Religion and politics Books

Book SynopsisTrade Review"What Samuel Hayim Brody has done is to focus on Martin Buber as a political thinker and to consider the character of his fundamental political ideas and commitments. He does this primarily as an intellectual historian, with a very rich sense of Buber's political activities and involvements. Brilliantly conceived, well-written, filled with deep readings and analysis."—Michael L. Morgan, author of Levinas's Ethical Poltics"Samuel Hayim Brody's book addresses an absolutely central, yet hitherto neglected, topic in Martin Buber's thought, which not only situates his philosophical trajectory in an intellectual-historical context, especially of the Weimar years, but also makes a persuasive argument for the pivotal role of theopolitics in that trajectory. A majesterial study in every way and certain to become the authoritative book in its field."—Asher Biemann, author of Dreaming of Michelangelo: Jewish Variations on a Modern ThemeTable of ContentsPrefaceAcknowledgments Note on Translation/Transliteration List of Abbreviations Introduction: What is Theopolitics? Part One: From Anarchism to Anarcho-Theocracy: The Birth of Theopolitics1. The True Front: Buber and Landauer on Anarchism and Revolution2. The Serpent: Theopolitics from Weimar to Nazi Germany3. God against Messiah: The Kingship of God and the Ancient Israelite Anarcho-TheocracyPart Two: The Anointed and the Prophet: Theopolitics in Israel from Exodus to Exile4. Between Pharaohs and Nomads: Moses5. The Arcanum of the Monarchy: The Anointed6. The Battle for YHVH: The Prophetic FaithPart Three: Theopolitics and Zion 7. Palestinian Rain: Zionism as Applied Theopolitics8. This Pathless Hour: Theopolitics in the PresentConclusion: The Narrow Ridge, the Razor's EdgeAppendix: Martin Buber to Hans Kohn, 10/4/1939BibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisThis acclaimed volume on the personal faith of the twentieth-century British Prime Ministers casts a new perspective on every holder of the highest political office in the realmTrade ReviewMark Vickers has given us a wonderful new reference book of the beliefs (and non-beliefs) of 20th-century PMs – a meaty volume that can also be consumed as a social history of British religion. * The Telegraph *This is a remarkable book, one which goes where historians have in the past been reluctant to go. It is packed with information and insights . . . so full of new perception that it has to be read not just by political buffs, but by anyone concerned with the role of religion in public life. * The Irish Catholic *A long, rich, detailed, and engaging survey of our leaders’ souls * Nick Spencer in the Church Times *Mark Vickers has served up a treat in this magnum opus. God in Number 10 is an intriguing survey, full of unexpected twists and turns . . . well-written and well-researched . . an ideal present for someone interested in both politics and religion. * Evangelicals Now *A finely nuanced and fascinating study which yields sometimes surprising insights . . . chapters on Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair are exceptionally fair and well-balanced. -- Raymond Asquith * Catholic Herald *Anyone interested in politics and religion should get this book. [It] is a wonderful anthology. Mark Vickers writes in a sober, unsensational style, yet produces something surprising or even bizarre on almost every page. -- Andrew Gimson * Conservative Home *Faith defined the reigns of many of our kings and queens. The faith of the Prime Ministers, however, has been largely overlooked by historians. This carefully researched and well-written study reveals the religious faith of our Prime Ministers, or lack of it, in vivid colours. Prepare to be shocked and surprised as the author lays bare their souls -- Sir Anthony Seldon, Biographer of the Prime MinistersA brilliant, fascinating, surprising, sometimes touching parade of nineteen believers, heretics, agnostics, atheists, mystics, astrologers, bigots and Bible-thumping pagans: enlightening and entertaining from start to finish. -- Brendan Walsh * The Tablet *Secularism has air brushed the role of religion from the formation and motivation of our Prime Ministers. This book demonstrates the conclusive and increasing importance of faith in the lives of the twentieth-century premiers. -- Jeremy Black, Emeritus Professor of History, University of ExeterDo Christian beliefs, values and prayer have a place in contemporary politics? What have we to fear if they don't? This timely study reveals the surprising extent to which the Prime Ministers of the last century were influenced by their Christian upbringing and faith – and suggests how their successors could benefit from a similar ethical foundation. -- Tim Farron, MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, 2015-17

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Book SynopsisThe How to Fight Racism Study Guide, used together with the How to Fight Racism Video Study, provides groups and individuals with practical tools and suggestions, along with real-world examples of change, to enable them to become proactive initiators of racial justice.

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Book SynopsisAre you discouraged by our divided, angry culture, where even listening to a different perspective sometimes feels impossible? If so, you''re not alone, and it doesn''t have to be this way. Learning to Disagree reveals the surprising path to learning how to disagree in ways that build new bridges with our neighbors, coworkers, and loved ones--and help us find better ways to live joyfully in a complex society.In a tense cultural climate, is it possible to disagree productively and respectfully without compromising our convictions? Spanning a range of challenging issues--including critical race theory, sexual assault, campus protests, and clashes over religious freedom--highly regarded thought leader and law professor John Inazu helps us engage honestly and empathetically with people whose viewpoints we find strange, wrong, or even dangerous.As a constitutional scholar, legal expert, and former litigator, John has spent his career learning how t

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Book SynopsisThis book explores the ways in which the ecologically centred Indian philosophy of Jainism could introduce a new and non-western methodology to environmental politics, with the potential to help the green movement find new audiences and a new voice. Aidan Rankin begins with a description of the ideas and principles that distinguish Jainism from other Indian (and western) philosophies. He goes on to compare and contrast these principles with those of current environmental politics and to demonstrate the specific ways in which Jain ideas can assist in driving the movement forward. These include the reduction of material consumption, the ethical conduct of business within sustainable limits, and the avoidance of exploitative relationships with fellow humans, animals and ecosystems. Overall, the book argues that Jain pluralism could be a powerful tool for engaging non-western societies with environmental politics, allowing for an inclusive approach to a global ecological problem.Trade Review"I am impressed each time by the ancient worldview of Jainism, as presented by Aidan Rankin. The climate crisis reminds us of the vulnerability of human life when it becomes disconnected from its natural origin. Therefore, the necessity of bridging the gap between the modern world and the ancient cultures is more needed than ever before." -- Fons Elders, Emeritus Professor of the Theory of Worldviews at the University for Humanist Studies, Utrecht, the Netherlands"This book fills an important gap in our understanding of the connection between Jainism (and other Dharmic traditions influenced by Jainism) and environmental politics. It emphasises the important, perhaps essential, role that non-western worldviews can play in addressing issues of sustainability. The book is very timely in that it coincides with the rise of India as an economic power facing severe environmental problems as well as a greater global interest in the role of spiritual or religious traditions in addressing environmental questions. It is an important read for environmental activists seeking to incorporate non-western ideas into their political thinking." -- Daniel T. Ostas, Professor & James G. Harlow, Jr. Chair in Business Ethics, Michael F. Price College of Business, University of Oklahoma, USA"Impressive and fascinating insights into Jainism. The case study of the jeweller Vardhaman Gems and its business and environmental philosophies illustrates succinctly how Jain principles are applied successfully in a practical way." -- Paul Barker, President, Leeds Theosophical Society, UK"Through this book, Aidan Rankin open us up to the breadth and depth of Jainism with its outlook and practices that are deeply relevant for our time of ecological crisis. This book brings much needed hope in these challenging times." -- Ian Mowll is the coordinator of GreenSpirit (www.greenspirit.org.uk) and an Interfaith Minister, UKTable of Contents1 Introduction 2 The Jain voice and political ecology 3 The Jain theory of pluralism: transcending the politics of protest? 4 Jainism and environmental politics: a radical synthesis? Index

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Book SynopsisPractical theology has become a well-established academic discipline in Britain and Ireland over the past half century, evidenced in its chairs, journals, books, conferences, and contribution to transformed practices. The British and Irish Association for Practical Theology (BIAPT) and its journal, Practical Theology, has had a significant role to play in the story of the discipline.This volume is a celebration of practical theology in Britain and Ireland in all its inventiveness and variety on the occasion of BIAPT's twenty-fifth birthday. It offers an account of its roots in its emergence from the Scottish Pastoral Association in the 1960s, its trajectories established in the journal Contact/Practical Theology and how human experience has been a constant companion on the journey. The book considers a range of methodologies including engagement with popular culture, public theology, the arts, and the importance of conversation. It explores new shoots in Table of ContentsIntroduction Part I: Roots 1. Soil, roots and shoots: the emergence of BIAPT 2. Keeping Contact: traditions and trajectories of British and Irish practical theology as evidenced in the history of BIAPT’s journal 3. The human face of God: notes on a journey through practical theology Part II: Methodologies 4. Theology in practice, in an age of wizards, hobbits and vampires 5. Creative arts-based research methods in practical theology: constructing new theologies of practice 6. No longer ‘speaking truth to power’ 7. Conversations in practical theology Part III: Pluralities 8. Shoots of equal marriage and partnership in the Church of England: a harvest rooted and nurtured through practical theology 9. Doing diaspora practical theology: insights into how culture, ethnicity and national identity shape theological practices and expressions of UK-African diaspora churches 10. Pluralising practical theology: international and multi-traditional challenges and opportunities 11. Practical Theology on the Island of Ireland Part IV: Challenges 12. The ubiquity of ignorance: a practical theological challenge of our time 13. Back to the future: intercultural, postcolonial and inter-religious streams in practical theology 14. What comes next? Practical theology, faithful presence, and prophetic witness

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Book SynopsisIn this remarkable work, Weil analyses the causes of oppression, its mechanisms and forms, and questions revolutionary responses while presenting a prophetic view of a way forward.Trade Review'We must simply expose ourselves to the personality of a woman of genius, of a kind of genius akin to that of the saints.' - T. S. Eliot; 'Simone Weil has become a legend and her writings are regarded as a classic document of our period.' - the New Yorker

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Book SynopsisThrough two years of ethnographic fieldwork at a megachurch, sociologist Sarah Diefendorf investigates the ways in which the evangelical church is working to grow during a time in which cultural shifts are leading young people to leave religion behind. In order to expand, the church has revisited topics long understood as external threats to the organization, such as feminism, gender equality, racial inclusivity, and queer lifetopics Diefendorf classifies as the imagined secular in the minds of evangelicals. The Holy Vote shows, however, that the church continues to uphold already privileged identities even as it reworks its messages to appear more welcoming, offering insight into how White evangelical understandings about sex and families have shaped a political movement that has helped remake the Republican Party and transform American politics. In this enlightening work, Diefendorf highlights the complex origins of these understandings and considers their intersections with contemTrade Review"A keenly perceptive ethnographic study. . . . it should attract a wide range of readers, not just those interested in sociology of religion or White evangelicals, but anyone interested in the endurance of social inequalities." * Social Forces *Table of ContentsContents Acknowledgments 1. Good and Godly in Trump’s America 2. The Fear of Religious and Cultural Decline 3. The Imagined Secular: Confronting Feminism, Gender, and Family Life 4. White Evangelicals: Emotion Work and Racial Inequality 5. Sacred Sex: Marriage and Heterosexuality 6. We Aren’t the Extremists: Same-Sex Marriage and Changing Ideas of Sin 7. Enduring Inequalities in Unsettled Times Appendix A: Navigating Prayer, Positionality, and Institutional Review Appendix B: Participant Overview Notes References Index

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewAside from the intrinsic merits of this collection, its timing could not be more vital ... it is a fine and valuable contribution. * The Pastoral Review *This is an excellent resource. The editors have produced a volume that can be used as an introduction to the study of ‘political theology’ from a theological perspective, as an aid to teaching and learning, and as a tool for those who are more familiar with the field. * Crucible, the Journal of Christian Social Ethics *Table of ContentsIntroduction I. The Emergence of Political Theology Introduction by Amy Daughton 1. Scriptural Sources 1 Samuel 8; Luke 1.68-79; Matthew 25.31-46; Luke 23.33-43 Augustine, City of God (excerpts) 2. Gregory of Nyssa, ‘First Homily on the Love of the Poor, or On God Works’ 3. John Chrysostom, ‘First Homily on Lazarus and the Rich Man, or On Wealth and Poverty’ 4. Augustine of Hippo - City of God, Book XIX, Chapters 11-28 5. Augustine of Hippo - Letters 189, 220 6. Thomas Aquinas - Extracts from Summa Theologiae 7. Thomas Aquinas - Extracts from De regimine principum 8. Discussion Questions II. Approaches to Political Theology Introduction by Anna Rowlands 9. Carl Schmitt - Definition of Sovereignty 10. Jürgen Moltmann - Covenant or Leviathan? Political Theology for Modern Times 11. Johannes Baptist Metz - Theology in the New Paradigm: Political Theology 12. Dorothy Soelle - Extracts from the Silent Cry: Mysticism and Resistance 13. Jürgen Habermas – Faith and Knowledge 14. Discussion Questions III. The Church and the Political Introduction by Anna Rowlands 15. Martin Luther - Extracts from Appeal to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation 16. Martin Luther - Extracts from On Secular Authority: How Far Does the Obedience Owed to IT Extend? 17. John Calvin - Of Civil Government 18. John Neville Figgis - Extracts from the Civic Standpoint 19. William Temple - What Christians Stand for in the Secular World 20. Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Karl Barth - The Aryan Clauses and Further Correspondence 21. Dorothy Day - Why 22. Dorothy Day - Extracts from We Go on Record 23. Discussion Questions IV. The Politics of Jesus Introduction by Elizabeth Phillips 24. John Howard Yoder - Are You the One Who Is to Come? 25. Michael Sattler - The Schleitheim Articles 26. Reinhold Niebuhr - The Ethic of Jesus and the Social Problem 27. James Cone - Jesus Christ in Black Theology 28. Discussion Questions V. Violence and Peace Introduction by Elizabeth Phillips 29. Tertullian - Extracts from On The Crown 30. Ambrose of Milan - Extracts from On the Duties of Clergy, Book I 31. Pilgram Marpeck - Concerning the Lowliness of Christ 32. Martin Luther King, Jr. - A Time to Breal Silence 33. William T. Cavanaugh - Violence Religious and Secular: Questioning the Categories 34. Rowan Williams - Do Human Rights Exist? 35. Discussion Questions VI. Liberalism and Democracy Introduction by Anna Rowlands 36. Thomas Hobbes - Extracts from Leviathan 37. Stanley Hauerwas - The Church and Liberal Democracy 38. John Milbank - Liberality versus Liberalism 39. Christopher Insole - Theology and Politics: The Intellectual History of Liberalism 40. Eric Gregory - Love and Citizenship after Augustine 41. Aristotle Papanikolaou - The Politics of Divine-Human Communion 42. Discussion Questions VII. Oppression, Marginalization and Liberation Introduction by Amy Daughton 43. Leo XIII - Extracts from Rerum Novarum 44. Jon Sobrino - Extracts from Extra Pauperes Nulla Salus: A Short Utopian Prophetic Essay 45. Marcella Althaus-Reid - ¿Bién Sonados? The Future of Mystical Connections in Liberation Theology 46. J. Kameron Carther - Interlude on Christology and Race 47. Rosemary Radford Ruether - Extracts from Sexism and God-Talk: Toward a Feminist Theology 48. Musa Dube - Reading for Decolonization (John 4.1-42) 49. Discussion Questions VIII. Creation, History and Eschatology Introduction by Elizabeth Philips 50. Charles Mathewes - The Republic of Grace; or, the Public Ramifications of Heaven 51. Oliver O’Donovan - The Political Thought of the Book of Revelation 52. Sergii Bulgakov - The Soul of Socialism 53. Slavoj Žižek - Extracts from Thinking Backward: Predestination and Apocalypse 54. Discussion Questions Suggestions for Further Reading Scripture Index Subject Index

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewHow refreshing to read an honest yet affectionate exchange between the Islamist-turned-liberal-Muslim Maajid Nawaz and the neuroscientist who advocates mindful atheism, Sam Harris… Their back-and-forth clarifies multiple confusions that plague the public conversation about Islam. -- Irshad Manji * New York Times Book Review *Provocative and profane… Islam and the Future of Tolerance exemplifies the virtues of open dialogue… All Harris and Nawaz seek is to give voice to the spirit of rebellion and reformation smoldering in the lands of Islam. Forcing it into flame will doubtless be a long time coming, but these two men should be lauded for endeavoring to provide a spark. -- Brian Stewart * National Review *It is sadly uncommon, in any era, to find dialogue based on facts and reason—but even more rarely are Muslim and non-Muslim intellectuals able to maintain critical distance on broad questions about Islam. Which makes Islam and the Future of Tolerance something of a unicorn. Nawaz and Harris discuss Islamism and jihadism from a historical as well as a philosophical angle, with no trace of sentiment or dogma. Most conversations about religion are marked by the inability of either side to listen, but here, at last, is a proper debate. * New Statesman *The ideas it leaves behind—about religion, politics, values and interpretation—linger long after the book is finished. They seem a vital contribution to the current conversation, so often defined by the real or imagined divides that the authors encourage us to cross… Islam and the Future of Tolerance deepens our understanding of religion, ideology, politics and the possibility of common ground. It could hardly come at a better time. -- Jeremy Rutledge * Post and Courier *[A] wise little volume. -- Ray Olson * Booklist *Readers with a knee-jerk opinion of Islam will learn a lot. * Kirkus Reviews *A worthwhile read on the state of Islam and religious tolerance in the world today… Those interested in a deferential and detailed dialogue about human rights, Islam, jihadism, and pluralism will find this book both enlightening and engaging. * Publishers Weekly *In this conversation, Sam Harris and Maajid Nawaz achieve what so many who take part in the debate on Islam and the West fail to accomplish: a civil but honest dialogue. The result is as illuminating as it is fascinating. Courteous and at times even chivalrous, the two men address every thorny issue on Islam, issues that lead so many others into wild shouting matches, personal attacks, and accusations of Islamophobia. In this gem of a book the authors lay it all out and set the rest of us a great example: that an incisive debate on Islam between a believer and a non-believer is attainable. Given the importance and the urgency of the topic, we must all read it and follow in their footsteps. -- Ayaan Hirsi Ali, author of Infidel, Nomad, and HereticFree thought and rational inquiry once characterized the relative liberalism and humanism of ancient Muslim societies and civilizations: the leading Sunni Imam, Abu Hanifa, would debate atheists inside the great mosques of Iraq; the Abbasid caliphs hosted debates amongst the leaders of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam at their courts in Baghdad; the Mughal emperors engaged in debate with Christians, Hindus, and Buddhists. Sam Harris and Maajid Nawaz should be commended for conducting a frank and wide-ranging conversation about a number of key issues around religion, reform, and Islam in the modern world. Nawaz’s approach is based upon detailed familiarity with extremist worldviews, and with the history and tradition of reform theology and renewal within Islam that desperately needs to be amplified. I hope that this debate will be a fruitful endeavor, and illustrate that, in our increasingly-polarized world, it is possible and even normal for people with different viewpoints to have a civilized conversation and to learn from each other. -- Sheikh Dr. Usama Hasan, Islamic scholarBack in Islam’s formative centuries, the engagement of Muslims with their ideological opponents helped them to forge the doctrines and traditions of their nascent faith—and perhaps now, as Maajid Nawaz locks horns with Sam Harris, we are at the start of another stage in Islam’s evolution. It is certainly a privilege to read their conversation, and to enjoy a flavor of those great debates between rival scholars that were once staged for the entertainment of the Caliph in Baghdad. -- Tom Holland, historian and author of In the Shadow of the Sword: The Birth of Islam and the Rise of the Global Arab EmpireThe reform of Islam is shaping up to be the most important issue in political ideology of the twenty-first century. This honest and intelligent dialogue is a superb exploration of the intellectual and moral issues involved. -- Steven Pinker, author of The Better Angels of Our Nature

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A detailed look at religion’s role in American democracy." * Kirkus Reviews *

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Book SynopsisWeb of Lies is a fascinating and far-reaching examination of the rising threat of far-right extremist thought in Ireland and internationally, and looks at how these movements utilise the online world to spread disinformation, polarising society in the process. From the Illuminati to the Red Scare, Save the Children to QAnon, research analyst Aoife Gallagher shows that there are many pathways to radicalisation most of them benign and unassuming and demonstrates that we are all susceptible to conspiratorial thinking and at risk of falling down the rabbit hole.In an accessible and entertaining style, Web of Lies presents a history of conspiracy theories and their roots in anti-Semitism, xenophobia and white supremacy; the role social media plays in spreading these theories; how they can proliferate during times of crises; and what we can do to protect ourselves and others from falling victim to these messages.Ever wondered how good people

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Book SynopsisSecond edition of the history of Islamic political thought that traces its roots from early Islam to the current age of Fundamentalism (622 AD to 2010 AD).Trade ReviewThis is an outstanding and most welcome book. Since its first publication in 2001, Islam and its corollaries of Islamism and Islamophobia have become household words and everyday currency in Western media. Unfortunately, the upsurge of rhetoric is not equivalent to any substantial knowledge in this area. Fortunately, this revised and updated edition of the text can remedy the pervasive historical and intellectual knowledge gaps. Antony Black, one of the most renowned historians of intellectual and religious ideas, offers us a guide to a complex but crucially important topic in our time. His book deserves the widest possible readership. -- Fred Dallmayr, author of Dialogue Among Civilizations This is an outstanding and most welcome book. Since its first publication in 2001, Islam and its corollaries of Islamism and Islamophobia have become household words and everyday currency in Western media. Unfortunately, the upsurge of rhetoric is not equivalent to any substantial knowledge in this area. Fortunately, this revised and updated edition of the text can remedy the pervasive historical and intellectual knowledge gaps. Antony Black, one of the most renowned historians of intellectual and religious ideas, offers us a guide to a complex but crucially important topic in our time. His book deserves the widest possible readership.Table of ContentsMap; Time Chart; Introduction; Part I: The Messenger and the Law c.622-1000; 1. The Mission of Muhammad; 2. The Idea of Monarchy under the Umayyads and 'Abbasids c.661-850; 3. The Formation of the Shari'a; 4. Shi'ism; 5. The Restoration of Persia c.850-1050; 6. Knowledge and Power: Philosophy without the Polis; Part II: Religion and State Power (din wa dawla): Sunni Doctrine & the State c.900-1220; 7. The Theory of the Caliphate; 8. State and Religion under the Saljuqs; 9. Al-Ghazali: Mysticism and Politics; 10. The Ethics of Power: Advice-to-Kings (nasihat al-muluk); 11. Ibn Rushd; 12. The Politics of Sufism; Part III: The Shari'a and the Sword c.1220-1500; 13. The Rape of Asia; 14. Mamluk Ideology and the Sultan-Caliph; 15. Nasir al-Din Tusi (1201-74): Social Philosophy and Status Groups; 16. Ibn Taymiyya (1263-1328): Shari'a Governance (al-siyasa al-shari'yya); 17. The Delhi Sultanate and al-Barani: Statecraft and Morality; 18. Ibn Khaldun (1332-1406): The Science of Civilization and the Governance of Islam; 19. The Decline of Classical Islamic Political Thought; Part IV: Religious Ideology and Political Control in Early Modern States; 20. A New World Order; 21. The State of the House of Osman (devlet-i al-i Osman); 22. The Safavids; 23. India and the Mughals; 24. The Decline and Reform of the Ottoman Empire; Part V: Islam and the West; 25. Modernism from the Ottoman Reforms to the Turkish Revolution; 26. Conservatism and Modernism in Iran; 27. Islamism; 28. Islamism, Reformism and the Secular State; Conclusion; Glossary; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisThis Element introduces readers to the problem of anticultism and antireligious movements in France. It offers an overview of anticultism in France, discusses the case of American-born Church of Scientolog, and concludes with reflections on the future of new and minority religions in France.

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Book SynopsisThe Dark Side of Church/State Separation analyzes the Enlightenment''s attack upon the Judeo-Christian tradition and its impact upon the development of secular regimes in France, Germany, and Russia. Such regimes followed the anti-Semitic/anti-Christian agenda of the French Enlightenment in blaming the Judeo-Christian tradition for all the ills of European society and believing that human beings can develop their own set of values and purposes through rational means, apart from any revelation from God or Scripture.Stephen Strehle''s analysis extends our understanding of church/state relations and its history. He confirms the spiritual roots of modern anti-Semitism within the ideology of the Enlightenment and recognizes the intimate relationship between anti-Semitism and anti-Christianity. Strehle questions the absolute doctrine of church/state separation, given its background in the bigotries of the philosophes. He notes the nefarious motives of subsequent rTable of ContentsIntroduction I France and the Modern etat 1 Voltaire and English Deists 2 The Philosophes 3 The French Revolution 4 The Process of Secularization 5 Laicite II Nazi Germany 6 The Rise of the Third Reich 7 The Immediate Sources of Hitler's Ideology 8 The Metaphysics of Voluntarism 9 Biblical Criticism and Liberal Theology 10 The Growth of Anti-Semitism and Anti-Christianity: Inside and Outside the Church 11 German Etatism, Racism, and Ethnocentrism III International Communism 12 The First International: Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels 13 The Second International: Karl Kautsky 14 The Third International: Lenin, Stalin, and Khrushchev Postscript Index

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Book SynopsisSecularization' sounds simple, a decline in the power of religion. Yet, the history of the term is controversial and multi-faceted; it has been useful to both religious believers and non-believers and has been deployed by scholars to make sense of a variety of aspects of cultural and social change. This book will introduce the reader to this variety and show how secularization bears on the contemporary politics of religion. Secularization addresses the sociological classics' ambivalent accounts of the future of religion, later and more robust sociological claims about religious decline, and the most influential philosophical secularization thesis, which says that the dominant ideas of modern thought are in fact religious ones in a secularized form. The book outlines some shortcomings of these accounts in the light of historical inquiry and comparative sociology; examines claims that some religions are resistant to secularization'; and analyzes controversies in the poliTrade Review"Charles Turner has provided us with a well-informed, witty, and frequently surprising critical introduction to the concept of secularization, its voluminous literature, and its central place in the work of the classic social thinkers, as well as in the thinking of a long list of important Continental intellectuals. Its insightful discussion of Islam is a special bonus."Stephen Turner, Distinguished University Professor, University of South Florida"Charles Turner's primer on secularization is essential reading. Refreshingly open, non-moralizing, historically-alert, sociologically-comprehensive, culturally broad-ranging and politically astute, Secularization provides both succinct insight into secularization as a much-contested concept and much pithy guidance as to its real uses as well as limitations. Turner writes with an engagingly direct and accessible style whilst never losing sight of the genuine difficulties in any consideration of these issues. His discussion has at once a lightness of tone and a genuine depth of insight that will appeal to the curious and uninitiated as well as to the seasoned, weathered thinker on these matters - everyone can gain something from this book".Thomas Osborne, Professor of Social and Political Theory, University of BristolTable of Contents1. The Career of a Concept 2. Secularization and Ambivalence 3. Four Sociological Secularization Gospels 4. Secularization and Philosophy 5. The Revenge of History and Sociology 6. Fundamentalism, Zombie Religion, Secular Religion 7. An Inconclusive Conclusion

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Book SynopsisCraig Martin is Professor of Religious Studies, St. Thomas Aquinas College, USA. He is co-editor of Stereotyping Religion: Critiquing Clichés (Bloomsbury, 2018), and author of Capitalizing Religion (Bloomsbury, 2014) and Discourse and Ideology (Bloomsbury, 2022). Brad Stoddard is Associate Professor of Religious Studies, McDaniel College, USA. He is co-editor of Stereotyping Religion: Critiquing Clichés (Bloomsbury, 2018) and Race, Ethnicity, and New Religious Movements (Bloomsbury, 2019).Trade ReviewStereotyping Religion II shows, in clear straightforward examples, how the way we think about things limits what we can see. The authors of these chapters demonstrate how stereotypes erase some possibilities and make other seem inevitable, rooted in the very nature of reality. Even more, they show how stereotypes held across the political spectrum are incompatible, opening up new ways of thinking through some of our most vexing issues. * Julie Ingersoll, Professor of Religious Studies, University of North Florida, USA *Another set of popular conceptions are challenged in this fine volume, demonstrating forcefully the need to continue shaking common assumptions about religion. * Teemu Taira, Senior Lecturer of Religious Studies, University of Helsinki, Finland *Table of ContentsContributor Bios Acknowledgments Introduction 1. “Religion is personal and not subject to government regulation,” Savannah Finver (Ohio State University, USA) 2. “Religious freedom is about religious freedom,” Rita Lester (Nebraska Wesleyan University, USA) and Jacob Barrett (University of Alabama, USA) 3. “All religions are against LGBTQ rights,” James Crossley (St. Mary's University, UK) 4. “Spirituality is about spirituality,” Brad Stoddard (McDaniel College, USA) and Craig Martin (St. Thomas Aquinas College, USA) 5. “Eastern religions are more spiritual than Western religions,” Ting Guo (The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong) 6. “Each religion has an authentic, unchanging core,” David G. Robertson (The Open University, UK) 7. “Religion and science naturally conflict,” Donovan Schaefer (University of Pennsylvania, USA) 8. “Conservative religions oppress women (while liberal religions don’t),” Leslie Dorrough Smith (Avila University, USA) 9. “Religious pluralism gives everyone a voice,” Martha Smith Roberts (Denison University, USA) 10. “Cults are not real religions,” Matthew Baldwin (Mars Hill University, USA) Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisFifty years on, a compelling new perspective on one of the most violent and controversial events of The Troubles in Northern Ireland.

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Book SynopsisThis new history of the Christian right does not stop at national or religious boundaries. Benjamin Cowan chronicles the advent of a hemispheric religious movement whose current power and influence make headlines and generate no small amount of shock in Brazil and the United States.

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Book SynopsisArchbishop Rowan Williams is the most gifted Anglican priest of his generation. His views are consistent and orthodox and yet he has been consistently misunderstood - especially in relation to his views on contemporary society, public morality and the common good.In this, the final published work of his Archepiscopate, Dr Williams has assembled a series of chapters on matters of immediate public concern and the relationship of Christianity to these issues. Among his topics are ''Has Secularism Failed?: Europe, Faith and Culture'', ''Human Rights and Religious Faith'', Changing the Myths We Live By'', ''Housekeeping: The Economic Challenge'', ''The Gifts Reserved for Age: Perceptions of the Elderly'', and ''Analysing Atheism''.Trade ReviewIn this often brilliant, always stimulating, and unfailingly even-handed book, the former Archbishop of Canterbury weaves his erudition and Christian faith into a thread that guides him through the labyrinth where contemporary politics, secularism, ignorance, intolerance, good will, and virtue are to be found ... Williams argues brilliantly for the relevance of both religion and politics, and the contribution of each to the other. -- Anthony J. Gittins * Catholic Library World *Table of ContentsIntroduction Part One: Secularism and its Discontents 1. Has Secularism Failed? 2. Secularism, Faith and Freedom 3. Convictions, Loyalties and the Secular State 4. Law, Power and Peace 5. Europe, Faith and Culture 6. Religion, Culture, Diversity and Tolerance 7. The Spiritual and the Religious Part Two: Liberalism, Pluralism and Law 8. Multiculturalism: Friend or Foe? 9. Faith and Enlightenment 10. Pluralism and the Public and Religious Spheres 11. Religious Hatred and Religious Offence 12. Religious Faith and Human Rights 13. Human Rights and Religious Faith Part Three: Living within Limits: The Environment 14. Changing the Myths We Live By 15. Renewing the Face of the Earth: Human Responsibility and the Environment 16. Climate Crisis: Fashioning a Christian Response Part Four: Housekeeping: The Economic Challenge 17. Ethics, Economics and Global Justice 18. Theology and Economics: Two Different Worlds? Part Five: Justice in Community 19. Sustainable Communities 20. The Gifts Reserved for Age: Perceptions of the Elderly 21. Criminal Justice 22. Big Society-Small World? Part Five: Religious Diversity and Civil Agreement 23. Analysing Atheism: Unbelief and the World of Faith 24. Religious Diversity and Social Unity 25. Faith Communities in a Civil Society Part Six: Rediscovering Religion 26. Religious Lives Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisUncovering a history buried by different nationalist narratives (Jewish, Israeli, Arab and Palestinian) this book looks at how the late Ottoman era set the stage for the on-going Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

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Book SynopsisProposes a framework of Muslim democracy that reconciles public claims made by Muslims with the normative and practical demands of democratic regimes.

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Book SynopsisOne of the most enigmatic figures in history, Nostradamus - apothecary, astrologer and soothsayer - is a continual source of fascination. Indeed, his predictions are so much the stock-in-trade of the wildest merchants of imminent Doom that one could be forgiven for forgetting that Michel de Nostredame, 1503-1566, was a figure firmly rooted in the society of the French Renaissance. In this bold new account of the life and work of Nostradamus, Denis Crouzet shows that any attempt to interpret his Prophecies at face value is misguided. Nostradamus was not trying to predict the future. He saw himself, rather, as 'prophesying', i.e. bringing the Word of God to humankind. Like Rabelais, for whom laughter was a therapy to help one cope with the misery of the times, Nostradamus thought of himself as a physician of the soul as much as of the body. His unveiling of the menacing and horrendous events which await us in the future was a way of frightening his readers into the realisation that inner hatred was truly the greatest peril of all, to which the sole remedy was to live in the love and peace of Christ. This inspired interpretation penetrates the imaginative world of Nostradamus, a man whose life is as mysterious as his writings. It shows him in a completely new dimension, securing for him a significant place among the major thinkers of the Renaissance.Trade Review"This study by the distinguished historian of Renaissance France, Denis Crouzet, is a milestone in studies of Nostradamus for two reasons: its attention to the sixteenth century context of the prophecies, and its 'anti-interpretation', arguing that the meaning of the texts 'is always left hanging in the air'."Peter Burke, University of Cambridge "In this very subtle and thought-provoking book Denis Crouzet makes sense of Nostradamus precisely by accepting his deliberate obscurity. The extraordinary violence and disquieting imagery of his quatrains can be compared with the paintings of Bosch, portraying a world turned upside down where sin and cruelty presage divine punishment. Crouzet skillfully weaves this into a broader understanding of the spiritual and emotional imaginary of the Reformation era, when all old certainties seemed to be melting down, amidst terrifying human savagery."Robin Briggs, All Souls College, University of OxfordTable of ContentsTranslator�s Preface Introduction. Fragments of History 1. The Place Beyond Words 2. A Self-Contradictory Utterance 3. Treasures Beneath an Oak Tree 4. A Would-Be Astrophile 5. Thresholds Dependant on Subjectivity 6. An Evangelist Cogito 7. �For the Common Profit of Mankind� 8. �A Burning Mirror� 9. Divine Light 10. From the All to the One 11. The Word of Creation 12. An Episteme of Reason 13. Sacredness and Nothingness 14. The Energetics of Obscurity 15. Powers of Evil 16. Man Against Man 17. All the Sins of the World 18. The Horror that Invites Horror 19. Faith: Trial and Tribulations 20. From Alpha to Omega 21. The Philology of Angst 22. The Panic Paradox 23. The Eschataology of the Rainbow 24. The Ontological Turn 25. Liberty in Christ By Way of Conclusion: Why Nostradamus? Notes Chronology Sources and Bibliography

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Book SynopsisThe religion of Orange politics offers an in-depth anthropological account of the Orange Order in Scotland. Based on ethnographic research collected before, during, and after the Scottish independence referendum, Joseph Webster details how Scotland’s largest Protestant-only fraternity shapes the lives of its members and the communities in which they live. Within this Masonic-inspired 'society with secrets', Scottish Orangemen learn how transform themselves and their fellow brethren into what they regard to be ideal British citizens. It is from this ethnographic context – framed by ritual initiations, loyalist marches, fraternal drinking, and constitutional campaigning – that the key questions of the book emerge: What is the relationship between fraternal love and sectarian hate? Can religiously motivated bigotry and exclusion be part of human experiences of ‘The Good?’ What does it mean to claim that one’s religious community is utterly exceptional – a literal ‘race apart’?Trade Review'Joseph Webster here confirms his reputation as an anthropologist of the hidden orders of power, prophecy, and secrecy that lie behind the everyday world. The religion of Orange politics is a timely reminder that religion, politics, and nationalism are intertwined in our identities in complex historic knots. Above all, it is a book about people, in all their flawed and noble humanity.'David G. Robertson, The Open University'Joseph Webster’s fascinating book is the most insightful, balanced and convincing study of the Orange Order in modern Scotland yet published. It deserves a wide readership.'Sir Tom Devine, University of Edinburgh -- .Table of ContentsIntroduction: Orangeism, Protestantism, anthropology1 Situating Scottish Orangeism2 The menace of Rome3 A society with secrets4 Fraternity and hate5 British togetherConclusion: ‘The Good’ of Orange exceptionalismBibliographyIndex

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Book Synopsis★ Publishers Weekly starred review "A nuanced look at America's legacy of scriptural language."--Publishers Weekly (starred review) Christianity Today 2024 Book Award Finalist (Politics and Public Life) How do Bible passages written thousands of years ago apply to politics today? What can we learn from America's history of using the Bible in politics? How can we converse with people whose views differ from our own? In The Ballot and the Bible, Kaitlyn Schiess explores these questions and more. She unpacks examples of how Americans have connected the Bible to politics in the past, highlighting times it was applied well and times it was egregiously misused. Schiess combines American political history and biblical interpretation to help readers faithfully read Scripture, talk with others about it, and apply it to contemporary political issues--and to their lives. Rather than prescribing what readers should think about specific hot-button issues, Schiess outlines core biblical themes around power, allegiance, national identity, and more. Readers will be encouraged to pursue a biblical basis for their political engagement with compassion and confidence.Table of ContentsContentsIntroduction: Is That Your Bible?1. A City on a Hill: An American Legacy of Puritan Biblical Interpretation2. Submission and Revolution: Romans 13 and American Identity3. "The Bible through Slave-Holding Spectacles": The Bible in the Civil War4. Your Kingdom Come: Social Gospel Hermeneutics5. A Stick of Dynamite: Civil Rights and Scripture6. Magic of the Market: The Hermeneutics of Small Government7. Late Great United States: Biblical Eschatology in the Cold War8. Prayer, Politics, and Personal Faith: George W. Bush's and Barack Obama's Use of Scripture9. "Give unto Caesar What Is Caesar's": Evangelicals and Trump10. Seek the Peace and Prosperity of the City: Jeremiah 29 and Political TheologyConclusion: The Promise and Peril of Biblical References in Politics

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Book SynopsisModern megachurches that dot the nation’s landscape may seem unorthodox with their stadium seating and showbiz flourishes, but they are deeply rooted in America’s history of mass evangelical movements that blend business principles and media savvy. In this even-handed and meticulously researched book, award-winning journalist and author David Clary traces the longstanding entrepreneurial roots of evangelicalism, and how America provided a perfect backdrop for the creation and proliferation of a movement and its enterprising preachers. In the beginning of the 19th century, George Whitefield transcended sectarianism and took his message to the people. Successors like Dwight L. Moody and ballplayer-turned-fundamentalist-preacher Billy Sunday united big business and revivalism. The flamboyant Los Angeles preacher Aimee Semple McPherson knew that radio’s intimacy was ideal for listeners seeking a personal relationship with Jesus and became the first American woman to hold a radio broadcasting license in 1924. Early to proponents the benefits of television, Billy Graham and Oral Roberts built multimedia empires with Graham embarking on worldwide crusades and counseling U.S. presidents. Protestant minister Norman Vincent Peale’s potent cocktail of psychology, self-help, and business tips framed by biblical guideposts sowed the seeds of today’s popular “prosperity gospel”. In the 1970s, Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell took up the torch of televangelism while still engaging in the business of winning souls and advancing their political ideas (political ideas that run much deeper than any one president or politician). Today’s prosperity megachurches – most notably Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston – may seem crass, but their message that believers can improve their material fortunes through faith is a powerful and pervasive one in America.This legacy even informs today’s evangelical pastors, who are trained to impose a corporate structure upon their churches. Soul Winners is a thoughtful and informative history that reveals the longstanding connections between business, politics, and religion in America, and the profound effect that evangelism has had on the country. Trade Review"Clary provides a smart, accessible overview of the history of modern evangelicalism and helps us understand how Christians who claim to represent the prince of peace became shills for Donald J. Trump—this is an excellent book." – Matthew Avery Sutton, author of Double Crossed: The Missionaries Who Spied for the United States During the Second World War

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Book SynopsisIn spring 2006 David Latimer’s church, First Derry Presbyterian, was paint bombed yet again. David’s usual reaction was to keep his head down and say nothing, but this time he decided to go public. Live on BBC Radio Foyle he appealed to Martin McGuinness for help, believing that he was the only man in the city who could stop the attacks. Little did David realise that within a few hours of the broadcast Martin McGuinness would be at the church, and that this first meeting would mark the beginning of a remarkable friendship, one cemented by a shared Christian faith and a joint commitment to peace building and improving the lives of young people. In this powerful memoir, David talks frankly about his close friendship with Martin – the criticism and opposition it provoked as well as the great comfort and encouragement it brought them. Most of all, this extraordinary book is testament to the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone, and proof that real change and reconciliation are possible when you take a leap of faith.

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Book SynopsisTwenty years on from her critically acclaimed book, Northern Protestants: An Unsettled People, Susan McKay talks again to the people she ‘uneasily’ called ‘her own’, those from a Protestant background in Northern Ireland. Against the backdrop of social justice movements, Brexit, the centenary of the foundation of the Northern Ireland state, and the prospect of a poll on Irish Unity, McKay interviews a wide range of people from all over Northern Ireland. They include students, politicians, ex-security force members, victims and survivors, former paramilitaries, business people, religious leaders, community workers, writers and many others. She seeks to understand how the Northern Protestant community is negotiating the ‘shifting ground’ on which it stands. She gives space to the Lundys, those who find in banishment the freedom to grow. The result is a vivid and multi-layered portrait of a surprisingly diverse and fluid community. Written with McKay’s trademark passion and conviction, and full of vulnerable and valiant testimony, this book is compelling, essential reading. A fascinating and constantly thought-provoking book. Sean O’Hagan, Observer Seamlessly weaves together personal stories and political events with deep emotional intelligence … Vital reading in all senses of the word. Claire Mitchell, Irish Times

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Book SynopsisFirst published in 2000, 'Northern Protestants - An Unsettled People' was an instant success and is widely recognised as a ground-breaking book. Based on over sixty in-depth interviews with a wide range of northern Protestants, Susan McKay presents an uncompromising and clear-eyed examination of her own people - the Protestants of Northern Ireland. Her analysis of the upheavals within the Protestant community and unionist politics is a thought-provoking contribution to current debates about Northern Ireland. This updated edition includes a new introduction, and provides the backdrop to her new title 'Northern Protestants - On Shifting Ground'.

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Book Synopsis‘His parting shot at opposing the storm of fanaticism breaking over our times’ Financial Times Dear Zealots is an essential collection of three essays written out of a sense of urgency, concern, and a belief that a better future is still possible. It touches on the universal nature of fanaticism and its possible cures; the Jewish roots of humanism and the need for a secular pride in Israel; and the geopolitical standing of Israel in the wider Middle East and internationally. Amos Oz boldly puts forward his case for a two-state solution in what he calls ‘a question of life and death for the State of Israel’. Wise, provocative, moving and inspiring, these essays illuminate the argument over Israeli, Jewish and human existence, shedding a clear and surprising light on vital political and historical issues, and daring to offer new ways out of a reality that appears to be closed down.'Concise, evocative... a brilliant book of thoughts and ideas' David GrossmanTrade ReviewA passionate polemic against dogmatism and defeatism... Oz refuses to give up on democracy, on Israel or on justice for Palestinians. -- Louise Adler * The Australian *

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Book SynopsisIn 1844, a young merchant from Shiraz called Sayyid ‘Ali-Muhammad declared himself the ‘gate’ (the Bab) to the Truth and, shortly afterwards, the initiator of a new prophetic cycle. His messianic call attracted a significant following across Iran and Iraq. Regarded as a threat by state and religious authorities, the Babis were subject to intense persecution and the Bab himself was executed in 1850. In this volume, leading scholars of Islam, Baha’i studies and Iranian history come together to examine the life and legacy of the Bab, from his childhood to the founding of the Baha’i faith and beyond. Among other subjects, they cover the Bab’s writings, his Qur’an commentaries, the societal conditions that underlay the Babi upheavals, the works of Babi martyr Tahirih Qurratu’l-‘Ayn, and Orientalist Edward Granville Browne’s encounters with Babi and Baha’i texts.Table of ContentsBiographies Acknowledgments A Note on Transliteration Map Preface 1 The Bab: A Sun in a Night Not Followed by Dawn | Fereydun Vahman · The Bab Discontinues his Formal Education and Begins his Mercantile Work · Epiphany, Piety, and Intuition · The Bab’s Journey to the Sacred Shrine Cities of ʻIraq · The Bab’s Return to Shiraz and Marriage · The Declaration of the Bab’s Cause: The Birth of a New Religion · After the Declaration of the Bab’s Cause · Mulla ʻAli Bastami · The Bab’s Eventful Journey to Mecca · The Bab’s Return from Pilgrimage and the Events of Shiraz · The Bab in Isfahan · From Isfahan to Azarbaijan · The Trial of Tabriz · The Return to Chihriq Prison · The Execution of the Bab in Tabriz · Bibliography 2 The Worldview of the Báb: The Reconstruction of Religion and Society | Nader Saiedi · Reconstruction of the Idea of Religion: Dialectical Logic and Historical Consciousness · Reconstruction of the Idea of the Human Being and Human Identity · Rationalism and Humanism ·· Equality of the Believers and Canceling of the Authority of the Clerics ·· Centrality of the Word and the Rejection of Miracles ·· Reconstruction of Heaven, Hell, and the Day of Resurrection ·· Reconstruction of the Concept of the Occultation and Return of the Imam · Equal Rights, Social Justice, and Ethics ·· Station of Women, Rejection of Patriarchy ·· The Ethical Maxim: For the Sake of God ·· Culture of Affirmation ·· Development and Modernization: Perfection and Refinement · Conclusion · Bibliography 3 The Shaping of the Babi Community: Merchants, Artisans, and Others | Abbas Amanat · The Changing Economy · The Babi Merchants · The Babi Artisans · Converts from the Government Ranks · The Babi Community: An Assessment · Selected Bibliography 4 From a Primal Point to an Archetypal Book: Literary Trajectories through Select Writings of the Bab (1819–50) | Stephen N. Lambden · The Writings of the Bab, Some Preliminary Observations · Bayan/Mubin (“Crystal Clear”) yet “Abstruse, Bewilderingly Abstruse (sa‘b mustasa‘b)”: Exegetical Clarity and Esoteric Depth in the Writings of the Bab · The Shahada (Testimony of Faith) and its Alphabetical Mysteries · Esoterica, the Abstruse, Sciences of the Unseen (‘ulūm alghayb) · The Style, Grammar, and Syntax of the Bab · Personal Letters, “Scriptural Tablets” (Lawh, pl. Alwah) ·· Letters or Scriptural Tablets · The Genesis of the New Shari‘a (Laws), the Khasa’il-i Sab‘a (mid. 1845) · The All-Comprehensive Bayan (Exposition) of the Bab · The Five Modes of Revelation · Devotional Writings of the Bab · Tafsir Sūrat al-Hamd (Praise) or al-Fatiha (“The Opening,” Q. 1) · “We indeed proffered thee al-Kawthar (The Abundance).” · Hadith Commentary · Commentaries on Hadith Texts by the Bab · Sūrat al-Ridwan · Khutbas, Literary Orations · The Khutba al-Jidda (Literary Oration Nigh Jeddah) · The Khutba on ‘ilm al-huruf (On the “Science of the Letters”) · Select Treatises (Risala, pl. Rasa’il), Epistles (Ṣahifa, pl. Ṣuhuf ) and Other Scriptural Communications · The Risala fi’l-nubuwwa al-khassa (A Treatise on the Specific Prophethood of Muhammad) · Epistles, Treatises, Booklets (Ṣahifa, pl. Ṣuhuf ) · The Persian Dala’il-i sab‘a (Seven Proofs) · The Arabic al-dala’il al-sab‘a (Seven Proofs) · Kitab al-asma’/Kull shay’ (The Book of the Divine Names, the “All Things”) · Kitab-i panj sha‘n (The Book expressive of Five Modes of Revelation) · The (Lawh‑i) Haykal al‑din (“Temple of Religion”) (1266/early–mid-1850) · The Late Messianism of the Bab · The Wasiyyat-nama (Will and Testament) Attributed to the Bab · Concluding Summary Note · Bibliography 5 Interpretation as Revelation: The Qur’án Commentary of the Báb, Sayyid ‘Alí Muḥammad Shírází (1819–50) | Todd Lawson · Life of the Báb · The Shaykhí School · Shaykhí Teachings · Tafsír Works ·· Tafsír súrat al-baqara ·· Tafsír súrat Yúsuf · Conclusions · Bibliography 6 The Social Basis of the Bābī Upheavals in Iran (1848–53): A Preliminary Analysis | Moojan Momen · Introduction · The Shaykh Ṭabarsī Upheaval: 1848–49 ·· Total Number of Bābīs at Shaykh Ṭabarsī ·· Rural/Urban Origin of Bābī Participants at Shaykh Ṭabarsī · The Nayrīz Upheavals of 1850 and 1853 ·· Occupations of Bābī Participants in the Two Nayrīz Upheavals ·· Origins of Participants at the Two Nayrīz Upheavals ·· Total Numbers of Bābī Participants at the Two Nayrīz Upheavals · The Zanjān Upheaval: 1850–51 ·· Occupations of Bābī Participants at Zanjān ·· Origins of Bābī Participants at Zanjān ·· Total Numbers of Bābī Participants at Zanjān · The Tehran Episodes of 1850 and 1852 ·· The Seven Martyrs of Tehran, 1850 ·· The Tehran Executions of 1852 ·· Occupations of the Bābīs Executed in Tehran in 1852 · Conclusions ·· A Comparative Analysis ·· The Role of Women ·· Other Social Groups ·· The Social Basis of Babism 7 The Babi–State Conflicts of 1848–50 | Siyamak Zabihi-Moghaddam · Babi Clashes with the State: Neither Social Protest nor Offensive Holy War · Review of the Primary Sources of the Babi Upheavals · An Outline of the Conflict at Shaykh Tabarsi, September 1848–May 1849 · The Objectives of the Babis at Shaykh Tabarsi · The Calm between Storms: May 1849–May 1850 · The Nayriz Conflict of May–June 1850 · An Analysis of the Objectives of Vahid and the Babis in Nayriz · Hujjat and the ‘Ulama’ of Zanjan · The Zanjan Episode of May 1850–January 1851 · An Analysis of the Objectives of Hujjat and the Zanjani Babis · Conclusion · Bibliography 8 From Babi Movement to the Baha’i Faith: Some Observations About the Evolution of a New Religion | Armin Eschraghi · Some General Observations on the Bab’s Sacred Law · Messianism in the Bab’s Writings · The Later Development of the Babi Movement · Baha’u’llah After the Bab’s Martyrdom · Babi Messianism and the Question of Leadership · Some General Observations on Baha’u’llah’s Sacred Law · Some Further Observations on the Baha’i Faith’s Evolution from the Babi Movement ·· Messianism ·· Ritual Impurity (najasah) ·· Holy War and Religious Legitimization of Violence · Conclusion · Bibliography 9 “The hand of God is not chained up”: Notes on Two Salient Themes in the Prose Writings of Ṭáhirih Qurratu’l-‘Ayn | Omid Ghaemmaghami · Introduction · Progressive Revelation · Love, Friendship, and Forbearance · Bibliography 10 Babi-Baha’i Books and Believers in E. G. Browne’s A Year amongst the Persians | Sholeh A. Quinn · Introduction · Terminology and Identifications · Isfahan · Shiraz ·· Books in Shiraz ·· Reading in Shiraz · Yazd · Kirman · Conclusion · The Texts Browne Encountered in Iran · Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe Arab revolutions of 2011 were a transformative moment in the modern history of the Middle East, as people rose up against long-standing autocrats throughout the region to call for 'bread, freedom and dignity'. With the passage of time, results have been decidedly mixed, with initial success stories like Tunisia contrasting with the emergence of even more repressive dictatorships in places like Egypt, with the backing of several Gulf states. Focusing primarily on Egypt, this book considers a relatively understudied dimension of these revolutions: the role of prominent religious scholars. While pro-revolutionary ulama have justified activism against authoritarian regimes, counter-revolutionary scholars have provided religious backing for repression, and in some cases the mass murder of unarmed protestors. Usaama al-Azami traces the public engagements and religious pronouncements of several prominent ulama in the region, including Yusuf al-Qaradawi, Ali Gomaa and Abdullah bin Bayyah, to explore their role in either championing the Arab revolutions or supporting their repression. He concludes that while a minority of noted scholars have enthusiastically endorsed the counter-revolutions, their approach is attributable less to premodern theology and more to their distinctly modern commitment to the authoritarian state.Trade Review‘[An] important study, the first comprehensive account of its kind.’ -- Asian Affairs‘Compelling.’ -- Middle East Policy'Al-Azami's book should be of great help to those interested in the religious dimensions of the Arab Spring debates. It provides important insights into the modes of argument and analysis of contemporary political discourse that is explicitly Islamic.' -- The Middle East Journal'Ten years after the Arab Spring, little attention has been given to the important role of religious scholars. Al-Azami's excellent book provides an extensive analysis of a myriad of discourses and political alliances. A must-read for researchers of modern Islam and Middle East studies.' -- Heba Raouf Ezzat, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Ibn Haldun University'Literature on the Arab Spring is vast, but a novel perspective and original dimension is rare. Al-Azami's book accomplishes both. He succinctly illustrates that the Arab Revolutions were also an epistemological battle, in which the ulama played a pivotal role. A quintessential read.' -- Wadah Khanfar, former director general of Al Jazeera Media Network and President of the Al Sharq Forum'A comprehensive account and analysis of how the events of the Arab Spring unfolded among the ranks of the ulama. Indispensable for anyone wanting to understand the fault lines which will dominate the Muslim world for years to come.' -- Jonathan A. C. Brown, Professor of Islamic Civilization, Georgetown University

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Book SynopsisMany Christians are nervous about politics - isn't the political world murky and sleazy, a den of deceit and backstairs deals? At the same time, the image of Christians in politics isn’t great either – often seen as judgemental hypocrites, intolerant and hateful control freaks... shouldn't this mean that faith and politics should be kept firmly apart? In A Mucky Business, Tim Farron, former Leader of the Liberal Democrats Party and friends, explore and defend why Christianity and politics should and must work together. If Christians are to love their neighbours, they need to engage with the issues that affect everyone. Why should Christians leave their beliefs at the door when they enter public life? No one else does! Tim Farron shares his experience as the UK’s best known Christian MP and draws on case studies from across the political spectrum. Many of these case studies come from his successful A Mucky Business podcast. Demonstrating that it’s possible to be both a Christian and to step into the political world with confidence. A Mucky Business will both inspired and better equip christians to care about politics, pray knowledgeably, and engage with politics effectively.Trade ReviewWhy should Christians engage in politics? Because Christ calls us to be salt of the earth, light of the world. Love of God and love of neighbour mean we are to get involved. Rooted in Scripture and prayer, this book brilliantly explains what that looks like in practice, how we can be compassionate without compromise in the fundamentals. It is part of a tradition that calls us to be 'the King's good servant, but God's first' (Thomas More). * Fr Mark Vickers, author of 'God in Number 10' *A frank, thought-provoking challenge to Christians to get involved with the world around them, whether through neighborhood projects or national politics. * Rob Hutton, Parliamentary Sketchwriter, Critic Magazine *This book offers a refreshingly honest, brave, insightful and reasoned account of Christian engagement in politics. It avoids being either naive or cynical. It draws on outstanding scholarship and provides practical wisdom. It not only argues that the gospel relates to all of life, including politics, but considers the challenges and opportunities of taking such a claim seriously. Politics is indeed a mucky business, and one in which we must play our part if we are serious about loving God and loving our neighbours as ourselves. * Paul Woolley, CEO, the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity *A fantastic read, A Mucky Business shows that social injustice should be on the heart of every Christian. Politics and the gospel are entwined in giving the world the good news of Jesus Christ. The different conversations in this book all speak the same language. Tim blends the text in such a way that the reader wants more. * Pastor Mick Fleming, leader of Church on the Street Ministries in Burnley, and author of Blown Away: From drug dealer to life bringer *Tim Farron is a hero of mine, and I’m so glad he’s written this book that will help Christians pursue faithfulness in all of life, including politics! I trust this book will be a great encouragement to all who have grown weary of our politics, and I believe it will empower Christians to make a difference for good. * Michael Wear, author of Reclaiming Hope: Lessons Learned in the Obama White House About the Future of Faith in America *Jesus didn’t run away from the muck. He waded straight into it. But in the knowledge that he was doing what his Father was calling him to. If you’ve been trying to keep your feet clean by avoiding the muck of the public square (both online and offline), this is the book for you. It will help you get stuck in but also understand why and for whom you’re suddenly knee-deep. * Andy Flannagan, Executive Director of Christians in Politics *Tim Farron’s book is a timely antidote both to widespread apathy about involvement in social issues and frustration with the deceptions and intrigues of politicians. Here is an active politician who is honest about his Christian beliefs as well as his own failures and passions. Of course he is not the only one, as is clear from the many case studies. But in this book, he does more than simply offer models of people who have devoted themselves to the ‘mucky business’ of politics. He tackles common objections and concerns head on. He also provides practical paths for others to follow suit. In its quirky, self-deprecating way, this is a book to inspire and encourage, and if a large proportion of readers get involved as a result, that has to be a good thing! * Mark Meynell, former Whitehall chaplain, and author of A Wilderness of Mirrors: Trusting again in a Cynical World. *This book has its head in a theological vision for cultural engagement and its feet firmly planted in the mucky business of political life. Like Tim Farron himself, it is ebullient, principled, astute, and hopeful in all the right ways. * Glen Scrivener, Director and Evangelist at Speak Life, author of The Air We Breathe *There are few people better placed than Tim Farron to advise people of faith on the opportunities and perils of political engagement. Tim and his co-authors are realistic about what politics is, but also hopefully that there is good work to be done by Christians in the public square. This book doesn’t offer political theory, but a biblically informed political practice. Any Christian who senses a call to the public life should read it. * Paul Bickley, Acting Head of Research, Theos *

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The fissures that have split the United Kingdom in the last decades have run through Northern Ireland. Since the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, the fragile peace has been threatened by Brexit, the rise and fall of the D U P and the failure of power-sharing arrangement between the main parties at the Stormont Assembly. As the very future of Northern Ireland is now in jeopardy, will Britain face up to its imperial legacy and address the deep inequalities that remain in the aftermath of the Troubles, and the uneven development of the 'New Ireland'?Geoffrey Bell offers an insightful history of Ulster Unionism from the 1960s to the present day. In recent years this has come to a crisis point. What is the future of the Union in the post-Brexit reality? How will the relationship between Northern Ireland and Westminster develop? Can the United Kingdom survive?

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