History of religion Books

Book SynopsisThe men depicted in the Bible were not perfect by any means. We find story after story marked by scandal, failure, and intrigue. Yet we also find many stories of men who were able to look beyond their circumstances, completely trust in the Lord, and follow Him wherever He chose to them. Like us, these men made both good and bad decisions along the way—and experienced both good and bad consequences—and we find our struggles and hopes in the pages of the Bible that tells their stories.In this ten-session workbook, Max Lucado tells some of his favorite stories of these men in the Bible. Stories include: Noah: When You''re Low on Hope Job: The Most Famous Conversation in the Bible Jacob: Wrestling with the Past Moses: The Voice from the Mop Bucket David: Colossal Collapses

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Book SynopsisThe history, beliefs, culture, sacred sites and traditions of Islam, sumptuously illustrated with 1000 images.

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Book SynopsisThis account brings to light many primary sources that illuminate the story of St. Herman and the wider context of the little-known history of Russian colonization in the Pacific Northwest.Trade Review"[Lydia Black's] scholarship is a shining example of how the humanities can have a positive, lasting influence on the people they seek to interpret." --Aluutiq Museum"A 'must' read and acquisition for those dedicated to seeing through the fog that has for so long encompassed the investigation of Russian colonialism in North America." Timothy L. (Ty) Dilliplane, Alaska History

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Book SynopsisIn the aftermath of the religious crisis triggered by the Protestant Reformation, the Catholic Church set out to conquer faithful in new territories. The first missionaries to arrive in Japan were the Jesuits who were forced to adopt a different type of evangelization, with a bottom-up rather than a top-down approach. This volume shows that Japan turned out to be a land of experimentation and development of a global Catholicism, as well as an unprecedented laboratory of encounter between political, scientific and religious cultures in the age of the first globalization. It analyzes the different conversion strategies developed by the Jesuit fathers toward various groups, including samurai, Buddhist bonzes and Japanese peasants. A key step was the appropriation of sacred space by the missionaries: first in a violent way with the construction of large crosses and the destruction of temples, pagodas and pagan idols, then through strategies more flexible and accommodating of replacing pTable of ContentsIntroduction I. Preaching a foreign God1. Missionary violence2. Christ’s samurai3. From persecutions to martyrdom II. Planting Crosses1. The conquest of sacred space2. Symbol of a suffering God III. The Miraculous Tree1. The cross in the trunk2. Christianizing ancient cults IV. The Wood of Martyrdom1. Crosses of blood2. The Japanese Roses of Nagasaki V. The Pope’s Samurai: Takayama Ukon1. A martyr without martyrdom2. The postmortem career: from failures to the altars

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Book SynopsisThe Open Bible has been trusted for over 50 years to help you navigate Scripture for yourself with a powerful combination of tools and resources including the leading topical index with over 8,000 names, places, events, and doctrines, as well as thorough book introductions and outlines.

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Book SynopsisWhat do we really know about how and where religions began, and how they spread? In this bold new book, award-winning author Robin Derricourt takes us on a journey through the birth and growth of several major religions, using history and archaeology to recreate the times, places and societies that witnessed the rise of significant monotheistic faiths. Beginning with Mormonism and working backwards through Islam, Christianity and Judaism to Zoroastrianism, Creating God opens up the conditions that allowed religious movements to emerge, attract their first followers and grow. Throughout history there have been many prophets: individuals who believed they were in direct contact with the divine, with instructions to spread a religious message. While many disappeared without trace, some gained millions of followers and established a lasting religion. In Creating God, Robin Derricourt has produced a brilliant, panoramic book that offers new insights on the origins of major religions and raises essential questions about why some succeeded where others failed.Trade Review‘Religions are among the most potent inventions of the human imagination. This magisterial study will help us understand them not as divine, but as human constructs.’Richard Holloway, author of Stories We Tell Ourselves'An intriguing and sensitively presented survey of the often surprising links and continuities between some of the world's great religions over three millennia.'Diarmaid MacCulloch, author of A History of Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years'Creating God is an attempt to recreate the worlds in which the founders of several major religions lived and laboured. The result is a book rich in detail, consummate in its scholarship, and revelatory in exposing for modern eyes the conditions that allowed religious movements to flourish. Derricourt’s approach is to work backwards chronologically through Mormonism, Islam, Christianity, Judaism to Zoroastrianism. The outcome of all this work is one of the most exciting books of modern times.'Queensland Reviewers Collective'If you are a student of Theology, History or simply someone who enjoys discovering much about the history of humanity, the good, the bad and the indifferent and where the fundamental beliefs that form a part of our society and bloody history were formed, Creating God is a very good place to begin. Fascinating, well researched and very readable Creating God is not a light read but one that is very worthwhile.'BlueWolf Reviews, Janet Mawdesley'The book is comprehensively annotated, and, in addition, contains a very useful ‘select’ bibliography for further reading. It provides an excellent entry point for those seeking secular perspectives on the origins of the five religions that are its focus, and for those seeking secular perspectives on the origins of religions more broadly'Journal of Religious History -- .Table of Contents1 Introduction: religions’ origins in context2 Frontiers of place and belief: Mormon origins and journeys3 Vision, faith and conquest: the source and power of Islam4 Rural Galilee to imperial cities: the beginnings and spread of Christianity5 Scribes, priests and exiles under foreign rule: the emergence of monotheistic Judaism6 Ahura Mazda and the enigmas of Zoroastrian origins7 Prophets, texts, religions and history: some conclusionsIndex

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Book SynopsisA century ago in central Europe, a small group of Rudolf Steiner's theology students, with the help of Steiner himself, established The Christian Community as a movement for religious renewal. From its founding they published a regular journal containing articles from the movement's key figures, including Emil Bock, Evelyn Capel, Alfred Heidenreich and Rudolf Frieling, as a way to share knowledge and insight and develop ideas and practice.Published in celebration of the centenary of The Christian Community, this landmark compendium gathers a wide-ranging selection of important articles spanning one hundred years of The Christian Community journal from 1922 to 2022. The articles include contemplations on the Bible and festivals of the years, essays on the lives and work of artists and writers, and explorations of ideas about science, the natural world and the earth as a living entity. This fascinating collection shows the changing concerns of a growing community, from its early pioneering days through the turbulent early decades and the outbreak of the Second World War, to its position in our modern, globalised society.The book includes a foreword by Tom Ravetz, Lenker of The Christian Community in Great Britain and Ireland and the current editor of Perspectives, the UK's quarterly Christian Community journal.

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Book SynopsisA glorious illustrated history of sixteen of the world's greatest cathedrals, interwoven with the extraordinary stories of the people who built them. 'An impeccable guide to the golden age of ecclesiastical architecture' The Times 'Vivid, colourful and absorbing' Dan Jones 'An epic ode to some of our most beautiful and beloved buildings' Helen Carr A glorious history of sixteen of the world’s greatest cathedrals, interwoven with the extraordinary stories of the people who built them. The emergence of the Gothic style in twelfth-century France, characterized by pointed arches, rib vaults, flying buttresses and large windows, forms the central core of Emma Wells’s authoritative but accessible study of the golden age of the cathedral. More than architectural biographies, these are human stories of triumph and tragedy that take the reader from the chaotic atmosphere of the mason’s yard to the cloisters of power. Together, they reveal how 1000 years of cathedral-building shaped modern Europe, and influenced art, culture and society around the world.Trade ReviewAn impeccable guide to the golden age of ecclesiastical architecture... Meticulously researched... It's to Wells's credit that she manages to make the history of these cathedrals as gripping as she does. * The Times *Combining scholarship and an eye for human stories, Heaven on Earth is a vivid, colourful and absorbing tour of the greatest buildings the medieval world produced. -- Dan JonesShines scholarly light on the history of the great cathedrals of Europe and uncovers the wealth of human stories they hold. Rich in animated, erudite and compassionate storytelling about how people in the past expressed spirituality in magnificent physical form... An epic ode to some of our most beautiful and beloved buildings. -- Helen CarrEmma J. Wells has written an accessible, authoritative and lavishly illustrated account of the building of 16 of "the world's greatest cathedrals" * Spectator *Wells brings these buildings vividly to life, peopling them with their authors and sponsors, their triumphs and tribulations, and beautifully illustrated * Country Life *Sumptuously presented... A fascinating look at how people in the Middle Ages combined spirituality, symbolism, mathematics and monumental toil to create some of history's grandest buildings * History Revealed *This beautifully written and impeccably researched book is an utter joy to read, managing to be both academic and yet accessible to the lay reader * Yorkshire Life *Strikingly show[s] the influence these imposing buildings exerted [and] the importance of the people who built these places * History Today *

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Book SynopsisIn Rome the echoes of the past resound clearly in its palaces and monuments, and in the remains of the ancient imperial city. But another presence has dominated Rome for 2,000 years -the pope, whose actions and influence echo down the ages. In this epic tale, historian Jessica Wärnberg tells, for the first time, the story of Rome through the lens of its popes, illuminating how these remarkable (and unremarkable) men have transformed lives and played a crucial role in deciding the fate of the city. Emerging as the anonymous leader of a marginal cult in the humblest quarters of the city, less than 300 years later the pope sat enthroned in a gilt basilica, endorsed by the emperor himself. Eventually, the Roman pontiff would supplant even the emperors, becoming the de facto ruler of Rome and pre-eminent leader of the Christian world. Shifting elegantly between the panoramic and the personal, the spiritual and the profane, this is a fresh and often surprising take on a city, a people and an institution that is at once familiar and elusive.Trade ReviewShe is brilliant! -- Dan SnowA tremendous, engrossing, and illuminating history of papal Rome. City of Echoes is a must-read for everyone with an interest in the Eternal City. -- Angus Robertson, author of Crossroads of Civilization: A History of ViennaSerious, exactingly-researched history, with all the gripping intensity of a rattling good yarn. Filled with intriguing and unexpected facts, City of Echoes conjures up some superb images. Jessica Wärnberg shows us how the truth can be be even more exciting than any Dan Brown yarn. -- Paul Strathern, author of The Borgias, The Medici, and The Other RenaissanceCity of Echoes is a sweeping journey through the intertwined history of the city of Rome and the popes from the earliest Christian times till today. It's wonderfully readable and thoroughly enjoyable. -- Philip Freeman, author of Hannibal, Alexander the Great, and Julius CaesarJessica Wärnberg's pleasurably informative account allows us to hear some gloriously clear historical and religious resonances of Rome from St. Peter to the present day. It leads us on a sparkling journey through the intertwined evolution of the Eternal City and the papacy that is a joy on the architectural, human, and divine levels. -- Stephen P. Kershaw, author of The Harvest of War and The Enemies of RomeThis marvellous and original study offers us Rome in all its beauty, depravity and resilience. The history of papal power is never better explained ... An excellent read that will reshape our perceptions of how the modern Vatican state came to be. -- Andrew Pettegree, author of The Library: A Fragile History and Brand Luther: How an Unheralded Monk Turned His Small Town into a Center of Publishing, Made Himself the Most Famous Man in Europe and Started the Protestant ReformationTerrific! Jessica Wärnberg is an assured guide through the panorama of Rome's Christian history, evoking a turbulent world of warfare, witchcraft and inquisitors. Not only that, she achieves the considerable feat of making church history fun. Highly recommended. -- Catherine Fletcher, author of The Beauty and the Terror: An Alternative History of the Italian RenaissanceJessica Wärnberg's book tells not only the story of these popes but that of Rome, its people and the events that affected them ... as a history of the Catholic church it is well worthwhile. Just about everything is here, from the conversion of the Emperor Constantine in 312 to the declaration of the pope's infallibility when speaking ex cathedra in 1870. * The Spectator *The book's strength is its range, from St Peter in the first century all the way to Pope Francis today...Wärnberg is especially good on the early years, when Christianity and the papacy emerged under the shadow of a hostile imperial Rome...the story of how popes became leading actors is well told. * The Economist *Telling the history of Rome over nearly 2,000 years through the deeds (and misdeeds) of the Popes of the Roman Catholic Church is more than just a beautiful conceit. Jessica Wärnberg has written a deeply informative book that never fails to entertain * Air Mail *A brilliantly researched and all-encompassing history of papal Rome. I very much enjoyed reading this. * Anna Mazzola, author of the Clockwork Girl *Historian Wärnberg debuts with an insightful study of the papacy and its influence over the city of Rome. Throughout this accessible and scrupulous account, Wärnberg demonstrates how the legacy of the papacy has become inextricably linked with the city of Rome. The result is a valuable contribution to the history of both Rome and Catholicism. * Publishers Weekly *City of Echoes will fill in the gaps of your knowledge and understanding of the history of Rome and the papacy. It will give you a fresh and better informed view of how religion can impact a city and, thereby, the world. * Premier Christianity *

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Book SynopsisThe Number One BestsellerShortlisted for the Irish Book Awards 2021'A great achievement . . . Brilliant, engaging and essential' Colm Tóibín'At once intimate and epic, this is a landmark book' Fintan O'TooleWhen Dubliner Derek Scally goes to Christmas Eve Mass on a visit home from Berlin, he finds more memories than congregants in the church where he was once an altar boy. Not for the first time, the collapse of the Catholic Church in Ireland brings to mind the fall of another powerful ideology - East German communism. While Germans are engaging earnestly with their past, Scally sees nothing comparable going on in his native land. So he embarks on a quest to unravel the tight hold the Church had on the Irish.He travels the length and breadth of Ireland and across Europe, going to Masses, novenas, shrines and seminaries, talking to those who have abandoned the Church and those who have held on, to survivors and campaigners, to writers, historians, psychologists and many more. And he has probing and revealing encounters with Vatican officials, priests and religious along the way.The Best Catholics in the World is the remarkable result of his three-year journey. With wit, wisdom and compassion Scally gives voice and definition to the murky and difficult questions that face a society coming to terms with its troubling past. It is both a lively personal odyssey and a resonant and gripping work of reporting that is a major contribution to the story of Ireland.'Reflective, textured, insightful and original ... rich with history, interrogation and emotional intelligence' Diarmaid Ferriter, Irish Times'An unblinking look at the collapse of the Church and Catholic deference in Ireland. Excellent and timely' John Banville, The Sunday Times'Engaging and incisive' Caelainn Hogan, author of Republic of Shame'Remarkable ... Essential reading for anyone concerned about history and forgetting' Michael Harding'Fair-minded ... thoughtful' Melanie McDonagh, The Times'Very pacey and entertaining ... and it changed how I regard Ireland and our history for good. Fantastic' Oliver Callan'Original, thought-provoking and very engaging' Marie Collins'A provocative insight into a time that many would rather forget' John Boyne'Challenging' Mary McAleese'Explores this subject in a way that I've never seen before' Hugh Linehan, Irish TimesTrade ReviewAn extraordinary story ... At once intimate and epic, this is a landmark book -- Fintan O'TooleA great achievement ... brilliant, engaging and essential -- Colm TóibínAn engaging and incisive book that asks what keeping the faith cost us, how it shaped us and what it means now -- Caelainn Hogan * author of Republic of Shame *Remarkable ... [Scally] examines the past with disarming honesty and a sense of compassion. His book is essential reading for anyone concerned about history and forgetting -- Michael HardingOffers some challenging end-of-an-era reflections on being Catholic in the scandal-ridden church of contemporary Ireland -- Mary McAleeseAbsolutely thrilling. A wonderful blend of personal story, journalism and history - it goes to unexpected places and asks questions we don't usually consider -- Oliver CallanAccessible, original, thought-provoking and very engaging -- Marie CollinsA wonderful book -- Catriona CroweReflective, textured, insightful and original ... rich with history, interrogation and emotional intelligence -- Diarmaid Ferriter * Irish Times *A highly intelligent, patriotic work * Business Post *Compelling * Irish Examiner *Excellent and timely * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisScience and Civilization in Islam has remained unsurpassed as the authoritative statement on this subject. With his characteristic breadth of learning, clarity of exposition and insight, Seyyed Hossein Nasr presents here for the first time a full picture of Islamic science, not as a chapter in the history of Western science, but as an integral aspect of Islamic civilisation and the Islamic intellectual tradition.By means of an historical presentation, an analysis of its forms, including the use of passages from the writings of many Muslim scientists and philosophers, the author is able to convey not only a sense of the operative context of Islamic science but he also demonstrates its inter-relatedness with the sapiential wisdom on which it is based. An introductory chapter provides the reader with a necessary orientation to the subject according to the principles of Islam, while subsequent chapters survey the whole spectrum of the individual sciences from cosmology, philosophy, and theology to alchemy, physics, mathematics, astronomy, and medicine concluding with a chapter on the gnostic tradition.For this edition, Dr Nasr has written a preface surveying the fields covered in the book since its first appearance in 1968, and has provided a supplement that brings the Bibliography up to date.

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Book SynopsisIs the world better off without Christianity?Combining narrative with keen critique of contemporary debates, author and historian John Dickson gives an honest account of 2,000 years of Christian history that helps us understand what Christianity is and what it''s meant to be.To say that the Christian Church has an image problem doesn''t quite capture it. From the Crusades and the Inquisition to the racism and abuse present in today''s Church--both in Catholic and Protestant traditions--the institution that Christ established on earth has a lot to answer for. But the Church has also had moments throughout history when it has been in tune with Jesus'' teachings--from the rise of charity to the invention of hospitals.For defenders of the faith, it''s important to be able to recognize the good and bad in the church''s history and be inspired to live aligned with Christ. For skeptics, this book is a thought-provoking introduction to the idea that Chr

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Book SynopsisIf you think the Bible is irrelevant, irrational, or even, at times, immoral—and you have an open mind—The Rational Bible will change your mind and influence your outlook on life. You will come to understand why the Bible and especially its first five books, the Torah, are the most influential books ever written. Equally important, you will understand how they apply to your life.  The Rational Bible, Dennis Prager’s commentary and explanation of these five books—rooted in his expertise in biblical Hebrew and its grammar—is widely considered the most important modern Bible commentary. Read the thousands of reviews on Amazon—written by people of many faiths and of no faith—and you will appreciate why this is so.   The Book of Numbers—“In the Wilderness” in the original Hebrew—is the fourth book of the Bible. Among the many compelling issues addressed in this volume are the following: Doubting God. What produces faith—miracles or effort? And if effort, what efforts work? Arguing with God. Ingratitude as a source of evil. Why only men could be priests. Why the conscience is not morally reliable. Is fanaticism ever justified? Is there luck in life, or is everything determined by God’s will? The title of this five-volume commentary is The Rational Bible because its approach is entirely reason-based. The reader is never asked to accept anything on faith alone. In Dennis Prager’s words, “If something I write is not rational, I have not done my job.”   Few people alive today have influenced as many people as has Dennis Prager. In the words of the website, Powerline, “Dennis Prager is probably the foremost public intellectual of our time.” Read The Rational Bible and you will understand why.

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Book SynopsisThe Middle Ages were dubbed the ‘Dark Ages’ almost before they had begun to draw to a close. Ever since then, they have continued to be seen as a time of hardship and oppression, full of popes and crusades. In the second volume of 2,000 Years of Christ’s Power, another side of the Middle Ages shines through though: The continual workings of Christ as He built His kingdom through figures such as Thomas a Kempis and John Wycliffe, who lived and struggled during these centuries. This was far from a period of stagnation; rather it was the fire from which the Reformation was kindled.Trade ReviewFor many years now I have said: if you want a thorough, learned but accessible and well-written history of the church, read Nick Needham's 2,000 Years of Christ's Power. Now, with the fourth volume finally available, Christians have an excellent resource for improving their knowledge of the history of their faith. Highly recommended. -- Carl R. Trueman (Professor of Biblical and Religious Studies, Grove City College, Pennsylvania)It is a brave historian who tackles the extremely challenging task of writing the 2,000-year history of the Church. Well, Nick Needham has more than risen to the challenge. This eagerly-awaited fourth volume has been well worth the wait and, not to pressure our brother scholar, we now look forward to the concluding volume! -- Michael A. G. Haykin (Professor of Church History and Biblical Spirituality, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky)What makes the books so useful is that in a non-technical (but not simplistic) way, they bring out the main story line of the history of the church through the centuries. But in addition, and most helpfully, each chapter concludes with a selection of writings (translated of course!) from people discussed in the chapter. This means that we are not only told what certain people believed, but we are able to read some of their actual writings -- and this is often extremely illuminating. -- Martin K. Bussey (Lecturer in theology, Africa International University, Kenya)Nick Needham's volumes on church history explain everything that someone new to the subject might not understand. At the same time, they achieve a depth of detail to interest those who already know something of the subject. We use them as standard texts at LTS and look forward eagerly to forthcoming volumes. -- Robert Strivens (Pastor, Bradford–on–Avon Baptist Church, Wiltshire, UK & former Principal, London Seminary)

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Book SynopsisIn The Story of Christianity, acclaimed theologian David Bentley Hart provides a sweeping and informative portrait of a faith that has shaped the western world and beyond for over 2,000 years. From the persecutions of the early church to the papal-imperial conflicts of the Middle Ages, from the religious wars of 16th- and 17th-century Europe to the challenges of science and secularism in the modern era, and from the ancient Christian communities of Africa and Asia to the 'house churches' of contemporary China, The Story of Christianity triumphantly captures the complexity and diversity of Christian history.Trade Review'A theologian of exceptional quality - but also a brilliant stylist' Dr Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury. * Dr Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury *Table of ContentsIntroduction. The Abiding Glory: The People of Israel. Jesus Christ, Born of the Jews. The Death of the Messiah. The Easter Proclamation. The Church of the Apostles. The Growth of the Early Church. The Age of the Martyrs. The Gnostics. Alexandria in the Early Christian Centuries. Constantine the Great and the Birth of Christendom. Cities of the Desert: The Rise of Monasticism. Christianity in Armenia and India. Ancient Splendour: Christianity in Ethiopia. One God in Three Persons: The Earliest Church Councils. The Age of the Fathers. The Fall of Rome and the Rise of a New Western Christendom. Western Monasticism and the Preservation of Western Learning. Christendom. The Formation of Orthodox Christology. The Last Epoch of the United Christian Empire. The 'Church of the East': The Nestorian Missions. A New Power in the World: The Rise of Islam. Charlemagne. The Face of God: The Iconoclast Controversy. Franks and Byzantines: The Widening Gulf. The Conversion of the Slavs. The Great Schism. The Early Crusades. Byzantine Zenith and Nadir. The Holy Roman Empire in the Middle Ages. The High Middle Ages. Reason and Superstition: Medieval Contradictions. The Oriental Churches in the Later Middle Ages. Byzantine Twilight. The Last Caesar. Renaissance Christian Thought. Spain and its Inquisition. The Reformation Begins. The Growth of the Reformation. The Anabaptists and the Catholic Reformation. Schism and War: Early Modern Europe. Colonies and Missions. The Church and the Scientists. Deism, Enlightenment and Revolution. Eastern Orthodoxy in the Early Modern Period. The 19th Century: A Time of Radical Doubt. The 19th Century: A Time of Fervent Faith. The 20th Century in America. The Most Violent Century in History. The 20th to the 21st Century: The Rise of a New Christendom. Glossary. Further References. Index.

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Book SynopsisOffers a vision of how Islam first evolved. This title argues that the origins of Islam lie in what we may call the Believers' movement begun by the prophet Muhammad - a movement of religious reform emphasizing strict monotheism and righteous behavior in conformity with God's revealed law.Trade ReviewDonner is one of the leading scholars of early Islam in the world. No other book I know of distills the often highly arcane and dispersed stuff of scholarship on the first century of Islamic history into such an accessible narrative account that, in addition, offers a compelling new interpretation on the formation of Islamic confessional identity. A tremendous achievement. -- Ahmet Karamustafa, Washington University in St. LouisThis is an invaluable book. Not only does it provide a sane and lucid guide to the origins of Islam, a topic that is currently more mired in controversy than any other in the entire field of ancient history, but it is also a stimulating and original work of scholarship in its own right. -- Tom Holland, author of MillenniumDonner presents the intriguing view that the early Islamic movement, as presided over by Muhammad, actively included Jews and Christians in the flock as part of a general monotheistic community. It was only later, after Muhammad's death, that a new generation of Muslims began ritualizing Islam with its own distinctive practices, such as the hajj (pilgrimage) and the five daily prayers...He raises many original points, gleaning evidence from everything from coinage to original source documents. Questioning longstanding stereotypes, he argues (and proves) that Muslims are not, by nature, anti-Jewish and also that, based on archeological evidence, Muslims did not routinely tear down churches. The early Muslims, though brutal in war, created a sophisticated and organized civil system. For those curious about Islam's beginnings, no book is as original and as evenhanded as this succinct read. * Publishers Weekly *In Muhammad and the Believers: At the Origins of Islam, Donner takes a fresh look at the heart and soul of Islamic history. -- Joseph Richard Preville * Saudi Gazette *A learned and brilliantly original, yet concise and accessible study of Islam's formative first century...Donner's explanation of the process by which Muslims came to define themselves is both fascinating and enlightening. -- Max Rodenbeck * New York Times *It is an excellent introduction to how and why the faith was born, and explains its proliferation in the Middle East and beyond...Donner uses the original text of the Qur'an and other source materials dating from the same period to piece together the history of the faith. What quickly becomes clear is that Islam, and what it means to be a "Muslim," have both changed dramatically since the early days...Muhammad and the Believers is full...of intriguing questions and challenges readers to reconsider what they think they know about Islam...[It's] a rewarding read. -- Dan Sampson * culturemob.com *Donner is to be commended for posing questions that many mainstream scholars have chosen to leave aside. -- Malise Ruthven * New York Review of Books *Provocative and accessible...Donner's vision of an "ecumenical Islam" is thought-provoking...Donner's overarching thesis in Muhammad and the Believers is convincing. It sheds light on a world far more fluid and confused than the one we have come to expect from the usual storyline. -- Christian C. Sahner * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book Synopsis* A reissue of the vivid, compellingly researched biography of one of history's most celebrated martyrs - translator of the Bible William Tyndale, published to coincide with the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Bible

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Book SynopsisMark Greengrass''s gripping, major, original account of Europe in an era of tumultuous changeSUNDAY TIMES and FINANCIAL TIMES Books of the Year 2014This addition to the landmark Penguin History of Europe series is a fascinating study of 16th and 17th century Europe and the fundamental changes which led to the collapse of Christendom and established the geographical and political frameworks of Western Europe as we know it. From peasants to princes, no one was untouched by the spiritual and intellectual upheaval of this era. Martin Luther''s challenge to church authority forced Christians to examine their beliefs in ways that shook the foundations of their religion. The subsequent divisions, fed by dynastic rivalries and military changes, fundamentally altered the relations between ruler and ruled. Geographical and scientific discoveries challenged the unity of Christendom as a belief-community. Europe, with all its divisions, emergeTrade ReviewMark Greengrass succeeds brilliantly in bringing to life a vanished world that is consistently strange and surprising-and sometimes disturbing and repellent-even as he encourages us to recognise the ways in which it prefigures our own -- Peter Marshall * Literary Review *The Penguin History of Europe series ... is one of contemporary publishing's great projects * New Statesman *

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Book SynopsisAn extensive overview of Catholicism's rich history, the life and work of hundreds of the most significant saints, and of the popes, with over 1500 evocative colour images.

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Book SynopsisAlthough very little is known for certain about Pontius Pilate, the man who crucified Christ, this has not stopped writers in every age from imagining his life. This is also the story of the man Pilate might have been; Ann Wroe shows how, in his struggles with fate and free will, Pilate's story has also become the story of ourselves.Trade ReviewThe touch of a master novelist... Few have ever explored so imaginatively, or with such passionate attention to detail' * Sunday Telegraph *Because so little is known, it is possible to speculate endlessly. If one's mind is a brilliant engine of speculation like Wroe's, then one is dazzlingly equipped to do so. Her book is excellent and discloses an intense imaginative sympathy, a lyricism, and a fine-tuned psychological perception * Daily Express *Wroe is a creative, even a beautiful writer... It is a wonderfully enjoyable, rich, generous book -- A.N.Wilson * Daily Mail *Extraordinary and compelling -- Victoria Glendinning * Daily Telegraph *She manages always to keep Pilate living and breathing in the text, and occasionally kicking and screaming * Independent on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisAlthough related to one of the ruling families of Ireland, Columba (c 521-97) became a central figure in the 'Age of Saints' by setting out from his native land and founding his famous monastery on the island of Iona.It was from here that priests and monks played a key role in converting the Picts of Scotland, here that countless penitents came on pilgrimages and that the King of Dalriada (Argyll) came to be consecrated. Adomnán's Life, writes Richard Sharpe, is the fullest early account, offering a 'vivid depiction of the abbot among his own monks, written on the spot by the saint's successor one hundred years after Columba's death'.Drawing on extensive written and oral traditions, Adomnán presents Columba as a man distinguished for his prophetic and miraculous powers, whose life was filled with angelic apparitions and whose dying days were spent preparing for his departure. A stimulating Introduction sketches in the background, the arcTable of ContentsLife of Columba - Adomnán of Iona PrefaceMapsGenealogical tablesIntroductionSt. Columba, his early lifeSt. Columba, "an island soldier"St. Columba and the IrishSt. Columba and the PictsSt. Columba's death His successorsAdomnán of Iona, abbot and statesmanAdomnán and the writing of the LifeThe island and monastery of IonaThe Columban community after AdomnánThe Later history of IonaThe medieval legend of St. ColumbaThe modern legend of St. ColumbaThe Life of ColumbaThe prefaceThe second prefaceBook OneBook TwoBook ThreeNotesManuscripts and editionsPesonal namesPeoples and dynastiesPlace namesDatesSt. Columba's nameSt. Mochta's prophecyAdomnán's informantsSt. Columba's lineageKing Oswald's baptismSt. Munnu of TaghmonThe foundation of DerrySt. Baithene, second abbot of IonaThe name of IonaThe foundation of DurrowSt. Cainnech of AghaboeSt. Colmán Elo of LynallyThe whirlpool of CorryvreckanÁedán mac Gabráin, king of DalriadaDomnall mac Áedo, king of IrelandSt. Lasrén, third abbot of IonaSt. Columba's servant DiarmaitThe burial ground of IonaDairmait mac Cerbaill, king of IrelandThe monstery of HinbaThe meeting of the kings at Druim CettSt. Comgall of BangorSt. UinniauThe monastic office in IonaSynods in the Irish churchAldfrith, king of NorthumbriaThe list of St. Columba's companionsThe royal ordination of ÁedánCumméne's bookThe burial of St. OdranThe monastic building at IonaThe church of EiggFergnae, fourth abbot of IonaSt. Columba's burial placeBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisCharts the rise and fall ofJohn Zahm, examining his ascension to international fame in bridging evolution and Catholicism and shedding new light on his ultimate downfall via censure by the Congregation of the Index of Prohibited Books.Trade Review“No other book has gone into such depth in probing the story of the Catholic Church’s censorship of the attempts by the Notre Dame priest and scholar John Zahm to demonstrate that Catholic teaching, generally speaking, is consonant with Darwin’s evolutionary science. Faith and Science at Notre Dame provides an original and well-written account of Zahm’s life and career. It also provides a detailed study of the often fearful and unjust way in which the Catholic Church in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries dealt with some of its most devoted members when they sought to accommodate Church teachings intellectually and religiously to the age of science.”—John Haught, author of Resting on the Future: Catholic Theology for an Unfinished Universe"According to John Slattery, John Zahm's scientific credentials and expertise far outstripped that of his opponents, but his lack of theological and philosophical sophistication severely hampered his ability to steer clear of condemnation. Faith and Science at Notre Dame explains Zahm's position and the background factors that led him to adopt a pro-evolution perspective in conflict with Church authorities both in the United Sates and in Rome." —Paul Allen, Concordia University"Slattery’s account of Zahm’s work provides a much-needed bridge between this reactionary era in the Church’s recent intellectual history and the more open era of Catholic thought that preceded the French Revolution. Faith and Science at Notre Dame is an indispensable addition to this history." —Commonweal"Faith and Science at Notre Dame gives us a fresh look at the work of Fr. John A. Zahm, C.S.C., the prominent Notre Dame advocate of the compatibility of evolutionary biology and Catholic thought. John Slattery examines Zahm's work within the larger context surrounding the rise of Neo-Scholasticism and against the background of the 'Americanist' controversies of the late nineteenth century. Slattery synthesizes the work of earlier scholars and gives us a new picture of Zahm both as a priest-scientist and also as a religious controversialist writing in a complex period of the history of the Roman Catholic Church. The work is supported by new archival research in Vatican archives, and includes translations of important official Church texts." —Phillip R. Sloan, Professor emeritus, University of Notre Dame"Slattery’s book draws on new archival information from letters and reports that deepen our understanding of the scientific, theological and philosophical forces in the Church and put Zahm’s stance and the consequences he faced in a new light." —Notre Dame Magazine"Father Zahm's life story is a cautionary tale of the challenge that men of faith face as scientists." —The Pilot"The great merit of Slattery’s book is its detailed analysis showing that Zahm and the Vatican officials in the Congregation of the Index (and their chosen 'expert') were operating with vastly different understandings of what 'science' is." —Theological StudiesTable of ContentsTables Acknowledgements Introduction 1. Setting the Stage: An Historical Background 2. The Rise and Fall of John Augustine Zahm, CSC 3. The Scientific Mind of John Zahm, CSC 4. The Development of Catholic Teachings on Science, Faith, and Reason in the 19th Century 5. Trials and Tribulations Appendix A: A New Translation of the 1864 Syllabus of Modern Errors Appendix B: An English Translation of Otto Zardetti’s Condemnation Bibliography

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Book Synopsisintroduction to prayer and the spiritual life in the tradition of Ignatius Loyola.Trade ReviewThe journeys, struggles and insights of two great spiritual pilgrims – Ignatius Loyola and Mary Ward – are skilfully woven together here to invite today’s pilgrims into their own Ignatian adventure. Gemma’s own knowledge and love of both of these wise guides shines through these pages as she offers us a map for our own journey that is deeply grounded, practical and real. An excellent and very readable companion through Lent, and far beyond. -- Margaret Silf, author and spiritual explorerLearning to pray drawing on contemplation is vital today to be able to discern God speaking through the details of your lives. To sustain a depth of faith in our challenging world, we need forms of prayer to maintain a rich and deeply resourcing spiritual life infused by the love of God. In this wonderful book, Sr Gemma explores and unpacks the method of prayer developed by St Ignatius in a way that makes this profound approach to prayer of the Jesuits accessible to those who want to get serious about their prayer life. I highly recommend this book if you are hungry and seeking to encounter and discover God in a deeper way. -- Ian Mobsby, Anglican priest, writer, speaker and Prior, Wellspring New Monastic Community, Peckham, South LondonIf you are looking for insightful and encouraging spiritual reading for Lent (or any other time), you have found your book! Grounding the spiritual in the practical, Simmonds invites us to be pilgrims in the company of Jesus, Ignatius and Mary Ward. Learning from them along the way, we discover our own path to greater faith, hope, and love. -- Kevin O’Brien, SJ, author of The Ignatian Adventure: Experiencing the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius in daily life, and Dean, Jesuit School of Theology, Santa Clara University, California

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Book SynopsisThe Prophet Muhammad taught the word of God to the Arabs. Within a generation of his death, his followers - as vivid a cast of heroic individuals as history has known - had exploded out of Arabia to confront the two great superpowers of the seventh-century and establish Islam and a new civilization. That the protagonists originated from the small oasis communities of central Arabia gives their adventures, their rivalries, their loves and their achievements an additional vivacity and intimacy. So that on one hand, THE HEIRS OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD is a swaggering saga of ambition, immense achievement, self-sacrificing nobility and blood rivalry, while on the other it allows us to understand some of the complexities of our modern world. For within this fifty-year span of conquest and empire-building, Barnaby Rogerson also identifies the seeds of discord that destroyed the unity of Islam, and traces the roots of the schism between Sunni and Shia Muslims to the rivalry of the two individuaTrade ReviewA natural storyteller, [Rogerson] achieves his purpose not by viewing the first great schism of Islam from the outside, but by immersing his readers in the master narrative of events as these came to be viewed ... An absorbing narrative that captures the epic quality of an era to which Muslims of all persuasions look for inspiration * SUNDAY TIMES *THE HEIRS OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD vividly illustrates how the debates, the decisions and the sometimes bloody conflicts that resulted from trying to discern God's will in the absence of God's Prophet ultimately gave birth to the varied and wonderful trad * GUARDIAN *

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Book SynopsisIn this ground-breaking book, Professor Norman Cohn traces popular beliefs about witches to their origins. He examines the fantasies that inspired the great European witch-hunt of the 16th and 17th centuries when thousands of innocent people were tortured and burned alive. It is a fascinating history of the need to imagine antihuman conspiracies and an investigation of how those fantasies made the great European witch-hunt possible. In addition, Professor Cohn''s discovery that some influential sources on witch trials were forgeries has revolutionized the field of witchcraft studies, making this one of the most essential books ever written on the subject.Trade ReviewIt is not too much to say that Professor Cohn has revolutionised the study of the subject - It is a brilliant book. -- Bernard Levin * Observer *An indispensable study. -- Robin Lane Fox * Financial Times *This is a book of real stature which I hope will have a side impact. Only if we begin to understand the horrifying recesses of the human imagination can we prevent the recurrences of those dreadful, irrational persecutions which have so disfigured human history. -- Anthony Storr

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Book SynopsisThis Element introduces New Age religion. The New Age Movement is a loosely cohesive conglomerate of different spiritual currents with no common founder, leader, institution, dogma, or scripture. Because of its diversity, it may appear amorphous and incoherent at first sight. This Element emphasizes both the unity and diversity of the New Age. It approaches the phenomenon from three main perspectives: 1) the historical development of New Age religion, 2) ideas and practices associated with the New Age, and 3) the social organization of the New Age movement. It thus provides a wide-angle view that sketches out some of the main patterns that emerge from a mosaic of individual currents and actors associated with the New Age. It also highlights some of the differences within the movement by exploring some ideas and practices in depth.

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Book SynopsisA compact guide to the basic structure and ritual shape of the Roman Mass from its formative period in late antiquity to the Tridentine reform. Uniting classical liturgical history with insights from a variety of other disciplines, the book offers the picture of a liturgy celebrated and lived.Table of ContentsIntroduction; 1. The last supper; 2. The Eucharist in the early church; 3. Development of Eucharistic prayers in the third and fourth century; 4. The formative period of Latin liturgy; 5. Roman stational liturgy; 5. The expansion and adaptation of the Roman liturgy in the Carolingian Age; 7. From the Ottonian Revival to the High Middle Ages; 8. Decline and vitality in the later Middle Ages; 9. The Tridentine Reform; Epilogue.

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Book SynopsisEnjoy the unmatched beauty of the King James Version combined with the readability of Thomas Nelson’s exclusive KJV Comfort Print typeface, all in a Bible that includes over 73,000 cross references.In this edition, the literary beauty of the King James Version is paired with the readability of Thomas Nelson''s Comfort Print for an unrivaled reading experience. Helpful resources are included, such as red-letter words of Christ, cross-references in a center column, reading plans, and more.The KJV Comfort Print Typeface was designed to be the most readable at any size. On a special commission, 2K/Denmark sought to reflect Thomas Nelson''s rich 200-year tradition with the KJV, while also embodying the best advancements in modern Bible typography. The result is an exclusive Bible typeface that is uncompromisingly beautiful, bold, readable at any size, and perfectly suited to the King James Version.Features include:

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Book SynopsisEver feel lost in translation? With the NET Full-notes Edition of the Holy Bible, you don’t need to be. Modern readers can find it challenging to connect with biblical writers'' ancient words and cultural contexts. This Bible offers a new solution: pairing a readable, everyday English translation with the largest set of translators’ notes ever created for a Bible. The NET’s nearly 60,000 notes bring complete transparency to every major translation decision and invite you to look over the translators’ shoulders, allowing you to deepen your understanding of the Scriptures. It is an indispensable resource for every Bible reader.The New English Translation (NET) is faithful to the text, clear to modern readers, and establishes an unparalleled accountability. Translated by a team of leading biblical scholars, the NET marries fidelity to original texts with everyday English clarity. Enrich your reading experience of Scripture with the NET: Faithful. Clear. Accountable.Trusted by Bible readers worldwide, the NET Full Notes has been recognized with the ECPA Bronze Award for selling over 100,000 copies.Features include: Faithful: The newest complete English translation based on the most up-to-date manuscript discoveries and scholarship Clear: Modern English for modern readers Accountable: A translation that explains itself—nearly 60,000 translators’ notes offer unprecedented transparency Durable Smyth-sewn binding lays flat in your hand or on your desk Notes are conveniently organized into Translation Notes (TN), Study Notes (SN) and Text Critical Notes (TC) Full-color maps show the layout of Israel and other biblical locations for better context Ribbon markers for you to easily navigate and keep track of where you are reading Easy-to-read 9-point NET Comfort Print®

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Book SynopsisThis elegant Bible edition of the RSV delivers this classic translation in a convenient portable size with essential study tools and traditional accents.The Revised Standard Version (RSV) in the Sovereign Collection reflects its place in the legacy and majesty of the King James Version Bible. This beautiful Bible contains design flourishes that pay tribute to the King James Bible produced in 1611, delivered in a convenient portable size with essential study tools.The Sovereign Collection continues Thomas Nelson''s long history and stewardship publishing Bibles, featuring elegant letter illustrations leading into each chapter. Drawing from the legacy of the trustworthy and timeless KJV, these editions use elegant drop cap illustrations leading into each chapter and more classic Bible details.Features include: Classic double column text for narrative books Single-column text for poe

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Book SynopsisFrom Abelard to Zwingli, via a multitude of saints and sinners, Nick Page guides us through the creeds, the councils, the buildings and the background of the Christian church in an illuminating, and perhaps ever so slightly irreverent way.Well-known as a writer, speaker, unlicensed historian and general information-monger, Nick Page combines in-depth research, historical analysis and cutting-edge guesswork to explore how on earth the Christian church has survived all that 2,000 years of heroes, villains and misfits could throw at it (mostly from the inside) to remain one of the most influential forces in the world today.''I was predestined to read this.'' John Calvin.''I felt my heart strangely warmed. Or it could have been indigestion.'' John Wesley.Trade ReviewRating: 4/5 StarsFor everyone who's ever tried to engage with church history and found it to be at best worthy but stupefyingly dull, Nick Page has played a blinder. His book is funny... warm, insightful and helpful... To have wit and style to turn the story of Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, and his chum Anthony the uber-hermit into a laugh-out-loud pantomime is a rare gift... This is a great starter text for everyone. Keep up the good work, sir. * Engage Magazine *I have ended up reading Nick Page's A Nearly Infallible History of Christianity, which is a bit silly and very informative. * Reform Magazine *

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Book SynopsisTraces the Miss America pageant's long and complicated history. Mandy McMichael demonstrates that the pageant is a little explored window into American culture, one that reveals a complex cocktail of all Americans hold dear.Table of Contents Introduction 1. Miss America as Sex 2. Miss America as Entertainment 3. Miss America as Competition 4. Faith of the Pageant, Faith and the Pageant 5. Faith in the Pageant Conclusion: Born Again: Miss America 2.0

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Book SynopsisThis book examines the place of 'saints' and sanctity in a self-consciously modern age, and argues that Protestants were as fascinated by such figures as Catholics were. Long after the mechanisms of canonisation had disappeared, people continued not only to engage with the saints of the past but continued to make their own saints in all but name. Just as strikingly, it claims that devotional practices and language were not the property of orthodox Christians alone. Making and remaking saints explores for the first time how sainthood remained significant in this period both as an enduring institution and as a metaphor that could be transposed into unexpected contexts. Each of the chapters in this volume focuses on the reception of a particular individual or group, and together they will appeal to not only historians of religion, but those concerned with material culture, culture of history, and the reshaping of British identities in an age of faith and doubt.Trade ReviewThe editor of this book, a Fellow of Magdalene College, Cambridge, has brought together a strong team of scholars who address a fascinating subject.Church Times, November 2016‘This splendid collection provides abundant evidence to support Clyde Binfield’sdictum that the nineteenth century was ‘hagiology’s high noon’.’Robin Gill, Theology February 2017‘Making and Remaking Saints in Nineteenth-Century Britain will most certainly be a success for readers interested in the ways in which religious thought shaped and was shaped by the intellectual currents of the period.’Devon Fisher, Lenoir-Rhyne University, Journal of British Studies‘The editor is to be congratulated for having brought together such a selection of scholars, and for having presented a major contribution to the understanding of the religious and historical tensions of the period.’Serenhedd James, St Stephen’s House, Oxford, British Catholic History‘This book does an excellent job of exploring the ways in which hagiography was rewritten and ecclesiastical history was contested. It does very valuable work in drawing attention to the interaction of Protestant and Catholic traditions and even occasionally gets into some daring and interesting territory in the course of discussions of the use of saints by freethinkers, atheists and spiritualists.’Dominic Janes, Keele University , Journal of Ecclesiastical History -- .Table of ContentsIntroduction: Thinking with saints - Gareth Atkins 1. Paul - Michael Ledger-Lomas 2. The Virgin Mary - Carol Engelhardt Herringer 3. Claudia Rufina - Martha Vandrei 4. Patrick - Andrew R. Holmes 5. Thomas Becket - Nicholas Vincent 6. Thomas More - W. J. Sheils 7. Ignatius Loyola - Gareth Atkins 8. English Catholic martyrs - Lucy Underwood 9. Richard Baxter - Simon Burton 10. The Scottish Covenanters - James Coleman 11. John and Mary Fletcher - David R. Wilson 12. William Wilberforce and 'the Saints' - Roshan Allpress 13. Elizabeth Fry and Sarah Martin - Helen Rogers 14. John Henry Newman's Lives of the English Saints - Elizabeth Macfarlane 15. Thérèse of Lisieux - Alana Harris Index

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Book SynopsisWhat is the purpose of studying history? How do we reflect on contemporary life from a historical perspective, and can such reflection help us better understand ourselves, the world around us, and the God we worship and serve?Written by an accomplished historian, award-winning author, public evangelical spokesman, and respected teacher, this introductory textbook shows why Christians should study history, how faith is brought to bear on our understanding of the past, and how studying the past can help us more effectively love God and others. John Fea shows that deep historical thinking can relieve us of our narcissism; cultivate humility, hospitality, and love; and transform our lives more fully into the image of Jesus Christ.The first edition of this book has been used widely in Christian colleges across the country. The second edition contains updates throughout.

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