Nardo, Don

"For well over two decades the issue of climate change has been in the forefront of the news, including sometimes dire warnings about possible disastrous effects for the planet and human civilization"--.

Strong female mystical beings from far and wide came to specialize in or stand for a wide range of major themes from nature and society. Among the more common were war, death, love, healing, wisdom, and marriage. In whichever manner the tales of supernatural females came about, one thing cannot be denied. Namely, these stories never fail to fascinate, and sometimes inspire, members of each new human generation.

"The Norse, also frequently called the Vikings, were the hardy, often warlike inhabitants of Scandinavia, Denmark, and some nearby European regions during the mid-to-late medieval era. The first of those two crucial aspects of Norse people's beliefs was the way they envisioned their world. On the one hand, it was thought that the events of people's lives were directed or influenced by either an invisible force-fate-or the will of various gods"--Provided by publisher.

"The Chinese people feel that the ethical qualities of their leading mythical characters mirror or echo the superior morality of their long-lived civilization overall. They believe that several of the heroes and deities in the myths were either real people or at least based on historical persons. In their eyes, therefore, their history is frequently highlighted by great individuals and deeds"--Provided by publisher.

In past human societies around the globe, major themes from nature and human society-such as love, death, wisdom, and war-became associated with specific gods. This is not surprising. Indeed, all human societies, no matter where and when they have existed, have recognized certain universal questions, experiences, concerns, and needs.

"Among the epic themes exploited in the myths from ancient India are universal ideas, concepts, and topics of the creation of the universe and humanity; love; religious devotion; good versus evil; the recurring horrors of war; and human destiny. The people of ancient India consistently developed these and other similar themes in highly colorful ways"--.

"Considering the prevalence of war throughout history, it is understandable that every ancient human society had at least one god who oversaw its workings. In spite of the numerous cultural differences among these peoples, their war-gods had certain traits in common. All were associated with fighting, weapons, victory, and courage in battle, which were and remain universal themes"--.

"The complexity and unity of nature told in the ancient tales of human cultures all around the globe typically portray a natural world filled with intricate and often little-known physical attributes that few, if any, humans can understand. In the stories of world mythology nature was indeed simultaneously all-encompassing, awe-inspiring, and potentially either beneficial or lethal"--.

The ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Chinese, Hindus, and numerous others all celebrated the beauty and purity of true love between spouses, parents and children, siblings, and friends alike. More often than not, such feelings were thought to be the gift of gods and goddesses who oversaw the process of love.

"All societies are fascinated by the phenomenon of death and its consequences for humans. In fact, most ancient societies, along with medieval and modern ones, have been captivated, at times morbidly, with death and the possible existence of an afterlife"--.