In the earlier part of the 20th century, Jewish historian Gershom Scholem posited that Hekhalot and Merkavah mysticism - a mystical movement that arose in Rabbinic Judaism in the 2nd and 3rd centuries - was, in fact, a form of Jewish Gnosticism. Furthermore, Scholem proposed that this Jewish Gnosticism was also the mysticism that was practiced by the same orthodox rabbis that produced the Mishnah, Talmud, and Midrashim. Scholem's thesis has been debated ever since, and this is where Deutsch's book comes in to help clarify the relationship between Gnosticism and Hekhalot and Merkavah mysticism.

Despite some of the basic similarities (such as heavenly ascent) between Gnosticism and Hekhalot and Merkavah mysticism, there are also serious differences, such as the way that they understand the Hebrew Bible (Gnosticism denigrated it, while Hekhalot and Merkavah mystics held it in high regard). Deutsch points out that when Gnostic texts are analyzed and compared to Hekhalot and Merkavah texts, it is only a few of the Gnostic texts that really seem to have parallels to those in the Hekhalot and Merkavah corpus. And, those texts that do look related may be related because they were influenced by the Hekhalot and Merkavah texts, not the other way around.

How, then, are we to understand the relationship between Gnosticism and Hekhalot and Merkavah mysticism? Deutsch proposes that the best way to study these texts is to look at them from a comparative standpoint of how each group approached the sacred. It is only then that the similarities and differences will be revealed to a greater extent because, as Deutsch puts it, "only a framework can be constructed on the foundation of the available evidence." (p. 150)

Once someone reads a book like Joseph Dan's _The Ancient Jewish Mysticism_, I would recommend a book like this, which provides a detailed analysis of some of the debates within the field of Hekhalot and Merkavah mysticism. Deutsch pays attention to detail and argues his points persuasively. In the end, the evidence for Hekhalot and Merkavah mysticism being Jewish Gnosticism looks weak. But, although there was probably no unified Rabbinic Gnosticism, there probably were some Gnostic rabbis who helped to shape the movement that produced the Hekhalot and Merkavah mystical texts.

This book is a necessity for any serious religious scholar. It is the definitive text on the relationship between Merkabah Mysticism and Gnosticism. An important addition to religious knowledge

Publications about Freemasonry and its history tend to fall into two classes - the first written by and for Freemasons and of little interest to anyone else; the second sensational and denunciatory, portraying the Craft as a diabolic conspiracy against God and man. Academic historians have mostly paid little attention to Freemasonry, perhaps because it has seemed the province of dabblers and fanatics. Christopher McIntosh is neither, and has treated an interesting period in history during which offshoots of the Craft had significant social and political importance, in a sensible and factual way, and with impeccable scholarship.

Much has been made by conspiracy theorists of Adam Weishaupt's Illuminati, attributing to it all manner of sinister influence. Yet, as McIntosh shows, a system of hautes-grades Freemasonry called the Gold- und Rosenkreuz both had a longer life and achieved actual political influence the Illuminati never did. Two cabinet ministers of the Prussian King Frederick William II, Johann Christof Wöllner and Johann Rudolf von Bischoffswerder, were the chiefs of this order, and the king was a member. Under the ministry of Wöllner and Bischoffswerder, the Prussian government sought to enforce a rigorous Lutheran orthodoxy against the rising tide of "enlightened" scepticism and scientism. Wöllner and Bischoffswerder have been described as "the first self-consciously conservative politicians in German history." Throughout the Holy Roman Empire, Gold- und Rosenkreuz circles found themselves in rivalry with Illuminati groups, as McIntosh describes in his chapter on "The Polemical Stance of the Gold- und Rosenkreuz."

While this episode of Masonic history has understandably been neglected by the conspiracy theorists, because it does not fit their preconceptions, some German historians have represented the Gold- und Rosenkreuz as a completely reactionary, anti-Aufklärung force. McIntosh shows that this was really not true, and that the Gold- und Rosenkreuz represented a different size of the phenomenon we refer to as the Enlightenment. The philosophical ferment of the eighteenth century incorporated Adam Smith, Samuel Johnson, and Edmund Burke as well as Voltaire, Helvétius, LaMettrie and Rousseau. It is facile to equate the Enlightenment with the views of a few French philosophes.

While the political influence of the Gold- und Rosenkreuz petered out with the death of Frederick William II, its cultural influence lasted well into the nineteenth century and extended as far east as Russia, and as far west as Great Britain, where the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia was founded using the ritual and grade structure of the Gold- und Rosenkreuz. This, in turn, gave rise to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, which attracted a curious blend of literary and artistic figures, wealthy dilettantes, and a few charlatans like Mathers and Crowley.

What I wish McIntosh had pointed out more explicitly is that the importance of secret and semi-secret groups in politics is inversely proportional to the degree of freedom in the body politic. In Great Britain, the wellspring of speculative Freemasonry, the Craft never developed a political character, because the country was a constitutional monarchy. Representative government (if not complete democracy) and substantial latitude in public discourse (if not perfect freedom of speech) already existed there by the eighteenth century. Prussia, in contrast, was an absolute monarchy. Public dissent from the policies of government was suppressed as thoroughly as possible. In such a climate, masonic lodges became hospitable refuges for those having political aims, which were facilitated by members' pledges of secrecy and mutual assistance. Everywhere "political" freemasonry continues to exist in continental Europe and Latin America similarly had or has a comparable pattern of repressing open political dialogue.

Furthermore, as Eric Voegelin has pointed out in his "New Science of Politics," there is an affinity between gnosticism and totalitarianism. The latter has philosophical roots in the former. On the continent of Europe there are two streams of gnosticism that arguably have led to competing totalitarian systems. One, flowing from French philosophes like d'Alembert and Rousseau, through Weishaupt, to early nineteenth-century German rationalist philosophers, ultimately ends in the swamp of Marxism. The other, represented by the occultism of the Gold- und Rosenkreuz, flows through German romanticism, antiquarianism, and pseudo-scientific philology, among others to Nietzsche, Lanz "von Liebenfels," Glauer "von Sebottendorf," as well as through Blavatsky, Guénon, Evola, and empties into Fascism and Nazism. However different these systems may seem, both propose to build utopian societies in which men will be "as gods." It should be no surprise that they have come a-cropper even more disastrously than did the efforts of Wöllner and Bischoffswerder.

If you're here because you're looking for it--then you've found it. "The Rose Cross and the Age of Reason" provides a much needed re-evaluation of 18th century esoteric movements in Continential Europe, especially in Germany. The study is an evaluation of the structure, rituals, and doctrine of the Gold und Rosencreutz, an esoteric but politically powerful Rosicrucian order in Germany from about 1760 to the end of the 18th century. Many governent officials, as well as merchants and other professionals, were members of this order, which practiced an austere Christianity, but one powerfully symbolic as well. Alchemy and masonry also came to the fore in this study.

McIntosh's judgment is that the evaluate literature so far has painted occultism, especially German esotericism, as anti-Enlightenment in structure, doctrine, and function. This is commonly explained by the pietism of its members, who were resistant tor openly hostile to Cartesian science and metaphysics. The "G und R" also became involved in a conservative, perhaps even reactionary monarchy in Prussia (King Frederick William II). As this Rosicrucian movement gained power, it drew the ire of a number of Enlightnment critics, and a secret society, the Bavarian Illuminati, was formed in part to oppose it.

McIntosh demonstrates conclusively that simply judging the G und R as anti-Enlightenment is not the case, and he suggests a more nuanced view. To do this, McIntosh identifies three modalities of thought that were operative at the time in 18th century Germany, an Enlightenment mode, represented by Kant and others, the Orthodox churches (Catholic, Lutheran, and Reformed) and a variety of Hermetic Neoplatonism, informed by Kabbalistic (both Jewish and Christian) discourse and alchemy, both theorectical and practical. Between the Orthodox religious views (the Counter-Enlightenment) and the Aufklarer, the Neoplatonic intellectual mode argued for a metaphysics illuminated by divine quintessance at every level. Drawing on classic Gnosticism and German Protestant Pietism, this Hermetic strain that gave birth to the G und R shared some characteristics with each of the other two movements. Like orthodox Christianity, the G und R held to a mostly world-negative cosmology and pessimistic epistemology, and taught that before all else men must fear and rever Jesus Christ. However, Pietism, Kabbalah and other influences gave it a strong emphasis on self-development towards the Kingdom of the Paraclete, and as such nationalistic development toward this idea as well. Reason and Science were encouraged so long as they took place within this religious telos, and many of the G und R and associated occultists found themselves on this list of prohibited books in Rome. Relations with the clergy were sometimes tense, and the G und R at times made moves to silence Counter-Enlightment clergy when they felt their interests threatened.

What this text adds to a dicussion of esotericism and intellectual culture is a better framework of understanding the relationship of these metaphysical and religious movements and their influence on culture. In much of the scholarly literature and popular imagination, such religious and magical movements represent a return to "irrationality" and as such can easily be dismissed by Enlightenment discourse as unworthy cultural productions. McIntosh's text recontextualizes occultism and shows that it can (and has) had a pervasive cultural impact at crucial times and places.

Reading Carl Jung would help in understanding this book, and of course a study of Guenther's previous work. Also, and more importantly, a serious meditation practice, and thorough grasp of buddhist philosophy and practice. That the information has been kept under wraps by tibetan authorities, including respected lamas, is intriquing to say the least. I believe it is because the approach cuts through sectarianism and its power structures (no enlightenement without initiation, etc.) completely, to the essence of spirituality.

Fulcanelli in his works; "The Dwellings of The Philosophers", etc. probably did more to revive alchemy than any other, and then there was jung. But Fulcanelli keels the symbolism overly towards mundane chemical work, whereas in the ancients works the symbolism conformed more to the dicta of the emerald tablet. Here in this pwerful work we see the emergence of the the vein of alchemy that migrated from egypt when christianity became dominant and the sages moved to Persia. Then we have padmasambhava entering tibet from Urgyan with these remarkeable teachings. What is amazing is the extent that familiar alchemical symbols are here unreconstructed, but the great power of this work is the extent to which alchemy is shown to be the Theory Of Everything. Yes science seeks the TOE right now, but an alchemist will understand how the modern TOE is a dead TOE. This is the living one. These teachings have always been surpressed by the tibetans, We can thank Guenther for digging them out of obscurity.

There is no doubt: if the Jews had a Pople, Rabbi Angel Kreiman Brill would be their Holy Father. But as it stands now, Rabbi Kreiman has to cope with the modest title of Great Chief Rabbi of Chile. Known not only for his deep wisdom and charisma but also for his modesty, Rabbi Kreiman has put all of his intellect and energy into working for Judaism in Latin America - first in Buenos Aires where he was born, then in Santiago from the 1970s, and now in the southern Chilean city of Concepción. From these places at the very end of the world, Rabbi Kreiman has nevertheless managed to put together formidable achievements, locally and internationally. In this book (one of numerous books he published in Spanish), he puts together an invaluable amount of information, analysis and reflexions on the treasures of the Jewish tradition. A great read, for the expert and the beginner alike, is ensured by the author's fluid style, rich prose and fabulous charisma. A true must for anyone interested in the subject.

It is fantastic the way this book introduces de new comer to the jewish wolrd, doesn't matter whether is jew or not. It is written in sapnish, which is my mother tong and I don't know if there is some availabilty in other languages, last month I was invited to a Bar Mitzva, so I gave it as a present, and I had never seen this kid so happy. Enjoy, Gustavo Markel From Buenos Aires, Agrentina

In the first Women's Hockey gold medal game in Olympic History the United States beat Canada; four years later Canada won the rematch. So it is not surprising that "Winning Women in Ice Hockey" looks at a pair of star athletes from each of these two countries: U.S. team captain Cammi Granato, Canadian goalie Manon Rheaume, U.S. goalie Erin Whitten, and Canadaian forward Hayley Wickenheiser. However, this volume also serves as an introduction to the sport of ice hockey, covering its history, development, rules, and the role that women are now playing in this once "boys-only" sport. Marlene Targ Brill's book is clearly intended for young girls who have watched these women compete in the Olympics in Salt Lake City. If they have any interest in playing on the ice, then this book will surely heighten their interest. Trill not only covers the accomplishment of this quartet of players on the ice, but goes into the odds they had to overcome to achieve success on various stages from college to the Olympics. Of course, up here in the Northland we are celebrating a second consecutive NCAA Frozen Four championship for the Lady Bulldogs, so we know a bit about hockey as played by women. "Winning Women in Ice Hockey" takes both the sport and the women who play it seriously. For more about Cammi Granato I would recommend a superb sports biography by Thom Loverro, "Cammi Granato: Hockey Pioneer."

This was a great book with biographies of four great womens icehockey players and their road to success. It also gives a history ofthe game at the beggining of the book. My favorite part was the players advice at the end of their biography.

This book is so incredible. All Duke fans HAVE to have this one! The pictures are amazing and the game summaries help to keep that great Duke season fresh on the brain. With the 98-99 team soon to win their NCAA title, it makes this book all the more special!! If you don't buy it, you are a fool!

This is the first book of a magical, inspiring series. Yet the magic is less about the middle-ages universe that the characters are in as much as their personalities.

A peasant boy, Brill, is plucked from his home to be the personal companion to the irritating, obnoxious Prince Grossder. During his time in the sumptuous but dangerous palace, he meets strong-willed Segra and the reptilian dragator (aquatic dragon) Peachy. They both join a rebellion against the evil king...

It is a shame that this series is mostly out of print. It beats most of the pop fiction of the same reading level.

When it comes to the history of Washington, D.C. I know it was designed by a Frenchman, the English burned the White House (which was beige and known as the President's Mansion) during the War of 1812, and the Japanese gave a whole bunch of cherry trees at some point in history. Marlene Targ Brill's "Building the Capital City" provides considerably more detail about the creation and evolution of Washington, D.C. than you will ever find in an American History textbook. Young readers will find out what happened to the grandiose design of Pierre Charles L'Enfant and how the various pieces of the Capital City we know today fell into place. An aerial shot at the front of the book shows the Capitol, sitting atop Jenkins Hill, the highest spot in the district, with the White House at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue, with the Mall stretching down to the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial. Brill goes into detail on how and why this particular square parcel of land was selected by George Washington to be the site of the American capital. The various periods and projects of construction (and restoration) are covered. We even learn why the place is considered a "suitcase city." "Building the Capital City" is illustrated with contemporary and historic drawings and photographs, including William Thorton's winning design for the Capitol with a low dome atop the midsection. Of course the cover photograph shows the building of the Capitol dome during the Civil War. Brill provides an informative little book that will give teachers and students alike some interesting facts about one of the few cities on earth built expressly to serve as a seat of government. Related volumes in the Cornerstones of Freedom series look at the White House, the Capitol, and the Vietnam Veterans and Vietnam Women's Memorials.

This is the best book I've read in the CodeNotes series and a superb introduction to ASP.NET. The CodeNote authors have really mastered their craft by now and it shows with this book. All major aspects of ASP.NET are covered including security, caching, web forms, and session storage. What is most impressive about this book is how well written it is, which makes it easy to digest all the new technical topics. I wouldn't recommend this book as a reference, but as a starter guide I can't imagine a quicker way to ramp up on the technology.

This book was reccomended to me by my Senior colleagues and I felt very thankful to them when I started reading this book. It is really a good book if you want to start C#. Very good reading and the authour presents his ideas very straight forward.

I like the extra pointers that you can explore it in their website if you are interested more about some particular areas.

After a long time I really enjoyed reading this technical book. My thanks to the authour and the publisher in bringing out such a good book in a very low price.

Regards
Mani Subramanian