Nature and existence of God Books

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Book SynopsisPeter Heehs is an independent scholar based in India. His publications include Writing the Self (Bloomsbury, 2013) and The Lives of Sri Aurobindo (2008). His books have been translated into Russian, Dutch, French and Japanese.Trade ReviewHeehs offers a clear, analytical, narrative history that demonstrates how certain elements of non-theistic (or not strictly theistic) thought and practice in the religious histories of India, China, and the Greco-Roman world eventually coalesced to produce the burgeoning ‘godless’ spirituality of the modern West. * Journal of Contemporary Religion *Peter Heehs’s book and historical examination, Spirituality without God, comes at a timely moment in the discourse on spiritual practice. * Bulletin of the British Association for the Study of Religions *The book gives a map, through time and place, of the world’s various theistic and nontheistic spiritualities … The 'spiritual but not religious' phenomenon is growing, and readers can learn more about it through this thoughtful and knowledgeable author, who for decades has been a resident of an intentional, spiritual community. * Horizons: The Journal of the College Theology Society *Spirituality Without God should be read by all professors at seminaries around the world. It is helpful for gaining insight and understanding in the rise of modern nontheistic religions and spiritualities. It would be an excellent book for use in Christian evangelism classes. * Reading Religion *For those interested in spirituality and its practices, Peter Heehs' book is an interesting source ... Easy to access, very well documented. * Archives de sciences sociales des religions (Bloomsbury Translation) *Heehs is a clear and engaging writer… The book would thus fit easily and well in an undergraduate classroom. * Studies in Religion/Sciences Religieuses *Spirituality without God: A Global History of Thought and Practice traces the history of nontheistic spiritual thought and practice from the ancient world to our days. In this comprehensive, thought provoking work Peter Heehs traces a variety of spiritual approaches to life which were combined with disbelief in the supernatural. Peter Heehs shows in this impressive and well researched book that the search for spiritual wisdom unfettered by God(s), flourished for thousands of years, alongside religions based on worship of Divine beings. * Boaz Huss, Professor of Jewish Thought, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel *Spirituality without God is an ambitious exploration of the rich history and pervasive influence of godless spirituality in many regions of the world, and the shifting meanings attached to the word spirituality. With its autobiographical reflections, Peter Heehs’ engaging study is particularly timely in a period when many in Europe and North America, the ‘none of the aboves’, choose to identify themselves as spiritual rather than religious. For anyone wishing to understand how ‘spiritual’ has come to mean, according to Peter Heehs, virtually the opposite of ‘religion’, Spirituality without God will be a rewarding read. * Gwilym Beckerlegge, Professor of Modern Religions, The Open University, UK *A fascinating and creative non-Eurocentric approach to the history of religion that is relevant to understanding contemporary religious ideas and practices. This is a very interesting book with a broad audience by a fine historian with a creative and synthetic approach. * Jay L. Garfield, Doris Silbert Professor in the Humanities, Smith College and Harvard Divinity School, USA *Table of ContentsPrologue, A Religion is Born 1. Introduction: Religion and Spirituality, Gods and Godlessness 2. Theistic and Nontheistic Religions in the Ancient World 3. Defending and Debating Tradition 4. The Triumph of Theism 5. The Coming of Modernity and the Decline of God 6. Secularizing the Sacred 7. The Death and Afterlife of God Epilogue, Spiritual but Still Religious? Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisRamon Harvey revisits the Muslim theologian Ab Manr al-Mturd (d. 333/944) from Samarqand and puts his system, and that of the Mturd school, into lively dialogue with modern thought to show that a contemporary Muslim philosophical theology (kalm jadd) can provide original and constructive answers to perennial theological questions.

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Book SynopsisA celebration of Camas, the Iona Community's outdoor activity centre on the Isle of Mull. With its emphasis on creativity, connection with nature, community and outdoor spirituality, Camas has enriched and inspired the lives of many young people and adults, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Reflecting themes of ecology, community, youth work, theology, history, outdoor education and social justice, Down the Track tells the story of every decade of the centre's history so far from the time when George MacLeod took Borstal Boys' there in the 1940s, right through to its modern redevelopment and current programme. This anthology includes inspirational poems, essays, quotes, interviews and other writing reflecting the ethos of Camas from former staff and volunteers, local people, Iona Community members and group leaders. Most significantly, woven throughout the book are comments from young people. Rachel McCann is a former youth and social worker who has been involved in Camas on and off for over twenty years. She is a published poet and writer and her work has appeared in a number of books and magazines. She drew on the international, informal network of Camas friends whilst researching, collecting, writing and editing material over the last several years. Give me some more of these silences. The kind that are filled with the sounds of creation. Like the constant ebb and flow of the sea, or directionless noise of the wind and rain, or the solitary cry of the oystercatcher, echoing against granite From Camas Reflection by Neil Squires

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Book SynopsisFrom Plato to Wittgenstein and religions from Judaism to the Hindu tradition, interspersed with divine influences from Classical Greece, Romantic poetry, and the occasional scene from 'Alien', ‘God: A Guide for the Perplexed’ charts the path of humanity's great spiritual odyssey: the search for God. Leading the way through this minefield is acclaimed philosopher-theologian Keith Ward, blending the sublime and the eclectic in a narrative which offers wit, erudition and moments of genuine pathos. As a survey of the different manifestations of God through the centuries, and an examination of humanity's search for the divine, this is an engaging and informative book. As a deeply moving testament to our endless capacity for spiritual hope, it is compulsive reading for anyone interested in, or embarking on, the great quest for meaning. ‘A lively and very clearly written discussion summarizing and criticizing the thoughts of many significant thinkers.’ Times Literary Supplement ‘Wry but delightfully non-ironic, intelligent and clear, this book is a blessing. ‘ Publishers Weekly ‘Highly informed, witty and immensely accessible. One of the most congenial, lively and informative introductions to this field.’ Alister McGrath, Professor of Historical Theology, Oxford University

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Book SynopsisThe earth is my mother, and on her bosom I shall repose.Attributed to Tecumseh in the early 1800s, this statement is frequently cited to uphold the view, long and widely proclaimed in scholarly and popular literature, that Mother Earth is an ancient and central Native American figure. In this radical and comprehensive rethinking, Sam D. Gill traces the evolution of female earth imagery in North America from the sixteenth century to the present and reveals how the evolution of the current Mother Earth figure was influenced by prevailing European-American imagery of America and the Indians as well as by the rapidly changing Indian identity. Gill also analyzes the influential role of scholars in creating and establishing the imagery that underlay the recent origins of Mother Earth and, upon reflection, he raises serious questions about the nature of scholarship. Mother Earth might be modern, stressing the supposed biological ground of native life and its rich mythic tradition, but it

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Book SynopsisGeoffrey F. Nuttall establishes the primacy of the doctrines of the Holy Spirit in seventeenth-century English Puritanism and demonstrates the continuity of the Reformation tradition from the more conservative views of Luther to the more radical interpretations of the Quakers. Nuttall illuminates prominent spokesmen, including Richard Sibbes, Richard Baxter, John Owen, Walter Cradock, Morgan Llwyd, and George Fox. In a new Introduction, Peter Lake discusses the relevance of Nuttall's book to, and its influence on, major works in seventeenth-century English history written since 1946.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewShe enlists her readers in a close reading and careful analysis of enduring texts from several major religious and philosophical traditions as a way to gain and understanding of key issues in fundamental metaphysics and moral philosophy. Choice For those looking for an introduction to world philosophy, this is an excellent option...Lobel is to be thanked for providing us with a wonderful book that both instructs and inspires our own philosophical and spiritual journeys. -- Tracy Sayuki Tiemeier National Catholic Reporter Lobel's Quest for God and the Good is about the travel, not the destination; it is about raising the questions, not answering them once and for all. -- Yaniv Feller Journal of Jewish ThoughtTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction 1. "God Saw That It Was Good": The Creation of the World in the Hebrew Bible 2. A Divine Craftsman Shapes All for the Good: Plato's Realm of the Forms 3. Change and the Good: Chinese Perspectives 4. The Harmony of Reason and Revelation: Augustine and Maimonides on Good and Evil 5. You Are the Absolute: Philosophies of India 6. Compassion, Wisdom, Awakening: The Way of Buddhism 7. The Good Is That to Which All Things Aim: Aristotle on God and the Good 8. The Philosopher as Teacher: Al-F?r?b? on Contemplation and Action 9. The Imitation of God: Maimonides on the Active and the Contemplative Life 10. The Dance of Human Expression: al-Ghaz?l? and Maimonides ConclusionNotes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisTable of Contents1. The Problem with God 2. What in God's Name Am I Doing? 3. The Impossible Dream 4. Even If the Flesh Is Willing 5. Atheism... 6... and Agnosticism 7. Full Faith and No Credit 8. It's All in a Good Cause 9. Detective Fiction 10. An Inkling of ... 11... the Truth Afterword: Not Enough? Acknowledgments Amplifications and Clarifications (AKA "Notes") Index

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Book SynopsisThe title of Lash''s book, inspired by a combination of George Herbert and Gerard Manley Hopkins, symbolizes his answer to the problem with which he is concerned, that of religious experience. ''I propose,'' he says, ''to argue, on the one hand, that it is not the case that all experience of God is necessarily religious in form or content and, on the other hand, that not everything which it would be appropriate to characterize as religious experience would thereby necessarily constitute experience of God.''To sustain his argument he begins by building up an account of the relationship between the principal elements of human experience which contrasts quite fundamentally with that proposed and presupposed in William James''s classic, The Varieties of Religious Experience, drawing on writers as different as Schleiermacher and Buber, Rahner and Newman. ''However,'' he goes on, ''this is not a book about James or Newman, Rahner or Schleiermacher. It is the issues, or the aTrade Review"A classical, contemporary example of the theological mind at its clearest is Nicholas Lash’s Easter in Ordinary. This complex, distilled, but deeply affecting study of William James, Newman, von Hügel, and Buber, among others, is the choice product of the believing theologian’s art. Tradition rebottled with an awareness of postmodern needs but not necessarily with the mass-market tastes in mind. Demanding, uncommon, quenching." —Commonweal“Relying on John Henry Newman, Friedrich von Hügel, Martin Buber and, more briefly, Hegel, Kant, Schleiermacher, J. F. Fries, and Karl Rahner, and writing from a Christian perspective—Lash argues that mysticism should not be reduced to ‘feelings’ and that the experience of God is not something other than the general experiences had in ordinary life. While accessible to lay readers, this book would be appreciated by professional philosophers and theologians.” —Library Journal

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Book SynopsisApophasis has become a major topic in the humanities, particularly in philosophy, religion, and literature. This monumental two-volume anthology gathers together most of the important historical works on apophaticism and illustrates the diverse trajectories of apophatic discourse in ancient, modern, and postmodern times. William Franke provides a major introductory essay on apophaticism at the beginning of each volume, and shorter introductions to each anthology selection. The second volume, Modern and Contemporary Transformations, contains texts by Hölderlin, Schelling, Kierkegaard, Dickinson, Rilke, Kafka, Rosenzweig, Wittgenstein, Heidegger, Weil, Schoenberg, Adorno, Beckett, Celan, Levinas, Derrida, Marion, and more.Trade Review“One of the most important and original contributions to the discussion of apophasis in recent years. . . . Franke’s historical and disciplinary range, in light of his well-written and compelling essays, provides an illuminating insight into the pervasiveness of apophatic discourse. . . . Franke’s anthology is a resource which should not be ignored. Few others, maybe no others, provide the same clarity, coherence, and scope.” —Christianity and Literature“The genius of Franke’s two-volume critical anthology on apophatic discourses is the work’s breadth and depth of engagement with the concept in variously distinct and even conflicting contexts. . . . Franke manages his sweeping and inclusive exploration of apophatic discourses by identifying a thematic lens for selecting his sources as part of a larger, conceptually-rooted genre of discourse. . . . The greatest strength of Franke’s two-volume collection resides in the sheer fact that nothing like it exists.” —Essays in Philosophy“The second volume, stretching from Holderlin to Jean-Luc Marion, provides readings from sources as diverse as Schelling, Dickinson, Kafka, Wittgenstein, John Cage, and Maurice Blanchot. . . . Franke observes that these modern and contemporary apophatic currents, as ra dical as they truly are, are nevertheless thoroughly indebted to the 'ancient theological matrices' out of which they indirectly (or not so indirectly) spring. . . . I recommend these two volumes as essential reading for philosophers, theologians, literary scholars, intellectual historians, critical theorists—in short, anyone interested in an illuminating and vital perspective on just about any facet of Western arts and letters." —Religion and Literature

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Book SynopsisApophasis has become a major topic in the humanities, particularly in philosophy, religion, and literature. This monumental two-volume anthology gathers together most of the important historical works on apophaticism and illustrates the diverse trajectories of apophatic discourse in ancient, modern, and postmodern times. William Franke provides a major introductory essay on apophaticism at the beginning of each volume, and shorter introductions to each anthology selection. The second volume, Modern and Contemporary Transformations, contains texts by Hölderlin, Schelling, Kierkegaard, Dickinson, Rilke, Kafka, Rosenzweig, Wittgenstein, Heidegger, Weil, Schoenberg, Adorno, Beckett, Celan, Levinas, Derrida, Marion, and more.Trade Review“One of the most important and original contributions to the discussion of apophasis in recent years. . . . Franke’s historical and disciplinary range, in light of his well-written and compelling essays, provides an illuminating insight into the pervasiveness of apophatic discourse. . . . Franke’s anthology is a resource which should not be ignored. Few others, maybe no others, provide the same clarity, coherence, and scope.” —Christianity and Literature“The genius of Franke’s two-volume critical anthology on apophatic discourses is the work’s breadth and depth of engagement with the concept in variously distinct and even conflicting contexts. . . . Franke manages his sweeping and inclusive exploration of apophatic discourses by identifying a thematic lens for selecting his sources as part of a larger, conceptually-rooted genre of discourse. . . . The greatest strength of Franke’s two-volume collection resides in the sheer fact that nothing like it exists.” —Essays in Philosophy“The second volume, stretching from Holderlin to Jean-Luc Marion, provides readings from sources as diverse as Schelling, Dickinson, Kafka, Wittgenstein, John Cage, and Maurice Blanchot. . . . Franke observes that these modern and contemporary apophatic currents, as ra dical as they truly are, are nevertheless thoroughly indebted to the 'ancient theological matrices' out of which they indirectly (or not so indirectly) spring. . . . I recommend these two volumes as essential reading for philosophers, theologians, literary scholars, intellectual historians, critical theorists—in short, anyone interested in an illuminating and vital perspective on just about any facet of Western arts and letters." —Religion and Literature

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Book SynopsisThe central task of Being With God is an analysis of the relation between apophaticism, trinitarian theology, and divine-human communion through a critical comparison of the trinitarian theologies of the Eastern Orthodox theologians Vladimir Lossky (190358) and John Zizioulas (1931 ), arguably two of the most influential Orthodox theologians of the past century. These two theologians identify as the heart and center of all theological discourse the realism of divine-human communion, which is often understood in terms of the familiar Orthodox concept of theosis, or divinization. The Incarnation, according to Lossky and Zizioulas, is the event of a real divine-human communion that is made accessible to all; God has become human so that all may participate fully in the divine life.Aristotle Papanikolaou shows how an ontology of divine-human communion is at the center of both Lossky''s and Zizioulas''s theological projects. He also shows how, for both theologTrade Review“The book compares the Trinitarian theologies of Vladimir Lossky and John Zizioulas with a view to illustrating how each author conceives of the communion between God and humanity. Both authors affirm the reality of the divine-human communion, yet there are profound differences in the way Lossky and Zizioulas envisage and explain such communion.” —Logos: A Journal of Eastern Christian Studies“In this book, Aristotle Papanikolaou compares the Trinitarian theologies of Vladimir Lossky and John Zizioulas, two of the foremost Orthodox minds of the twentieth century. He argues that while both men take the reality of divine-human communion as the starting point for their reflection about God, they wind up constructing dissimilar, even mutually incompatible, theologies.” —Anglican Theological Review“The result is a helpful comparative analysis that shows how common affirmations within the theological task can lead to very different outcomes: Lossky with his prominent apophaticism and Zizioulas with his Eucharistic ecclesiology. . . . Being with God shows that substantial diversity exists within contemporary Orthodox theology . . . Papanikolaou shows himself to be a careful reader of Lossky and Zizioulas.” —International Journal of Systematic Theology“This is an analysis of the relation between apophaticism, Trinitarian theology, and divine-human communion through a critical comparison of the Trinitarian theologies of Vladimir Lossky and John Zizioulas, arguably two of the most influential Orthodox theologians of the past century. Papanikolaou shows how an ontology of divine-human communion is at the center of both Lossky's and Zizioula's theological projects and how they use this core belief as a self-identifying marker against 'Western' theologies.” —Theology Digest“How is divine-human encounter possible given that the triune God transcends human logic, thought, and speech-so that man can speak of him only in apophatic (negative) terms? How is this possible unless the triune God is immanent within creation and man can speak of him in cataphatic (positive) terms? . . . Papanikolaou's work is important because it critically compares two ontological answers to these questions by Vladimir Lossky (1903-1958) and John Zizioulas (1931-), two of the most influential Eastern Orthodox theologians of the twentieth century. As such, it provides a window into significant developments and debates in contemporary Orthodox thought.” —Westminster Theological Journal “This book is a tour de force of conversational theology. The author offers a beautiful exercise in a 'hermeneutics of charity,' because, for him, critical engagement with the two theologians under discussion does not amount to deconstruction but to a fruitful and truthful encounter, which takes the 'struggle' of conversation seriously.” —The Journal of Religion“This carefully researched, cogently argued book undertakes a comparative exploration of two twentieth century orthodox theologians: Vladimir Lossky and John Zizioulas. While their emphases and conclusions differ, both authors endeavor to counteract the 'western' rationalism sneaking into contemporary orthodoxy by appealing to the doctrine of theosis. . . . By far the most beautifully written sections of Being with God are those concerned with Zizioulas's Eucharistic theology which, for Papanikolaou, counters with Losskian dangers of individualism, impersonalism, and substantialism.” —Modern Theology

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Book SynopsisThe need to position Christianity in relation to other religions has sparked renewed interest in the theme of creation. This book represents an introduction to a neglected aspect of Christian doctrine, and an example of theology, where Christianity is brought into dialogue with contemporary issues.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Posits that polytheism, and Roman polytheism in particular, can help societies navigate political, social, and religious diversity." * Publishers Weekly *"This small book is excellent for high school and college students, enthusiasts of the history of religions, and anyone who is curious about interreligious dialogue and its difficulties. This book is highly recommended. One will find none better." * World History Encyclopedia *"A valuable and long-overdue work." * Reading Religion *Table of ContentsContents Introduction: The Gods in Exile 1. Sacrificing the Nativity Scene and Bombing the Mosque 2. Festivity Figurines: Animals, Shepherds, Three Kings 3. End of the Year Figurines: Sigilla, Sigillaria, and Compitalia 4. A Life Through Figurines: The Lararium 5. Thou Shalt Have No Other God Before Me 6. Translating the Gods, Translating God 7. Grammatical Paradoxes: The Name of God 8. The Interpretatio of the Gods 9. Polytheism, Curiosity, and Knowledge 10. What If Monotheisms Were Just Polytheisms in Disguise? 11. Tolerance vs. Interpretatio 12. Polytheism as Language 13. Giving Citizenship to the Gods 14. The Long Shadow of Words 15. The Twilight of Writing, the Sunset of Scripture Appendix A. Religious Tolerance and Intolerance in the Ancient World Appendix B. The Ups and Downs of Paganus Notes Bibliography

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Book SynopsisArguing for a new direction in postmodern theological thinking, away from the liberalism and nihilism of so-called postmodern theologians, this book collects together examples of the work of Continental critical theorists relevant to the study of theology or religious studies.Trade Review"Its theses are destined to be the subject of much discussion and have already generated comment in scholarly journals." Tracey Rowland, Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge "This book, skilfully edited and introduced by Graham Ward, provides a framework for those who want to explore how theology might benefit from a critical engagement with postmodernism." Richard Arrandale, Canterbury Christ Church College "We are much indebted to the editor and publisher for this volume which will prove helpful to a wide variety of readers." Merold Westphal, Fordham University in Philosophia ChristiTable of ContentsNotes on Contributors. Acknowledgements. Introduction or, A Guide to Theological Thinking in Cyberspace: Graham Ward. Part I: Selected Texts:. 1. Georges Bataille (1897-1962): Introduction. Bataille Text: From Theory of Religion: Craig James (University of Cambridge). 2. Jacques Lacan (1901-1981): Introduction. Text: The Death of God: Cleo McNelly Kearns (Rutgers University and New Brunswick Theological Seminary). 3. Emmanuel Levinas (1906-1995): Introduction. Text: God and Philosophy: Robert Gibbs (University of Toronto). 4. Roland Barthes (1915-1980): Introduction. Text: Wrestling with the Angel: Textual Analysis of Genesis 32: Valentine Cunningham (Oxford University). 5. René Girard (b.1923): Introduction. Text: The God of Victims: Gerard Loughlin (University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne). 6. Michel Foucault (1926-1984): Introduction. Text: From The History of Sexuality:Mary McClintock Fulkerson and Susan J. Dunlop (Both Duke Divinity School, North Carolina USA). 7. Michel de Certeau (1925-1986): Introduction. Text : How is Christianity Thinkable Today? and White Ecstasy: Frederick Christian Bauerschmidt (Loyola University, Baltimore USA). 8. Jacques Derrida (b.1930): Introduction. Text: From How to Avoid Speaking: Kevin Hart (Monash University). 9. Luce Irigaray (b.1930): Introduction. Text: Equal to Whom?: Grace M. Jantzen (University of Manchester). 10. Julie Kristeva (b.1941): Introduction. Text: From In the Beginning was Love: Pamela Sue Anderson (University of Sunderland). Part II: Selected Essays: . 11. From Patriarchy into Freedom: A Conversation between American Feminist Theology and French Feminism: Rebecca S. Chopp (Emory University, Georgis USA). 12. Liturgy and Kenosis, from Expérience et Absolu: Jean-Yves Lacoste. 13. Postmodern Critial Augustinianism: A Short Summa in Forth-two Responses to Unasked Questions: John Milbank (Peterhouse, Cambridge). 14. Metaphysics and Phenomenology: A Summary for Theologians: Jean-Luc Marion (University of Paris X Nanterre). 15. Asyndeton: Syntax and Insanity. A Study of the Revision of Nicene Creed: Catherine Pickstock (Emmanuel College, Cambridge). 16. New Jerusalem, Old Athens, from The Broken Middle: Gillian Rose (late of the University of Warwick). 17. Saintliness and Some Aporias of Postmodernism, from Saints and Postmodernism: Edith Wyschogrod (Queens College, City University of New York). Index.

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Book Synopsis* Introduces students to the burgeoning field of postmodern theology. * Brings together for the first time readings by major continental critical theorists relevant to the study of theology or religious studies.Trade Review"Its theses are destined to be the subject of much discussion and have already generated comment in scholarly journals." Tracey Rowland, Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge "This book, skilfully edited and introduced by Graham Ward, provides a framework for those who want to explore how theology might benefit from a critical engagement with postmodernism." Richard Arrandale, Canterbury Christ Church College "We are much indebted to the editor and publisher for this volume which will prove helpful to a wide variety of readers." Merold Westphal, Fordham University in Philosophia ChristiTable of ContentsNotes on Contributors. Acknowledgements. Introduction or, A Guide to Theological Thinking in Cyberspace: Graham Ward. Part I: Selected Texts:. 1. Georges Bataille (1897-1962): Introduction. Bataille Text: From Theory of Religion: Craig James (University of Cambridge). 2. Jacques Lacan (1901-1981): Introduction. Text: The Death of God: Cleo McNelly Kearns (Rutgers University and New Brunswick Theological Seminary). 3. Emmanuel Levinas (1906-1995): Introduction. Text: God and Philosophy: Robert Gibbs (University of Toronto). 4. Roland Barthes (1915-1980): Introduction. Text: Wrestling with the Angel: Textual Analysis of Genesis 32: Valentine Cunningham (Oxford University). 5. René Girard (b.1923): Introduction. Text: The God of Victims: Gerard Loughlin (University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne). 6. Michel Foucault (1926-1984): Introduction. Text: From The History of Sexuality:Mary McClintock Fulkerson and Susan J. Dunlop (Both Duke Divinity School, North Carolina USA). 7. Michel de Certeau (1925-1986): Introduction. Text : How is Christianity Thinkable Today? and White Ecstasy: Frederick Christian Bauerschmidt (Loyola University, Baltimore USA). 8. Jacques Derrida (b.1930): Introduction. Text: From How to Avoid Speaking: Kevin Hart (Monash University). 9. Luce Irigaray (b.1930): Introduction. Text: Equal to Whom?: Grace M. Jantzen (University of Manchester). 10. Julie Kristeva (b.1941): Introduction. Text: From In the Beginning was Love: Pamela Sue Anderson (University of Sunderland). Part II: Selected Essays: . 11. From Patriarchy into Freedom: A Conversation between American Feminist Theology and French Feminism: Rebecca S. Chopp (Emory University, Georgis USA). 12. Liturgy and Kenosis, from Expérience et Absolu: Jean-Yves Lacoste. 13. Postmodern Critial Augustinianism: A Short Summa in Forth-two Responses to Unasked Questions: John Milbank (Peterhouse, Cambridge). 14. Metaphysics and Phenomenology: A Summary for Theologians: Jean-Luc Marion (University of Paris X Nanterre). 15. Asyndeton: Syntax and Insanity. A Study of the Revision of Nicene Creed: Catherine Pickstock (Emmanuel College, Cambridge). 16. New Jerusalem, Old Athens, from The Broken Middle: Gillian Rose (late of the University of Warwick). 17. Saintliness and Some Aporias of Postmodernism, from Saints and Postmodernism: Edith Wyschogrod (Queens College, City University of New York). Index.

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Book SynopsisInstead of introducing students to Christian theology through its doctrines, this text introduces it through discussion of church practices and the experience of everyday Christian life. It argues that the goal of inquiring after God should be spiritual growth as well as intellectual understanding.Trade Review"Charry's organization of these classic and contemporary readings is intellectually, spiritually, and practically compelling ... This collection will be helpful to a range of 'inquirers' and would also provide an excellent resource for college and seminary courses." Religious Studies ReviewTable of ContentsPart I: Christian Catechesis: Initial Formation:. 1. Inquiring After God When Instructing Beginners: Elucidating the Creed. Text: Catechetical Oration of Gregory Nazianzus or Gregory of Nyssa. 2. Inquiring After God When Meditating on Scripture: Practicing God's Word. Text: Bernard of Clairvaux - selected Sermons on the Song of Songs, or Luther's or Calvin's commentaries. 3. Inquiring After God Through Prayer. Text: Maximus Conessor On the Our Father. 4. Inquiring After God Through the Sacraments: Tasting the Kingdom. Text: Tertullian or Cyril of Jerusalem Mystagogical Catechesis. 5. Inquiring After God When Preaching. Text: Augustine's Homilies. Part II: Ongoing Formation: Practicing the Christian Life: . 6. Inquiring After God Through Art: Learning of God and Living With the Saints. Text: Theodore the Studite on The Holy Icons. 7. Inquiring After God Through Experience: Appropriating and Correcting the Faith of the Church. Text: Julian of Norwich Showings. 8. Inquiring After God Through Christian Living: Imitating Christ as Ministry. Text: William Law or John Wesley. 9. Inquiring After God Through Creation: Reasoning as God's Creature. Text: Thomas Aquinas Selection from the Summa Theologiae.

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Book Synopsis* Pursues theological inquiry as a spiritual as well as an intellectual discipline. * Focuses on Christian practices over the centuries rather than on doctrines and their interrelations. * Offers a completely new approach for those coming to the discipline for the first time.Trade Review"Charry's organization of these classic and contemporary readings is intellectually, spiritually, and practically compelling ... This collection will be helpful to a range of 'inquirers' and would also provide an excellent resource for college and seminary courses." Religious Studies ReviewTable of ContentsPart I: Christian Catechesis: Initial Formation:. 1. Inquiring After God When Instructing Beginners: Elucidating the Creed. Text: Catechetical Oration of Gregory Nazianzus or Gregory of Nyssa. 2. Inquiring After God When Meditating on Scripture: Practicing God's Word. Text: Bernard of Clairvaux - selected Sermons on the Song of Songs, or Luther's or Calvin's commentaries. 3. Inquiring After God Through Prayer. Text: Maximus Conessor On the Our Father. 4. Inquiring After God Through the Sacraments: Tasting the Kingdom. Text: Tertullian or Cyril of Jerusalem Mystagogical Catechesis. 5. Inquiring After God When Preaching. Text: Augustine's Homilies. Part II: Ongoing Formation: Practicing the Christian Life: . 6. Inquiring After God Through Art: Learning of God and Living With the Saints. Text: Theodore the Studite on The Holy Icons. 7. Inquiring After God Through Experience: Appropriating and Correcting the Faith of the Church. Text: Julian of Norwich Showings. 8. Inquiring After God Through Christian Living: Imitating Christ as Ministry. Text: William Law or John Wesley. 9. Inquiring After God Through Creation: Reasoning as God's Creature. Text: Thomas Aquinas Selection from the Summa Theologiae.

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Book SynopsisThe Divine Attributesis an engaging analysis of the God of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam from the perspective of rational theology.Trade Review"Intellectually rigorous, yet written with great clarity, this book enables the reader to understand the attributes; omnipotence, omniscience, perfect goodness, eternality, etc. – that make up the dominant idea of God in Western civilization. Highly recommended!" William L. Rowe, Purdue University "This is a masterly exercise in rational theology by two leading metaphysicians. Their rigorous approach and skilful application of recent developments in analytical metaphysics make this book at once authoritative, lucid, and compelling. As well as being an extremely valuable resource for students and teachers of philosophy and theology, it advances contemporary debate about the proper understanding of God's nature in important and interesting new ways." E. J. Lowe, University of Durham "This book is excellent: thoughtful, rigorous, and systematic. In addition to being a penetrating and sophisticated work, it is also highly readable." John Fischer, University of California at RiversideTable of ContentsSeries Editor's Preface. Acknowledgments. Authors' Note. Introduction to Rational Theology. 1. The Idea of God. Historical Conceptions of the Divine. God as a Maximally Great Being. 2. Substantiality. Substance Among Other Categories. Substance and Independence. Spinoza's Divine Substance. 3. Incorporeality. Spirituality and Omnipresence. Are Souls Unintelligible?. Is Body-Soul Interaction Unintelligible?. Divine Simplicity. 4. Necessary Existence. Necessity and Contingency. Necessary Beings and Contingent Beings. Modalities and Possible Worlds. Necessary Beings versus Self-Existent Beings. 5. Eternality. Temporal versus Atemporal Eternality. A Defense of Temporal Eternality. Incorruptibility versus Immutability. 6. Omniscience. Omniscience as Maximal Knowledge. The Analysis of Omniscience. Divine Foreknowledge and Human Freedom. 7. Perfect Goodness, Perfect Virtue, and Moral Admirability. God and the Nature of Morality. Perfect Goodness and Consequences. Perfect Virtue and Moral Rules. Maximal Greatness and Moral Admirability. 8. Omnipotence. Maximal Power and the Uniqueness of God. What an Omnipotent Agent Can Do. The Analysis of Omnipotence. Divine Omnibenevolence, Omnipotence, and Freedom. Concluding Remarks and Prolegomena to Future Rational Theology. Glossary. Index.

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Book SynopsisThis reading of Kant's religious thought suggests that he is in fact more accurately read as a precursor to 19th-century atheism than to liberal Protestant theology. The book also includes an extended examination of Kant's own moral proof of the existence of God.Trade Review“ This is a book of which its author can be proud. It has a very provocative thesis, is excellently and clearly argued, and should stimulate a good deal of discussion.” Van A. Harvey, Professor Emeritus of Religion, Stanford University “Michalson argues that Kant’s writings on morality and religion increasingly portray the idea of God as adjunct to human morality, and not as something beyond the human. The use of Kant’s work s a foundation for a mediating theology is based, the author shows, on a fundamental misreading of Kant. The Thesis is clearly stated, is strongly supported by documentation and textual interpretation, and its implications for contemporary religious thought are sketched. This is an excellent book.” Wayne Proudfoot, Professor of Religion, Columbia UniversityTable of ContentsPreface. 1. Kant, Modernity and Theism. 2. Kant's Moral Argument: Diminishing the Divine. 3. Autonomy's Autonomy. 4. Reason's Interest. 5. Heaven Comes to Earth: The Ethical Commonwealth. 6. Conclusion. Notes. Bibliography. Index.

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Book SynopsisThe most significant issue on the religious scene is whether it is possible, or even desirable, to believe in God. Kaufman's valuable study does not offer a doctrine of God, but instead explores why God is a problem for many moderns, the dimensions of that problem, and the inner logic of the notion of God as it has developed in Western culture.Table of ContentsPreface Part I. Introduction 1. The Problem of God 2. Christian Theology and the Scientific Study of Religion Part II. God 3. Transcendence Without Mythology 4. Two Models of Transcendence 5. God as Symbol Part III. God and the World 6. On the Meaning of "Act of God" 7. Revelation and Cultural History 8. God and Evil Part IV. Belief and Unbelief 9. Secular, Religious, and Theistic World-Views 10. The Foundations of Belief 11. The Secular Utility of "God-Talk" Index

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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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