Christianity Books
Oxford University Press John Calvin
Book SynopsisProfessor Bouwsma studies the theologian John Calvin as a way to bring into focus the cultural, psychological, and intellectual problems of the sixteenth century. He argues that Calvin represents an historical moment of transition from traditional modes of philosophical and religious thought to modern ones. Beginning with a description of the traditional culture of Calvin''s time, and of the moralism which exerted such a powerful hold over medieval thought, he goes on to identify the crucial issue in this transition as the ability of a culture to manage the anxiety of existence. Medieval society, by creating simplified polarities such as Good and Evil, he argues, was conspicuously successful in performing this task. Finally Bouwsma provides a critical analysis of this medieval philosophy, and explains the significance of Calvin''s concept of a New Order in providing an ethical system which no longer relied upon these established views of the world.Trade Review`There is a surprising and in many ways unexpected Calvin in the pages of this absorbing biography and intellectual study...fine study...Bousma's supremely readable work...brings to Calvin aprofound intellectual understanding and avital human sympathy ^social history society-autumn 1989`a fascinating book ... perceptive in the complex, and indeed risky, quest for the secrets of the heart of so controlled and guarded a person as Calvin. It is also fearlessly frank ... the man behind these institutions has been portrayed here with a pen both sharp and subtle.' Times Literary Supplement` A genuinely new insight into the man and into the sixteenth century as a whole.' John M. Todd, The New York Times Book Review`Bouwsma's portrait proves most valuable. Because, finally, it's the portrait of an intellectual sleepwalker of a man who thought he was doing one thing, like upholding authority, and ended up doing quite the opposite, like inspiring revolution.' San Francisco Chronicle Review'There is a surprising and in many ways unexpected Calvin in the pages of this absorbing biography and intellectual study ... Bouwsma's supremely readable work ... brings to Calvin a profound intellectual understanding and a vital human sympathy.' Michael Mullett, University of Lancaster, Social History Society'he draws attention to themes in Calvin easily overlooked' Paul Helm, The Banner of Truth'This book breaks new ground for students of Calvin and Calvinism ... this portrait of Calvin is not only enriching in itself but will encourage students of his teaching to a new care in its interpretation' Journal of Theological Studies'the clarity of its organization and the vigour of its style offer a welcome contrast to the labyrinthine prose of so many studies that take their philosophical pretensions too seriously ... Bouwsma has mastered the rhetoric he praises.' Kenneth J.E. Graham, University of California, Berkeley. Renaissance Studies'a formidably learned book ... a remarkable intellectual portrait ... By listening to Calvin's language and his patterns of argument across the broad range of his writings, he has constructed a beautifully organised, majestic and exciting study of the first rank in Calvin scholarship.' M. Greengrass, University of Sheffield, Journal of Ecclesiastical History`There is much here to interest and challenge. It is an exciting and novel exploration of a person who did not always say the same thing, who was eclectic in the influences he absorbed...Bouwsma provides the reader with a stimulating and refreshing study'. Francis M. Higman, English Historical Review, Oct 1991.'Bouwsma's experience of the period makes him an impressive guide ... there is much here to interest and challenge ... It is an exciting and novel exploration of a person who did not always say the same thing ... Bouwsma provides the reader with a stimulating and refreshing study.' Francis M. Higman, Institut d'Histoire de le Réformation, Geneva, EHR Oct. 91
£16.26
Oxford University Press, USA Religion Science and Magic In Concert and in Conflict
Book SynopsisEvery culture makes a distinction between what it perceives as `true religion' and `magic'. These essays explore the history of this tradition in Judaism and Christianity.Trade ReviewThis book is both interesting and a valuable contribution to the study of magic in its relationship to learning. * The Heythrop Journal *
£41.79
Oxford University Press, USA Ascent to Heaven in Jewish and Christian Apocalypses
Book SynopsisThis book is a study of the ancient Jewish and Christian apocalypses involving ascent into heaven, which have received little scholarly attention relative to apocalypses concerned primarily with the end of the world. Recent developments like the publication of the Aramaic Enoch fragments from Qumran and interest in questions of genre in the study of the apocalypses make this a particularly appropriate time to undertake this study. The book emphasizes the emergence of the understanding of heaven as temple in the Book of the Watchers, the earliest of these apocalypses, and the way in which this understanding affects the depiction of the culmination of ascent, the hero''s achievement of a place among the angels, in the ascent apocalypses generally. It also considers the place of secrets of nature and the story of creation in these works. Finally, it offers an interpretation of the pseudepigraphy of the apocalypses and their function. It places the apocalypses in relation to both their bibTrade ReviewThis monograph provides a welcome continuation of the trend away from a pre-occupation with eschatology when studying the apocalypses. Himmelfarb offers good evidence that priestly speculation played a role in the early apocalypses ... She makes a good case for regarding these apocalypses as scribal products. * Reviews in Religion and Theology *
£137.75
Oxford University Press The Word in the Desert
Book SynopsisThe growing scholarly attention in recent years to the religious world of late antiquity has focused new attention on the quest for holiness by the strange, compelling, often obscure early Christian monks known as the desert fathers. Yet until now, little attention has been given to one of the most vital dimensions of their spirituality: their astute, penetrating interpretation of Scripture. Rooted in solitude, cultivated in an atmosphere of silence, oriented toward the practical appropriation of the sacred texts, the desert fathers'' hermeneutic profoundly shaped every aspect of their lives and became a significant part of their legacy. This book explores the setting within which the early monastic movement emerged, the interpretive process at the centre of the desert fathers'' quest for holiness, and the intricate patterns of meaning woven into their words and their lives.Trade ReviewWith its extensive notes and bibliography it is a scholarly work which assumes a fairly intimate knowledge of the text on which it is commenting, written by someone in sympathy with the monastic desert tradition, but not of it. Hence it has a certain objectivity of regard, while providing a careful exegesis of the text which can enhance a reading of the Sayings...that it is an excellent contribution towards increasing our understanding of the desert tradition there is no doubt. * Fairacres Chronicle Vol 28 no 2 *The focus of this stimulating book is the growth of monasticism in fourth-century Egypt...The Word in the Desert competently survey s the raison d'etre of Egyptian monasticism and challenges the notion that it was an insignificant minority sect... Stimulating book ... This scholarly work will delight and stimulate all who desire a firmer understanding of ancient asceticism. * Theology *excellent...The final section considers the realistationof the desert fathers' encounter with the word of scripture in their lives. These are rich pages which will repay rereading...Perhaps the best thing about the book is the way in which it will facilitate reading of the Apophthegmata themselves, by providing a framework in which to understand them * Sobornost *The focus of this stimulating book is the growth of monasticism in fourth-century Egypt. The Word in the Desert competently surveys the raison d'être of Egyptian monasticism and challenges the notion that it was an insignificant minority sect. This book broadens our understanding in two important areas: it makes a significant contribution to our understanding of the history of biblical interpretation, and it also furnishes our general knowledge of early Egyptian monasticism with detailed insights. This scholarly work will delight and stimulate all who desire a firmer understanding of ancient asceticism. * Laurence Kirkpatrick, Theology, May '96 *
£52.25
Oxford University Press How to Read Karl Barth
Book SynopsisUsing a fresh reading of Barth's Church Dogmatics, Hunsinger advances a new interpretation of the Protestant theologian's work, and places it in relation to contemporary discussions of truth, justified belief, double agency, and religious pluralism.Trade ReviewBrings a thoroughness and carefulness to the daunting work of Barth interpretation ... He admirably and aptly accounts for the complexity and richness of Barth. * Journal of Religion *
£37.99
Oxford University Press Systematic Theology Volume 1 The Triune God
Book SynopsisThe full systematic theology which Jensen begins with The Triune God: Systematic Theology I promises to be the capstone of his long and distinguished career as a theologian. Jensen begins this first of two volumes with an extended discussion of the nature and norms of theology. He then devotes the bulk of the volume to the identity and being of the biblical God, including classic christological and soteriological questions most systems take up elsewhere.Trade ReviewRobert Jenson's two volume Systematic Theology is a highly creative and individual synthesis of a number of often divergent strands of contemporary theology ... This is a work that deserves and requires patient, diligent, attentive readers, to whom it will demonstrate that the sheer oddity of Christian faith is one of its chief glories and the clearest proof of its divine origin. * Francis Watson, University of Aberdeen, Scottish Journal of Theology *Without attempting to be as encyclopedic, say, as Pannenberg, or as imposing as someone like Barth, Jenson has opted instead to be judicious, an endeavour that succeeds admirably. At his fingertips he has an astonishing fund of citations and quotations from every period of theology's history and every ecumenical tradition ... Besides being theologically deft, the work is also culturally, scientifically and philosophically sophisticated. * George Hunsinger, Princeton Theological Seminary, Scottish Journal of Theology *Robert W. Jenson gives us the twentieth century's most accomplished systematic theology written in English. It has few peers in any language. It is concise without being trivial, learned but not inaccessible, ecumenical while still rooted in Lutheran confessions, and stunningly fresh and original in its approach to the major topics. No one at any level, whether advanced or neophyte, can fail to learn from this work or remain unchallenged by it. It is the consummate work of a lifetime. * George Hunsinger, Princeton Theological Seminary, Scottish Journal of Theology *A major event in English language academic theology ... It is every inch a theologian's work, dense and difficult at times, but wide-ranging, historically and ecumenically, and rooted in the life and liturgy of the Church. * Theology *
£88.35
Oxford University Press Inc Christianity in the TwentyFirst Century
Book SynopsisThis book aims to contribute to those reflections on religion that are cropping up at the end of the millennium by offering a sobering, realistic, and hopeful assessment of where the church is now, and where the church is heading.Trade ReviewIt should be essential reading both for sociologists and for those concerned about the present and the future of the Church * Andrew M. Greeley, University of Chicago *
£14.99
Oxford University Press Visions of Jesus
Book SynopsisVisions and apparitions of Jesus have been reported since the earliest days of Christianity, and it is widely known that such events are still being experienced. Surprisingly, however, this book is the first recent critical study of this fascinating phenomenon. Wiebe focuses on modern visions of Jesus, as described to him by thirty contemporary visionaries - most of them ordinary people without prior or subsequent experiences of this kind. He recounts each of the visions in vivid detail, reviews recent biblical scholarship on the subject, and examines current literature on the psychology and neurology of visual hallucinations. He ultimately concludes that contemporary visions of Jesus represent genuine religious experiences of a mystical character and he calls for further discussion of their philosophical and theological implications.Trade ReviewWiebe's book shows the importance of exploring contemporary religious experience. * Paul Badham, Church Times *
£26.59
Oxford University Press, USA War in the Hebrew Bible
Book SynopsisNidditch here deals with a wide spectrum of war ideologies in the Hebrew Bible, seeking to discover why and how these views might have made sense to biblical writers. She challenges the stereotype of the violent `Old'' Testament. She argues that to understand attitudes about war in the Hebrew Bible is to understand war in general, and how human beings attempt to justify killing and violence.Trade Review`a unique contribution ... I find Dr. Niditch's work thought-provoking and worthy of publication ... [it] provides new ways of thinking about biblical ideologies of war and should initiate useful debate on the issues.' Theodore Hiebert, Old Testament/Hebrew Bible Harvard Divinity School`both timely and instructive ... Susan Niditch argues her case well ...Susan Niditch has read very widely in the literature of war in general as well as within the Old Testament, and this increases the value of this study ... much to offer to all of our readers The Expository Times''Susan Niditch argues her case well ... Susan Niditch has read very widely in the literature of war in general as well as within the Old Testament, and this increases the value of this study.' The Expository Times, Volume 104, September 1993'intricately argued, scholarly and illuminating book' Lawrence Freedman, King's College, London, Manna, Spring 1994This is a short but dense book which creatively explores many of the differing traditions of war in te Bible...this is in my opinion probably the most sophisticated book on war in the Bible which I have had the pleasure of reading. It certainly should take its place alongside T.R. Hobbs's A Time for War: A Study of War in the Old Testament (Wilmington, Delaware, 1989) as one of the two indispensable books on the subject in biblical studies...Niditch has written amost interesting book, full of excellent insights into the text and containing much stimulating and provocative discussion of difficult texts. Journal of Theological Studies Vol 46 no 1
£57.00
Oxford University Press, USA Reclaiming Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Book SynopsisCharles Marsh offers a reappraisal of Bonhoeffer''s theology and attempts to reclaim his promise for contemporary theological inquiry. The hardcover edition of this book was the first serious scholarly treatment of Bonhoeffer in English in nearly twenty years. Marsh examines Bonhoeffer''s work in the context of the German philosophical tradition from Kant to Heidegger, as well as its relationship to Karl Barth.Trade ReviewThis is without doubt the most important book on Bonhoeffer's theology which has appeared for many years. Those of us who are engaged in Bonhoeffer studies will be grateful for the careful study by Charles Marsh of this particular context of Bonhoeffer's theology. * Edwin Robertson, Church of England Newspaper *Rediscovering Bonhoeffer will mean, for many, seeing Jesus in a more wonderful light. All power to Professor Charles Marsh. * Amos Cresswell, Methodist Recorder *a careful and detailed reading of everything Bonhoeffer wrote. His theological analysis of these writings, few published in his lifetime, is meticulous... The whole book is well documented throughout and the notes are full and helpful. * Edwin Robertson, Theology, March/April 1995 *excellent...It is a scholarly, although accessible work...the achievement of this book is impressive and amply delivers on its stated goal of `Reclaiming Dietrich Bonhoeffer'. I hope that it will renew interest in Bonhoeffer's theology and become a sure guide for those eager to make their way into the complexities of his thought. * Reviews in Religion and Theology *He does not allow the fascinating story of Bonhoeffer's life and his many involvements...to distract him from a careful and detailed reading of everything Bonhoeffer wrote. His theological analysis of these writings, few published in his lifetime, is meticulous...It is beautifully written. * theology, March/April 1995 *Marsh writes vigorously, relishing his words. His argument is lean, his theological reasoning never fleshed out with unnecessary prattle. Marsh is well versed in the philosophy and theology he builds into the structure of his argument, and like Bonhoeffer, Marsh is brilliant. This is a brilliant book. In the field of Bonhoeffer studies it is the most original sustained contribution by an individual in the last ten years. As such it is of great importance. * The Revd. Dr. Stephen Plant, Modern Believing *It has very considerable scholarship which does justice to Bonhoeffer's profundities not only in terms of his own time, but for our own very different times since. * ANVIL *Charles Marsh's study is the most technical discussion of Bonhoeffer's theological writings to have appeared for some time. The social nature of the human person, both in relation to God and to others, is explored and provides a helpful contrast to the distortions of Cartesian and Kantian treatments of the subject ... it is a fresh and rewarding appraisal of Bonhoeffer's theology. It reveals again the compelling force of a theological contribution set within a life of martyrdom. * David Fergusson, Journal of Theological Studies, Vol. 47, No. 1, Apr '96 *
£28.02
Oxford University Press The Book of the Rewards of Life
Book SynopsisThis book is a study of the human weaknesses that separate us from God and it is one of the most subtle and fascinating works ever written on the relationship of various sins to their corresponding virtues. This is the first complete translation of this important medieval visionary work.Trade Review"With care and graceful style, Bruce Hozeski has rendered this important but little-known work by one of medieval Europe's great women mystics. This is a valuable contribution to a growing inventory of resources in the history of spirituality."--Ralph Keen, University of Iowa "This volume...discusses the human weaknesses that separate us from god, and focuses on our moral flaws, which appear to be inherent in human consciousness, while revealing the importance of repentane and the virtues of rebuilding our union with God....If you're looking for a handbook of life, here it is."--Medium
£22.32
Oxford University Press, USA The Invisible God The Earliest Christians on Art
Book SynopsisIn this text, the author refutes the traditional assumption that early Christians were opposed in principle to visual images and thus produced no art. He asserts that once Christians acquired legal status and were able to own property and places of worship, they produced art to decorate them.Trade ReviewWell-documented scholarly monograph. * Religious Studies Review *a monograph which is scholarly to an extreme, not only mastering all the primary texts but also surveying with exemplary elegance the conclusions and discussions of more than a hundred years of scholarship in German, French, English and Italian. Indeed, Finney is at his best when unpicking the unwarranted assumptions made by the historiography of the field. * John Elsner, University of London, Ecclesiastical History, Volume 46, No. 4 - Oct 1995 *Some of the author's best discussions are those to be found within the general framework. He is an authority on early Christian lamps ... Likewise on the vexed question of the San Sebastiano site and its development there is a clear and helpful discussion. The learning displayed throughout is immense, and the organization of such a vast amount of material is achieved without sacrificing the clarity of structure which makes the book easy to read. It integrates the results of recent work in an impressive manner, mostly in the form of notes ... an interesting and informative book. * Mary Charles Murray, Journal of Theological Studies, Vol. 48, No. 1 Apr '97 *
£40.84
Oxford University Press, USA Human Freedom Christian Righteousness
Book SynopsisThis book argues that Philip Melanchthon, conventionally pictured as hopelessly caught in the middle between Erasmus and Luther, and more Erasmian than a Lutheran theologian should have been, was, at least theologically, not Erasmian at all, but in fact sharply anti-Erasmus. Wengert draws largely on Melanchthon''s Scholia on the Epistle of Paul to the Colossians as well as on a range of other contemporary sources to address a number of important questions, including the complicated and elusive relationship between humanism and the Reformation and the issues of proper biblical interpretation of free will, of divine and human righteousness, and of political order.Trade ReviewWengert's book clearly ranks with the very best studies of Melanchthon that we have in print. * The Journal of Religion *... this is not only an immensely stimulating book, but one that merits the highest rating and due recognition as a work of lasting value for a wide readership ... a work of major importance. * Journal of Theological Studies *... an erudite contribution to Reformation studies ... A book to be read on holiday or study leave. * The Expository Times *
£140.12
Oxford University Press Peshat and Derash
Book SynopsisIn this paperback reprint (which includes a new Afterword, responding to critics), noted Rabbinic scholar David Weiss Halivni offers a new explanation for the willingness of the early Sages to attribute to scripture meanings nowhere suggested in the text itself. He posits a sharp discontinuity between what the sages considered a valid meaning and our own modern understanding of textual meaning. He argues that the original meaning of the very work peshat was actually context rather than literal meaning, thus explaining the Rabbis'' expressions of respect for peshat in the face of their evident unconcern for literal meaning in the text.Trade ReviewReviews from the hardback: Weiss Halivni's latest volume is ... particularly timely ... Weiss Halivni has given us a valuable tool for the understanding of rabbinic hermeneutics, and one which will interest all students of legal texts, literary hermeneutics, and scriptural method. * SOAS Bulletin *
£79.80
Oxford University Press, USA The Book of Revelation
Book SynopsisAbout seventy years after the death of Jesus, John of Patmos sent visionary messages to Christians in seven cities of western Asia Minor. These messages would eventually become part of the New Testament canon, as The Book of Revelation. What was John''s message? What was its literary form? Did he write to a persecuted minority or to Christians enjoying the social and material benefits of the Roman Empire? In search of answers to these penetrating questions, Thompson critically examines the language, literature, history, and social setting of the Book of the Apocalypse. Following a discussion of the importance of the genre apocalypse, he closely analyses the form and structure of the Revelation, its narrative and metaphoric unity, the world created through John''s visions, and the social conditions of the empire in which John wrote. He offers an unprecedented interpretation of the role of boundaries in Revelation, a reassessment of the reign of the Emperor Domitian, and a view of tribulTrade Review"Rich and complex....A genuine contribution to social historical studies of apocalypticism."--Journal of Religion"While he writes for specialists, he does so clearly and engagingly, taking care to define his terms in order to bring non-specialists on board."--Anglican Theological Review"Contains much useful material and should be read by all persons making a serious study of the book of Revelation."--Seminary Studies"Ancient historians and other New Testament students will appreciate the scholarly solidity of this monograph and a wider readership may be excited by its fresh style and a stimulating tour of themes like the Roman Empire under Domitian, the Jews in Asia Minor, and the nature of religion in relation to society."--Theological Book Review"A groundbreaking monograph....If Thompson's thesis is accepted among scholars, it will revolutionize the academic study of apocalyptic literature....A major piece of scholarly work."--Choice
£37.52
Oxford University Press The Unaccommodated Calvin
Book SynopsisThis book attempts to understand Calvin in his sixteenth-century context, with attention to continuities and discontinuities between his thought and that of his predecessors, contemporaries, and successors. Richard Muller is particularly interested in the interplay between theological and philosophical themes common to Calvin and the medieval doctors, and developments in the rhetoric and argument associated with humanism.Trade Review... this is one of the most stimulating and important books on Calvin that I have read for some time ... Calvin scholars cannot afford to ignore this book. * The Journal of Theological Studies *No Calvin scholar - or theologian - should work with Calvin without reading this learned work. * Religious Studies Review *This detailed and perceptive work will be crucial for all interested in Calvin studies. * Religious Studies Review *It is safe to say that anyone attempting to do serious study of Calvin's theology in our day will have to read Muller's volume. It is a tour de force in historical theology and a needed corrective to much gibberish that has been penned about the Genevan Reformer, especially in the twentieth century. * The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology *An excellent book, one of the most important works on historical theology ... essential reading for anyone wishing to study Calvin's theology and exegesis, both as a model of critical historical methodology and for its illumination of Calvin's programme and the development of his thought. * Sixteenth Century Journal *Muller's scholarship is so strong and his arguments so convincing that future Calvin scholars will only be able to ignore this book at their peril. * Sixteenth Century Journal *Muller's astute analysis reveals the complex and evolving relationships among all the aspects of Calvin's ministry ... stimulating and impressive analysis. * American Historical Review *Richard A. Muller begins this extraordinary book by doing something modern scholars too seldom do: he puts John Calvin and his thought back into their sixteenth-century historical context. * American Historical Review *Ultimately Oxford University Press and the author are to be thanked for a work of such strength, originality, and importance. * Reviews in Religion and Theology *
£178.12
Oxford University Press Visions of Jesus
Book SynopsisPhillip H. Wiebe provides a critical study of contemporary visions of Jesus. Based on accounts by thirty people, Wiebe discusses each vision in vivid detail and discusses such issues as why these individuals believe their visions were of Jesus, what impact the experience has had on their lives, how the visions differ from dreams, and the possibility that the visions were actually hallucinations.Trade ReviewWiebe's book shows the importance of exploring contemporary religious experience. * Paul Badham, Church Times *
£14.99
Oxford University Press Mystics Messiahs
Book SynopsisAre religious fringe movements a recent phenomeon in American history? Are widespread fears of mass suicides, sexual abuse, and brainwashing in cults justified? Do marginalized religious groups play any positive role in American spiritual life? Do the panics over such groups follow any discernible pattern? Phillip Jenkins gives fascinating--and surprising--answers to these and many other questions in Mystics and Messiahs, the first full account of cults and anti-cult scares in American history. Jenkins shows that, contrary to popular belief, cults were by no means an invention of the 1960s. In fact, most of the frightening images and stereotypes surrounding fringe religious movements are traceable to the mid-nineteenth century when Mormons, Freemasons, and even Catholics were vehemently denounced for supposed ritualistic violence, fraud, and sexual depravity. As Charles Ferguson observed in 1928, America has always been the sanctuary of amazing cults. But America has also been the homeTrade ReviewWhere the multiplication of sects was characteristic of just one phase of English history, the mid seventeenth century, such multiplication has been a constant feature of American history. This book is an engaging examination of that divesity. * Ecclesiastical History, vol. 52/4 *Jenkins is to be commended for his thoroughness and his evenhandedness in describing and comparing heterodox religious movements. * Todd Breyfogle, Reviews in Religion and Theology, Vol 8, Issue 3, June 2001 *With unusual insight and religious sensitivity, Jenkins explores the origins, development, and lines of continuity over time to various non-mainstream religious beliefs and practices in America ... Jenkins' account is learned and engaging to read; a helpful index makes it easy to find a discussion of whatever sect or movement - however conventional or quirky - the reader happens to fancy. The scope of the narrative is remarkable ... He effortlessly weaves together comparable stories from America's checkered religious past. * Todd Breyfogle, Reviews in Religion and Theology, Vol 8, Issue 3, June 2001 *a book that is not only highly readable but also sheds important light on the development of alternative religions in the Western world. * Church of England Newspaper, 8th Sept, 2000. *Perhaps this book will do some good by encouraging us to be more selective and discriminating in our response to them [cults]. * Church of England Newspaper, 8th Sept. 2000. *Always stimulating * Patrick Allitt, TLS *
£30.87
Oxford University Press Warranted Christian Belief
Book SynopsisThis is the third volume in Alvin Plantinga''s trilogy on the notion of warrant, which he defines as that which distinguishes knowledge from true belief. In this volume, Plantinga examines warrant''s role in theistic belief, tackling the questions of whether it is rational, reasonable, justifiable, and warranted to accept Christian belief and whether there is something epistemically unacceptable in doing so. He contends that Christian beliefs are warranted to the extent that they are formed by properly functioning cognitive faculties, thus, insofar as they are warranted, Christian beliefs are knowledge if they are true.Trade ReviewWarranted Christian Belief is a tour de force ... it will be a welcome summary of an important movement, and for anyone interested in debates about the rationality of religious belief, a reference book for many years to come. * Books & Culture *Plantinga has an eminently winsome writing style - down-to-business but also witty and at times playfully sarcastic ... Plantinga is a contemporary analytical philosopher, but he bucks the trend, and theologians and historians of Christian thought will be impressed by the historical and theological acuity on display in this book. * Books & Culture *Warranted Christian Belief is the product of decades of effort, retraced steps, refined argumentation, prolonged meditation, and conversation with other philosophers and theologians. * Books & Culture *This is an impressive book ... Every philosopher interested in epistemology should read it and every philosopher should be interested in epistemology * Australasian Journal of Philosophy *This is an important book, the culmination of Plantinga's three part work in epistemology ... do not be offended by that word ('C*******n') in the title ... read this book even if you foolishly insist that Christianity is not a live option * Australasian Journal of Philosophy *Table of ContentsPreface Part I Is There a Question? 1 Kant 2 Kaufman and Hick Part II What Is the Question? 3 Justification and the Classical Picture 4 Rationality 5 Warrant and the Freud-and-Marx Complaint Part III Warranted Christian Belief 6 Warranted Belief in God 7 Sin and Its Cognitive Consequences 8 The Extended Aquinas/Calvin Model: Revealed to Our Minds 9 The Testimonial Model: Sealed Upon Our Hearts 10 Objections Part IV Defeaters? 11 Defeaters and Defeat 12 Two (Or More) Kinds of Scripture Scholarship 13 Postmodernism and Pluralism 14 Suffering and Evil Index
£103.24
Oxford University Press Warranted Christian Belief
Book SynopsisThis is the third volume in Alvin Plantinga''s trilogy on the notion of warrant, which he defines as that which distinguishes knowledge from true belief. In this volume, Plantinga examines warrant''s role in theistic belief, tackling the questions of whether it is rational, reasonable, justifiable, and warranted to accept Christian belief and whether there is something epistemically unacceptable in doing so. He contends that Christian beliefs are warranted to the extent that they are formed by properly functioning cognitive faculties, thus, insofar as they are warranted, Christian beliefs are knowledge if they are true.Trade ReviewWarranted Christian Belief is a tour de force ... it will be a welcome summary of an important movement, and for anyone interested in debates about the rationality of religious belief, a reference book for many years to come. * Books & Culture *Plantinga has an eminently winsome writing style - down-to-business but also witty and at times playfully sarcastic ... Plantinga is a contemporary analytical philosopher, but he bucks the trend, and theologians and historians of Christian thought will be impressed by the historical and theological acuity on display in this book. * Books & Culture *Warranted Christian Belief is the product of decades of effort, retraced steps, refined argumentation, prolonged meditation, and conversation with other philosophers and theologians. * Books & Culture *This is an impressive book ... Every philosopher interested in epistemology should read it and every philosopher should be interested in epistemology. * Australasian Journal of Philosophy *This is an important book, the culmination of Plantinga's three part work in epistemology ... do not be offended by that word ('C*******n') in the title ... read this book even if you foolishly insist that Christianity is not a live option. * Australasian Journal of Philosophy *The book is full of philosophical and theological interest and is an exciting book to read... Throughout the book the writing is clear and entertaining, parts of it written with a controlled passion and enthusiasm, and with hafts of sarcasm, self-deprecation and other assorted humour. Plantinga has command of a vast range of philosophical and theological material. * Mind *Table of ContentsPreface Part I Is There a Question? 1 Kant 2 Kaufman and Hick Part II What Is the Question? 3 Justification and the Classical Picture 4 Rationality 5 Warrant and the Freud-and-Marx Complaint Part III Warranted Christian Belief 6 Warranted Belief in God 7 Sin and Its Cognitive Consequences 8 The Extended Aquinas/Calvin Model: Revealed to Our Minds 9 The Testimonial Model: Sealed Upon Our Hearts 10 Objections Part IV Defeaters? 11 Defeaters and Defeat 12 Two (Or More) Kinds of Scripture Scholarship 13 Postmodernism and Pluralism 14 Suffering and Evil Index
£36.09
Oxford University Press, USA Holy Concord Within Sacred Walls Nuns and Music in Siena 15751700
Book Synopsis'Holy Chord Within Sacred Walls' examines musical culture both inside and outside 17th-century Sienese convents. The nuns produced motets, lamentations, theatrical plays and even an opera. As a result, the convent became an important cultural centre in Siena that enjoyed the support and encouragement of its clergy and lay community.Trade ReviewColleen Reardon's study of nuns and music in late sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Siena is a welcome addition to the burgeoning body of scholarship illuminating the lives of early modern religious women ... the book powerfully evokes convent life, rounding out its accounts of music-making together with occasionally surprising and piquant details of the daily matters that concerned female monastics. * Music & Letters *The book's structure allows Reardon to produce both engaging narrative and thick description, deftly combining archival reporting, musicological observation, and insightful interpretation with an energetic and good-humoured style. * Music & Letters *Holy Concord within Sacred Walls is an adept and fascinating account of many facets of early modern life, both within and without the cloister, refracted through the prism of musicology. * Music & Letters *The great strength of her book is its contextual richness, and its importance lies too in the way in which she reveals that convent music played an intrinsic part not only in monastic but also in secular existence, and how it came to be a prized expression of civic culture in early modern Siena. * Music & Letters *Reardon's robust, contextualized view of convent life subtly deconstructs ... simplistic views.... Historically acute. * Anthony Pryer, Times Literary Supplement *
£185.00
Oxford University Press The Origins of Biblical Monotheism
Book SynopsisAs the Bible tells us, ancient Israel''s neighbours worshipped a wide variety of Gods. It is now widely accepted that the Israelites'' God, Yahweh, must have originated as among these many, before assuming the role of the one true God of monotheism. Mark Smith here seeks to discover more precisely what was meant by ''divinity'' in the ancient near-East, and how these concepts apply to Yahweh. Part One of the book offers a detailed examination of the deities of ancient Ugarit, known to us from the large surviving group of relevant extra-biblical texts. In Part Two, Smith looks closely at four classic problems associated with four Ugaritic deities, and considers how they affect our understanding of Yahweh. At the end of the book he returns to the question of Israelite monotheism, seeking to discover what religious issues it addressed, and why it made sense at the time of its emergence. He argues that within the Bible, monotheism is not a separate ''stage'' of religion but rather represenTrade ReviewIt is...a valuable book...The substantial introduction alone is a notable achievement of reflection upon the questions of method which such a study raises. * Graham Davies, Journal of Theological Studies *
£102.12
Oxford University Press Cassian the Monk
Book SynopsisThis is a study of the life, monastic writings and spiritual theology of John Cassian (c.365-430). Cassian''s writings were the bridge between eastern monasticism and the developing Latin monasticism of Southern Gaul, and exerted a major influence on the Rule of Benedict and the theology of Gregory the Great.Trade ReviewThough eight years have elapsed since its publication, this remains an important book * Graham Gould, Theology *Table of ContentsPreface 1: Cassian the Monk 2: Cassian the Writer 3: Cassian the Theologian 4: Flesh and Spirit, Continence and Chastity 5: The Bible and Prayer 6: Unceasing Prayer 7: Experience of Prayer Appendix: Cassian on Monastic Egypt Notes Bibliography Index
£37.04
Oxford University Press, USA Good Taste Bad Taste and Christian Taste Aesthetics in Religious Life
Book SynopsisChristians frequently come into conflict with themselves and others over such matters as music, popular culture, and worship style. Yet they usually lack any theology of art or taste adequate to deal with aesthetic disputes. In this provocative book, Frank Burch Brown offers a constructive, ''ecumenical'' approach to artistic taste and aesthetic judgment--a non-elitist but discriminating theological aesthetics that has ''teeth but no fangs''.While grounded in history and theory, this book takes up such practical questions as: How can one religious community accommodate a variety of artistic tastes? What good or harm can be done by importing music that is worldly in origin into a house of worship? How can the exercise of taste in the making of art be a viable (and sometimes advanced) spiritual discipline? In exploring the complex relation between taste, religious imagination, and faith, Brown offers a new perspective on what it means to be spiritual, religious, and indeed Christian.Trade ReviewThis is a fascinating study: a book which gives the reader much to consider. Despite its teasing title, it is a serious examination of a serious subject * Journal of Theological Studies *The author is not only an erudite and distinguished scholar but a fair-minded man who does full justice to the opinions of those whose positions in theology and aesthetics are different from his own * Journal of Theological Studies *
£67.45
Oxford University Press, USA What did Jesus Mean Explaining the Sermon on the Mount and the Parables in Simple and Universal Human Concepts
Book SynopsisThis interdisciplinary work aims to cast light on the words of Jesus by taking the author's semantic theory of "universal human concepts" - concepts which are intuitively understandable and self-explanatory across languages - and bringing it to bear on Jesus' parables and the Sermon on the Mount.Trade ReviewThis is an unusual book. The author is an internationally renowned linguist and a committed Christian. * Theology *
£48.45
Oxford University Press Rescue for the Dead
Book SynopsisChristianity is a religion of salvation in which believers have always anticipated some type of post-mortem bliss. This belief in salvation for the faithful has usually meant non-salvation for others. The Christian imagination in the West has usually drawn a sharp boundary at death, on the principle that, if someone did not join up with the saved community during this life, joining it after death would be impossible. In this book, Jeffrey Trumbower examines how and why death came to be perceived as such a firm boundary of salvation. Analyzing exceptions to this principle from ancient Christianity, he finds that the principle itself was slow to develop and not universally accepted in the Christian movement''s first four hundred years. In fact, only in the West was this principle definitively articulated, due in large part to the work and influence of Augustine.Trade ReviewFascinating and thorough book. * Journal of Theological Studies *
£68.40
Oxford University Press Mystics and Messiahs
Book SynopsisAre religious fringe movements a recent phenomenon in American history? Are widespread fears of mass suicides, sexual abuse, and brainwashing in cults justified? Do marginalized religious groups play any positive role in American spiritual life? Do the panics over such groups follow any discernible pattern? Phillip Jenkins gives fascinating--and surprising--answers to these and many other questions in Mystics and Messiahs, the first full account of cults and anti-cult scares in American history. Jenkins shows that, contrary to popular belief, cults were by no means an invention of the 1960s. In fact, most of the frightening images and stereotypes surrounding fringe religious movements are traceable to the mid-nineteenth century when Mormons, Freemasons, and even Catholics were vehemently denounced for supposed ritualistic violence, fraud, and sexual depravity. As Charles Ferguson observed in 1928, America has always been the sanctuary of amazing cults. But America has also been the homTrade ReviewFor an understanding of cults in America, this is a vital guide ... Rich in anecdotes, this sober and instructive book succeeds in being entertaining as well. * Jeff Guinn, The Wall Street Journal *
£21.49
Oxford University Press The Early History of Heaven
Book SynopsisWhen we think of heaven, we generally conjure up positive, blissful images. Heaven is, after all, where God is and where good people go after death to receive their reward. But how and why did Western cultures come to imagine the heavenly realm in such terms? Why is heaven usually thought to be up there, far beyond the visible sky? And what is the source of the idea that the post mortem abode of the righteous is in this heavenly realm with God? Seeking to discover the roots of these familiar notions, this volume traces the backgrounds, origin, and development of early Jewish and Christian speculation about the heavenly realm -- where it is, what it looks like, and who its inhabitants are. Wright begins his study with an examination of the beliefs of ancient Israel''s neighbors Egypt and Mesopotamia, reconstructing the intellectual context in which the earliest biblical images of heaven arose. A detailed analysis of the Hebrew biblical texts themselves then reveals that the Israelites wTrade ReviewThis well organized volume synthesizes a large corpus of technical scholarship, making it an eminently useful work. * Choice *Table of Contents1. Ancient Egyptian Traditions ; 2. Ancient Mesopotamian Traditions ; 3. Israelite Traditions ; 4. Persian, Greek, and Roman Traditions ; 5. Early Jewish and Christian Traditions I: The Persistence of Biblical or Ancient Near Eastern Models ; 7. Early Jewish and Christian Traditions III: Common Themes & Motifs ; 8. Later Developments in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic Images
£34.19
Oxford University Press Saint Saul
Book SynopsisIn Saint Saul, Donald Harman Akenson offers a lively and provocative account of what we can learn about Jesus by reading the letters of Paul. As the only direct evidence of Jesus we have that were composed before the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE forever altered the outlook of the Christian and Jewish faiths, Akenson claims that these letters are the most reliable source of information. He dismisses the traditional method of searching for facts about Jesus by looking for parallels among the four gospels because they were handed down to us as a unit by a later generation. Akenson painstakingly recreates the world of Christ, a time rich with ideas, prophets, factions, priests, savants, and god-drunk fanatics. He insistently stresses throughout the Jewishness of Jesus, referring to Jesus and Paul as Yeshua and Saul, as they were then known. Saul, although he did not know Yeshua personally, knew his most important followers, and wrote immediately after Yeshua''s death. Saul''s Trade ReviewFrom his double-take title through more than 300 zestful pages, Donald Akenson startles us with one fresh insight after another...Saint Saul is an engaging book for anyone willing to take on the current challenges in the quest for Jesus. * Christian Science Monitor *Saint Saul is a splendid book. In touch with the latest scholarship, elegantly written, original, and highly persuasive. The whole area of the early relations between Christianity and Judaism--i.e. in the first 3 or 4 centuries--is now in a state of complete turmoil and reconceptualization. It now seems clear that the borders between what we now think of as two religions were very blurred at that time, and that orthodox rabbinic Judaism was not at all the normative Judaism at the time of Jesus and thereafter. In all these cross-currents, this book by Akenson is a clearly presented argument that will surely advance and clarify the conversation. * Harvey Cox, Victor S. Thomas Professor of Divinity, Harvard University and Author of The Secular City and Fire From Heaven *Akenson is able to penetrate to the heart of things in a manner that one can only envy. He writes vigorous and arresting prose, and is not afraid to go into the corners and mix it up. * Terence L. Donaldson, Lord and Lady Coogan Professor of New Testament Studies, University of Toronto and Author of Paul and the Gentiles *Saint Saul is resoundingly fresh in its current contributions to literature and, once again, Akenson has written of thorny and difficult questions with rollicking good humour and grace that reaches the depths of seriousness without false solemnity. Saint Saul is a splendid book. * T.F. Rigelhof *
£17.49
Oxford University Press Augustines Invention of the Inner Self
Book SynopsisIn this book, Phillip Cary argues that Augustine invented the concept of the self as a private inner space-a space into which one can enter and in which one can find God. Although it has often been suggested that Augustine in some way inaugurated the Western tradition of inwardness, this is the first study to pinpoint what was new about Augustine''s philosophy of inwardness and situate it within a narrative of his intellectual development and his relationship to the Platonist tradition. Augustine invents the inner self, Cary argues, in order to solve a particular conceptual problem. Augustine is attracted to the Neoplatonist inward turn, which located God within the soul, yet remains loyal to the orthodox Catholic teaching that the soul is not divine. He combines the two emphases by urging us to turn in then up--to enter the inner world of the self before gazing at the divine Light above the human mind. Cary situates Augustine''s idea of the self historically in both the Platonist and the Christian traditions. The concept of private inner self, he shows, is a development within the history of the Platonist concept of intelligibility or intellectual vision, which establishes a kind of kinship between the human intellect and the divine things it sees. Though not the only Platonist in the Christian tradition, Augustine stands out for his devotion to this concept of intelligibility and his willingness to apply it even to God. This leads him to downplay the doctrine that God is incomprehensible, as he is convinced that it is natural for the mind''s eye, when cleansed of sin, to see and understand God. In describing Augustine''s invention of the inner self, Cary''s fascinating book sheds new light on Augustine''s life and thought, and shows how Augustine''s position developed into the more orthodox Augustine we know from his later writings.Trade Review"...a first-rate study of the influences on the great bishop and the innovations he made to his intellectual/spiritual inheritance."--Theology Today
£25.64
Oxford University Press Desert Christians An Introduction to the Literature of Early Monasticism
Book SynopsisIn this book, William Harmless provides an accessible introduction to early Christian monastic literature from Egypt and beyond. He introduces the reader to the major figures and literary texts, as well offering an up-to-date survey of current questions and scholarship in the field. The text is enhanced by the inclusion of chronologies, maps, outlines, illustrations, and bibliographies. The book will not only serve as a text for graduate and advanced undergraduate courses on early Christianity, the Desert Fathers, and Christian asceticism, but it should stimulate further research by making the fruits of recent scholarship more readily and widely available.Trade ReviewDr Harmless has produced a comprehensive introduction to the major figures in the Egyptian tradition...the book is thoroughly impressive and will undoubtedly prove very useful...splendid resource. * Augustine Casiday, SJT *this volume offers a solid, balanced, well-researched, and clearly written introduction to and survey of early Egyptian monasticism. * Tim Vivian, Sobornost *There is no doubt that this is an engaging, fascinating, and informative study...It belongs on the shelf of any student of early church history and monasticism. * A. D. Rich, Journal of Theological Studies *Why waste words? - this is a thoroughly admirable book ... an accomplished and unassuming piece of scholarship. * David Satran, Scripta Classica Israelica *
£49.40
Oxford University Press Revelations of St. Birgitta of Sweden Volume 4
Book SynopsisSt. Birgitta of Sweden (1303-1373, canonized 1391) was one of the most charismatic and influential female visionaries of the later Middle Ages. Altogether, she received some 700 revelations, dealing with subjects ranging from meditations on the human condition, domestic affairs in Sweden, and ecclesiastical matters in Rome, to revelations in praise of the Incarnation and devotion to the Virgin. Her Revelations, collected and ordered by her confessors, circulated widely throughout Europe and long after her death. Many eminent individuals, including Cardinal Juan Torquemada, Jean Gerson, and Martin Luther, read and commented on her writings, which influenced the spiritual lives of countless individuals. Birgitta was also the founder of a new monastic order, which still exists today. She is the patron saint of Sweden, and in 2000 was declared (with Catherine of Siena and Edith Stein) co-patroness of Europe.Birgitta''s Revelations present her as a commanding and dauntless visionary who devTrade ReviewThe Revelations of St. Birgitta, volume 4 is nothing short of a well constructed treasure, noteworthy, and a useful reference work for studying religious women and mysticism during the late medieval period in Northern Europe. * Rebecca A. Giselbrecht, The Sixteenth Century Journal *Table of ContentsAbbreviations ; The Entire Birgittine Corpus ; BOOK VIII: The Heavenly Emperor's Book to Kings ; The Hermit's Letter to Kings ; Book VIII: The Heavenly Emperor's Book to Kings (translation) ; The Rule of the Savior ; The Angel's Discourse ; The Four Prayers ; Extravagant Revelations ; Supplementary Texts ; Bibliography ; List of illustrations, volumes 1-4 ; Biblical index, volumes 1-4 ; Subject index, volumes 1-4 ; Place and Personal names index, volumes 1-4
£92.15
Oxford University Press Shifting Sands
Book SynopsisBefore the 1970s, biblical archaeology was the dominant research paradigm for those excavating the history of Palestine. Today most people prefer to speak of Syro/Palestinian archaeology. This is not just a normal shift but reflects a major theoretical and methodological change. It has even been labelled a revolution. In the popular mind, however, biblical archaeology is still alive and well. In Shifting Sands, Thomas W. Davis charts the evolution and the demise of the discipline. Biblical archaeology, he writes, was an attempt to ground the historical witness of the Bible in demonstrable historical reality.Trade Reviewbalanced, informed and readable...a very good read. * Theology *
£57.00
Oxford University Press The Origins of Biblical Monotheism
Book SynopsisAs the bible tells us, ancient Israel''s neighbours worshipped a wide variety of gods. It is now widely accepted that the Israelites'' God, Yahweh, must have originated as one among these many, before assuming the role of the one true God of monotheism. Mark Smith here seeks to discover more precisely what was meant by divinity in the ancient near-East, and how these concepts apply to Yahweh. Part One of the book offers a detailed examination of the deities of ancient Ugarit, known to us from the largest surviving group of relevant extra-biblical texts. In Part Two, Smith looks closely at four classic problems associated with four Ugaritic deities, and considers how they affect our understanding of Yahweh. At the end of the book he returns to the question of Israelite monotheism, seeking to discover what religious issues it addressed and why it made sense at the time of its emergence. He argues that within the Bible, monotheism is not a separate stage of religion but rather represents a kind of rhetoric reinforcing Israel''s exclusive relation with its deity.Trade Review"Brilliant, well-documented, well-organized, and very discomforting. Biblical scholars now recognize that in the pre-exilic era Asherah worship, infant sacrifice, solar veneration, and other religious practices attacked by biblical authors represented normal Israelite worship, while monotheism was a late development in the Babylonian Exile and subsequent years. Smith and others led the charge in this new scholarly perception of Israelite religion. But with this volume Smith has thrown down a gauntlet to challenge our understandings even more. Smith has produced a seminal work with which scholars must come to grips for years."--Journal of Hebrew Scriptures
£40.37
Oxford University Press Sacred Pain
Book SynopsisPhysical pain ranks as one of the great evils of human life, not far behind death. Yet, religious individuals and groups around the world and throughout history have inflicted pain on themselves and on others in pursuit of religious goals. Despite this, no broad explanation for the uses of pain has emerged, and this book seeks to remedy this lack. Glucklich shows that a ritually controlled regimen of pain can produce a transformation of consciousness in which personal identity gives way to identification with God, Truth, or other spiritual ideals. This phenomenon is explored in many cultural and historical contexts, including rituals of possession and exorcism, rites of passage, and the tortures of the Inquisition. Glucklich also shows how the modern invention of anæsthesia transformed our perception of pain and undermined the idea that pain can be good. This book helps us to understand sacred pain from the perspective of its practitioners, opening a window onto a mysterious world of eTrade Review"Succeeds not only because of the immense and careful scholarship it displays, but also because it establishes a creative dialogue between science and religion on a question of enduring, and today largely forgotten, importance. Most of all, the book invites its readers to appreciate that pain need not be meaningless."--Stephen G. Post, First Things"Erudite and wide-ranging...compelling.... This fascinating, closely argued study suggests that in religion as in sports, there is no gain without pain."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)"This demanding book does justice to the complexity of its subject as Glucklich masterfully leads the reader through all the diverse paths that connect with the central topic. He is a skilled writer who presents complicated material well without sacrificing meaning or nuance."--Library Journal"A brilliantly written, thought-provoking volume on the transformative potential of physical pain experienced within a religious context."--Harold G. Koenig, M.D., co-author, Handbook of Religion and Health"Ariel Glucklich is that rare being, a genuine comparativist, of cosmopolitan learning and wide sympathies. Drawing upon such diverse approaches as neurobiology, social psychology, ritual studies, cultural theory, phenomenology, and history of religion, he succeeds in shedding light on the darkest reaches of the seemingly chaotic realm of pain. Glucklich reminds us of all-but-forgotten insights into the transformative power of sacred pain, brings these insights into dialogue with the best thinking that is being done in the behavioral and biological sciences, and in so doing forges new instruments for the study of religious consciousness."--Carol Zaleski, Professor and Chair, Department of Religion, Smith College"Indeed, Glucklich examines the function of pain as part of the redemptive pilgrimage from numerous angles and distances, then turns it over and examines it some more...anyone with a serious interest in religion, pain and suffering, and/or the anthropology of the "community" will find much food for thought in this book...Sacred Pain offers valuable insights about pain, belief, and Western society's conflicting attitudes about pain and suffering."--Medscape
£45.12
Oxford University Press The Oxford Guide to People Places of the Bible
Book SynopsisThis essential alphabetical guide offers approximately 325 articles that describe people and places that appear in the New Testament and Hebrew Bible, from prophets, apostles, and groups (such as Hebrews, Angels) to kingdoms and countries and cities and mountains where biblical events took place.Trade Review...a quick, concise up-to-date reference tool that should find its way onto many a library's and student's shelves. * Religion and Theology *
£22.49
Oxford University Press Inc Wounds Not Healed by Time
Book SynopsisHow should we respond to injuries done to us and to the hurts that we inflict on others? In this thoughtful book, Wounds Not Healed By Time, Solomon Schimmel guides us through the meanings of justice, forgiveness, repentance, and reconciliation. In doing so, he probes to the core of the human encounter with evil, drawing on religious traditions, psychology, philosophy, and the personal experiences of both perpetrators and of victims. Christianity, Judaism and Islam call for forgiveness and repentance in our relations with others. Yet, as Schimmel points out, there are significant differences between them as to when and whom to forgive. Is forgiving always more moral than refusing to forgive? Is it ever immoral to forgive? When is repentance a pre-condition for forgiveness, and what does repentance entail? Schimmel explores these questions in diverse contexts, ranging from conflicts in a marriage and personal slights we experience every day to enormous crimes such as the Holocaust. He aTrade Review"A thorough and thoughtful book on a subject that could not be more important in the years ahead."--Jerusalem Post"The author maintains that 'therapists, clergy, and pastoral counselors need to familiarize themselves with the philosophical, theological, and psychological literature on forgiveness if they intend to incorporate it into their practices constructively.' For professional and layman alike, this thoughtful and accessible volume is a good place to start."--First Things"A tough, intellectually cogent analysis of repentance and forgiveness--issues that are generally relegated to sermonizing. This is not a sermon. It is a powerful and readable work of scholarship, imbued with the passion of a scholar who understands both evil and forgiveness and the difficult relationship between them."--Alan Dershowitz, author of Shouting Fire: Civil Liberties in a Turbulent Age"A nuanced and intellectually rich treatment of repentance and forgiveness.... Wounds Not Healed by Time is a remarkable exposition of the ways we deal--or might deal--with wrongs we commit against each other."--Avodah Newsletter"Schimmel brings a high level of scholarship, a deeply personal tone and an accessible writing style to complex questions of repentance and forgiveness.... Most admirably, Schimmel adds his own voice in a way that seems to come less from books than from the heart."--Publishers Weekly"Deftly elucidates topics of revenge, justice, why and when to forgive, how to forgive, repentance, and reconciliation. He deals sensitively with these issues at the personal level and also includes institutional or national perspectives through an examination of America's race relations, the Vatican's recent apologies, Israeli-Palestinian conflicts, and the South African experience with its Truth and Reconciliation Commission.... He criticizes the pressure in our culture to forgive too quickly and provides a respectful questioning of that pressure's Christian roots. This can serve as a self-help book for sophisticated readers or as a starting point for philosophical consideration of the topic."--Library Journal"In this honest, eloquent book, Solomon Schimmel invites us to view the relation of forgiveness and repentance through multiple religious, secular, personal and social lenses. Christian readers, in particular, should ponder carefully his strong argument that forgiveness without repentance is morally unsupportable."--Donald W. Shriver, President Emeritus, Union Theological Seminary, and author of An Ethic for Enemies: Forgiveness in Politics"From Jerusalem to the Vatican to Capetown, Schimmel takes us on a scholarly journey through humanity's struggle to understand and cope with evil. He argues, with both passion and insight, that our only hope for a sane future lies in overcoming our natural tendencies toward vengeance and replacing them with a balance of justice, forgiveness, and repentance. Fortunately for the human race, we can, Schimmel insists, learn to forgive. Let's hope he's right."--Robert Epstein, Ph.D., Editor-in-Chief, Psychology Today, and University Research Professor, California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University"Drawing on a rich array of sources and writing with one eye on theology and one on more contemporary psychological attitudes, Schimmel's work will go far towards deepening our understanding of the contradictory, ambivalent, difficult, yet ultimately redeeming processes of forgiveness. This remains a knowledge that we, unfortunately, will have to draw on for many years to come."--Adam B. Seligman, author of Modernity's Wager"Solomon Schimmel brings the Jewish and the Christian teachings about forgiveness and repentance together with the findings of modern psychology in a way that illuminates all three sources of insight. By refusing to sever forgiveness from justice and repentance, Schimmel provides a much-needed corrective to the soft-headed, sentimental thinking that usually pervades the discussion."--Jon D. Levenson, Albert A. List Professor of Jewish Studies, Harvard University, and author of The Death and Resurrection of the Beloved Son
£15.41
Oxford University Press Inc The Changing Face of Christianity
Book SynopsisOver the past century, Christianity''s place and role in the world have changed dramatically. In 1900, 80 percent of the world''s Christians lived in Europe and North America. Today, more than 60 percent of the world''s Christians live outside of that region. This change calls for a reexamination of the way the story of Christianity is told, the methodological tools for its analysis, and its modes of expression. Perhaps most significant is the role of Africa as the new Christian heartland. The questions and answers about Christianity and its contemporary mission now being developed in the African churches will have enormous influence in the years to come. This volume offers nine new essays addressing this sea-change and its importance for the future of Christianity. Some contributions consider the development of non-Western forms of Christianity, others look at the impact of these new Christianities in the West. The authors cover a wide range of topics, from the integration of witchcra
£28.49
Oxford University Press Remembering Abraham
Book SynopsisAccording to an old tradition preserved in the Palestinian Targums, the Hebrew Bible is ''the Book of Memories.'' The sacred past recalled in the Bible serves as a model and wellspring for the present. The remembered past, says Ronald Hendel, is the material with which biblical Israel constructed its identity as a people, a religion, and a culture. In Israel''s formative years, these memories circulated orally in the context of family and tribe. Over time they came to be crystallized in various written texts. The Hebrew Bible is a vast compendium of writings, spanning a thousand-year period from roughly the twelfth to the second century BCE, and representing perhaps a small slice of the writings of that period. The texts are often overwritten by later texts, creating a complex pastiche of text, reinterpretation and commentary. The religion and culture of ancient Israel are expressed by these texts, and in no small part, also created by them, as various texts formulate new or altered coTrade ReviewHendal has written a lucid and cogently argued book...Hendal has not simply made the case for the relevance of collective memory, but has demonstrated its potential to yield new insights into Israel's book of memories. * Martien A. Halvorson-Taylor Journal of American Academy of Religion *
£69.35
Oxford University Press Americas God From Jonathan Edwards to Abraham Lincoln
Book SynopsisReligious life in early America is often equated with the fire-and-brimstone Puritanism best embodied by the theology of Cotton Mather. Yet, by the nineteenth century, American theology had shifted dramatically away from the severe European traditions directly descended from the Protestant Reformation, of which Puritanism was in the United States the most influential. In its place arose a singularly American set of beliefs. In America''s God, Mark Noll has written a biography of this new American ethos. In the 125 years preceding the outbreak of the Civil War, theology played an extraordinarily important role in American public and private life. Its evolution had a profound impact on America''s self-definition. The changes taking place in American theology during this period were marked by heightened spiritual inwardness, a new confidence in individual reason, and an attentiveness to the economic and market realities of Western life. Vividly set in the social and political events of the age, America''s God is replete with the figures who made up the early American intellectual landscape, from theologians such as Jonathan Edwards, Nathaniel W. Taylor, William Ellery Channing, and Charles Hodge and religiously inspired writers such as Harriet Beecher Stowe and Catherine Stowe to dominant political leaders of the day like Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln. The contributions of these thinkers combined with the religious revival of the 1740s, colonial warfare with France, the consuming struggle for independence, and the rise of evangelical Protestantism to form a common intellectual coinage based on a rising republicanism and commonsense principles. As this Christian republicanism affirmed itself, it imbued in dedicated Christians a conviction that the Bible supported their beliefs over those of all others. Tragically, this sense of religious purpose set the stage for the Civil War, as the conviction of Christians both North and South that God was on their side served to deepen a schism that would soon rend the young nation asunder. Mark Noll has given us the definitive history of Christian theology in America from the time of Jonathan Edwards to the presidency of Abraham Lincoln. It is a story of a flexible and creative theological energy that over time forged a guiding national ideology the legacies of which remain with us to this day.Trade Review"Essential reading for anyone interested in American history, politics and religion."--Themelios"For academics-historians, theologians, and anyone else interested in the history of poltical thought, religion, philosophy, or theology-this book is essential reading"-- The Cresset Epiphany/Lent"America's God deserves to be hailed as the most comprehensive treatment of early American religious thought. But it is far more than that, since Mr. Noll is tracking here not only the rise and fall of American theology but also the genesis of American civilization...Mr. Noll laments the passing of Christian republicanism and in the end suggests that a dose of Jonathan Edwards ('the last of the Puritans and the first of the evangelicals') may be just what contemporary America needs. You do not have to agree with that assessment to appreciate this fine book, which brings some of the nation's greatest thinkers very much alive."--Wall Street Journal"Noll belongs to a talented group of historians who have transformed our understanding of American evangelicalism... Among Noll's many great strengths (all on display in this immense work) is his comparative method, based on wide learning in Protestant sources worldwide."--Times Literary Supplement"Magisterial"The Weekly Standard"Carefully documented and including an excellent bibliography, this insightful volume makes a useful contribution to the study of religion in America"--Library Journal"Mark Noll's America's God delineates the Americanization of an Old World Protestantism with a breadth, learning, and sophistication unmatched by any other historian. Noll uncovers hidden, obscure figures even as he breathes new life into seemingly familiar names. Those who think intellectual history is dead or irrelevant will be jolted by the wondrous vigor of this exceptional, synoptic book. There's nothing else like it."--Jon Butler, author of Awash in a Sea of Faith: Christianizing the American People"Noll has an astounding command of the vast literature...this is almost certainly the most significant work of American historical scholarship this year."--Atlantic Monthly"America's God is a richly rewarding work. Awesomely researched and beautifully written, Mark Noll's magisterial study embeds American religious thought from the late Colonial era through the Civil War in its cultural and political context. Not only historians of religion, but everyone interested in the ideas and beliefs that shaped America's past--and still remain potent today--will profit from this insightful interpretive study."--Paul S. Boyer, Editor-in-Chief, The Oxford Companion to United States History"Noll's book is the most comprehensive study of religious ideas in America that we have, and a work that makes the most sustained case for the impact of the spiritual on American public life. The book is original and well argued; and the research is impeccable. Some will not agree with Noll's arguments but everyone interested in religious thought will have to consider them."--Bruce Kuklick, author of A History of Philosophy in America: 1720-2000"Those who might consider America's God an old-fashioned work about a bygone era and might therefore pass Noll by will do so at their peril...Argue over interfaith services after 9/11, prayers by football teams at public schools, in 'creationism' versus 'evolutionism,' Focus on the Family; 'the virtues,' the American moral condition, 'under God' in the Pledge of Allegiance, the political power of the Religious Right--engage in any or all of these debates, and you will be contending in the shadow of the achievements of Noll's cast of characters."-- Books & Culture"This 'social history of theology' in America, from the colonial era through the Civil War, promises to reshape the way we think about American religion, and, indeed, American history...Noll's trademark clarity--both in analysis and in prose--is in evidence here...Equally obvious is Noll's erudite mastery of everything from Puritan ecclesiology to Scottish moral philosophy. This is, finally, the magisterial work that has long been expected from one of our leading historians."--Publishers Weekly"A broadly based and solid account of the surprising evolution of Christian theology in America during the golden age of Protestant evangelicalism. Mark Noll's magnum opus is a notable achievement of Christian and historical scholarship."--Daniel Walker Howe, Rhodes Professor of American History, Oxford University"The wonderfully prolific Noll-as fine a historian as America now boasts-offers a rich and learned and deeply thoughtful magnum opus that is destined to shape discussions of the history of American religion and politics for a long time. Everyone who pretends to an interest in American history and American politics, to say nothing of American religion, must read this book."--The New Republic
£31.34
Oxford University Press Disciples of All Nations
Book SynopsisLong the dominant religion of the West, Christianity is now rapidly becoming the principal faith in much of the postcolonial world--a development that marks a momentous shift in the religion''s very center of gravity. In this eye-opening book, Lamin Sanneh examines the roots of this post-Western awakening and the unparalleled richness and diversity, as well as the tension and conflict, it has brought to World Christianity. Tracing Christianity''s rise from its birth on the edge of the Roman empire--when it proclaimed itself to be a religion for the entire world, not just for one people, one time, and one place--to its key role in Europe''s maritime and colonial expansion, Sanneh sheds new light on the ways in which post-Western societies in Africa, Asia, and Latin America were drawn into the Christian orbit. Ultimately, he shows, these societies outgrew Christianity''s colonial forms and restructured it through their own languages and idioms--a process that often occurred outside, and Trade ReviewLamin Sanneh is one of the foremost names in the study of world Christianity today ... Disciples of All Nations: Pillars of World Christianity is his most comprehensive work on this topic to date. With a sweeping historical vision that ranges from Tertullian to Mao, Sanneh offers an integrated historical framework for understanding world Christianity at the beginning of the twenty-first century. * Dale T. Irvin, Journal of the American Academy of Religion *I'm lost in admiration for Lamin Sanneh's magnificent study of world Christianity, for the work's geographical scope and historical sweep, and for the breadth of the author's learning. Throughout, Sanneh asks the critical question: how can we reconceive Christianity in a way that frees it from its European and imperial contexts, permitting the faith to adapt to the kaleidoscopic realities of different societies around the globe. This is a splendid achievement. * Philip Jenkins, author of The Next Christendom and The New Faces of Christianity *Imaginatively conceived, rigourously erudite and persuasively argued, this book sets the standard for the new series, Oxford Studies in World Christianity ... Please put this splendid and highly relevant book high up on your 'must-read' list. * Kenneth Cracknell, Theology *Table of ContentsIntroduction: New Testament Revolution: The Missionary Pillar 1: Whither Christianity? A Study in Origin, Thought, and Action 2: The Comparative Pillar: The Christian Movement in Islamic Perspective 3: Old World Precedents and New World Directions: The Trans-Atlantic Pillar 4: The Yogi and the Commissar 5: Renewal and the Charismatic Spirit 6: Resurgence and the New Order in West Africa: Primal Pillar 7: Civilization and the Limits of Mission 8: Christianity and the New China 9: Conclusion: Christian Dynamism and Concurrent Cultural Shifts Select Bibliography
£26.12
Oxford University Press Doxology A Systematic Theology
Book SynopsisSeeks to identify and describe the continuing Christian vision, to trace its modes of transmission, and to permit it to illuminate the human context. The result is a systematic theology in the perspective of worship.Trade ReviewA rich book that is filled with insights into and information about the liturgy and its relationship to theological issues. * Calvin Theological Journal *Highly original and genuinely refreshing....Wainwright has made an important contribution to contemporary theological discourse and supplied welcome evidence that, all claims to the contrary notwithstanding, ecumenism is by no means dead. * John Jay Hughes, America *A delight...fills in many gaps in the standard treatments and casts fresh light on various perplexing questions....Written with an impressive command of the pertinent literature and in a serenely ecumenical spirit. * Avery Dulles, S.J., The Catholic University of America *I have been wrestling with how to relate theology and the worship life of the Church [and] the cross-cultural dimensions of the Christian faith. This book refreshingly fills [that] need. * Tite Tienou, Alliance Theological Seminary *It is a book with which the reader must think, question, wrestle, and pray....This systematic theology should be required reading for any church professional, be it clergy or lay professionals. * Creator Magazine *
£21.49
Oxford University Press Inc Truth and Fiction in the Da Vinci Code
Book SynopsisA staggeringly popular work of fiction, Dan Brown''s The Da Vinci Code has stood atop The New York Times Bestseller List for well over a year, with millions of copies in print. But this fast-paced mystery is unusual in that the author states up front that the historical information in the book is all factually accurate. But is this claim true? As historian Bart D. Ehrman shows in this informative and witty book, The Da Vinci Code is filled with numerous historical mistakes. Did the ancient church engage in a cover-up to make the man Jesus into a divine figure? Did Emperor Constantine select for the New Testament--from some 80 contending Gospels--the only four Gospels that stressed that Jesus was divine? Was Jesus Christ married to Mary Magdalene? Did the Church suppress Gospels that told the secret of their marriage? Bart Ehrman thoroughly debunks all of these claims. But the book is not merely a laundry list of Brown''s misreading of history. Throughout, Ehrman offers a wealth of fascTrade ReviewIt should be compulsory reading alongside the original, before Rosslyn Chapel is entirely wrecked by tourists. * Simon Jenkins, The Guardian *Anyone worried or puzzled about the theological issues raised by Dan Brown could do worse than read Bar D Ehrman's Truth and Fiction in the Da Vinci Code, a lucid, unagressive book by the chairman of the department of religious studies at the University of North Carolina, who actually enjoyed the novel. * Philip French, The Observer *Hats off to OUP....Bart D Ehrman's Truth and Fiction in the Da Vinci Code is the must-read paperback in the launch week of the movie. * Observer Review *Anyone worried or puzzled about the theological issues raised by Dan Brown could do worse than read Bart D Ehrman's Truth and Fiction in The Da Vinci Code, a lucid unaggressive book by the chairman of the department of religious studies at the University of North Carolina, who actually enjoyed the novel. * Philip French, Observer *
£21.49
Oxford University Press Perspectives on Marriage
Book SynopsisThis collection is ideal for courses in the theology and spirituality of marriage. The topics covered include marriage in its historical context; the meanings and transitions of marriage; attitudes towards sexuality; communication and conflict, and divorce and annulment.Trade ReviewPraise for the previous edition: "One of the finest resources on the market. The editors have selected nine of the most important areas of discussion for this topic, and the authors are the best in the field."--Dawn M. Nothwehr, Catholic Theological Union "Excellent source for undergraduate students and other readers interested in marriage issues; readable and straightforward."--Ines A. Murzaku, Seton Hall University "An excellent collection of essays on the history, meaning, and theology of marriage. It should be required for seminars in theology of marriage and courses in pre-marital/marital counseling."--Neil D. Anderson, Asbury College "Excellent source for undergraduate students and other readers interested in marriage issues; readable and straightforward."--Ines A. Murzaku, Seton Hall University Praise for the previous edition: "One of the finest resources on the market. The editors have selected nine of the most important areas of discussion for this topic, and the authors are the best in the field."--Dawn M. Nothwehr, Catholic Theological Union "Excellent source for undergraduate students and other readers interested in marriage issues; readable and straightforward."--Ines A. Murzaku, Seton Hall University "An excellent collection of essays on the history, meaning, and theology of marriage. It should be required for seminars in theology of marriage and courses in pre-marital/marital counseling."--Neil D. Anderson, Asbury College "A superb collection of readings that offers students a good background and thoughtful challenges."-Kathy Finley, Gonzaga UniversityTable of Contents* New to this edition Acknowledgments Introduction Part One: Marriage in Historical Perspective 1: Michael G. Lawler: Marriage in the Bible 2: Theodore Mackin, S.J.: The Primitive Christian Understanding of Marriage 3: Joseph Martos: Marriage: A Historical Survey Part Two: Contemporary Perspectives on the Theology of Marriage 4: Bernard Cooke: Christian Marriage: Basic Sacrament * 5: Julie McCarty: "Nuptial Pentecost": Theological Reflections on the Presence and Action of the Holy Spirit in Christian Marriage Part Three: Marriage: Meanings and Transitions 6: Jo McGowan: Marriage versus Living Together 7: NCCB Marriage and Family Committee: Marriage Preparation and Cohabiting Couples: Information Report * 8: Kieran Scott: Cohabitation and Marriage as a Life-Process 9: Evelyn Eaton Whitehead and James D. Whitehead: The Meaning of Marriage * 10: Edward C. Vacek: The Meaning of Marriage: Of Two Minds * 11: Stephen J. Pope: Same-Sex Marriage: Threat or Aspiration? * 12: Evelyn Eaton Whitehead and James D. Whitehead: Marriage Becomes a Journey Part Four: Attitudes toward Sexuality * 13: Sidney Callahan: Sex Matters: The Riches of the Catholic Sexual Tradition 14: Peter Marin: A Revolution's Broken Promises 15: Lawrence Stone: Passionate Attachments in the West in Historical Perspective 16: William F. May: Four Mischievous Theories of Sex: Demonic, Divine, Casual, and Nuisance 17: Thomas Lickona: The Neglected Heart: The Emotional Dangers of Premature Sexual Involvement * 18: Jason King and Donna Freitas: Sex, Time, and Meaning: A Theology of Dating 19: Robert A. Johnson: Beyond Romance to Human Love 20: Pope John Paul II: The Transmission of Life Part Five: Communication, Conflict, and Change * 21: Allen Wheelis: How People Change 22: Deborah Tannen: "Put Down That Paper and Talk to Me!": Rapport-Talk and Report-Talk 23: Evelyn Eaton Whitehead and James D. Whitehead: Communication and Conflict 24: Thomas N. Hart and Kathleen Fischer Hart: Communication 25: Lenore E. Walker: The Battered Woman: Myths and Reality 26: Connell Cowan and Melvin Kinder: Men Who Make Women Want to Scream * 27: Zoë Wolff: Going to the Therapist En Route to the Altar * Part Six: Issues Impacting Marriage * 28: Benedict Carey: Watching New Love as it Sears the Brain * 29: Rebecca Mead: You're Getting Married: The Wal-Martization of the Bridal Business * 30: Michael Warren: Money, Marriage, and Making a Future: The Letter to Emily Part Seven: Commitment, Divorce, and Annulment 31: Bernard Cooke: What God Has Joined Together. . . 32: Margaret Farley: The Meaning of Commitment 33: Patrick R. Lagges: Annulment: The Process and Its Meaning 34: James J. Young: Remarried Catholics: Searching for Church Belonging * 35: Michael G. Lawler: Divorce and Remarriage in the Catholic Church: Ten Theses 36: Judith S. Wallerstein: Children after Divorce: Wounds That Don't Heal Part Eight: Spirituality of Marriage 37: Evelyn Eaton Whitehead and James D. Whitehead: Spirituality and Lifestyle * 38: Herbert Anderson: Faithful Becoming: Forming Families in the Art of Paradoxical Living in a Fragmented and Pluralistic World Part Nine: Religious Traditions: Perspectives on Marriage 39: Blu Greenberg: Marriage in the Jewish Tradition 40: Wilson Yates: The Protestant View of Marriage 41: Lois Lamya Ibsen al Faruqi: Marriage in Islam
£86.44
Oxford University Press A History of Christian Conversion
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£135.38
Oxford University Press Reader of Ancient Near Eastern Texts Sources for
Book SynopsisThis is a collection of ancient Near Eastern texts relevant to the study of the Old Testament. The texts have been selected from the vast body of written materials in many different languages and in a variety of media from the ancient Near East (including Egypt) from the third millennium bce to the turn of the era.Trade Review"Without a doubt, I would use this volume. In studying the Hebrew Bible, students need to develop an appreciation not only for ideas expressed in the larger ancient Near Eastern context; they must also be able to recognize the diverse literary forms found both in the ancient Near East and the Bible Itself."--W. Dennis Tucker, George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University "The strengths of this book lie in its organization of sources by genre; the use of up-to-date translations; the provision of contextual information through the general introduction, chapter introductions, and footnotes; the biblical cross-references; and the author's depth and breadth of knowledge of the relevant sources and their significance for interpreting the Hebrew Bible."--Greg Schmidt Goering, University of Virginia "This book is excellent and a very welcome addition to Coogan's Old Testament textbook."--Steven Leonard Jacobs, University of Alabama, TuscaloosaTable of Contents1. MYTHS; 2. EPICS; 3. HISTORIOGRAPHIC TEXTS; 4. LEGAL AND COMMERICAL TEXTS; COLLECTIONS AND CODES; TREATIES; CONTRACTS; COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS; 5. LETTERS; ROYAL CORRESPONDENCE; CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN OFFICIALS; PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE; 6. HYMNS, PRAYERS, LAMENTS, AND RITUALS; HYMNS AND PRAYERS; 94. HYMN TO THE ATEN; RITUALS; OTHER RITUAL TEXTS; 7. BURIAL TEXTS; FUNERARY TEXTS; 8. COMMEMORATIVE AND DEDICATORY TEXTS; 9. LOVE POEMS; 10. PROPHETIC TEXTS; 177-79. TO ESARHADDON; 11. WISDOM LITERATURE
£44.99
Oxford University Press The Old Testament in Eastern Orthodox Tradition
Trade ReviewThis volume is a treasure house from which one may draw riches old and new. As an Orthodox priest, Pentiuc is immersed in his ancient tradition; as a biblical scholar he is au courant with the methods and controversies of 21st-century scholarship - a rare combination indeed. He builds on solid historical and textual foundations to urge the church forward. The book offers the clearest, most complete, and most accessible treatment in English of topics such as the Orthodox use of the Septuagint, the canon, and issues around the 'apocrypha,' not to mention its analysis of scripture in the liturgy. * Leslie Baynes, Religion *Both the study and usage of the Old Testament in the Orthodox tradition is undervalued in academic circles today, and Fr. Eugen s work will serve as an authoritative and much-needed work. A noted expert in both Semitic languages and Old Testament studies, Fr. Eugen s unique blend of scholarly finesse and fidelity to Orthodox tradition makes The Old Testament in Eastern Orthodox Tradition a book worthy of our closest attention. * On Behalf of All *In this extraordinarily learned book, Pentiuc sheds much-needed light on an often neglected aspect of the history of interpretation of the Bible. Appropriately, he discusses not just texts, but ritual and art as well, so that reading his book is like walking into a lavishly ornamented Eastern Orthodox church where the Divine Liturgy is being celebrated. This view from the inside is an invaluable contribution. * Michael Coogan, editor of The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Books of the Bible *This work is a major event: the first comprehensive and thorough analysis of the role of the Old Testament in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, written by the foremost Eastern Orthodox scholar of Scripture, internationally respected within both Church and Academy alike. Opening up the scriptural culture of Eastern Orthodoxy in all its dimensions, this illuminating volume will richly reward every reader. * V. Rev. Dr. John Behr, Dean and Professor of Patristics, St. Vladimir's Seminary *Table of ContentsContents ; Preface and Acknowledgments ; Abbreviations ; Part I. Reception ; 1. One Bible, Two Covenants ; 2. Text ; 3. Canon ; 4. Tradition ; Part II. Interpretation ; 5. Discursive ; 6. Aural ; 7. Visual ; Postscript ; Bibliography ; Index
£47.02
Oxford University Press Theological Incorrectness
Book SynopsisWhy do religious people believe what they shouldn''t - not what others think they shouldn''t believe, but things that don''t accord with their own avowed religious beliefs? Jason Slone terms this phenomenon ''theological incorrectness.'' He argues that it exists because the mind is built in such a way that it''s natural for us to think divergent thoughts simultaneously. Human minds are great at coming up with innovative ideas that help them make sense of the world, he says, but those ideas do not always jibe with official religious beliefs.
£17.49