Bøker av Jim Willis

Thousands, perhaps millions, of people have had near-death experiences (NDEs). What are they—a simple trick of the mind and body or something more? What are we to make of them, and do they tell us anything about religion or science or the possibility of an afterlife?An illuminating and thought-provoking journey into the enigmatic territory where science, spirituality, and human consciousness converge, Near Death Experiences: Afterlife Journeys and Revelations presents a comprehensive journey through historical accounts, modern research, and personal testimonies as it seeks to bridge the gap between empirical evidence and metaphysical truths.The similarities in NDE stories—often including the surrounding details of the room or place where the person lay dying—are uncanny, but neurologists point to similarities between NDEs and epileptic seizures or ingesting hallucinogens or other possible scientific explanations. So, are NDEs real or imaginary? It also looks to the Bible, the Tibetan Book of the Dead, the Talmud, the Quran, and other faiths and stories of NDE-like experiences throughout antiquity. Acknowledging the disagreements between scientific methods and metaphysical evidence, this fascinating book challenges you to explore all possibilities.While faith-based interpretations might provide the answers, Near Death Experiences also addresses whether quantum physics might hold the key to unraveling the mysteries surrounding NDEs. It will have you reconsidering your understanding of life, death, and consciousness! With more than 100 photos and graphics, this tome is richly illustrated. Its helpful bibliography provides sources for further exploration, and an extensive index adds to its usefulness.

This compelling book describes how everyday people courageously survived under repressive Communist regimes until the voices and actions of rebellious individuals resulted in the fall of the Iron Curtain in Europe.Part of Greenwood's Daily Life through History series, Daily Life behind the Iron Curtain enables today's generations to understand what it was like for those living in Eastern Europe during the Cold War, particularly the period from 1961 to 1989, the era during which these people-East Germans in particular-lived in the imposing shadow of the Berlin Wall.An introductory chapter discusses the Russian Revolution, the end of World War II, and the establishment of the Socialist state, clarifying the reasons for the construction of the Berlin Wall. Many historical anecdotes bring these past experiences to life, covering all aspects of life behind the Iron Curtain, including separation of families and the effects on family life, diet, rationing, media, clothing and trends, strict travel restrictions, defection attempts, and the evolving political climate. The final chapter describes Eastern Europe after the fall of the Berlin wall and the slow assimilation of East into West, and examines Europe after Communism.

There is no doubt that America has changed and evolved considerably since the 1950s. The post-war years when the middle class found a haven in the manicured lawns of suburban homes quickly gave way to social unrest in the 1960s and '70s. This was followed by the "Decade of Greed" in the 1980s, disillusion at the turn of a century, and the sea change caused by the internet, social media, and threats (perceived or real) to the American way of life. Christian minister, musician, teacher, and spiritual explorer Jim Willis takes readers on his personal path of growth and reflection that in many ways parallels the journey of America. Join Willis as he grows from a shy boy in the Detroit suburbs to professional trombonist to minister and preacher to explorer of Buddhism and shamanism. You'll hunt game and fish with him in New York's woods, try dowsing in South Carolina, and seek the truth about life as Willis comments on everything in our society from Muppets to the drugs culture to the state of religion in America. Willis questions and reevaluates America's sense of values in this thought-provoking memoir by an adept and entertaining raconteur.

An era that changed America forever is analyzed through the words of those who led, participated in, and opposed the protest movements that made the 1960s a signature epoch in U.S. culture.There is no better way to understand the 1960s than to read key speeches and texts from the decade, experiencing firsthand writings that capture a signature sense of passion and conviction. That is exactly the approach taken by this book as it analyzes major protest movements of the era, including the Vietnam War protests, the Civil Rights Movement, Women's Lib, the hippie movement, and the nascent GLBQT movement. Organized by movement, the work presents speeches, testimonies, and other important documents side-by-side with accessibly written, expert commentary. The documents and the themes they represent are linked to each other and to events during the decade to put the passionate thinking of the time in context and demonstrate its importance and legacy. By allowing readers to explore the 1960s in this visceral way, the book will provide an engaging learning experience for secondary school and university students, who will also gain helpful insights on how to evaluate historical documents. For the same reason, the volume will be a welcome resource for the general reader interested in understanding-or recalling-why the 1960s produced so many lasting changes in the American psyche.

Films create both an impression of and - at times for younger audiences - a primary definition of events, people, and issues of an era. The 1960s on Film examines the 1960s as the decade was presented in ten films that focused on that decade. Discussion will focus on both what the films have to say about the era and how close they come to accurately depicting it.For example, films such as Mississippi Burning and Selma tell the story of racial conflict and hope for reconciliation in the 1960s. Other films such as The Right Stuff and Hidden Figures show the deep fascination America had at that time with the burgeoning space program and NASA, while Easy Rider analyzes the role of rock music and drugs among young people of the decade. The Deer Hunter studies the controversies surrounding the war in Vietnam. The Graduate, Mad Men, JFK, and Thirteen Days also receive significant treatment in this exciting volume.

Covering all doomsday prophecies whether by fire or ice, bang or whimper, asteroid or alien, act of God or human folly! Environmental disasters, ebola outbreaks, war in the Middle East, political riots and upheavals may all be signs that the end times are coming. The timeless notion that the end is near is once again exerting a powerful influence on politics, religion, and pop culture. Omens and prophecies, asteroid collisions and nuclear war, global warming and virus pandemics, alien intervention, act of God or human folly, doomsday prophecies abound within the pages of Armageddon Now: The End of the World A to Z as we speculate how we might soon greet the eve of destruction. From alpha to omega and predictions from Nostradamus to the ancient Mayans, this tome is packed with 200 entries, 100 illustrations, and an extensive index. Satan, saints, survivalists, and evangelical preachers known for their views on biblical prophecies receive their due. The End has never been so thoroughly covered as in Armageddon Now. It's the last word for the end user. So, don't be left behind. Save yourself by buying this book.

The Hero, Robin Hood, is a nature man who is at home in the wild forests of Sherwood. He defies the ego-centric, power-hungry sheriff of Nottingham, who remains ensconced in his fortified urban castle. In the end, the Hero teaches us to be victorious by defying Ego''s claims on personal freedom and individual choice. Robin Hood refuses walls and the loss of independence. His final victory is assured with the return of King Richard, and his marriage to Marian reunites nature and civilization into one spiritual landscape.    "Providing readers with a view of the story of Robin Hood through a mystical and mythical lens, Jim WIllis takes his readers on a journey that encourages them to see the inhabitants of Sherwood Forest in a unique and new way."-Paul J. Leslie, author of "The Year of Living Magically" "In a world oft-bereft of meaning, Willis nocks a sure arrow to stir the hero within."- Ken Goudsward, author of Magic In The Bible and UFOs In The Bible

Are Nirvana and Heaven the same? Who are the Raelians, and why are they cloning people? What's the difference between Christian Scientists and Jehovah's Witnesses? This book explains the similarities, differences, and original ideologies of believers and skeptics around the world. It also explores 300 key religious figures, prophets, and deities.

Willis examines the many orientations and perspectives of reporters that gather and present the news of the day.

The book stresses that the reporting process is more difficult than most critics and reporters realize, and points out that the best reporters are those who will take time to recognize challenges and work to overcome them.

Health and safety risk issues such as AIDS, hazardous waste disposal, airline disasters, and health care policy frequently dominate the news and require a new level of sensitivity and expertise on the part of journalists.

Where do we come from? What are the origins of modern civilization? Do the world's pyramids, the Nazca Lines, Easter Island statues, and other enigmatic structures, archaeological wonders, and geographic anomalies contain evidence of ancient gods?Sifting through the historical and archaeological evidence, Ancient Gods: Lost Histories, Hidden Truths, and the Conspiracy of Silence probes the myths, stories, history, and facts of ancient civilizations, lost technologies, past catastrophes, archetypal astronauts, and bygone religions to tease out the truth of our distant past and modern existence. It takes and in-depth look at the facts, fictions, and controversies of our ancestors, origins, who we are as a peopleand who might have come before us. It tackles more than 60 nagging stories of ancient gods, ancestors, alien visitors, theories and explanations, including: Why did our ancestors crawl deep underground and paint on cave walls? How did the megalithic temple site called Gbekli Tepe come to be built11,600 years before the agricultural revolution? How were massive stones, weighing tons, dragged miles to build Stonehenge? Whoand whywere pyramids built on the equatorial band circling the earth? What secrets does modern DNA analysis reveal mankind's heritage? Are we to believe the Ancient Alien Theory? And more!

Part of Greenwood's Daily Life through History series, Daily Life behind the Iron Curtain enables today's generations to understand what it was like for those living in Eastern Europe during the Cold War, particularly the period from 1961 to 1989, the era during which these people-East Germans in particular-lived in the imposing shadow of the Berlin Wall.An introductory chapter discusses the Russian Revolution, the end of World War II, and the establishment of the Socialist state, clarifying the reasons for the construction of the Berlin Wall. Many historical anecdotes bring these past experiences to life, covering all aspects of life behind the Iron Curtain, including separation of families and the effects on family life, diet, rationing, media, clothing and trends, strict travel restrictions, defection attempts, and the evolving political climate. The final chapter describes Eastern Europe after the fall of the Berlin wall and the slow assimilation of East into West, and examines Europe after Communism.

From the launching of America's first newspaper to YouTube's latest phone-videoed crime, the media has always been guilty of indulging America's obsession with controversy. This encyclopedia covers 100 events in world history from the 17th century to the present-moments that alone were major and minor, but ones that exploded in the public eye when the media stepped in. Topics covered include yellow journalism, the War of the Worlds radio broadcast, the Kennedy-Nixon debates, JFK's assassination, the Pentagon papers, and Hurricane Katrina. These are events that changed the way the media is used-not just as a tool for spreading knowledge, but as a way of shaping and influencing the opinions and reactions of America's citizens. Thanks to the media's representations of these events, history has been changed forever. From classified military plans that leaked out to the public to the first televised presidential debates to the current military tortures caught on tape, 100 Media Moments That Changed America will demonstrate not only an ever-evolving system of news reporting, but also the ways in which historical events have ignited the media to mold news in a way that resonates with America's public. This must-have reference work is ideal for journalism and history majors, as well as for interested general readers.Chapters are in chronological order, beginning with the 17th century. Each chapter starts with a brief introduction, followed by media event entries from that decade. Each entry explains the moment, and then delivers specific details regarding how the media covered the event, America's response to the coverage, and how the media changed history.

A first-hand exploration of how to consciously step out of your body and navigate the Quantum Akashic Field.

Now they were faced with a new country and a new set of images to deal with just as Germany exerts itself more powerfully than ever on the world economic scene. How much attention has this new Germany received in the American media, and how accurate are the new portrayals?

This text examines the startling and rapidly changing developments in media technology, especially as they affect journalism and the news media. We now stand at the threshold of a revolution in the news and entertainment media, and those media as we know them today may soon cease to exist.

A necessity for the professional journalist's library, Journalism: State of the Art will prove a valuable resource for the student journalist as well. He surveys nearly 150 news executives on media research and gives an insightful look at what factors cause readers or viewers to pay attention to the news media.

In a postmodern age where the media's depictions of reality serve as stand-ins for the real thing for so many Americans, how much government policy is being made on the basis of those mediated realities and on the public reaction to them?