Nature and existence of God Books

Book SynopsisAs influential as prophecy is in the worldview of so many, the belief in the phenomenon remains a popular mystery, largely unstudied and little understood. When Time Shall Be No More offers for the first time an in-depth look at the subtle, pervasive ways in which prophecy belief shapes contemporary American thought and culture.Trade ReviewA splendid, rigorously documented treatise, as up to date as the morning newspaper… No book provides more comprehensive information about the awesome degree to which Biblical literalism and prophetic fervor have invaded the hearts and minds of Americans, rich and poor, educated and ignorant… [Those] who read the book can laugh and weep. -- Martin Gardner * Washington Post Book World *Paul Boyer traces the roots and branches of the rich, strange complex of biblical exegesis and twisted journalism that he calls ‘prophecy belief.’ When Time Shall Be No More exhaustively describes a strange species of rabid predictions of the wrath to come. -- Anthony Grafton * New Republic *Splendid… [A] compelling cultural history. -- L. S. Klepp * Village Voice Literary Supplement *This is one of the most important and impressive books I have ever read in American cultural history. It is richly researched, ably argued, exhaustive in its coverage of the subject of apocalyptic belief in the United States, yet a constant revelation. Indeed, it amounts to the discovery of what many of us in this field have halfway understood but never quite realized, that the dominion of prophecy and ‘end-time’ religion is vast and of utmost importance in understanding the whole of American culture. It will scarcely be possible now not to see the importance of this fringe culture that affects millions of Americans and which, from time to time, finds itself near the very center. -- James Gilbert, University of MarylandThis is not a facile study, attempting to draw large and arresting conclusions from a mere sample of the evidence. Boyer committed himself to an intense study of popular prophetic belief and the result is a learned, persuasive, and nuanced study of a very important subject. The book is inherently interesting and superbly written. -- Nathan O. Hatch, University of Notre DameIt is a work of high quality in every respect and is as good as anything I know of on the subject. In addition to writing well, the author is judicious and insightful in his judgments and maintains a tone of seeking understanding rather than, as do most writers on such topics, taking cheap shots at easy targets. Also and importantly, I found the book engaging and was eager to keep reading. -- George Marsden, University of Notre DameTable of ContentsPreface Prologue: The Hidden World of Prophecy Belief I. The Genre and Its Early Interpreters 1. Origins of the Apocalyptic 2. Rhythms of Prophecy Belief 3. The Premillennial Strand II. Key Themes after World War II 4. The Atomic Bomb and Nuclear War 5. Ezekiel as the First Cold Warrior 6. The Final Chatisement of the Chosen 7. The United States in Prophecy 8. Antichrist, 666, and the Mark of the Beast III. The Enduring Apocalyptic Vision 9. The Continuing Appeal of Prophecy Belief 10. Apocalyptic Portents in a Post-Cold War World Notes Acknowledgements Credits Index Illustrations follow pages 144 and 280

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Book SynopsisHow ancient Christian debates concerning Moses' ability to see God embroiled social rivalries and defined the limits of humanity.Trade Review"Jared Calaway is distinct in his push to understand the history of the reception of Exodus 33:20 and Numbers 12:8 within and across early Christian contexts and networks. A sociological lens gives his study teeth and offers broader implications than more traditional studies that remain exegetically bound to authorial meaning or traditional faith." April DeConick, Rice University and author of The Gnostic New Age: How a Countercultural Spirituality Revolutionized Religion From Antiquity to Today

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Book SynopsisThis book develops a powerful and original defense of the notion that God is eternal in that he exists timelessly; that is, that though God exists, he does not exist at any time.

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Book SynopsisThe wager fragment in Blaise Pascal's Penseés opens with the phrase infini rieninfinite nothingwhich is meant to describe the human condition. Pascal was responding to what was, even in the seventeenth century, becoming a pressing human problem: we seem to be able to know much about the world but less about ourselves.The traditional European view of human beings as creatures made in the image of God and potentially capable of a mystical union with God was increasingly confounded by the difficulty of finding God in nature. Despite his own scientific work, however, Pascal argued that if one does not know whether or not God exists, one should bet that he does: if one is right the rewards are infinitely good and, if one is wrong, what one has lost is, by comparison, utterly trivial. The argument behind this wager is one of the most celebratedand disputedin the history of philosophy. It has been seen in terms of the calculus of probabilities, as a piece of religious apologetic, as an event in the religious and psychological life of Pascal himself, and as an event in the life of the Jansenist movement and its various expressions at Port-Royal. In this book, Leslie Armour explores the underlying logic of ideas brought to the surface by the intersection of two philosophical lines of thought. He shows that Pascal had come to philosophy by way of two particular strands of Platonism, one strongly mystical, associated with the founder of the French Oratorian order, Pierre de Bérulle, and the other the Augustinian Platonism associated with Duvergier de Hauranne and Cornelius Jansen. At the same time Pascal was engaged in an internal struggle with skepticism. While he agreed that it is difficult to find God in physical nature, he disagreed with the claim that we know nothing of nature. The problem is that the human being is both infinite and nothing. Thus, Armour locates Pascal's wager within the confluence of a vital neo-Platonism and an intellectually powerful skepticism. He concludes that even today, If we must act and cannot know enough, we must bet.

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Book SynopsisThis work argues that the appropriate religious response to suspicion of its beliefs is not to try to refute or deflect them, but rather to acknowledge their force in a process of self-examination.Trade Review"An illuminating and powerful reading of three of the most important contemporary professedly antireligious thinkers... stinging critiques of Freud, Marx, and Nietzsche." -- -C. Stephen Evans Society of Christian Philosophers

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Book SynopsisMarx, Nietzche, and Freud are among the most influential of modern atheists. The distinctive feature of their challenge to theistic and specifically Christian belief is expressed by Paul Ricoeur when he calls them the masters of suspicion. While skepticism directs its critique to the truth or evidential basis of belief, suspicion asks two different, intimately intertwined questions: what are the motives that lead to this belief? and what function does it play, what work does it do for the individuals and communities that adopt it.What suspicion suspects is that the survival value of religious beliefs depends on satisfying desires and interests that the believing soul and the believing community are not eager to acknowledge because they violate the values they profess, as when, for example, talk about justice is a mask for deep-seated resentment and the desire for revenge. For this reason, the hermeneutics of suspicion is a theory, or group of theories, of self-deception: ideolTrade Review"An illuminating and powerful reading of three of the most important contemporary professedly antireligious thinkers... stinging critiques of Freud, Marx, and Nietzsche." -- -C. Stephen Evans Society of Christian Philosophers

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Book SynopsisIn this presentation of a biblical and logical perspective, Groothuis unveils how truth has come under attack and how it can be defended in the vital areas of theology, apologetics, ethics and the arts.

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Book SynopsisThis book makes a major contribution to contemporary theological and philosophical debates, bridging scriptural and metaphysical approaches to the triune God. Bridges the gap between scriptural and metaphysical approaches to biblical narratives. Retrieves Aquinas's understanding of theology as contemplative wisdom. Structured around Aquinas's treatise on the triune God in his Summa Theologiae'. Argues that intellectual contemplation is part of a broader spiritual journey towards a better understanding of God. Contributes to the current resurgence of Thomistic theology in both Protestant and Catholic circles. Trade Review“Levering’s Introduction did not fail to stimulate my interest. Probably of greatest interest will be interactions with some of the renowned Jewish and Christian exegetes in the chapters to come.” (AMAIC Philosophy, 8 February 2013) "… lucidly written, thoroughly documented, an astonishing achievement." Fergus Kerr OP, Blackfriars, Oxford "A substantive contribution to Trinitarian theology, and an exemplification of how theology ought to be done." William T. Cavanaugh, University of St Thomas "Matthew Levering is not content with merely explaining the genuine teaching of St. Thomas Aquinas but also makes him an active partner in today's theological debate. With both a critical mind and a deep sense of Christian tradition, Levering offers the most stimulating introduction to Aquinas's Trinitarian theology available today." Gilles Emery, OP, Professor of Dogmatic Theology, University of Fribourg "...in eloquently and clearly setting Aquinas over against many of the most influential voices in theology today, and showing his relevance by liberating him from stereotypicals dismissals, Scripture and Metaphysics lays a path for further investigation that will be fruitful for those who follow it." Journal of Ecclesiastical HistoryTable of ContentsAcknowledgments ix Introduction 1 1 Setting the Scene: Theological Ends 12 Chapter 1 Sacra Doctrina: Wisdom, Scripture, and Metaphysics 23 1 Wisdom 28 2 Theologizing as a Wisdom-Exercise 34 3 Isaiah and St. John the Evangelist as Contemplatives 39 Chapter 2 YHWH and Being 47 1 R. Kendall Soulen's Post-Supersessionist Trinitarian Theology 53 2 Aquinas on Being and YHWH 57 Chapter 3 Scripture and Metaphysics in the Theology of God's Knowledge and Will 75 1 Jon D. Levenson on the God of Israel 77 2 St. Thomas Aquinas on the Knowledge and Will of God in His Unity 83 Chapter 4 The Paschal Mystery and Sapiential Theology of the Trinity 110 1 N. T. Wright and Richard Bauckham on Jesus and the Identity of God 112 2 Hans Urs von Balthasar on the Cross as Analog for the Trinity 120 3 The Paschal Mystery as Revelatory of the Trinity in Aquinas 132 Chapter 5 Scripture and the Psychological Analogy for the Trinity 144 1 Aquinas and the Psychological Analogy 149 Chapter 6 Biblical Exegesis and Sapiential Naming of the Divine Persons 165 1 The Person of the Father 169 2 The Person of the Son 179 3 The Person of the Holy Spirit 185 Chapter 7 Essence, Persons, and the Question of Trinitarian Metaphysics 197 1 Trinitarian Ontology in Clarke, Zizioulas, and Hütter 202 2 Trinitarian Ontology and Aquinas's Approach 213 Conclusion 236 Index 242

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Book SynopsisThis book makes a major contribution to contemporary theological and philosophical debates, bridging scriptural and metaphysical approaches to the triune God. Bridges the gap between scriptural and metaphysical approaches to biblical narratives. Retrieves Aquinas's understanding of theology as contemplative wisdom. Structured around Aquinas's treatise on the triune God in his Summa Theologiae'. Argues that intellectual contemplation is part of a broader spiritual journey towards a better understanding of God. Contributes to the current resurgence of Thomistic theology in both Protestant and Catholic circles. Trade Review“Levering’s Introduction did not fail to stimulate my interest. Probably of greatest interest will be interactions with some of the renowned Jewish and Christian exegetes in the chapters to come.” (AMAIC Philosophy, 8 February 2013) "… lucidly written, thoroughly documented, an astonishing achievement." Fergus Kerr OP, Blackfriars, Oxford "A substantive contribution to Trinitarian theology, and an exemplification of how theology ought to be done." William T. Cavanaugh, University of St Thomas "Matthew Levering is not content with merely explaining the genuine teaching of St. Thomas Aquinas but also makes him an active partner in today's theological debate. With both a critical mind and a deep sense of Christian tradition, Levering offers the most stimulating introduction to Aquinas's Trinitarian theology available today." Gilles Emery, OP, Professor of Dogmatic Theology, University of Fribourg "...in eloquently and clearly setting Aquinas over against many of the most influential voices in theology today, and showing his relevance by liberating him from stereotypicals dismissals, Scripture and Metaphysics lays a path for further investigation that will be fruitful for those who follow it." Journal of Ecclesiastical HistoryTable of ContentsAcknowledgments ix Introduction 1 1 Setting the Scene: Theological Ends 12 Chapter 1 Sacra Doctrina: Wisdom, Scripture, and Metaphysics 23 1 Wisdom 28 2 Theologizing as a Wisdom-Exercise 34 3 Isaiah and St. John the Evangelist as Contemplatives 39 Chapter 2 YHWH and Being 47 1 R. Kendall Soulen's Post-Supersessionist Trinitarian Theology 53 2 Aquinas on Being and YHWH 57 Chapter 3 Scripture and Metaphysics in the Theology of God's Knowledge and Will 75 1 Jon D. Levenson on the God of Israel 77 2 St. Thomas Aquinas on the Knowledge and Will of God in His Unity 83 Chapter 4 The Paschal Mystery and Sapiential Theology of the Trinity 110 1 N. T. Wright and Richard Bauckham on Jesus and the Identity of God 112 2 Hans Urs von Balthasar on the Cross as Analog for the Trinity 120 3 The Paschal Mystery as Revelatory of the Trinity in Aquinas 132 Chapter 5 Scripture and the Psychological Analogy for the Trinity 144 1 Aquinas and the Psychological Analogy 149 Chapter 6 Biblical Exegesis and Sapiential Naming of the Divine Persons 165 1 The Person of the Father 169 2 The Person of the Son 179 3 The Person of the Holy Spirit 185 Chapter 7 Essence, Persons, and the Question of Trinitarian Metaphysics 197 1 Trinitarian Ontology in Clarke, Zizioulas, and Hütter 202 2 Trinitarian Ontology and Aquinas's Approach 213 Conclusion 236 Index 242

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Book SynopsisThis ground-breaking book provides a new perspective on Christian practices of silence. An original, theologically informed work, written by a significant Quaker theologian Provides a new perspective on Christian practices of silence Considers the theological and ethical significance of these practices Relates silence, listening and communication to major contemporary issues Takes forward theological engagement with feminist thought Contributes to ongoing research into the theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Trade Review“This book is a passionate, informed and insightful inquiry into the significance of silence in Christian thinking about God and its bearing upon a theological ethics of communication.” Reviews in Religion and Theology “What starts off, quite modestly, as an exploration of what theologians and others have said about silence, develops into a serious challenge to the way theology itself is done, and indeed, to the way other researches are done, and conversation held … it is work that will yield rich insights.” Quaker StudiesTable of ContentsPreface and Acknowledgements. Sources. List of Abbreviations. Introduction: Beginning with Silence. 1. Assessing Silence. 2. Who Hears?. 3. Resurrection Silence. 4. Hearing the Word. 5. Wisdom and Folly: Seeking places to stand. 6. Hearing with God’s Ears: Interpreting practices of silence. 7. Privacy, Omniscience and the Silence of God. 8. Openings. Bibliography. Index

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Book SynopsisThis ground-breaking book provides a new perspective on Christian practices of silence. An original, theologically informed work, written by a significant Quaker theologian Provides a new perspective on Christian practices of silence Considers the theological and ethical significance of these practices Relates silence, listening and communication to major contemporary issues Takes forward theological engagement with feminist thought Contributes to ongoing research into the theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Trade Review“This book is a passionate, informed and insightful inquiry into the significance of silence in Christian thinking about God and its bearing upon a theological ethics of communication.” Reviews in Religion and Theology “What starts off, quite modestly, as an exploration of what theologians and others have said about silence, develops into a serious challenge to the way theology itself is done, and indeed, to the way other researches are done, and conversation held … it is work that will yield rich insights.” Quaker StudiesTable of ContentsPreface and Acknowledgements. Sources. List of Abbreviations. Introduction: Beginning with Silence. 1. Assessing Silence. 2. Who Hears?. 3. Resurrection Silence. 4. Hearing the Word. 5. Wisdom and Folly: Seeking places to stand. 6. Hearing with God’s Ears: Interpreting practices of silence. 7. Privacy, Omniscience and the Silence of God. 8. Openings. Bibliography. Index

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Book SynopsisThe last few decades have witnessed a stunning resurgence of philosophical interest in God and theology. Although much of this renaissance is focused on the rationality of theistic belief apart from evidence, there is a gathering movement in philosophical circles to re-establish natural theology's legitimacy in explaining God's existence.Trade Review"They give a good look into the condition of the field, and bring to the forefront presuppositions shaping contemporary inquiry." (Reviews in Religion & Theology, 2011) "If natural theology is overdue for a comeback, this work will help it on its way, and, for skeptical readers, there is much here to go on thinking about for months to come (making it a good catalyst for intelligent debate)." (Reference Reviews, February 2010) "All of these essays show sophistication and deserve wide attention. Common objections to the theistic arguments are considered and logical proofs are helpfully provided when appropriate." (Religious Studies Review, June 2010) "Laudable and timely." (Church Times, January 2010)Table of ContentsList of figures vi Notes on contributors vii Introduction ix William Lane Craig and J. P. Moreland 1 The project of natural theology 1 Charles Taliaferro 2 The Leibnizian cosmological argument 24 Alexander R. Pruss 3 The kalam cosmological argument 101 William Lane Craig and James D. Sinclair 4 The teleological argument: an exploration of the fine-tuning of the universe 202 Robin Collins 5 The argument from consciousness 282 J. P. Moreland 6 The argument from reason 344 Victor Reppert 7 The moral argument 391 Mark D. Linville 8 The argument from evil 449 Stewart Goetz 9 The argument from religious experience 498 Kai-Man Kwan 10 The ontological argument 553 Robert E. Maydole 11 The argument from miracles: a cumulative case for the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth 593 Timothy McGrew and Lydia McGrew Index 663

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Book SynopsisIs God a Delusion? addresses the philosophical underpinnings of the recent proliferation of popular books attacking religious beliefs. Winner of CHOICE 2009 Outstanding Academic Title Award Focuses primarily on charges leveled by recent critics that belief in God is irrational and that its nature ferments violence Balances philosophical rigor and scholarly care with an engaging, accessible style Offers a direct response to the crop of recent anti-religion bestsellers currently generating considerable public discussion Trade Review"Makes an elegantly argued response … that is refreshing in several respects. Neither polemical nor defensive … he brings into the contemporary fray many philosophers who reasoned well about God long ago. He looks squarely in the face of the contemporary horrors that many have used to argue for God's non-existence and still comes off the theodicy battleground with a sense of God as ethico-religious hope, 'the substance of things hoped for.' The clarity of his presentation should make this book useful after atheism has finished its moment in the sun." (Publisher's Weekly Religion Update) "Reitan's execution is truly remarkable, maintaining both sympathy with the criticism of exclusive and closed-minded religious views while exposing fallacious and closed-minded attacks on human expression of religious belief and hope.… Highly recommended." (Choice Magazine) "In the book you get two things for the price of one. 1- An intro to the philosophy of religion and 2- a fun, readable, and vigorous critical response to the New Atheists." (Tripp Fuller, Homebrewed Christianity) "Reitan's resurrection of the phrase 'cultured despisers' underscores one of the most compelling purposes of his book, namely, to show that the arguments of today's articulate atheists are rehash of yesteryear's angst." (Religion Dispatches)Table of ContentsIntroduction. 1. On Religion and Equivocation. 2. "The God Hypothesis" and the Concept of God. 3. Divine Tyranny and the Goodness of God. 4. Science, Transcendence, and Meaning. 5. Philosophy and God's Existence, Part I. 6. Philosophy and God's Existence, Part II. 7. Religious Consciousness. 8. The Substance of Things Hoped For. 9. Evil and the Meaning of Life. 10. The Root of All Evil?. Notes. References. Index

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Book SynopsisOliver's study is rigorous and detailed but contemplative in its approach, examining the larger meanings of mankind's first adventures in the heavens.Trade ReviewTo Touch the Face of God... support[s] the importance of the strength of individual faith, the power of community, and the American need for both heroes and villains of biblical proportions to change the world. -- David Rosman New York Journal of Books Oliver analyses spaceflight and religion in a sophisticated manner, well informed by the scholarly literature of 'new aerospace history,' which examines intersections between space history and other disciplines or themes... Oliver engages histories of theology and religious practice in a broad conversation of motivations, implications, transformations and reinforcements of religion in the history of spaceflight. -- Margaret Weitekamp Times Higher Education Religious and science colletions alike will relish this survey. Midwest Book Review To Touch the Face of God is well-written, with short, precise excursions into what almost amounts to poetry, for example: 'They [the astronauts in space] could not sit for a morning in the manner of Thoreau, slowly incubating epiphany'... It is an important contribution to the study of the complex connections between spaceflight and religion and thus highly recommended. -- Thore Bjornvig Quest: History of Spaceflight Quarterly Oliver's well-research book sparkles with graceful prose and cogent insights... Also refreshing is Oliver's breadth of knowledge, which leads to pregnant thoughts... To Touch the Face of God is a stimulating and original examination of the long Sixties. Looking at America through this unique window-actually a spaceship's portal-reveals things I had not seen before. -- Robert Spinney Fides Et HistoriaTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction: The Blasphemy of Going Up1. A Power Greater Than Any of Us: Religion and Secularity in the Formation of the American Space Program2. Signals of Transcendence: The Rise and Fall of Space-Age Theology3. Into the Other World: Anticipations of Spaceflight as Religious Experience4. Perhaps a Meaning to Us: The Apollo Missions as Religious Experience5. Evil Triumphs When Good Men Do Nothing: Religious Americans and NASA in the Autumn of the Space AgeEpilogueNotesBibliographic EssayIndex

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Book SynopsisWith brevity and clarity, Mark Jones makes the doctrine of God accessible to the modern readerspecifically focusing on how each of God's attributes isfully realized in Christ and impacts the Christian life.

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Book SynopsisThere are few religious figures more Catholic than Saint Thomas Aquinas, a man credited with helping to shape Catholicism of the second millennium. In Never Doubt Thomas, Francis Beckwith employs his own spiritual journey from Catholicism to Evangelicalism and then back to Catholicism to reveal the signal importance of Aquinas.Trade ReviewGiven its irenic character, its accurate exegesis of Thomas, and its timeliness for current debates, Never Doubt Aquinas is required reading for anyone interested in St. Thomas Aquinas or ecumenical dialogue. -- J.M Meinert -- ChoiceTable of Contents 1 Why Thomas Today 2 Aquinas as Protestant 3 Aquinas as Pluralist 4 Aquinas as Theologian 5 Aquinas as Evangelical 6 The Aquinas Option

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Book SynopsisThe doctrine of the Trinity has recently been rescued from relative obscurity in Christian theology, but its profound implications have not yet been fully realized.Trade Review"There is much to commend in this volume, and not least in Cunningham's clear passion to make a doctrine, which has so often been a by-word for mystification, make a difference." David Moss, St Stephens House, Oxford "David Cunningham has written a really remarkable book, combining the most acute historical and conceptual analysis with reflections on ethics, liturgy, literature and much besides. It is a wonderful illustration of how the doctrinal tradition of Christianity can shape a whole perception of the moral and imaginative world." Rowan Williams, Bishop of Monmouth "One of the most accessible books on the trinity in recent memory. Both scholars and the educated public have something to learn from Cunningham's ability to stir both mind and heart on issues of central significance to the Christian life." Kathryn Tanner, University of Chicago "Sparks everywhere. Little holy fires and an occasional shrine-burner. Cunningham frames the questions in rhetoric and literary theory as well as philosophy and theological study and places them within the Church that is in the world. Trinity enlivens Christian practice. The result is a flashing insight, capable of keeping students awake. My classes would use it whether in seminary or congregation." Frederick W Norris, Emmanuel School of Religion "Cunningham's These Three Are One offers a constructive reinterpretation of the classical doctrine of the Trinity for our times, and one that is nothing less than a revision of the Christian life itself in the terms set by Trinitarian belief. Drawing on the insights of spirituality, philosophy, ethics and literature, the argument of this book makes an important contribution to Trinitarian theology and does so in a way that is as accessible as it is accomplished." John E. Thiel, Fairfield University "This is a most unusual and interesting book. He laments that he (and we) lack theology of embodiment adequate to his purpose. Cunningham's exposition of classical doctrine is both fascinating and scholarly. He has done more than enough to persuade us that we need one." Michael P. Wilson Hessle "The thesis rests on the practical application of Trinitarian theology rather than its theoretical integrity, and here Cunningham scores one hit after another. This is a book of rare insight." Dr Saxbee, Bishop of Ludlow "Amoung the many books to have appeared recently on the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, this one is outstanding. I recommend it highly to students who want to understand the historical development of this central theme, and to become familiar with the most recent debates on the subject; but much more than this, I commend it to pastors who want to know why this doctrine is an immensely practical one, shaping the exercise of pastoral care and the whole nature of Christian communities. This well-written highly accessible study will open out Trinitarian perspectives on ethics, worship, literature, rhetoric and spirituality. It is a piece of truly imaginative theology." Paul Fiddes, Principal, RPC Oxford "With this volume, David Cunningham offers a fresh and constructive reinterpretation of the doctrine of the Trinity. This work will establish Cunningham as a leader among a second generation of theologians involved in the renaissance of the Trinitarian theology.....For teachers seeking a book on the doctrine of the Trinity for upper-level, undergraduate theology classes or seminary classrooms, this work is highly recommended." Mark Medley, Simpsonville, KY "This is a most unusual and interesting book. Cunningham's exposition of classical doctrine is both fascinating and scholarly." Michael P. Wilson, Theology "The passion with which Cunningham presents his argument is to be applauded, as is his attention to the insensitivities that have often accompanied traditional Trinitarian claims." J. Alexander Sider, Duke University "To readers who find theological treatises on the Trinity too dry, I can recommend [this] stimulating and original work by David S. Cunningham... the appeal of the book lies less in the detail than in the general argument which is imaginative and fascinating on the ways Trinitarian law has been received and its place in the lives of believers." Chronique de Théologie Trinitaire "These Three Are One is to be heartily recommended for its theological creativity and its daring breadth of vision. Cunningham offers not just a doctrine of the Trinity but a dogmatics in outline - a Trinitarian anthropology, a theology of grace, and the rudiments of an ecclesiology with a theological ethics to boot. At a time when there are many simplistic calls to practice Christian doctrine, Cunningham's book is a welcome reminder of the complexities and the rich possibilities in enacting and embodying Trinitarian doctrine." Journal of ReligionTable of ContentsPreface. Introduction: Practice. Part I: Source: Trinitarian Beliefs:. 1. Positioning. 2. Producing. 3. Paralleling. Part II: Wellspring: Trinitarian Virtues:. 4. Polyphony. 5. Participation. 6. Particularity. Part III: Living Water: Trinitarian Practices:. 7. Pacemaking. 8. Pluralizing. 9. Persuading. Epilogue: Provisionality. Appendix 1: Recent Works in Trinitarian Theology. Appendix 2: Glossary of Foreign Words and Phrases. Appendix 3: Liturgical Resources.

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Book SynopsisThe doctrine of the Trinity has recently been rescued from relative obscurity in Christian theology, but its profound implications have not yet been fully realized.Trade Review"There is much to commend in this volume, and not least in Cunningham's clear passion to make a doctrine, which has so often been a by-word for mystification, make a difference." David Moss, St Stephens House, Oxford "David Cunningham has written a really remarkable book, combining the most acute historical and conceptual analysis with reflections on ethics, liturgy, literature and much besides. It is a wonderful illustration of how the doctrinal tradition of Christianity can shape a whole perception of the moral and imaginative world." Rowan Williams, Bishop of Monmouth "One of the most accessible books on the trinity in recent memory. Both scholars and the educated public have something to learn from Cunningham's ability to stir both mind and heart on issues of central significance to the Christian life." Kathryn Tanner, University of Chicago "Sparks everywhere. Little holy fires and an occasional shrine-burner. Cunningham frames the questions in rhetoric and literary theory as well as philosophy and theological study and places them within the Church that is in the world. Trinity enlivens Christian practice. The result is a flashing insight, capable of keeping students awake. My classes would use it whether in seminary or congregation." Frederick W Norris, Emmanuel School of Religion "Cunningham's These Three Are One offers a constructive reinterpretation of the classical doctrine of the Trinity for our times, and one that is nothing less than a revision of the Christian life itself in the terms set by Trinitarian belief. Drawing on the insights of spirituality, philosophy, ethics and literature, the argument of this book makes an important contribution to Trinitarian theology and does so in a way that is as accessible as it is accomplished." John E. Thiel, Fairfield University "This is a most unusual and interesting book. He laments that he (and we) lack theology of embodiment adequate to his purpose. Cunningham's exposition of classical doctrine is both fascinating and scholarly. He has done more than enough to persuade us that we need one." Michael P. Wilson Hessle "The thesis rests on the practical application of Trinitarian theology rather than its theoretical integrity, and here Cunningham scores one hit after another. This is a book of rare insight." Dr Saxbee, Bishop of Ludlow "Amoung the many books to have appeared recently on the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, this one is outstanding. I recommend it highly to students who want to understand the historical development of this central theme, and to become familiar with the most recent debates on the subject; but much more than this, I commend it to pastors who want to know why this doctrine is an immensely practical one, shaping the exercise of pastoral care and the whole nature of Christian communities. This well-written highly accessible study will open out Trinitarian perspectives on ethics, worship, literature, rhetoric and spirituality. It is a piece of truly imaginative theology." Paul Fiddes, Principal, RPC Oxford "With this volume, David Cunningham offers a fresh and constructive reinterpretation of the doctrine of the Trinity. This work will establish Cunningham as a leader among a second generation of theologians involved in the renaissance of the Trinitarian theology.....For teachers seeking a book on the doctrine of the Trinity for upper-level, undergraduate theology classes or seminary classrooms, this work is highly recommended." Mark Medley, Simpsonville, KY "This is a most unusual and interesting book. Cunningham's exposition of classical doctrine is both fascinating and scholarly." Michael P. Wilson, Theology "The passion with which Cunningham presents his argument is to be applauded, as is his attention to the insensitivities that have often accompanied traditional Trinitarian claims." J. Alexander Sider, Duke University "To readers who find theological treatises on the Trinity too dry, I can recommend [this] stimulating and original work by David S. Cunningham... the appeal of the book lies less in the detail than in the general argument which is imaginative and fascinating on the ways Trinitarian law has been received and its place in the lives of believers." Chronique de Théologie Trinitaire "These Three Are One is to be heartily recommended for its theological creativity and its daring breadth of vision. Cunningham offers not just a doctrine of the Trinity but a dogmatics in outline - a Trinitarian anthropology, a theology of grace, and the rudiments of an ecclesiology with a theological ethics to boot. At a time when there are many simplistic calls to practice Christian doctrine, Cunningham's book is a welcome reminder of the complexities and the rich possibilities in enacting and embodying Trinitarian doctrine." Journal of ReligionTable of ContentsPreface. Introduction: Practice. Part I: Source: Trinitarian Beliefs:. 1. Positioning. 2. Producing. 3. Paralleling. Part II: Wellspring: Trinitarian Virtues:. 4. Polyphony. 5. Participation. 6. Particularity. Part III: Living Water: Trinitarian Practices:. 7. Pacemaking. 8. Pluralizing. 9. Persuading. Epilogue: Provisionality. Appendix 1: Recent Works in Trinitarian Theology. Appendix 2: Glossary of Foreign Words and Phrases. Appendix 3: Liturgical Resources.

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Book SynopsisIn Shakespeare and Jung - The God in Time literary critic and philosopher James Driscoll presents original arguments for the existence and nature of God. He traverses the boundaries of art, philosophy, psychology, and religion to draw on Shakespeare, Carl Jung, and A. N. Whitehead to define and illuminate the interconnections of God and time.Time’s irreversibility and continuous creation of novelty makes it the medium and engine of order, value, and meaning. Time connects and differentiates all, thereby making reality relational and allowing for feeling, thought, art, and science. Shakespeare, the writer with the greatest insight into human nature, dramatized the primacy of time in our lives. Time is the de facto God of Shakespeare’s worlds. Shakespeare anticipated our own age when time began to displace eternity as the ground of reality. Jung gave us a new map of the psyche and terminology to explore more deeply the human condition, bound as it is in time, and the nature of deity. Driscoll carries Jung’s insights further into the three paradigmatic revelations of the Western Godhead: The Book of Job, the Gospels, and Shakespeare’s King Lear. Shakespeare the artist grasped the dynamics of the Western Godhead giving us a singular revelation of its dominant archetypes, Yahweh, Job, Prometheus, and Christ.The archetypes of the Western Godhead shaped the development of art, science, and technology and energized the ideals of progress and freedom. The West advanced rapidly in science, the arts, and human rights because of the unique archetypal dynamics of its God in Time.

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Book SynopsisEnvironmental destruction, poverty in the midst of obscene wealth, one war after another. Our biggest crises are getting worse. Secularism makes this inevitable by denying any moral authority higher than the ruling classes. By contrast, religious traditions offer accounts of who made us, for what purpose and how we should live, but whilst some are more constructive than others it is only monotheism, defined as divine harmony, that provides the philosophical and ethical framework necessary for people to lead better lives. Drawing on cultural analysis, political philosophy, Christian apologetics and theodicy the author shows why, in order to resolve our crises, progressives need to reaffirm the goodness of the natural environment as a blessing from a good god.

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Book Synopsis‘God wants people to become like Christ,’ said international preacher, writer and teacher John Stott in a public address at the end of his long life. Peter Lewis is similarly passionate about the Bible’s message – that God has a plan which centres on Jesus and includes each one of us. In this accessible and helpful book, he focuses on the: source of Christlikeness model of Christlikenesshelps to Christlikeness contradictions of Christlikeness an dtriumph of Christlikeness Here, the reader who wants to become like Christ will find radical – sometimes challenging – teaching, practical wisdom and warm reassurance.Trade ReviewDrawing on a lifetime of ministry experienced, Peter Lewis has written a concise, clear and comprehensive theology of the Christian life. With a blend of faithful exegesis, pithy quotations and personal anecdotes he reminds us that God’s great purpose is that we should be transformed into the likeness of the Lord Jesus Christ. Readers will be encouraged to rejoice afresh in all that Christ has done for them, challenged to pursue holiness in every area of their lives, and inspired to look forward to the eternal glory to come. It would be impossible to read this book without repenting afresh and seeking God’s help to live a new life by the power of his Holy Spirit. * John Stevens, National Director, FIEC *Christlikeness is the ultimate goal of the Christian life, produced not merely by imitating Christ, but by Christ being Himself within his regenerate people. His life imparted to us becomes the source of new appetites, new empowerment and new fruitfulness. Peter Lewis helpfully explores both the source and the outworking of this in both personal and corporate life, in good times and in bad, in the light and in the dark, when God seems close and when God seems distant. Full of memorable illustrations, this book will help both the newest believer and the most mature disciple. * Charles Price, Teaching Pastor, The People’s Church, Toronto *This is a powerful presentation of what it means for a Christian to be Christlike. Peter Lewis roots his message deeply in scripture. In his development of his theme he connects with a remarkable range of Christian thinking and human experience. The whole book communicates a crucial call to a different way of living. But Peter Lewis shows compellingly that the demands of such a life are more than fully matched by the resources God has made available. Read what is written here with an open heart and be prepared to be challenged and changed by it. * Ian Randall, author and former lecturer at Spurgeon’s College, London and the International Baptist Theological Seminary in Prague. *‘much to think about, to reflect on and to put into practice’ * The Reader *

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Book SynopsisHow do you picture the Holy Spirit? A vague fuzzy cloud? An invisible, impersonal force? The Bible is clear that the Holy Spirit is a person. Scripture gives us strong word pictures of the Spirit as wind, fire, a counsellor, anointing oil and more - and these eight Bible studies will help us explore those. 8 sessions: Wind/Breath, Ezekiel 37:1-14 Water, John 4:1-14, 7:37-39 Fire, Acts 2:1-4 Pledge, Ephesians 1:11-14 Counsellor, John 14:15-27 Advocate, Romans 8:26-27 Anointing Oil, Luke 4:14-21 Giver of Gifts, I Corinthians 12:1-11

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Book SynopsisTelling the truth about God without excluding anyone is a challenge to the Quaker community. Drawing on the author’s academic research into Quaker uses of religious language and her teaching to Quaker and academic groups, Rhiannon Grant aims to make accessible some key theological and philosophical insights. She explains that Quakers might sound vague but are actually making clear and creative theological claims. Theology isn't just for wordy people or intellectuals, it's for everyone. And that's important because our religious language is related to, not separate from, our religious experience. It also becomes clear that denying other people's claims often leads to making your own and that even apparently negative positions can also be making positive statements. How do Quakers tell the truth about God? This book explores this key theological process through fourteen short chapters. As Quakers, we say that we know some things, but not very much, about God, and that we are in a constant process of trying to improve our ways of saying what we do know.

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Book SynopsisFor God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. Here's an astonishing claim. John 3:16 appears on everything from fridge magnets to sports stars' faces. But what does it actually mean? And how does it relate to you and me? With warmth, personal stories and humour, the author explains God's love, his Son, his sacrifice, and the all-important connection with us today. This is an invitation for anyone to dive straight in and take the first step in an exciting, life-transforming journey of faith.Trade ReviewA fresh, punchy, fascinating-facts-filled, humorous, yet thought-provoking, take on the meaning of life, based on the Bible’s most famous verse. Read it yourself and then pass it on to a friend. Go on, what do you have to lose? You’ll also discover how woodpeckers avoid concussion (but I'm not going to tell you which page that’s on!) -- Jeremy McQuoid * Teaching Pastor at Deeside Christian Fellowship, Aberdeen, and Chairman of Trustees, Keswick Convention *If you want a short and clear explanation of the good news that is the heart of Christianity, then this is the book for you. Contemporary illustrations spur your interest as Martin takes you through the best-known sentence in the Bible. I was impressed by the personal warmth speaking from the pages, and the careful theology lying under the surface. John chapter 3 verse 16 tells the greatest story in the world, and Martin has done a wonderful job in showing just how vital this is for you and me. -- Andrew Hill * Executive Director of the Soldiers' and Airmen's Scripture Readers Association *Warm and engaging … If you are a sceptic or a seeker you will find food for thought here. Martin answers questions, discusses big issues and tackles misconceptions with sensitivity, humour and clarity. A compelling case for John 3:16 being the best news for all people for all time. -- Clare Heath-Whyte * Author and historian *As I read this, I could think of people I wanted to give it to. It’s not a coincidence that this book is in your hand, and I really hope you will read it. It is very relevant and, even more, important. -- George Verwer * Founder of Operation Mobilization, author, missionary and speaker *Having been active in evangelism for over twenty-five years, I have one verse which I share more than any other: John 3:16. Timeless, relevant, widely familiar and simple to learn, it's a verse even a child can understand, and yet so deep that you cannot tire of studying it. Martin’s book is a work of art: a mixture of theology, personal stories and lessons from history, helping us not only to unpack but also enjoy the richness of John 3:16. This book is for everyone. A wonderful one-to-one 'study' to work through with a non-Christian friend, a source book for preachers, a tool box for fellow evangelists/ apologists, a devotional, a commentary, and a beautiful gift. If you are serious about evangelism, then you need to buy this book, a highlighter and a notepad - or the digital equivalent.’ -- Mitch * Evangelist, Crown Jesus Ministries, Belfast *Packed with illustration and brilliant insights, this book will open up to you the riches of this one incredible Bible verse. Whether you would call yourself a Christian or not, you will find yourself face to face with the beautiful God of love. It really could change your life. -- Jonty Allcock * Pastor of The Globe Church in Central London *A banner with the words 'John 3:16’ continues to show up at many major sports events. Martin Salter gives a brilliant explanation of what it actually means. This short book is a very easy read, offering clarity about the Christian faith and loads of really simple and compelling illustrations that bring this famous Bible verse to life. I really loved reading this book! -- Graham Daniels * General Director, Christians in Sport *So Loved is a concise yet insightful exploration of some of the most famous words of Jesus. If you have questions about the Christian faith, you will find this book to be accessible, relatable and honest, and I encourage you to read it. -- Dr Sharon Dirckx * scientist, author and speaker *Have you ever wanted to give something to a friend who’s willing to be open-minded about the Christian faith and explore a bit further? Martin’s book is friendly, easy-to-read, personal and engaging. It walks us through perhaps the most famous verse in the Bible, and in doing so summarizes the gospel comprehensively and accessibly. -- Jeremy Marshall * author and speaker *

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Book SynopsisGod is totally faithful. That's right at the core of his character - unlike us, he cannot ever break his word. Knowing that we are firmly held in the grip of God's unending faithfulness is deeply reassuring. And it encourages us to be faithful too. Remembering his grace and goodness, we grow in holiness and Christlikeness. Our aim is to be faithful in the big things, but also in the nitty-gritty of life when nobody is watching. With these Bible teachers alongside us: * Alistair Begg (Psalm 119:97-104) * Michael Baughen (2 Timothy 4:1-22 & Hebrews 3:1 - 5:6) * Tim Chester (Genesis15:1-21 & Revelation 2:18-29) * Malcolm Duncan (1 Thessalonians 2:1-12) * Sinclair Ferguson (2 Timothy 4:9-10) * Jonathan Lamb (Acts 20:17-38) * Peter Maiden (1 Samuel 13:5-14) * Alec Motyer (1 Thessalonians 5:1-28) * Tom Putt (Hebrews 6:11-20) we explore God's faithfulness and our response. This undated 30-day devotional shows how God is faithful to cleanse us from sin, keep us until death and guarantee our eternal destiny. What greater reassurance can we ask for?Trade ReviewI felt challenged to greater faithfulness - not when life might improve, but right now in my place of struggle. -- Sharon Hastings * Medical doctor and author of Wrestling with My Thoughts * We need to know the faithfulness of God in these troubled times when all seems so uncertain. These devotions will help us to know better the Faithful God we serve and trust more strongly in him. -- Jeremy Marshall * Former CEO of the UK's oldest private bank, C. Hoare & Co. and Chairman of Christianity Explored. Author of Beyond the Big C after being diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2016 *

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Book SynopsisThe underlying idea of the book is that most ordinary religious believers -- not philosophers or theologians -- do not realise how weak the case for Gods existence is. The Case Against examines the reasons why the belief has such a strong hold on so large a section of humanity, and attempts to show that the reasons are inadequate. The concepts involved in religious belief are examined in detail. It is shown that great difficulties -- of which believers are usually unaware -- are involved in forming concepts of entities from a higher -- perhaps spiritual -- realm. In particular, God and the idea of a life after death are examined and it is proposed that viable, coherent concepts are probably impossible in both cases. For many believers the God theory is seen as (a) explaining the origin of the universe, and (b) enabling the apparent injustices of this world to be righted in a life after death. The theory actually fails to do either. It is also shown, however, that the main alternative to theism, which is materialism, itself presents difficulties. No final answer is given, and it is accepted that (informed) puzzlement may ultimately be the only rational position. The God theory could perhaps be seen as an attempt to answer genuine problems. While it fails, it can nevertheless be understood and treated with sympathy. God: The Case Against is not intended for philosophers or theologians! Rather, the aim is to make the arguments accessible to intelligent, intellectually curious, open-minded people. The book attempts throughout to give clear, simple explanations of the issues, benefiting here from the authors own experience in teaching philosophy to young people.

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Book SynopsisWhy should we believe in God? It is a question that is profoundly engaging the minds of the world. Former lawyer, Roy Williams, contends that belief should be based on logical deductions from known facts: it is not a matter of blind faith. Using many examples drawn from science, politics, history, sociology and the arts, he tackles all the biggest questions by appealing to evidence and to reason. A recurring theme of the book is the vital place of doubt and uncertainty in God's creation. Rebutting the arguments of atheists such as Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins, Williams explores the role of faith, which he considers a much-misunderstood concept.Table of ContentsPart One: Reasons to Believe in God Part Two: Reasons to Believe in Christianity Part Three: Answers to Some Common Objections

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Book SynopsisThe Finger of God sets out to describe how God's existence impacts upon humanity. All people are implicated in an unfolding Divine Plan governing their individual destiny, and that of Planet Earth. This Divine Plan's outworking and inevitable fulfillment is discussed from a biblical perspective, with special reference to contrasting actions and narratives of good and evil. Prime themes are the issue of separation between Man and God, occasioned by disobedience; divine overtures, often overlooked; and the potential for reconciliation. The context for discussion is the issue of Christian religiosity - how it is viewed and practiced not only by the Christian world at large, but also by its formal practitioners and religious leaders. The constant reality of a spiritually present dynamic kingdom is contrasted with the contradictory discordant voices of visible churches. A fundamental thread throughout the work is the necessity to promote doing the right thing (what the Bible refers to as righteousness) - toward our fellow human beings, and especially to God - rather than to follow mere religious precepts. Transformation is brought about by recognizing that the incarnation, death and resurrection of Jesus lies at the heart of salvation and immortality. A reasoned guide is presented as to ongoing and future conflicts between light and darkness, and under what circumstances a righteous divine victory will emerge whereby God's intentions are successfully implemented in a new, perfect environment for the eternal benefit of humankind.Trade Review"With regard to your lectures, I have nothing but praise. I greatly enjoyed reading them. You are in a very special position to publish this work from every standpoint -- ability, knowledge and experience." -- From a letter received by the author from Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones, the world's greatest English-speaking Christian teacher of the last century, former Minister of Westminster Chapel, and the author of The Fight of FaithTable of ContentsPart One: God's Present Kingdom; Part Two: The Coming Kingdom; Part Three: Summary & Conclusions.

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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

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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 *

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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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Book SynopsisRichard Swinburne presents a substantially rewritten and updated edition of his most celebrated book. No other work has made a more powerful case for the probability of the existence of God. Swinburne gives a rigorous and penetrating analysis of the most important arguments for theism: the cosmological argument; arguments from the existence of laws of nature and the ''fine-tuning'' of the universe; from the occurrence of consciousness and moral awareness; and from miracles and religious experience. He claims that while none of these arguments are deductively valid, they do give inductive support to theism and that, even when the argument from evil is weighed against them, taken together they offer good grounds to support the probability that there is a God. The overall structure of the discussion and its conclusion have been retained for this new edition, but much has been changed in order to strengthen the argumentation and to take account of Swinburne''s subsequent work on the nature of consciousness and the problem of evil, and of the latest philosophical and scientific writing, especially in respect of the laws of nature and the argument from fine-tuning. This is now the definitive version of a classic in the philosophy of religion.Trade ReviewRichard Swinburne...over the past thirty years or so, has fashioned the most sophisticated and highly developed natural theology the world has so far seen. * Alvin Plantinga, Times Literary Supplement *...if you want Swinburne's latest thoughts, and his response to some recent developments, here they are. * R.L. Sturch, The Journal of Theological Studies *Table of ContentsIntroduction ; 1. Inductive Arguments ; 2. The Nature of Explanation ; 3. The Justification of Explanation ; 4. Complete Explanation ; 5. The Intrinsic Probability of Theism ; 6. The Explanatory Power of Theism: General Considerations ; 7. The Cosmological Argument ; 8. Teleological Arguments ; 9. Arguments from Consciousness and Morality ; 10. The Argument from Providence ; 11. The Problem of Evil ; 12. Arguments from History and Miracles ; 13. The Argument from Religious Experience ; 14. The Balance of Probability ; Additional Note 1: The Trinity ; Additional Note 2: Recent Arguments to Design from Biology ; Additional Note 3: Plantinga's Argument Against Evolutionary Naturalism

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Book SynopsisReasoning about God is an introduction to philosophy of religion, meeting college students where they are with their own doubts and questions. Each chapter begins with a passage from a fictional student, who raises intellectual problems against God, which is followed by the author's informed and easy-to-understand analysis. This debate structure allows student readers to clearly see the clash of ideas, gets them involved in the issues, and encourages their critical thinking (since students are pushed to find flaws in the ideas). It emulates the structure the author followed successfully in his Ethics: A Contemporary Introduction, which is now in its third edition and has been translated five times into other languages. This structure works well in philosophy of religion, even better than in does in ethics.Key Features of Reasoning about God: Written clearly and concisely, making difficult issues easy to understand. Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Growing Up, Freud, Science 2. Is Religion Harmful? 3. Logical Positivism 4. Is There Life after Death? 5. Is There a First Cause? 6. Is the Universe Designed? 7. Three Paths + Polytheism 8. Does Suffering Disprove God? 9. Why So Many Religions? 10. Is Ethics Based on Religion? 11. The Meaning of Life

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