History of religion Books
Skyhorse Publishing Judaism for Everyone
Book SynopsisWith the publication of his runaway bestseller Kosher Sex, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach gained instant fame as a sage and savvy commentator on public and private life. Now he turns his outspoken energy and vast erudition to the core teachings of Judaism itself. During his years as Rabbi of Oxford University and founder of the university's Jewish outreach organization, the L'Chaim Society, Boteach began to realize how well-matched the foundational beliefs of Judaism are to the broad human needs of the modern world. Unlike the dualist credo of other religions—in which the material and spiritual are always in conflict—the Jewish faith uniquely represents a spiritual philosophy concerned about life in this world, rather than in the hereafter. In Judaism for Everyone, this most unorthodox of orthodox rabbis explores the Jewish and Biblical origins of civilization's seminal moral ideas and presents Judaism as a program of action for people of
£18.04
John Murray Press Beard Theology: A holy history of hairy faces
Book Synopsis'As informative as it is entertaining - read it, you won't regret it' Paula GooderBeards have had cultural and religious significance for thousands of years. A fascinating story is to be told of the religious significance of beards from the ancient civilisations to today. This book will survey beard theology from ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome and Mesopotamia, to the Jews of Jesus's day and through to the early Church fathers who strongly promoted the beard, the Latin church which outlawed it leading up to and after the Great Schism of 1054. We will pursue the story of the protestant reformers and leaders of the evangelical revival of the 19th century all had plenty to say about the beard.This largely untold and intriguing story of the religious significance of beards and will containa series of entertaining true historical stories, such as the cardinal who lost the papacy due to his beard, the female pharaoh who wore the fake beard and how beards were cited in the papal bull of excommunication that formalised the split of the Eastern and Western churches in the great schism.As well as providing a unique historical narrative, it also provides a subtle basis for reflection on current theological disputes and debates, gently inviting you to consider what parallels there areto the historical theological disputes which today seem trivial but caused heated passions in their day. It will entertain and inform in equal measure.'A profound exploration of the way beliefs turn to rules . . . smart, funny and absolutely fascinating' Cole MoretonTrade ReviewEver wondered about beards and their theology? No, me neither, but this little book has persuaded me that Ishould have. It is as informative as it is entertaining - read it, you won't regret it. * Dr Paula Gooder, Chancellor of St Paul’s Cathedral, London *I love this hirsute "horrible history" of the Church. It's funny, enlightening and completely novel - which is some achievement given the history of Christendom! * Revd Dave Tomlinson, vicar & author of Black Sheep and Prodigals *On the face of it, tracking the history and theology of men's facial hair throughout the Bible and the historyof the Church may "be-a-rd-iffi cult" concept for some of us to take seriously. But I "moustache-sure" you that itleads to an unusual yet intriguing read. Beyond the fuzz Mouse helps us to explore male identity,gender disparity, cultural appropriation and the contextualisation of the gospel. This book does notshortcut the issues, trim off the rough bits or split unnecessary theological hairs. Razor sharp in its wit andcharm, it off ers us a whisker-stop tour of all sorts of hairy and prickly issues. * Dr Krish Kandiah, Founding Director of Home for Good & author of God is Stranger and Paradoxology *Despite not having a beard (the occasional pre-menopausal random chin hair aside) this is a hairy good read.Beard theology? I mean, who knew? A must-read for everyone from 70s-style Oxbridge chin-stroking theologiansto church-in-an-industrial-unit hipster evangelicals. * Revd Kate Bottley, priest in North Nottinghamshire & BBC Radio 2 presenter *'Smart, funny and absolutely fascinating. Lurking behind all that facial hair is an unexpectedly profound exploration of the way beliefs turn to rules and change the way we look and act. You'd think a man calling himself Mouse and writing about beards would be hiding something, but this book is wonderfully revealing about human nature.'Cole Moreton, writer & broadcasterIt's in the book's many diversions that the real joy is to be had * Premier Christianity *
£12.34
John Murray Press If These Stones Could Talk: The History of
Book Synopsis'A heavenly book, elegant and thoughtful. Get one for yourself and one for the church-crawler in your life!' Lucy WorsleyChristianity has been central to the lives of the people of Britain and Ireland for almost 2,000 years. It has given us laws, customs, traditions and our national character. From a persecuted minority in Roman Britannia through the 'golden age' of Anglo-Saxon monasticism, the devastating impact of the Vikings, the alliance of church and state after the Norman Conquest to the turmoil of the Reformation that saw the English monarch replace the Pope and the Puritan Commonwealth that replaced the king, it is a tangled, tumultuous story of faith and achievement, division and bloodshed.In If These Stones Could Talk Peter Stanford journeys through England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland to churches, abbeys, chapels and cathedrals, grand and humble, ruined and thriving, ancient and modern, to chronicle how a religion that began in the Middle East came to define our past and shape our present. In exploring the stories of these buildings that are still so much a part of the landscape, the details of their design, the treasured objects that are housed within them, the people who once stood in their pulpits and those who sat in their pews, he builds century by century the narrative of what Christianity has meant to the nations of the British Isles, how it is reflected in the relationship between rulers and ruled, and the sense it gives about who we are and how we live with each other.'There is no better navigator through the space in which art, culture and spirituality meet than Peter Stanford' Cole Moreton, Independent on SundayTrade ReviewSomeone new to both church history and church-crawling (when he or she can find a church open) would learn a good deal from this agreeably written book. -- Lucy Beckett * TLS *I have long found the books of Peter Stanford to be always entertaining and stimulating. This rich and varied text . . . ought to be enjoyed by a wide audience as it describes and comments on nearly 2000 years of religion among the many cultures that have come and gone in that time. -- Peter Costello * Irish Catholic *'Setting out to relate the history of Christianity on these islands through a selection of churches or monasteries may seem a bold or even foolhardy undertaking. However, Stanford pulls it off with flair and conviction.' * The Irish Examiner *A compelling read. * The Scottish Catholic *It explores the history of Christianity through its sacred buildings and delves into the stories that are part of our landscape... I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. * Jumoke Fashola - BBC Radio London *Stanford romps engagingly through the centuries in what he describes as an "ordering and assembling of Christian history as told by a selection of 'crawled' churches. * The Church Times *Setting out to relate the history of Christianity on these islands through a selection of churches or monasteries may seem a bold or even foolhardy undertaking. However, Stanford pulls it off with flair and conviction. * The Irish Examiner *In this rich and beguiling book, Peter Stanford gets old stones to tell us about the turbulent history of Christianity in the British Isles. * Richard Holloway *"Stanford romps engagingly through the centuries in what he describes as an "ordering and assembling of Christian history as told by a selection of 'crawled' churches... highly engaging... I thoroughly recommend this book as an excellent and eminently readable overview of that history." * The Church Times *It explores the history of Christianity through its sacred buildings and delves into the stories that are part of our landscape... I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. * Jumoke Fashola - BBC Radio London *A compelling read * The Scottish Catholic *
£18.00
SteinerBooks, Inc Sacramental Theology for a Modern and Future
Book Synopsis'What Christ Jesus taught is not what is most important, but rather what he has given humanity. His resurrection is the birth of a new faculty within human nature.' -- Rudolf SteinerIn this book experienced Christian Community priest and teacher, Michael Debus, helps readers to understand the heart of religious consciousness and practical life -- the sacraments. He does so by exploring the following questions and more: -- Is baptism merely a symbolic act, or is it a reality that affects one's life? -- How should we understand the transformation of bread and wine? -- How can rituals express spiritual realities?Debus makes these complex concepts accessible to anyone who wants to understand the background and sacraments of The Christian Community. He also weaves together a discussion of historical theological developments with the evolution of consciousness. This is an insightful book for readers looking to understand the spiritual foundations of The Christian Community and its place in theological history, and its role in Christianity today.
£22.50
Africa World Press Raised Hopes, Shattered Dreams: The Oppressed,
Book Synopsis
£21.21
Toby Press Ltd Nehemiah: Statesman and Sage
Book Synopsis
£20.89
Toby Press Ltd The Sages: Character, Context, & Creativity:
Book Synopsis
£18.04
Toby Press Ltd Faith After the Holocaust
Book Synopsis
£18.04
Toby Press Ltd The Life of Moshele Der Zinger: How Singing Saved
Book Synopsis
£14.24
Toby Press Morning Has Broken Faith After October 7th
Book Synopsis
£17.20
Reformation Heritage Books The Puritan Path: Photographs of Puritan Sites
£47.18
Library of the Jewish People Israel Joshua Singer Volume 3
Book Synopsis
£31.49
Oneworld Publications Religions of Iran: From Prehistory to the Present
Book SynopsisToday it is Iran’s association with Islam that commands discussion and debate. But this perception obscures a far more influential and complex relationship with religion. Iran has in fact played an unparalleled role in shaping all the world religions, injecting Iranian ideas into the Jewish, Buddhist, Christian, and Muslim traditions. This vivid and surprising work explores the manner in which Persian culture has interacted with and transformed each world faith, from the migration of the Israelites to Iran thousands of years ago, to the influence of Iranian notions on Mahayana Buddhism and Christianity. Travelling through thousands of years of history, Foltz’s powerful and evocative journey uncovers a vital and fresh account of our spiritual heritage in this fascinating region.
£42.75
Equinox Publishing Ltd Critical Theory and Early Christianity
Book SynopsisThis volume aims to create--in Walter Benjamin's terms--dialectical images from early Christian texts and the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. It blasts the past and the present into one another, creating new constellations of thought, ones connected with tensions and mediated by theory (mediation being what Theodor Adorno adds to Benjamin's concept of the dialectical image). Our ancient images derive from the Gospels, the Apostle Paul, Revelation, Irenaeus, Origen, and Augustine. Our modern images and theories derive from Walter Benjamin, Gilles Deleuze, Alain Badiou, and Judith Butler. Together these images and theories challenge the way we think about gentrification, progress, early Christianity, revolutionary movements, history, the body of Christ, canonicity, language, gender, and bodies, both human and non-human. Eleven international scholars contribute to this volume. These scholars are experts in the fields of Biblical Studies, Early Christian Studies, Philosophy, and Critical Theory.Table of ContentsPreface: Dialectical Images and Critical Theory Mathew G. Whitlock 1. Introduction: Making Early Christian Texts Strange (Again) Matthew G. Whitlock Part I Walter Benjamin 2. Walter Benjamin and Early Christian Texts Matthew G. Whitlock 3. Reading, Libraries, and Urban Change in the Shadow of Capitalism and Apocalypse: Reading Walter Benjamin and John of Patmos Robert Paul Seesengood, Albright College, Pennsylvania 4. “On the Concept of History”: St. Augustine and Walter Benjamin C.A. Levenson, Idaho State University Part II Gilles Deleuze 5. Gilles Deleuze and Early Christian Texts Matthew G. Whitlock 6. The Deleuzioguattarian Body of Christ without Organs B. H. McLean, University of Toronto 7. The Many Acts of the Apostles: Simulacra and Simulation Matthew G. Whitlock and Philip Tite, University of Washington 8. Face-ing the Nations: Becoming a Majority Empire of God Reterritorialization, Language, and Imperial Racism in Revelation 7:9-17 Sharon Jacob, Pacific School of Religion Part III Alain Badiou 9. Alain Badiou and Early Christian Texts Matthew G. Whitlock 10. Christianity Appears First, As Itself Bruce Worthington, University of Toronto 11. Towards a Vulgar Marxist Reading of Christian Origins Today James Crossley, St Marys University, London 12. Recapitulating the Event: Reading Irenaeus with Badiou Hollis Phelps, Mercer University, Georgia Part IV Judith Butler 13. Judith Butler and Early Christian Texts Matthew G. Whitlock 14. Paul Exposed: Reading Galatians with Judith Butler Valérie Nicolet, Institut protestant de théologie, faculté de Paris 15. Mattering Bodies: Animacy and Justice in Origen’s On First Principles Peter Anthony Mena, University of San Diego
£81.00
Equinox Publishing Ltd Critical Theory and Early Christianity
Book SynopsisThis volume aims to create--in Walter Benjamin's terms--dialectical images from early Christian texts and the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. It blasts the past and the present into one another, creating new constellations of thought, ones connected with tensions and mediated by theory (mediation being what Theodor Adorno adds to Benjamin's concept of the dialectical image). Our ancient images derive from the Gospels, the Apostle Paul, Revelation, Irenaeus, Origen, and Augustine. Our modern images and theories derive from Walter Benjamin, Gilles Deleuze, Alain Badiou, and Judith Butler. Together these images and theories challenge the way we think about gentrification, progress, early Christianity, revolutionary movements, history, the body of Christ, canonicity, language, gender, and bodies, both human and non-human. Eleven international scholars contribute to this volume. These scholars are experts in the fields of Biblical Studies, Early Christian Studies, Philosophy, and Critical Theory.Table of ContentsPreface: Dialectical Images and Critical Theory Mathew G. Whitlock 1. Introduction: Making Early Christian Texts Strange (Again) Matthew G. Whitlock Part I Walter Benjamin 2. Walter Benjamin and Early Christian Texts Matthew G. Whitlock 3. Reading, Libraries, and Urban Change in the Shadow of Capitalism and Apocalypse: Reading Walter Benjamin and John of Patmos Robert Paul Seesengood, Albright College, Pennsylvania 4. “On the Concept of History”: St. Augustine and Walter Benjamin C.A. Levenson, Idaho State University Part II Gilles Deleuze 5. Gilles Deleuze and Early Christian Texts Matthew G. Whitlock 6. The Deleuzioguattarian Body of Christ without Organs B. H. McLean, University of Toronto 7. The Many Acts of the Apostles: Simulacra and Simulation Matthew G. Whitlock and Philip Tite, University of Washington 8. Face-ing the Nations: Becoming a Majority Empire of God Reterritorialization, Language, and Imperial Racism in Revelation 7:9-17 Sharon Jacob, Pacific School of Religion Part III Alain Badiou 9. Alain Badiou and Early Christian Texts Matthew G. Whitlock 10. Christianity Appears First, As Itself Bruce Worthington, University of Toronto 11. Towards a Vulgar Marxist Reading of Christian Origins Today James Crossley, St Marys University, London 12. Recapitulating the Event: Reading Irenaeus with Badiou Hollis Phelps, Mercer University, Georgia Part IV Judith Butler 13. Judith Butler and Early Christian Texts Matthew G. Whitlock 14. Paul Exposed: Reading Galatians with Judith Butler Valérie Nicolet, Institut protestant de théologie, faculté de Paris 15. Mattering Bodies: Animacy and Justice in Origen’s On First Principles Peter Anthony Mena, University of San Diego
£33.25
Equinox Publishing Ltd The Complexity of Conversion: Intersectional
Book SynopsisToday, conversion is a contested religious, political, and personal phenomenon, and that was also the case in the ancient world. Using several primary sources (Jewish and Christian) and case studies, this volume discusses what this change could have meant for various individuals or groups of people in the ancient world and argues that conversion can best be understood through an intersectional perspective, an approach that includes gender, class, ethnicity, and age, as well as political and economic elements in its analysis of conversion. The volume also acknowledges that a discussion of conversion benefits from taking into account conversion's history of reception. Case studies from the reception history as well as contemporary examples of contested conversions (for example, from Christianity to Islam or vice versa) are also brought to the table. In sum, the book addresses the complexity of conversion, using a range of cases, texts and theories, and initiates a dialogue between ancient sources and present concepts or practices. Close readings of ancient texts play a central role in the project. Yet, the book also considers how sacred texts and their receptions have influenced the way we generally think about conversation as religious change.Table of Contents1. What Is So Complex About Conversion? Marianne Bjelland Kartzow and Valérie Nicolet 2. Shedding Religious Skin: An Intersectional Analysis of the Claim that Male Circumcision Limits Religious Freedom Karin B. Neutel, University of Oslo 3. Complex Interactions: Conversion and Interreligious Dialogue in the Norwegian Context Anne Hege Grung, University of Oslo 4. Conversion in Mystery Religions? Theory Meets Mysteries and Conversion Gerhard van den Heever, University of South Africa 5. “Leap, Ye, Lame for Joy”: The Dynamics of Disability in Conversion Anna Rebecca Solevåg, VID Specialized University, Stavanger, Norway 6. Reading a Complex Identity in Conversion: Interpretations of the Ethiopian Eunuch Minna Heimola, Independent Scholar 7. Creating a New Sex: Women Bodies in Conversion Valérie Nicolet 8. Conversion in/to the Wilderness: The Case of the Egyptian Slave Girl Hagar in Early Christian and Jewish Texts Marianne Bjelland Kartzow 9. The Complexity of Aseneth’s Transformation Kirsten Marie Hartvigsen, University of Oslo 10. Leaving the Traditions of the Fathers: Perspectives on Conversion from a Christianity That Did Not Survive Kristine Toft Rosland, University of South-Eastern Norway / University of Oslo 11. Spatial Conversion and Christian Identity in Late Antiquity Anna Lampadaridi, Institut Protestant de Théologie (Paris) 12. Concluding Remarks Valérie Nicolet
£67.50
Amber Books Ltd Abandoned Sacred Places
Book SynopsisWe may think of churches, mosques, synagogues and temples as ordered places for organized religion. But what happens when the congregation moves away? Or when shifting borders or persecution mean that people can no longer reach them? And, in the absence of humankind, what happens when nature’s unceasing efforts invade the hallowed walls? Abandoned Sacred Places is a brilliant pictorial exploration of both ancient and modern temples, synagogues, churches, mosques and stone circles that have been left behind. From the mysteries around Stonehenge in England and Carnac in France constructed thousands of years ago to crumbling inner cities churches and synagogues in present-day Detroit and Chicago, from ancient Roman temples to Mayan pyramids in Mexico, and from Hindu temples lost in the Indian jungle to Buddhist shrines in the Chinese desert, the book shows what happens when humanity retreats and nature is allowed to reclaim the land. With 200 outstanding colour photographs exploring hauntingly beautiful locations, Abandoned Sacred Places is a moving examination of more than 100 lost worlds.Table of ContentsIntroduction AFRICA Tassili, Algeria Giza Pyramids, Egypt Khonsu Temple, Luxor\Karnak, Egypt Abu Simbel, Egypt Medinet Habu, Ancient Egypt Nubian Pyramids, Sudan Ptomelaic Egypt: Temple of Kom Ombo and Temple of Edfu Roman Africa: Dougga, Tunisia; Sbeitia, Tunisia Christian Tombs, Al-Bagawat, Egypt Roman Basilica, Volubilis, Morocco Roman Basilica, Leptis Magna, Libya Mosque, Kilwa Kisiwani Island, Tanzania THE MIDDLE EAST Ain Dara, Syria Petra, Jordan Mada’in Saleh, Saudi Arabia Myra Necropolis, Turkey Temple of Artemis, Jerash, Jordan Temple of Baal, Palmyra, Syria Palmyra, Syria Zechariah’s Tomb, Kidron Valley, Jerusalem, Israel Absalom’s Tomb, Kidron Valley, Jerusalem, Israel Sumatar, Sabian site, Turkey At Hamat Synagogue, Tiberias, Israel Dura-Europos Synagogue, Syria Mushabbak Basilica, Dead Cities of Syria, Syria Cathedral/Mosque Fethiye, Ani, Turkey Church of the Redeemer, Ani, Turkey Orthodox Church Kayaköy, Turkey Lower Church, Kayaköy, Turkey Modern Mosque, Desert, Dubai Armenian Church, Mosul, Iraq ASIA Tomb of Darius, Naqsh-e Rustem, Iran Garni Ancient Roman Temple, Armenia Zvarnots Early Christian Cathedral, Armenia Ajanta Caves, India Elephanta Caves, Hindu, India Ellora Caves, India Site of Bamyan Buddhas, Afghanistan Khajuraho Hindu and Jain Temples, India Borobudur Buddhist Temples, Java, Indonesia Prambanan Hindu Temples, Indonesia Angkor Khmer Temples, Cambodia Prasat Hin Mueang Tam Khmer Temples, Thailand Bagan Temples, Burma Mogao Caves, China Polunnaruwa, Sri Lanka My Son, Cham Temple, Vietnam Ayutthaya, Thailand Hampi, India Bodhesar Jain Temple, Pakistan Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, Delhi, India Trai Tim Church, Nam Dinh, Vietnam Buddhist Shrine, Nokogiri, Japan Buddhist Shrine, Nepal Muslim Necropolises, Kazakhstan Shiva Sunken Temple, Scindia Ghat, Varanasi, India British Colonial Church, Ross Island, Andaman Islands, Indian Ocean Chicken Church, Indonesia THE AMERICAS AND THE PACIFIC Pyramid, Caral Supe, Peru Temple of the Sun, Tiwanaku, Bolivia Nazca Lines, Peru Mesa Verde, Colorado, USA Guatape Rock, Colombia Pyramid of the Sun, Teotihuacan, Mexico Mayan Sites: Lamanai Mask Temple, Belize Sacred Cenote, Mexico Becan, Yucatan, Mexico Copan, Honduras Yaxchilan, Mexico Tikal, Guatemala Incan Sites: Machu Picchu, Peru Moray Circle, Peru Easter Island statues Russian Cemetery, Sitka, Alaska, USA Church, Dooley, Montana Church, Dorothy, Alberta Anglican Old Church, Godmanchester, Quebec, Canada Methodist Church, Gary, Indiana Lower East Side Synagogue, New York East Methodist Church, Detroit Potosi Church, Venezuela Jesuit Mission, La Santisima Trinidad e Parana, Paraguay Jesuit Mission, Jesus de Tavarangue, Paraguay San Juan Parangaricutiro Church, Mexico Port au Prince Cathedral, Haiti Penal Colony Church, Tasmania EUROPE Hagar Qim, Malta – 4thC BCE megalithic site Stonehenge, England Parthenon, Athens, Greece Temple of Delphi, Greece Altar, Pompeii, Italy Ercole Temple, Agrigento, Sicily Tomb of the Kings, Cyprus Baptistry, Butrint, Albania Tintern Abbey, Monmouthshire, Wales Whitby Abbey, North Yorkshire, England Elgin Cathedral, Moray, Scotland Holyrood Abbey, Edinburgh, Scotland Ermita de la Piedad Chapel, near Segovia, Spain Church, Bussana Vecchia, Liguria, Italy Abbey, Mont-Saint-Eloi, France Villers Abbey, Wallonia, Belgium All Saints, Stovlinky, Czech Republic Catholic Church, Near Chervonohorod, Nyrkiv, Ukraine Novotroitskoye Church, Lipetsk Region, Russia Bogorodskoye Village Church, Penza Region, Russia Monastery near Kalach, Voronezh, Russia Church of Our Lady of Kazan, Yaropolets, Volokolamsk District, Russia Wooden Church, Maslovskaya Arkhangelsk Region, Russia Highgate Cemetery, London Kaiser Wilhelm Church, Berlin, Germany Church of St Etienne the Old, Caen, Normandy France Church, Oradour-sur-Glane, France St Luke’s Church, Liverpool, England Vidin Synagogue, Bulgaria Jewish Cemetery, Vienna, Austria Jewish Cemetery, Wroclaw, Poland Submerged Church, Reschensee, South Tyrol, Italy St Nicholas’s Cathedral, Kalyazin, Russia Church, Jrebchevo, Bulgaria
£17.99
Boydell & Brewer Ltd Malmesbury Abbey 670-1539: Patronage, Scholarship
Book SynopsisMalmesbury Abbey was an institution of national significance throughout the Middle Ages and this book is the first full-length study of its history. Drawing upon particularly rich surviving documentary sources, it describes the monastery's evolution from the late seventh century to the Dissolution in 1539. The place was home to two particularly eminent writers: Aldhelm and William of Malmesbury. The Abbey had many royal connections. It housed the mausoleum of Æthelstan, first king of all England, and was effectively re-founded by King Edgar as part of an elite network of Benedictine communities intended to offer prayers on behalf of the royal house of Wessex. Queen Matilda, wife of Henry I, took a close interest in the monastery's affairs. Henry Plantagenet was present when a massacre took place in the Abbey church in 1153. In the 1320s the monks became caught up in the conflict between Edward II and his baronial opponents. The Abbey was also important architecturally. The church was completely rebuilt at the behest of Bishop Roger of Salisbury, chief minister of Henry I, and the surviving south porch contains some of the finest Romanesque sculpture in England. Previously neglected or unexamined sources are used extensively. The book reveals for the first time the identity of the Malmesbury monk who wrote the chronicle known as Eulogium Historiarum in the 1360s; his name was Thomas of Bromham and he envisaged a messianic role for the Black Prince. New light is shed on the extraordinary careers of abbots such as William of Colerne who transformed the Abbey's economic fortunes and John of Tintern who was accused of murder and arson. The turbulent final years of the Abbey's existence receive considerable attention, including an account of the spectacular breakdown in discipline in 1527 when Abbot Richard Camme was attacked by a gang of rebellious monks.Table of ContentsPrologue: Before the monastery 1. From Máeldub to Aldhelm 2. Aldhelm's community 3. Royal patronage and exploitation: 710-960 4. Malmesbury and the late Anglo-Saxon Benedictine reform movement 5. Responding to the Conquest: 1066-1100 6. William of Malmesbury and Queen Matilda 7. The ascendancy of Bishop Roger of Salisbury 8. The Abbey and the Anarchy 9. The dispute with the bishops of Salisbury: 1142-1217 10. A self-confident age: the Abbey in the thirteenth century 11. The Despenser years and the criminal career of Abbot John of Tintern 12. Thomas of Bromham and theEulogium Historiarum 13. After the Black Death 14. The abbots of Malmesbury: 1396-1480 15. The Tudor Abbey Epilogue: After the departure of the monks Bibliography Index
£54.00
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Church Fonts
Book SynopsisThe font is perhaps the most important part of any church. For centuries, no infant in the parish was thought to be saved from damnation until christened and fonts, as the vessels for this crucial rite of passage, were a pre-eminent tool in the Church’s fight against the Devil. Standing within the public space of the church – as with pews, rood screens and chantry chapels – fonts would have been paid for by the parishioners, and so the richness of their decoration was determined by the funds available and the prevailing architectural fashions of the time. Some of the more extravagant have elaborate multi-tiered covers, raised for use via ropes or chains and pulleys. In this fascinating introduction, Matthew Byrne explores the history of fonts in churches all over the nation, highlighting some of the most notable examples and explaining their evolution across the centuries.Table of ContentsForeword Introduction Font Construction and Materials The Anglo-Saxon centuries 800–1066 The Norman Period 1066–1200 The Later Middle Ages 1200–1500 The Seventeenth Century The Eighteenth Century The Victorian Age The Late Twentieth and Early Twenty-first centuries. Further Reading Places to Visit Index
£999.99
C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd The Plight of Western Religion: The Eclipse of
Book Synopsis'Religion' can be used to mean all kinds of things, but a substantive definition––based on the premise of superhuman powers––can clarify much. It allows us to attempt to differentiate religion from culture, ethnicity, morality and politics. This definition of religion necessarily implies a perception of reality. Until recent centuries in the West, and in most cultures still, the ordinary, natural and immediate way of understanding and experiencing reality was in terms of otherworldly or spiritual forces. However, a cognitive shift has taken place through the rise of science and its subsequent technological application. This new consciousness has not disproved the existence of spiritual forces, but has led to the marginalisation of the other-worldly, which even Western churches seem to accept. They persist, but increasingly as pressure groups promoting humanist values. Claims of 'American exceptionalism' in this regard are misleading. Obama's religion, Evangelical support for Trump, and the mega-church message of success in the capitalist system can all be cultural and political phenomena. This eclipsing of the other-worldly constitutes a watershed in human history, with profound consequences not just for religious institutions but for our entire world order.Trade Review'This is a very readable, brief, perceptive, and well-judged statement of a specific position, drawing on a wide range of material ... well worth reading for a sobering essay on the difficulties of mission today.' -- Church Times‘Skilfully argues and densely packs with quotes and references Christianity’s long lament about how things have turned out for it in the present time.’'Intellectual and brisk, this book will be of great use to those interested in the history of ideas. A very helpful rebuke to simplistic arguments about the changing nature of religion in society and the modern world.' -- Ben Ryan, Head of Research, Theos'A learned exploration of a compelling issue: why has religion lost its place in the West? Gifford's perspective as an Africanist is invaluable; he sees what scholars in Europe don't. Seamlessly weaving together history, theology and sociology, Gifford wears his erudition lightly. A major contribution and a good read.' -- David Voas, Professor of Social Science, University College London, and Co-Director of British Religion in Numbers
£27.00
£14.56
Counted Faithful The Pilgrim Fathers and their Successors
£11.10
Counted Faithful The Heart of John Wesley's Journal
£13.27
Counted Faithful The Metropolitan Tabernacle: Its History and Work
£8.17
Counted Faithful The English Puritans: The Rise and Fall of the Puritan Movement
£7.77
Counted Faithful The Life of John Knox
£9.78
Counted Faithful History of the Waldenses: A Light Shining in Darkness
£8.98
Lexington Books Daniel Mendelsohn’s Memoir-Writing: Rings of
Book SynopsisThis volume of eight essays written by French scholars analyzes Daniel Mendelsohn's first three volumes of nonfiction (The Elusive Embrace, 1999, The Lost, 2006, and An Odyssey, 2017) as well as an illustrated interview (2019) in which Mendelsohn tackles various aspects of his work as a literary and cultural critic, as a professor of classical literature, as a translator, and as a memoirist. The essays discussing The Elusive Embrace (1999) argue that, in addition to offering a subtle reflection on sexual identity and genres, Mendelsohn’s first volume already broadens his topic and patiently weaves links between ancient and present times, feeding his meditation with his knowledge of Greek culture and myths—a natural movement of back and forth which would become his signature. The Lost (2006), his much acclaimed investigation into the death by bullet of six of his family members during the Shoah, is analyzed as a close-up on the disappearance of a whole world, the unspeakability of which Mendelsohn addressed through intertwining several languages, linguistic echoes, and biblical references. Finally, Mendelsohn’s recent An Odyssey (2017) is studied as a brilliant musing on teaching Homer’s masterpiece while building up a memoir on his declining father sitting among his students and allowing Homer’s universal questions and lessons to enlighten a father and son’s last journey.Trade ReviewA pioneering collection exploring Daniel Mendelsohn's several works of memoir, with astute attention to their manifold dimensions, formal complexity, and literary quality. A worthy tribute to a master. -- G. Thomas Couser, Hofstra UniversityThis is the first collection ever of Daniel Mendelsohn’s first three memoirs, preceded by a long interview offering an inspiring introduction to his work. A ground-breaking volume of essays that favors a close reading of Mendelsohn’s powerful texts. -- Jerome CharynTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction Sophie VallasPrelude: “Daniel Mendelsohn: An Interview in Arles”Interviewed by Sophie Vallas and Laurence BenarrochePhotographs by Andres Escobedo1 The Elusive Embrace: A Gay Man’s Bi-passing the Fantasy of OnenessNicolas Pierre Boileau2 Translation, Heteroglossia and Othering in Daniel Mendelsohn’s The LostYves-Charles Grandjeat3 Rescued from Oblivion–The Search for One of Six in Daniel Mendelsohn’s The Lost. Bronia as a Tragic CharacterLaurence Benarroche4 An Odyssey: The Lost ReduxMarc Amfreville5 “A great story.” On Odysseus’ Scar and Daniel Mendelsohn’s OdysseyJean Viviès6 Conversion in Daniel Mendelsohn’s An Odyssey: Reworking the American MemoirSara Watson7 A Father in the Classroom: Patrimony as An Odyssey’s Arkhê KakônArnaud Schmitt8 Rosebed: The Stuff Beds Are Made of in Daniel Mendelsohn’s An OdysseySophie VallasBibliographyIndexAbout the Contributors
£999.99
Equinox Publishing Ltd John Cassian and the Creation of Monastic
Book SynopsisJohn Cassian (360-435 CE) started his monastic career in Bethlehem. He later traveled to the Egyptian desert, living there as a monk, meeting the venerated Desert Fathers, and learning from them for about fifteen years. Much later, he would go to the region of Gaul to help establish a monastery there by writing monastic manuals, the Institutes and the Conferences. These seminal writings represent the first known attempt to bring the idealized monastic traditions from Egypt, long understood to be the cradle of monasticism, to the West. In his Institutes, Cassian comments that “a monk ought by all means to flee from women and bishops” (Inst. 11.18). An odd comment from a monk, apparently casting bishops as adversaries rather than models for the Christian life. This book argues that Cassian, in both the Institutes and the Conferences, advocated for a separation between monastics and the institutional Church. In Cassian’s writings and the larger corpus of monastic writings from his era, monks never referred to early Church fathers such as Irenaeus or Tertullian as authorities; instead, they cited quotes and stories exclusively from earlier, venerated monks. In that sense, monastic discourse such as Cassian’s formed a closed discursive system, consciously excluding the hierarchical institutional Church. Furthermore, Cassian argues for a separate monastic authority based not on apostolic succession but on apostolic praxis, the notion that monastic practices such as prayer and asceticism can be traced back to the primitive church. This study of Cassian’s writings is supplemented with Michel Foucault’s analysis of the creation of subjects to examine Cassian’s formation of a specifically Egyptian form of monastic subjectivity for his audience, the monks of Gaul. Foucault’s concepts of disciplinary power and pastoral power are also employed to demonstrate the effect Cassian’s rhetoric would have upon his direct audience, as well as many other monks throughout history.Table of Contents1. Introduction 2. Cassian’s Context and Asceticism as Basis for Valid Authority 3. Foucault, Cassian, and the Creation of Subjects 4. Conflicts Between Monasticism and the Church 5. Cassian’s Rhetorical Attempts to Separate Monasticism from the Church 6. Conclusion
£67.50
Equinox Publishing Ltd Ijaz AlBayan
Book SynopsisSadr al-Din Qunawi (d. 1274) is arguably the most important thinker of the generation following the main founders of medieval philosophy-al-Farabi, Ibn Sina, Ibn ''Arabi and Suhravardi-and before Mulla Sadra. Despite this, almost nothing of his writings has been translated into English though critical Arabic editions of his major writings have been published. I''jaz al-bayan, his magnum opus, explores some key questions in philosophy, among which is speech (divine and human) in the unfolding of knowing and being. In this influential work, Qunawi lays forth in detail the principles and semiological tools for interpreting the opening chapter of the Qur''an, the Fatiha. Widely known as the epitome of the Qur''an, the Fatiha was also understood to indicate the divine ''opening'', the ''beginning'' of being''s unfolding. Far from a mere analysis of concepts or epistemology, his philosophical ''exegesis'' is about the self-identical unfolding of speech from the hidden secrecy of the divine source, from which flows God''s creative command, Be! The doubt that Ibn Sina expressed concerning the human capacity to know the ''realities of things'' manifested in this unfolding-namely, the letters, words, sentences and meanings of the divine writ of being-by dint of man''s faculties was critical to Qunawi''s dynamic understanding of what a plenary knowledge of anything must be. This is an authoritative edition of the Arabic text with an Editor''s Introduction in English and Arabic explaining the mechanics and publication history behind the edition and concisely summarizing the book''s contents.
£71.25
Send The Light When the Lord Walked the Land: The 1858-62
Book SynopsisPrevious studies of revival have tended to approach these remarkable moments in history from either a strictly local or a sweeping national perspective. In so doing they have dealt with either the detailed circumstances of a particular situation or the broader course of events. These approaches, however, have given the incorrect impression that religious awakening are uniform movements. As a result revivals have been misunderstood as homogeneous campaigns. This is the first study of the 1859 revival from a regional level in a comprehensive manner. It examines this movement, arguably the most significant and far-reaching awakening in modern times, as it appeared in the city of Aberdeen, the rural hinterland of north-east Scotland, and among the fishing villages and towns that stretch along the Moray Firth. It reveals how, far from being unvarying, the 1859 revival was richly diverse. It uncovers the important influence that local contexts brought to bear upon the timing and manifestation of this awakening. Above all, it has established the heterogeneous nature of simultaneous revival movements that appeared in the same vicinity.
£29.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Myth: Key Concepts in Religion
Book SynopsisThis book presents an accessible introduction to the complex topic of Myth. Ellwood examines theories, meanings and interpretations, all of which are structured around a typical programme of study. Myth is a complex but vital component of an understanding of religion, and issues surrounding the modern discipline of mythology are often fraught with difficulty. In "Myth: Key Concepts in Religion" students will find all the tools they need to achieve an understanding of this complicated topic.Structured around a typical programme of study, Robert Ellwood's accessible introduction covers all the major theories concerning the meaning and interpretation of myth, from structuralist to psychoanalystic, and includes illustrative examples throughout, including modern literary and cinematic myths, from "The Lord of the Rings" to "Star Wars.""Key Concepts in Religion" is a series of concise, accessible and engaging introductions to the core ideas and subjects encounters in the study of religion. Specially written to meet the need of students and those with an interest in, but little prior knowledge of, religion, the books open up fascinating, yet sometimes difficult ideas.Trade Review'The clarity of writing is superb—doubtless related to the sensitive perception of myth that indicates Ellwood's great familiarity with the subject ... A very gracious history of mythological studies is admirably brought in alongside the more general explications of types of myths, and historically important mythographers are introduced quite accessibly. The book will be a superb introduction to mythological studies for a long time to come.' William G. Doty is Professor Emeritus at the University of Alabama/TuscaloosaTable of Contents1. Encountering Myth; 2. Types and Theories of Myth; 3. Creation Myths; 4. The Hero's Journey: The Warrior; 5. The Hero's Journey: The Saviour; 6. Eschatological Myth: The End of the World; 7. Myths of Evil; 8. Nationalistic Myth; 9. The Sources of Myth; 10. The Psychology of Myth; 11. Mythologists; 12. Modern Myth.
£25.99
Wild Goose Publications Columba: Politician, penitent and pilgrim
Book SynopsisColumba is one of the best known and most well documented figures in Celtic Christianity and has consistently been Scotland's most popular saint. His journey from his native Ireland, where he was born 1500 years ago, took him eventually to Iona where he established a monastery which was to have a hugely important role in the Christianisation of the British Isles. Iona remains today a spiritual beacon and magnet drawing pilgrims from across the world keen to learn about his legacy and follow his way. In this substantially updated and revised version of his acclaimed biography, which has never been out of print since it was first published 25 years ago, Ian Bradley examines Columba's character, life and achievements. He explores the key themes of Columban Christianity politics, penitence and pilgrimage and their sometimes uncomfortable message for us today. Ian Bradley is Emeritus Professor of Cultural and Spiritual History at the University of St Andrews, a regular broadcaster, preacher and lecturer and the author of more than forty books, six of which are on aspects of Celtic Christianity. A book which is clear, useful and well grounded. Esther de Waal, Church TimesSome readers have the habit of marking key passages in the pages of their books. Myown copy of this one is covered in pen marks. It's marvellous. Rennie McOwan, Scots MagazineIan Bradley has done great things for Celtic Spirituality. He is not interested in populism or trendiness, but seeks an accurate dissemination of trustworthy information. And like the best academics, he changes his mind when new data requires it. This is a good book about Scotland's greatest Irish evangelist. John L Bell, Wild Goose Resource Group
£14.11
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Psalms
Book SynopsisThe Psalms raise many difficult and controversial issues. Who are the enemies in the Individual Lament Psalms? How many Royal Psalms are there and what was the role of the king in the cult? What happened at the Autumn Festival? What makes a Psalm a Wisdom Psalm? Why are the Psalms arranged as they are and how far is it possible to date them? Can we make sense of the often obscure Psalm headings? What light is shed on the Psalms by other ancient Near Eastern texts? These and many other issues are judiciously evaluated by John Day in a wide-ranging volume.
£20.43
Darf Publishers Ltd The Nestorians and Their Rituals: With the
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£29.75
Oneworld Publications The Baha'i Faith in Words and Images
Book SynopsisIn an age where so many are preoccupied with global issues of freedom, human rights, peace and religious intolerance, the Baha’i Faith and its teachings are more relevant than ever before. This volume combines comprehensive coverage of the Faith’s teachings, texts, practices, community life and organization, with images reflecting its rich architectural heritage and the international diversity of its members. Paul Slaughter spent three years travelling around the world to capture the photographs for The Baha’i Faith in Words and Images, from remote tribes in Papua New Guinea to villages in the mountains of Peru, taking in every continent. Breathtaking photography and intelligent accompanying text are combined to produce a beautiful coffee-table book, and accessible introduction to one of the fastest-growing religions of today.
£18.00
Oneworld Publications The Baha'i Faith in Words and Images
Book SynopsisIn an age where so many are preoccupied with global issues of freedom, human rights, peace and religious intolerance, the Baha’i Faith and its teachings are more relevant than ever before. This volume combines comprehensive coverage of the Faith’s teachings, texts, practices, community life and organization, with images reflecting its rich architectural heritage and the international diversity of its members. Paul Slaughter spent three years travelling around the world to capture the photographs for The Baha’i Faith in Words and Images, from remote tribes in Papua New Guinea to villages in the mountains of Peru, taking in every continent. Breathtaking photography and intelligent accompanying text are combined to produce a beautiful coffee-table book, and accessible introduction to one of the fastest-growing religions of today.
£12.34
Edinburgh University Press Lancashire Quakers and the Establishment,
Book SynopsisA study of Lancashire Quakers and the establishment between 1660 and 1730.
£80.75
Archetype Writings and Writing: Investigations in Islamic
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£72.25
Oldcastle Books Ltd Byzantium
Book SynopsisSo what's so significant about the Byzantine Empire? It is now recognised as having had a considerable influence on the Renaissance and a significant impact in the shaping modern Europe and modern historians are increasingly acknowledging the role the Byzantine Empire played in the development of both Islam and Christianity, and the relationship between the two. The term 'Byzantine' derives from the ancient Greek city of Byzantium founded in 667 BC by colonists from Megara. It was named in honour of their leader Byzas. It later became better known as Constantinople, that gateway between West and East and played a crucial role in the transmission of Christianity to the West. Constantine is now generally known as the first Christian Emperor, and in recent years interest in him has grown, with his role in the development of Christianity being questioned by Dan Brown, author of The Da Vinci Code, amongst others. A closer examination of this formative period in the history of the church reveals a struggle to gain a coherent and cohesive religious identity. Christianity would emerge as the major religion of the Byzantine Empire in a departure from the pagan worship of the Roman Empire. The Byzantine Empire was often at the centre of profound geopolitical, cultural and religious forces that threatened to pull it apart. When Byzantine forces suffered a terrible defeat at the hands of the Seljuk Turks at the Battle of Manzikert for example, appeals to the West precipitated the First Crusade. In 1204 during the Fourth Crusade, Constantinople was conquered by the Crusader army. The dramatic siege and subsequent fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Empire is often seen as marking the end of the medieval period. The Byzantine Empire lasted for over a thousand years, created remarkable art and architecture and created a lasting cultural and religious legacy - even its decline and fall was to have ramifications that reached far beyond its borders. The fall of Constantinople which had been a key city on the ancient Silk Road, linking East and West led many to consider the prospect of opening up new lines of trade, sea exploration that would eventually lead to major new discoveries, new routes and new worlds...
£9.49
Five Leaves Publications Secret Judaism and the Spanish Inquisition
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£14.24
Nomad Publishing Arab Christianity and Jerusalem: A History of the
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£21.21
Gibb Memorial Trust Mazandaran and Astarabad
Book SynopsisMazandaran and Astarabad, originally published in 1928, gives an account of two remote and inaccessible Iranian provinces written by the diplomat and Persian scholar H. L. Rabino. Accompanied by a large-scale facsimile of the detailed original map.
£999.99
Windhorse Publications Dr Ambedkar and the Revival of Buddhism II
Book SynopsisThis companion to volume 9 begins with a celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar's conversion to Buddhism, together with a rejoicing in his merits. Then we follow the dramatic history of the Buddhist revival in India, beginning with a commentary on Dr Ambedkar's article 'Buddha and the Future of His Religion', which prompted Sangharakshita's initial contact with him. Articles on the mass conversion in 1956 and Sangharakshita's crucial visit to Nagpur at the time of Dr Ambedkar's death are followed by the story of Sangharakshita's teachings among the new Buddhists in 1959 to 61, together with notes from some of the hundreds of talks he gave. Sangharakshita did not forget India after returning to England in 1964, giving talks to raise awareness of Dr Ambedkar, and in 1979 returning to perform the first ordinations of the Indian wing of the Order, later the Triratna Buddhist Order. In a sequence of talks (from 1979 to 1992) he tells his Indian audiences about the Buddhist movement he has founded in the West and his western audiences about the Indian sangha, thus weaving together the two communities of new Buddhists. The volume culminates in a commentary on the Pali canon's Udana, edited from two much-loved seminars from the early days of the FWBO and including new translations of the verses (udanas) by Dhivan Thomas Jones. Inspiring us to imagine the time when Buddhism was so new it didn't have a name, the text includes famous teachings - the taste of salt, in the seen only the seen - and declares the first question the Buddha was asked after his Enlightenment: who is the true brahmin? The Buddha's answer, rejecting the caste system and asserting the spiritual values to which he has awakened, takes us to the heart of Dr Ambedkar's revival of Buddhism in India.
£28.45
World Encounter Institute/New English Review Press Whose Holy Land?: Archaeology Meets Geopolitics in Today's Middle East
£17.99
Worthy Publishing Romance Behind Judaica: Celebrating the Richness
Book Synopsis Passover, Shavuot, Sukkot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Hanukkah, Purim, Tisha B''Av ROMANCE BEHIND JUDAICA is a guide to the history and observation of Jewish festivals. Includes the background of each holy day, how it was observed in biblical times and how it is observed today. Outlines the special readings for each holiday. Features beautiful, 4-color photographs of stunning artifacts associated with the holidays. Readers will come away with an appreciation for the profoundly beautiful traditions at the bedrock of faith.
£16.14
Springer-Verlag GmbH Jewish Options
£116.99
De Gruyter Geschichte Israels Und Judas Im Altertum
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£25.65
