By Francis X. Rocca
Religion News Service
VATICAN CITY -- Violence committed in the name of God or religion is a "favorite instrument of the Antichrist," Pope Benedict XVI writes in a new book on the life and teachings of Jesus.
"Violence does not build up the kingdom of God, the kingdom of humanity," Benedict writes. "On the contrary, it is a favorite instrument of the Antichrist, however idealistic its religious motivation may be. It serves not humanity, but inhumanity."
The passage appears in Jesus of Nazareth -- Holy Week: From the Entrance into Jerusalem to the Resurrection, which was published in English and seven other languages on Thursday (March 10), with an initial printing of 1.2 million copies.
According to its American publisher, Ignatius Press, 90,000 copies of the English edition had been sold before publication.
The book is a sequel to the pope's 2007 bestseller, Jesus of Nazareth, which explored Jesus' public ministry from his baptism to the Transfiguration. In the trilogy that he began before his 2005 election as pope, Benedict studies the Gospels in light of the work of other scholars, including those who have sought to discover the "historical Jesus."
In pre-publication excerpts that were released March 2, Benedict wrote that the Jewish people were not responsible for Jesus' crucifixion, and their descendants have not inherited blame for his death.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
research suggests meditation may improve certain brain regions
Study: Mindful meditation may strengthen certain brain regions
Practice may improve memory, sense of self and ability to handle stress
Source: (AHN) Reporter: David Goodhue
Location: MA, United States Published: January 24, 2011 07:30 am EST
Topics: Health, Medical Research, Health, Physical Fitness, Health, Patient
New research suggests meditation may improve certain brain regions and help them with memory, sense of self, empathy and stress.
The Massachusetts General Hospital researchers said in a statement that changes in brain structure in people who practiced eight weeks of mindful meditation suggest the practice goes beyond simply making people feel better because they are spending time relaxing.
Meditation has long been recommended by practitioners as a way to achieve peacefulness, physical relaxation and cognitive and psychological benefits that persist throughout the day.
The researchers studied 16 participants two weeks before and after they took part in an eight-week mindfulness-based stress reduction program. In addition to questionnaires, the participants were also analyzed by MRI images to observe changes in certain regions of the brain.
Compared with a control group, images of the brains of participants who reported spending an average of 27 minutes each day meditating showed increased gray matter density in the hippocampus, known to be important for learning and memory, and in structures associated with self awareness, compassion and introspection.
The researchers said their findings show how malleable the brain is and that meditation can go a long way in improving personal well being.
A report on the study will be published in the Jan. 30 issue of Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging.
Read more: http://www.allheadlinenews.com/briefs/articles/90031922?Study%3A%20Mindful%20meditation%20may%20strengthen%20certain%20brain%20regions#ixzz1BzFwaqSF
Practice may improve memory, sense of self and ability to handle stress
Source: (AHN) Reporter: David Goodhue
Location: MA, United States Published: January 24, 2011 07:30 am EST
Topics: Health, Medical Research, Health, Physical Fitness, Health, Patient
New research suggests meditation may improve certain brain regions and help them with memory, sense of self, empathy and stress.
The Massachusetts General Hospital researchers said in a statement that changes in brain structure in people who practiced eight weeks of mindful meditation suggest the practice goes beyond simply making people feel better because they are spending time relaxing.
Meditation has long been recommended by practitioners as a way to achieve peacefulness, physical relaxation and cognitive and psychological benefits that persist throughout the day.
The researchers studied 16 participants two weeks before and after they took part in an eight-week mindfulness-based stress reduction program. In addition to questionnaires, the participants were also analyzed by MRI images to observe changes in certain regions of the brain.
Compared with a control group, images of the brains of participants who reported spending an average of 27 minutes each day meditating showed increased gray matter density in the hippocampus, known to be important for learning and memory, and in structures associated with self awareness, compassion and introspection.
The researchers said their findings show how malleable the brain is and that meditation can go a long way in improving personal well being.
A report on the study will be published in the Jan. 30 issue of Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging.
Read more: http://www.allheadlinenews.com/briefs/articles/90031922?Study%3A%20Mindful%20meditation%20may%20strengthen%20certain%20brain%20regions#ixzz1BzFwaqSF
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