Ecumenism Books

Book SynopsisAn invitation not to a faith certain of everything but, rather, to a faith that welcomes the discomforting questions. Religious zealotry plagues the world. It drives susceptible people to believe they have all the truth, all the wisdom, all the divine favor. And in some cases it even moves them to murder people who, they have concluded, are enemies of God. In The Value of Doubt, veteran journalist Bill Tammeus draws deeply on his own Protestant experience of doubt and faith and, in a series of reflections, contends that the road to a rich, dynamic, healthy faith inevitably must run through the valley of the shadow of doubt. The opposite of faith, he says, is not doubt; rather, the opposite of faith is false certitude. Tammeus argues in favor of recognizing our mortality, of adopting the Benedictine virtue of humility and of realizing that we live by metaphor, by allegory, by myth. It's the willingness to question, to reconsider, to be comfortable with ambiguity and paradox that will save faith from the hands of those who seem to know all the answers before they ever hear the questions. This lively and challenging look at the religious life is for anyone seeking to build and enrich an authentic faith and courageous enough to see doubt as an essential part of it.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn the 1970s, mainly in response to Roe v. Wade, evangelicals and conservative Catholics put aside their longstanding historical prejudices and theological differences and joined forces to form a potent political movement that swept across the country--or so conventional wisdom would have us think. In this provocative book, Neil J. Young argues that most of this widely accepted story of the creation of the Religious Right is not true.We Gather Together examines evangelicals, Catholics, and Mormons (who are usually ignored in the story) in the early days of the religious right and paints a much different picture. Tracing the interactions among these three groups from the 1950s to the present day, Young shows that the emergence of the Religious Right was not a brilliant political strategy of compromise and coalition-building hatched on the eve of a history-altering election. Rather, it was the latest iteration of a much-longer religious debate that had been going on for decades in reaction to the building of a mainline Protestant consensus. This restructuring of interfaith relations took place alongside American political developments of the time, and evangelicals, Catholics, and Mormons found common cause and pursued similar ends in debates about abortion, school prayer, the Equal Rights Amendment, and tax exemptions for religious schools. They did so together at times but more often separately, and it is the latter part that historians have all but ignored. While these social and political issues were the objects of their displeasure, they weren''t its source; far from setting aside their divisions to create a unified movement, cracks in the alliance shaped the movement from the very beginning.This provocative book will reshape our understanding of the most important religious and political movement of the last 30 years.Trade ReviewThe history and social/cultural dynamics Young narrates in this text offer a pertinent review for those involved in social and political critique as well as those leading conversations around social engagement in the current era. * Susan L. Maros, PNEUMA *Young makes a strong and historically important case that ecumenical rapprochement among Protestants and Catholics in the Religious Right movement has been overblown. As someone who has defended the prevailing narrative, I found Young's critique of it very persuasive on this point... Young has done us a great service documenting the shortcomings of the received narrative of Protestant/Catholic cooperation in the 1970s and 1980s. * Greg Forster, Trinity Journal *Table of ContentsIntroduction ; Chapter 1: That They All May Be One ; Chapter 2: Separated Brethren ; Chapter 3: Our Father ; Chapter 4: This is My Body ; Chapter 5: We Gather Together ; Chapter 6: A Moral Majority ; Chapter 7: The Promised Land ; Chapter 8: A Christian Coalition ; Conclusion ; Notes ; Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade ReviewGuided by an editor at once theologically critical and ecumenically compassionate, these authors follow her lead in bringing historically informed theory to bear on the contemporary contexts and practices of ecclesial bodies. The volume delivers what the best of such collections achieve: a range of provocative questions sure to incite further academic inquiry with confidence and newfound ecumenical purpose. -- Bruce T. Morrill, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USAThose with a serious interest in theology, but who think that ecumenism has become a boring and interminable debate among clerics, will be pleasantly surprised by this volume. It shows that internal divisions, especially in the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion, have now reached the stage of ecumenical problems in their own right, though in both cases the resources are there to tackle them. New light is shed on ‘communion' ecclesiology in Orthodoxy and the sharp disagreements to which it gives rise. Running through these more classical themes are the tensions caused by gender, ethnicity and inculturation, with striking examples from Korea and Japan. Starting from the core notion of the ecumenical, the book exemplifies its relevance to a wide range of contemporary issues. -- John D'Arcy May, Irish School of Ecumenics, Trinity College Dublin, IrelandEcumenical Ecclesiology is a useful and insightful guide through the complex contemporary debate on how the church could be one without losing its many faces and particularities. It offers a rich variety of contributions from diverse denominational and cultural backgrounds committed to the re-evaluation of older models of ecumenism while sharing their desire for the church's celebration, witness and service in the world not to be disrupted by divisions. -- Ivana Noble, Protestant Theological Faculty, Charles University of Prague, Czech RepublicThe idea for the volume was kicked around at various international conferences on religion during the years leading up to the centenary of the 1910 World Missionary Conference, which is recognized as the birth of the modern ecumenical movement. Theologians from Europe and the US offer perspectives on contemporary ecumenical ecclesiology, communion ecclesiology and otherness, and ecclesiology in global contexts. Among their topics are reflecting on methods in contemporary ecumenical dialogues, theological resources for divided denominations, questions of ecclesial and divine communion, retrieving eucharistic ecclesiology, instruments of faith and unity in canon law in the Church of Nigeria constitutional revision of 2005, and the ecclesiological matrix of Japanese Christian activists in Japan and the US diaspora. -- Eithne O'Leyne * BOOK NEWS, Inc. *The essays vary widely in accessibility, style and scope, though the quality is high. They seek not to provide a single coherent perspective but to showcase the range of thinking from those who believe that serious study of ecclesiology can change the shape both of the Church's internal divisions and of its contribution to dangerously fragmented world. In that they succeed. -- David Goodbourn * Baptist Quarterly *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Contributors Preface Linda Hogan Introduction Gesa E. Thiessen Part I: Perspectives on Contemporary Ecumenical Ecclesiology 1. Driving the Haywain: Where Stands the Church 'catholic' Today? Gerard Mannion 2. Seeking Unity: Reflecting on Methods in Contemporary Ecumenical Dialogue Gesa E. Thiessen 3. The Struggle for an Organic, Conciliar and Diverse Church - Models of Church Unity in Earlier Stages of the Ecumenical Dialogue Miriam Haar 4. Church and Covenant: Theological Resources for Divided Denominations Edwin C. van Driel 5. Comprehensive Vision: The Ecumenical Potential of a Lost Ideal Andrew Pierce 6. Integrity, Alternative Aggressions, and Impaired Communion Wendy Dackson Part II: Communion Ecclesiology and Otherness 7. The Church and the 'Other': Questions of Ecclesial and Divine Communion Paul M. Collins 8. Being Church: A Critique of Zizioulas' Communion Ecclesiology Travis E. Ables 9. Retrieving Eucharistic Ecclesiology Radu Bordeianu 10. Communion Ecclesiology and Ecumenical Experience: Resources for Inner-Denominational Otherness Brian P. Flanagan 11. Evangelical Ecclesiology as an Answer to Ethnic Impaired Christian Community? An Inquiry into the Theology of Miroslav Volf Eddy Van der Borght Part III: Ecclesiology in Global Contexts 12. On Being a European Catholic: The Politics of Inclusion Encounters an Ecclesiology of Exclusion Julie Clague 13. Instruments of Faith and Unity in Canon Law: The Church of Nigeria Constitutional Revision of 2005 Evan Kuehn 14. Sacral Authority and Pastoral Ministry: A Shamanistic Inculturation of the Protestant Church in Korea Hak Joon Lee 15. Confucianism, Internationalism, Patriotism and Protestantism: The Ecclesiological Matrix of Japanese Christian Activists in Japan and the U.S. Diaspora Madeline Duntley Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisChristopher Hancock (PhD) is former Dean of Bradford Cathedral, UK, and is Director of the Centre for the Study of Christianity in China, King's College, London, UKTrade ReviewAn extraordinary piece of scholarship. It contains and constitutes an entire curriculum for comparative cultural studies, Confucian Christian dialogue, ecumenical theology, besides which it is beautifully written and a great pleasure to read. I expect that it will a fundamental part of the curriculum in Sino-Christian study programs. * Richard Madsen, University of California San Diego, USA *Hancock’s prodigious study of the long and multifarious relationship between China and the West constructs a vivid image of how intellectual and religious exchange between cultures equivocates, evolves, and harmonizes. This work brings together an impressive panoply of voices, from Confucius to Derrida, to illustrate how the global trade of ideas, as he puts it, has produced “millennia of mutual formation and interaction.” This deeply researched and lively work shall be among the most important contributions to our understanding of Sino-Western exchange. * Anthony E. Clark, Professor of Chinese History & Edward B. Lindaman Endowed Chair, Whitworth University, USA *One of the ways we make sense of the present is through narration of the past. Telling the story of the complex dialogue between China's Confucian tradition and Christianity is mutually illuminating: it provides a deep, historic sense of rootedness to the form and order of contemporary East-West engagement. Christopher Hancock offers several fascinating historical cameos of Confucian-Christian dialogue that make this volume of value to readers inside and outside the Academy. * Yang Huilin, Renmin University, Beijing, China *Christopher Hancock offers us a uniquely accessible, scholarly and comprehensive consideration of the interaction between Confucianism and Christianity. He rightly stresses that the mutual influence of China and the West is old and complex, involving much convergence, while not losing the fascination of the different. His focus on a shared Christian-Confucian link of a virtue-ethic with a unified transcendence and on the primacy of peaceful harmony opens out a space of hope for our single global future. * Alasdair John Milbank, University of Nottingham, UK *The common pursuit of human wisdom and the borrowings and insights shared between China and the West over two millennium stand out vividly in Christopher Hancock’s masterful cultural history of Christianity and Confucianism. The range and depth of the work are remarkable. The ideas of the ‘founding fathers’ of their respective cultures are discussed authoritatively and sympathetically, as are the issues and dilemmas – including the self, society, meaning and the afterlife – that thinkers in both ‘camps’ have wrestled with over the centuries. Here is wisdom writ large, the fruit of a global exchange in ideas all too easily overlooked at a time of rivalry and mutual incomprehension between China and the West. Hancock has made a major contribution in the history of ideas as well as the comparative study of cultures. * Graham Hutchings, Associate, Oxford University China Centre, UK *A rich treasure store which shows in particular how Europeans at the dawn of the modern era began to engage with the world view which has done so much to shape the Chinese identity. * STEPHEN GREEN, BARON GREEN OF HURSTPIERPOINT, UK *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Abbreviations Acknowledgements Preface Introduction: Images, Issues and Impressionism 1. Confucius, ‘The Master’, and Cultural Decay 2. Jesus, ‘The Christ’, and Spiritual Renewal 3. Heaven, Earth and ‘Harmony’ 4. Humanity, Society and the Search for Worth 5. Character, Purpose and Morality: China and Enlightenment Habits and Values 6. Truth and Truthfulness: The 19th-Century Crisis in China and the West 7. Memory, Rite and Tradition: The Chinese Origin of a Western Movement 8. Sickness, Death and the Afterlife: On Making Sense of Everything and Nothing Conclusion Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThere are those who say that the Reverend Sydney Smith ought to be made a saint of the Church of England. There are those who say that he jested away his chances of a mitre. There are those who simply read him and laugh. Sydney Smith was not only a humorist. He was a respected clergyman who worked steadily for Roman Catholic emancipation despite his own staunch Anglicanism. In 1802 he helped to found The Edinburgh Review, which became one of the most powerful journals in Britain. Lord Macaulay referred to him as The Smith of Smiths. Jane Austen is thought to have based Henry Tilner in Northanger Abbey on him. G. K. Chesterton was another of his admirers. This book gathers together a selection of Smith''s own writings together with extracts from his daughter''s biography of him. Arranged thematically, the passages deal with Home and Abroad, Politics, Social Evils, Education, Religion, and Health and Happiness. As well as Sydney''s renowned wit, the collection enshrines the wisdom of a m

Read more less

Book SynopsisEcumenical consciousness has not always been part of the Catholic experience. Frederick M. Bliss, S.M. traces how the concern for ecumenism came about_from uneasy tension to confidence in the true grace of catholicity. This new edition follows significant developments in dialogues with the Catholic Church up to 2006 and suggests likely trends of continuing change. It studies the forces that had an impact on the Second Vatican Council, forces that continue to steer the church into relationships with other Christian communities, other religions, and the world.Trade ReviewAccurate and up-to-date, consistently fair and always lucid, this book is essential reading for all aspiring ecumenists. Bliss's assessments of the many traditions described are a model of how slow but perceptible progress can be made toward the goal of the unity which is the Lord's will. The breadth and depth of Bliss's reading is striking and shows readers something of the work to be done. -- Bishop Richard Garrard, Past Director, The Anglican Centre in RomeFather Bliss's text is the work of a scholar and priest whose long-standing commitment to and involvement in ecumenical relations has given him a solid grasp of the 'culture of dialogue' that has emerged since Vatican II. Bliss writes from a particularly well-informed vantage point in providing an excellent overview of the Catholic Church's irrevocable commitment to full visible unity among all Christians, and his extensive consultation with theologians currently involved in international ecumenical dialogues makes this text a particularly valuable resource for all who are engaged in ecumenical activity. -- Father Donald Bolen, Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, RomeFather Bliss has done a great service to the teaching of ecumenism with this revision. He situates the modern ecumenical movement in the larger context of Christian history, allowing us to understand the contemporary dialogues in relation to the history of doctrine. -- Reverend Dr. Thomas A. Baima, Provost, University of Saint Mary of the Lake / Mundelein SeminaryFrederick M. Bliss's Catholic and Ecumenical is a welcome addition to the theological library....Its breadth of scope in treatment of Catholicism and other Christian traditions with which it relates serves a readership wider than most books on the ecumenical shelf. * The Catholic Historical Review, October 2008 *A professor of ecclesiology and ecumenism at St. Thomas University in Rome, Bliss has a superb command of his subject. He is also a master of summarizing complex history and material into concise, readable prose. He puts it all into historical context, so that any novice in the field can appreciate the revolutionary changes that have occurred in Catholicism since the mid-1960s. * Journal of Ecumenical Studies, Winter 2010 *Father Bliss has trained generations of ecumenists at the Angelicum in Rome and is generally thought to be one of the Church's real leaders in the field of ecumenical pedagogy. This new edition will be a standard reference work for all interested in ecumenism, and I recommend it very highly. -- Reverend Michael Seed, SA, Secretary, Ecumenical Commission, WestminsterTable of ContentsChapter 1 A Church to Change Chapter 2 A Changing Church Chapter 3 Uniform No Longer Chapter 4 Estranged Sisters Chapter 5 Reform to Reformation Chapter 6 Reformation in England Chapter 7 Leaning Toward the Future

Read more less

Book SynopsisEcumenical consciousness has not always been part of the Catholic experience. Frederick M. Bliss, S.M. traces how the concern for ecumenism came about_from uneasy tension to confidence in the true grace of catholicity. This new edition follows significant developments in dialogues with the Catholic Church up to 2006 and suggests likely trends of continuing change. It studies the forces that had an impact on the Second Vatican Council, forces that continue to steer the church into relationships with other Christian communities, other religions, and the world.Trade ReviewAccurate and up-to-date, consistently fair and always lucid, this book is essential reading for all aspiring ecumenists. Bliss's assessments of the many traditions described are a model of how slow but perceptible progress can be made toward the goal of the unity which is the Lord's will. The breadth and depth of Bliss's reading is striking and shows readers something of the work to be done. -- Bishop Richard Garrard, Past Director, The Anglican Centre in RomeFather Bliss's text is the work of a scholar and priest whose long-standing commitment to and involvement in ecumenical relations has given him a solid grasp of the 'culture of dialogue' that has emerged since Vatican II. Bliss writes from a particularly well-informed vantage point in providing an excellent overview of the Catholic Church's irrevocable commitment to full visible unity among all Christians, and his extensive consultation with theologians currently involved in international ecumenical dialogues makes this text a particularly valuable resource for all who are engaged in ecumenical activity. -- Father Donald Bolen, Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, RomeFather Bliss has done a great service to the teaching of ecumenism with this revision. He situates the modern ecumenical movement in the larger context of Christian history, allowing us to understand the contemporary dialogues in relation to the history of doctrine. -- Reverend Dr. Thomas A. Baima, Provost, University of Saint Mary of the Lake / Mundelein SeminaryFrederick M. Bliss's Catholic and Ecumenical is a welcome addition to the theological library....Its breadth of scope in treatment of Catholicism and other Christian traditions with which it relates serves a readership wider than most books on the ecumenical shelf. * The Catholic Historical Review, October 2008 *A professor of ecclesiology and ecumenism at St. Thomas University in Rome, Bliss has a superb command of his subject. He is also a master of summarizing complex history and material into concise, readable prose. He puts it all into historical context, so that any novice in the field can appreciate the revolutionary changes that have occurred in Catholicism since the mid-1960s. * Journal of Ecumenical Studies, Winter 2010 *Father Bliss has trained generations of ecumenists at the Angelicum in Rome and is generally thought to be one of the Church's real leaders in the field of ecumenical pedagogy. This new edition will be a standard reference work for all interested in ecumenism, and I recommend it very highly. -- Reverend Michael Seed, SA, Secretary, Ecumenical Commission, WestminsterTable of ContentsChapter 1 A Church to Change Chapter 2 A Changing Church Chapter 3 Uniform No Longer Chapter 4 Estranged Sisters Chapter 5 Reform to Reformation Chapter 6 Reformation in England Chapter 7 Leaning Toward the Future

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe twentieth century will forever be marked by the horrific event of the Shoah. As a young man, the future John Paul II witnessed this horror during the Nazi occupation of Poland. His pontificate achieved a number of groundbreaking steps in the Catholic Church''s relationship with the Jewish people. This book both reflects upon John Paul II''s achievements, and seeks to continue the theological and philosophical dialogue that he cherished. By examining together the words and deeds of John Paul II, eminent Jewish and Catholic scholars exemplify in this volume the dialogue that John Paul fostered. Together, Jews and Catholics can encourage each other in the tasks of knowing the Creator, living a life worthy of the created dignity that human beings possess, and defending the vulnerable among us. As Dostoevsky warned before the horrors of the twentieth century, without God, anything is permitted. Following in the footsteps of John Paul II, we discover that our search for meaning andTrade ReviewJews remember Pope John Paul II as the pope who considered Jews “elder brothers,” appreciated the significance of the Shoah, recognized Israel, and did more to repair Catholic-Jewish relations than any of his predecessors. This volume documents and analyzes the Pontiff’s remarkable relationship with the Jewish people. Its chapters, written by leading Catholic and Jewish thinkers, exemplify inter-religious dialogue at its best. -- Jonathan D. Sarna, Brandeis UniversityBrotherly relations between Jews and Christians are essential in our world today where strife and discord among various religions so prevails. This book is, then, a substantial, timely and welcomed contribution that positively advances this fraternal dialogue between Jews and Christians today. -- Thomas G. Weinandy, O.F.M., Cap., Capuchin CollegeThe deep respect and even admiration that many Jewish persons have expressed for the papacy of John Paul II is grounded in his tireless efforts to mend the terrible wound of Christian anti-Semitism. In this volume the reader is granted an in depth account of what animated the thought of this remarkable Pope. For his love for the Jewish people was not an idiosyncrasy of his own person but an expression of what he believed was a deep, but sadly obscured, truth of the Christian faith. -- Gary Anderson, Notre Dame UniversityThis remarkable book exemplifies the wisdom of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel who said, ‘Interfaith dialogue begins with faith.’ In these pages, the deepest differences are not ignored but respectfully engaged and imaginatively explored. -- Reverend Richard John Neuhaus, editor in chief of First ThingsThese essays ask the right questions and probe for satisfying answers. * American Catholic Studies, December 2008 *A valuable book of essays. * First Things *This is an important tribute to the late Pope, who exemplified amity and respect between irreducible claims of Jews and Catholics to heal centuries of teaching of contempt and suspicion. * American Reference Books Annual, March 2009 *Table of ContentsPart 1 Foreword Part 2 Introduction Part 3 Part I: Historical Reflections Chapter 4 Chapter 1: John Paul II: A Biblical Pilgrim in the World Chapter 5 Chapter 2: David G. Dalin Part 6 Part II: Ethical Reflections Chapter 7 Chapter 3: John Paul II and the Moral Ground of the Polis: Reclaiming the Jewish-Catholic Ground Chapter 8 Chapter 4: Natural Law and Divine Command: Some Thoughts on Veritatis Splendor Chapter 9 Chapter 5: The Asymmetrical Relation: Novak and Novak Part 10 Part III: Biblical-Systematic Reflections Chapter 11 Chapter 6: Reclaiming God's Providence: John Paul II and the Holy Land Chapter 12 Chapter 7: Elder Brothers: John Paul II's Teaching on the Jewish People as a Question to the Church Chapter 13 Chapter 8: "Man Is the Land": The Sacramentality of the Land of Israel

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe twentieth century will forever be marked by the horrific event of the Shoah. As a young man, the future John Paul II witnessed this horror during the Nazi occupation of Poland. His pontificate achieved a number of groundbreaking steps in the Catholic Church''s relationship with the Jewish people. This book both reflects upon John Paul II''s achievements, and seeks to continue the theological and philosophical dialogue that he cherished. By examining together the words and deeds of John Paul II, eminent Jewish and Catholic scholars exemplify in this volume the dialogue that John Paul fostered. Together, Jews and Catholics can encourage each other in the tasks of knowing the Creator, living a life worthy of the created dignity that human beings possess, and defending the vulnerable among us. As Dostoevsky warned before the horrors of the twentieth century, without God, anything is permitted. Following in the footsteps of John Paul II, we discover that our search for meaning andTrade ReviewJews remember Pope John Paul II as the pope who considered Jews “elder brothers,” appreciated the significance of the Shoah, recognized Israel, and did more to repair Catholic-Jewish relations than any of his predecessors. This volume documents and analyzes the Pontiff’s remarkable relationship with the Jewish people. Its chapters, written by leading Catholic and Jewish thinkers, exemplify inter-religious dialogue at its best. -- Jonathan D. Sarna, Brandeis UniversityBrotherly relations between Jews and Christians are essential in our world today where strife and discord among various religions so prevails. This book is, then, a substantial, timely and welcomed contribution that positively advances this fraternal dialogue between Jews and Christians today. -- Thomas G. Weinandy, O.F.M., Cap., Capuchin CollegeThe deep respect and even admiration that many Jewish persons have expressed for the papacy of John Paul II is grounded in his tireless efforts to mend the terrible wound of Christian anti-Semitism. In this volume the reader is granted an in depth account of what animated the thought of this remarkable Pope. For his love for the Jewish people was not an idiosyncrasy of his own person but an expression of what he believed was a deep, but sadly obscured, truth of the Christian faith. -- Gary Anderson, Notre Dame UniversityThis remarkable book exemplifies the wisdom of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel who said, ‘Interfaith dialogue begins with faith.’ In these pages, the deepest differences are not ignored but respectfully engaged and imaginatively explored. -- Reverend Richard John Neuhaus, editor in chief of First ThingsThese essays ask the right questions and probe for satisfying answers. * American Catholic Studies, December 2008 *A valuable book of essays. * First Things *This is an important tribute to the late Pope, who exemplified amity and respect between irreducible claims of Jews and Catholics to heal centuries of teaching of contempt and suspicion. * American Reference Books Annual, March 2009 *Table of ContentsPart 1 Foreword Part 2 Introduction Part 3 Part I: Historical Reflections Chapter 4 Chapter 1: John Paul II: A Biblical Pilgrim in the World Chapter 5 Chapter 2: David G. Dalin Part 6 Part II: Ethical Reflections Chapter 7 Chapter 3: John Paul II and the Moral Ground of the Polis: Reclaiming the Jewish-Catholic Ground Chapter 8 Chapter 4: Natural Law and Divine Command: Some Thoughts on Veritatis Splendor Chapter 9 Chapter 5: The Asymmetrical Relation: Novak and Novak Part 10 Part III: Biblical-Systematic Reflections Chapter 11 Chapter 6: Reclaiming God's Providence: John Paul II and the Holy Land Chapter 12 Chapter 7: Elder Brothers: John Paul II's Teaching on the Jewish People as a Question to the Church Chapter 13 Chapter 8: "Man Is the Land": The Sacramentality of the Land of Israel

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe ecumenical movement of the 20th century was a quest for unity born of a missionary concern for the world. Thus, from the beginning of present-day ecumenism, mission has been inextricably linked with unity. This volume explores the themes of unity, mission, and their relationship. Seventeen Roman Catholic and Protestant scholars offer essays in honour of George Vandervelde, a leading evangelical ecumenist from the Reformed tradition.Table of ContentsChapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Mission and Interpretation of Zechariah 8:20-23 Chapter 3 A Never-Ending Change: The Missionary Calling of the Church Chapter 4 Transformational Correlation: A Refomational Perspective on Cultural Theological Method in Conversation with David Tracy's and Paul Tillich's Correlational Approach Chapter 5 Global Culture Chapter 6 Multiple Religious Participation in China: A Philosophical Puzzle Chapter 7 Mission and Unity: The Theological Dynamic of Comity Chapter 8 Mission and Unity: Ecumenical, Reformed, and Migrant Perspectives Chapter 9 True Church and True Christians: Some Reflections on Calvinist Discernment Chapter 10 Unity: A Contribution from the Reformed Tradition Chapter 11 The Theological Significance of Friendship in the Ecumenical Movement Chapter 12 Memory, Salvation, and Perdition Chapter 13 Confessions and Ecumenicity: The Christian Reformed Church and Heidelberg Catechism 80 Chapter 14 Mission and Mystery: Gospel Testimony in Service to the World Chapter 15 International Dialogue Between Catholics and Evangelicals Since the Second Vatican Council Chapter 16 A Reflection on the Joint Declaration on Justification and the Reformed Tradition Chapter 17 John Paul II's Account of the Unity of Scholarship inFides et Ratio Chapter 18 Towards an Ecumenical Social Theory: Revisiting Herman Dooyeweerd's Critique of Thomism Chapter 19 Curriculum Vitae: George Vandervelde Chapter 20 Contributors

Read more less

Book SynopsisSince the time of bloody persecutions right up to the post-modern age, each historical period posed its particular challenge to Christianity. Psychologically, Christians'' vitality in overcoming these challenges came primarily from what is perhaps the deepest mystery of faith itselfthe believers'' union with God. The postmodern positivist questions this mystery, and rejects the possibility of communication with a non-sensorial and therefore non-existing God. Agnostics proclaim, One man''s religion, is another''s delusion. Therefore, the modern challenge for Christians is to explain how God, despite being invisible, is experientially present in the life of believers. Although the experience of living in a relationship with an invisible God is a profound one for Christians, it seems nonsensical to those who emphasize the primacy of sensory experience. Paul Ungar''s extensive scholarly training equips him remarkably well to explore where, when, how, and through which psychological functions communication with the spiritual God factually occur. Ungar''s The Mystery of Christian Faith: A Tangible Union with the Invisible God is an apologetic work on the borderline of theology, psychology and philosophy. It is written for Christian intellectuals regardless of their denominational background and rationally demonstrates what François Mauriac''s hauntingly poetic expression, Nothing is more alien than living in a Godless world, and nothing is closer to humans than God.Table of ContentsPart 1 Preface Part 2 Acknowledgement Part 3 Who is God? – What are God's "Personal Characteristics" as they Emerge from a Biblical Description? Chapter 4 Introductory Clarifications Chapter 5 Concepts Preceding God's Self-Revelation Chapter 6 Ideas of God's Personality in the Old Testament Chapter 7 The Personality of God as Revealed by Jesus Christ Chapter 8 Further Characteristics of God, the "Quite Other" Chapter 9 God's Personality: Witnessing after Jesus' Ascension Chapter 10 The Definition of God's Personality Part 11 The Anthropological Characteristics that Enable Believers' Communication with the Biblical God Chapter 12 The Problem Arising from God's Transcendence Chapter 13 What Happened to Thomas? Chapter 14 What Can We Establish from the Biblical Account of Thomas' Conversion? Chapter 15 How Did Thomas Experience the Reality of Jesus' Resurrection? Chapter 16 The "Missing Link" between Believers' Conscience and the Spiritual God Chapter 17 Theologians' and Philosophers' Explanations Chapter 18 Biblical Revelation about the Spirit, the Soul, and Conscience Chapter 19 Conscience from an Experiential Perspective Part 20 How Does the Genuine Seeker Psychologically Experience the Reality to Which the Bible Bears Witness? Chapter 21 An Experiential Discernment of Faith Chapter 22 Can the Human Mind Register That Which is Scientifically Immeasurable? Chapter 23 The Concept of Transempirical Discernment Chapter 24 The Epistemology of Faith: How Do We Know that We Have Faith? Chapter 25 The Criteria for the Accuracy of Transempirical Recognition Chapter 26 Transempirical Recognition of the Truth and Values Chapter 27 Plurality in Discernment, Its Relevance to Faith Questions, and a New Chance for Ecumenism Chapter 28 The Transempirical and Faith Dynamics in Religious Fanatics Chapter 29 Are Non-Religious People Really Less Happy than People of Faith? Chapter 30 Revisiting Thomas' Conversion Part 31 Living in a Tangible Union with the Invisible God Chapter 32 The Need for New Apologetics Chapter 33 What Might We Understand by God's Call? Chapter 34 God's Most Paradoxical Calls: Angst and Suffering Chapter 35 A Paradoxical Pattern in the Personal Calls of Our Lord Chapter 36 The Human Response to God's Call: When Does Mature Faith Begin? Chapter 37 The Transempirically Experienced Presence of God in Mature Belief Chapter 38 God's Personal Characteristics: His Love Chapter 39 God's Personal Characteristics: "The Almighty, Eternal, and Ultimate" Chapter 40 The Phenomenon of Jesus Christ: The Common Experience Behind the Biblical and the Transempirical Chapter 41 Conclusion Part 42 Bibliography Part 43 Index Part 44 About the Author

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe relationship between John Wesley and George Whitefield has often been viewed as suffering from irreconcilable theological differences. In fact, for several years, the relationship between these two leaders of the revival of the Christian faith in eighteenth-century England was strained almost to the breaking point. Whitefield, a Calvinist, believed that each individual who ever lived was either destined for the glories of heaven or the horrors of hell due to an irrevocable decree of God. Wesley on the other hand argued that each person has placed before them two options: either to accept God''s forgiveness or to reject it in favor of following one''s own way. Most books in the past have focused on these John Wesley''s and George Whitefield''s differences, but what has been overlooked is the lasting friendship between these two men, which, after a brief period of separation, was restored for the sake of the continuation of the revival movement on two continents. Catholic Spirit: WTrade ReviewVery well researched.... Researchers of Methodism, the Church of England in this period, and of the two preachers will find this volume to be valuable. * American Reference Books Annual *In Catholic Spirit, James L. Schwenk provides a thoughtful and accessible reevaluation of the relationship between the two leading lights of eighteenth century British Methodism, John Wesley and George Whitefield…. This brief work offers some valuable insights for those interested in this significant period of early Methodism…. His account illuminates one example of a recurring theme in evangelical history that requires further analysis, perhaps using approaches from sociology and psychology: the tendency for a strong commitment to the notion of unity to be accompanied by extremely bitter divisions. * Wesley and Methodist Studies *Table of ContentsPart 1 Foreword Part 2 Editor's Preface Part 3 Acknowledgments Chapter 4 1. Catholic Spirit in a Time of Change Chapter 5 2. Catholic Spirit: The Quest for Common Ground Chapter 6 3. The Quest for Common Ground Outside Methodism Chapter 7 4. The Quest for Common Ground Within Methodism Part 8 List of Sources Part 9 Index Part 10 About the Author

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn an unprecedented interreligious conference in November 2014, Pope Francis and four hundred religious leaders and scholars from around the world met in Rome to explore what their diverse faiths teach about marriage and the complementarity of man and woman.This book contains the most representative presentations at that closely followed event, Humanum: An International Interreligious Colloquium, which included Catholic, Evangelical, Anglican, Pentecostal, Eastern Orthodox, Anabaptist, Mormon, Jewish, Muslim, Jain, Buddhist, and Hindu delegates. Contributors bring the wisdom of their various faiths and cultures to bear on this timely issue, examining, celebrating, and illustrating the natural union of man and woman in marriage as a universal cornerstone of healthy families, communities and societies.With broad global representation, Not Just Good, but Beautiful uses fresh language and images to highlight the beauty and benefits of marriage. Contributors do not represent political parties, but speak from their religious, intellectual, and cultural knowledge and experiences.Trade ReviewI pray that this colloquium will be an inspiration to all who seek to support and strengthen the union of man and woman in marriage as a unique, natural, fundamental, and beautiful good for persons, communities, and whole societies. -- Pope FrancisWe stand and speak not with clenched fists or with wringing hands, but with the open hearts of those who have a message and a mission. -- Russell D. MooreYou see, truth is still truth, no matter how many people doubt it. I may deny the law of gravity, but it doesn't change gravity. And just because we break God's laws, that does not invalidate them. A lie doesn’t become a truth and wrong doesn't become right and evil doesn't become good just because it’s popular. -- Rick Warren

Read more less

Book SynopsisMy Share of God's Reward refers to a quote from Ignatius of Antioch, speaking of the desired compensation for his impending martyrdom. The author investigates the roles and widely varying conceptions of the afterlife presented in early Christian martyrdom accounts and concludes that personal immortality is integral to the functioning of these texts, as the anticipated reward for a martyr's death. Accordingly, the very diverse conceptions of the afterlife presented in them are indicative of the frequently ignored theological diversity and experimental spirit prevalent in both early Christianity and late Second Temple Judaism. The discussion also incorporates a unique definition of martyrdom that recognizes the genealogical and developmental connections between Christian martyrdom and its antecedents.Trade Review«L. Arik Greenberg connects early Jewish and Christian martyrdoms closely with Graeco-Roman noble death traditions and offers a fresh analysis of the nexus of martyrdom and personal immortality.» (Jan Willem van Henten, University of Amsterdam) «L. Arik Greenberg has probed all the sources of Early Judaism and Early Christianity, as well as the necessary classical and hellenistic sources to offer a comprehensive view of ancient attitudes toward the noble death and martyrdom. It will serve students well for decades to come as a resource to understand ancient attitudes about martyrdom.» (James A. Sanders, Professor Emeritus, Claremont School of Theology and Claremont Graduate University, California)

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe term charism is drawn originally from Pauline literature and refers to a gift given by the Spirit for the upbuilding of the body of Christ. Since the mid-twentieth century, Christians from a broad spectrum of theological positions have applied this term, in varying ways, to groups within the Church. However, no book thus far has provided a rigorous and sustained critical investigation of this idea of ecclesial charisms. In Division, Diversity, and Unity, James E. Pedlar provides such an investigation, drawing on biblical and systematic theology as well as literature on church renewal and ecumenism. Against those who justify denominational separation in order to preserve particular gifts of the Spirit, Pedlar insists that the theology of charisms supports visible, organic unity as the ecumenical ideal. Division, Diversity, and Unity argues that the theology of ecclesial charisms can account for legitimately diverse specialized vocational movements in the Church butTrade Review«James E. Pedlar provides something rarely seen in ecumenical literature: robust theology that is grounded in the actual life of churches. His lucid treatment of ecclesial charism as a reality designed for the whole Church, in its unity, rather than as the ground and justification for church division, is challenging and compelling. Watching his biblical and systematic arguments play themselves out in the lives of Catholic and Salvation Army mission is exciting and sobering, and should cause a rethinking of several major missionary and ecumenical assumptions in our day. This is a stellar and important contribution.» (Ephraim Radner, Professor of Historical Theology, Wycliffe College, University of Toronto) «James E. Pedlar’s Division, Diversity, and Unity synthesizes resources from biblical studies, ecumenism, theologies of charism, especially as developed among Catholic religious orders since Vatican II, and sociology into a creative and fresh constructive theology of ecclesial charisms. The Salvation Army and the Paulist Fathers offer Pedlar two very disparate and intriguing historical test cases. His argument that a theology of ecclesial charisms supports specialized vocational movements within the church but not separate churches is sure to provoke ecumenical discussion and help revive hopes for the ecumenical goal of visible, organic Christian unity.» (William L. Portier, Mary Ann Spearin Chair of Catholic Theology, University of Dayton)Table of ContentsContents: A Biblical Theology of Charisms – Charism and Institution – Charisms and Movements – Charisms, Unity, Diversity, and Division – The Charism of the Founder – The Formation of the Movement – The Movement in the Church – Ongoing Interpretation of the Charism – Historical and Ecumenical Implications.

Read more less

Book SynopsisBy the end of the twentieth century, ecumenism's deteriorating state had become evident. This deterioration can be attributed to many causes, however, the erstwhile German ecumenist Dr. Gerhard Ebeling's rancorous, public debate among theologians in Germany in 1998 over the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification remains a contributing factor in its decline. Through an investigation of Ebeling's systematic theology and his lifelong examination of the theology of Martin Luther, much of which is based upon German texts not translated into English, Scott A. Celsor identifies the hermeneutical and ontological concerns at the heart of Ebeling's objection to the Joint Declaration. Consequently, this book provides scholars with ardent historical insights into the bitter, public debate in Germany over the Joint Declaration in addition to critical insights into the hermeneutical and ontological objections that some evangelicals still lodge against it. ThTable of ContentsContents: The Adoption and Reception Process of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification – Ecumenism, Church, and Doctrine: The Broader Context of Ebeling's Hermeneutical Theology – The Doctrine of Justification, According to Gerhard Ebeling: A Study in the Hermeneutical Anthropology of Martin Luther – The Hermeneutical Justification for Gerhard Ebeling's Rejection of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification – The Legacy of Gerhard Ebeling's Hermeneutical Theology upon the Reception of the Joint Declaration and the Future of Lutheran/Roman Catholic Dialogue.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book, entitled Conversations on Fethullah Gülen and the Hizment Movement: Dreaming for a Better World, is intended to represent an open perspective on the influence of the Hizmet Movement, including Fethullah Gülen in particular, on the theme of dreaming for a better world, based on a variety of Christian and Muslim world views. This theme is approached from three specific perspectives: education and an emphasis on interfaith and intercultural dialogue, a comparison of various spiritualties, and a consideration of the shared dreams of the two religions.The essays in this volume are adapted from talks presented by eleven authors from Canada and the United States at the Gülen Symposium at Carleton University in October 2009. The panel discussion that followed the individual presentations enhanced the overall theme of dreaming for a better world. The symposium as a whole represented the positive potential that there is for the organization of forums of sharing that focus on this themTrade ReviewSpirituality has gained a momentum in post-modern times and societies, and this book explains how an Islamic spirituality is renewed in different areas by examining Turkish Muslim scholar Fethullah Gülen’s ideas on education and dialogue. The role of faith-inspired movements in advocating the relevance of spirituality in modern debates and issues is demonstrated in this book. The book also translates the fascinating comparative examples into larger modern problems facing communities across the globe. This is a comprehensive analysis of one of the most influential Muslim scholars and thinkers’ idea on spiritual action and thought. -- Erkan Toguslu, Katholieke Universiteit LeuvenTable of ContentsPart I: The Gülen (Hizmet) Movement Education Model and Interfaith/Intercultural Dialogue 1. Ethics in Engineering and Science: Fethullah Gülen’s Model, Yetkin Yildirim 2. Peace Begins With You and Me, Marla Bryant Part II: Gülen (Hizmet) Movement Spirituality Comparisons 3. Fethullah Gülen and Fr. Basil Moreau: Sowing the Seeds for Religious Tolerance and Dialogue, James Puglisi 4. The Color of God, Whitney Bodman 5. Seeking the Lower Place: A Dialogue Between Fethullah Gülen’s Understanding of Sufism and Franciscan Spirituality, Edward L. Shirley 6. Weaving Spiritual Diversity to Enhance Personal and Community Growth, Peter Barnes 7. Fethullah Gülen: An Islamic Ethic for Contemporary Society, Gregory Baum Part III: The Dreams Shared by the Gülen (Hizmet) Movement 8. A Muslim and Christian Interfaith Imperative: Stewardship of Creation Islam in the Contemporary World: The Fethullah Gülen Movement in Thought and Practice, Brice Balmer 9. Ottomanism and Fethullah Gülen: From Utopia to Reality, Dimitri Kitsikis 10. The Way of Dialogue and the Gülen Movement, M. Darrol Bryant 10. Dreaming for a Better World: Foreward to the Conference of October 24th, 2009, Angela Sumegi

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this book, scholars representing six faith traditions explore what wisdom means, why and how it should be shared, and what specific wisdoms their tradition should share with and receive from other faiths, with special emphasis on love and forgiveness.Trade ReviewReligious leaders often come together for a statement of their respective beliefs seeking a false satisfaction that they are working for world peace by a disparate series of talks meant to only emphasize differences among faith traditions. This book is a welcome departure from such meaningless exercises and hopes to create a tradition of “sharing wisdom” among the followers of different world religions.... Sharing Wisdom is not a simplistic putting together of the beliefs of different faith traditions but a systematic approach to bring about a culture of actively sharing wisdom without sacrificing the unique features of a particular faith tradition but trying to absorb more from the others. * Reading Religion *Alon Goshen-Gottstein has assembled a collection of gem-like essays on the theme of ‘sharing wisdom,’ with contributions from brilliant scholars on the nature of wisdom and whether it can be shared outside the traditions, in Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism, with a fine summary essay by the editor. The authors are critically sharp about the real differences among the traditions and work hard, as the result of working together, to address one another’s concerns. Love and forgiveness seem to be common conditions for sharing, though even these are interpreted in interestingly different ways. This volume is accessible to beginners and enlighteningly fresh for scholars. -- Robert Neville, Boston University, Past President of the American Academy of ReligionHow can religions engage with each other in a way that not only respects each other's integrity but also draws on their depths and brings them into fruitful conversation? Sharing Wisdom is a remarkable response to that question. The distinguished authors together tackle a series of difficult questions posed to their traditions, and they succeed in opening up a wisdom of multiple depths that resonate with each other. There are differences as well as agreements, but the outcome is to enhance mutual understanding and inspire both further conversation and practical collaboration. Alon Goshen-Gottstein has drawn the strands together with profound sensitivity and perceptiveness. He is now one of a very small number of senior global interfaith statesmen and stateswomen. Through the work of the Elijah Interfaith Institute, together with many publications, he offers a vision of how to bring religions together for good in ways that address some of the greatest challenges of the twenty-first century. -- David F. Ford, University of CambridgeTable of Contents1. A Christian Perspective, Miroslav Volf 2. A Hindu Perspective, Anantanand Rambachan 3. A Sikh Perspective, Pal Ahluwalia 4. A Buddhist Perspective, Sallie B. King 5. A Muslim Perspective, Timothy Gianotti 6. A Jewish Perspective, Meir Sendor 7. Sharing Wisdom: A Composite Picture, Alon Goshen-Gottstein

Read more less