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A penetrating and wide-ranging study of mythological processes and their particular manifestation in Christian religion, Alan Watt's Myth and Ritual in Christianity is widely considered a classic. Using the lens of the "doctrine of mystical tradition", Watts explores the development of church doctrine in relation to the procession of seasons and finds, contrary to many contemporary critics, that Christianity cultivates virtue and promotes living in...

A ground breaking 6 part documentary series unlocks the codes of Christianity. It provides a compelling new insight into both the artistic and spiritual, decoding the signs, symbols, iconography, myths and miracles of Christianity. As the unfolding mysteries of each program are revealed, the viewer has a sense of being part of the quest for answers. Includes the great monuments of Christianity.

"The Leaning Tower of Pisa, located in Italy, is famous for its visible tilt. Engineering the Leaning Tower of Pisa introduces readers to the tower's history, examines why the tilt developed in the first place, and discusses the methods that have been used to stabilize the tower and keep it safe for visitors"--Publisher's web site.

Gothic art finds its roots in the powerful architecture of the cathedrals of northern France. It is a medieval art movement that evolved throughout Europe over more than 200 years. Leaving curved Roman forms behind, the architects started using flying buttresses and pointed arches to open up cathedrals to daylight. A period of great economic and social change, the Gothic era also saw the development of a new iconography celebrating the Holy Mary –...

A lively and magisterial popular history that refutes common misperceptions of the European Middle Ages, showing the beauty and communion that flourished alongside the dark brutality--a brilliant reflection of humanity itself. The word "medieval" conjures images of the "Dark Ages"--centuries of ignorance, superstition, stasis, savagery, and poor hygiene. But the myth of darkness obscures the truth; this was a remarkable period in human history. The...

This enthralling study of the church of St. Agnes Outside the Walls brings to vivid life the stories, rituals, and architectural meaning contained within this seventeen-hundred-year-old building In The Geometry of Love, acclaimed author Margaret Visser, the preeminent "anthropologist of everyday life," takes on the living history of the ancient church of St. Agnes. Examining every facet of the building, from windows to catacombs, Visser takes readers...

"By 1650, the spiritual and political power of the Catholic Church was shattered. Thanks to the twin blows of the Protestant Reformation and the Thirty Years War, Rome--celebrated both as the Eternal City and Caput Mundi (the head of the world)--had lost its preeminent place in Europe. Then a new Pope, Alexander VII, fired with religious zeal, political guile, and a mania for creating new architecture, determined to restore the prestige of his church...