Religion and politics Books
Austin MacAuley Publishers Fze Plantation Negroes of the 21st Century
Book Synopsis
£9.49
Augsburg Fortress Publishers Preparing for War
Book SynopsisWatching the January 6 insurrection, former evangelical and religion scholar Bradley Onishi wondered: If I hadn't left evangelicalism, would I have been there? This book crafts a gripping historical account of the New Religious Right and of White Christian nationalism and includes a new preface on the current state of white Christian nationalism.
£12.99
Pluto Press Hostile Homelands
Book SynopsisExposes the political and ideological links and dovetailing ethnonationalist projects of India and IsraelTrade Review‘Today’s Israel and Modi’s India are natural partners, sharing values of racist ethnocracy and illegal annexation, and for Israel, offering a market for military and other advanced technology. This valuable study traces the complex evolution of their relationship from their independence to its recent blossoming as the societies and the international context changed, providing particularly rich insights into India’s development through this period’ -- Noam Chomsky‘A brilliant and courageous book ... the definitive treatment of the overlooked alliance between the far-right wing governments of India and Israel. Essential reading for the escalating neo-fascist forces in our turbulent times’ -- Cornel West, American philosopher‘Extraordinary ... exposes a powerful alliance, hidden from the global attention and media, that will affect the lives of many of us. This crucial contribution challenges the distorted Western discourse on democracy, rights and justice, offers a new genealogy and a brave interpretation of these crucial human concerns’ -- Ilan Pappe, Historian and Social Activist‘Formidable and timely. Azad Essa lays bare the historically malignant roots of an often overlooked and underestimated kinship between two ideologies, Zionism and Hindutva, hungry for land and hungrier for dominance’ -- Mohammed El-Kurd, Author of 'Rifqa'‘A call for global solidarity. Essa reveals the mutual agenda of the unholy India-Israeli ethno-nationalistic alliance, showing just why both those states are a danger to progessive internationalism. In dealing with the rise of Zionism, along with Modi's capture of state power in India, he deals with their ramifications on Kashmir and Palestine, on Indian diaspora and Israel's role in Africa’ -- Ronnie Kasrils, former South African Intelligence Minister, author and activist‘For decades, India’s leaders spoke in hushed tones about their relationship with Israel. Essa reveals the long history of their alliance and shows how it is built on shared supremacist ideological projects whose devastating and inhumane consequences are borne by Palestinians and Kashmiris living under occupations. An essential, must-read book’ -- Mohamad Junaid, Anthropologist and Kashmiri writer‘A necessary and urgent account’ -- Siddhartha Deb, author of the 'Beautiful and The Damned: New Life in India'‘An authoritative study of the past and present of India-Israel relations. Essa reveals a troubling convergence of Hindu nationalist and Zionist worldviews. Equally, Hostile Homelands is a useful primer for thinking about how and why illiberal, authoritarian and Islamophobic forces are building alliances, globally’ -- Somdeep Sen, Associate Professor & Head of Studies, Global & Development Studies, Roskilde University, Denmark‘A revealing exposé … Challenges the typical understanding of Zionism as an exclusively European phenomenon and Hindu nationalism as a provisional Indian experience. An essential read’ -- Ramzy Baroud, author of 'Our Vision for Liberation: Engaged Palestinian Leaders & Intellectuals Speak Out'‘Forces us to confront the grotesque end-game of colonial violence - Modi's India and Zionist Israel. The enduring and shape-shifting connections between these ethnonationalist entities offer a profound wake-up call, a realization that today, the most vocal among the world's purported democracies are, at their core, the most profoundly anti-democratic’ -- Nazia Kazi, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Anthropology, Stockton University, NJ‘Meticulously researched and well-crafted ... Examines the under-covered subject of the ever-evolving relationship between India and Israel. Essa insightfully explores what happens when a nation negotiates the tension between principles and interests — and what happens when, particularly under the ethnonationalism of Narendra Modi, they converge’ -- Laila Al-Arian, Journalist, Al Jazeera English‘The definitive book on Indian-Israel relations that we have been waiting for. Hostile Homelands is not only an intellectual tour de force. It will also help foster new solidarities and anti-imperialist organizing’ -- Jasbir Puar, author of 'The Right to Maim: Debility, Capacity, Debility'‘A vital read … offers detailed insights into the politics of Zionism and Hindutva’ -- Ramona Wadi, ‘Middle East Monitor’‘Hostile Homelands has courage and integrity. It traces the beginning of India-Israel ties, unmasks successive governments, and carries a warning for the future’ -- Achin Vanaik, ‘The Wire’‘An important work ... Essa’s scholarship allows us to question the post-colonial national model which has allowed India and Israel to commit legal violence against those they deem inferior’ -- ‘Washington Report on Middle East Affairs’'Essa’s work is not only original but also well-researched and presented in a fluid style' -- ‘The New Arab’'Hostile Homelands is a supreme act of solidarity to help human rights activists around the world understand the forces aligned against two of the most important anti-colonial struggles in the world today' -- ‘Muslim Matters’‘Offers insights into the politics of Zionism and Hindutva’ -- ‘The Hindu’‘Brilliant’ -- ‘Jacobin’Table of ContentsForeword – Linah Alsaafin 1. A Story of Two Partitions 2. The Military-Industrial Complex 3. Hindutva and Zionism: A Story of Kinship 4. The Indian Diaspora and the Israeli Lobby in the United States 5. Kashmir and Palestine: A Story of Two Occupations Acknowledgements and Postscript
£16.14
SPCK Jesus and the Powers
Book Synopsis
£12.34
Faber & Faber The Three Dimensions of Freedom Faber Social
Book SynopsisAt a time when opinion trumps facts and truth is treated as nothing more than another perspective, free speech has become a battleground. While authoritarians and algorithms threaten democracy, we argue over who has the right to speak.To protect ourselves from encroaching tyranny, we must look beyond this one-dimensional notion of what it means to be free and, by reconnecting liberty to equality and accountability, restore the individual agency engendered by the three dimensions of freedom.
£8.65
Zondervan The Spirit of Our Politics
Book Synopsis
£11.69
Penguin Books Ltd The Long Game
Book SynopsisInside the rise of the political party, once subordinate to the IRA, that is on the brink of taking power in Ireland Sinn Féin, long widely-regarded as the political wing of the Provisional IRA, is the most popular political party in both Northern Ireland and the Republic. A movement once synonymous with a paramilitary campaign is on the brink of taking real power through purely democratic means. But if Sinn Féin has mastered the art of electoral politics, it remains strangely opaque. Who really runs the party? How is it funded? And what can we expect of it as a party of government?Aoife Moore, Irish Journalist of the Year 2021. explores these and other burning questions in The Long Game. Drawing on exclusive interviews with current and former members of Sinn Féin, she builds up a picture of a party undergoing a profound, and still incomplete, transformation. She looks at the key individuals and moments that put the party on its present course, and she explores tensions within the party and the wider republican movement.Packed with revelatory details, The Long Game is a groundbreaking telling of contemporary Ireland''s biggest and most elusive political story.
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Tudor Church Militant
Book SynopsisEdward VI died a teenager in 1553, yet his brief reign would shape the future of the nation, unleashing a Protestant revolution that propelled England into the heart of the Reformation. This dramatic account takes a fresh look at one of the most significant and turbulent periods in English history. ''A challenging, elegant and persuasive biography of an unjustly neglected king'' Jerry Brotton, author of This Orient Isle''MacCulloch puts the young Edward at the centre of the action ... as this excellent and lively study shows, his ghost continues to haunt the history of Anglicanism'' Sunday Times ''This is Reformation history as it should be written, not least because it resembles its subject matter: learned, argumentative, and, even when mistaken, never dull'' Eamon Duffy, author of The Stripping of the Altars''One of the best historians writing in English today'' Sunday Telegraph
£10.44
University of Washington Press Speaking Havoc
Book SynopsisTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction: Who Owns Suffering? 1. Writing and Redemption 2. The Argument of Fiction 3. Murderous Fictions 4. The Momentary Pleasures of Reconcilation Coda Notes Bibliography Index
£110.48
Yale University Press The Paradox of Liberation
Book Synopsis
£13.99
Zondervan Politics After Christendom
Book SynopsisPolitics After Christendom reflects on the status and responsibilities of Christians in their contemporary pluralistic political communities, presenting a biblical-theological model of political engagement and exploring themes such as race, religious liberty, justice, authority, and civil resistance.Trade ReviewPolitics after Christendom is an extraordinary achievement, one that will be a defining work of political theology for a generation. David VanDrunen's analysis of the Noahic covenant, its application to contemporary society, and its perennial dilemmas concerning rights, justice, pluralism, and religious liberty demonstrates that Protestant Christians understand that these issues are not unique to liberal democracy but pertain to the order of creation. Advocating for a broad framework rather than rigid prescriptions for society, VanDrunen argues lucidly that society is constrained by a politics of creation that every political community, regardless of geography or culture, finds itself living within. Politics after Christendom helps explain and resolve the intractable disputes of human societies. The exhausted trope that Protestants lack a clear, coherent, compelling, and translatable political theology can be put to rest with the publication of this volume.--ANDREW T. WALKER, associate professor of Christian ethics, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, executive director, Carl F. H. Henry Institute for Evangelical EngagementAt last, a biblically grounded, credible alternative to the eschatology-driven messianisms that have dominated political theology for a very long time. Taking his cue from the Noahic covenant, VanDrunen builds a political vision that is universal and pluralist, legitimating a common, provisional polity in which families can be a blessing and commerce can thrive. VanDrunen engages the significant thinkers from Augustine to Yoder, but his treatment is far more than theoretical; it is concrete, practical, and contemporary--a political theology for the fallen world as it really is rather than for the world the philosophers wish it to be. This clear and thoughtful work is a game changer. --JOHN BOLT, Jean and Kenneth Baker Professor of Systematic Theology emeritus, Calvin Theological SeminaryFew people are experts on Scripture, Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, or Calvin. David VanDrunen is an expert on all five. His wisdom is on full display in Politics after Christendom: Political Theology in a Fractured World. In the current challenging cultural moment for Christians, he gives a thoughtful argument for a Two Kingdoms/Two Covenants approach. It deserves careful consideration alongside the Benedict/separatist and conversionist options of recent years. VanDrunen's treatment of the Noahic covenant as the key to understanding a Christian's (and everyone's) relationship with the state is unique, thoughtful, and challenging.--ROBERT F. COCHRAN JR., Louis D. Brandeis Professor of Law at Pepperdine University, coeditor, Agape, Justice, and LawIdolatry leaves us empty, and politics is no exception. Christians have good reason to be discouraged: we've placed too much hope in the powers of this world, and we have neglected love of neighbor and maintenance of peace as two of the primary goals of politics. Into this muddled context, David VanDrunen presents a timely and compelling theological vision for political community. Appealing to Scripture and acknowledging a crucial role for prudence and good judgment, VanDrunen outlines a much-needed path forward for Christian conviction and integrity in political life.--BEN SASSE, United States senator from NebraskaIn Politics after Christendom, David VanDrunen develops a political theology worthy of his most august predecessors in the Two Kingdoms tradition in Reformed theology. VanDrunen's great innovation is to place the insights of this tradition into the context of God's covenant with Noah. After making his case for a Noahic perspective, VanDrunen applies it to a wide range of political concerns, including justice and rights, religious freedom, the role of the family, and authority and resistance. Beautifully and clearly written, Politics after Christendom will be a touchstone even for those of us who are not fully persuaded by the Two Kingdoms perspective.--DAVID SKEEL, S. Samuel Arsht Professor of Corporate Law, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law SchoolIn this pioneering and provocative work, David VanDrunen brings to impressive completion his longstanding project of retrieving neglected themes in classic Reformed political theology--'natural law,' 'Two Kingdoms,' and the 'Noahic covenant'--and deploying them for our pluralistic 'post-Christendom' context. It is the most substantial biblical and theological case for what the author calls a 'conservative liberalism' to have appeared in many years, and future debates about Reformed political theology will not be able to bypass it. Even those unpersuaded by some of the book's core theological and political judgments will be enriched by the author's erudition and argumentative vigour and in turn challenged to come up better arguments for their own positions.--JONATHAN CHAPLIN, independent researcher and writer, member of Cambridge University Divinity FacultyThis volume is a brilliant capstone to David VanDrunen's project on Reformed political and legal teachings. It again features probing exegesis of biblical teachings and their reception history; creative retrieval and recon-struction of natural law theories, Two Kingdoms ontologies, and covenantal theology; and a bracing engagement with enduring questions of authority and liberty, justice and mercy, custom and community, rights and resistance. This volume and its prequels have earned VanDrunen a place high on the honor roll of law and religion scholarship and of Reformed political theology.--JOHN WITTE JR., director of the Center for the Study of Law and Religion, Emory UniversityTwo problems bedevil nearly every Christian political theology, whether you encounter it in an academic's tome or a nonacademic's water-cooler opinions. First, Christians too often begin with ideological or partisan foundations. Second, they build on those foundations with a favorite biblical prooftext, often one meant for ancient Israel or the church but wrongly applied to nation-states and their governments. Therefore, it's difficult to overstate the importance of building our political theology on the whole Bible's covenantal structure, with specific attention given to the Noahic covenant. Whether you count yourself a Two Kingdoms theologian or not (I don't), every political theologian needs to follow VanDrunen precisely here. To put it simply, I believe that VanDrunen's emphasis on the Noahic covenant is the way forward for Christian political theology. Other books offer helpful emphases or counterpoints, but Politics after Christendom offers the starting point for anyone who wants to lay a foundation on the Bible. It just moved into pole position for my top recommendation in the field.--JONATHAN LEEMAN, author of Political Church and How the Nations Rage
£17.00
SCM Press The Claim to Christianity Responding to the Far
Book SynopsisThe far right is on the rise across Europe, pushing a battle scenario in which Islam clashes with Christianity as much as Christianity clashes with Islam. From the margins to the mainstream, far-right protesters and far-right politicians call for the defence of Europe's Christian culture. The far right claims Christianity. This book investigates contemporary far-right claims to Christianity. Ulrich Schmiedel and Hannah Strømmen examine the theologies that emerge in the far right across Europe, concentrating on Norway, Germany and Great Britain. They explore how churches in these three countries have been complicit, complacent or critical of the far right, sometimes intentionally and sometimes unintentionally. Ultimately, Schmiedel and Strømmen encourage a creative and collaborative theological response. To counter the far right, Christianity needs to be practiced in an open and open-ended way which calls Christians into contact with Muslims.Trade Review"I cannot think of a more insightful book about the rise of the Islamophobic far right. Taking the UK, Germany and Norway as case studies, the authors show that laying claim to Christianity is at the heart of today’s ‘new racism’. Writing as Christians, they combine a powerful critique of the way the church has responded to the far right with a challenge to fellow Christians: claim Christianity back. You do not, however, have to be either a Christian or a theologian to benefit from reading this timely and illuminating book." -- Brian Klug, St Benet’s Hall, Oxford“Politics abhors a religious vacuum and so, over recent years, in an atmosphere of alleged secular neutrality, the far-right have used Christianity to legitimise their agenda. It is easy to condemn or dismiss this; much harder to understand and respond to it. But that is what Hannah Strømmen and Ulrich Schmiedel attempt here. Discomforting in some places, provocative in others, intelligent and well-researched throughout, The Claim to Christianity is a serious contribution to the growing literature on our new age of religion and politics.” -- Nick Spencer, Senior Fellow, TheosStrømmen and Schmiedel develop important insights into populism on the left and right in contemporary political discourses of religion. While many close readings of political and religious statements stay at the level of analysis, this book is practice-oriented. Both critical and constructive, it is a timely response to the political catastrophes created by struggles over the meaning and identity of Christianity. Theologians, political scientists, religious activists, and policy makers will benefit from reading it. -- Fatima Tofighi, University of Religions (Qom, Iran)"This book looks set to cause a storm in our churches in Britain, advocating a new liberation theology which confronts the new, and ancient, racism against Islam, Muslims, and many of our other old prejudices such as Antisemitism and prejudice against travellers. It sets up a challenge to churches – that they cannot seek to be neutral moderators of unpleasant politics, but must rather engage with and encourage personal relationships which seek to break down racist propaganda and hatreds." -- Bonnie Evans-Hills, priest in charge of St Margaret’s Church, Leven, Scottish Episcopal Church, Churches Together in Britain & Ireland Interfaith Advisory Group, and co-author of Engaging Islam from a Christian Perspective
£18.99
The University of Michigan Press Biblical Judgments
Book SynopsisInvites readers to consider today’s timeless dilemmas of law and government, social justice, and human rights, through the perspective of a text that has helped shape western society: the Hebrew Bible.Trade ReviewThis is an excellent introduction to law through biblical stories. At the same time, it is also a wonderful introduction to the Hebrew Bible through legal thinking." - Vered Karti Shemtov, Stanford University"...takes well known biblical stories and trains the attention onto their legal significance, thereby offering a fresh and fascinating way of understanding them. Barak-Erez’ deep and deft analysis challenges us to think about the legal issues as if they happened today, understand their intricacy, and reflect upon the outcome." - Pnina Lahav, Boston UniversityTable of Contents Introduction Part I: Law and Government Part II: Judges and Judging Part III: Human Rights and Social Justice Part IV: Criminal Law Part V: Private Law Part VI: Family and Inheritance Law Epilogue Acknowledgments Index
£27.50
Faber & Faber His Illegal Self
Book SynopsisSeven-year-old Che was abandoned by his radical Havard-student parents during the upheaval of the 1960s, and since then has been raised in isolated privilege by his New York grandmother. He yearns to see or hear news of his famous outlaw parents, but his grandmother refuses to tell him anything.When a woman named Dial comes to collect Che, it seems his wish has come true: his mother has come back for him. But soon, they too are on the run, and Che is thrown into a world where nothing is what it seems.
£9.49
Princeton University Press The Making of the Modern Muslim State
Book Synopsis
£27.00
Cambridge University Press Early Twentieth Century New Black Religious Movements in the United States
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£18.00
Cambridge University Press In the Shadow of Minority Rights
£28.49
Taylor & Francis The New Phase of Global Terrorism
Book SynopsisThe New Phase of Global Terrorism explores the nuances of the shift in the organization, strategy, and operation of terrorist groups into smaller and more robust terror groups at both the US and international levels. To develop efficient counterterrorism measures both domestically and globally, an understanding of the changing nature of terrorist group structure and strategy is essential. In this edited collection, authoritative scholars use relevant theories of sociology and psychology as well as evidence from leading counterterrorism agencies such as the FBI to support analysis, examples, and explanations of the landscape of terrorism around the world. Part I discusses the evolution, theories, and psychology of terrorism. In this part, the authors outline the rationale of the book, capturing how terrorism has changed over the years. In Part II, the book explores the new phase of domestic terrorism drawing on left-wing extremism, right-wing extremism, and jihadist att
£36.99
Taylor & Francis On the Significance of Religion for Immigration Policy
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£19.99
Taylor & Francis On the Significance of Religion for Social Justice
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£25.20
Taylor & Francis The Rise and Fall of Christian Civilization in the Modern World
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£37.99
Cambridge University Press Resilient Communities
Book SynopsisIn Resilient Communities, Jana Krause focuses on civilian agency and mobilization ''from below'' and explains violence and non-violence in communal wars. Drawing on extensive field research on ethno-religious conflicts in Ambon/Maluku Province in eastern Indonesia and Jos/Plateau State in central Nigeria, this book shows how civilians responded to local conflict dynamics very differently, evading, supporting, or collectively resisting armed groups. Combining evidence collected from more than 200 interviews with residents, community leaders, and former fighters, local scholarly work (in Indonesian), and local newspaper-based event data analysis, this book explains civilian mobilization, militia formation, and conflict escalation. The book''s comparison of vulnerable mixed communities and (un)successful prevention efforts demonstrates how under courageous leadership resilient communities can emerge that adapt to changing conflict zones and collectively prevent killings. By developing theTrade Review'In exploring how and why low-intensity episodes of violence organized around religious identities sometimes escalate into full-fledged 'communal wars', this book underlines the dynamic interplay between locals and outsiders, while also highlighting civilian agency under conditions of exceptional duress. With this important and timely study based on extensive fieldwork in Nigeria and Indonesia, Krause succeeds in furthering our understanding of political violence.' Stathis Kalyvas, Gladstone Professor of Government, University of Oxford'Krause's analysis of communal violence in Nigeria and Indonesia makes an important contribution to our understanding of instances when non-violence trumps hatred in ethno-religious conflicts. Her work importantly advances our understanding of how peaceful communities and their institutional capacity emerge, and how people preserve non-violence in the context of a changing conflict zone.' Kristen Monroe, University of California, Irvine'This is an excellent book: precisely the kind of detailed, field-based analysis needed for a deeper understanding of the nature and dynamics of communal conflict. The book sheds an important light on the ways in which populations and communities caught up in war adapt and respond to the exceptional circumstances in which they find themselves. Krause has made an important contribution to the field.' Mats Berdal, King's College London'In this fascinating study, Jana Krause turns conflict studies on its head: rather than only asking why violence breaks out, she asks why violence did not occur in some communities. Based on exceptional fieldwork, this eloquent book points to the power of local leadership and collective agency. In a field of study that can sometimes write individual actors out of the story, Krause's analysis brings people, community, and agency back in. Hers is a remarkable study that has lessons for scholars, students, and policymakers alike.' Scott Straus, Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor of Political Science and International Studies, University of Wisconsin, Madison'Krause's study offers insights into how civilian agency, institutional capacity, and resilience are enablers to peace. Understanding endogenous structures and capacities, and supporting, rather than replacing them with externally imported models, can become the most effective route to sustainable peace.' Sukanya Podder, International Peacekeeping'Krause has collected a great deal of rich data and given us much to think about … well worth reading and contemplating.' Landon E. Hancock, Perspectives on PoliticsTable of ContentsIntroduction; 1. Communal war; 2. Resilient communities; 3. Fieldwork in the context of communal conflicts; 4. Indonesia: from gang fight to 'religious war' in Ambon, Maluku Province; 5. (Non)-violence and civilian agency in Ambon, Indonesia; 6. Nigeria: a deadly conflict cycle in Jos, Plateau State; 7. (Non)-violence and civilian agency in Jos, Nigeria; Conclusion.
£78.99
Cambridge University Press Performing Power in Nigeria
Book SynopsisFor decades, Pentecostalism has been one of the most powerful socio-cultural and socio-political movements in Africa. The Pentecostal modes of constructing the world by using their performative agencies to embed their rites in social processes have imbued them with immense cultural power to contour the character of their societies. Performing Power in Nigeria explores how Nigerian Pentecostals mark their self-distinction as a people of power within a social milieu that affirmed and contested their desires for being. Their faith, and the various performances that inform it, imbue the social matrix with saliences that also facilitate their identity of power. Using extensive archival material, interviews and fieldwork, Abimbola A. Adelakun questions the histories, desires, knowledge, tools, and innate divergences of this form of identity, and its interactions with the other ideological elements that make up the society. Analysing the important developments in contemporary Nigerian PentecoTrade Review'The book treads new ground, bringing religion and performance studies into a richly creative tête-à-tête, in which performing Nigerian Pentecostalism translates lived imagination, experience, and praxis into sacred reality. Spiritual power and temporal politics are acted out via the aestheticization and dramatization of Pentecostalism, thus giving it a unique religious niche and identity.' Afe Adogame, Princeton Theological Seminary'This book boldly expands the disciplinary frontiers of Pentecostal studies from anthropology, history and political theory into performance studies, focusing on its creative and dramaturgical expressions of power. This approach and the insightful analysis it generates will no doubt appeal to scholars of Nigerian Pentecostalism from various disciplines.' Olufunke Adeboye, University of Lagos'Performing Power in Nigeria is an excellent study of religion and Pentecostalism in contemporary Nigeria. Drawing from her brilliant scholarship on performance and creative expressions of culture and power, Abimbola Adelakun provides a splendid analysis of the spectacular display of Pentecostal spiritual power and identity.' Annalisa Butticci, Georgetown UniversityTable of ContentsIntroduction; 1. Demons and Deliverance: Discourses on Pentecostal Character; 2. 'What Islamic devils?!': Power Struggles, Race, and Christian Trans-nationalism; 3. 'Touch not Mine Anointed': #MeToo, #ChurchToo, and the Power of 'See Finish'; 4. 'Everything Christianity/the Bible Represents is being Attacked on the Internet!': The Internet and Technologies of Religious Engagement; 5. 'God too laughs and we can laugh too': The Ambivalent Power of Comedy Performances in the Church; 6. 'The Spirit Names the Child': Pentecostal Futurity in the Name of Jesus; Conclusion: Power Must Change Hands: COVID 19, Power, and the Imperative of Knowledge.
£67.50
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Rage Against God
Book SynopsisPeter Hitchens lost faith as a teenager. But eventually finding atheism barren, he came by a logical process to his current affiliation to an unmodernised belief in Christianity. Hitchens describes his return from the far political left. Familiar with British left-wing politics, it was travelling in the Communist bloc that first undermined and replaced his leftism, a process virtually completed when he became a newspaper''s resident Moscow correspondent in 1990, just before the collapse of the Communist Party.He became convinced of certain propositions. That modern western social democratic politics is a form of false religion in which people try to substitute a social conscience for an individual one. That utopianism is actively dangerous. That liberty and law are attainable human objectives which are also the good by-products of Christian faith.Faith is the best antidote to utopianism, dismissing the dangerous idea of earthly perfection, discouraging people from acting as if tTrade ReviewThe book will be especially satisfying for those who share the author's feelings without being able to express them with such deftness, vigour and occasional epigram. Even those unconvinced or... only almost persuaded will never find it dull. * Contemporary Review *[The Rage Against God] offers insights on the current secular disregard for freedom of belief of expression. * Jersey Evening Post *The Rage Against God is eminently readable book that not only delivers the case against atheism, but delivers it with style * Christianity *The two best-written books were Christopher Hitchens's memoirs Hitch 22 and his brother Peter's The Rage Against God. Even though the authors set the benchmark for sibling rivalry, their books prove there is something special about them. Both are restless romantics, enemies of cosy consensus, original minds - and products of an education system that wanted all children to be cultured and questioning. Peter's book reads as if Cardinal Newman were reflecting on life after battle-scarred years as a foreign correspondent, while Christopher's book, if it were a thoroughbred horse, would be by George Orwell out of Kingsley Amis. I can think of no better pair of books for Christmas reflection. -- Michael Gove * Mail on Sunday *Hitchens [..] blames the rampant liberalism of his generation; he was a teenager in the 1960s. They feared the constraints of their parents' lifestyle - post-war rationing coupled to the limitations of life in the suburbs. -- Mark Vernon * The Guardian *A response to [Hitchens'] brother's and Richard Dawkins' 'rage' against those who can be so stupid to believe in God and so irresponsible as to attempt to encourage others. * The Methodist Recorder *This book is not meant to be a rebuttal of the contemporary atheist polemicists. It has the more modest aim of influencing atheists to hesitate over their choice. * The Irish Catholic *A deeply affecting story of a journey to faith, interwoven with moral and spiritual history of the 20th century. * The Church Times *Top class stuff! * The Good Bookstall website *This book is a rattling good read...As we face the General Election, this is perhaps the most important reason for reading it. * Standpoint *Agreed mortality lives on borrowed time...As Peter Hitchens observes, God offers authoritative moral laws, and judgement upon those who knowingly break them. -- Christopher Howse, * Telegraph *A thorough going exposé of how godless utopianism- above all in the Soviet Union- has given a uniquely powerful licence to tyranny. -- Charles Moore * The Daily Telegraph, *The Rage Against God is a magnificent, sustained cry against the aggressive secularism taking control of our weakened culture. -- Quentin Letts * The Spectator *[A] short, elegant book. ... How can one not enjoy a book that informs the reader that Kim Il Sung was not only the "Great Leader" who created the prison state of North Korea, but also a protestant - and an accomplished church organist? * The Independent *A calmly argued rebuff to several polemic authors...[and] a personal paean of sadness for the Britain of [Hitchens'] youth. * Ones to Watch, The Bookseller *A believer's riposte to the book by his atheist brother, Christopher Hitchens, God Is Not Great. -- Simon Hoggart * The Guardian *An absolutely must-read book...Peter Hitchens's forthcoming The Rage Against God. * Catholic Herald *Table of ContentsIntroduction PART 1: A PERSONAL JOURNEY THROUGH ATHEISM 1. The Generation Who Were Too Clever to Believe 2. A Loss of Confidence 3. The Seeds of Atheism 4. The Last Battleships 5. Britain's Pseudo-Religion and the Cult of Winston Churchill 6. Homo Sovieticus 7. A Rediscovery of Lost Faith 8. The Decline of Christianity PART 2: ADDRESSING ATHEISM: THREE FAILED ARGUMENTS 9. Are Conflicts fought in the name of religion conflicts about religion? 10. Is It Possible to Determine What Is Right and What Is Wrong without God? 11. Are Atheist states not actually Atheist? PART 3: THE LEAGUE OF THE MILITANT GODLESS 12. Fake Miracles and Grotesque Relics 13. Provoking a Bloody War with the Church 14. The Great Debate Epilogue Index
£14.24
Edinburgh University Press The Political Theology of Schelling
Book SynopsisSaitya Brata Das rigorously examines the theologico-political works of Schelling, setting his thought against Hegel's and showing how he prepared the way for the post-metaphysical philosophy of Martin Heidegger, Franz Rosenzweig and Jacques Derrida.
£26.09
Manchester University Press Passionate Politics
Book SynopsisIn May 2019, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi won the world's largest election. This book brings together a stellar team of economists, political scientists, sociologists, historians and geographers to explain why Indians voted the way they did. -- .
£23.75
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Vanishing: The Twilight of Christianity in
Book Synopsis**Longlisted Moore Prize for Human Rights Writing** 'A tragic portrait of a disappearing world, created with passion and literary grace' SALMAN RUSHDIE ‘Janine di Giovanni is a humane and persistent witness’ HISHAM MATAR 'Profoundly moving' MARK TULLY _______________________ The Vanishing reveals the plight and possible extinction of Christian communities across Syria, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine after 2,000 years in their historical homeland. Some of the countries that first nurtured and characterized Christianity - along the North African Coast, on the Euphrates and across the Middle East and Arabia - are the ones in which it is likely to first go extinct. Christians are already vanishing. We are past the tipping point, now tilted toward the end of Christianity in its historical homeland. Christians have fled the lands where their prophets wandered, where Jesus Christ preached, where the great Doctors and hierarchs of the early church established the doctrinal norms that would last millennia. From Syria to Egypt, the cities of northern Iraq to the Gaza Strip, ancient communities, the birthplaces of prophets and saints, are losing any living connection to the religion that once was such a characteristic feature of their social and cultural lives. In The Vanishing, Janine di Giovanni has combined astonishing journalistic work to discover the last traces of small, hardy communities where ancient rituals are quietly preserved amid 360 degree threats. Full of faith and hope, di Giovanni's riveting personal stories make a unique act of pre-archeology: the last chance to visit the living religion before all that will be left are the stones of the past.Trade ReviewA tragic portrait of a disappearing world, created with all of the great Janine di Giovanni’s passion and literary grace -- Salman RushdieJanine di Giovanni, a former winner of the Courage in Journalism prize, is a shining example of the dwindling band of investigative reporters -- Martin Chilton * independent.co.uk *di Giovanni brings a compassionate perspective to her narrative, interweaving complex, sometimes dense history with evocative vignettes and interviews * Economist *Extraordinary ... di Giovanni has a fine way of capturing landscapes and people * Spectator *Janine di Giovanni is a humane and persistent witness who knows when to stand out of the way, has a unique ability to be both unflinching and tender and, most importantly, never forgets that war is always a human tragedy. And because the story of Arab Christians is also the story of the Arab Middle East, the book is a record of the painfully fractured region, the consequences of war and foreign intrusion, of which its peoples, of all faiths, but particularly its minorities, have suffered most -- Hisham MatarProfoundly moving -- Mark TullyJanine di Giovanni’s beautifully written and deeply researched study of Christian communities in Iraq, Gaza, Syria, and Egypt is important not only for what it reveals about those vital but largely effaced communities, but also for its careful examination of an issue that is far more complex - as so much is in the Middle East - than typically presented or understood … A compelling and powerful study -- Sara RoyGorgeously written and deeply felt -- Elle HardyJanine di Giovanni, a former winner of the Courage in Journalism prize, is a shining example of the dwindling band of investigative reporters * independent.co.uk *Each book of hers should be required reading … In addition to contextualising the conflicts, Janine shared the human stories … She exposes what we find so hard to confront in humanity * Tablo, The Secret Life of Writers *Moving and insightful * Catholic Herald *The Vanishing is unique because di Giovanni is not seeking a solution, and indeed knows there may not be one. As a war reporter for 30 years she knows the reality of man ... I like The Vanishing because it’s true, and people in the West need to read the truth, even if they don’t like it and can’t do anything about it * First Things *Praise for Janine di Giovanni: It is crucial to reveal the human stories behind the news - and Janine di Giovanni does this with heartbreaking eloquence -- Elif Shafak * Financial Times *Like the work of the Belarussian Nobel laureate Svetlana Alexievich, Ms. di Giovanni’s book gives voice to ordinary people living through a dark time in history * New York Times *Such reporters as Giovanni, who not only visit but also live (and often die) through wars not their own, are heroic -- Robin Yassin-Kassab * Guardian *Few writers can match her evocations of individual suffering in wartime * Newsweek *Compelling reportage at its best * Economist *Janine di Giovanni has described war in a way that almost makes me think it never needs to be described again -- Sebastian JungerRead this book and you may begin to understand what war looks and feels like * Spectator *Janine di Giovanni writes with unblinking courage about war, death, marriage, motherhood, loss, love, redemption, fear - indeed, about all the world's most pressing risks and dangers ... Her writing here (as ever in her remarkable career) is a great and important achievement -- Elizabeth Gilbert
£10.44
Austin Macauley Publishers Why the Value of the East Should Matter to the West
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£6.99
Baker Publishing Group A Basic Guide to the Just War Tradition –
Book SynopsisThis brief introduction surveys Christian thinking on an array of topics related to security and peace from a just war perspective. Drawing primarily on Scripture and theology, Eric Patterson explores the moral dimensions of order, justice, and peace in light of key Christian doctrines such as love of neighbor, stewardship, vocation, and sphere sovereignty. He also examines the perennial questions of civil disobedience, terrorism, revolution, and holy war (including a discussion of Israel's removal of the Canaanites and the Crusades) and interacts with theological thinkers throughout Christian history. The volume concludes with a treatment of punishment and restitution, considering how these can help move a society toward conciliation. While ideal as a textbook for courses on Christian ethics, theology and politics, and church and society, this book will also appeal to pastors and lay readers questioning the morality of war and Christians' involvement in force. Christians who serve in government, law enforcement, and the military will also find helpful guidance for thinking theologically about their vocations.Table of Contents1. Just War Statecraft: The Quest for Peace2. Theological Foundations of Just War Statecraft: Governance, Calling, and Stewardship3. Historical Overview of the Christian Just War Tradition: Pursuing Peace and the Problem with Pacifism4. Morality and Contemporary Warfare: Distinguishing Moral Resistance from Violent Rebellion5. The Motivations and Characteristics of Just Warriors: The Role of Love, Anger, and Virtue6. Ending Wars Well: Order, Justice, and ConciliationIndex
£16.99
Austin Macauley Publishers LLC Mourning Bands On
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£8.54
Austin Macauley Publishers LLC The Gospel According to Me II
Book Synopsis
£12.34
Jessica Kingsley Publishers Fortress Britain?: Ethical approaches to
Book SynopsisImmigration is a key concern in British society; however, the ethical implications of the issue are often overlooked. Produced by Theos, a leading Christian think tank, this collection of short essays explores the ethical issues surrounding immigration in a post-Brexit Britain with contributions from across the Christian and political spectrums.This timely collection considers the many issues surrounding immigration including economics, community, nationhood, sovereignty, and internationalism, and demonstrates the range of conclusions that can be drawn on this topic, with possible interventions from the Christian perspective. Insightful for policy-makers and politicians, as well as anyone looking for orientation on a complex subject, this book is also full of ethical questions and considerations for readers from any faith or background.Table of ContentsIntroduction. 1. Mutual Obligations: A Common Good Approach to Immigration, Adrian Pabst, University of Kent. 2. Migration, Morality and States, Ben Ryan, Researcher at Theos. 3. The Future of Migration is Temporary, David Goodhart, Policy Exchange. 4. On the Promise and the Limits of Politics: Faith-based Responses to Asylum Seeking, Anna Rowlands, Durham University. 5. Biblical and Theological Perspectives on Migration, Susanna Snyder, Roehampton University. 6. Cultural Identity in Post-Brexit Britain: A Thought on Narrative Healing - Girma Mohammed, Bible Society. 7. Child migration to the UK: Hopes and Realities, Pia Jolliffe, University of Oxford and Samuel Burke, University of Oxford. Conclusions.
£24.79
C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd Revenge, Politics and Blasphemy in Pakistan
Book SynopsisThis fascinating book uncovers the hidden stories behind Pakistan's fixation with blasphemy--tales of revenge, political scheming and sovereign betrayal. Hussain's account opens in nineteenth-century colonial Punjab and traces blasphemy killings to the present, linking their emergence to polemic encounters between Hindu and Muslim revivalist sects, namely the Arya Samaj and the Ahmadiyya. It offers, for the first time, the arresting backstories to the assassinations of Pandit Lekh Ram, a leading Hindu nationalist; Swami Shraddhanand, an early progenitor of Hindu nationalism and the principal advocate for converting Muslims; and Rajpal, the Hindu publisher of a sensationalist book on the Prophet Muhammad. 'Revenge, Politics and Blasphemy in Pakistan' then maps the curious afterlives of these killings, illuminating the most critical moments in Pakistan's history: 1953, when outraged protestors smashed stores owned by religious minorities, triggering the country's first state of emergency; 1974, when Islamist parties pressured Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto to put blasphemy on the constitutional agenda; 1984, when Zia-ul-Haq transformed Pakistan according to his Islamist vision, which included more severe punishments for blasphemy; and the twenty-first century, when digital media has dramatically increased the visibility of blasphemy killings, prompting political parties to demonstrate their commitment to the cause.Trade Review'Anyone interested in understanding Pakistan's obsession with blasphemy and how it has come to affect the Ahmadis must engage with Hussain's work.' -- Frontline'An incredibly compelling read.' -- Bloomsbury Pakistan'A tour de force. This excellent book illuminates the nuances of theological issues which figured among the Muslims and continue to do so in Pakistan even to this day. If you want to understand why Pakistan is the way it is, and why India has a lot to learn, Hussain is your best guide.' -- Lord Meghnad Desai, Professor Emeritus, London School of Economics'Hussain's richly researched book delves into the history of blasphemy in Pakistan, one of the world's most egregious examples of religious extremism going mainstream. Behind the appalling headlines of modern Pakistan, telling of the often fatal state-sanctioned harassment of those accused of blasphemy, lies a complex and fascinating story; Hussain's investigation brings it to light with clarity and nuance.' -- Shashi Tharoor, Indian MP'A highly original and timely interpretation of the role of blasphemy in shaping religious politics in Pakistan. Meticulously researched, this monograph makes a significant contribution to the burgeoning literature on politicised religion as well as for rethinking the colonial past.' -- Mustapha Kamal Pasha, Personal Chair, Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University'A fluent and insightful exploration of controversies over religious offence in late colonial India and their influence in shaping the politics of blasphemy in contemporary Pakistan. This is a fresh and engaging contribution to debates on the intersection of religion and politics in South Asia.' -- Farzana Shaikh, author of Making Sense of Pakistan'Remarkably lucid narration of a very complex phenomena in which law and philosophical discourse intersect in a bid to explicate historical situation. Hussain unravels the political and legal intricacies which have punctuated the last two decades of united India.' -- Tahir Kamran, Professor of History, Beaconhouse National University, Lahore
£23.75
Princeton University Press The Church of Saint Thomas Paine
Book SynopsisThe forgotten story of the nineteenth-century freethinkers and twentieth-century humanists who tried to build their own secular religionIn The Church of Saint Thomas Paine, Leigh Eric Schmidt tells the surprising story of how freethinking liberals in nineteenth-century America promoted a secular religion of humanity centered on the deistic revolutionary Thomas Paine (17371809) and how their descendants eventually became embroiled in the culture wars of the late twentieth century. After Paine's remains were stolen from his grave in New Rochelle, New York, and shipped to England in 1819, the reverence of his American disciples took a material turn in a long search for his relics. Paine's birthday was always a red-letter day for these believers in democratic cosmopolitanism and philanthropic benevolence, but they expanded their program to include a broader array of rites and ceremonies, particularly funerals free of Christian supervision. They also worked to establish their own churchesTrade Review"Fascinating."---D. G. Hart, Wall Street Journal"[A] lively tour through the expansionist heyday of the secular creed."---Chris Lehmann, New Republic"Thought-provoking."---Dale Singer, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
£19.80
Humanix Books The Pagan Threat
Book SynopsisTHERE IS A RISING PAGAN THREAT TO THE CHURCH AND AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE.Pastor Lucas Miles, bestselling author of Woke Jesus: The False Messiah Destroying Christianity, delves into the alarming resurgence of pagan ideologies within the United States, posing significant threats to the church, the nation, and the world.Unveiling the complex interplay between ancient beliefs and modern society, The Pagan Threat: Confronting America’s Godless Uprising meticulously exposes the inherent dangers that challenge the core fabric of our faith and civic unity. From exposing an evolving techno paganism to blatant idol worship, Pastor Miles navigates the intricate terrain of safeguarding the nation and the pulpit against the rising tide of paganism.The Pagan Threat serves as an insightful guide, a warning and a call-to-action, urging readers to understand, confront, and ultimately fortify the foundations of their faith and the principles that define our great nation, and is a necessary work to prepare God’s people for what comes next in a society experiencing moral and spiritual decline.
£17.99
Princeton University Press The Woman Question in Islamic Studies
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£19.80
GINGKO Off Limits: New Essays on Sin and Fear
Book SynopsisWell beyond the Arab world, El Saadawi's fiction and non-fiction work, from Woman at Point Zero to The Fall of the Imam to her prison memoirs, have earned her a reputation as a refreshing voice of feminism in the Arab World. This series of essays form a selection of El Saadawi's most recent musings, memories and reflections, considering the role of women in Egyptian and wider Islamic society, the inextricability of imperialism from the patriarchy, the meeting point of East and West, and the image and body politic of the woman in the intersections of those cultures. These musings leave no stone unturned and no view unchallenged, and offer the interested reader new insight into El Saadawi's thoughts and reflections.Trade Review“Nawal El Saadawi writes with directness and passion.” * New York Times *“The leading spokeswoman on the status of women in the Arab World.” * Guardian *
£9.49
Stanford University Press Opus Dei
Book SynopsisIn this follow-up to The Kingdom and the Glory and The Highest Poverty, Agamben investigates the roots of our moral concept of duty in the theory and practice of Christian liturgy. Beginning with the New Testament and working through to late scholasticism and modern papal encyclicals, Agamben traces the Church''s attempts to repeat Christ''s unrepeatable sacrifice. Crucial here is the paradoxical figure of the priest, who becomes more and more a pure instrument of God''s power, so that his own motives and character are entirely indifferent as long as he carries out his priestly duties. In modernity, Agamben argues, the Christian priest has become the model ethical subject. We see this above all in Kantian ethics. Contrasting the Christian and modern ontology of duty with the classical ontology of being, Agamben contends that Western philosophy has unfolded in the tension between the two. This latest installment in the study of Western political structures begun in HTrade Review"Opus Dei: An Archaeology of Duty is a bold and engaging book, opening up much fertile ground for future work. I find it to be both insightful and admirable, and a masterly success."—Analysis & Metaphysics
£16.14
Oxford University Press A Pocket Philosophical Dictionary Oxford Worlds
Book SynopsisVoltaire's Pocket Philosophical Dictionary is a major work of the European Enlightenment. It consists of a series of short essays, arranged alphabetically, whose unifying thread is an attack on religious and political intolerance. Highly entertaining, its concern with intolerance and its consequences is still relevant today.Trade Reviewa marvellously Swiftian look at the bleakness of existence. * Nicholas Lezard, The Guardian *In John Fletcher's wonderfully luminous translation, the Dictionnaire philosophique portatif is like a breath of fresh air... Nicholas Cronk's discreet, helpful introduction and notes direct us to Voltaire's main concern: religion. * David Coward, Times Literary Supplement *
£10.44
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC How Fear Works
Book SynopsisFrank Furedi returns to the theme of Fear in our society and culture.In 1997, Frank Furedi published a book called Culture of Fear. It was widely acclaimed as perceptive and prophetic. Now Furedi returns to his original theme, as most of what he predicted has come true. In How Fear Works, Furedi seeks to explain two interrelated themes: why has fear acquired such a morally commanding status in society today and how has the way we fear today changed from the way that it was experienced in the past? Furedi argues that one of the main drivers of the culture of fear is unravelling of moral authority. Fear appears to provide a provisional solution to moral uncertainty and is for that reason embraced by a variety of interests, parties and individuals. Furedi predicts that until society finds a more positive orientation towards uncertainty the politicisation of fear will flourish. Society is continually bombarded with the message that the threats it faces are incalculabTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 Changing Stories of Fear 2 Waiting for the Time Bomb to Explode 3 Moral Confusion - the Main Driver of the Culture of Fear 4 The Perspective of Fear - How it Works 5 Creation of the Fearful Subject 6 The Quest for Safety in a Dangerous World Conclusion: Towards a Less Fearful Future Acknowledgements Notes Bibliography Index
£17.51
Zondervan Life in the Negative World
Book SynopsisLearning how to live in today''s new social and cultural environment will require examination, trial and error, and adaptation over time. But there are ways to live with integrity and follow Christ today, even in a negative world.From a peak in church attendance in the mid-20th century, Christianity has been on a trajectory of decline in the United States. Once positive toward Christianity and Christian moral teachings, cultural shifts toward the mid-90s led many to adopt a more neutral tone toward the Christian faith, seeing it as one option among many in a pluralistic public square. Today, however, Christianity is viewed negatively, and being known as a Christian often means a lower social status in elite society. Christian morality is openly repudiated and viewed as a threat to the new moral order.In Life in the Negative World, author Aaron M. Renn looks at the lessons from Christian cultural engagement over the past 70 years and suggests s
£17.09
New York University Press Rastafari
Book SynopsisIlluminates how the Rastafari movement managed to evolve in the face of severe biases Misunderstood, misappropriated, belittled: though the Rastafari feature frequently in media and culture, they have most often been misrepresented, their political and religious significance minimized. But they have not been vanquished.Charles Price's Rastafari: The Evolution of a People and Their Identity reclaims the rich history of this relatively new world religion. Charting its humble and rebellious roots in Jamaica's backcountry in the late nineteenth century to the present day, Price explains how Jamaicans' obsession with the Rastafari wavered from campaigns of violence to appeasement and cooptation. Indeed, he argues that the Rastafari as a political, religious, and cultural movement survived the biases and violence they faced through their race consciousness and uncanny ability to ride the waves of anti-colonialism and Black Power. This social movement travelTrade Review"Well-written and engaging . . . breaks new ground both in the data it analyzes and the theory it advances. Price deftly demystifies the ‘sudden’ appearance of Rastafari by showing how it is rooted in notions of black identity and African redemption." -- Ennis B. Edmonds, Donald L. Rogan Professor of Religious Studies, Kenyon College"In clear prose and with a storyteller’s disposition, Charles Price offers a detailed analysis of the emergence of collective identity of the Rastafari in Jamaica, illustrating how that collective identity is an ever-changing phenomenon, with variations across time and space. Will be a lasting contribution to the field." -- Anita Waters, Denison University"Fascinating and a pleasure to read. Charles Price makes a distinctive contribution by detailing how a Rastafari cultural gestalt emerges. Price shows how cultural patterns can have multiple origins, influences, and significance. Rastafari is a new and necessary reframing of Rastafari culture." -- Richard Salter, Hobart and William Smith Colleges
£23.74
HarperCollins Publishers Trust the Plan The Rise of QAnon and the
Book SynopsisDetailed and impeccably researched. Eye-opening'' GUARDIANPunchy and well-reported. Sommer is the perfect person to tell this story'' NEW YORK TIMESHow did a conspiracy theory reshape global politics? How did it tear families apart, inspire an insurrection and convince millions that a shadowy cabal was hellbent on eating children, and only Donald Trump could stop them?On the 6th of January, 2021 thousands of Trump supporters stormed the United States Capitol. Their banners read, Trust the Plan, a reference to an alarming conspiracy theory that had gained unstoppable momentum over the last four years: these were followers of QAnon.Decoding online clues from a mysterious figure who has claimed to be a high-level government insider QAnon adherents believe that Donald Trump has been anointed by God to stop a depraved deep state government, that sexually abuse, kill, and eat children. But QAnon has also become a broad church of out-there beliefs, offering a welcoming community to anti-vaxTrade Review‘Punchy and well-reported … Sommer is the perfect person to tell this story. He traces the rise of lawless message boards like 8chan, he profiles the key players, he chronicles QAnon’s influence on the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, he sneaks into QAnon rallies, he analyzes Republican reactions to the blight in their fields, and he breathes deep of the madness, while staying blissfully sane himself’ New York Times ‘Sommer emerges to offer a close examination of the rise and continued presence of QAnon on the US political landscape. Detailed and impeccably researched, Trust the Plan is essentially a crash course on a volatile and vocal segment of the US population’ Guardian ‘Will Sommer has established himself as the expert on America’s right-wing fringe. Now he’s exploring the damage that Donald Trump and the QAnon theorists who adore him have wreaked on the country. With kidnappings, murders, and Satanic rituals, this is a story so bizarre, only Will Sommer could report it’ The Atlantic ‘Will Sommer all but invented serious cultural reporting on the far right, inhabiting the worst corners of the internet so that the rest of us could understand them, and his new book on QAnon serves as a vital road map to one of the strangest and most disturbing movements of modern politics. Writing with insight, empathy, and historical expertise, Will masterfully documents how a random anonymous internet post on Reddit in 2017 rose up and swallowed the Republican Party’ Garrett Graff, author of Watergate: A New History ‘This is an absolutely fascinating and deeply troubling book. Rage-inducing and heartbreaking, it’s a rigorously researched, energetically written examination of a phenomenon laughed off for too long as fringe silliness’ Booklist
£17.00
HarperCollins If There Is No God
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£24.74
Penguin Books Ltd The Souls of China
Book Synopsis''Masterfully opens up a little explored realm: how the quest for religion and spirituality drives hundreds of millions of Chinese'' Pankaj Mishra''A fascinating odyssey ... a nuanced group portrait of Chinese citizens striving for non-material answers in an era of frenetic materialism'' Julia Lovell, Guardian ''The reappearance and flourishing of religion is perhaps the most surprising aspect of the dramatic changes in China in recent decades...this is a beautiful, moving and insightful book'' Michael SzonyiIn no society on Earth was there such a ferocious attempt to eradicate all trace of religion as in modern China. But now, following a century of violent antireligious campaigns, China is awash with new temples, churches, and mosques - as well as cults, sects, and politicians trying to harness religion for their own ends. Driving this explosion of faith is uncertainty - over what it means to be Chinese, and how to live aTrade ReviewIan Johnson has long been a resourceful and bracing guide to the biggest national transformation of modern history. In The Souls of China he masterfully opens up a little explored realm: how the quest for religion and spirituality drives hundreds of millions of Chinese -- Pankaj MishraJohnson succeeds in having produced a nuanced group portrait of Chinese citizens striving for non-material answers in an era of frenetic materialism. -- Julia Lovell * Guardian *Extraordinarily rich and intimate... This vividly written, deeply researched book will be the primary work about religious faith in China for years to come. -- Leslie T. ChangThis entrancing and engaging book challenges the modern assumption that religion is a thing of the past -- Karen ArmstrongIan Johnson breaks new ground with a brilliant approach, mixing theoretical explorations with real life vignettes from a convincing insider-outsider-combined perspective, making them commenting each other, illuminating in the same way as through the traditional Chinese criticism paradigm of 'I commentate the six classics which commentate me.' The Souls of China is a must read for an understanding of China -- Qiu Xiaolong * author of The Inspector Chen Novels *The great Chinese writer Lu Xun once wrote that when many men pass along the same way, a new road is made. The Souls of China shows us how the Chinese people, some with heroic steps and others with hesitant ones, are making a new road for Chinese religion in the twenty-first century. The reappearance and flourishing of religion is perhaps the most surprising aspect of the dramatic changes in China in recent decades. With great sensitivity Ian Johnson guides us on a tour of the rituals, festivals, and above all some of the remarkable characters who make up this new Chinese religious world. This is a beautiful, moving and insightful book -- Michael Szonyi * author of Cold War Island *The Souls of China is a rich, informative, and timely book, which explores a major aspect of Chinese life. Ian Johnson carries erudition lightly and describes the people and events with deep insights and personal involvement. Section by section, the writing shows long-term dedication and meticulous research. At heart this is also a personal book, full of feelings and exuberance. It's a tremendous accomplishment -- Ha JinHis tripartite masterpiece Wild Grass and his newest book, The Souls of China, are the most remarkable works to come from a western author in the past two decades. -- Liao Yiwu * exiled Chinese author of God is Red: The Secret Story of How Christianity Survived and Flourished in Communist China *Through interviews conducted with a wide variety of practitioners, Johnson paints a vivid picture of the diversity of Chinese religious life....He provides a fascinating account of how traditional activities recovered after enduring severe repression during China's Cultural Revolution (1966-76). An excellent work that is highly recommended for readers interested in Chinese culture or religion * Library Journal *
£11.69
Oxford University Press Inc Climate Catastrophe and Faith
Book SynopsisOne of the world''s leading scholars of religious trends shows how climate change has driven dramatic religious upheavals.Long before the current era of man-made climate change, the world has suffered repeated, severe climate-driven shocks. These shocks have resulted in famine, disease, violence, social upheaval, and mass migration. But these shocks were also religious events. Dramatic shifts in climate have often been understood in religious terms by the people who experienced them. They were described in the language of apocalypse, millennium, and Judgment. Often, too, the eras in which these shocks occurred have been marked by far-reaching changes in the nature of religion and spirituality. Those changes have varied widely - from growing religious fervor and commitment; to the stirring of mystical and apocalyptic expectations; to waves of religious scapegoating and persecution; or the spawning of new religious movements and revivals. In many cases, such responses have had lasting imTrade ReviewReading Climate, Catastrophe, and Faith can nevertheless be salutary. Jenkins is right in his premise that the book will seem innovative... * Willis Jenkins, Journal of the American Academy of Religion *Jenkins's important study is sobering and summoning. Given the past responses to such crises,he leaves little room for optimism. Jenkins reasons by way of analogue from those earlier crises to our own. Given the hard work to be done, we may be grateful to Jenkins for his helpful articulation * Walter Brueggemann, Columbia Theological Seminary Decatur, Georgia, Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology *This work compels us to consider how climate change matters for religious development and, consequently, for international peace and security. It is a worthy read for those working to build a safer and more sustainable world. * Anum Farhan, Chatham House, UK, International Affairs *Philip Jenkins provides a fascinating look into the historical relationship between faith and climate change... The book is a poignant reminder of the role that faith leaders can play in the face of the disruptive impacts of today's climate crisis. * Mariana Vieira, International Affairs Summer reading list 2022 *This masterpiece of historical scholarship should help policy makers and others transcend temporal myopia. Of special interest to students of climate, history, society, religion, and politics, this book can change the way one thinks about such matters. * L. E. Sponsel, CHOICE *Jenkins's bold new argument may change the way we think about the history of religion, but more important, it could remind us that we can imagine a new and better way as we prepare for the consequences of this impending climate crisis. * Rt. Rev. Mark Van Koevering, The Living Church *So many books on climate change focus on science and policy. This one offers a refreshing, if sobering, break as it charts the effect that past periods of climate stress have had on the evolution of the world's great faiths. * Pilita Clark, Financial Times, Best Climate and Environment Books of 2021 *a remarkable overview of climate change and its consequences for religious movements in world history... It is an important book for scholars of religion as well as for those interested in the consequences of climate change. * Mary Evelyn Tucker, Times Literary Supplement *This timely and meticulously researched book makes an important contribution to the growing body of literature engaging religion and history with ecology and climate change. * Ruby Guyat, Times Higher Education *A hugely ambitious work, such as only a historian of Philip Jenkins's great learning would dare undertake... magisterial study, at once probing and panoramic... The timeliness of this volume hardly needs emphasising. * John Pridmore, Church Times *It is fascinating and thought-provoking approach to the climate change which the world now faces. * Revd Dr Paul Beasley-Murray, Church Matters *Table of ContentsNote on Usage Acknowledgments Chapter One: From Disaster To Belief Chapter Two: Forcing Climate Chapter Three: Ages of Gold Chapter Four: God's Anger and the Demons Within Chapter Five: After Darkness, Light Chapter Six: A Faded Sun and A Wider World Chapter Seven: Who Can Stand Before His Cold? Chapter Eight: Darkening Heavens and a New World Chapter Nine: A Warming World Conclusion
£23.37
Oxford University Press Inc Nonverts The Making of ExChristian America
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThe chapters on individual nonverts are the most engaging in the book. Bullivant has an eye for good human interest stories and a talent for interviewing people. * Mark L. Movsesian, Law and Liberty *We have been hearing for a long time about the remarkable rise of the nones. Only more recently have scholars delved deeper into the life worlds of America's growing non-religious population. Bullivant provides an accessible guided tour of the growing number of ex-religious Americans that is easy reading and unburdened by heavy theory or complicated statistics. This is the book for those looking for a smooth on-ramp to understanding the big picture facts and issues involved in this major cultural change. * Christian Smith, William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Sociology, University of Notre Dame *We cannot understand the explosive rise of religious "nones" without understanding the rise of "nonverts." With rigor and wit, Stephen Bullivant shows us nonverts matter because our past relationships profoundly shape our present and future lives,often in divergentways. Religious nonverts commonly share quite different identities and experiences from "Cradle Nones." Just as nonverts who grew up evangelical or Catholic are unique compared to former Muslims or Mainline Protestants. Weaving togethercompelling personal stories and sweeping quantitativeanalysis, Bullivant shows us both the brilliant diversity and undeniable commonality of the formerly-religious. * Samuel L. Perry, co-author of The Flag and the Cross: White Christian Nationalism and the Threat to American Democracy *Nonverts brings America's stunning rise of secularization to life. Stephen Bullivant highlights the humanity of the growing secular population in America—with equal parts brio, rigor, and humor. Many of the stories told within these pages will no doubt resonate with nonreligious readers. Religious readers will benefit from learning why so many others are deciding that religion is not for them. People who are unsure about their religious beliefs will find that their experience is more common than they might think. No matter their background, everyone who reads this book will gain a deeper understanding of how America's 'new secularists' are reshaping the cultural landscape. * David Campbell, author of Secular Surge: A New Fault Line in American Politics *In Nonverts, Stephen Bullivant threads the difficult needle of being academically rigorous, while also being accessible to a general audience. The backbone of the book is a careful melding of the statistical evidence with very personal and engaging stories of how and why people have left religion behind. It should serve as a key text for anyone who is interested in understanding secularization and its many causes and consequences. * Ryan Burge, author of The Nones: Where They Came From, Who They Are, and Where They are Going *Nonverts will serve as an indispensable guide to this shifting landscape, as well as the future of American life. * David True, Reading Religion *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Note on Sources and Referencing 1. None the Up and Up 2. When the Saints Go Marching Out 3. None Specifics 4. Flatline Protestants 5. Nothings Come from... Somethings? 6. Exvangelicals 7. The Ex Effect 8. Recovering Catholics 9. Nonvert Nation
£20.99
Oxford University Press Inc All the Kingdoms of the World
Book SynopsisA fresh assessment of Catholic integralism and other new and radical religious alternatives to liberal democracy.According to a common narrative, the twentieth century spelled the end of faith-infused political movements. Their ideologies, like Catholic integralism, would soon be forgotten. Humans were finally learning to keep religion out of politics. Or were we? In the twenty-first century, nations as diverse as Russia, India, Poland, and Turkey have seen a revival of religious politics, and many religious movements in other countries have proved similarly resilient. A new generation of political theologians passionately reformulate ancient religious doctrines to revolutionize modern political life. They insist that states recognize the true religion, and they reject modern liberal ideals of universal religious freedom and church-state separation. In this book, philosopher Kevin Vallier explores these new doctrines, not as lurid oddities but as though they might be true. The anti-libTrade ReviewThis splendid book has something for everyone. For religious conservatives who question the separation of church and state, Vallier offers compelling arguments against their integration, drawing from Catholic theology, Church history, and considerations of social stability. For liberals, Vallier offers a bracing view of a powerful current stream of anti-liberal thought that should shatter any complacency about taking liberal political assumptions for granted. For people of all religious and political orientations, Vallier offers a rigorous method for assessing political proposals that does not presuppose liberal principles, but can serve as a basis for all to engage each other in serious discussion. In our politically polarized age, that is a major achievement." Elizabeth Anderson, Max Shaye Professor of Public Philosophy, University of MichiganKevin Vallier thoughtfully makes the case against post-liberal political doctrines, focusing on Catholic integralism. But he also pursues reconciliation with conservatives through his striking proposal for non-liberal charter cities within the framework of a liberal state. This book is a daring and original effort to adapt liberal political theory to a post-liberal era." Yoram Hazony, author of Conservatism: A RediscoveryIntegralism holds that state coercion is to be used to forward a religion's vision of the supernatural good. It is deeply statist and deeply illiberal; and, yet, it arguably follows from the teachings of Roman Catholicism. In All the Kingdoms of the World, Kevin Vallier does the great service of taking this position seriously-of presenting it with care, so that its attractions are plain. He also does the great service of showing why it nevertheless profoundly fails in its own terms as an account of a just, stable political order and how its failure provides lessons for the prospects of other emerging anti-liberal statisms. The book is intellectually invigorating, theoretically rigorous, and politically timely. I am grateful that it was written, and that it was Vallier who wrote it!" Mark C. Murphy, McDevitt Professor of Religious Philosophy, Georgetown UniversityThis is an excellent and important book, starting with its defense of classical liberalism over Catholic integralism and indeed illiberalism more generally...likely to be one of this year's books that turns out to really matter. * Tyler Cowen, Marginal Revolution *All the Kingdoms of the World: On Radical Religious Alternatives to Liberalism is a seminal and ground-breaking work of meticulous scholarship. Impressively exceptional in organization and presentation, All the Kingdoms of the World: On Radical Religious Alternatives to Liberalism will have a special relevance and value for readers with an interest in the history of religion and politics, as well as being especially recommended for Church/State curriculum studies lists. Highly recommended for personal, professional, community, college, and university library collections. * John Taylor, MBR Bookwatch *A fantastic book - an intellectual feast. * Kaushik Basu, Carl Marks Professor of International Studies, Cornell University, and former Chief Economist of the World Bank *The book is a response to the unexpected return of integralism as a political option, but it is also a reflection on what kind of society enables goodness...Vallier's book succeeds in revealing the dangerous flaws of integralism, but he offers few reasons to believe that liberalism has the resources to address the major social challenges we face today. * Terence Sweeney, The Commonweal *
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