Nature and existence of God Books
Thomas Nelson Publishers Good Morning Holy Spirit
Book SynopsisIn this repackaged edition of his classic bestseller, Benny Hinn shares the story of his personal encounter with the Holy Spirit and the dramatic change it made in his life, as well as how it has touched the lives of others around the world.
£13.49
Zondervan The Holy Spirit
Book SynopsisAn informative, clarifying, and unifying book on the Holy Spirit Who is the Holy Spirit and what does he do? The world-renowned evangelist Billy Graham offers a sensitive and comprehensive portrait of the much discussed but often-misunderstood member of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit came to empower God's people and transform their lives, yet so often the doctrine of the Holy Spirit causes division in the church. It is crucial to develop a genuinely biblical understand of the Third Person of the Trinityand to experience an authentic outpouring of his power.
£9.93
University of California Press The Living Goddesses
Book SynopsisMarija Gimbutas wrote and taught with rare clarity in her original - and originally shocking - interpretation of prehistoric European civilization. This text contains the distillation of her studies, combined with new disco veries, insights, and analysis.Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Editor's Preface Acknowledgments Editor's Introduction Part 1 Religion in Prepatriarchal Europe 1 Images of Goddesses and Gods 2 Symbols, Signs, and Sacred Script 3 The Tomb and the Womb 4 Temples 5 Sacred Stone and Wood Ceremonial Centers 6 Matrilineal Social Structure as Mirrored in Religion and Myth Part 2 The Living Goddesses 7 The Minoan Religion in Crete 8 The Greek Religion 9 The Etruscan Religion 10 The Basque Religion 11 The Celtic Religion 12 The Germanic Religion 13 The Baltic Religion Editor's Afterword Editor's Notes Glossary Selected Bibliography Index
£24.65
SPCK Publishing Gods Undertaker
Book SynopsisA new, updated edition of John Lennox's successful book, including a foreword by Francis Collins, Director of the Human Genome ProjectTrade Review'A brilliantly argued re-evaluation of the relation of science and religion, casting welcome new light on today's major debates. A must-read for all reflecting on the greatest questions of life.' -- Alister McGrath, author, Glimpsing the Face of God'Recent books touting atheism have been grounded more on dyspepsia than on dispassionate reason. In this book John considers the best, most recent science from physics and biology, and demonstrates that the picture looks far different from what we've been told.' -- Michael Behe, author, Darwin's Black Box and The Edge of EvolutionTable of ContentsContentsPreface 71. War of the worldviews 152. The scope and limits of science 313. Reduction, reduction, reduction… 474. Designer universe? 585. Designer biosphere? 786. The nature and scope of evolution 1007. The origin of life 1228. The genetic code and its origin 1359. Matters of information 14810. The monkey machine 16311. The origin of information 17412. Violating nature? The legacy of David Hume 193Epilogue 207References 211Index 222
£10.44
Thomas Nelson Publishers Welcome Holy Spirit
Book SynopsisIntroduces readers to the work of the Holy Spirit in the world today.
£11.69
Pan Macmillan God: An Anatomy - As heard on Radio 4
Book SynopsisWinner of The PEN Hessell-Tiltman PrizeShortlisted for The Wolfson History PrizeA The Times Books of the YearA fascinating, surprising and often controversial examination of the real God of the Bible, in all his bodily, uncensored, scandalous forms.'One of the most remarkable historians and communicators working today' – Dan SnowThree thousand years ago, in the lands we now call Israel and Palestine, a group of people worshipped a complex pantheon of deities, led by a father god called El. El had seventy children, who were gods in their own right. One of them was a minor storm deity, known as Yahweh. Yahweh had a body, a wife, offspring and colleagues. He fought monsters and mortals. He gorged on food and wine, wrote books, and took walks and naps. But he would become something far larger and far more abstract: the God of the great monotheistic religions.But as Professor Francesca Stavrakopoulou reveals, God’s cultural DNA stretches back centuries before the Bible was written, and persists in the tics and twitches of our own society, whether we are believers or not. The Bible has shaped ideas about God and religion, but also cultural preferences about human existence and experience; our concept of life and death; attitude to sex and gender; habits of eating and drinking; the understanding of history.Examining God’s body, from his head to his hands, feet and genitals, she shows how the Western idea of God developed. She explores the places and artefacts that shaped our view of this singular God and the ancient religions and societies of the biblical world. And in doing so she analyses not only the origins of our oldest monotheistic religions, but also the origins of Western culture.Beautifully written, passionately argued and frequently controversial, God: An Anatomy is cultural history on a grand scale.'Rivetingly fresh and stunning' – Sunday TimesTrade ReviewA learned but rollicking journey through every aspect of Yahweh's body. A book that will offend some but delight more. * Economist Best Books of the Year *Rivetingly fresh and stunning . . . I rather like this inexhaustibly powerful, shouting, bearded giant of a God, a fiery, fierce and startlingly “pagan” God, alive to his very fingertips, laughing at human hubris and singing with unbridled joy. -- Christopher Hart * Sunday Times *Lively . . . [with] a wealth of scholarly detail and much gusto -- Rowan Williams * New Statesman *Professors of Theology are imagined to be dull, gentle souls. This book, however, is a great rebel shout . . . A book that aims to upend the notion of a cloudy, spiritualised creator . . . instructive, vivid and frequently hilarious. * Economist *A marvelous conspectus of references to the divine body in ancient southwest Asian texts. But more than this, it is about recalibrating our understanding of these difficult texts to better understand ourselves. -- Simon Yarrow * Literary Review *God: An Anatomy is a tour de force. Stavrakopoulou has created not just an extraordinarily rich and nuanced portrait of Yahweh himself, but an intricate and detailed account of the cultural values and practices he embodied, and the wider world of myth and history out of which he emerged . . . Stavrakopoulou has taken to heart the biblical injunction to seek the face of God, and what emerges is a deity more terrifyingly alive, more damaged, more compelling, more complex than we have encountered before. More human, you might say. -- Mathew Lyons * New Humanist *Stavrakopoulou is no literalist — indeed, she’s an atheist — but she maintains that her reading makes far more sense than the traditional ones, and her confident tone never falters. -- Dan Hitchens * The Times *A detailed and scrupulously researched book . . . packed with knowledge and insight -- Karen Armstrong * The New York Times *Boldly simple in concept, God: An Anatomy is stunning in its execution. It is a tour de force, a triumph, and I write this as one who disagrees with Stavrakopoulou both on broad theoretical grounds and one who finds himself engaged with her in one narrow textual spat after another . . . A stunning book. -- Jack Miles * Catholic Herald *The sheer amount of primary evidence examined is staggering . . . Stavrakopoulou’s argumentation is intellectually penetrating, analytically robust, and sophisticated . . . Stavrakopoulou’s book, and her public-facing scholarship, demonstrate what makes an outstanding biblical scholar. * Church Times *Good Lord, Stavrakopoulou touches that sweet spot that is scholarly, funny, visceral and heavenly. A revelation. -- Adam Rutherford, author of A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived and How to Argue with a RacistOne of the most remarkable historians and communicators working today. -- Dan SnowIn both Judaism and Christianity God is conceived as non-physical. In God: An Anatomy Francesca Stavrakopoulou shows that this was not yet so in the Bible, where God appears in a much more corporeal form. This provocative work will surprise and may shock, but it brings to light aspects of the biblical account of God that modern readers seldom appreciate. -- John Barton, Emeritus Professor at Oriel College, Oxford and author of A History of the BibleIn Stavrakopoulou's stunning dissection of historical religious texts, the real back-story and context of the God of Judaism and Christianity is revealed . . . Where pious theologians have abstracted him into emptiness, Stavrakopolou gives him back his substance, and he’s so much more interesting in this bodily form! Both scholarly and accessible, and full of fascinating stories - I guarantee you’ll never think of this God the same way again. -- Professor Alice RobertsMarvelous and stimulating . . . scholarly and beautifully illustrated . . . an exciting read! * Methodist Recorder *This is an extraordinary book. It’ll rewire your thinking, and it’s so readable you won’t notice till it’s too late. -- Tim Whitmarsh, author of Battling the GodsWell-researched . . . A refreshing look at ancient Scripture and the people behind it, reminding readers that the concept of ‘God’ in the 21st century is a world away from that of the earliest people of Israel. A challenging, engaging work of scholarship that sheds new light on ancient Hebrew conceptions of the divine. * Kirkus Reviews *
£13.49
Hodder & Stoughton Friendship with God An uncommon dialogue
Book SynopsisConversations with God took its readers on an inspirational journey, teaching them how to conduct a dialogue with God and reach a better understanding of themselves, others and the world we all inhabit. In Neale Donald Walsch''s latest book, they will travel further on this journey towards a greater relationship, and ultimately friendship, with God.Trade Review'Contains a wisdom I believe we all have inside us but don't stop to listen to . . . there is the wisdom of the ages in this book'Dr Bernie Siegel on Conversations with God Book 1Contains a wisdom I believe we all have inside us but don't stop to listen to . . . there is the wisdom of the ages in this book * Dr Bernie Siegel on Conversations with God Book 1 *
£10.44
Oxford University Press Goddesses Who Rule
Book SynopsisGoddesses often are labelled as one-dimensional forces of nature or fertility. In examining a number of goddesses whose primary role is sovereignty, this volume reveals the rich diversity of goddess traditions. Drawn from a variety of cultural and historical settings, the goddesses described here include Inanna of ancient Sumer; Oshun of Nigeria; and Cihuacoatl of pre-historical America.Trade ReviewAn interesting survey of regiocultural understandings of goddesses' relationship to human authority. * The Journal of the American Academy of Religion *
£30.59
Baker Publishing Group Is God a Moral Monster Making Sense of the Old
Book SynopsisLeading apologetics writer with a proven track record tackles the most difficult Old Testament passages and topics, helping readers to reconcile the God of righteousness with the God of love.
£13.49
SPCK Publishing God and Stephen Hawking 2ND EDITION
Book SynopsisA new and revised edition of Professor John C. Lennox's stirring reply to Hawking's claims that God is not needed to explain the Universe.Trade Review"A brilliant response to Stephen Hawking's The Grand Design. Make sure you hear both sides of the argument!" -- Alister McGrath, author, The Dawkins DelusionTable of ContentsContentsPreface to the First Edition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Preface to the Second Edition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Chapter 1 The big questions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Chapter 2 God or the laws of nature?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28Chapter 3 God or the multiverse? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48Chapter 4 Whose design is it anyway?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73Chapter 5 Science and rationality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
£9.49
John Murray Press Celebration of Discipline
Book SynopsisArguably the most established contemporary spiritual classic by our most profound living religious writer. This timeless classic has helped well over a million people discover a richer spiritual life infused with joy, peace and a deeper understanding of God.The book explores the ''classic disciplines'' of Christian faith: the inward disciplines of meditation, prayer, fasting, and study; the outward disciplines of simplicity, solitude, submission and service and the corporate disciplines of confession, worship, guidance and celebration.Trade ReviewLike a child exploring the attic of an old house on a rainy day, discovering a trunk full of treasure and then calling all his brothers and sisters to share the find, Richard Foster has 'found' the spiritual disciplines that the modern world stored away and forgot ... the instruments of joy, the way into mature Christian spirituality and abundant life. * Eugene Peterson *This is a book I'd love to have written ... exciting, stimulating and joyful. * Joyce Huggett *The best modern book on Christian spirituality. * Ronald Sider *
£10.44
Renard Press Ltd Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night: Selected
Book SynopsisThe poetry of Dylan Thomas has long been heralded as amongst the greatest of the Modern period, and along with his play, Under Milk Wood, his books are amongst the best-loved works in the literary canon. This new selection of his poetry contains all of his best-loved verse - including 'I See the Boys of Summer', 'And Death Shall Have No Dominion', 'The Hand that Signed the Paper' and, of course, 'Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night' - as well as some of his lesser-known lyrical pieces, and aims to show the great poet in a new light.Trade Review'[Then] the greatest living poet in the English language.' (Observer) 'He is unique, for he distils an exquisite mysterious moving quality which defies analysis.' (Sunday Times)
£7.99
Hodder & Stoughton Conversations with God 1
Book SynopsisDuring the lowest point of his life, a man begins writing letters to God to vent his frustrations - and unexpectedly receives answers to his questions, written by his own hand. The bestselling spiritual classic that has now sold millions of copies world-wide.Neale Donald Walsch was experiencing the lowest point of his life - from a devastating fire to the collapse of his marriage - when he decided to write a letter to God to vent his frustrations. What he did not expect was a response: as he finished his letter, he was moved to continue writing, and out came extraordinary answers to his questions. These answers - covering all aspects of human existence, from happiness to money, to faith - helped Walsch to change himself and his life for better, and the way he viewed other beings. Walsch compiled all of these answers into a book, Conversations with God, which was an instant bestseller on publication in 1995, going straight into the New York Times bestseller list and remaining there for more than 130 weeks. Over twenty years later, it has sold millions of copies world-wide and has changed the lives of countless people all around the world with its profound answers about life, happiness, money, love and faith. Conversations with God is a modern spiritual classic that remains fresh and relevant in a world that needs its powerful messages about who we are and our place in it more than ever.
£10.44
Oxford University Press The Nature of the Gods Oxford Worlds Classics
Book SynopsisCicero's philosophical works are now exciting renewed interest, in part because he provides vital evidence of the views of the (largely lost) Greek philosophers of the Hellenistic age, and partly because of the light he casts on the intellectual life of first century Rome. This edition uses the 1997 Clarendon text by the acclaimed translator P.G. Walsh.Trade ReviewThe translation is both lively and accurate; the introduction is judicious and informative. The notes are especially strong on the identification of the many historical references in the work. * Phronesis *
£10.44
Transworld Publishers Ltd God
Book SynopsisReza Aslan is an internationally acclaimed writer and scholar of religions. He is also a graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop. At Harvard, Aslan was elected president of Harvard's chapter of the World Conference on Religion and Peace, a UN organisation committed to global understanding. His is first book, No god but God: The Origins, Evolution and Future of Islam, has been translated into thirteen languages and named by Blackwells as one of the hundred most important books of the last decade. Currently teaching an introductory course on Islam at Iowa, Aslan is also at work on a novel.Trade ReviewA brief and lively history... Extraordinary. -- Alexander Waugh * Spectator *Aslan turns Genesis on its head. The extent of our divine anthropomorphism is fascinating. As an introductory biography of a figure who has good claim to be called the most influential of all time, it is interesting indeed. -- Catherine Nixey * The Sunday Times *Timely, riveting, enlightening and necessary. * Huffington Post *[Aslan’s] slim, yet ambitious book [is] the story of how humans have created God with a capital G, and it’s thoroughly mind-blowing. * Los Angeles Review of Books *Reza Aslan offers so much to relish in his excellent ‘Human History’ of God. In tracing the commonalities that unite religions, Aslan makes truly challenging arguments that believers in many traditions will want to explore further, and to mull over. This rewarding book is very ambitious in its scope, and it is thoroughly grounded in an impressive body of reading and research. * Philip Jenkins, author of Crucible of Faith *
£10.44
Octopus Publishing Group The Little Book of Sacred Geometry: How to
Book SynopsisThis accessible introduction to sacred geometry illuminates the beauty and power of nature and explains how we can draw on this mystical energy to enrich our everyday lives Sacred geometry is founded on the belief that everything is connected through the shapes and symmetries that we see repeated in nature all around us, from snowflakes and shells to crystals and honeycombs. These beautiful patterns are part of the mystic architecture of the universe – some even see them as the signature of a deity woven throughout creation. This beginner’s guide clearly explains what sacred geometry is and how it manifests in the natural world. Then, by learning how to harness the power of sacred shapes, you can find healing, energy, peace and oneness with the universe. The Little Book of Sacred Geometry will help you appreciate the cosmic significance of these principles and grasp fascinating insights such as: How the study of sacred geometry has developed since ancient times What the numerous sacred shapes look like What key concepts, such as the golden ratio, refer to How sacred geometrical practices can be applied in your life
£7.59
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Christian Doctrine of God One Being Three
Book SynopsisThe Very Revd Thomas F. Torrance was Professor of Christian Dogmatics, University of Edinburgh, UK.Paul D. Molnar is Professor of Systematic Theology, St John's University, NY, USA.Table of ContentsPreface by Paul D. Molnar Introduction 2. The Christian Perspective 3. The Biblical Frame 4. The TrinitarianMind 5. One Being, Three Persons 6. Three Persons, One Being 7. Trinity in Unity and Unity in Trinity 8. The Sovereign Creator 9. The Unchangeableness of God Index Bibliography
£24.29
Hodder & Stoughton Conversations with God 3
Book SynopsisThe dialogue expands . . . When Neale Donald Walsch was experiencing one of the lowest points of his life, he decided to write a letter to God. What he did not expect was a response, with extraordinary answers covering all aspects of human existence - from happiness to money, to faith. The resulting book, Conversations with God, was an instant bestseller on publication in 1995 and has since sold millions of copies world-wide, changing countless lives everywhere. Conversations with God: Book 3 is the third volume of the original Conversations with God trilogy that takes us even further in our questioning and search for answers, dealing with universal truths of the highest order and the challenges and opportunities of the soul. This incredible series contains answers that will change you, your life and the way you view others.Also by Neale Donald Walsch and available from Hodder & Stoughton: Conversations with God, Books 2 and 3, Communion with God, Friendship with God, Applications for Living and Meditations from Conversations with God, Book 1.Trade ReviewI read this and it completely turned everything I believe about religion on its head. If you are at all religious, you should read this book.' * Francis Rossi of Status Quo, Metro *
£10.44
Pan Macmillan God: An Anatomy - As heard on Radio 4
Book SynopsisWinner of The PEN Hessell-Tiltman Prize 2022Shortlisted for The Wolfson History Prize 2022A The Times Books of the Year 2022Three thousand years ago, in the Southwest Asian lands we now call Israel and Palestine, a group of people worshipped a complex pantheon of deities, led by a father god called El. El had seventy children, who were gods in their own right. One of them was a minor storm deity, known as Yahweh. Yahweh had a body, a wife, offspring and colleagues. He fought monsters and mortals. He gorged on food and wine, wrote books, and took walks and naps. But he would become something far larger and far more abstract: the God of the great monotheistic religions.But as Professor Francesca Stavrakopoulou reveals, God’s cultural DNA stretches back centuries before the Bible was written, and persists in the tics and twitches of our own society, whether we are believers or not. The Bible has shaped our ideas about God and religion, but also our cultural preferences about human existence and experience; our concept of life and death; our attitude to sex and gender; our habits of eating and drinking; our understanding of history. Examining God’s body, from his head to his hands, feet and genitals, she shows how the Western idea of God developed. She explores the places and artefacts that shaped our view of this singular God and the ancient religions and societies of the biblical world. And in doing so she analyses not only the origins of our oldest monotheistic religions, but also the origins of Western culture.Beautifully written, passionately argued and frequently controversial, God: An Anatomy is cultural history on a grand scale.'Rivetingly fresh and stunning' – Sunday Times'One of the most remarkable historians and communicators working today' – Dan SnowTrade ReviewA learned but rollicking journey through every aspect of Yahweh's body. A book that will offend some but delight more. * Economist Best Books of the Year *Lively . . . [with] a wealth of scholarly detail and much gusto -- Rowan Williams * New Statesman *Rivetingly fresh and stunning . . . I rather like this inexhaustibly powerful, shouting, bearded giant of a God, a fiery, fierce and startlingly “pagan” God, alive to his very fingertips, laughing at human hubris and singing with unbridled joy. -- Christopher Hart * Sunday Times *A marvelous conspectus of references to the divine body in ancient southwest Asian texts. But more than this, it is about recalibrating our understanding of these difficult texts to better understand ourselves. -- Simon Yarrow * Literary Review *Professors of Theology are imagined to be dull, gentle souls. This book, however, is a great rebel shout . . . A book that aims to upend the notion of a cloudy, spiritualised creator . . . instructive, vivid and frequently hilarious. * Economist *Stavrakopoulou is no literalist — indeed, she’s an atheist — but she maintains that her reading makes far more sense than the traditional ones, and her confident tone never falters. -- Dan Hitchens * The Times *God: An Anatomy is a tour de force. Stavrakopoulou has created not just an extraordinarily rich and nuanced portrait of Yahweh himself, but an intricate and detailed account of the cultural values and practices he embodied, and the wider world of myth and history out of which he emerged . . . Stavrakopoulou has taken to heart the biblical injunction to seek the face of God, and what emerges is a deity more terrifyingly alive, more damaged, more compelling, more complex than we have encountered before. More human, you might say. -- Mathew Lyons * New Humanist *A detailed and scrupulously researched book . . . packed with knowledge and insight -- Karen Armstrong * The New York Times *Boldly simple in concept, God: An Anatomy is stunning in its execution. It is a tour de force, a triumph, and I write this as one who disagrees with Stavrakopoulou both on broad theoretical grounds and one who finds himself engaged with her in one narrow textual spat after another . . . A stunning book. -- Jack Miles * Catholic Herald *The sheer amount of primary evidence examined is staggering . . . Stavrakopoulou’s argumentation is intellectually penetrating, analytically robust, and sophisticated . . . Stavrakopoulou’s book, and her public-facing scholarship, demonstrate what makes an outstanding biblical scholar. * Church Times *Good Lord, Stavrakopoulou touches that sweet spot that is scholarly, funny, visceral and heavenly. A revelation. -- Adam Rutherford, author of A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived and How to Argue with a RacistOne of the most remarkable historians and communicators working today. -- Dan SnowIn both Judaism and Christianity God is conceived as non-physical. In God: An Anatomy Francesca Stavrakopoulou shows that this was not yet so in the Bible, where God appears in a much more corporeal form. This provocative work will surprise and may shock, but it brings to light aspects of the biblical account of God that modern readers seldom appreciate. -- John Barton, Emeritus Professor at Oriel College, Oxford and author of A History of the BibleIn Stavrakopoulou's stunning dissection of historical religious texts, the real back-story and context of the God of Judaism and Christianity is revealed . . . Where pious theologians have abstracted him into emptiness, Stavrakopolou gives him back his substance, and he’s so much more interesting in this bodily form! Both scholarly and accessible, and full of fascinating stories - I guarantee you’ll never think of this God the same way again. -- Professor Alice RobertsMarvelous and stimulating . . . scholarly and beautifully illustrated . . . an exciting read! * Methodist Recorder *This is an extraordinary book. It’ll rewire your thinking, and it’s so readable you won’t notice till it’s too late. -- Tim Whitmarsh, author of Battling the GodsWell-researched . . . A refreshing look at ancient Scripture and the people behind it, reminding readers that the concept of ‘God’ in the 21st century is a world away from that of the earliest people of Israel. A challenging, engaging work of scholarship that sheds new light on ancient Hebrew conceptions of the divine. * Kirkus Reviews *
£18.75
John Murray Press Finding God in Unexpected Places
Book SynopsisGod is not only to be found in majestic cathedrals or supernatural visions, shows best-selling author Yancey, but also and often more powerfully in the unexpected places - the might of a polar bear, the oppression of a Peruvian prison cell or in the broken cry of Shakespeare''s King Lear. As we discover God''s footprints in increasingly unlikely places, so our understanding of his beauty, love and power continues to grow. Finding God in Unexpected Places will sharpen your spiritual vision and challenge you to look for God outside the four walls of the church. he may not be as far away as you think. In this updated edition of an already-popular title, Yancey has removed nine of the chapters that he felt had become dated, and added another fourteen brand new chapters.
£10.99
Indiana University Press The Insistence of God
Book SynopsisPresents the provocative idea that God does not exist, God insists, while God's existence is a human responsibility, which may or may not happenTrade Review[T]his is a valuable theological contribution for those with ears to hear. . . . Recommended. * Choice *The Insistence of God is a tour de force of novel, provocative ideas expressed in Heideggerian, Derridean, and Deleuzian rhetoric. It reads like a manifesto for a new wave of Christian theologians who re-imagine theology under the name of theopoetics. * Bibliographia *Caputo's Insistence of God is an excellent text that opens the way into new forms of theological thinking. He puts forward an argument that must be wrestled with and brings to light new avenues for both religious and theological thought. Caputo is not for the faint of heart as his style is, at times, trenchant; but, in the end, wrestling with his work makes one better on the other side. * Reviews in Religion and Theology *In my life I have read no more stimulating book of theology. Buckle your seatbelt! * Dialog *Table of ContentsPreface: The Gap God OpensAcknowledgmentsPart 1. The Insistence of God 1. God, Perhaps: The Fear of One Small Word 2. The Insistence of God 3. Insistence and Hospitality: Mary and Martha in a Postmodern WorldPart 2. Theopoetics: The Insistence of Theology 4. Theopoetics as the Insistence of a Radical Theology 5. Two Types of Continental Philosophy of Religion 6. Is There an Event in Hegel? Malabou, Plasticity, and "Perhaps" 7. Gigantomachean Ethics: Žižek, Milbank, and the Fear of One Small WordPart 3. Cosmopoetics: The Insistence of the World 8. The Insistence of the World: From Chiasm to Cosmos 9. As if I Were Dead: Radical Theology and the Real 10. Facts, Fictions, and Faith: What Is Really Real after All? 11. A Nihilism of Grace: Life, Death, and Resurrection 12. The Grace of the WorldNotesIndex
£21.59
Yale University Press The Experience of God
Book SynopsisDespite recent ferocious public debate about the likelihood of the existence of God, the most central concept in such arguments remains strangely obscure. What is God? In this written contribution to reasoned discussion, a revered religious thinker clarifies how the word "God" functions in various religious traditions.Trade Review"Hart marshals powerful historical evidence and philosophical argument to suggest that atheists—if they want to attack the opposition's strongest case—badly need to up their game."—Oliver Burkeman, The Guardian". . . there is something evangelical about this study: it is at once both the most valuable discussion of the doctrine of God to have appeared for decades, and a witty, often mordant, defence of Christian belief. . . . The Experience of God is still an outstanding addition to the literature on God, not least for its survey of so many of the world’s great faiths. It is also a fine piece of work of Christian apologetics, and a major contribution to debate on science and religion."—Andrew Davison, Times Literary Supplement"This hugely suggestive book is a lyrical paean to a vital, more capacious understanding of reality, ourselves and God: a timely and gripping invitation to wake up, see the regnant naturalism, and subvert its suffocating hegemony. The text is by turns elegant, curmudgeonly, witty, infuriating, incisive, nostalgic, rhapsodical, explosive, frequently bang on the money – and always stimulating."—Philip McCosker, The Tablet"David Hart can always be relied on to offer a perspective on Christian faith that is both profound and unexpected. In this masterpiece of quiet intellectual and spiritual passion, he magnificently sets the record straight as to what sort of God Christians believe in and why."—Rowan Williams, University of Cambridge"David Hart’s new book is nothing less than astounding. He is liberal, conservative, radical, theological, philosophical, and historical all at the same time – that is his genius. There is no American writing on religion as intelligently, bravely, and originally as Hart."—Conor Cunningham, University of Nottingham"David Bentley Hart’s new book is a feast- stylish and substantial. Bringing together Sanskritic analyses of God’s being with Latin and Greek and Arabic ones, this is a considerable achievement by one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary theology."—Paul J. Griffiths, Duke Divinity School"Writing at a high philosophical level with a sharp sense of humor, Hart argues for an ecumenical Theism. Devastatingly accurate, imaginative, and immensely readable, this is David Bentley Hart’s best book."—Francesca Murphy, University of Notre Dame"Magnificent . . . a book unlike anything done in recent times and one that only Hart could write."—Robert Louis Wilken
£13.29
John Murray Press Out of the Comfort Zone Is Your God Too Nice
Book SynopsisIS YOUR GOD TOO NICE? A timely and forthright book from one of the church's most trusted and loved teachers.
£9.99
John Murray Press Knowing God
Book SynopsisKNOWING GOD is one of the most significant and popular Christian books of our time and has deepened the faith and understanding of millions of people around the world.''Dr Packer says we''re cruel to ourselves if we try to live in his world without knowing about the God whose world it is and who runs it. I''m convinced we''re cruel if we deny ourselves the wisdom contained in this Christian classic.'' Rico TiceTrade Reviewa spiritual classic * John Stott *
£10.44
Oxford University Press Is There a God
Book SynopsisIs There a God? offers a powerful response to modern doubts about the existence of God. It may seem today that the answers to all fundamental questions lie in the province of science, and that the scientific advances of the twentieth century leave little room for God. Cosmologists have rolled back their theories to the moment of the Big Bang, the discovery of DNA reveals the key to life, the theory of evolution explains the development of life... and with each new discovery or development, it seems that we are closer to a complete understanding of how things are. For many people, this gives strength to the belief that God is not needed to explain the universe; that religious belief is not based on reason; and that the existence of God is, intellectually, a lost cause. Richard Swinburne, one of the most distinguished philosophers of religion of our day, argues that on the contrary, science provides good grounds for belief in God. Why is there a universe at all ? Why is there any life on Earth? How is it that discoverable scientific laws operate in the universe? Professor Swinburne uses the methods of scientific reasoning to argue that the best answers to these questions are given by the existence of God. The picture of the universe that science gives us is completed by God.This new, updated edition of Richard Swinburne''s popular introductory book Is There a God? features two substantial changes. He presents a new, stronger argument why theism does and materialism does not provide a very simple ultimate explanation of the world. And he examines the idea of the possible existence of many other universes, and its relevance to his arguments from the fine-tuning of our universe to the existence of God.Trade ReviewReview from previous edition The book is ... an immensely rewarding one for those who are prepared to give it the close attention which it both requires and deserves ... Swinburne is accepting the challenge to make his case on the more difficult side. He succeeds brilliantly, and we can indeed be grateful to him for that ... a worthy counterbalance to the views of such as Dawkins and Hawking. It is much to be hoped that it receives as much attention. * The Door *The book is clearly written, compact, and it provides an excellent introduction to the work of a prolific and significant contemporary Christian philosopher of religion. Not all will be convinced by every argument, but all will benefit from reading it with attention. * Science and Christian Belief *He argues his case very well both in this book and in others ... if you are looking for a book which will help you to see that there is more than what you daily observe with your senses, this is a good book to read. * The Tablet *Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION ; 1. GOD ; 2. HOW WE EXPLAIN THINGS ; 3. THE SIMPLICITY OF GOD ; 4. HOW THE EXISTENCE OF GOD EXPLAINS THE WORLD AND ITS ORDER ; 5. HOW THE EXISTENCE OF GOD EXPLAINS THE EXISTENCE OF HUMANS ; 6. WHY GOD ALLOWS EVIL ; 7. HOW THE EXISTENCE OF GOD EXPLAINS MIRACLES AND RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE ; EPILOGUE: SO WHAT? ; GUIDE TO FURTHER READING ; INDEX
£14.12
OUP Oxford Was Jesus God
Book SynopsisThe orderliness of the universe and the existence of human beings already provides some reason for believing that there is a God - as argued in Richard Swinburne''s earlier book Is There a God ? Swinburne now claims that it is probable that the main Christian doctrines about the nature of God and his actions in the world are true. In virtue of his omnipotence and perfect goodness, God must be a Trinity, live a human life in order to share our suffering, and found a church which would enable him to tell all humans about this. It is also quite probable that he would provide his human life as an atonement for our wrongdoing, teach us how we should live and tell us his plans for our future after death. Among founders of religions, Jesus satisfies uniquely well the requirement of living the sort of human life which God would need to have lived. But to give us adequate reason to believe that Jesus was God, God would need to put his ''signature'' on the life of Jesus by an act which he alone Trade ReviewReview from previous edition Richard Swinburne, the former Nolloth Professor at Oxford, adroitly marshals the evidences of natural theology to affirm the cogency of the Christian faith... Was Jesus God? is an entertaining, bracing, compelling book and welcome proof that not all of our academics have turned their backs on what Hopkins once called 'the fine delight that fathers thought. * Edward Short, Inside Catholic *Table of ContentsPART 1 GOD LOVES US; PART 2 GOD SHOWS US THAT HE LOVES US
£9.02
HarperCollins Publishers The Puzzle of God
Book SynopsisPeter Vardy's much acclaimed introduction to the study of ideas about God now revised and updated.A clear, well-written guide to philosophical thinking about God. Starting with the question of what it means to say we believe in God, and looking at the nature of truth, Peter Vardy goes on to examine ideas about God and their influence on Christian thinking.Peter Vardy takes the reader through the arguments, using amusing illustrations and analogies. He writes for the lay person or student, not assuming any specialist knowledge, and not imposing any particular view.This is about the best elementary textbook in the philosophy of God I have come across an extremely useful book.'Hugh Meynell, The TabletThis is a masterpiece of coherence. Step by step the reader is led clearly and humorously through the philosophical maze which confuses our thinking about God.'Linda Smith, Head of Religious Education, King's College, London
£9.49
Thomas Nelson Publishers The Anointing
Book SynopsisAn exciting, natural sequel to Good Morning, Holy Spirit.
£11.69
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Trinitarian Faith
Book SynopsisCutting across the divide between East and West and between Catholic and Evangelical, Thomas F. Torrance illuminates our understanding of the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. Torrance combines here the Gospel and a theology shaped by Karl Barth and the Church Fathers, and offers his readers a unique synthesis of the Nicene Creed. This volume remains a tremendously helpful resource on the doctrine of the Trinity and the Nicene Creed. The new introduction for this Cornerstones edition is written by Myk Habets, the leading Thomas F. Torrance scholar today.Trade ReviewCan be viewed as a case study in how to build a scripturally grounded and historically attested doctrine of the Trinity…well worth obtaining in this new edition. * Themelios *Table of ContentsIntroduction Myk Habets Foreword 1. Faith and Godliness 2. Access to the Father 3. The Almighty Creator 4. God of God, Light of Light 5. The Incarnate Saviour 6. The Eternal Spirit 7. The One Church 8. The Triunity of God Index
£25.64
Harvard University Press The Invention of God
Book SynopsisWho invented God? When, why, and where? Thomas Römer seeks to answer these enigmatic questions about the deity of the great monotheisms—Yhwh, God, or Allah—by tracing Israelite beliefs and their context from the Bronze Age to the end of the Old Testament period in the third century BCE, in a masterpiece of detective work and exposition.Trade ReviewRömer, a distinguished scholar rather than an ideologue, seeks to determine exactly what is historical and exactly what is not in the depiction of God. This is a brilliant book. -- Robert A. Segal * Times Higher Education *Römer presents a scholarly and provocative account of how a minor tribal deity likely grew to become—or revealed himself to be—Lord of Creation. -- David O’Reilly * Philadelphia Inquirer *Römer is interested in the emergence of a deity whose nature is now so familiar that its startling originality no longer startles. -- Brian Bethune * Maclean’s *It reads very well, is well translated and has a bit of the excitement of discovery for engaged readers. -- John C. Endres and Jean-François Racine * America *Römer deftly weaves together evidence from the Bible with extra-biblical archeological finds that mention Israel and Yhwh to outline the development of monotheism… Not until Jerusalem’s destruction in 587 BCE did Yhwh become the universal, monotheistic god untied to place or particular monarch, the god who was later adopted by Christians and Muslims. Römer writes with clarity and accuracy and tells a compelling story. This book is a masterful work, tying together an enormous amount of information in a concise format. * Publishers Weekly (starred review) *There is nothing quite like this book in English. The Invention of God traces the history of the God of Israel from the late Bronze Age to the Hellenistic period, charting the rise of Yhwh as the sole God. The period covered is vast, the thesis is provocative and stimulating, and the scholarship is cutting-edge. -- Timothy Lim, University of EdinburghRömer is a sure-footed guide to what is often a difficult discussion. A learned and elegant book. -- Nathan MacDonald, University of CambridgeRömer is the first to have brought all the relevant material together in such an accessible form, setting out both literary and archaeological evidence clearly and readably. -- John Barton * Church Times *[An] excellent book…A masterly work of historical detection that looks at the evolution of Jewish faith from the Bronze Age to the Hellenic period. This is a superb work of scholarship. -- Paul Richardson * The Church of England Newspaper *
£30.56
John Wiley and Sons Ltd Theism and Ultimate Explanation
Book SynopsisAn expansive, yet succinct, analysis of the Philosophy of Religion from metaphysics through theology. Organized into two sections, the text first examines truths concerning what is possible and what is necessary. These chapters lay the foundation for the book's second part the search for a metaphysical framework that permits the possibility of an ultimate explanation that is correct and complete. A cutting-edge scholarly work which engages with the traditional metaphysician's quest for a true ultimate explanation of the most general features of the world we inhabit Develops an original view concerning the epistemology and metaphysics of modality, or truths concerning what is possible or necessary Applies this framework to a re-examination of the cosmological argument for theism Defends a novel version of the Leibnizian cosmological argument Trade Review“This trim but highly technical volume is indisensable for scholars and graudate-level researchers in the field. Summing Up: Essential. Graduate students and researchers/faculty.” (Choice, 1 October 2012)Table of ContentsPreface ix Part I The Explanatory Role of Necessity 1 1. Modality and Explanation 3 Relative and Absolute Necessity 3 Scientifically Established Necessities 5 An Epistemological Worry about Modality: Causal Contact with Modal Facts 7 Modal Nihilism 10 Modal Reductionism and Defl ationism 15 Modal Anti-Realism and Quasi-Realism 27 Conclusion 30 2. Modal Knowledge 32 Conceivability As Our Guide? 32 Modality a Matter of Principle? 36 The Theoretical Roles of Modal Claims: Towards a Modal Epistemology 41 The Spheres of Possibility 60 Part II The Necessary Shape of Contingency 63 3. Ultimate Explanation and Necessary Being: The Existence Stage of the Cosmological Argument 65 Necessary Being 68 Two Objections to the Traditional Answer 73 Necessary Being As the Explanatory Ground of Contingency? 79 4. The Identification Stage 86 From Necessary Being to God, I: Transcendent, Not Immanent 86 Two Models of Transcendent Necessary Being: Logos and Chaos 93 Varieties of Chaos 93 Interlude: The Fine-Tuning Argument 97 From Necessary Being to God, II: Logos, Not Random Chaos 109 5. The Scope of Contingency 111 How Many Universes Would Perfection Realize? 111 Perfection and Freedom 121 Some Applications of the Many-Universe-Creation Hypothesis 122 Necessary Being and the Scope of Possibility 125 Necessary Being and the Many Necessary Truths 128 6. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Anselm? 130 The Unity of the Divine Nature and Its Consequences 132 Natural Theology in the Understanding of Revealed Theology 140 Coda 143 Notes 145 Bibliography 162 Index 172
£24.65
Baker Publishing Group Glory Carriers
Book SynopsisWe were created to reflect something or Someone. What we behold, we reflect. The more we behold the Lord, the more we look like him--and the more we see his glory released into our lives and the lives of those around us.The glory of God is irresistible. Yet seeking to sense his presence or experience his glory for its own sake misses the point. His glory is the natural outpouring of a deep relationship with the Holy Spirit. In these pages, author and speaker Jennifer Eivaz shows how you can enter into more intimate fellowship with the Spirit of God, experience miraculous encounters, and begin to see more miracles, more deliverances, and more lives dramatically changed. Here is the inspiration you need to step into the supernatural and follow God''s leading--and carry his glory to the darkest places and see his kingdom come.
£10.79
Simon & Schuster How God Works
Book Synopsis
£21.00
Multnomah Press Sun Stand Still: What Happens When you Dare to
Book SynopsisIf you''re not daring to believe God for the impossible, you may be sleeping through some of the best parts of your Christian Life. “This book is not a Snuggie. The words on these pages will not go down like Ambien. I’m not writing to calm or coddle you. With God’s help, I intend to incite a riot in your mind. Trip your breakers and turn out the lights in your favorite hiding places of insecurity and fear. Then flip the switch back on so that God’s truth can illuminate the divine destiny that may have been lying dormant inside you for years. In short, I’m out to activate your audacious faith. To inspire you to ask God for the impossible. And in the process, to reconnect you with your God-sized purpose and potential.”—Steven Furtick, from Sun Stand Still
£10.44
Collective Ink Case for Polytheism, The
Book SynopsisThe philosophy of religion has been dominated by monotheists and atheists for centuries now. But, polytheism deserves to be restored to its respected position, and The Case for Polytheism sets out some reasons why. By developing a notion of godhood and employing a set of novel and neglected arguments, the author constructs a rigorous but accessible case for the existence of multiple gods.
£8.21
£13.50
HarperCollins Publishers Inc God
Book SynopsisExperience of God evolves through crisis, both inner and outer, throughout history every conception of God expanded human awareness, and helped to answer the burning questions at the heart of our daily struggle. This title is about on our very human journey to know and understand the divine.Trade ReviewDeepak Chopra, the spiritual sage, has exhibited immense ambition...His attempt to explain God makes my bones shiver. His success in defining that life-long mystery brings tears to my eyes and humbles me in gratitude. He has probed through the ages in order to write a book for the ages. -- Maya Angelou "Deepak Chopra has successfully blended ancient Vedanta Philosophy with his unique perspective on modern science to provide a vast audience with solutions that meet many needs for our modern age." -- Huston Smith, author of The World's Religions "The line is usually drawn from God to revelation but by drawing it from revelation to God in this astonishing book, Deepak achieves two startling results." -- Arvind Sharma, Birks Professor of Comparative Religion, McGill University "Spiritual traditions manifest themselves most clearly in the living human beings who embody them. In this highly readable volume Deepak Chopra has told the engaging stories of a dozen of these exemplary figures. The result is both inspiring and richly enjoyable." -- Harvey Cox, author of The Future of Faith "Through his compelling fictionalization, Deepak Chopra offers an intriguing exposition of the evolution of human theological thought. He should have called the book 'A Brief History of God'!" -- Leonard Mlodinow, co-author (with Stephen Hawking) of The Grand Design and A Briefer History of Time Blending fictional accounts of ten extraordinary people in history he respects with commentary on their lives and works, Chopra has created a medium for us to ponder the evolution of God. -- Spirituality and Practice
£16.14
Oxford University Press Systematic Theology Volume 1 The Triune God
Book SynopsisThe full systematic theology which Jensen begins with The Triune God: Systematic Theology I promises to be the capstone of his long and distinguished career as a theologian. Jensen begins this first of two volumes with an extended discussion of the nature and norms of theology. He then devotes the bulk of the volume to the identity and being of the biblical God, including classic christological and soteriological questions most systems take up elsewhere.Trade ReviewRobert Jenson's two volume Systematic Theology is a highly creative and individual synthesis of a number of often divergent strands of contemporary theology ... This is a work that deserves and requires patient, diligent, attentive readers, to whom it will demonstrate that the sheer oddity of Christian faith is one of its chief glories and the clearest proof of its divine origin. * Francis Watson, University of Aberdeen, Scottish Journal of Theology *Without attempting to be as encyclopedic, say, as Pannenberg, or as imposing as someone like Barth, Jenson has opted instead to be judicious, an endeavour that succeeds admirably. At his fingertips he has an astonishing fund of citations and quotations from every period of theology's history and every ecumenical tradition ... Besides being theologically deft, the work is also culturally, scientifically and philosophically sophisticated. * George Hunsinger, Princeton Theological Seminary, Scottish Journal of Theology *Robert W. Jenson gives us the twentieth century's most accomplished systematic theology written in English. It has few peers in any language. It is concise without being trivial, learned but not inaccessible, ecumenical while still rooted in Lutheran confessions, and stunningly fresh and original in its approach to the major topics. No one at any level, whether advanced or neophyte, can fail to learn from this work or remain unchallenged by it. It is the consummate work of a lifetime. * George Hunsinger, Princeton Theological Seminary, Scottish Journal of Theology *A major event in English language academic theology ... It is every inch a theologian's work, dense and difficult at times, but wide-ranging, historically and ecumenically, and rooted in the life and liturgy of the Church. * Theology *
£83.70
Oxford University Press Systematic Theology Volume 2 The Works of God
Book SynopsisSystematic Theology is the capstone of Robert Jenson''s long and distinguished career as a theologian, being a full-scale systematic/dogmatic theology in the classic format. This is the second and concluding volume of the work, and considers the works of God, examining such topics as the nature and role of the Church, and God''s works of creation.Trade ReviewRobert Jenson's two volume Systematic Theology is a highly creative and individual synthesis of a number of often divergent strands of contemporary theology ... This is a work that deserves and requires patient, diligent, attentive readers, to whom it will demonstrate that the sheer oddity of Christian faith is one of its chief glories and the clearest proof of its divine origin. * Francis Watson, University of Aberdeen, Scottish Journal of Theology *Without attempting to be as encyclopedic, say, as Pannenberg, or as imposing as someone like Barth, Jenson has opted instead to be judicious, an endeavour that succeeds admirably. At his fingertips he has an astonishing fund of citations and quotations from every period of theology's history and every ecumenical tradition ... Besides being theologically deft, the work is also culturally, scientifically and philosophically sophisticated. * George Hunsinger, Princeton Theological Seminary, Scottish Journal of Theology *Robert W. Jenson gives us the twentieth century's most accomplished systematic theology written in English. It has few peers in any language. It is concise without being trivial, learned but not inaccessible, ecumenical while still rooted in Lutheran confessions, and stunningly fresh and original in its approach to the major topics. No one at any level, whether advanced or neophyte, can fail to learn from this work or remain unchallenged by it. It is the consummate work of a lifetime. * George Hunsinger, Princeton Theological Seminary, Scottish Journal of Theology *
£92.25
Oxford University Press, USA The Faces of the Goddess
Book SynopsisMany contemporary feminists believe that early humans worshipped a nurturing Mother Goddess, who was subsequently displaced by autocratic male deities. In this book Motz examines the maternal deities of various cultures and religions and finds no signs of a common origin, and thus no evidence for a primordial "Great Mother." Her conclusions stand in stark contradiction to the prevailing view.Trade Review"At last: a book that explains that the notion of a unitary Mother Goddess is modern, and that female culture was not driven out by patriarchy. But even more important is the positive contribution that this book makes to the understanding of the nature of ancient female divinities, which were more diverse and potent than modern writers have imagined them to be. Instead of being restricted to motherhood, the various goddesses worshipped in the ancient world displayed the full range of feminine powers, both constructive and destructive, and commanded the respect of both men and women."--Mary Lefkowitz, Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities, Wellesley College. "I have no doubt that this volume will become an important landmark in the comparative study of religion."--James Preston, Anthropology and Religious Studies, SUNY Oneonta "In The Faces of the Goddess Lotte Motz at last rescues a number of goddesses from the murky Jungian limbo to which many previous studies have consigned them, a place in which all goddesses look alike in the dark; in so doing she restores to each of them the dignity of their individual power and fascination, and provides both a sound scholarly basis for our understanding of them and a wide gamut of far more visible, because more nuanced, models for contemporary women to emulate."--Wendy Doniger "Dr. Motz has offered us here a well-documented, nicely written and presented, duly diversified image of the multifaceted archetype of the Mother-Goddess."--Edgar C. Polome, University of Texas as Austin "Lotte Motz combines a superb knowledge of mythology with the gift for making age-old problems look fresh. She loves polemic, but it is the quest for the most convincing solution, rather than controversy for controversy's sake, that inspires her work."--Anatoly Liberman, University of Minnesota "I consider the book an usually important contribution, one that should be read and pondered by anyone interested in the study of religion, and one that should have a lasting effect on the field."--Thorkild Jacobsen, former Director of the Oriental Institute, Chicago, and author of The Treasures of Darkness "Faces of the Goddess offers a necessary antidote against romantic or Jungian Mother mysticism."--Walter Burkert, Professor of Classics, the University of Zurich, and author of Greek Religion "A useful warning about trendy spirituality."--Alan Cochrum, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
£31.82
Oxford University Press, USA The Ground of Union
Book SynopsisThis book attempts to resolve one of the oldest and bitterest controversies between the Eastern and Western Christian churches: namely, the dispute about the doctrine of deification. A. N. Williams examines two key thinkers, each of whom is championed as the authentic spokesman of his own tradition and reviled by the other. Taking Aquinas as representative of the West and Gregory Palamas for the East, she presents fresh readings of their work that both reinterpret each thinker and show an area of commonality between them much greater than has previously been acknowledged.Trade ReviewA fine example of intrareligious dialogue: taking up an issue which has led to division and schism within a particular religion ... written in a lucid and at times lightly humorous style - a refreshing element not often found in works of this sort. The work gracefully combines penetrating insight with a sometimes wry look at how theologians and philosophers arrive at their conclusions. * Studies in Interreligious Dialogue *
£88.20
Oxford University Press, USA Searching for a Distant God The Legacy of Maimonides
Book SynopsisMonotheism is usually considered Judaism's greatest contribution to world culture, but it is far from clear what monotheism is. This work examines the notion that monotheism is not so much a claim about the number of God as a claim about the nature of God.Trade ReviewAdmirers of Kenneth Seeskin's writing in philosophy will not be disappointed with this book. * Oliver Leaman, Religious Studies, Vol. 37 *the quality of the argument and analysis in the book is first class throughout and the reader will be frequently stimulated by the approach which the author adopts. He has a real mastery of the topic, both the ancient and medieval aspects of it, together with its modern developments. and his style is entirely without mystification or redundancy. In short, the book is a pleasure to read and sets standards of exposition on this issue which it will be difficult to follow. * Oliver Leaman, Religious Studies, Vol. 37 *Kenneth Seeskin ... has bravely setout to rescue the philosophical vision of God, and has done so in an original and fascinating way ... fascinating and well argued book. * Nicholas de Lange, The Expository Times, Jan 2001, Vol. 112, No.4. *
£64.80
Oxford University Press Systematic Theology
Book SynopsisThe Triune God, together with the second volume, The Works of God, develops a compendious statement of Christian theology in the tradition of a medieval summa, or of such modern works as those of Schleiermacher and Barth. Theology, as it is understood here, is the Christian church''s continuing discourse concerning her specific communal purpose; it is the hermeneutic and critical reflection internal to the church''s task of speaking the gospel. This volume and its successor are thus dedicated to the service of the one church of the creeds; it is for no particular denomination or confession.Trade Review"...this two-volume systematic theology is a great achievement. Drawn from learning that is both vast and profound, the rich details and frequently exciting flashes of insight provided by this work confirm the stature of Robert Jenson among contemporary theologians..."--First Things
£37.99
Oxford University Press Systematic Theology
Book SynopsisSystematic Theology is the capstone of Robert Jenson''s long and distinguished career as a theologian, being a full-scale systematic/dogmatic theology in the classic format. This is the second and concluding volume of the work. Here, Jenson considers the works of God, examining such topics as the nature and role of the Church, and God''s works of creation.Trade Reviewin Robert Jenson the church has a most creative and thoughtful advocate. * Eric G.Flett, Themelios Vol 26:2 *Robert Jenson ... has produced an extremely readable and stimulating systematics ... Jenson forces his readers to think and makes it a pleasure to do so. Jenson covers a great deal of landscape in The Works of God and though his breadth of learning is everywhere present it is not pretentious ... Jenson moves between ecclesial traditions and academic disciplines with both ease and clarity and doe so in such a way that the issue under consideration is illumined rather than obscured ... an example of how theology should be written. * Eric G.Flett, Themelios Vol 26:2 *Jenson's work deserves a wide audience and careful reception. He has a very keen eye for presenting the 'real issue' at the heart of theological questions that have become silted with confusion and in that his presentation of the Faith has real pedagogic value. * David Moss, Reviews in Religion and Theology *We owe Robert Jenson a debt of gratitude for this sound and engaging rehearsal of the Christian faith. * David Moss, Reviews in Religion and Theology *straighforwardly theological ... Jenson is quite insightful in his treatement of creation and the human persona s well as his handling of eschatology, but he is at his best when examining all of the various issues surrounding ecclesiology. He masterfully weaves his way through such topics as the church as the body of Christ, the people of God and the communion of believers; the nature and role of the episcopacy and hierachy, and the centrality of the sacraments, especially the eucharist ... Jenson manifests both his extensive knowledge of the ecumenical scene, and his ability to offer insights that further an ecumenical consensus. * Thomas Weinandy, The Expository Times, June 2000. *an insightful and creative contribution to the contemporary theological enterprise. * Thomas Weinandy, The Expository Times, June 2000. *
£39.09
Clarendon Press The Christian God
Book SynopsisWhat is it for there to be a God, and what reason is there for supposing him to conform to the claims of Christian doctrine? In this pivotal volume of his tetralogy, Richard Swinburne builds a rigorous metaphysical system for describing the world, and applies this to assessing the worth of the Christian tenets of the Trinity and the Incarnation. Part I is dedicated to analysing the categories needed to address accounts of the divine nature - these are substance, cause, time, and necessity. Part II begins by setting out, in terms of these categories, the fundamental doctrine of Western religions - that there is a God. After pointing out some of the different ways in which this doctrine can be developed, Swinburne spells out the simplest possible account of divine nature. He then goes on to clarify the implications of this account for the specifically Christian doctrines of the Trinity (that God is ''three persons in one substance'') and of the Incarnation (that God became incarnate in JTrade ReviewLike his previous works it is marked by the application of philosophically rigorous argumentation to the defence of a broadly orthodox position. This book constitutes a major contribution to philosophical thinking on the divine nature which academic theology will engage with for many years to come. * Theology. *Like his previous works it is marked by the application of philosophically rigorous argumentation to the defence of a broadly orthodox postition...this book constitutes a major contribution to philosophical thinking on the divine nature which academic theology will engage with for many years to come. * Theology *It is a book for those readers interested in the philosophy of religion ... With its sustained, progressive and convincing arguments the book is also the equivalent of a first-class dictionary of the terms of systematic theology and the philosophy of religion. * Methodist Recorder *The debate about theism's self-understanding should be greatly enhanced. * Expository Times *Swinburne's achievement - and it is no mean one - is to give a coherent contemporary account of Christian theism. * Times Higher Education Supplement *The Christian God will offer much of interest to the analytical philosopher of religion. * Themelios *This book is an elegant, incisive, provocative, lucid and concise masterpiece ... it should be required reading for theologians, both to show how difficult their discipline really is, and to expose the absurdity of the claim, still sometimes heard from non-philosophers, that metaphysics is finished ... the book is clear and powerful in argument. It is merciless to woolliness of thought, and it presents views which demand to be taken account of by contemporary theologians. It treats theology as a discipline demanding rigour. Much of it, Christians will surely think, is true, and all of it is worth-while and supremely well said, with the icy clarity and relentless precision that is the mark of much Oxford philosophy. For once the blurb is right: this will no doubt become a classic in the philosophy of religion. * New Blackfriars *His argumentation is subtle and based on extremely careful groundwork, the implications of which only gradually unfold as the work progresses. * The Philosophical Quarterly *An impressive work of sustained argumentation. Swinburne commands a very wide range of philosophical and theological ideas and never shuns hard thinking ... Swinburne's style remains crystal clear. * Religious Studies *It must be admitted that some effort must be made to understand Christian tradition in a coherent way, and that is precisely what Swinburne does. The book is therefore much to be welcomed as a thoroughly contemporary contribution to philosophy and systematic theology. * Heythrop Journal *Swinburne has become one of the eminent and celebrated practitioners of the philosophy of religion. Here, as in his other books, one finds an exceptionally careful, fresh, well-reasoned, and balanced exploration of fundamental human and religious issues. * Theological Studies *In this the third volume of his magisterial series on the philosophy of Christian doctrine, Swinburne deals with belief in the Trinity and the Incarnation. ... Unfortunately, immense scholarly erudition is incompatible neither with intellectual imcompetance nor with triviality of mind; obviously it would be invidious to cite examples, but they are legion. This only serves to set in relief Swinburne's combination of philosophical power, detailed knowledge of orthodox Christian doctrine, and just appreciation of its intellectual riches, for it is as admirable as it is rare. * The Thomist *Swinburne ... follows in this book his preferred pattern of dealing first with philosophical issues, and then applying his philosophical conclusions in a thorough, systematic and concise way to theological issues ... The Christian God is part of a series, a piece of a larger philosophical argument for the faith. However, the work is ultimately self-sufficient, and a reader with a good philosophical background or aptitude can approach The Christian God on its own terms. The book is a central work by one of the leading philosophers of religion of our day. It will be a necessary part of any college, university, or seminary library, and it will be profitably read by anyone who thinks seriously about the attributes of God and about the doctrines of the Trinity and the Incarnation. * Ashland Theological Journal *
£44.64
Oxford University Press Providence and the Problem of Evil
Book SynopsisWhy does a loving God allow humans to suffer so much? This is one of the most difficult problems of religious belief. Richard Swinburne gives a careful, clear examination of this problem, and offers an answer: it is because God wants more for us than just pleasure or freedom from suffering. Swinburne argues that God wants humans to learn and to love, to make the choices which make great differences for good and evil to each other, to form our characters in the way we choose; above all to be of great use to each other. If we are to have all this, there will inevitably be suffering for the short period of our lives on Earth. But because of the good that God gives to humans in this life, and because he makes it possible for us, through our choice, to share the life of Heaven, he does not wrong us if he allows suffering. Providence and the Problem of Evil is the final volume of Richard Swinburne''s acclaimed tetralogy on Christian doctrine. It may be read on its own as a self-standing treaTrade ReviewThe endeavor to take each kind of evil and relate it to some good is more complete than any I have seen in any contemporary work. Especially interesting here is the discussion ... of just how surprisingly valuable our natural disposition to sloth may be. Perhaps the most important novelty of the book, though, consists in its emphasis on the value of being of use. The ramifications that this oft-overlooked value has on theodicy are substantial, and Swinburne does a real service in pointing them out. * The Philosophical Review, vol.110, no.1 *This book, the fourth in a tetralogy on philosophical questions raised by Christianity, is of the quality that readers expect of Swinburne, and will undoubtedly command the same degree of respect and attention as have his earlier works. * The Philosophical Review, vol.110, no.1 *the value of this book should not be underestimated. It provides a philosphically informed, comprehensive theodicy, sensitive to the concerns of Christian tradition, proving that the problem is not so intractable as it may first appear. This book should be required reading for all serious students of apologetics and philosophical theology. * Patrick Richmond, Themelios Vol 25:1 *Swinburne's procedure is to examine one by one the various goods that the world promises, and then to argue, with his customary care and rigour, that none of these goods can logically occur without the possibility of the related evils which in fact we experience. * Church Times *Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION; PART I: AN INITIAL PROBLEM: 1: THE NEED FOR THEODICY; PART II: THE GOOD GOALS OF CREATION: 2: BEAUTY; 3: FEELING; 4: ACTION; 5: WORSHIP; PART III: THE NECESSARY EVILS: 6: THE FACT OF MORAL EVIL; AND FREE WILL; 7: THE RANGE OF MORAL EVIL; AND RESPONSIBILITY; 8: NATURAL EVIL; AND THE SCOPE FOR RESPONSE; 9: NATURAL EVIL AND THE POSSIBILITY OF KNOWLEDGE; 10: THE EVILS OF SIN AND AGNOSTICISM; PART IV: COMPLETING THE THEODICY: 11: GOD'S RIGHTS AND THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVICE; 12: WEIGHING GOOD AGAINST BAD; EPILOGUE.
£46.54
Clarendon Press The Creative Suffering of God
Book SynopsisThe theme that God suffers with his world has become a familiar one in recent years, but a careful examination is needed of what it means to talk about the suffering of God, avoiding the danger of a merely sentimental belief. This book offers a consistent way of thinking about a God who suffers supremely and yet is still the kind of God to whom the Christian tradition has witnessed, and also about a God who suffers universally and yet is still present uniquely in the cross of Christ. It is at once both a survey of recent thought about the suffering of God and a proposal for a way forward in this important area of Christian theology. The author surveys four main trends of recent thought: the ''theology of the cross'' in modern German theology (as represented particularly in the work of Karl Barth, Jürgen Moltmann, and Eberhard Jüngel); American process theology; ''the death of God'' theology; and finally, the rejection of the whole idea of divine passibility by modern followers of classTrade ReviewCreation, fall, incarnation, and atonement are ... interwoven with the theme of suffering in a profoundly original way. * Theological Book Review *Paul S. Fiddes has now provided the most comprehensive and thorough study of the issues yet to emerge. His treatment of the sources is accurate and probing ... this is a valuable and thought-provoking book. * Daniel W. Hardy, Expository Times *this important survey illuminatingly explains how human suffering can be understood in the light of God's response to creation * Dan Cohn-Sherbok, University of Kent, Theology *the lasting impression of the book is of one of the livelier minds of British theology opening up, with courage and rational persuasiveness, one of the critical contemporary theological topics * David F. Ford, Journal of Theological Studies *
£42.74
Oxford University Press, USA Religion Human Nature
Book SynopsisContinuing Keith Ward''s series on comparative religion, this book deals with religious views of human nature and destiny. The beliefs of six major traditions are presented: the view of Advaita Vedanta that there is one Supreme Self, unfolding into the illusion of individual existence; the Vaishnava belief that there is an infinite number of souls, whose destiny is to be released from material embodiment; the Buddhist view that there is no eternal Self; the Abrahamic belief that persons are essentially embodied souls; and the materialistic position that persons are complex material organisms. Indian ideas of rebirth, karma, and liberation from samsara are critically analysed and compared with semitic belief in the intermediate state of Sheol, Purgatory or Paradise, the Final Judgement and the resurrection of the body. The impact of scientific theories of cosmic and biological evolution on religious beliefs is assessed, and a form of ''soft emergent materialism'' is defended, with regaTrade ReviewThe discussions are thorough and clear ... lively text ... Ward's learning and fearless openness offer a salutory example of how the theology of religions can be conducted in a way that is at once both committed to its own tradition and sympathetic to the wisdom of others. Stongly recommended. * Paul Lakeland, Religious Studies Rev., Vol.26, No.4, Oct. 2000. *a project in several volumes that is systematic in its coverage of belief ... remarkable project ... Ward engages critically with a range of sources ... Ward presents a persuasive picture of the physical universe as 'an expression of the mind and heart of God' ... he has illuminated a range of difficult issues where Christians, including theologians, feel particularly unsure ... The three volumes so far published are a remarkable achievement and seal Keith Ward's reputation as the most productive and constructive theologian writing in English today. * Paul Avis, Anglican Theological Review, LXXXII:1 *truly a work of comparative theology, weaving in and out of the different traditions ... a penetrating analysis of many of those facile doctrines which now dominate our ontological discourse ... This is a well-written, fascinating and provocative study. It covers a wide spectrum of Christian theology and deals thoughtfully in its engagement with the increasingly fraught public conversation about what it is to be human ... his book merits serious study, not only by Christians but by anyone interested in what monotheism has to say about human nature at the beginning of the 21st century. * James C Conroy, Global Dialogue, Winter 2000 *The book is impressive for its range of coverage and depth of analytic intrigue - Revd Alan Race - Church Times - 9th July 1999Continuing his magisterial project of writing Christian theology with an eye on comparative religion, in this third book of the series the Regius Professor of Divinity turns to what we suppose we know most about:ourselves. This book is impressive for its range of coverage and depth of analytic intrigue. - Alan Race - Church Times 9/7/99Table of Contents1. Introduction ; 2. Non-Dualism (Advaita Vedanta) ; 3. The Search for the Self (Vaishnava Hinduism) ; 4. The Doctrine of Rebirth ; 5. Buddhism and the Self ; 6. Evolutionary Naturalism ; 7. The Embodied Soul ; 8. Original Sin ; 9. The Doctrine of Atonement ; 10. Salvation by Grace ; 11. The World to Come ; 12. Human Destiny in Judaism and Islam ; 13. Human Destiny in Christianity ; 14. The Ultimate End of All Things ; 15. Conclusion
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