Religion Books

Book SynopsisMartin Luther''s posting of the 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg on 31 October 1517 is one of the most famous events of Western history. It inaugurated the Protestant Reformation, and has for centuries been a powerful and enduring symbol of religious freedom of conscience, and of righteous protest against the abuse of power.But did it actually really happen?In this engagingly-written, wide-ranging and insightful work of cultural history, leading Reformation historian Peter Marshall reviews the available evidence, and concludes that, very probably, it did not. The theses-posting is a myth. And yet, Marshall argues, this fact makes the incident all the more historically significant. In tracing how - and why - a ''non-event'' ended up becoming a defining episode of the modern historical imagination. Marshall compellingly explores the multiple ways in which the figure of Martin Luther, and the nature of the Reformation itself, have been remembered and used for their own purposes by subsequent generations of Protestants and others - in Germany, Britain, the United States and elsewhere.As people in Europe, and across the world, prepare to remember, and celebrate, the 500th anniversary of Luther''s posting of the theses, this book offers a timely contribution and corrective. The intention is not to ''debunk'', or to belittle Luther''s achievement, but rather to invite renewed reflection on how the past speaks to the present - and on how, all too often, the present creates the past in its own image and likeness.Trade ReviewMarshall's narrative skills and his probing analysis are equally enjoyable and insightful. His work is a reminder that histories and anniversaries are contextual, with one eye on the past and the other on the present ... an engaging and stimulating look not only at an historical event, but how such an event took on an oversized life of its own through anniversary celebrations over the centuries. * Mark A. Granquist, Reading Religion *Wonderful... an enlightening and convincing discussion of the elaboration of a historical and cultural myth. * Mark Konnert, H-Albion *Insightful and illuminating. * Andrew Pettegree, Theology *An absorbing and scholarly work, cramming a huge amount into just over 200 pages. * Alan Wakely, The Reader *A fascinating re-examination of the celebrated events of 1517 and their impact on Western history. * Simon Burton, The Expository Times *Highly recommended. * Church of England Newspaper *1517 sorts fact from fiction and provides an intriguing case study of the way historical memory is created. * Jonathan Wright, Catholic Herald *Compelling. * Anne Inman, Pastoral Review *In 1517, Peter Marshall rounds up all the available evidence ... and lays it tidily before us with both clarity and a puckish enjoyment of its more absurb manifestations ... In this quincentennial year, the market is inevitably awash with books on Luther and the Protestant Reformation. If you only want to read one or two of them ... you could do a great deal worse than starting here. * Moira Briggs, Vulpes Libris *Anyone wanting an accessible overview of the beginning of the Reformation and the role of Martin Luther will find Peter Marshall's 1517 an ideal read. [...] This is altogether an excellent book, not only for those who wish to learn something about the start of a movement, but also how today we try to come to an understanding of what history was, is, and can be. * Peter Costello, Irish Catholic *Admirable work of detection, demythologisation, and historiography. * John Arnold, Church Times *A story worth telling... a beautiful example of what popular cultural history can be... Writers of future anniversary histories should take note. * Dmitri Levitin, Literary Review *Interesting reading for both scholars of the Reformation and history buffs in general. Marshall finds a unique niche in a year replete with wider biographies of Luther and histories of the early Reformation. * Kirkus *1517 is a remarkable exploration of the Reformation's most famous scene, Martin Luther's posting of the Theses on the Wittenberg church door. By unpacking the memory and meaning of this episode as it has been interpreted and reinterpreted across five centuries of European history, Peter Marshall reveals how the contingencies of time and place have shaped our understanding of the Reformation and how the Reformation, in turn, has maintained its place in the historical imagination as a turning point on the path to the present. Packed with detail, stories, facts, and arguments, and beautifully written, this will surely prove to be one of the most original of the books written to mark the Reformation quincentenary. * C. Scott Dixon, author of The Church in the Early Modern Age *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Prologue: Postings 1: 1517: Theses 2: 1517: Responses 3: 1617: Anniversaries 4: 1817: Heroes 5: 1917: Controversies Epilogue: Reformations Notes Bibliography Picture Credits Index

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Book SynopsisThe Albigensian Crusade, the first in which Christians were promised salvation for killing other Christians, lasted twenty bloody years--a long savage war for the soul of Christendom. In A Most Holy War, historian Mark Pegg has produced a swift-moving, gripping narrative of this horrific crusade. Pegg draws in part on thousands of testimonies collected by inquisitors in the years 1235 to 1245, accounts of ordinary men and women remembering what it was like to live through such brutal times. In responding to heresy with a holy genocidal war, Innocent III fundamentally changed how Western civilization dealt with individuals accused of corrupting society. This change, Pegg argues, led directly to the creation of the inquisition, the rise of an anti-Semitism, and even the holy violence of the Reconquista in Spain. A bold, erudite, engaging, and superbly written study of what has long been one of the most central topics in medieval and Mediterranean history. --Teofilo F. Ruiz, Professor oTrade ReviewCompelling account. * Christopher Hirst, the Independent *Table of ContentsPreface ; Acknowledgments ; Dramatis Personae ; Genealogical Charts ; A Most Holy War ; Abbreviations Used in Notes ; Notes ; Bibliography ; Index

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Book SynopsisFlavius Claudius Julianus, better known to history by the name imposed by his Christian opponents, Julian "the Apostate," was a nephew of the first Christian emperor, Constantine I. Julian is one of the most fascinating figures of late antiquity. More information is available about him from both pagan and Christian sources than about any other emperor. His reign inspired both admiration and contempt. Julian's ambitious program was to reinstate the religion of his ancestors and, in the process, to subdue the growth of the Christian church, which had achieved legitimacy under the reign of his uncle. Once in power, he immediately sought to revive the religion of classical Rome, to reform the pagan priesthood, revitalize training in classics and pagan philosophy and — as an affront to Christian prophecy — to rebuild the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. This is the first translation into modern English of the complete corpus of Julian's Against the Galileans and related writings. It not only puts the work of the philosopher-emperor into historical perspective but offers important insights into the waning days of pagan philosophy and the growth of the Christian church against the background of intellectual and religious opposition. The translations are supported by a full historical introduction to the life of Julian and a detailed treatment of his religious philosophy, including the origins of his understanding of the Christian faith. The work is essential reading for anyone interested in the religions of late antiquity, the growth of the Christian church, and the final phase of the conflict between paganism and Christian teaching.

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Book SynopsisThis collection of essays by some of the world's leading authorities on Islamic social history focuses on the juridical and cultural oppression of non-Muslims in Islamic societies. The authors of these in-depth but accessible articles explode the widely diffused myth, promulgated by Muslim advocacy groups, of a largely tolerant, pluralistic Islam. In fact, the contributors lay bare the oppressive legal superstructure that has treated non-Muslims in Muslim societies as oppressed and humiliated tributaries, and they show the devastating effects of these discriminatory attitudes and practices in both past and contemporary global conflicts. Besides original articles, primary source documents here presented also elucidate how the legally mandated subjugation of non-Muslims under Islamic law stems from the Muslim concept of jihad — the spread of Islam through conquest. Historically, the Arab-Muslim conquerors overran vast territories containing diverse non-Muslim populations. Many of these conquered people surrendered to Muslim domination under a special treaty called dhimma in Arabic. As such these non-Muslim indigenous populations, mainly Christians and Jews, were then classified under Islamic law as dhimmis (meaning "protected"). Although protected status may sound benign, this classification in fact referred to "protection" from the resumption of the jihad against non-Muslims, pending their adherence to a system of legal and financial oppression, as well as social isolation. The authors maintain that underlying this religious caste system is a culturally ingrained contempt for outsiders that still characterizes much of the Islamic world today and is a primary impetus for jihad terrorism. Also discussed is the poll tax (Arabic jizya) levied on non-Muslims; the Islamic critique of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; the use of jihad ideology by twentieth-century radical Muslim theorists; and other provocative topics usually ignored by Muslim apologists. This hard-hitting and absorbing critique of Islamic teachings and practices regarding non-Muslim minorities exposes a significant human rights scandal that rarely receives any mention either in academic circles or in the mainstream press.

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Book SynopsisThe delightful and often funny poetry of Zen’s quintessential free spirit, Master Ryokan—in a fresh translation by a beloved American Zen figureRyokan Taigu (1758-1831) was a monk in the Soto lineage of Japanese Zen who spent a good part of his life as a hermit, writing poetry, playing with children, and creating simple and exquisitely beautiful calligraphies—sometimes using twigs as his instrument when he couldn''t afford a brush. He was never head of a monastery or temple and as an old man, he fell in love with a young Zen nun who also became his student. His affection for her colors the mature poems of his late period.This loving tribute to the great legendary nonconformist includes more than 140 of his poems, 13 examples of his art, and a selection of laugh-out-loud funny anecdotes about his highly idiosyncratic teaching behavior.

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Book SynopsisIn the long history of the monotheistic tradition, violence - often bloody with warfare - have not just been occasional but defining activities. Since 9/11, sociologists, religious historians, philosophers and anthropologists have examined the question of the roots of religious violence in new ways, and with surprising results. In November 2004, the Committee for the Scientific Examination of Religion brought together leading theorists at Cornell University to explore the question whether religions are viral forms of a general cultural tendency to violent action. Do religions, and especially the Abrahamic tradition, encourage violence in the imagery of their sacred writings, in their theology, and their tendency to see the world as a cosmos divided between powers of good and forces of evil? Is such violence a historical condition affecting all religious movements, or are some religions more prone to violence than others? The papers collected in this volume represent the independent and considered thinking of internationally known scholars from a variety of disciplines concerning the relationship between religion and violence, with special reference to the theories of 'just war' and 'jihad', technical terms that arise in connection with the theology of early medieval Christianity and early Islam, respectively.

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Book SynopsisFor many millions of Muslims there is one and only one true Koran that offers the word of Allah to the faithful. Few Muslims realize, however, that there are several Korans in circulation in the Islamic world, with textual variations whose significance, extent, and meaning have never been properly examined. The author of Virgins? What Virgins? and Why I Am Not a Muslim has here assembled important scholarly articles that address the history, linguistics, and religious implications of these significant variants in Islam's sacred book, which call into question the claim of its status as the divinely revealed and inerrant word of the Muslim god. This work includes valuable charts that list the many textual variants found in Korans available in the Islamic world, along with remarks on their significance.

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Book SynopsisReligion-the source of inspiration, hope, and basic values for most of humanity throughout history-has also been the motive for atrocious persecutions from antiquity to the present. In the Name of Heaven is a wide-ranging historical survey of religious persecution encompassing three millennia and a great diversity of cultures worldwide. Defining religious persecution as "repressive actions initiated or condoned by authorities against their own people on religious grounds," author Mary Jane Engh begins with ancient Egypt, followed by the biblical history of Israel with its accounts of divinely ordered genocides and capital punishment for worshipers of other deities. Chapters are devoted to ancient Greece (Socrates, Alcibiades, and Aristotle, among others, clashed with the religious establishment); the Roman Empire (persecutions of Jews, Christians, and Manichaeans, and the later persecution of pagans and heretics by a Christianized Rome); the Islamic Empire (persecutions of polytheists and dissident Muslims); and medieval and Reformation Europe (where Protestants and Catholics persecuted each other and both persecuted heretics). The twenty-two chapters also cover Asia, Africa, the Americas, and the Pacific area. In an epilogue Engh reviews the new forms of religious persecution from the 20th century to the present-from major genocides and militant forms of polytheism to persecution of all religion by atheistic governments. Complete with references to further reading, this sobering but factually indisputable survey of religion's dark side enlightens while serving as a warning for the future.Table of ContentsIntroduction; Egypt, Fourteenth Century BCE; Judah and Israel, Seventh Century BCE; Greece, Fifth and Fourth Centuries BCE; Rome, Second and First Centuries BCE; Judea, Second Century BCE; Roman Empire, First and Second Centuries CE; Roman Empire, Third and Fourth Centuries; Persia, Second Through Sixth Centuries; Roman Empire, Fourth and Fifth Centuries; The Germanic Kingdoms, Fifth through Eighth Centuries; Byzantine Empire, Sixth through Tenth Centuries; lslamic Empire, Seventh through Fifteenth Centuries; Europe, Eleventh through Fifteenth Centuries; Asia, Fifth through Seventeenth Centuries; Africa, Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries; Europe, Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries; North and South America, Sixteenth through Eighteenth Centuries; France, Eighteenth Century; Oceania and AustraIia, Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries; East Asia, Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries; Europe, Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries; North and South America, Nineteenth Century; The Twentieth Century and After; Index.

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Book SynopsisThe three principal infancy gospels-the Infancy Gospel of James, the Book of Joseph the High Priest, and the Infancy Gospel of Thomas-are accounts of the birth and early life of Mary and of the birth and early life of Jesus. These apocryphal stories are fictions but nevertheless of great historical interest in terms of the beliefs and storytelling of early Christians, for they are the sources of well-known Christian legends as well as some of Christianity's beloved heroes and heroines. Now you can experience the mystery and amusement of these charming folktales without any previous knowledge of early Christian history or thought. This SkyLight Illuminations edition offers insightful yet unobtrusive commentary that explains references and philosophical terms, shares inspiring interpretations of famous spiritual teachers, and gives you a deeper understanding of the sources of devotion Christians feel for the holy infant Jesus. Sharing these folktales told by the ordinary people of early Christianity provides access to the great insight these writings offer into the Christian people's religion of ancient times rather than to the religion of the literate elitesTrade Review"Accessible and insightful … helps us appreciate the imaginative storytelling in these narratives as well as their piety and theological content—and even their occasional humor. An ideal starting point for the study of these fascinating gospels." —Robert J. Miller, author, Born Divine: The Births of Jesus and Other Sons of God “Clear, accurate and fun to read.... I love this book! Weaves solid historical scholarship with a deep appreciation for folk traditions and fiction. Gives us a sense of the creativity involved in thinking about the infancy of Jesus and his mother, Mary. I will assign it for students next semester.” —Jane Schaberg, professor of religious and women's/gender studies, University of Detroit Mercy “Filled with incidents that are magical, touching, humorous, even shocking, but always entertaining. Davies’ translations are appropriately idiomatic, and his comments are informative and insightful by comparing these stories not only to pagan, Christian and Jewish parallels but also to versions of some of the stories in the Qur’an.” —Ronald F. Hock, professor of religion, University of Southern CaliforniaTable of ContentsForeword by A. Edward Siecienski, PhD Introduction: Tales from the Childhood of Mary and Jesus The Gospel of James Joachim and Anne: The Gift of Mary Mary: The Story of Her Birth Mary: Raised in Blessing and Purity Joseph: Mary's Protector Mary: Miraculous Conception Joseph and Mary: Accused and Tested Mary and Joseph: The Christmas Story The Magi: In Search of a King Herod: The Murder of Zechariah The Gospel of the Infancy A Cave, Not a Stable: The Nativity Story A Sinful Mary and the Anointing of Christ Jesus in the Temple The Magi and Herod: Varying Views of Jesus Into Egypt: The Holy Family in Flight Exorcising a Deaf and Dumb Demon 83 The Bridegroom Mule: A Brother Restore Bandits: In Them, Jesus Sees His Destiny 93 Balsams in His Path: The Holy Child Return The Co-Wife’s Punishment Satan’s Bite: The Young Judas Iscariot Divine Mischief: The Boy Jesus at Play The King, Christ and a Snake The Infancy Gospel of Thomas The Introduction to the Gospel of Thomas Clay Sparrows: A Dark Miracle The Vengeful Boy: Christ in Conflict The Young Healer Explores His Powers Divine Carpenter: Jesus Adjusts His Elder’s Mistakes The Pupil Teaches His Teacher The Miraculous Physician In the House of My Father: Jesus in the Temple Notes Suggestions for Further Reading

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Book SynopsisIn this intensely personal and highly motivating book, bestselling author, pastor, and Passion founder Louie Giglio shows you how to embrace your “smallness” in light of God’s greatness—and live with more meaning than you have ever dreamed possible.Our God is more expansive and powerful than we could ever imagine, the all-mighty creator of galaxies beyond our reach. But He is also the loving creator who has formed and fashioned you. Yet, as valuable as you are to Him, God’s best for your life is to invite you into a story that is all about Him.  I am not…but God knows my name.I am not…but He has pursued me in His love.I am not…but I know the Creator of the universe.I am not, but I know I AM! Now updated with all new content to encourage you in your quest to live for what matters most.

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Book Synopsis“All through the Bible, we see stories of bold and brash men who followed God’s call into some incredible adventures. In How God Makes Men, Patrick Morley reminds us that God still makes those kinds of guys.”—Dave Ramsey, New York Times bestselling author and nationally syndicated radio show host God’s Way for You to Become God’s Man   Let’s face it—men today are under severe attack. The battle line against biblical manhood is clearly drawn and fiercely contested. More than ever, men who want to follow Christ are asking:   • Why is it so hard to live an authentic Christian life? • Who will show me how to thrive as a father, a husband, and on the job? • What should I do when I’m being tested to the breaking point?   Fortunately, the Bible preserves crucial details about the powerful lessons learned by men who have already faced and answered these questions. In How God Makes Men, renowned expert on men’s issues Patrick Morley takes you into Scripture for a first-hand encounter with:   • Ten epic stories of the Bible’s most talked-about men • Ten proven principles—based on their failures and successes—that show how God works in a man’s life, and how you can cooperate with Him in yours • The huge promise that you can become the man God created you to be   Don’t settle for less. Join Patrick on this epic adventure of becoming God’s man. You’ll discover how to prevail in tough times and release God’s power in every area of your life.

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Book SynopsisGerman philosopher and radical theologian David Friedrich Strauss (1808-1874) distinguished himself as one of Europe's most controversial critics of the Bible and an intellectual martyr for free-thought. In "The Old Faith and the New" (1872), he uses both 19th- century science and leading philosophers to reject God as the creator of the universe and humankind, the divinity of Christ, and the reality of miracles (the Old Faith), thus consigning religion to the domains of history, myth, and ethics. With Christianity's cosmology undermined, Strauss constructs a new view of the universe and humanity's place in it grounded in science and contemporary technology, Darwinian evolution, and inductive reasoning (the New Faith), all of which offered the hope of finding solutions to human problems.

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Book SynopsisIs it possible for the nonbeliever to lead a happy and meaningful life? This is one question George H. Smith, defender of reason and personal liberty and author of an influential contemporary classic on nonbelief, seeks to answer in Why Atheism? Smith reviews the historical roots of nonbelief going back to the ancient Greeks, argues that philosophy can serve as an important alternative to religion, and defends reason as the most reliable method humans have for establishing truth and conducting one's life. Why Atheism? tackles a wide range of subjects, some of which have never been thoroughly analyzed from an atheistic point of view. Beginning with the problem of atheism's credibility, Smith points out the various ways in which religious opponents have sought to exclude atheism from serious consideration. He also analyzes a number of classical philosophical issues, such as the nature of knowledge and belief, concluding that modern atheism is largely an unintended consequence of the religious diversity brought about by the Protestant Reformation. Two chapters are devoted to ethics, one focusing on the ethics of belief with particular attention given to the views of Thomas Aquinas and John Locke. Other chapters discuss the persecution of religious dissenters and the features of an ethical system without belief in God. Smith's characteristic lucidity, analytical rigor, and wit make Why Atheism? an accessible and enjoyable guide to living a positive life without belief in a supreme being.

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Book SynopsisKay Arthur’s Newest “Lord” Book Examines TheAnatomy Of A Heart for God Through Paul’s Eyes.Throughout his ministry the Apostle Paul was criticized, opposed, and attacked. He wrestled with his weaknesses. He struggled with fragile relationships. He was often weary, tired, and discouraged. Kay Arthur knows there are times when you can identify with Paul''s experience. You feel overwhelmed by conflicts without and fears within. You yearn to experience the God of wisdom and power. You, like Paul, want deeply to be a person whose sole passion is to please God.In this study based on 2 Corinthians, Kay examines the anatomy of a heart for God. What it looks like. What it feels like. And how you can strengthen your own relationship with God.Despite the deep physical, emotional, and spiritual pain of life, Paul could rest in the God of all comfort and strength. He could walk in obedience to his calling. He could fight the good fight, finish his race, and keep the faith. And now, through this compelling, insightful, and moving Bible study, so can you.“What does a heart for God look like when lived out in flesh and blood in the daily circumstances of life? As we walk together through 2 Corinthians, Acts, and other portions of Scripture, we''ll begin to understand what it''s like to have a heart like His.” -Kay ArthurTHE “LORD” SERIES by Kay Arthur is an insightful, warm-hearted Bible study series designed to meet you where you are-and help you discover God’s answers to your deepest needs.

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Book SynopsisThis volume deals with the female dynasty of the House of David and its influence on the Jewish Messianic Myth. It provides a missing link in the chain of research on the topic of messianism and contributes to the understanding of the connection between female transgression and redemption, from the Bible through Rabbinic literature until the Zohar. The discussion of the centrality of the mother image in Judeo-Christian culture and the parallels between the appearance of Mary in the Gospels and the Davidic Mothers in the Hebrew Bible, stresses mutual representations of ""the mother of the messiah"" in Christian and Jewish imaginaire. Through the prism of gender studies and by stressing questions of femininity, motherhood and sexuality, the subject appears in a new light. This research highlights the importance of intertwining Jewish literary study with comparative religion and gender theories, enabling the process of filling in the ‘mythic gaps’ in classical Jewish sources. The book won the Pines, Lakritz and Warburg awards.Trade Review"Ruth Kara-Ivanov Kaniel's careful handling of discussions spanning nearly two thousand years of Jewish literary output is highly original and is accomplished by excellent knowledge of the relevant texts and of the research literature, Gender Studies and Myth Theory. The overall picture that emerged from this book is an innovation within the field of Jewish Thought … a major contribution to the understanding of the Messianic idea and its development in certain branches of the Jewish world, as well as to the understanding of the importance of the role of women in the history of the Messiah." -- Moshe Idel, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem“This is a fascinating history of women’s transgressive sexuality, which features time and again in the biblical, rabbinic and kabbalistic sources, where it is construed as the crucial and most productive element of the redemptive process, giving rise to the famously irregular maternal genealogy of the Jewish Messiah in each one of his incarnations, right up to and including Jesus Christ.” -- Ada Rapoport-Albert, Professor of Hebrew and Jewish Studies, University College LondonTable of Contents Acknowledgments Translator's Note Introduction Part One - Messianic Mothers in the Bible Chapter One: Feminine Genealogy and the Lineage of the House of David Chapter Two: The Type-Scene of “The Birth of the Messianic Hero” Part Two - The Messianic Mother in Rabbinic Literature - Sororal Love and ""Ethics of Redemption"" Chapter Three: David’s Mother(s) in Yalkut ha-Makhiri Chapter Four: Gedolah Aveirah Lishmah - From Rabbinic Literature to the Messianic Teachings of R. Moses Ḥayyim Luzzatto Part Three - The Messianic Mother in the Zoharic Literature Chapter Five: Lot’s Daughters and the Zoharic “Ṭiqla” Chapter Six: The Burning Face of the Shekhinah - Tamar in Zohar Aḥrei Mot Chapter Seven: The Shekhinah's Exile and Redemption in Ruth and Naomi's Journey Conclusion - Gender Reversal and Redemption Poetics Epilogue - The Messianic Mother in Judaism and Christianity

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