History of religion Books

Book SynopsisSpanish monarchs recognized the jurisdictions of many self-governing corporate groups, including Jews and Muslims on the peninsula, indigenous peoples in their American colonies, and enslaved and free people of African descent across the empire. Republics of Difference examines fifteenth-century Seville and sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Lima to show how religiously- and racially-based self-governance functioned in a society with many kinds of law, what effects it had on communities, and why it mattered. By comparing these minoritized communities on both sides of the Spanish Atlantic world, this study offers a new understanding of the distinct standings of those communities in their urban settings. Drawing on legal and commercial records from late medieval Spain and colonial Latin America, Karen B. Graubart paints insightful portraits of residents'' everyday lives to underscore the discriminatory barriers as well as the occupational structures, social hierarchies, and networks in wTrade ReviewRepublics of Difference is an ambitious and compelling study of the Iberian republic as a tool for managing religious and cultural difference and as a unit of self-governance for legal minorities. Through meticulous transatlantic analysis across a broad swath of time, Graubart reveals the fungibility of the republic as imperial strategy while underscoring how leaders and residents of diverse republics mobilized notions of difference for their own ends. Her argument that republics catalyzed early modern legal pluralism and racial thinking in the Atlantic world represents a landmark contribution to multiple fields of history. * Yanna Yannakakis, Emory University *Jurisdiction is the fabric of power. Graubart's book delves into the question of what happens when two jurisdictions—for instance, one of Indian laborers and officials living in a walled city, another one founded in colonial rule and Jesuit ideas of work—overlap. Republics of Difference demonstrates both the jurisdictional and institutional creativity of imperial subjects and the ways in which colonial rule kept such creativity at bay. * Jesús R. Velasco, author of Dead Voice: Law, Philosophy, and Fiction in the Iberian Middle Ages *Republics of Difference is a fascinating transatlantic discussion of the role of self-governing republics as a tool not only for managing distinctive subgroups within the Iberian empire, but also for self-preservation for racial and religious minorities...Using an impressive array of legal and commercial records from both sides of the Atlantic, Graubart demonstrates how disenfranchised groups in Seville and Lima employed the distinction and legal status of a republic to preserve their own identity and exert agency within the Spanish Empire at the same time that the empire attempted to use republics to reinforce imperial control. This work is enhanced through the extensive use of GIS to cartographically present...statistical analysis. This well-written study makes important contributions to discussions of race, identity, and self-governance in the Spanish Empire, as well as to broader discussions within Atlantic studies. * Choice *

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Book SynopsisThe Roman emperor Julian (361-363) was raised as a Christian, but soon after apostatized, and, during his short reign, attempted to revive paganism. This provoked the anger of the Christians, who raised accusations against him as a persecutor. In The Last Pagan Emperor, these claims are carefully investigated.Trade ReviewAn impeccably scholarly work. It establishes in great detail, and with a certain dry humor, the fact that most of the martyrdoms said to have been undergone by Christians during the reign of the apostate emperor were mere fairy tales invented by Christians of a later age. * Peter Brown, New York Review of Books *The book is written in an easy-to-read prose that will please students and scholars alike, whether familiar or not with the characters and texts treated. Almost fifty pages of notes, sixty-six of bibliography, and a useful index close the book. ... In summary, the book is a major contribution to the late antique debate of the conflict between paganism and Christianity as it engages in topics which until not so long ago were nearly undeniable * Marco Alviz Fernández, Bryn Mawr Classical Review *The author's explication of the troublesome ancient sources (such as Christian apologetics and letters) particularly impresses. This book [explains] everything clearly and pleasantly without requiring specialized knowledge. An excellent introduction to this period and its personalities. ... Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries. * T. Doran, CHOICE *It is about time someone put the myth of Julian the Persecutor to rest. Teitler does it with style, authority, and some well-placed humor. There is an enormous amount of erudition packed into these pages, yet they unfold at a measured, almost leisurely pace. The result is a study that is both highly informative and highly accessible. It is that rare combination of a lively and readable text with thorough documentation. * H. A. Drake, University of California, Santa Barbara *In the reign of Julian religious tensions ran high. Teitler reveals how the flashpoints these created were magnified and distorted in their retelling by later Christian authors. From this book emerges a much clearer picture of late antiquity's most enigmatic emperor. * Noel Lenski, Yale University *Teitler offers a compelling, vivid, and readable portrait of the life and legacy of the emperor Julian. He traces Julian's path from Christianity to paganism, explains the careful measures the emperor took to shift the religious landscape of the Roman world, and shows how Christian contemporaries unfairly redefined Julian as a persecuting tyrant. This book provides an exciting new way to understand the mind of Rome's last pagan emperor as well as the world that shaped our modern views of Julian's unique legacy. * Edward Watts, University of California, San Diego *Teitler has pulled off the trick of exculpating Julian of anti-Christian pogroms in a fully evidenced and highly accessible text -- a page-turner, in fact. He does not, of course, suggest that there were not attacks on Christians -- simply that there was no Julianic programme of religious cleansing. Indeed, we see Julian upbraiding those who would indulge in torture and execution on the grounds that the worst you could do is deny a would-be saint martyrdom ... The reviewer has no hesitation in recommending this book to all readers * Adrian Spooner, Classics for All *Table of ContentsList of Abbreviations Map of the Near East in the Time of Julian Introduction I Julian's Apostasy II Constantine and the Christians III A Fleeting Cloud? IV George of Cappadocia V Artemius VI Pagan Temples and Christian Churches VII Sacrifices to the Gods VIII Julian's School Edict: a Form of Persecution? IX Basil of Ancyra X Idols and Psalm-Singing XI Julian and his Uncle Julianus XII Caesarea and Gaza XIII Eugenius and Macarius XIV The Banner of the Cross XV Chrysostom and Julian XVI To the End and Beyond XVII Elophius XVIII Praise and Blame Chronological Outline Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisAs the site of only a small and obscure Christian population between 135 and 313 CE, Jerusalem witnessed few instances of anti-Christian persecution. This fact became a source of embarrassment to the city in late antiquitya period when martyr traditions, relics, and shrines were closely intertwined with local prestige. At that time, the city had every incentive to stretch the fame of its few, apostolic martyrs as far as possible-especially the fame of the biblical St. Stephen, the figure traditionally regarded as the first Christian martyr (Acts 6-8). What the church lacked in the quantity of its martyrs, it believed it could compensate for in an exclusive, local claim to the figure widely hailed as the Protomartyr, firstborn of the martyrs, and chief of confessors in contemporary sources. This book traces the rise of the cult of Stephen in Jerusalem, exploring such historical episodes as the fabrication of his relics, the construction of a grand basilica in his honour, and the multiplication of the saint''s feast days. It argues that local church authorities promoted devotion to Stephen in the fifth century in a conscious attempt to position him as a patron saint for Jerusalemthat is, a symbolic embodiment of the city''s Christian identity and power.

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Book SynopsisWhy Baby Boomers Turned from Religion takes an in-depth look at the generation of post-WWII babies who came of age in the 1960s, and how they acted as a transitional generation between religious parents and non-religious children and grandchildren, forged different practices and sites of meaning, morality, community, and transcendence.Trade ReviewIt has great relevance to Catholic readers. * Pierre Hegy, Catholic Books Review *This book focuses exclusively on baby boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) from the UK and Canada who left the Anglican Church... The book concludes with a discussion of what those who left do believe. * Choice *

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Book SynopsisWe may think of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament as the only sacred writings of the early Christians, but this is not at all the case. Lost Scriptures offers an anthology of up-to-date and readable translations of many non-canonical writings from the centuries after Christ--texts that have for the most part been neglected or lost for nearly two millennia. Here is an array of remarkably varied writings from early Christian groups whose visions of Jesus differ dramatically from our contemporary understanding. Readers will find Gospels supposedly authored by the apostle Philip, James the brother of Jesus, Mary Magdalen, and others. There are Acts originally ascribed to John and to Thecla, Paul''s female companion; there are Epistles allegedly written by Paul to the Roman philosopher Seneca. And there is an apocalypse by Simon Peter that offers a guided tour of the afterlife, both the glorious ecstasies of the saints and the horrendous torments of the damned, and an Epistle by TTrade Review"History, it's often said, is written by the victors. Bart Ehrman argues in a pair of intriguing new books that the same could be said of the Bible's New Testament. That Ehrman makes his case without pushing into territory considered heretical by many mainstream Christians shows a deft touch with the most volatile of subjects.... Will shock more than a few lay readers."--The Boston Globe"Lost Scriptures provides a good sample of the literature and illustrates nicely the complex and often exotic world of second- and third-century Christianity.... The texts presented in Ehrman's anthology and his incisive analyses of them constitute a solid contribution to showing the diversity of thought and practice within early Christianity."--America"A companion to Lost Christianities, this volume provides substantial selections from over three dozen of the Gospels, Acts, Epistles, Apocalypses and revelatory treatises not included in the New Testament canon, but which reveal the diverse and competing forms of early Christianity. Ehrman's introductions helpfully situate the documents in their presumed original settings. An invaluable collection of texts for both students of early Christianity and general readers."--Elizabeth A. Clark, John Carlisle Kilgo Professor, Duke University"Fresh authoritative translations of the texts that fell outside in the canon."--Christian Science MonitorTable of ContentsGeneral Introduction ; NON-CANONICAL GOSPELS ; The Gospel of the Nazareans ; The Gospel According to the Ebionites ; The Gospel According to the Hebrews ; The Gospel According to the Egyptians ; The Coptic Gospel of Thomas ; Papyrus Egerton 2: The Unknown Gospel ; The Gospel of Peter ; The Gospel of Mary ; The Gospel of Philip ; The Gospel of Truth ; The Gospel of the Savior ; The Infancy Gospel of Thomas ; The Proto-Gospel of James ; The Epistle of the Apostles ; The Coptic Apocalypse of Peter ; The Second Treatise of Great Seth ; The Secret Gospel of Mark ; NON-CANONICAL ACTS OF THE APOSTLES ; The Acts of John ; The Acts of Paul ; The Acts of Thecla ; The Acts of Thomas ; The Acts of Peter ; NON-CANONICAL EPISTLES AND RELATED WRITINGS ; The Third Letter to the Corinthians ; Correspondence of Paul and Seneca ; Paul's Letter to the Laodiceans ; The Letter of 1 Clement ; The Letter of 2 Clement ; The "Letter of Peter to James" and its "Reception" ; The Homilies of Clement ; Ptolemy's Letter to Flora ; The Treatise of the Resurrection ; The Didache: The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles ; The Letter of Barnabas ; The Preachings of Peter ; Pseudo-Titus ; NON-CANONICAL APOCALYPSES AND REVELATORY TREATISES ; The Shepherd of Herman ; The Apocalypse of Peter ; The Apocalypse of Paul ; The Secret Book of John ; On the Origin of the World ; The First Thought in Three Forms ; The Hymn of the Pearl ; CANONICAL LISTS ; The Muratorian Canon ; The Canon of Origen of Alexandria ; The Canon of Eusebius ; The Canon of Athansius of Alexandria ; The Canon at the Third Synod of Carthage

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Book SynopsisWhen Near Becomes Far explores the representations and depictions of old age in the rabbinic Jewish literature of late antiquity (150-600 CE). Through close literary readings and cultural analysis, the book reveals the gaps and tensions between idealized images of old age on the one hand, and the psychologically, physiologically, and socially complicated realities of aging on the other hand. The authors argue that while rabbinic literature presents a number of prescriptions related to qualities and activities that make for good old age, the respect and reverence that the elderly should be awarded, and harmonious intergenerational relationship, it also includes multiple anecdotes and narratives that portray aging in much more nuanced and poignant ways. These anecdotes and narratives relate, alongside fantasies about blissful or unnoticeable aging, a host of fears associated with old age: from the loss of physical capability and beauty to the loss of memory and mental acuity, and from marginalization in the community to being experienced as a burden by one''s children. Each chapter of the book focuses on a different aspect of aging in the rabbinic world: bodily appearance and sexuality, family relations, intellectual and cognitive prowess, honor and shame, and social roles and identity. As the book shows, in their powerful and sensitive treatments of aging, rabbinic texts offer some of the richest and most audacious observations on aging in ancient world literature, many of which still resonate today.Trade ReviewNuanced and detailed ... the volume will be primarily useful to those familiar with the critical study of rabbinic texts. * J. S. Kaminsky, CHOICE *While this most engagingly written book would be a natural for an academic library, members of a synagogue library would certainly significantly expand their intellectual horizons through an encounter with this volume ... Reading When Near Becomes Far will challenge the reader of whatever age to question their assumptions as to the meaning of old age, societal expectations of the aged, and what the Talmudic writings have to truly teach. * Mindy C. Reiser, Association of Jewish Libraries News and Reviews *In this insightful study on old age in rabbinic literature, Balberg and Weiss give the rabbis' kaleidoscopic and multi-layered look... When Near Becomes Far contributes substantially to rabbinic studies in terms of its topic and the analysis of rabbinic texts. * Michail Kitsos, Religious Studies Review *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction 1. Like Two Fountains: Fluidity, Sexuality, and the Aging Body 2. Squawk to Them Like Roosters: Aging Parents and their Children 3. I Am Not Old: Age and Agelessness in the Study House 4. Raise My Eyes for Me: Gazing at Old Age 5. Running at Dusk: Anonymity and Identity in Old Age Epilogue Bibliography Source Index Subject Index

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewOne of Christianity Today's 100 Books of the CenturySuperb...to be recommended to all students of early twentieth-century culture and religion. * American Historical Review *Scholarship at its best. * Religious Studies Review *Marsden reveals a great deal of history, showing the origins, development and growth of evangelicalism and fundamentalism. His is a focused yet broad scholarly work that has stood the test of time, a worthwhile history resource on fundamentalism in America. * Congregational Libraries Today *Table of ContentsPreface to the Third Edition Introduction Part One Before Fundamentalism I. Evangelical America at the Brink of Crisis II. The Paths Diverge III. D. L. Moody and a New American Evangelism Part Two The Shaping of a Coalition This Age and the Millennium IV. Prologue: The Paradox of Revivalist Fundamentalism V. Two Revisions of Millennialism VI. Dispensationalism and the Baconian Ideal VII. History, Society, and the Church Holiness VIII. The Victorious Life IX. The Social Dimensions of Holiness X.

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Book SynopsisIn 1908, Unitarian pastor Bertrand Thompson observed the momentous growth of the labor movement with alarm. Socialism, he wrote, has become a distinct substitute for the church. He was not wrong.In the generation after the Civil War, few of the migrants who moved North and West to take jobs in factories and mines had any association with traditional Protestant denominations. In the place of church, workers built a labor movement around a shared commitment to a Christian commonwealth. They demanded an expanded local, state and federal infrastructure which supported collective bargaining for better pay, shorter work-days, and an array of municipal services. Protestant clergy worried that if the labor movement kept growing in momentum and cultural influence, socialist policies would displace the need for churches and their many ministries to the poor. Even worse, they feared that the labor movement would render the largest Protestant denominations a relic of the nineteenth century.In The Trade ReviewWith astonishing archival findings and narrative lucidity, The Gospel of Church supplies a beautiful primer on the religious debates that originate the modern labor movement. Janine Drake exposes how Christian leaders turned against union organizing to preserve their universalizing hold on the moral order. This is a book appears just as socialism experiences a revitalized presence in public conversation and Christian nationalism is on the rise. Required reading for activists, agitators, educators, and historians who want to understand when and why so many American Christians got scared of strikes. * Kathryn Lofton, author of Consuming Religion *Janine Giordano Drake's revelatory book will lead readers to a new understanding of the church as a site of political contest in the early 20th century. A feat of research and scholarship, her account of religion, class, and politics will help scholars gain a deeper understanding of Christianity as a social force- one that has reshaped the political landscape with implications reaching to the present day. * Kimberly Kather Phillips-Fein, author of Invisible Hands: The Businessmen's Crusade Against the New Deal *Janine Giordano Drake skillfully and effectively tells the story of how protestant ministers, organized into the Federal Council of Churches and motivated by wider Social Gospel commitments, suppressed working class movements in support of socialism and industrial unions. Her well-documented argument shows how Protestant ministers and the FCC, between 1908 and 1920, used notions of Christian justice to strengthen their own power and public presence while weakening unions and voices on the working-class religious left. Her work bridges scholarship in the fields of labor and religious history and speaks to important political developments that reverberate to this day. * Randi Storch, author of Red Chicago: American Communism at Its Grassroots, 1928-35 *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: Gilded Age Churches and the Vacuum of Denominational Authority Chapter 2: Christianity and the American Commonwealth Chapter 3: Planting the Church of Social Democracy: Socialism and Christian Socialism in the Socialist Party of America Chapter 4: Between Religion and Politics: Christian Socialists and the Socialist Party Chapter 5: Socialism and the Limits of American Protestantism Chapter 6: Reframing the Moral Lessons of the Labor Movement Chapter 7: Charles Stelzle's Labor Temple and the Constested Boundaries of American Religion Chapter 8: The Great War and the Victory of White Protestant Clergy Chapter 9: The Interchurch World Movement and the Christening of the Open Shop Afterword: On the Heroic Narrative of Christian Social Service

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Book SynopsisPeople of the Screen traces the history of Bible software app development, showing the unique and powerful role evangelical entrepreneurs and coders have played in shaping its functionality and how their choices in turn shape the reading habits of millions of people around the world.Trade ReviewA fascinating, inside view from a scholar and programmer of the promise and perils of digital technology for Bible readers, and of the people behind the effort. Exciting stuff! And a valuable addition to understanding the Bible for readers today. * Kristin M. Swenson, author of A Most Peculiar Book: The Inherent Strangeness of the Bible *Digital Bibles aren't just the wave of the future. They're the past and the present. And their growing use has tremendous implications for Christian publishing, worship, training, and devotional experience. With a rare combination of beautiful prose and a programmer's expertise, John Dyer explores the fascinating history (longer than you think) of digital Bibles, where they fit in the Christian publishing economy, and their future influence on the Christian church. This is a must-read book for every serious student of 'the Bible' in all its various forms. * Samuel L. Perry, Professor of Sociology and Religious Studies, University of Oklahoma *People of the Screen is a marvelous work of scholarship. John Dyer charts new and much-needed territory in our understanding of evangelicalism, technology, business, and the social life of scriptures. * James S. Bielo, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Miami University *Dyer's clear and engaging narrative style, combined with his self-reflexive critical thinking on what drives evangelicals towards missional technological innovation, makes this a highly readable and timely book. Dyer's work demonstrates the importance of identifying and unpacking the ideological and theological platforms that motivate religious technological endeavors, as well as how these roots frame public and communal perceptions of the Bible in a digital society. This is a must read for scholars of media, religion and culture and those seeking to understand evangelical discourse and influence in contemporary culture. * Heidi A Campbell, Professor of Communication & Presidential Impact Fellow, Texas A&M University *This book provides valuable insights. It is a good example of the possibilities offered by the sociology of religion into knowledge-making practices. * Samjung Kang Hamilton, Restoration Quarterly *People of the Screen gathers and analyzes new data on an important topic and does so with the help of relevant theoretical perspectives. It is a well written, carefully researched and highly relevant study that helps us to better understand evangelicalism and lived religion in a digital age. * Joel Halldorf, Church History *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Preface Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Studying Technology and Faith Chapter 3: Evangelicals, the Bible, and Technology Chapter 4: Four Waves of Bible Software Development Chapter 5: Programmers and the Business of Bible Software Chapter 6: A Portrait of Evangelical Bible Readers Chapter 7: The Influence of Digital on Evangelical Reader Behavior Chapter 8: Conclusions Appendix: Bible Software List Works Cited Index

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Book SynopsisThe relationship between early Mormons and the United States was marked by anxiety and hostility, heightened over the course of the nineteenth century by the assassination of Mormon leaders, the Saints'' exile from Missouri and Illinois, the military occupation of the Utah territory, and the national crusade against those who practiced plural marriage. Nineteenth-century Latter-day Saints looked forward to apocalyptic events that would unseat corrupt governments across the globe, particularly the tyrannical government of the United States. The infamous White Horse Prophecy referred to this coming American apocalypse as a terrible revolution in the land of America, such as has never been seen before; for the land will be literally left without a supreme government. Mormons envisioned divine deliverance by way of plagues, natural disasters, foreign invasions, American Indian raids, slave uprisings, or civil war unleashed on American cities and American people. For the Saints, these violeTrade ReviewCertainly, the book reveals a rich lode of apocalypticism that persists and changes within religious traditions that lay claim to be the restoration of all things prior to the earth's final dispensation. In so doing, it invites promising further work by scholars of religious futurism. * Tona Hangen, BYU Studies Quarterly *It is when he begins to explore understudied material... that this book really starts to break new ground and offer not simply new history, but new perspectives on the trajectory of the new religious movement that Joseph Smith founded. * Matthew Bowman, Claremont Graduate University, Journal of Mormon History *Blythe's most admirable achievement with this volume is his ability to provide a fascinating, easily accessible, but still truly academic, thoroughly researched, and meticulously presented cultural and social history of the Latter-day Saints in the United States, structured around the theme of the apocalypse ... I wholeheartedly recommend Terrible Revolution. * Iren E. Annus, Nova Religio *...this volume is a unique contribution to the literature on American religious history. Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty. * D. S. Azzolina, CHOICE *The title may include "Terrible," but this book is anything but. It is a unique contribution to understanding the history, theology, and folklore surrounding the much-anticipated end times through the eyes of the church and its lay members. * Kevin Folkman, Association For Mormon Letters *Terrible Revolution was one of the most exciting and well-researched books I've read in a while. It is a book that you want to complete in one sitting, but don't. Instead, you show restraint and space out the reading because you want to savor the history and enjoy it a moment longer. * Christopher Angulo, Association of Mormon Letters blog *Christopher Blythe has written an essential guide for understanding the religious culture of Mormonism. Terrible Revolution takes readers from early expectations of an imminent Second Coming, to the White Horse Prophecy, to contemporary preppers. An essential text. * John G. Turner, author of Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet *In this illuminating study, Christopher Blythe spins a masterful narrative that combines an impressive breadth of sources, official and popular, to tell a story still unfolding in the 21st century." -Terryl Givens, author of Wrestling the Angel: The Foundations of Mormon ThoughtBlythe's Terrible Revolution offers a smart, original, and compelling analysis of the evolving role of apocalyptic thinking in the LDS Church. Blythe has marshalled thousands of sources, some long hidden away in obscure places, and diligently connected them to larger social and political trends." -Matthew Avery Sutton, author of American Apocalypse: A History of Modern EvangelicalismBlythe does a terrific job walking the reader through the shifts and nuances of the multiple apocalyptic themes that pepper the LDS imagination, both officially and unofficially." -Amy Hoyt, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought Ik YThe Latter-day Saints of the nineteenth century belonged to an apocalyptic tradition, argues historian and folklorist Christopher Blythe in his highly informative book Terrible Revolution....Blythe charts the rise and fall of Mormon apocalyptic discourse over the two-hundred- year history of the Restoration. He defines "apocalyptic" as "the belief that society was headed toward cataclysmic events that would uproot the current social order in favor of a divine order that would be established in its place". * Patrick Q. Mason, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction Chapter One: The Apocalyptic Tradition in Early Mormonism Chapter Two: "Long Shall His Blood...Stain Illinois": Martyrology and Malediction Chapter Three: The Geography of Mormon Apocalyptic Chapter Four: The Judgments Begin: Apocalypticism in Utah Territory Chapter Five: The Americanization of Mormon Apocalyptic Chapter Six - Twentieth and Twenty-First Century Apocalyptic Trajectories Afterword: Apocalypticism in the "Mormon Moment" Notes Index

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Book SynopsisThis handbook examines the history of Trinitarian theology and reveals the Nicene unity still at work among Christians today despite ecumenical differences and the variety of theological perspectives. The forty-three chapters are organized into the following seven parts: the Trinity in Scripture, Patristic witnesses to the Trinitarian faith, Medieval appropriations of the Trinitarian faith, the Reformation through to the 20th Century, Trinitarian Dogmatics, the Trinity and Christian life, and Dialogues (addressing ecumenical, interreligious, and cultural interactions). The phrase ''Trinitarian faith'' can hardly be understood outside of reference to the Councils of Nicaea and Constantinople and to their reception: the doctrine of the Trinity is indissociably connected to the reading of Scripture through the ecclesial and theological traditions. The modern period is characterized especially by the arrival of history, under two principal aspects: ''historical theology'' and ''philosophieTrade ReviewThe Oxford Handbook of the Trinity serves as an exemplary resource for specialists and nonspecialists alike. The considerable breadth of the volume is a major strength in this respect. * David Luy, Trinity Journal *a valuable reference work, providing a trustworthy guide to central topics in trinitarian theology * Amy Plantinga Pauw, Scottish Journal of Theology *Table of ContentsPART I: THE TRINITY IN SCRIPTURE; PART II: PATRISTIC WITNESSES TO THE TRINITARIAN FAITH; PART III: MEDIEVAL APPROPRIATIONS OF THE TRINITARIAN FAITH; PART IV: THE REFORMATION TO THE 20TH CENTURY; PART V: TRINITARIAN DOGMATICS; PART VI: THE TRINITY AND CHRISTIAN LIFE; PART VII: DIALOGUES

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Book SynopsisMonasticism is a social and religious phenomenon which originated in antiquity and which still remains relevant in the twenty-first century. But what, exactly, is it, and how is it distinguished from other kinds of religious and non-religious practice?In this Very Short Introduction Stephen J. Davis discusses the history of monasticism, from our earliest evidence for it, and the different types which have developed from antiquity to the present day. He considers where monasteries are located, from East Asia to North America, and everywhere in between, and how their settings impact the everyday life and worldview of the monks and nuns who dwell there. Exploring how monastic communities are organized, he also looks at how aspects of life like food, sleep, sex, work, and prayer are regimented. Finally, Davis discusses what the stories about saints communicate about monastic identity and ethics, and considers what place there is for monasticism in the modern world. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade Review...excellent... * Patricia Rumsey, Modern Believing *... the book of Stephen J. Davis deserves to be read, understood and used not only by the curious people who want to find more about the approached topic, but also by the specialists in their future scientific enterprises. * Iuliu-Marius Morariu, Studia Monastica *This pocket-size text is concise without sacrificing necessary illustrations, expert but free from pedantry, and skilfully arranged by significant themes. * Patrick Horn, Reading Religion *Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION; REFERENCES; FURTHER READING; INDEX

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Book SynopsisThe Oxford Handbook of Christology brings together 40 authoritative essays considering the theological study of the nature and role of Jesus Christ. This collection offers dynamic perspectives within the study of Christology and provides rigorous discussion of inter-confessional theology, which would not have been possible even 60 years ago. The first of the seven parts considers Jesus Christ in the Bible. Rather than focusing solely on the New Testament, this section begins with discussion of the modes of God''s self-communication to us and suggests that Christ''s most original incarnation is in the language of the Hebrew Bible. The second section considers Patristics Christology. These essays explore the formation of the doctrines of the person of Christ and the atonement between the First Council of Nicaea in 325 and the eve of the Second Council of Nicaea. The next section looks at Mediaeval theology and tackles the development of the understanding of who Christ was and of his atonTrade ReviewThe Oxford Handbook of Christology is a must-have for students of the Bible and theology desiring an update in the main defining area of Christian faith and scholarship. * Tomas Bokedal, Journal for the Study of the New Testament *This is indeed a beautiful book, which reflects the beauty of Christ himself. * Gerald O'Collins, Journal of Theological Studies *I found this book most helpful. There is plenty of material for those with a theological interest in Christology. * Dr Pravin Thevathasan, Christendom Awake *Table of ContentsList of Contributors Francesca Aran Murphy: Introduction Section I: The Bible 1: Paul Mankowski, S.J.: Language, Truth, and Logos 2: Olivier-Thomas Venard, O.P.: Christology from the Old Testament to the New 3: Gregory Glazov: Jewish Suffering and Christology in Pauline and Recent Papal Thought 4: Richard Bauckham: The Gospels as Testimony to Jesus Christ: A Contemporary View of their Historical Value 5: Michael J. Gorman: The Work of Christ in the New Testament 6: Markus Bockmuehl: The Gospels on the Presence of Jesus Section II: Patristic Christology 7: Khaled Anatolios: Christology in the Fourth Century 8: Brian E. Daley, S.J.: Antioch and Alexandria: Christology as Reflection on God's Presence in History 9: Andrew Louth: Christology in the East from the Council of Chalcedon to John Damascene 10: Norman Russell: The Work of Christ in Patristic Theology Section III: Mediaeval Christology 11: Aidan Nichols, O.P.: Image Christology in the Age of the Second Council of Nicaea (787) 12: Gabriel Said Reynolds: The Islamic Christ 13: David S. Hogg: Christology: The Cur Deus Homo 14: Alison Milbank: Seeing Double: The Crucified Christ in Western Medieval Art 15: Joseph Wawrykow: The Christology of Thomas Aquinas in its Scholastic Context 16: Rik van Nieuwenhove: Late Mediaeval Atonement Theologies Section IV: Reformation and Christology 17: Brian Lugioyo: Martin Luther's Eucharistic Christology 18: Randall C. Zachman: The Christology of John Calvin 19: Mark W. Elliott: Christology in the Seventeenth Century 20: Kevin Hector: Christology after Kant 21: Philip G. Ziegler: The Historical Jesus and Christology from David Friedrich Strauss to Ksemann Section V: Modern and Postmodern Christology 22: Troy A. Stefano: Christology from Lessing to Schleiermacher 23: Troy A. Stefano: Christology after Schleiermacher: Three Twentieth-Century Christologists 24: Raymond Gawronski: Knowing about Jesus, Knowing Jesus: Christology and Spirituality 25: K. K. Yeo: Chinese Christologies: Images of Christ and Chinese Cultures 26: Michele M. Schumacher: Feminist Christologies 27: Diane B. Stinton: Jesus Christ, Living Water in Africa Today 28: Bruce McCormack: Kenoticism in Modern Christology Section VI: Imagining the Son of God in Modernity 29: Calvin Stapert: Images of Christ in Post-Enlightenment Oratorios 30: Robert Barron: Christ in Cinema: The Evangelical Power of the Beautiful 31: Rowan Williams: Imaging Christ in Literature 32: Laurence S. Cunningham: Christ in Art from the Baroque to the Present Section VII: The Grammar of Christology: Christological Norms 33: Robert J. Wo'zniak: The Christological Prism: Christology as Methodological Principle 34: Simon Gathercole: The Christ of the Canonical Gospels and the Christs of the Apocryphal Gospels 35: Thomas G. Weinandy, O. F. M., Cap.: The Doctrinal Significance of The Councils of Nicea, Ephesus, and Chalcedon 36: Kenneth Oakes: Normative Protestant Christology 37: Gilbert Narcisse: What Makes a Christology Catholic? 38: Gavin D'Costa: Christology and World religions: A Systematic Perspective 39: John Webster: The Place of Christology in Systematic Theology 40: Francesca Aran Murphy: Afterword: The Breadth of Christology: The Beautiful Work of Christ

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Book SynopsisThe nineteenth century was a time of extraordinary scientific innovation, but with the rise of psychiatry, faiths and popular beliefs were often seen as signs of a diseased mind. By exploring the beliefs of asylum patients, we see the nineteenth century in a new light, with science, faith, and the supernatural deeply entangled in a fast-changing world.The birth of psychiatry in the early nineteenth-century fundamentally changed how madness was categorised and understood. A century on, their conceptions of mental illness continue to influence our views today. Beliefs and behaviour were divided up into the pathological and the healthy. The influence of religion and the supernatural became significant measures of insanity in individuals, countries, and cultures. Psychiatrists not only thought they could transform society in the industrial age but also explain the many strange beliefs expressed in the distant past. Troubled by Faith explores these ideas about the supernatural across societTrade ReviewHugely impressive and absorbing * Anna Maria Barry, BBC History Magazine *Davies's achievement is to have written a sort of counter-history to the kinds of early 19th-century histories of witchcraft with which his narrative opens. He eschews the retrospective diagnoses of the early psychiatrists and instead places individual experiences in the broader context of social and cultural change...He has assembled an extraordinary trove of snapshots of individual lives, and he treats them with sympathy and sensitivity. * George Morris, Literary Review *Thanks to works as insightful as this one, we can better appreciate the early efforts to understand the mind. * Simon Ings, New Scientist *An important addition to the history of psychiatry, but also to histories of folklore and religion in the 19th century. * Jennifer Wallis, Fortean Times *Fascinating * A Bad Witch's Blog *This innovative "mental archaeology" sets new agendas for historians of madness and the supernatural, showing the surprising cross-fertilization between faith and psychiatry in the nineteenth century. From the theorists of "demonomania" to the unfortunate souls whose fears blended witchcraft with electricity, the book brings to life the remarkable stories of people grappling with irrationality in modernity. * Dr William G. Pooley, University of Bristol *Troubled by Faith offers a rich and memorable examination of the supernatural in nineteenth-century culture. Physicians pathologized magical thinking, but the so-called delusions of asylum patients were rooted in broader societal currents. Combining meticulous research with incisive analysis, Owen Davies compels us to reflect on the madness inherent in modernity. * Dr Martha McGill, University of Warwick *A fascinating read * Elizabeth Wood *Table of ContentsPreface Part one: A world of insanity Introduction 1: Explaining away the witch trials 2: Pathologizing the supernatural present 3: Madness in popular medicine 4: The mad, the bad, and the supernatural in court Part two: Inner lives Introduction 5: Between Heaven and Hell 6: Encounters with witches, spirits, and fairies 7: Making sense of science and technology Epilogue

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Book SynopsisThe last forty years have brought about a transformation in the understanding of pagan Roman religion, rescuing it from the margins of the discipline and restoring its rituals and rhythms to their place at the centre of Roman life and literature. This book provides an up-to-date account of the religious history of Rome starting from its mythical origins, describing its character and development through the later Republican centuries and assessing the response of pagans to the coming of new religious forms during the centuries of Roman imperial rule. It places great emphasis on the fundamental difference between modern ideas of what a religion ought to be and the realities of ancient life. The book is designed to be accessible to all those approaching the subject for the first time, whether their interest is in the classical world or in comparing its religious forms with those of other times and places.

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Book Synopsis''I am a Christian'' is the confession of the martyrs of early Christian texts and, no doubt, of many others; but what did this confession mean, and how was early Christian identity constructed? This innovative study sets the emergence of Christian identity in the first two centuries, as it is constructed by the broad range of surviving literature, within the wider context of Jewish and Graeco-Roman identity. It uses a number of models from contemporary constructionist views of identity formation to explore how what comes to be seen as ''Christian'' literature creates a sense of what to be ''a Christian'' means, and traces both continuities and discontinuities with the ways in which Jewish and Graeco-Roman identity were also being constructed through their texts. It seeks to acknowledge the centrality of texts in shaping early Christianity, historically as well as in our perception of it, while also exploring how we might move from those texts to the individuals and communities who preTrade Review...a valuable overview of identity formation in antiquity in a manner informed by the social sciences. * Biblical Theology Bulletin *...this book and the topics it raises deserve considerable attention, and the author's incorporation of insights from the social sciences is commendable. * Biblical Theology Bulletin *Table of Contents1. Introduction: The Emergence of Christian Identity ; 2. Text and Identity ; 3. History, Memory, and the Invention of Tradition ; 4. Boundaries ; 5. The Grammar of Practice ; 6. Embodiment and Gender ; 7. Space and Place ; 8. The Christian Race ; 9. 'The Other' ; 10. Made Not Born: Conclusions

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Book SynopsisCarol Harrison counters the assumption that Augustine of Hippo''s (354-430) theology underwent a revolutionary transformation around the time he was consecrated Bishop in 396. Instead, she argues that there is a fundamental continuity in his thought and practice from the moment of his conversion in 386. The book thereby challenges the general scholarly trend to begin reading Augustine with his Confessions (396), which were begun ten years after his conversion, and refocuses attention on his earlier works, which undergird his whole theological system.Trade ReviewI would cordially recommend reading this study...Seldom I have read such a fierce defence of Augustine in recent literature. Harrison offers the reader a brilliant anthology of the early Augustine and is as such a valuable thematic introduction in the writing and thinking og Augustine before 396. But the monograph is much more, it is a meritorious overview of the several key elements in the continuity and a lesson in understanding how the central features of Augustine's conversion remain fruiytfully present in his thinking. * Anthony Dupont Ars Disputandi *...sheds a helpful light on the entirety of Augustine's writing ... lucid and cogently argued study of some of Augustine's least-known works. * Edward Dowler, New Directions *this is a seminal work, the best of Harrison's three distinguished volumes on the architect of Western Christendom. * Mark Edwards, Church Times *a valuable corrective ... her re-assertion of elements of continuity is welcome. * The Tablet *Table of ContentsPART I ; PART II

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Book SynopsisMartyrdom is not only a sharply contested term and act, but it has a long history of provoking controversy. One person''s ''martyr'' is another''s ''terrorist'', and one person''s ''martyrdom operation'' is another''s ''suicide bombing''. Suicide attacks have made recurring questions about martyrdom more pertinent to current discussions. What is martyrdom? Why are some people drawn towards giving up their lives as martyrs? What place does religion play in inciting and creating martyrs? How are martyrs made? Why are some martyrs and martyrdoms remembered more than others? How helpful is the distinction between active and passive martyrdoms? In order both to answer such questions and to understand the contemporary debates about martyrdom, it is helpful to consider its diverse roots. In this Very Short Introduction, Jolyon Mitchell provides a historical analysis to shed light on how the concept and practice of martyrdom has evolved, as well as the different ways in which it is used today. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of ContentsIntroduction ; 1. Contesting martyrdom ; 2. Thinking martyrdom ; 3. Remembering martyrdom ; 4. Romanticising martyrdom ; 5. Touching martyrdom ; 6. Reforming martyrdom ; 7. Politicizing martyrdom ; 8. Conclusion: The end of martyrdom

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Book SynopsisReligion in China survived the most radical suppression in human history--a total ban of any religion during and after the Cultural Revolution (1966-1979). All churches, temples, and mosques were closed down, converted for secular uses, or turned to museums for the purpose of atheist education. China remains under Communist rule. But in the last three decades, religion has revived and thrived. Christianity has been the fastest growing religion for decades. Many Buddhist and Daoist temples have been restored. The state even sponsors large Buddhist gatherings and ceremonies to venerate Confucius and the legendary ancestors of the Chinese people. Traditional Chinese temples have sprung up in some areas. On the other hand, quasi-religious qigong practices, once ubiquitous in public parks throughout the country, are now rare. All the while, the authorities have carried out waves of atheist propaganda, anti-superstition campaigns, severe crackdowns on the underground Christian churches and vTrade ReviewYang's book Religion in China has brilliant chapters, some controversial but all provacative and worth considering. * The New York Review of Books *Table of ContentsPreface ; Chapter One: Explaining Religious Vitality ; Chapter Two: A Definition of Religion for the Social Scientific Study of Religion ; Chapter Three: Chinese Marxist Atheism and Its Policy Implications ; Chapter Four: Regulating Religion under Communism ; Chapter Five: The Red, Black, and Gray Markets of Religion ; Chapter Six: The Shortage Economy of Religion under Communism ; Chapter Seven: Oligopoly Dynamics: China and Beyond

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Book SynopsisForgery and Counter-Forgery: The Use of Literary Deceit in Early Christian Polemics by Bart Ehrman, the New York Times best-selling author of Misquoting Jesus and recognized authority on early Christianity, is the first major contemporary work on forgery in early Christian literature. It examines the motivation and function behind Christian literary forgeries. Ehrman guides readers through Christian literary forgeries of the first four centuries CE while providing coverage of other ancient texts. He asks why early Christians lied about themselves when writing polemical works; and then answers by showing how unknown Christian authors used forgeries to defend their own faith and attack other interpretations of early Christianity. He further asks why many scholars resist acknowledging their forgeries; and he answers that the forgeries uncomfortably call into question the authority of the New Testament. The book is essential reading for those interested in early Christianity and the New TeTrade ReviewFew books have so effectively challenged the basis of scriptural authority in Christianity. * London Review of Books *This is a rich study on a broad range of documents ... that will stimulate further, needed research. * Ilaria L.E. Ramelli, Filologia Neotestamentaria *Table of ContentsTable of Contents ; Acknowledgments ; Chapter One: Introduction ; PART ONE: FORGERY IN THE GRECO-ROMAN WORLD ; Chapter Two: Forgers, Critics, and Deceived Deceivers ; Chapter Three: Terms and Taxonomies ; Chapter Four: Forgery in Antiquity: Aspects of the Broader Phenomenon ; Chapter Five: Forgery in Antiquity: Motives, Techniques, Intentions, Justifications, and Criteria of Detection ; PART TWO: FORGERY IN EARLY CHRISTIAN POLEMICS ; Chapter Six: Introduction to Forgery and Counter-forgery in Early Christian Polemics ; Chapter Seven: Early Pauline Forgeries Dealing with Eschatology ; Chapter Eight: Later Forgeries Dealing with Eschatology ; Chapter Nine: Forgeries in Support of Paul and His Authority ; Chapter Ten: Forgeries in Opposition to Paul and His Message ; Chapter Eleven: Anti-Jewish Forgeries ; Chapter Twelve: Forgeries involving Church Organization and Leadership ; Chapter Thirteen: Forgeries involving Debates over the Flesh ; Chapter Fourteen: Forgeries Arising from Later Theological Controversies ; Chapter Fifteen: Apologetic Forgeries ; Chapter Sixteen: Lies and Deception In the Cause of Truth ; Bibliography

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Book SynopsisExamines the turbulent modern history and sociology of the Sri Lankan Buddhist Monkhood and its effects upon contemporary society. Using translated Sinhalese documents and interviews with monks, this text unravels the inner workings of this New Buddhism and the ideology on which it is based.Table of ContentsPreface Note on Usage 1: Buddhism, Civil Society, and the Present Study 2: Dharmapala and the Definition of the Monk's Mission 3: The Economic Stage: Vidyodaya and Rural Development 4: Vidyalankara: The Descent into Ideology 5: Social Service: The Anatomy of a Vocation 6: The Critique of Monkhood 7: Conclusion: From Regeneration to Degeneration Index ??

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Strong marshals a wide range of sources and tells the story of the tooth relic in a compelling way . . . This is not just the story of a relic, but of western colonization and its appropriation or destruction of the traditions of the colonized." * Times Literary Supplement *"Strong [reveals] what the stories surrounding these two objects—their “storical evolution,” as it were—tell us about the West’s evolving concept of Buddhism after its initial colonial encounter and the way objects are infused with meaning, potency, and cultural import through centuries of narrative layering." * Buddhadharma *"Likely to give mythological thrillers a run for their money . . . The Buddha’s Tooth is an insightful book for those interested in world history, mediaeval times, Buddhist Studies, and for those interested in how stories spread and make histories." * Asian Review of Books *"A fascinating and eminently readable account of Western encounters with the Buddha's tooth . . . The Buddha's Tooth offers a richly detailed study incorporating extensive primary source research, including information drawn from published historical accounts, travel diaries, administrative records, and personal correspondence." * Material Religion: The Journal of Objects, Art and Belief *“Artfully conceived and elegantly written . . . This is a masterful work, one that brilliantly orchestrates a plethora of compelling historical particularities and telling details while also bringing into focus several original interpretive perspectives and analytical insights. . . . This is a work that deserves and will undoubtedly attract a wide readership across several academic disciplines.” * Journal of Religion *"[An] outstanding piece of scholarship, exhaustively researched and beautifully written. . . . It is the rare book that can be read with benefit and interest by anyone working in any area of Buddhist Studies as well as by scholars of colonial-period South Asia.” * The Numata Center for Buddhist Studies *“Insightful, provocative, and meticulously researched, The Buddha’s Tooth is a fascinating analysis of how European colonials comprehended and attempted to mitigate the ascribed powers of the most revered relic in Buddhist Sri Lanka. Strong’s intricate study leads its reader from an episodic rendering into a wide-ranging apprehension of how European conceptions of Buddhism were fashioned and further forged over four hundred years of encounter.” * John Holt, Bowdoin College *“The product of extensive research, this authoritative book recounts how this sacred tooth has served as an object of religious and political significance to both the colonized and colonizers, adroitly illustrating many of the dominant Western approaches and attitudes toward Buddhism over the last several centuries.” * Stephen C. Berkwitz, Missouri State University *“Strong offers a stimulating and perceptive study of how European and British persons engaged with Buddha relics materially and ideationally. This is a valuable contribution to intellectual and diplomatic history, as well as to our understanding of how European ideas about Buddhas and Buddhism altered over time.” * Anne M. Blackburn, Cornell University *"John S. Strongʼs The Buddhaʼs Tooth: Western Tales of a Sri Lankan Relic expands the study of Buddhist relics in new directions. . . Employing a historiography focused on details, he avoids leveling out the history of these relics into a single uniform line of events. . . By reflecting the complexity of historical reality, the work is made richer, and more informative." * Reading Religion *Table of ContentsPreface and Acknowledgments Note on Usage Introduction Part I : The Portuguese and the Tooth Relic One / The Tale of the Portuguese Tooth and Its Sources Two / Where the Tooth Was Found: Traditions about the Location of the Relic in Sri Lanka Three / Whose Tooth Was It? Traditions about the Identity of the Relic Four / The Trial of the Tooth Five / The Destruction of the Tooth Conspectus of Part One / The Storical Evolution of the Tales of the Portuguese Tooth Part II : The British and the Tooth Relic Six / The Cosmopolitan Tooth: The Relic in Kandy before the British Became Aware of It Seven / The British Takeover of 1815 and the Kandyan Convention Eight / The Relic Returns: The Tooth and Its Properties Restored to the Temple Nine / The Relic Lost and Recaptured: The Tooth and the Rebellion of 1817–1818 Ten / The Relic Disestablished: Missionary Oppositions to the Tooth Eleven / Showings of the Tooth: The Story of the King of Siam’s Visit (1897) Twelve / Showings of the Tooth: The Story of Queen Elizabeth’s Shoes (1954) Summary and Conclusion References Index

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Book SynopsisIn this, the first biography of Archibald Campbell Tait since his son-in-law, Randall Davidson''s in 1891, John Witheridge tells the story of how a Scottish outsider became Queen Victoria''s favourite Archbishop of Canterbury, and the most powerful since Laud in the seventeenth century. Following his childhood in Edinburgh and education at Glasgow University and Balliol College, Oxford, Witheridge describes how Tait''s life was shaped by faith, duty and diligence, as well as by harrowing experiences of illness and death. Tait was never content to be an ecclesiastical dignitary, but was ready to intervene and give a lead in the many conflicts, theological and political, that defined his fourteen years at Lambeth. While not always successful, Tait''s leadership of the Church during a period of controversy at home and challenge overseas, bravely accomplished against a background of personal tragedy, makes him a landmark figure in the history of the Church of England.Trade ReviewIn the Shadow of Death presents a sympathetic portrait of Queen Victoria's favourite archbishop, whose life and career were overshadowed by a series of personal tragedies. Witheridge draws on Tait's prolific correspondence and extensive personal diaries to shed new light on his approach to controversies within the Church (and wider Anglican Communion) and his judicious handling of disputes. The strength of this first modern biography of the archbishop, however, lies in its sensitive depiction of a whole family haunted by bereavement. Sarah Foot, Regius Professor of Ecclesiastical History, University of Oxford John Witheridge's biography of Dean Stanley of Westminster is now followed by this brilliant study of Archbishop AC Tait. Both his subjects were liberal-leaning Balliol Men, favoured by the Queen and very influential. However, Tait was the greater, a Scot without aristocratic connections who laboured under immense personal burdens. Witheridge's book is an excellent example of biographical scholarship that is both readable and accurate. Anyone interested in Victorian Christianity, education or politics should read it. John Jones, Emeritus Fellow & sometime Fellow-Archivist of Balliol College, Oxford Recurring poor health; chronic overwork; an extraordinary series of personal tragedies; a sturdy faith - all are reflected in the title of this very accessible biography of Queen Victoria's favourite Archbishop of Canterbury. Witheridge presents a vivid account of this generous, principled courageous cleric grappling with the great ecclesiastical and theological controversies of his day, and gives frequent insights into nineteenth-century social history, not least in Carlisle. James Newcome, Bishop of Carlisle If you enjoyed Owen Chadwick's The Victorian Church, you will certainly enjoy In the Shadow of Death, John Witheridge's sympathetic biography of Archibald Campbell Tait (1811-82), Archbishop of Canterbury 1868-82... In the Shadow of Death is a well-researched and highly readable book. John Witheridge has rescued Archbishop Tait's reputation from obscurity. One might not always agree with Tait's views or methods, but In the Shadow of Death reveals him to have been a devout, hard-working and conscientious archbishop. Robert Beaken, New Directions, September 2022 Witheridge's book is a useful addition to the literature and a reliable guide to a time when the Church was at the forefront of national political life. For good or ill, Tait's world, like the intellectual bishop, has almost completely disappeared. Mark Chapman, Ripon College Cuddesdon, Oxford, InModern Believing 64.4 Autumn, October Issue, pp.449-451, 2023Table of Contents1. Scottish Inheritance 2. A Baliol Man 3. Discreet and Learned Minister 4. Dr Arnold's Successor 5. In Death's Dark Vale 6. The Greatest Diocese in the World 7. New Disputes and New Fears 8. Primate of All England 9. Wrangles and Judgments 10. Lambeth Conference

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Book SynopsisA masterful summary of the theological genius behind the foundations of Anglican liturgy and doctrineTrade Review"Here in successive chapters the author summarizes Cranmer's views on those theological issues which were sharply to the fore in sixteenth-century controversy. . . . As a student's introduction to a study of Cranmer's thought the book deserves wide use" - P.M. Dawley, in Church History 28Table of ContentsIntroduction: The Reformer 1. The Scholar 2. Scripture and Tradition 3. Justification 4. The Church and Ministry 5. Holy Baptism 6. The Eucharistic Presence 7. The Eucharistic Work Concluding Estimate Select Bibliography Index of Subjects Index of Names

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Book SynopsisTensions between Protestantism and Catholicism dominated politics in nineteenth-century Canada, occasionally erupting into violence. While some liberal politicians and community leaders believed that equal treatment of Protestants and Catholics would defuse these ancient quarrels, other Protestant liberals perceived a battle for the soul of the nation.Protestant Liberty offers a new interpretation of nineteenth-century liberalism by re-examining the role of religion in Canadian politics. While this era's liberal thought is often characterized as being neutral toward religion, James Forbes argues that the origins of Canadian liberalism were firmly rooted in the British tradition of Protestantism and were based on the premise of guarding against the advance of supposedly illiberal faiths, especially Catholicism. After the union of Upper Canada with predominantly French-Catholic Lower Canada in 1840, this Protestant ideal of liberty came into conflict with a more neutral aTrade Review“Protestant Liberty provides readers with new and interesting perspectives by taking seriously the adage that one cannot understand nineteenth-century British North American history, politics, and political ideology without understanding the fundamental role of religion in that world. Particularly unique is James Forbes’s examination of the Dissenting Protestant groups as a collective, looking across denominations to determine where sectarianism could be set aside for collective political action.” Robynne Rogers Healey, Trinity Western University and author of From Quaker to Upper Canadian: Faith and Community among Yonge Street Friends, 1801–1850

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Book SynopsisElliot R. Wolfson intervenes in the debate over Martin Heidegger and Nazism from a unique perspective, as a scholar of Jewish mysticism and philosophy who has been profoundly influenced by Heidegger’s work. He reveals crucial aspects of Heidegger’s thinking that betray an affinity with dimensions of Jewish thought.Trade ReviewIf Philippe Lacoue-Labarthe was right when stating that the ‘secret of Nazism is buried in Heidegger,’ we must face down this troubled legacy. Elliot Wolfson leads us to the uncomfortable zone of true thinking. Without condemnation but on the razor’s edge of incessant probing, the work calls up a recasting of political engagement. Mere condemnation or strategies of avoidance can no longer cut it. -- Avital Ronell, New York UniversityThe Duplicity of Philosophy's Shadow represents one of the most sustained and creative engagements with the legacy of Heidegger. Rather than marginalize Heidegger and ostracize those who engage his writings, Wolfson instead opts for critical engagement and intellectual honesty. His poetic wrestling is simultaneously exciting and timely. -- Aaron W. Hughes, University of RochesterIn The Duplicity of Philosophy’s Shadow, Wolfson gathers together immense amounts of documentation and compresses it into a lively, readable analysis that combines scope and comprehensiveness with incisive focus on the core issues. He has the talent and the patience to deliver the painstaking labor necessary to provide such syntheses. Wolfson’s scholarly expertise deeply impresses this work with his own signature. -- William Franke, Vanderbilt UniversityNeither apologetic nor denunciatory, Wolfson masterfully summons the lucidity of a philosopher, the erudition of a scholar, and the profoundness of a mystic to face one of modern thought’s most disturbing riddles: how could Heidegger bring so much philosophical light and evince so much political darkness? In this powerful, crepuscular display, Heideggerian and kabbalistic insights on the ambiguity of truth converge to elucidate the philosopher’s very darkness as the shadow of his philosophical radiance. -- Elad Lapidot, Free University of BerlinThis rich scholarly treatment of Heidegger's social, political, and philosophical life adds a voice to Heideggerian studies that should not be missed....Highly recommended. * Choice *Elliot Wolfson’s The Duplicity of Philosophy’s Shadow: Heidegger, Nazism, and the Jewish Other is, in my opinion, the most sophisticated engagement with the 'problem' of Martin Heidegger’s Nazism in the English language * Reading Religion *Table of ContentsPreface: Calculating Heidegger’s Miscalculation1. Barbaric Enchantment: From Existential Ontology to Abyssal Meontology2. Nomadism, Homelessness, and the Obfuscation of Being3. Jewish Time and the Historiographical Eclipse of Historical Destiny4. Being’s Tragedy: Heidegger’s Silence and the Ring of Solitude5. Political Disavowal: Truth and Concealing the Unconcealment6. Heidegger, Balaam, and the Duplicity of Philosophy’s ShadowAfterwordNotesBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisThis book unravels a polyphony of silences from the history of Christianity and beyond. MacCulloch considers Judaeo-Christian borrowings from Greek explorations of the divine, and the silences which were a feature of Jesus''s brief ministry. Besides prayer and contemplation, there are shame and evasion; careless and purposeful forgetting.Many deliberate silences are revealed: the forgetting of histories inconvenient to later Church authorities, and Christianity''s problems in dealing honestly with sexuality. Behind all this is the silence of God. In a deeply personal conclusion, MacCulloch brings a message of optimism for those still seeking God beyond the clamour of over-confident certainties.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewIn this interesting and original book, Brian J. Horowitz focuses on Vladimir Jabotinsky's transformation from a supporter of liberalism in Russia to a Zionist who advocated extreme conservatism in the mid- 1920s. -- Abraham Ascher * Studies in Contemporary Jewry An Annual XXXII *In this latest, absorbing book [Vladimir Jabotinsky's Russian Years, 1900-1925] Horowitz focuses on Jabotinsky's years in Russia, drawing on detailed Russian and Hebrew sources. -- Colin Shindler * The Jewish Chronicle *In his careful intellectual history, Vladimir Jabotinsky's Russian Years, 1900-1925, Brian Horowitz shows that Jabotinsky's Revisionist Zionist congress was the crowning glory of his "Russian period," when the Russian-speaking journalist and intellectual enshrined a vision of a Jewish home with a Jewish majority in British Palestine from the Mediterranean to the Jordan River. -- David Shneer, University of Colorado, Boulder * Russian Review *It is Horowitz's personal opinion that Jabotinsky's "outsize image deflates considerably when one compares him to Ben-Gurion". However, a careful, dispassionate reading of this book most probably will convince the objective reader otherwise. And for that result, Horowitz deserves praise. -- Yisrael Medad - Menachem Begin Heritage Center * Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs *Horowitz's book, a critical rethinking of Jabotinsky's Russian years, is a valuable addition to this scholarship, which makes a significant con- ceptual and factual contribution to the historiography of both Russia and her Jews. -- Vassili Schedrin - Queen's University * AJS REVIEW *Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction: Vladimir Jabotinsky and Russia 1. A Zionist in Odessa, circa 1900–03 2. Zionism Before 1905 3. In Revolution and Counterrevolution, 1905–06 4. The Decade between the Revolution of 1905 and World War I (1907–1914) 5. Political Alliances Break, Jabotinsky Goes His Own Way (1907–1914) 6. The Jewish Legion's Russian Inspiration, 1915–1917 7. Post-War Disappointments, Palestine 1918–1922 8. Russian-Jewish Emigration and the Path to Zionist Revisionism, 1923–1925 9. Russia in the Life and Work of Jabotinsky After 1925 ConclusionBibliography Index

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Book SynopsisConcepts of predestination and reprobation were central issues in the Protestant Reformation, especially within Calvinist churches, and thus have often been studied primarily in the historical context of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. In Versions of Election: From Langland and Aquinas to Calvin and Milton, David Aers takes a longer view of these key issues in Christian theology. With meticulous attention to the texts of medieval and early modern theologians, poets, and popular writers, this book argues that we can understand the full complexity of the history of various teachings on the doctrine of election only through a detailed diachronic study that takes account of multiple periods and disciplines. Throughout this wide-ranging study, Aers examines how various versions of predestination and reprobation emerge and re-emerge in Christian tradition from the Middle Ages through the seventeenth century. Starting with incisive readings of medieval works by figures suchTrade Review“This is a marvelous and original monograph, both deeply learned and eloquently written. I have no doubt that Versions of Election will be of interest to a wide range of scholars and students of religious history and thought, both in the medieval and early modern periods.” —Nicolette Zeeman, author of The Arts of Disruption"While Langland, Aquinas, Calvin, and Milton are the major figures in the chapters devoted to them, Aers's reach extends to many more thinkers.... Versions of Election serves as a solid primer for the entirety of predestination theology over the period." —Milton Quarterly"Aers has spent his career exploring soteriological questions of election and his expertise shines on every page through detailed and sophisticated readings of complex doctrinal texts." —Sixteenth Century Journal

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Book SynopsisThese essays offer a historically rigorous dismantling of Western claims about the superiority of celibate priests.Although celibacy is often seen as a distinctive feature of the Catholic priesthood, both Catholic and Orthodox Churches in fact have rich and diverse traditions of married priests. The essays contained in Married Priests in the Catholic Church offer the most comprehensive treatment of these traditions to date. These essays, written by a wide-ranging group that includes historians, pastors, theologians, canon lawyers, and the wives and children of married Roman Catholic, Eastern Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox priests, offer diverse perspectives from many countries and traditions on the subject, including personal, historical, theological, and canonical accounts. As a collection, these essays push especially against two tendencies in thinking about married priesthood today. Against the idea that a married priesthood would solve every problem in CathoTrade Review“Married Priests in the Catholic Church makes an original contribution to the history of married and celibate clergy in North America, its pastoral implications, and, most importantly, the theological relationship between marriage and priesthood. I found it so captivating that I could not put it down.” —Radu Bordeianu, author of Dumitru Staniloae: An Ecumenical Ecclesiology"This book is primarily concerned with the clergy of Eastern rites of the Catholic Church, which has a historic tradition of married as well as celibate clergy. . . . Clearly the issue of married clergy remains a stumbling block to East-West church reunification. Other contributors observe the joys and realities of married priests, their families, and their financial problems." —Choice"Adam A.J. DeVille has done a great service for the Catholic Church by editing the collection of essays that make up Married Priests in the Catholic Church. . . . This book is a welcomed response to certain ideologies that view the Eastern Catholic churches and their married priesthood as a concession to be tolerated, at best, or a denigration of the priesthood of Christ, at worst." —Reading Religion"The importance of this publication is that it will help members of both the Western Rite and the Eastern Rite of the Catholic Church realize that the very different disciplines relating to marriage and priesthood in the Eastern churches and their offshoots in our Western world is not some exotic remnant or historical accident, but an ideal that exalts marriage and, in consequence, priesthood, and is certainly more solidly based on tradition than the mainstream Catholic tradition of the West." —Journal of Orthodox Christian Studies"Married Priests in the Catholic Church... provides a summary of the challenges that unsettle some of the simplisticcaricatures of some interpretive understandings amongst priests and Bishops." —Reviews in Religion & TheologyTable of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction—Adam A. J. DeVille Part I. History Ancient and Modern 1. Was Priestly Celibacy an Apostolic Tradition? The Theological Stakes of a Historical Argument—David G. Hunter 2. From Antioch to America via Smyrna: Rethinking Married Priesthood and Parish Life with Ignatius, Alexis, and Polycarp—D. O. Herbel 3. Mandatory Celibacy among Eastern Catholics: A Church-Dividing Issue—James S. Dutko Part II. Canon Law East and West 4. Recent Papal Pronouncements on the Admission of Married Eastern Catholic Men to the Priesthood: An Ecumenical Issue—Alexander Laschuk 5. Canonical Reflections on Clergy and Marriage—Patrick Viscuso Part III. Ecumenical Considerations 6. Official Catholic Pronouncements Regarding Presbyteral Celibacy: Their Fate and the Implications for Catholic-Orthodox Relations—Peter Galadza 7. Married Clergy in The Anglican Tradition—John Hunwicke 8. The Gift to the Church of Married Clergy—Edwin Barnes Part IV. Pastoral-Familial Life 9. Reflections on Two Vocations in Two Lungs of the One Church—David Meinzen 10. Growing Up in a Rectory: Using Oikonomia to Answer the Tough Questions Posed by the Children of Priestly Families—Julian Hayda 11. The Joys and Crosses of Clerical Families—Nicholas Denysenko 12. Marriage and Ministry: An Eastern Orthodox Perspective—William C. Mills 13. “What Did You Expect?”: A Reflection on Married Clergy and Pastoral Ministry—Andrew Jarmus 14. The Vocation of the Presbytera: Icon of the Theotokos in the Midst of the Ministerial Priesthood—Irene Galadza Part V. Theology 15. Celibacy and the Married Priesthood: Rediscovering the Spousal Mystery—Thomas J. Loya 16. Married Priesthood: Some Theological “Resonances”—Basilio Petrà 17. Married Priests: At the Heart of Tradition—Lawrence Cross and Basilio Petrà 18. Conclusion: Toward a Theology of Married Priesthood—Adam A. J. DeVille Appendix 1. The Toronto Tempest—Victor Pospishil Appendix 2. Recent Views on the Origins of Clerical Celibacy: A Review of the Literature from 1980 to 1991—J. Kevin Coyle Contributors List Index

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“The Whole Mystery of Christ offers a brilliant interpretation . . . and both its novelty and its audacity will make for an intense and hopefully fruitful theological discussion in the years ahead. This book offers a new paradigm for Maximus scholarship and does it superbly well.” —Hans Boersma, author of Embodiment and Virtue in Gregory of Nyssa"Wood’s contribution lies not simply in his own speculative audacity, but also in an unremitting willingness to take Maximus at his word without lazily assigning the most challenging formulations to hyperbole. Consequently, this book provides endlessly rich material for reflection and argument. Wood’s ingeniously original interpretation demonstrates that Maximus is still as revolutionary and enigmatic a Christian thinker now as he ever was, and that the real Maximus needs to be rescued from the sort of scholarship that has too often sought to tame his exorbitant genius." —David Bentley Hart, author of You Are Gods"Jordan Wood makes a compelling case that creation is itself 'incarnation,' the radical identification of the Creator not just 'in' the creation or 'with' the creation but 'as' the creation. Wood skillfully analyzes key texts in drawing out the ramifications of this thesis for Maximus’s Christology, cosmology, and other aspects of his doctrine. The Whole Mystery of Christ will certainly engage important new discussion of one of the most prolific thinkers of the Eastern Christian tradition." —Paul Blowers, author of Maximus the Confessor"Jordan Daniel Wood’s The Whole Mystery of Christ: Creation as Incarnation in Maximus the Confessor sets out to free Maximus the Confessor from the captivity of scholarly discourses that have misperceived him." —Reading Religion"Wood's tour de force asks the very valuable and interesting systematic questions so often missing in historical theology." —Modern Theology"Wood's Maximian vision should enrich contemporary constructive discussions about the relationship of God to a fallen world that has yet to become creation in its fullness." —Christian Century"Wood engages vigorously with much recent Maximian scholarship and offers a lively and distinctive contribution of his own."—The Heythrop JournalTable of ContentsAcknowledgements Abbreviations Preface Introduction: The God-World Relation in Modern Maximus Scholarship 1. The Middle: Christo-Logic 2. The Beginning: Word becomes World 3. The End: World becomes Trinity 4. The Whole: Creation as Christ Conclusion: The Whole Mystery of Christ An Analytic Appendix of Key Concepts Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisAn account of the alliance between the Catholic Church and the Italian Fascist regime in their campaign against ProtestantsTrade Review“Previous scholars were dependent on the Italian State Archives, but Madigan was able to consult documents in the Vatican Secret Archives from the pontificate of Pius XI (1922–1939), a rich source indeed.”—John Pollard, The Tablet“Many Americans will be surprised, as I was, that one of the Vatican’s main worries in the 1930s was a small but successful mission effort of evangelical Protestants in Italy. This would all be comical if were not being played out during the real tragedy of fascism. Madigan masterfully sees all sides of this little-known episode.”—Garry Wills“While shedding a penetrating light on Pius XI’s little known efforts to get Mussolini to act against the Protestants, Madigan also offers absorbing accounts of how this Church campaign played out in the hinterland. The Popes against the Protestants opens up a largely unexplored field for understanding the history of both the Roman Catholic Church and Italy.”—David Kertzer, author of the Pulitzer Prize–winning The Pope and Mussolini"Kevin Madigan provides an essential reckoning with the deep currents of mistrust, and even hatred, that once openly set Catholics and Protestants against each other—currents that quietly run on even now, poisoning authentic belief and fueling fires of culture war. Madigan’s exemplary work of history has urgent relevance to today’s twin crises of faith and politics.”—James Carroll, author of The Truth at the Heart of the Lie“In this groundbreaking study, Kevin Madigan traces the concerted Vatican antagonism, laced with antisemitic motifs, toward Protestant missionaries of various denominations. In the papal struggles against liberalism, Protestants, and the secular state, Madigan presents a new dimension of the popes’ support for fascism.”—Susannah Heschel, author of The Aryan Jesus: Christian Theologians and the Bible in Nazi Germany“In this novel and acute study, Kevin Madigan shows the depth of papal hostility toward the Protestant sects that took root in Italy, and how the Vatican was as ready as Mussolini’s dictatorship to persecute its perceived enemies.”—Richard Bosworth, author of Mussolini and the Eclipse of Italian Fascism

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Book SynopsisContemporary Theology: An Introduction by Kirk MacGregor introduces major thinkers and schools of thought from the beginning of the 19th century to the present, including non-Western voices, evangelical perspectives, and philosophical developments alongside the widely acknowledged main streams of modern theology.Trade Review'Contemporary Theology: An Introduction will assuredly--and quickly--become an indispensable addition to the required reading list for undergraduate and graduate courses on Christian theology and Christian ethics. As in all of his publications, Professor MacGregor combines comprehensive and context-driven historical analysis with superlative writing skills. Difficult concepts are presented in a clearly written, crisp, and engaging style. For the general reader interested in the positive impact of Christian ethics on our fragmented and contentious world, your understanding of the ongoing cultural struggle for ethical assurances, drawn from the long history of Christian theology, will be exponentially enhanced. Highly recommended!' * JOHN K. SIMMONS, professor emeritus of religious studies, Western Illinois University *'In Contemporary Theology Kirk MacGregor skillfully acquaints readers with the principal thinkers and schools of thought in Christian theology over the past two hundred years, both inside and outside evangelicalism. MacGregor beautifully discloses how the renaissance in philosophy of religion over the past half century has shaped many of the most creative and constructive strides in theology today. I heartily recommend this book.' * WILLIAM LANE CRAIG, research professor of philosophy, Talbot School of Theology, and professor of philosophy, Houston Baptist University *'Kirk MacGregor has given to us an accessible, wide-ranging overview of the contemporary theological scene. It is not only a valuable resource, but it rightly recognizes the important contributions of philosophy of religion and analytic theology in helping to shape and guide much of today's theological discourse.' * PAUL COPAN, the Pledger Family Chair of Philosophy and Ethics, Palm Beach Atlantic University, and author of A Little Book for New Philosophers *'When traveling through new and unfamiliar terrain, having a knowledgeable guide is essential. But if that guide is also an excellent communicator, then so much the better. MacGregor demonstrates that he is both. In Contemporary Theology: An Introduction, MacGregor gives the reader a clear and balanced tour through the modern theological landscape.' * KENNETH D. KEATHLEY, senior professor of theology, Jesse Hendley Endowed Chair of Biblical Theology, and director of the L. Russ Bush Center for Faith and Culture, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary *'With Contemporary Theology: An Introduction Professor MacGregor presents the theological community a highly readable, cogent, and insightful inventory of two centuries of modern theological thought. Scholars will appreciate the comprehensive overview, students will love the easy access of thirty-eight nearly standalone chapters, and the generally educated layperson will value the contextualization of their own experiences which this volume offers. Additionally, the extensive critical apparatus helpfully lays out both pivotal primary texts and useful secondary sources, thus ensuring that Contemporary Theology shall soon become a sought after college and seminary textbook as well as a frequently consulted theological handbook.' * ROMWALD MACZKA, professor emeritus of religion, Carthage College *

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Book SynopsisComprehensive history of capital punishment in England which shows how and why the Church of England repeatedly fought against its abolition.

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Book SynopsisAccording to the official view, held for almost two thousand years, early Christianity was marked by great harmony, and heresy only emerged at a later stage. This book, written in nontechnical language for interested non-theologians, argues that such a picture is wishful thinking.Using all available sources, including newly-discovered Gnostic texts, Professor Luedemann argues that in many areas, ''heresy'' in fact preceded ''orthodoxy'' and was later forcibly replaced by it. The controversies shed an interesting light on the human character and concerns of the first Christians, who were occupied not only with right belief but also with power. The first chapter investigates the positions of Christians in Jerusalem in the first two centuries, since they were the ones who in fact introduced the concept of heresy into the church, and pays particular attention to the revision of the portrait of Paul and his theology. Then it goes on to the dramatic events around Marcion and his approach to

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Book SynopsisThis volume explores papal communication and its reception in the period c.1100â1300; it presents a range of interdisciplinary approaches and original insights into the construction of papal authority and local perceptions of papal power in the central Middle Ages.Some of the chapters in this book focus on the visual, ritual and spatial communication that visitors encountered when they met the peripatetic papal curia in Rome or elsewhere, and how this informed their experience of papal self-representation. The essays analyse papal clothing as well as the iconography, architecture and use of space in papal palaces and the titular churches of Rome. Other chapters explore communication over long distances and analyse the role of gifts and texts such as letters, sermons and historical writings in relation to papal communication. Importantly, this book emphasises the plurality of responses to papal communication by engaging with the reception of papal messages by different audiencTable of Contents1. Framing papal communication in the central Middle Ages Gerd Althoff, Iben Fonnesberg-Schmidt and William Kynan-Wilson2. Innocent III and the world of symbols of the papacyAgostino Paravicini Bagliani (translated by Gesine Oppitz-Trotman)3. Clothing as communication? Vestments and views of the papacy c.1300Maureen C. Miller4. Visitor experiences: art, architecture and space at the papal curia c.1200Iben Fonnesberg-Schmidt5. Communication in a visual mode: papal apse mosaics Dale Kinney6. Ritual, what else? Papal letters, sermons and the making of crusadersChristoph T. Maier7. Subverting the message: Master Gregory’s reception of and response to the Mirabilia Urbis RomaeWilliam Kynan-Wilson8. Roman soil and Roman sound in Irish hagiography Lucy Donkin

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Book SynopsisAn erudite and accessible survey of Jewish life and culture in the twentieth century, as reflected in seminal texts.Trade Review"Adam Kirsch, one of our finest critics, has written a wonderful introduction to the rich and brilliant field of twentieth-century Jewish literature, illuminating for us the work of some of its greatest contributors." -- Nicole Krauss

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