Richard .H. Jones - Böcker

This monograph is written for students at the graduate level in biostatistics, statistics or other disciplines that collect longitudinal data. It concentrates on the state space approach that provides a convenient way to compute likelihoods using the Kalman filter.

This monograph is written for students at the graduate level in biostatistics, statistics or other disciplines that collect longitudinal data. It concentrates on the state space approach that provides a convenient way to compute likelihoods using the Kalman filter.

In Mysticism and Morality author Richard Jones explores an often neglected question of religious ethics: Is mysticism moral? Through a discussion of several religious traditions—including Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Tantrism, Daoism, and Christianity—Jones fills a major void in the scholarly literature by considering all relevant points pertaining to mysticism. Rather than looking at mysticism abstractly, the book focuses on such topics as ritual, practice, and the processes of mystical becoming. This work provides new perspectives for those interested in ethics and will prove essential to anyone interested in comparative philosophy and cross-cultural studies of religion.

Curing the Philosopher's Disease is a philosophical examination of the mysteries surrounding the foundations of science, philosophy, and religion. Much of Western philosophy and science is discussed in order to see our epistemological and metaphysical situation. The love/hate relation philosophers have with mystery is explored, as are the contributions of reductionists and antireductionists, postmodern relativists and critical realists, naturalists and the religious, and theologians and mystics. The thrust of the arguments affirms that there are limits to what philosophy, science, religion, and mystical experiences can tell us about reality. By acknowledging that some questions may be unanswerable and understanding the importance of that fact even as the answers remain ambiguous, our true situation in the world is revealed. Mystery should be reinstated as a basic feature when we reflect upon the nature of what we know and who we are. Mystery frames all of our claims to fundamental knowledge, and we must accept that it will remain a permanent fixture. Thus, the importance of mystery needs to be reaffirmed today, during an era when the fullness of reality is often ignored.

Numerous books have been written by philosophers and scientists about how creationism and intelligent design are not part of science, but scholars have largely ignored two of the main historical and philosophical issues underlying the attack on science.First, conservative Christian scholars commonly claim that Christian theological doctrines are the source of modern science. To them, modern science is the stepchild of medieval Christian theology or early Protestant doctrines. They believe that without those theological beliefs as presuppositions, modern science could never have arisen and that Christianity, or at least theism, is the only possible source of these beliefs. They argue that even today, all scientists, whether they realize it or not, must be committed to these theistic or specifically Christian ideas in order to practice science. This "dependency" thesis has now become widely accepted, even outside conservative circles. For example, renowned scientists such as Edward O. Wilson and Paul Davies accept the historical part of this thesis as a given. Second, some conservative Christians argue that theology has the epistemic right to control the content of all scientific theories and indeed the very nature of science. To them, science unfettered from theological control cannot reveal the true nature of the universe, and so theology must control the content and methods of all science. In the words of the philosopher Alvin Plantinga, "Scripture can correct science." In For the Glory of God, Jones challenges both the Dependency Thesis and Control Beliefs. He presents the historical and philosophical case against the Dependency Thesis and examines why modern science arose in the West and not in another culture. Jones also explores the negative effects of Control Beliefs on science. Throughout this work, Jones systematically studies how past and present religious conservatives have dealt with the complex nature of science.

For the Glory of God addresses key questions regarding the connection between religion and science. Richard H. Jones investigates whether ideas from the Bible and Christian theology have played a significant role in the development of modern scientific theories. If so, has the role always been positive or negative? In this regard, does religion have the epistemic right to control science or to offer an alternative “Christian” science to mainstream science? Is creationism or intelligent design a “science” on the same footing with neo-Darwinism? Is the integrity of science today in danger of religious control? In this volume, Jones provides an illuminating history of the role of Christian ideas in the physical and biological sciences from the Middle Ages to today. He reveals the failure of the popular “war” and “harmony” models for the relation of religion and science and shows that a “control” model does work to explain the complex history of religion and science.

A firestorm of controversy developed when Michael Newdow challenged the constitutionality of the phrase “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance. In order to understand the legal issues and the public reaction, One Nation Under God? explores the history of the government’s references to God in our national motto, on coins, and in other governmental announcements, along with a history of the Pledge of Allegiance. The book discusses the setting of American “civil religion” and other aspects of American culture and then delves into the background of the Constitution and the Supreme Court’s Establishment Clause rulings needed to understand the courts’ rulings on such governmental uses of “God.” State and federal cases on “In God We Trust” and “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance and other references to God are also explored. Finally, a new rationale for accepting these pronouncements as constitutional is presented.

Mysticism presents a challenge to anyone who is interested in fundamental questions about the nature of reality, knowledge, and how we should live. In this book the author examines questions posed by mysticism. He clarifies the nature of the claims advanced by Western and Asian mystics, and explores the beliefs and values of classical mystical ways of life for their interconnections and reasonableness. Jones discusses whether all mystical experiences and all mystical claims of knowledge are similar, and examines the relation of concepts and experiences in mystics' claims. Also presented are standards for evaluating competing mystical claims, and mystics' problems with language. Whether mystics' arguments are rational is investigated along with the relation of moral and non-moral values and the role of beliefs and values in enlightened mystics' ways of life. Mysticism's relation to the enterprises of science, theology, psychology and ethics is also examined.

Mysticism presents a challenge to anyone who is interested in fundamental questions about the nature of reality, knowledge, and how we should live. In this book the author examines questions posed by mysticism. He clarifies the nature of the claims advanced by Western and Asian mystics, and explores the beliefs and values of classical mystical ways of life for their interconnections and reasonableness. Jones discusses whether all mystical experiences and all mystical claims of knowledge are similar, and examines the relation of concepts and experiences in mystics' claims. Also presented are standards for evaluating competing mystical claims, and mystics' problems with language. Whether mystics' arguments are rational is investigated along with the relation of moral and non-moral values and the role of beliefs and values in enlightened mystics' ways of life. Mysticism's relation to the enterprises of science, theology, psychology and ethics is also examined.

A comprehensive exploration of the philosophical issues raised by mysticism.This work is a comprehensive study of the philosophical issues raised by mysticism. Mystics claim to experience reality in a way not available in normal life, a claim which makes this phenomenon interesting from a philosophical perspective. Richard H. Jones's inquiry focuses on the skeleton of beliefs and values of mysticism: knowledge claims made about the nature of reality and of human beings; value claims about what is significant and what is ethical; and mystical goals and ways of life. Jones engages language, epistemology, metaphysics, science, and the philosophy of mind. Methodological issues in the study of mysticism are also addressed. Examples of mystical experience are drawn chiefly from Buddhism and Advaita Vedanta, but also from Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Daoism.

A comprehensive exploration of the philosophical issues raised by mysticism.This work is a comprehensive study of the philosophical issues raised by mysticism. Mystics claim to experience reality in a way not available in normal life, a claim which makes this phenomenon interesting from a philosophical perspective. Richard H. Jones's inquiry focuses on the skeleton of beliefs and values of mysticism: knowledge claims made about the nature of reality and of human beings; value claims about what is significant and what is ethical; and mystical goals and ways of life. Jones engages language, epistemology, metaphysics, science, and the philosophy of mind. Methodological issues in the study of mysticism are also addressed. Examples of mystical experience are drawn chiefly from Buddhism and Advaita Vedanta, but also from Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Daoism.

Delineates the knowable from the unknowable in philosophy, science, and theology.Offering readers much to ponder, Richard H. Jones approaches the "big questions" of philosophy such as the nature of reality, consciousness, free will, the existence of God, and the meaning of life not by weighing the merits of leading arguments in these debates, but instead by questioning the extent to which we are even in a position to answer such questions in the first place. Regardless of continuous technical and even groundbreaking advances in knowledge, there will always be gaps in what we can fully understand. Distinguishing true mysteries from problems yet to be solved but within the scope of our intellectual grasp, Jones provides a penetrating and high-level overview of the scope and limits of scientific and philosophical inquiry.

Delineates the knowable from the unknowable in philosophy, science, and theology.Offering readers much to ponder, Richard H. Jones approaches the "big questions" of philosophy such as the nature of reality, consciousness, free will, the existence of God, and the meaning of life not by weighing the merits of leading arguments in these debates, but instead by questioning the extent to which we are even in a position to answer such questions in the first place. Regardless of continuous technical and even groundbreaking advances in knowledge, there will always be gaps in what we can fully understand. Distinguishing true mysteries from problems yet to be solved but within the scope of our intellectual grasp, Jones provides a penetrating and high-level overview of the scope and limits of scientific and philosophical inquiry.

A comprehensive, concise, and easy-to-read introduction intended for undergraduates and general readers interested in the study of mysticism.2022 CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title The purpose of this book is to fill a gap in contemporary mystical studies: an overview of the basic ways to approach mystical experiences and mysticism. It discusses the problem of definitions of "mystical experiences" and "mysticism" and advances characterizations of "mystical experiences" in terms of certain altered states of consciousness and "mysticism" in terms of encompassing ways of life centered on such experiences and states. Types of mystical experiences, enlightened states, paths, and doctrines are discussed, as is the relation of mystical experiences and mysticism to religions and cultures. The approaches of constructivism, contextualism, essentialism, and perennialism are presented. Themes in the history of the world's major mystical traditions are set forth. Approaches to mystical phenomena in sociology, psychology, gender studies, and neuroscience are introduced. Basic philosophical issues related to whether mystical experiences are veridical and mystical claims valid, mystics' problems of language, art, and morality are laid out. Older and newer comparative approaches in religious studies and in Christian theology are discussed, along with postmodernist objections. The intended audience is undergraduates and the general public interested in the general issues related to mysticism.

A comprehensive, concise, and easy-to-read introduction intended for undergraduates and general readers interested in the study of mysticism.2022 CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title The purpose of this book is to fill a gap in contemporary mystical studies: an overview of the basic ways to approach mystical experiences and mysticism. It discusses the problem of definitions of "mystical experiences" and "mysticism" and advances characterizations of "mystical experiences" in terms of certain altered states of consciousness and "mysticism" in terms of encompassing ways of life centered on such experiences and states. Types of mystical experiences, enlightened states, paths, and doctrines are discussed, as is the relation of mystical experiences and mysticism to religions and cultures. The approaches of constructivism, contextualism, essentialism, and perennialism are presented. Themes in the history of the world's major mystical traditions are set forth. Approaches to mystical phenomena in sociology, psychology, gender studies, and neuroscience are introduced. Basic philosophical issues related to whether mystical experiences are veridical and mystical claims valid, mystics' problems of language, art, and morality are laid out. Older and newer comparative approaches in religious studies and in Christian theology are discussed, along with postmodernist objections. The intended audience is undergraduates and the general public interested in the general issues related to mysticism.

A history of the world's mystical traditions.This book offers a historical overview of mysticism in the world's major religious traditions. Beginning with a chapter on the nature of mystical experiences, A History of Mysticism then turns to a discussion of mysticism's prehistory in shamanism and the early use of psychedelics. The possible role of mystical experiences among early Greek philosophers (including Socrates and Plato) is subsequently addressed, followed by chapters on mysticism in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, and a variety of present-day iterations, including New Age mysticism, secular mysticism, and the scientific study of mystical experiences. An appendix covering popular misunderstandings of mystical experiences and mysticism is also included. Written in a clear, accessible style, this book is suitable for students of religion and philosophy as well as general readers interested in mysticism and the world's variety of mystical traditions.

A history of the world's mystical traditions.This book offers a historical overview of mysticism in the world's major religious traditions. Beginning with a chapter on the nature of mystical experiences, A History of Mysticism then turns to a discussion of mysticism's prehistory in shamanism and the early use of psychedelics. The possible role of mystical experiences among early Greek philosophers (including Socrates and Plato) is subsequently addressed, followed by chapters on mysticism in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, and a variety of present-day iterations, including New Age mysticism, secular mysticism, and the scientific study of mystical experiences. An appendix covering popular misunderstandings of mystical experiences and mysticism is also included. Written in a clear, accessible style, this book is suitable for students of religion and philosophy as well as general readers interested in mysticism and the world's variety of mystical traditions.

Examines how mystical practices and experiences are being applied in secular contexts today.Today is an exciting time for mysticism. Interest in mysticism today often involves what Aldous Huxley called "applied mysticism"-that is, taking mystical practices and experiences out of their traditional contexts, where the focus was on the total transformation of the individual, and applying them (often within a secular framework) to help other people with more limited this-worldly problems, such as a person's well-being in society or general social change. Neuroscientists are taking mystical experiences seriously, studying meditators and psychedelic subjects to gain knowledge of how the brain works. Cognitive scientists are exploring mystical altered states of consciousness to expand the spectrum of consciousness states-in particular, whether there is a state of "pure" consciousness. Buddhist meditation is being taken out of its religious contexts and adapted by psychotherapists to help with problems such as depression or addiction. The use of psychedelics in psychotherapy is also gaining traction while New Age thinkers are extolling the alleged merger of post-Newtonian science with mysticism. Mystical ideas are being adapted to problems on the social level-for example, in "socially-engaged" Buddhism. This is the first book to explore all these varieties of applied mysticism together and to examine the current state of the field (with a focus on philosophical issues) in a readily accessible manner.