this historical transition. This collection is indispensable for those seeking to comprehend the complexities of early Christian opposition. It presents an unparalleled opportunity to navigate through a multiplicity of perspectives, ranging from philosophical discourses to incisive historical commentary, making it both educational and insightful. Readers will find in these pages not just arguments against Christianity, but a rich tapestry of intellectual engagement that fosters dialogue across centuries. A compelling addition to any academic or personal library, this anthology invites deep reflection and understanding of an era that shaped much of Western thought today.

All of Charles Thomas Taylor''s previous writings have attempted to reveal the universal rational foundation that undergirds all of the various ethical, political, and economic systems that best nurture human existence. With a latent recognition that the presence of symbolism in other areas of human concern, such as in religion or the fine arts, essentially communicates ethical value, Taylor presents his new book to consider the current relevance or irrelevance of religion and art for the ethical life. An appreciation of beauty in nature and art is generally applauded, not as a substitute for that sense of sensual and emotional gratification that inevitably proceeds from successful rational endeavor toward the satisfaction of human needs, but as a supplemental source of pleasure and happiness. The outcome of Taylor''s evaluation of the experience of religion in human affairs does not fare quite as well, for reasons that he lays out in systematic detail. Although the book may be seen as offering some new and original ideas in either sphere of human concern, it is essentially a work of cultural anthropology that attempts to integrate, or not to integrate in some cases, the peripheral concerns of religion and aesthetics with a central ethical vision for the future of our species.

These observances once represented the spiritual life of Greece, and were considered for two thousand years and more the appointed means for regeneration through an interior union with the Divine Essence. However absurd, or even offensive they may seem to us, we should therefore hesitate long before we venture to lay desecrating hands on what others have esteemed holy. We can learn a valuable lesson in this regard from the Grecian and Roman writers, who had learned to treat the popular religious rites with mirth, but always considered the Eleusinian Mysteries with the deepest reverence. It is ignorance which leads to profanation. Men ridicule what they do not properly understand. Alcibiades was drunk when he ventured to touch what his countrymen deemed sacred. The undercurrent of this world is set toward one goal; and inside of human credulity—call it human weakness, if you please—is a power almost infinite, a holy faith capable of apprehending the supremest truths of all Existence. The veriest dreams of life, pertaining as they do to "the minor mystery of death," have in them more than external fact can reach or explain; and Myth, however much she is proved to be a child of Earth, is also received among men as the child of Heaven. The Cinder-Wench of the ashes will become the Cinderella of the Palace, and be wedded to the King''s Son.

The Orphic Hymns are a set of pre-classical poetic compositions, attributed to the culture hero Orpheus, himself the subject of a renowned myth. In reality, these poems were probably composed by several different poets. Reminiscent of the Rig-Veda, the Orphic Hymns contain a rich set of clues about prehistoric European mythology.This translation by Thomas Taylor, a British neo-Platonist classicist, is of additional interest for its introduction and extensive footnotes, which discuss in great detail Taylors'' philosophy. Taylor, who was considered a bit outside the pale by contemporary scholars, was an influence on successive generations of occultists such as the Theosophists and the Golden Dawn, and in the 20th Century such writers as Manly P. Hall.

Dobrodružný příběh z malého přímořského městečka. V městečku Zlomoří je možné cokoliv. Do ztrát a nálezů ve sklepení hotelu Grand Nautilus přijde dívka Violet. U pana Herberta Citróna hledá informace o rodičích, kteří právě z tohoto hotelu záhadně zmizeli. Dívka se také potřebuje ukrýt, protože je pronásledována mužem s hákem místo ruky. A jak je do toho všeho zapletena tajemná a hrůzostrašná příšera, malamander, napůl člověk, napůl ryba?