Philosophy of religion Books

Book SynopsisA richly informed, practical guide to Buddhism’s most subtle teaching.Guy Armstrong has been a leading figure and beloved teacher of insight meditation for decades. In this book, he makes difficult Buddhist topics easy to understand, weaving together Theravada and Mahayana teachings on emptiness to show how we can liberate our minds and manifest compassion in our lives.  

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“It is a delight to see this beautifully smooth English translation of On the Happy Life, with commentary that is both learned and engaging! Foley’s Augustine will reach students, scholars, and many others too.”—John C. Cavadini, University of Notre DamePraise for the series: “Foley’s exceptional labors now allow modern Anglophone readers to access the treasure of these dialogues, along with the related On the Immortality of the Soul. In each of Foley’s four volumes, an excellent translation is accompanied by a short introduction, then a commentary slightly longer than Augustine’s text, as well as hundreds of footnotes. Each volume stands on its own for classroom use.”—Daniel E. Burns, Review of Politics “Michael Foley’s orchestration of the Cassiciacum dialogues—a four-part translation, annotation, and commentary—renders Augustine’s most important voice, the voice of the seeker, readily available to a broad readership. These are perfect teaching texts, and they are equally compelling for experts. This welcome return of the dialogues, separate and yet intimately related in Foley’s handling of them, marks the most important literary event in Augustinian studies since Peter Brown’s biography.”—James Wetzel, Villanova University “Yale University Press has excelled in publishing these beautiful volumes. Michael Foley models good translation, deeply engaged with the intricacies of the Latin and yet flowing elegantly and readably across the page. Foley’s commentary introduces the reader carefully and invitingly into these important and complex texts from Augustine’s first years as a Christian writer. They belong on the shelves of all who value the wisdom of the early Christian tradition.”—Lewis Ayres, Durham University “A truly impressive undertaking.”—Marc D. Guerra, Assumption College “A consistent, faithful and elegant translation of the crucial but relatively neglected dialogues by Augustine of Hippo.”—Simon Oliver, Durham University “Michael Foley’s lively, precise new translation makes this dramatic dialogue accessible to today’s reader, adding yet another dimension to our understanding of the endless breadth of Augustine’s developing thought.”—Brian Daley, University of Notre Dame “Foley has provided a vital and long-needed service, giving us lively, engaging and accurate translations, and commentaries that are well-grounded without being overwhelming.”—Erik Kenyon, Bryn Mawr Classical Review “Michael P. Foley has given us a clear, compelling, and valuable resource in his new translation of Augustine’s inaugural work as a Christian convert. . . . Foley’s commentary and introductions somehow manage to be both informative and contextualizing without overshadowing the intricacies and insights of the text they are in service of.”—Zachary Thomas Settle, Augustinian Studies “Michael Foley’s new translation of Augustine’s Cassiciacum dialogues (of which the first two of a projected four volumes are now available) is clear, useful, and long overdue.”—Elizabeth Klein, Theological Studies “Foley is to be congratulated on providing a good critical edition and not least a readable translation of the text.”—Nicholas Paxton, Melita Theologica “Foley’s translation reads easily and is transparent. Literal translation and identical formatting in each volume contribute substantially to the reader’s insight into the plan of the Cassiciacum dialogues. Michael Foley’s reading and translation are convincing in many respects.”—Martin Claes, Augustiniana “Foley’s translations and commentaries on the Cassiciacum dialogues offer a smooth presentation of Augustine’s ear

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Book Synopsis"Williams's masterful translation satisfies (at last!) a long-standing need. There are lots of good translations of Augustine's great work, but until now we have been forced to choose between those that strive to replicate in English something of the majesty and beauty of Augustine's Latin style and those that opt instead to convey the careful precision of his philosophical terminology and argumentation. Finally, Williams has succeeded in capturing both sides of Augustine’s mind in a richly evocative, impeccably reliable, elegantly readable presentation of one of the most impressive achievements in Western thought—Augustine's Confessions." —Scott MacDonald, Professor of Philosophy and Norma K. Regan Professor in Christian Studies, Cornell UniversityTrade Review"A major new translation of what is no doubt Augustine's best known and most influential work. There are many good translations of the Confessions, but this is the first one to be carefully sensitive to the philosophical nuances of Augustine's text. The careful yet readable translation is accompanied by an informative and thoughtful Introduction, ample notes, and appendices." —Paul Vincent Spade, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, Indiana University, Bloomington"The best overall translation of Augustine's Confessions to date. . . . Williams captures the immediacy of Augustine's prayer, the playfulness of his language, and (without striving too hard) the properly elevated poetry of the text. As priest and philosopher and an Anglican with a good sense of English, Williams understands Augustine from the inside. For the foreseeable future, this will be my go-to translation for the Confessions." —Jared Ortiz, Hope College, in Catholic World Report"The best translators of Augustine's Confessions are not rivals of one another, but comrades and co-conspirators. They have a worthy friend in Thomas Williams, whose frank, graceful, wise, thoughtfully annotated English rendering is a brand new revelation of the power and beauty of Augustine's scripturally infused philosophical prose.” —Carol Zaleski, Professor of World Religions, Smith College"It might be wondered why we need yet another translation of Augustine's Confessions, when so many fine and mellifluous ones already exist. But Thomas Williams supplies a compelling answer in his Introduction to this volume: nowhere else will the philosopher reading Augustine find complete consistency in the translation of key words in Augustine's armoury, vital for understanding his distinctive views about the self and God; and nowhere else is the reader guided so accurately to Augustine's biblical sources, yet with full clarification of the creative freedom with which he uses them. This is a masterly achievement, and will from now on be my own favoured translation for teaching and philosophical reflection." —Sarah Coakley, University of Cambridge and Australian Catholic University, Melbourne"Williams is the one I’d hand to an Augustine newcomer. In both its lyrical prose and its excellent, spiritually rich apparatus you can feel Williams's teaching experience. . . . [A] surprisingly necessary new Confessions." —Eve Tushnet, in The University Bookman"A model of the translator's art. Williams's Confessions, accurate to the nuance, is as perfect a mirror of Augustine's Latin text as the English language will allow." —Stanley Lombardo, Professor Emeritus of Classics, University of Kansas"For courses in universities and seminaries that approach the Confessions as a spiritual or philosophical text, this is now the translation to use."—Ray Van Dam, University of Michigan, in Speculum

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Book SynopsisFrom the Rigveda to the New Atheism, 250 Milestones in the History of Philosophy

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Book SynopsisIn this follow-up to his critically acclaimed book The Shattering of Loneliness, Erik Varden provides a glimpse of the value of a monastic life and a Christian calling in our troubled modern age.Be whole and so be happy.--St. Bernard, founder of the Cistercian orderIn the aftermath of a pandemic and the midst of political upheaval, Erik Varden has observed a growing interest in the monastic life even among those who have no intention of entering a monastery. For in times of anguish and uncertainty, basic principles of monastic life have become particularly appealing. Varden, Trappist monk and now Bishop, invites us to observe and learn from monastic life in our turbulent times. After a very personal introduction, he follows the Church year and seasons, always inspired by scriptural reading. The values he highlights include: tranquility; seeking peace; obedience; personal integrity; not continually passing judgement on others; asceticism as oppoTrade ReviewI have little doubt that this will also become a spiritual bestseller following on from his previous much acclaimed book, The Shattering of Loneliness. -- Dominic Walker * Church Times *Varden's work is the fruit from a tree for the healing of the nations, from a monk who has his feet firmly and incarnationally on the ground. * Lutheran Theological Journal *[Erik’s] homilies are accessible – written in clear, standard English – but rich, sometimes breathtakingly, in their content. * Catholic Herald *These [homilies] are as bracing and enlivening for the reader as they will have been for the congregations who heard them … Varden’s combination of extensive learning, passionate engagement with the history and demandingness of Christian life, and the sharp focus of a keen mind, make his preaching something from which many will benefit. * The Tablet *Varden’s erudition in this edifying work of Catholic monasticism should earn him comparisons to Edith Stein. * Publishers Weekly *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Introduction PART ONE: WHAT MAKES A MONK 1 Vows 2 Patrimony 3 The Heart's Expansion PART TWO: A MONASTIC YEAR 4 Seasons 5 Ordinary Time 6 Saints Appendix: Vision Notes on the Text Notes

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Book SynopsisThe Catholic University of America Press is honoured to announce the publication of the first volume of the critical English edition of The Collected Works of Karol Wojtya/John Paul II. The inaugural volume of this collection is Person and Act which is in many respects constitutes Wojtya's most profound and well-known philosophical work.

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Book SynopsisPeter Adamson presents a lively introduction to six hundred years of European philosophy, from the beginning of the ninth century to the end of the fourteenth century. The medieval period is one of the richest in the history of philosophy, yet one of the least widely known. Adamson introduces us to some of the greatest thinkers of the Western intellectual tradition, including Peter Abelard, Anselm of Canterbury, Thomas Aquinas, John Duns Scotus, William of Ockham, and Roger Bacon. And the medieval period was notable for the emergence of great women thinkers, including Hildegard of Bingen, Marguerite Porete, and Julian of Norwich. Original ideas and arguments were developed in every branch of philosophy during this period - not just philosophy of religion and theology, but metaphysics, philosophy of logic and language, moral and political theory, psychology, and the foundations of mathematics and natural science.Trade ReviewAccessible and comprehensive. * Alban McCoy, The Tablet, Books of the Year 2019 *Peter Adamson's Medieval Philosophy gives fantastically compendious account of medieval philosophy. Adamson manages to be accessible, lucid, witty, incisive; luminously conveying the rambunctious ambivalences of the logic-chopping, devout, doubting, bawdy, bloodthirsty, mystical medievals. * Jane O'Grady, The Tablet *a volume that— despite its weight and heft—one could easily give to a non-philosopher as a first introduction to the field. For even the most obscure authors (such as that most prolific of medieval philosophers, Anon) and the most arcane of topics comes to life under Adamson's magic touch. But what is most impressive about the book is its sheer scope of knowledge. . . . If you want a good, light-touch, yet still not glossing over the difficulties, introduction to medieval philosophy, this is the book for you. * Sara L. Uckelman, Philosophical Quarterly *Adamson's history of medieval philosophy has, among its many merits, two great ones. First, is very clearly written and philosophically acute. . . .A second merit is that it proposes an updated interpretation of medieval philosophy, obtained by taking into account the most dominant trends present in literature. This makes Peter Adamson's volume a fine piece of work and a recommended volume. The history of medieval philosophy is investigated in its depth and full development, no significant gap can be found indeed in the proposed reconstruction. * Fabrizio Amerini, Philosophical Inquiries *Let me say at once on the evidence of this volume, [Adamson] succeeds brilliantly. Over some 78 sections he covers a huge range of figures ... Special attention is given - and rightly so - to female philosophers, such as Catherine of Siena ... This book (and the others in the series), which are a delight to read, will be of great interest to general readers, aside from students of culture. * Peter Costello, The Irish Catholic *Adamson writes with a light style, beginning each short chapter with an anecdote, which rewards both sticking with the long narrative and dipping in and out. * Nick Mattiske, Journey, Isolation Reading Recommendations *A staggering philosophical achievement ... the clarity of the animated text is further enhanced by the authors humour, bringing a light touch to complex matters ... This volume will surely attain classic status, and can be read either sequentially or consulted as a detailed encyclopaedia of mediaeval philosophy and its variegated personalities. * Paradigm Explorer *Table of ContentsPreface Early Medieval Philosophy 1: Arts of Darkness: Introduction to Medieval Philosophy 2: Charles in Charge: Alcuin and the Carolingian Period 3: Grace Notes: Eriugena and the Predestination Controversy 4: Much Ado About Nothing: Eriugena's Periphyseon 5: Philosophers Anonymous: The Roots of Scholasticism 6: Virgin Territory: Peter Damian on Changing the Past 7: A Canterbury Tale: Anselm's Life and Works 8: Somebody's Perfect: Anselm's Ontological Argument 9: All or Nothing: The Problem of Universals 10: Get Thee to a Nunnery: Heloise and Abelard 11: It's the Thought that Counts: Abelard's Ethics 12: Learn Everything: The Victorines 13: Like Father, Like Son: Debates over the Trinity 14: On the Shoulders of Giants: Philosophy at Chartres 15: The Good Book: Philosophy of Nature 16: One of a Kind: Gilbert of Poitiers on Individuation 17: Two Swords: Early Medieval Political Philosophy 18: Law and Order: Peter Lombard and Gratian 19: Leading Light: Hildegard of Bingen 20: Rediscovery Channel: Translations into Latin 21: Straw Men: The Rise of the Universities The Thirteenth Century 22: No Uncertain Terms: Thirteenth Century Logic 23: Full of Potential: Thirteenth Century Physics 24: Stayin' Alive: Thirteenth Century Psychology 25: It's All Good: The Transcendentals 26: Do the Right Thing: Thirteenth Century Ethics 27: A Light That Never Goes Out: Robert Grosseteste 28: Origin of Species: Roger Bacon 29: Stairway to Heaven: Bonaventure 30: Your Attention Please: Peter Olivi 31: None for Me, Thanks: Franciscan Poverty 32: Begin the Beguine: Hadewijch and Mechtild 33: Binding Arbitration: Robert Kilwardby 34: Animal, Vegetable, Mineral: Albert the Great's Natural Philosophy 35: The Shadow Knows: Albert the Great's Metaphysics 36: The Ox Heard Round the World: Thomas Aquinas 37: Everybody Needs Some Body: Aquinas on Soul and Knowledge 38: What Comes Naturally: Ethics in Albert and Aquinas 39: What Pleases the Prince: The Rule of Law 40: Onward Christian Soldiers: Just War Theory 41: Paris When it Sizzles: The Condemnations 42: Masters of the University:

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Book SynopsisA 50th anniversary revised edition of the beloved classic, God is Red. First published in 1972, Vine Deloria Jr.'s God Is Red 50th Anniversary Edition remains the seminal work on Native religious views, asking new questions about our species and our ultimate fate. Celebrating three decades in publication with a special 30th-anniversary edition, this classic work reminds us to learn "that we are a part of nature, not a transcendent species with no responsibilities to the natural world." It is time again to listen to Vine Deloria Jr.'s powerful voice, telling us about religious life that is independent of Christianity and that reveres the interconnectedness of all living things.

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Book SynopsisA portrait of America''s most interesting yet overlooked women.In the midst of a historic "birth dearth," why do some 5 percent of American women choose to defy the demographic norm by bearing five or more children? Hannah?s Children is a compelling portrait of these overlooked but fascinating mothers who, like the biblical Hannah, see their children as their purpose, their contribution, and their greatest blessing.The social scientist Catherine Pakaluk, herself the mother of eight, traveled across the United States and interviewed fifty-five college-educated women who were raising five or more children. Through open-ended questions, she sought to understand who these women are, why and when they chose to have a large family, and what this choice means for them, their families, and the nation.Hannah?s Children is more than interesting stories of extraordinary women. It presents information that is urgently relevant for the future of American prosperity. Many countries have experimented with aggressively pro-natalist public policies, and all of them have failed. Pakaluk finds that the quantitative methods to which the social sciences limit themselves overlook important questions of meaning and identity in their inquiries into fertility rates. Her book is a pathbreaking foray into questions of purpose, religion, transcendence, healing, and growth?questions that ought to inform economic inquiry in the future.

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Book SynopsisThe world we engage with is a vibrant collage brought to consciousness by language and our creative imagination. It is through the symbolic forms of language that the human world of value is revealedthis is where religious scholar Michael Fishbane dwells in his latest contribution to Jewish thought. In Fragile Finitude, Fishbane clears new ground for a theological life through a novel reinterpretation of the Book of Job. On this basis, he offers a contemporary engagement with the four classical types of Jewish Scriptural exegesis. The first focuses on worldly experience, the second on communal forms of practice and thought in the rabbinical tradition, the third on personal development, and the fourth on transcendent, cosmic orientations. Through these four modes, Fishbane manages to transform Jewish theology from within, at once reinvigorating a long tradition and moving beyond it. What he offers is nothing short of a way to reorient our lives in relation to the divine and our felloTrade Review“Fragile Finitude is replete with strong readings of scripture . . . [which] stand out as a tour de force that rewards rereading . . . in this learned and often beautiful book.” * Theological Studies *"Perhaps no scholar has exerted a more decisive influence on the study of Jewish thought and theology over the past half century than Michael Fishbane. Continuing his recent engagement with Jewish theology, in Fragile Finitude: A Jewish Hermeneutical Theology, Professor Fishbane articulates a four-fold matrix of theological thought and inquiry that addresses the modern person in all her complexity and perplexity, charting a path toward deep encounter, and deep meaning, to be found through engagement with life, text, and life as text." * New Books Network *"How can you write about a spiritual force you understand to pervade all of existence and provides meaning to your daily life yet ultimately is invisible? And yet, if you’re a teacher and a writer and a thinker, how can you not? That’s the paradox confronting theologians. And it’s the paradox at the heart of Dr. Michael Fishbane’s latest book." * New Jersey Jewish News *"Fragile Finitude extends the fourfold model of interpretation, offering it as a method for hearing the divine voice and for making sense not only of canonical texts but of personal experience. . . Fragile Finitude is a demanding work that asks a great deal from the reader, but it is also me’irat eynayim — illuminating and eye opening — awakening its readers to the Jewish — and human — task of living in the presence of the sacred." * Jewish Review of Books *“Fragile Finitude is a groundbreaking work of post-critical Jewish theology—a tour de force of rigorous thinking, commanding erudition, and genuine wisdom. With the book’s musicality of style, reading it becomes an inspiring spiritual practice that sweeps the reader into various modes of consciousness. It is a vital gift to a world in need of spiritual replenishment.” -- Elie Holzer, Bar-Ilan University, Israel “Fishbane’s profound meditations on life, language, and the connection between them constitute a vital text for today’s religious seeker. The deep piety and unflagging humanity of his words constantly reinforce one another, giving birth to a remarkable wholeness of vision.” -- Art Green, author of Radical Judaism: Rethinking God and Tradition“In this eloquent book, Fishbane re-interprets traditional Jewish theological thinking, providing us with a guide to a complex and humane hermeneutical process for our time. Closely reading biblical and rabbinic texts, he evokes deepening intensities of meaning-making and limns forth a path of spiritual growth. It is a profound reading experience.” -- Avivah Zornberg, author of Moses: A Human Life“In explicating with poetic grace the spiritual wisdom of Judaism’s ever-evolving hermeneutic theology, Fishbane provides a veritable ‘Guide of the Perplexed’ for contemporary Jewry befuddled by the cognitive and existential challenges of modernity. This masterful meditation on the fragile finitude of humanity addresses all faith communities.” -- Paul Mendes-Flohr, University of Chicago and Hebrew University of Jerusalem"Fishbane’s work is to recover and exhibit the wondrous daring of rabbinic interpretation and to show how such engagement can yield fresh faith amid our contemporary life... While Fishbane’s work is wholly Jewish, non-Jewish readers can be instructed by the awareness that our best certitudes are provisional, and that good work in interpretation of the sacred text may yield access to the holy mystery that is beyond us. Fishbane’s idiom of expression is poetic and finally prayerful." * Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology *Table of ContentsProloguePart One: Introduction Interlude OnePart Two: Peshat Interlude TwoPart Three: Derash Interlude ThreePart Four: Remez Interlude FourPart Five: Sod Conclusion Acknowledgments Notes Index

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Book SynopsisPeter Adamson presents an engaging and wide-ranging introduction to two great intellectual cultures: Byzantium and the Italian Renaissance. First he tells the story of philosophy in the Eastern Christian world, from the 8th century to the 15th century, then he explores the rebirth of philosophy in Italy in the era of Machiavelli and Galileo.Trade ReviewEach brief chapter immediately captures the interest of the reader in a way that is entertaining, informative, and a genuine pleasure to read. Excellent notes and bibliography of further reading. * P. A. Streveler, CHOICE *The understanding that philosophy is a purely rational endeavor is a form of presentism that arises out ofmodern rationalism and, more generally... we should be grateful to Adamson for addressing the issue and for providing students of Byzantine and Renaissance philosophy with an accessible overview of the respective material. * Speculum 98/4 *Table of ContentsPreface Philosophy in Byzantium 1: The Empire Strikes Back: Introduction to Byzantine Philosophy 2: On the Eastern Front: Philosophy in Syriac and Armenian 3: Don't Picture This: Iconoclasm 4: Behind Enemy Lines: John of Damascus 5: Collectors' Items: Photius and Byzantine Compilations 6: Consul of the Philosophers: Michael Psellos 7: Hooked on Classics: Italos and the Debate over Pagan Learning 8: Purple Prose: Byzantine Political Philosophy 9: Elements of Style: Rhetoric in Byzantium 10: Past Masters: Byzantine Historiography 11: Queen of the Sciences: Anna Komnene and her Circle 12: Wiser than Men: Gender in Byzantium 13: Just Measures: Law, Money, and War in Byzantium 14: Made by Hand: Byzantine Manuscripts 15: Georgia on My Mind: Petritsi and the Proclus Revival 16: People of the South: Byzantium and Islam 17: Do the Math: Science in the Palaiologan Renaissance 18: Through His Works You Shall Know Him: Palamas and Hesychasm 19: United We Fall: Latin Philosophy in Byzantium 20: Platonic Love: Gemistos Plethon 21: Istanbul (not Constantinople): the Later Orthodox Tradition The Italian Renaissance 22: Old News: Introduction to the Renaissance 23: Greeks Bearing Gifts: Byzantine Scholars in Italy 24: Republic of Letters: Italian Humanism 25: Literary Criticism: Lorenzo Valla 26: Difficult to be Good: Humanist Ethics 27: Chance Encounters: Reviving Hellenistic philosophy 28: We Built This City: Christine de Pizan 29: More Rare Than the Phoenix: Italian Women Humanists 30: All About Eve: the Defense of Women 31: I'd Like to Thank the Academy: Florentine Platonism 32: Footnotes to Plato: Marsilio Ficino 33: True Romance: Theories of Love 34: As Far as East from West: Jewish Philosophy in Renaissance Italy 35: The Count of Concord: Pico della Mirandola 36: What a Piece of Work is Man: Manetti and Pico on Human Nature 37: Bonfire of the Vanities: Savonarola 38: The Sweet Restraints of Liberty: Republicanism and Civic Humanism 39: No More Mr Nice Guy: Machiavelli 40: Sense of Humors: Machiavelli on Republicanism 41: The Teacher of Our Actions: Renaissance Historiography 42: No Place Like Home: Renaissance Utopias 43: Greed is Good: Renaissance Economics 44: Town and Gown: Italian Universities 45: I'd Like to Thank the Lyceum: Aristotle in Renaissance Italy 46: Of Two Minds: Pomponazzi and Nifo on the Intellect 47: There and Back Again: Zabarella on Scientific Method 48: The Measure of All Things: Mathematics and Art 49: Just What the Doctor Ordered: Renaissance Medicine 50: Man of Discoveries: Girolamo Cardano 51: Spirits in the Material World: Telesio and Campanella on Nature 52: The Men Who Saw Tomorrow: Renaissance Magic and Astrology 53: Boundless Enthusiasm: Giordano Bruno 54: The Harder They Fall: Galileo and the Renaissance

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewReviews for the 1984 edition of Action: “Blondel’s masterwork, Action, remains a philosophical classic. It is a book that should be read by every mature philosopher and theologian.” —International Philosophical Quarterly “This translation by Oliva Blanchette is very welcome and quite readable. . . . [His] introduction is excellent and provides a clear and thorough preparation for the uninitiated reader.” —Philosophy of Religion “This translation of Blondel’s critique of life, [his] guide to living, is the best introduction to the man and his important kind of thinking, with a special eloquence and moving force in the reading of the whole.” —Religious Studies Review

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Book SynopsisThis study brings three different kinds of readers of the Gospel of John together with the theological goal of understanding what is meant by Incarnation and how it relates to Pascha, the Passion of Christ, how this is conceived of as revelation, and how we speak of it.Trade ReviewThis is an important, highly learned work on the reception of John's Gospel and the ways that its message shape both theology and Christian practice. Scholars, theologians, and historians of interpretation will be edified by this book, as it pertains to the ways that different communities read the same scripture differently, as well as the way that the book illuminates relationships between interpretation, theology, and practice as it pertains to the Gospel of John. * Aaron Klink, Religious Studies Review *The three parts of the work are thus engaged with a different body of scholarship - historical investigation, scriptuarl exegesis, and philosophical reflection- which are brought together in the conclusion with a constructive theological purpose, such that the work is understood as itself a prologue to theology. * New Testament Abstracts *The book raises many fine points of dialogue that are engaging and worth exploring in detail. Remarkably, Behr manages to work through his three diverse approaches while maintaining his own larger coherent argument, in itself a real achievement. * James D. Romano, Reviews in Biblical Literature *In this impressive work, Behr leads readers through John's Gospel as a guide. What he accomplishes in the pages of this book is tremendous, and each bend in the road, though sometimes unexpected, is valuable. * Madison N. Pierce, Trinity Journal *Behr has produced a staggering accomplishment of disciplinary synthesis, as well as theological and exegetical creativity and erudition. * Paul D. Wheatley, The Living Church *John Behr has long warranted appreciation as a translator and reader of early Christian texts. In this book, he proves himself to be an imaginative and bold theologian in his own right. * Michael Allen, International Journal of Systematic Theology *What he accomplishes in the pages of this book is tremendous, and each bend in the road, though sometimes unexpected, is valuable. * Madison N. Pierce, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Trinity Journal *With its rich combination of disciplines, scholars in varied fields would profit from reading John the Theologian * Owen Kelly, Southeastern Theological Review *For those readers who are seeking to ask theological questions of the biblical texts, Behr's work will provide much to digest. It serves as an example of theological interpretation of scripture, of the highest order. * Jonathan Rowlands, Biblical and Early Christian Studies *...the Gospel has generated numerous strong readings using a variety of lenses — historical, literary, theological — to provide new insights into the text's profoundly alluring and sometimes baffling story of Jesus. John Behr's volume adds yet another of these strong readings, offering a view of the Gospelthat roots it firmly in early Christian history and Biblical exegesis, explores its literary dynamics, and articulates in contemporary terms what Behr sees as its central theological claims. Any serious student of the Fourth Gospel will want to engage with Behr's argument. * Harold W. Attridge, Yale University, Pro Ecclesia: A Journal of Catholic and Evangelical Theology *Behr has provided profound new insight into the cruciformity of John's vision, an apocalyptic eschatology in which the Son of Man's own end, the "lifting up," the exaltation on the cross, was already humanity's true beginning and destiny, the "life that was the light of all people." * Paul M. Blowers, Emmanuel Christian Seminary at Milligan University, Pro Ecclesia: A Journal of Catholic and Evangelical Theology *My overall response to reading this book is one of overwhelming enthusiasm; it certainly marks a new stage in Orthodox theology...Altogether, this is a remarkable achievement. * Andrew Louth, University of Durham, Pro Ecclesia: A Journal of Catholic and Evangelical Theology *Behr's work effectively and critically draws together scholarly discourses that are usually (and, for the most part, lamentably) kept apart....One of the most impressive features of the book is the depth of Behr's critical engagement with these fields on their own terms. * Paul Saieg, University of Notre Dame, USA, Pro Ecclesia: A Journal of Catholic and Evangelical Theology *This book traverses biblical scholarship and patristic literature with ease. As if that were not enough, in the final two chapters Behr also engages the contemporary phenomenological tradition, specifically the work of Michel Henry, the late French philosopher who sought to ground his phenomenology of life in foundational Christian texts, including the Gospel of John. * Charles M. Stang, Harvard Divinity School, Pro Ecclesia: A Journal of Catholic and Evangelical Theology *With John the Theologian and His Paschal Gospel, John Behr offers us a book so rich... that summarizing it is beyond our capacity. Let the well-intentioned reader not be discouraged, however: brilliant synthetic statements helping you to better situate yourself in the journey in which you are embarked are not sparse in the book...Rather than trying to produce the synthesis missing in the book, I would like to stress from the outset that with this magnum opus, John Behr invites his readers (hopefully many of them biblical scholars) to a real (at least intellectual) conversion: start with the invisible, not the visible. * Olivier-Thomas Venard, OP, École biblique et archéologique française de Jerusalem, Israel, Pro Ecclesia: A Journal of Catholic and Evangelical Theology *A Prologue to Theology is an opus magnum that needs to be studied thoroughly in today's theology departments and seminaries around the globe and which invites, if not demands, further theological investigation along this initiated path. * Thomas Sojer, Phenomenological Reviews *Table of ContentsAbbreviations Introduction: The Gospel of John and Christian Theology Part I: John The Theologian And His Paschal Gospel 1: John the Evangelist 2: The Paschal Gospel Part II: 'It Is Finished' 3: 'The Temple of his Body' 4: 'Behold the Human Being' 5: The Prologue as a Paschal Hymn Part III: The Phenomenology of Life in Flesh 6: Johannine Arch-Intelligibility 7: History, Phenomenology, and Theology Conclusion: A Prologue to Theology Bibliography Index of cited passages Index of authors

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Book SynopsisPlantinga examines the nature of epistemic warrant; whatever it is that when added to true belief yields knowledge. This volume surveys current contributions to the debate and paves the way for his owm positive proposal in Warrant and Proper Function.Trade Review'Alvin Plantinga makes important contributions to a tradition of discussion which has dominated recent epistemology. Warrant: the Current Debate provides a critical survey of the most recent controbutions to American epistemology ... Plantinga discerns a pattern in their failure, and this is exploited in the second volume where he develops an original and important contribution of his own. Warrant and Proper Function undertakes to succeed where Roderick Chisholm, John Pollock, Louis BonJour, Alvin Goldman and others have failed ... Plantinga's books will provide a focus for much future research in these areas, as well as providing invaluable reading for students taking courses in epistemology.' Christopher Hookway, University of Birmingham, The Philosophical Quarterly, 1995impressive...Not only is the scale of the work more ambitious than the earlier papers, but the doctrine is as well. * Religious Studies Vol 31 *

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Book SynopsisThis classic and controversial book examines the roots of the idea of virtue, diagnoses the reasons for its absence in modern life, and proposes a path for its recovery.Trade Review“After Virtue is a striking work. It is clearly written and readable. The nonprofessional will find MacIntyre perspicuous and lively. He stands within the best modern traditions of writing on such matters.” —New York Review of Books“MacIntyre’s arguments deserve to be taken seriously by anybody who thinks that the mere acceptance of pluralism is not the same thing as democracy, who worries about politicians wishing to give opinions about everything under the sun, and who stops to think of how important Aristotelian ethics have been for centuries.” —The Economist“After Virtue is a rigorous, ambitious, and original book. It is a reinterpretation of the entire history of Western moral philosophy, as decline, fall, and—possibly—rebirth.” —The Village Voice“MacIntyre has reconsidered and extended his ideas since the 1981 and 1984 editions, but retains his central thesis that it is only possible to understand the dominant moral culture of advanced modernity adequately from a standpoint external to that culture. He is still an Aristotelian, he says, but has come to believe that Thomas Aquinas expressed Aristotle's views better than the old man himself did.” —Reference and Research Book News“If MacIntyre’s admittedly bleak diagnosis of our times is not accepted, the rivalry it sparked surely has some benefit for the interface between competing traditions. And where it is accepted, it will also be because those who accept it have not give up on our capacity, despite everything else, to be virtuous.” —Catholic Books Review"Alasdair MacIntyre in After Virtue has written one of the most important books of the decade… a stunning critique of current moral philosophy and moral practice." — Commonweal MagazineMaIntyre’s After Virtue is one of the most widely read books of moral philosophy to appear in recent years. It is written with little of the technical arguments that limits the readership of many philosophy works and has drawn considerable response from readers outside academe.” —The Chronicle of Higher Education

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Book SynopsisThis collection of Weil’s later writings captures her insightful philosophical explorations of the nature of value, moral thought, and the relation of faith and reason.Trade Review"This is an important and much-needed collection of Simone Weil’s later philosophical reflections, which is introduced, edited, and translated by two of the very best Weil scholars in the English-speaking world. Weil is too often excluded from conversations occurring within and around the academic discipline of philosophy, and as Eric O. Springsted carefully explains in his introduction, this omission may be a result of how Weil herself understood good philosophy—as a patient contemplation of irreducible problems, rather than as system-building that ends in a discrete set of positions and prescriptions. Springsted’s curation sheds new light on Weil, the philosopher, who attentively feels the rough patches of human existence so that she may inhabit, think, and act in the world more honestly." —Rebecca Rozelle-Stone, president, American Weil Society, University of North Dakota "[Simone Weil] was above all a thinker, and Eric O. Springsted has gathered a wonderful collection of 10 essays by her on just that. The essays are not merely Weil at her most speculative, but her reflections on the process of thinking itself. Taken together, they 'take up what she thought thinking is and ought to be and hence what she thought she was doing in writing all that she did.' In that alone, the book casts aside our habitual ways of remembering Weil and clears entirely fresh ground. . . . Each of the 10 essays is relatively short but packs a punch, as Weil’s writing tends to do. They were all written in the last three years of her life, from 1940 to 1943, a feverishly productive and intensely experimental time for Weil. She was living for the most part in Marseilles, where she had gone to work in the resistance after fleeing Paris, just as the Germans descended." —America"Springsted edits this collection of Simone Weil's works on her conception of philosophy, consisting of a short introduction and ten translated essays. . . . Though unpolished, these pieces offer substantive analysis and insight into key topics in philosophy, such as the nature of the discipline, value, personal identity, character, and morality. . . . An excellent resource for philosophers interested in metaphilosophy, metaethics, and free will." —Library Journal “In this welcome book, Springstead presents the philosophical thought of Simone Weil during the final three years of her life . . . All of the essays reveal both the interdisciplinary nature of Weil’s thought and the extent to which her way of philosophizing goes beyond the limits of academic philosophy.” —Choice“Springstead’s passion for Weil and his extraordinary expertise in her multidisciplinary contributions to intellectual life make him uniquely qualified to edit this philosophical testament. . . . Some of the essays have been unavailable for years, and several are presented for the first time in this welcome assortment of philosophical literature. Those who are admirers of Weil will appreciate these classic texts and be inspired by the newer contributions.” —Catholic Library World "This is an excellent book by one of the world's leading Simone Weil scholars. Eric O. Springsted has gathered Simone Weil's writings that focus explicitly on her conception of philosophy and its relation to both value and the transcendent. In doing so, he has provided a conceptual framework for understanding Weil's oeuvre as a whole, which challenges readers to reinvestigate their views on the nature of philosophy and value." —Mario Von Der Ruhr, Swansea University "This book makes an important contribution to Weil studies, studies which are by their very nature interdisciplinary. Because Weil died so young, much of her work was haphazardly collected into various volumes by friends and colleagues after her death, often with very little attention paid to theme, coherence, or consistency. Springsted has done a great service over the years to Weil scholars in his attempts to address these problems; this volume is a welcome continuation of his efforts." —Vance Morgan, Providence College “Springsted has selected several essays—some rather developed and others possibly drafts—that provide the reader with enough material to get a sense of ‘what she thought thinking is and ought to be and hence what she thought she was doing in writing all that she did.’ . . . Because the essays in this book capture her thinking within a very specific time period (1940-1943) and because many of their themes are related, the reader is able to get a certain sense of who she was and what she was about.” —CatholicBookReview.org“This careful selection of essays, the manner in which each is set up and put into context, and the very useful index, provide an excellent contribution to the existing Weil publications. Together with Springsted’s clear-sighted reflections on Weil’s understanding of philosophy in the introduction, this volume is to be highly recommended not only for Weil scholars but for all readers who have an interest in Weil’s philosophy.” —Irish Theological Quarterly

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Book Synopsisn this book – an expanded version of his 2014 University of Dallas Aquinas Lecture – Father Robert Spitzer audaciously combines the intellectual legacies of two Catholic priests, St. Thomas Aquinas and Monsignor Georges Lemaître. Living in the thirteenth century, Thomas Aquinas ardently believed that, as he wrote in the Summa contra gentiles, “truth which human reason is naturally endowed to know cannot be opposed to the truth of the Christian faith.” But human reason has made many advances since Thomas’s days. One of them is the Big Bang theory, which Georges Lemaître, professor of physics at the Catholic University of Louvain, discovered in 1927. According to this theory, the universe as we know it began billions of years ago with an unimaginably powerful explosion. Is Thomas’s metaphysical vision of the universe, which includes the existence of a Creator who made and ordered the cosmos, compatible with contemporary cosmology? That is the question which Father Spitzer addresses in this book.Table of ContentsForeword Introduction Section I: Physical and Metaphysical Method: Can Science Indicate Creation? Section II: Georges Lemaître, the Big Bang Theory, and the Modern Universe Section III: Space-Time Geometry Proofs and the Beginning of Physical Reality Section IV: Entropy and the Beginning of our Universe Section V: From Physics to Metaphysics: From the Beginning to Creation Section VI: Fine-Tuning ““for Life”” at the Big Bang: Implications of Supernatural Intelligence Section VII: Richard Dawkins’s Objection and a Thomistic Metaphysical Response 1. Richard Dawkins’s Objection 2. An Eight-Step Thomistic Proof of God 3. A Response to Richard Dawkins 4. A Metaphysics of Restricted Being Conclusion: Combining the Physical and Metaphysical Evidence Endnotes Bibliography

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Book SynopsisThis remarkable work offers an analytical exploration of the nature of divine eternity and God's relationship to time.

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Book SynopsisIn 1993, archaeologists unearthed a set of ancient bamboo scrolls that contained the earliest known version of the Dao de jing. Composed more than two thousand years ago, this life-changing document offers a regimen of self-cultivation to attain personal excellence and revitalize moral behavior. Now in this luminous new translation, renowned China scholars Roger T. Ames and David L. Hall bring the timeless wisdom of the Dao de jing into our contemporary world.In this elegant volume, Ames and Hall feature the original Chinese texts of the Dao de jing and translate them into crisp, chiseled English that reads like poetry. Each of the eighty-one brief chapters is followed by clear, thought-provoking commentary exploring the layers of meaning in the text. This new version of one of the world’s most influential documents will stand as both a compelling introduction to Daoist thought and as the classic modern English translation.

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Book SynopsisOne of the most remarkable philosophical works of the nineteenth century, The Sickness Unto Death is also famed for the depth and acuity of its modern psychological insights. Writing under the pseudonym Anti-Climacus, Kierkegaard explores the concept of ''despair'', alerting readers to the diversity of ways in which they may be described as living in this state of bleak abandonment - including some that may seem just the opposite - and offering a much-discussed formula for the eradication of despair. With its penetrating account of the self, this late work by Kierkegaard was hugely influential upon twentieth-century philosophers including Karl Jaspers, Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus. The Sickness unto Death can be regarded as one of the key works of theistic existentialist thought - a brilliant and revelatory answer to one man''s struggle to fill the spiritual void.Table of ContentsThe Sickness Unto Death Translator's NoteIntroductionThe Sickness Unto DeathPrefaceIntroductionPart One: The Sickness Unto Death Is DespairPart Two: Despair Is SinNotes

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Book SynopsisSUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLERNUMBER ONE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLERFrom one of our greatest voices in modern philosophy, author of The Course of Love, The Consolations of Philosophy, The Art of Travel and The School of Life''A serious and optimistic set of practical ideas that could improve and alter the way we live'' Jeanette Winterson, The Times''A beautiful, inspiring book... offering a glimpse of a more enlightened path'' Sunday Telegraph''Smart, stimulating, sensitive. A timely and perceptive appreciation of how much wisdom is embodied in religious traditions and how we godless moderns might learn from it'' Financial Times''There isn''t a page in this book that doesn''t contain a striking idea or a stimulating parallel'' Mail on SundayAlain de Botton takes us one step further than Dawkins or Hitchens ventured - into a world of ideas beyond the God debate...All of us, whether religious, agnostic or atheist, are searching for meaning. And in this wise and life-affirming book, non-believer Alain de Botton both rejects the supernatural claims of the major religions and points out just how many good ideas they sometimes have about how we should live.And he suggests that non-believers can learn and steal from them.Picking and choosing from the thousands of years of advice assembled by the world''s great religions, Alain de Botton presents a range of fascinating ideas and practical insights on art, community, love, friendship, work, life and death. He shows how they can be of use to us all, irrespective of whether we do or don''t believe.

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Book SynopsisBelief: surely it?s a relic from the past, a hangover from a superstitious age that is totally out of sync with today?s rational, science-led culture? ''A timely, often bracing and always highly stimulating book.'' Tom Holland, author of Dominion and co-host of The Rest is History In today?s science-driven, rational world, belief is dismissed as an artefact of a bygone era ? something absurd at best, harmful at worst. The prevailing narratives paint belief as primitive, weird, even dangerous. But as life grows ever more confusing and our societies more atomised, contemplating something bigger than ourselves has never been more vital. Alister McGrath offers a fresh perspective on belief, presenting it not as a weakness of rational thought but as an essential tool for navigating uncertainty. Elegant and thought-provoking, Why We Believe reveals how belief provides meaning in the face of existential despair, how it fosters community and offers solace. As society moves beyond the dismissive rhetoric surrounding people of faith, here is a powerful manifesto for the re-enchantment of the Western mind. ''Scholarly, compulsively readable and with gems of information on every page... a must read.'' Revd Fergus Butler-Gallie, author of A Field Guide to the English Clergy

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Book SynopsisThe One and the Many presents metaphysics as an integrated whole, drawing on on Aquinas' themes, structure, and insight.Trade Review“Both students and teacher will benefit from a highly readable account of major themes in Aquinas’ metaphysics. The material is presented in a way accessible to those unfamiliar with the formidable Aristotelian apparatus usually presumed in textbook presentations of Aquinas. Clarke divides his book into short, easily digestible chapters.” —Theological Studies“This is the book that many of us have long been waiting for: the systematic exposition of the Thomistically inspired but creative metaphysical system of one of the foremost philosophers in the Thomistic tradition. The work is not a recapitulation of standard Thomistic metaphysics so much as a re-creation, on Thomistic principles, of a contemporary metaphysical view that pushes Thomas’ principles to new developments and applications. Clarke stresses participation in the act of existence, substance as dynamic, system as a new metaphysical category, philosophic ramifications of evolution and relativity, and the great circle of being embodied in the universe. The book is well suited to both as a text in a course in metaphysics and as an historically conscious source of insights for the professional philosopher.” —James W. Felt, S.J., John Nobili Professor of Philosophy, Santa Clara University“This book is rich in metaphysical insight and suggestiveness. At the same time it manages to be a rigorous presentation of Thomistic metaphysics suitable to contemporary life.” —Encounter"Clarke has written a very interesting and provocative book, one that is likely to inspire future students to study metaphysics in the Thomistic tradition. We are especially indebted to Clarke for his willingness to engage modern science and his contribution to the revival of metaphysics as a systematic study." —The Thomist“W. Norris Clarke is one of the giants of North American Thomism. For over fifty years he has been a learned and illuminating interpreter of the metaphysics of Aquinas . . . in this book he provides the most comprehensive presentation to date of his distinctive philosophical and metaphysical thinking. Overall, Clarke had produced a most stimulating and thought-provoking book on the subject of metaphysics. It is replete with insights and written with a rare generosity of spirit which is most uplifting to read.” —The Heythrop Journal“[A] masterly account of the metaphysical system which he has worked out over a lifetime of historical research, teaching, and writing. Those who have been waiting for this account will not be disappointed. The One and The Manyis a very important book and its contribution to speculative metaphysics and to the Thomistic tradition is outstanding.” —Maritain Notebook“...crisp, clear and easy to understand metaphysical arguments. It presents a well-justified Thomistic metaphysical theory. The importance of this book goes far beyond that of a good Thomistic textbook. Its ahistorical approach should enable The One and the Many to become a voice in contemporary discussions of metaphysical issues.” —The Review of Metaphysics“After a lifetime in the study and teaching of philosophy, especially to undergraduates at Fordham University, Norris Clarke has produced a valuable textbook of metaphysics, inspired by St. Thomas, and adapted to issues of the present day. It does not just repeat what St. Thomas said, but retrieves it, completes it, appropriates it, and systematises it.” —Australasian Catholic Record“Norris Clarke is a master of metaphysics, and one to whom others can well appretice themselves, since he is himself so astute an apprentice of classical figures in philosophy. This intended advanced text for systematic metaphysics is just that: advanced yet pedagogically planned; systematic yet suffused with heart. A sterling example from an exemplary oeuvre.” — David Burrell, C.S.C.

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Book SynopsisIn his reflections on Christianity, Saint Thomas Aquinas forged a unique synthesis of ancient philosophy and medieval theology. Preoccupied with the relationship between faith and reason, he was influenced both by Aristotle's rational world view and by the powerful belief that wisdom and truth can ultimately only be reached through divine revelation. Thomas's writings, which contain highly influential statements of fundamental Christian doctrine, as well as observations on topics as diverse as political science, anti-Semitism and heresy, demonstrate the great range of his intellect and place him firmly among the greatest medieval philosophers.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanTrade Review"There are readers of Aquinas's works, but Penguin's surpasses all by its sheer size, the very representative choice of texts, the excellent translations, and scholarly, informative introductions." —Albert E. GunnTable of ContentsSelected Writings - Thomas Aquinas IntroductionChronologyA Note on the TextsPart One: Student (1245-56)1. The Inaugural Sermons (1256)2. On the Principles of Nature (1252-6)3. On Being and Essence (1252-6)4. The Nature of Theology. Commentary on Sentences I, Prologue (1252-4)5. The Work of the Six Days of Creation. Commentary on Sentences 2.2, d. 12 (1252-4)Part Two: Master at Paris (1256-9)6. Theology, Faith and Reason. On Boethius On the Trinity, 1-2 (1257)7. How are Things Good? Exposition of On the Hebdomads of Boethius (1257)8. The Meanings of Truth. Disputed Question on Truth, I (1256-9)9. On the Teacher. Disputed Question on Truth, II (1256-9)10. On Conscience. Disputed Question on Truth, 17 (1256-9)Part Three: Italy (1259-68)11. Proof of God's Existence. Summa contra Gentiles, I, 9-14 (1259)12. The Human Good. Summa contra Gentiles, 3 (1259-65)13. On the Divine Simplicity. Disputed Question of the Power of God, 7 (1265-6)14. On Goodness and the Goodness of God. Summa theologiae, 1, 5-6 (1268)15. On Creation. Summa theologiae, 1, 44 (1268)16. On Angelic Knowledge. Summa theologiae, 1, 54-8 (1268)17. Definitions of Soul. On Aristotle's De anima, 2, 1-3 (1268)18. Platonism and Neoplatonism. Preface to Exposition of On the Divine Names (1265-8)Part Four: Paris (1269-72)19. The Range of Natural Philosophy. Expositions of Physics, 1, 1, Preface to On the Heavens, Preface to On Sense and the Sensed Object (1269)20. How Words Mean. Exposition of On Interpretation, 1-5 (1270-71)21. On the Ultimate End. Summa theologiae, 1-2, 1-5 (1271)22. On Human Choice. Disputed Question on Evil, 6 (1266-72)23. What Makes Actions Good or Bad? Summa theologiae, 1-2, 18-20 (1271)24. On Law and Natural Law. Summa theologiae, 1-2, 90-94 (1271)25. The Virtues. Summa theologiae, 1-2, 55-7 (1271-2)26. The Active and Contemplative Lives. Summa theologiae, 2-2, 179-81 (1271-2)27. On the Eternity of the World (1271)28. The Love of Wisdom. Exposition of Metaphysics, Preface and 1, 1-3 (1271)Part Five: Naples (1272-4)29. The Logic of the Incarnation. Summa theologiae, 3, 16 (1273)30. What is a Sacrament? Summa theologiae, 3, 6 (1273)31. The Exposition of the Book of Causes, 1-5 (1272)32. Exposition of Paul's Epistle to Philemon (1273)33. Exposition of the Angelic Salutation (Ave Maria) (1273)Glossary

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Book SynopsisThe "I Ching" originated in China as a divination manual more than three thousand years ago. In 136 BCE the emperor declared it a Confucian classic. This title tells the extraordinary story of how this cryptic and once obscure book became one of the most widely read and extensively analyzed texts in all of world literature.Trade ReviewOne of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2012 "Smith's book succeeds admirably in making the history and importance of this esoteric and enigmatic classic accessible and understandable to a wide audience. A must read for anyone interested in fathoming 'the Way' (Tao/Dao) in ancient China."--Choice "Smith's book demonstrates that if the Book of Changes is anything, it is alive."--James Carter, Los Angeles Review of Books "His biography is, at every turn, full of scholarship."--Jon Sweeney, Tablet "One of the advantages to this book is Smith's prose; not only is it clear and accessible, but he writes in a way that brings the material to life. He is an engaging writer... This 'biography' of the Yijing is an attractive and thorough resource. It should prove to be a useful addition to any library (academic or not) and a valuable help in any high school or college courses that incorporate study of the Yijing in any classroom context."--Robert Steed, Education About Asia "[N]ever before in English has the substance of this vital text been explicated with such transparency, lucidity, and--on balance--objectivity. However, even in charitably demystifying it, Smith has simultaneously retained and even enhanced the compelling attraction of this ever-tantalizing essentialist work for the would-be initiated. Such is a balancing act deftly executed, for which we should commend the author lavishly."--Don J. Wyatt, Journal of Chinese Religions "Smith's biography does what an introduction should do: encourage the reader to want to know more and provide a smooth over-arching conceptual framework, in economic fashion, through which one may understand the details. It would, therefore, be a helpful tool in a university course on Eastern or World religions and is highly recommended."--Stephanie L. Derrick, Relegere "Smith offers an unparalleled biography of the most revered book in China's entire cultural tradition, and he shows us how this enigmatic ancient classic has become a truly global phenomenon."--RSR, Buddhism Now "This work serves both as a sinologically sound exposition of East Asia's Yijing, and a fearless foray into the West's endless fixations on the Yi's malleable meanings."--Russell Kirkland, Religious Studies Review "To all [I Ching] aficionados and many others, Richard J. Smith's book, The I Ching: A Biography, will be usefully informative."--Yu Liu, European LegacyTable of ContentsList of Illustrations ix The Hexagrams xi Chronology of Chinese Dynasties xvii Preliminary Remarks and Acknowledgments xix Introduction 1 Part One The Domestic Evolution of the Yijing 15 Chapter 1 Genesis of the Changes 19 Chapter 2 The Making of a Classic 48 Chapter 3 Interpreting the Changes 75 Part Two The Transnational Travels of the Yijing 125 Chapter 4 The Changes in East Asia 129 Chapter 5 The Westward Travels of the Changes 170 Concluding Remarks 211 Notes 225 Bibliography 251 Index 265

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Book SynopsisThis classic companion to The World''s Religions articulates the remarkable unity that underlies the world''s religious traditions

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Book SynopsisExploring the first-person narratives of three figures from the Christian, Jewish, and Islamic mystical traditions - St Teresa of Avila, Rabbi Dov Baer, and Ruzbihan Baqli, this title provides a phenomenology of mysticism based in the Abrahamic religious traditions.Trade ReviewSteinbock embarks on a full explication of three central dimensions of human experience; in doing so, he takes up and embodies the phenomenological project envisioned by Edmund Husserl. * Choice *Phenomenology and Mysticism stands out as an original work in a genre too often reduced to commentaries on classical figures. Steinbock is an acute phenomenologist in his own right, and this work sets a new standard for the interaction between phenomenology and theology/religious studies.VOLUME 35.1 MARCH 2009 -- Andreas Nordlander * Lund University, Sweden *. . . an incredibly rich book about the phenomenology of mystical experience in the Abrahamic traditions, a book that will certainly be required reading for anyone working in the areas of religious experience and the intersection between theology and philosophy, especially in the continental tradition.Vol. 31 2009 -- Andreas Nordlander * Pneuma Jrnl Society for Pentecostal Studies *A single short review of this treatise suggests a light approach which does not [do] justice to this profound work. The thoughts and insights gathered and proposed by Steinbock provoke an equally concerted response and offer topics for discussion on many different disciplinary levels. * Philosophy in Review *Broader contributions from Phenomenology and Mysticism rest in careful engagement with philosophical phenomenology, not simply as a descriptive method, but as a coherent disciplinary field with potential theoretical resources to address ranges of phenomena beyond those that are typically evoked.Vol. 9 December 2008 -- Janet Borgerson * University of Exeter *Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction: Vertical Givenness in Human Experience1. The Religious and Mystical Shape of Experience2. St. Teresa of Avila and Mysticism of Prayer3. Rabbi Dov Baer and Mysticism of Ecstasy4. Rūzbihān Baqlī and Mysticism of Unveiling5. Matters of Evidence in Religious Experience6. Epiphany and Withdrawal7. On Individuation8. IdolatryEpilogue: On the De-Limitation of the Religious and the MoralGlossary of Main Hebrew and Arabic TermsNotesBibliographyIndex

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A witty and accessible dissection of the failure of Intelligent Design creationism, showing its inability to explain many basic features of human anatomy and highlighting its origins as a political rather than a scientific movement.

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Book SynopsisAbraham Joshua Heschel was one of the most revered religious leaders of the 20th century, and God in Search of Man and its companion volume, Man Is Not Alone, two of his most important books, are classics of modern Jewish theology. God in Search of Man combines scholarship with lucidity, reverence, and compassion as Dr. Heschel discusses not man''s search for God but God''s for man--the notion of a Chosen People, an idea which, he writes, signifies not a quality inherent in the people but a relationship between the people and God. It is an extraordinary description of the nature of Biblical thought, and how that thought becomes faith.

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Book SynopsisCarol Zaleski''s book is the first objective, comprehensive survey of the mass of evidence surrounding near-death experiences: the extraordinary visions and ecstatic feelings reported by people who have survived a close brush with death. Comparing recent near-death narratives with those of a much earlier period she finds both profound similarities and striking contrasts.Trade Review' An extremely interesting piece of work, and one that offers many shrewd insights.' New York Times'one of those books which ... has elegance and readability in direct proportion to its historical and anthropological learning ... whether one is wired to accept a religious or a hardcore naturalist interpretation of the constancy of such intimations, it is good to know they may be there.' City Limits

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Book SynopsisPaine''s years of study and reflection on the role of religion in society culminated with this, his final work. An attack on revealed religion from the deist point of view embodied by Paine''s credo, I believe in one God, and no more its critical and objective examination of Old and New Testaments cites numerous contradictions.

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Book Synopsis''Commit it then to the flames: for it can contain nothing but sophistry and illusion.'' Thus ends David Hume''s Enquiry concerning Human Understanding, the definitive statement of the greatest philosopher in the English language. His arguments in support of reasoning from experience, and against the ''sophistry and illusion'' of religiously inspired philosophical fantasies, caused controversy in the eighteenth century and are strikingly relevant today, when faith and science continue to clash.The Enquiry considers the origin and processes of human thought, reaching the stark conclusion that we can have no ultimate understanding of the physical world, or indeed our own minds. In either sphere we must depend on instinctive learning from experience, recognizing our animal nature and the limits of reason. Hume''s calm and open-minded scepticism thus aims to provide a new basis for science, liberating us from the ''superstition'' of false metaphysics and religion. His Enquiry remains one of the best introductions to the study of philosophy, and this edition places it in its historical and philosophical context. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

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Book SynopsisThe view that good will overcome evil and lead to a perfect world is held by many religions and races. This work investigates the origins of this belief through the world views of Egypt, Mesopotamia and India, through Iranian and Jewish prophets, to early Christian beliefs.Trade Review"Learned, fascinating and readable... Norman Cohn combines scrupulous scholarship with readability in a unique way... This book will become a classic." Anthony Storr, Independent on Sunday "A cool draught of wise and intelligent scholarship." J. D. F. Jones, Financial Times "This is an exciting as well as a learned book, not only for those students of ancient religion but for those with any interest in modern apocalyptic faith." Jasper Griffin, New York Review of Books "Anyone concerned with the history of apocalypticism and millennial cults, whether ancient, medieval, or modern, should read this book carefully." E. Randolph Daniel, Church History "[A] rich tapestry encompassing history, archaeology, popular culture, mythology and religion.... Cohn's depth and breadth of knowledge is marvelous, his enthusiasm for the subject is infectious. Well-documented and extremely readable, this is highly recommended for religion, history, and seminary collections." - Library Journal "An incisive study of ancient religion and the rise of belief in an impending apocalypse.... A tight, intelligent study." - Kirkus Reviews "Cohn's lucid writing style and his detailed notational listings will make Cosmos, Chaos, and the World to Come an interesting read and a useful tool for students of ancient history and religion." - Charles Odahl, Historian "The author has given us a panorama of beliefs about the driving forces of good and evil in the universe, extending back to the earliest settled communities in the Near East. He has shown the value of the comparative study of religion in understanding the origins of some of the most important among traditional Christian beliefs.... A stimulating work of learning." - W. H. C. Friend, Church Times

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Book Synopsis

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