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The Future of the Ancient World

Essays on the History of Consciousness

Jeremy Naydler author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Inner Traditions Bear and Company

Published:24th Jul '09

Should be back in stock very soon

The Future of the Ancient World cover

The Future of the Ancient Worldsheds new light on the evolution of consciousness from antiquity to modern times. The twelve essays in this book examine developments in human consciousness over the past five thousand years that most history books do not touch. In ancient times, human beings were finely attuned to the invisible world of the gods, spirits, and ancestors. Today, by contrast, our modern scientific consciousness regards what is physically imperceptible as unreal. Our experience of the natural world has shifted from an awareness of the divine presence animating all things to the mere scientific analyses of physical attributes, a deadened mode of awareness that relies on our ability to believe only in what we can see. In these richly illustrated and wide-ranging essays that span the cultures of ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome, and the early Christian period, Jeremy Naydler shows how the consciousness that prevailed in ancient times may inspire us toward a future in which we once again reconnect with invisible realms. If the history of consciousness bears witness to the loss of visionary and participatory awareness, it also shows a new possibility--the possibility of developing a free and objective relationship to the spirit world. Naydler urges us not only to draw inspiration from the wisdom of the ancients but to carry this wisdom forward into the future in a renewed relationship to the spiritual that is based on human freedom and responsibility.

“Naydler makes the ancient texts and symbols come alive for us. Where other writers leave us confused, he brings clarity to difficult notions about the hidden side of existence.” * Georg Feuerstein, author of The Quest *
". . . full of rich insights into history and culture that enable us to understand our own story and decide which elements need to be carried forward into the future." * The Scientific and Medical Network, March 2010 *
"This collection of essays is packed full of gems and amazing insights, and it's certainly a book I will re-read and use for reference." * Lesley Crossingham, New Dawn Magazine, September 2010 *

ISBN: 9781594772924

Dimensions: 229mm x 152mm x 25mm

Weight: 397g

320 pages