An Analogy of Grace
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An Analogy of Grace proposes a deeply grounded investigation of grace and a robustly balanced impetus for advancing the gospel in the twenty-first century. Amid the present decline in religious affiliation, a pervasive question for many is "why bother" with faith and its practices. An Analogy of Grace engages this question in the context of grace, or our participation in the life and love of God, and investigates the difference made by the diverse ways in which the self-communication of God is received and participated. Shea begins with the contrasting models provided by twentieth-century theologians Karl Rahner and Hans Urs von Balthasar. Rahner focused on how grace is universally accessible within the heart, while Balthasar envisioned grace as found principally through an encounter with the incarnate Word. Henry Shea charts a course within and beyond this difference, bolstered by fresh and insightful analysis of the work of Erich Przywara, Henri de Lubac, and other major theologians. An Analogy of Grace posits that grace is best understood as a moving Trinitarian analogy that begins in the heart and advances through the incarnate Word in the Spirit toward the whole Christ. This new analogy of grace is radically universal and inclusive while also wholly informed by the distinct form of Jesus Christ.
Cross Purposes : Christianity's broken bargain with democracy
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Why the crisis of Christianity has become a crisis for democracy; "Concise and elegant. . . . Rauch applies careful research and incisive prose to examine, diagnose, and prescribe a cure for the maladies afflicting contemporary religious-political dynamics."--Michael M. Rosen, Commentary; What happens to American democracy if Christianity is no longer able, or no longer willing, to perform the functions on which our constitutional order depends? In this provocative book, the award-winning journalist Jonathan Rauch--a lifelong atheist--reckons candidly with both the shortcomings of secularism and the corrosion of Christianity; Thin Christianity, as Rauch calls the mainline church, has been unable to inspire and retain believers. Worse, a Church of Fear has distorted white evangelicalism in ways that violate the tenets of both Jesus and James Madison. What to do? For answers, Rauch looks to a new generation of religious thinkers, as well as to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which has placed the Constitution at the heart of its spiritual teachings; In this timely critique Rauch addresses secular Americans who think Christianity can be abandoned, and Christian Americans who blame secular culture for their grievances. The two must work together, he argues, to confront our present crisis. He calls on Christians to recommit to the teachings of their faith that align with Madison, not MAGA, and to understand that liberal democracy, far from being oppressive, is uniquely protective of religious freedom. At the same time, he calls on secular liberals to understand that healthy religious institutions are crucial to the survival of the liberal state.
Negative Natural Theology : God and the limits of reason
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How can we live in harmony with the universe, and not just in it? What is it to feel at home in the world? Some thinkers who feel the force of these questions reach for the concept of God. Others do not. This book asks what might be at stake in the choice of whether or not to speak about God: not just in terms of abstract reasoning or arguments about God, but in relation to deeper undercurrents of motivation and yearning. The book is interested in sites in contemporary thinking, where the concept of the divine beckons, or looms, but also, perhaps, repels, or hides. It asks 'what is at stake' in the decision (if it is that) to talk about God and the divine, or not to do so, with a wide and deep curiosity about what this might include: reasons and arguments, certainly, but also more biographical, intuitive, and affective dimensions, including imagination, and feelings about what is valuable. Also relevant are unconscious drives and factors. Concepts can convince, or fail to convince, but, also, they can attract and repel. The book draws on both analytical and continental post-Kantian sources, treating individual thinkers such as Immanuel Kant, William James, Carl Jung, Karl Rahner, Albert Camus, Saul Kripke, Thomas Nagel, Derek Parfit, Karen Kilby, and Janet Soskice, as well as cultural movements such as modern paganism, new atheism, and humanism. 'Natural theology' involves speaking about God without reference to revelation, tradition, or sources of authority, using the resources of 'reason alone'. 'Negative theology' is concerned with the way in which a type of abstract reasoning and rational argument run out, without this necessarily being an ending: other types of speech and communication may become possible and essential. Speaking into this space, the book draws on philosophy, theology, anthropology, literature, and psychology.
Christian Theology in a Pluralistic Age
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How does today's context of radical pluralism affect Christian theology? Can Christian theologians be claimed by more than one religious tradition? What makes constructive interreligious dialogue possible? The authors of this volume explore the challenges and opportunities of religious diversity and religious non-affiliation for Christian faith. By exploring the ways in which engagement of other traditions changes them, these theologians offer hopeful reflections for the church's dialogical future.
Evolving Grace : the spiritual history of a Christian doctrine
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Evolving Grace: The Spiritual History of a Christian Doctrine seeks to bring out the personal living significance and transformative power of the Christian faith throughout the ages. This book spans from Patristic foundations, through the elaborated systematic constructions of the Middle Ages, to the profound transformation induced by the Protestant Reformation and Roman Catholic responses to it, to twentieth century de- and reconstructions. This theological history, grounded in and reflective of the spiritual experience and development of real Christians in and from the past, contributes to the production and nurturing of a living theology in and for the present.
A Theology of Traumatic Affect: a political and religious engagement
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A Theology of Traumatic Affect offers theological tools, language, and framework to victims/survivors of trauma and their communities. Seen through the lens of affect theory, the social dimensions of trauma emerge even for individual trauma. Using an interdisciplinary approach, Alice Kim argues that due to interconnectedness of individuals, a communal effort is necessary for trauma work. Living in a different world as imagined by public imagination is possible now with collective planetary engagement of all creatures participating in co-creation.
Redeeming the Sense of the Universal : Scandinavian creation theology on politics and ecology
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Christian theologies today struggle to make themselves relevant and respected in public discussions. One reason is a tendency among theologians to restrict themselves to discussions among their own. In this way they seldom contribute to discussions and make claims that are heard as important for people not belonging to the world of faith and piety. This volume has a different goal. The intention is to bring updated and critical contributions to how theology can give substantial reflections relevant to a broader public. The volume takes its starting point from ongoing international discussions on the universal. From post-colonial and post-liberal positions one claim that universal claims are oppressive. There is a long history of how universal pretentions covered for white, male and European supremacy. For this reason one argues that only positionalities from particular position are able to give hope and future to oppressed people and environmental collapses. The contributions to this volume agree that there are toxic universalities that need to be strongly criticized. There are, however, also universalities that can defend the human and the nature. Scandinavian Creation Theology builds these universalities from life as given and pre-theoretical experiences. Here, there are potentialities for future non-toxic universalities.
Bliss Against the World: Schelling, theodicy, and the crisis of modernity
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The concept of bliss, in its connotations of beatitude and salvation, may seem of little relevance to so-called secular modernity. Bliss Against the World argues otherwise by advancing a novel framework of the entanglement between modernity, Christianity, and bliss through the thought of German Idealist and Romantic philosopher Friedrich Schelling (1775--1854). In Schelling's concept of bliss (Seligkeit), the idea of salvation from the world mutates into a burning concern with the negativity of the modern world, and with the way modernity inherits the Christian promise of a non-alienated future that never arrives. Throughout his thinking, Schelling grapples with the question of theodicy: Can this negative world be justified? And what would it mean to be free of the world--to enact bliss right now--when the idea of otherworldly salvation increasingly loses its conceptual relevance? This leads Schelling to conceptualize bliss as what refuses or apocalyptically annihilates this world and its divisions and burdens. Bliss Against the World reinterprets Schelling's philosophical trajectory from the 1790s to the 1840s, showing his metaphysics, philosophy of religion, and natural philosophy to be underwritten by the apocalyptic tension between bliss and theodicy. It argues that this tension is located likewise at the heart of modernity and reconstructs the Schellingian genealogy of the modern age as intensifying what may be termed the general Christian contradiction. It also focuses on Schelling's anxiety about the possibility of universal history in the dark and de-centered universe and critiques his Romantic construction of humanity and his geo-racial theodicy of history--a theodicy that refracts and legitimates the violent logics of post-1492 modernity, including European colonialism, racialization, and transatlantic slavery. Bliss Against the World thus theorizes bliss not only with, but also against Schelling, who emerges from this book as a key thinker of modernity, and of the Christian-modern trajectory as a path to salvation in the shadow of whose failure we continue to live.
A Black Theology of the American Empire
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This book understands, interprets, and critiques the theology of the American Empire that undergirds and bolsters U.S. foreign policy and global engagement in the contemporary world order. It is particularly in conversation with African American experience, American presidential history, black religious and political thought, as well as black theological perspectives. The book makes a constructive theological statement and declaration on the American Empire in opposition and resistance to racism and white supremacy in U.S. origins and historical development. Finally it proposes a way forward for twenty-first century black theology in response to the foundational theology of James Cone. This publication is important, not only for scholars interested in black religious thought, but also those seeking critical reflection on the omnipresence of racial inequality and social injustice in the American Empire.
Christianity Contested : replies to critics' toughest objections
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Although Christianity has significantly influenced many of Western civilization's cherished ideals and values, it faces ongoing criticism regarding its truth, goodness, and beauty. Critics argue that Christianity is at odds with science, human flourishing, and the dignity of women; that it is disconnected from modern views on sexuality; and that its Scriptures support slavery and genocide. They also claim that the historical evidence for Jesus' bodily resurrection is weak and his claims of exclusivity are narrow-minded. Additionally, the problem of evil and the hiddenness of God are major points of contention. In response, a group of scholars has provided a comprehensive, well-reasoned, yet accessible resource to address these accusations for both the church and the broader public.
Roman Catholicism and Neo-Calvinism : ecumenical and polemical engagements
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In Roman Catholicism and Neo-Calvinism, author Eduardo Echeverria asks: what do Rome and Amsterdam have to say to each other? Is there any common ground between the traditions of Roman Catholicism and Dutch neo-Calvinism on crucial philosophical and theological topics such as faith and reason, anthropology, sexual ethics, and the development of Christian doctrine? Furthermore, beyond ecumenical engagement the author polemically engages the conflicting truth claims of these two traditions on the above topics. This book addresses these questions in the thought and work of key individuals from both sides of the divide, including St Pope John Paul II (Karol Wojtyla, 1920-2005), St Thomas Aquinas, and St Vincent of Lérins (died c. 445), on the one hand, and Herman Bavinck (1854-1921), G.C. Berkouwer (1903-1996), and Herman Dooyeweerd (1894-1977), on the other. This book is an important example of receptive ecumenism, an approach to ecumenical dialogue in which the interlocutors seek to identify and exchange the distinctive gifts of each tradition for the benefit of the whole. It will appeal to all ecumenists and to those teaching courses in ecumenical theology.
A Very Brief Introduction to Reformation Doctrine
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This book is for anyone who has an interest in the theology of the Reformation, irrespective of one's prior training in the field. Undergraduate students and laypersons will find it particularly helpful because it does not require any previous acquaintance with Reformation doctrines. All those who want to become minimally acquainted with Reformation thought would therefore find it useful to read or perhaps only browse because the chapters can be approached individually, which means that they can read in any order. Those who want to delve a little deeper into Reformation issues have a selection of over four hundred sources in the bibliography that can be consulted for further reference.
Disability inclusion in Africa : from harmful to life-giving theologies
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Holy Body : gender and sexual difference in theological anthropology and ecclesiology
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Holy Body: Gender and Sexual Difference in Theological Anthropology and Ecclesiology argues that all bodies across sexual difference are procreative. The author lays the ground for her argument with chapters that summarize the current debate over the gender binary in theology, modern scientific evidence about sexual difference, philosophical arguments about gender as a social construction, the development of the gender binary in Christian history, and the effects of the gender binary today. With this foundation laid, Brianne Bell Jacobs argues for a theological anthropology in which all bodies, by performatively expanding who is loved, are generative. Then, in the context of Roman Catholic ecclesiology, Jacobs argues again that all bodies are generative. She calls for an ordained priesthood in mutual relationship with the priesthood of the baptized, in which both are given meaning beyond the gender binary, and in which both are able together to generate the Body of Christ in the church and the Eucharist. In response to the harms of patriarchy, sexualized racism, homophobia, and sexual abuse, this book presents a Roman Catholic theology that affirms we are each of us, and together, a life-giving and holy body.
Everyday Encounters: humanizing dialogue in theory and practice
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There is an alarming trend to disassociate from family, friends, and neighbors with differing and diverse worldviews from one's own. In the absence of dialogue, trust weakens, relationships dissolve, everything humans cherish becomes susceptible to collapse, and societies become more likely to resort to destructive tactics. Everyday Encountersintroduces the importance of dialogue to humanize others in healthy ways. Dialogue is a crucial tool in navigating encounters across difference, promoting attentive listening and sensitivity for constructive human engagement in various settings like family, leadership, and the workplace. Hans Gustafson presents dialogue as a versatile and vital tool for communication across diverse contexts, from personal interactions to geopolitical negotiations. The book condenses practical insights about the theory and practice of dialogue and human engagement across difference into five short chapters. Gustafson's language employs jargon-free clarity with a goal of accessibility. Dialogue is a fundamental means of communication at the core of human interaction, crucial for healthy relationships, effective leadership, and fostering honesty and empathy--two foundational virtues for human flourishing.
The Theology of Paul Tillich : contexts and key issues
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"The Theology of Paul Tillich: Contexts and Key Issues examines Tillichs main theological work, the three-volume Systematic Theology, against the background of Tillichs developing theological thought since his studies around 1900. While the Systematic Theology emerged from lectures Tillich gave at Union Theological Seminary in New York from 1936 onwards, his lectures on "Advanced Problems in Systematic Theology" take up considerations that go back to his first drafts of a systematic theology from 1913 and his dogmatic lectures from Germany in the 1920s. The Systematic Theology that Tillich published in the U.S. cannot, therefore, be understood without including his German dogmatic drafts, an area of Tillich research that has previously been underrepresented in English scholarship. In Part I, the development of Tillichs theology from the time of his studies in Berlin, Tubingen, Halle, and again in Berlin up to his immigration to the United States in 1933 is examined by tracing his revelation-theological concept of religion within the context of theological developments in Germany at the time. Part II is devoted to a systematic perspective on the doctrine of God, Christology, pneumatology, and a theology of religions in the late Systematic Theology. This presentation of Tillichs theology is framed by a prologue and an epilogue. While the former places his theological thinking within the history of the development of modern Protestant theology, the latter identifies problematic elements within Tillichs theology that must be overcome in a post-pluralist world. The result is a concise introduction to Paul Tillichs thought in the context of twentieth-century Protestant theology and a clear direction for responsible appropriations of Tillichs theology today"--
Four Views on Free Will
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A lively and engaging debate between four representative views on free will, completely revised and updated with new perspectives Four Views on Free Will is a robust and careful debate about free will, how it interacts with determinism and indeterminism, and whether we have it or not. Providing the most up-to-date account of four major positions in the free will debate, the second edition of this classic text presents the opposing perspectives of renowned philosophers John Martin Fischer, Robert Kane, Derk Pereboom, and Manuel Vargas. Substantially revised throughout, this new volume contains eight in-depth chapters, almost entirely rewritten for the new edition, in which the authors state their different positions on the debate, offer insights into how their views have evolved over the past fifteen years, respond to recent critical literature in the field, and interact and engage with each other in dialogue. In the first four chapters the authors defend their distinctive views about free will: libertarianism, compatibilism, hard incompatibilism, and revisionism. The subsequent four chapters consist of direct replies by each of the authors to the other three. Offering a one-of-a-kind interactive conversation about the most recent work on the subject, Four Views on Free Will, Second Edition provides a balanced and enlightening discussion on all the key concepts and conflicts in the free will debate. Part of the acclaimed Great Debates in Philosophy series, it remains essential reading for undergraduate and graduate students, lecturers and scholars in philosophy, ethics, free will, philosophy of mind, political philosophy, law, and related subjects.
Theology in Motion : migration, history, and responsibility
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Christian responses to global migration are as loud as they are numerous. With voices evoking either the injunction to love the stranger or a commitment to the rule of law, this polarized cacophony has become yet another theater in the culture war. But migration is not an idea. It is not an abstraction. Migration is about people, present in our midst or encountered at our edges. Their presence at our borders forces us to consider the core values we want most to uphold, and the stories that taught us those values in the first place. In the United States, our most popular origin stories tell of a nation that fought off tyranny and committed itself to liberty, democracy, and the dream of an unencumbered pursuit of happiness, of a life lived on one's own terms. But is this the whole story? Whose perspectives have shaped the stories we tell, and which perspectives have been ignored? Theology in Motiontracks the story of the United States--how it formed and how it came to dominate the land that now rests between its borders--to consider more fully what type of nation the US has been and the type of global neighbor it has chosen to be. From a Christian moral perspective, this history helps us look to the future by analyzing how our past choices have left us with present responsibilities. Taking these responsibilities seriously and pursuing more just global relationships provides a way forward in which all people might participate and to which Christians are called.
The Problem and Promise of Freedom: a public theology for the church
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Jesus calls us to make disciples of all the nations. Many Christians believe this means enlisting soldiers in a culture war. But putting faith in the service of politics risks remaking God in our own image. How can the church help bring God's kingdom to earth without relying on the political structures of this world? Critiquing our idolization of the values of classical Western liberalism, Steven Félix-Jäger seeks a renewal of the church's public witness. He points out the pitfalls that stem from our obsession with individual freedom--from the prosperity gospel to Christian nationalism to conformity with secular progressivism. True freedom is not about individual liberty or free market economics but about flourishing in covenant with God. Félix-Jäger offers a public theology that challenges the church to be a holy, loving, and generous witness to a world bound by visions of self-absorbed autonomy and materialism. Inspired by Jubilee and Pentecost, he ultimately constructs an alternative model for public witness rooted in the abundance of the Spirit. The Problem and Promise of Freedom not only serves as an indispensable resource for students of religion and society but also offers urgent and clear-sighted witness to the church today.
Wayfinding with Dietrich Bonhoeffer: off the beaten path and into the Kingdom
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Picking up a fresh metaphor from the field of urban planning, Wayfinding with Dietrich Bonhoeffer applies a "wayfinding" lens to consider how Bonhoeffer might be a wayfinder for followers of Christ today. Wayfinding provides an accessible entry point into Bonhoeffer's biography and body of work for any reader desiring to learn from the historical witness of a thoughtful, dynamic, and focused German pastor-scholar who took a courageous, early, and long-suffering stand against the powers of Nazism. King and Thomas travel with Bonhoeffer off the beaten path and into the kingdom of God, considering six selected themes from Bonhoeffer's dynamic, brief life with import for contemporary Christians. With wayfinding cues and questions to help guide readers deeper into the territory of Bonhoeffer's example, Wayfinding invites readers to learn the skills of weaving together the past, present, and future to inhabit the present with faithfulness to Christ in our cultural moment.
One God and Two Religions: Christians and Muslims as neighbors
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Islam is a religion of violence and behind every Muslim there lurks a potential terrorist. Islam is a threat to values of the Christian West. They are like oil and water. Clearly, they don't mix. One God and Two Religions confronts these popular perceptions head-on. With keen insight and gentle understanding, Amir Hussain explores the differences between Christianity and Islam, as well as the many things these two enduring faith traditions hold in common - including, first and foremost, their belief in and desire to be faithful to the one, true God; their shared roots and scripture (from the Jewish faith); and the spiritual values of peace and social justice. Written for Christians by Muslim world-religions scholar, the book is divided into two parts. Part 1, provides an overview of the Islamic faith and of the lives of Muslims in North America today. Chapters focus on the place and identity of Muslims in society, as well as on the importance and role of Muhammad, the Qur'an, and basic beliefs and practices (The Five Pillars of Islam). Part 2, explores key points for dialogue, including issues of violence and jihad, the roles of women and men, and the mystical tradition within Islam. The final two chapters look at interfaith dialogue and the practical aspects of being good "neighbors." In all of this, the book invites the reader to a place of reconciliation, to a place where the truth and value of each of these great faith traditions can be recognized and honored by the other. In the end, the metaphor of oil and water is an interesting one for the reality of conflict and the hope for reconciliation between Islam and Christianity today.
Ford's the Modern Theologians : an introduction to Christian theology since 1918
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Captures the multiple voices of Christian theology in a diverse and interconnected world through in-depth studies of representative figures and overviews of key movements Providing an unparalleled overview of the subject, The Modern Theologians provides an indispensable guide to the diverse approaches and perspectives within Christian theology from the early twentieth century to the present. Each chapter is written by a leading scholar and explores the development and trajectory of modern theology while presenting critical accounts of a broad range of relevant topics and representative thinkers. The fourth edition of The Modern Theologians is fully updated to provide readers with a clear picture of the broad spectrum and core concerns of modern Christian theology worldwide. It offers new perspectives on key twentieth-century figures and movements from different geographical and ecclesial contexts. There are expanded sections on theological dialogue with non-Christian traditions, and on Christian theology's engagement with the arts and sciences. A new section explores theological responses to urgent global challenges - such as nationalism, racism, and the environmental crisis. Providing the next generation of theologians with the tools needed to take theological conversations forward, The Modern Theologians: Explores Christian theology's engagement with multiple ways of knowing across diverse approaches and traditions Combines introductions to key modern theologians and coverage of the major movements within contemporary theology Identifies common dynamics found across theologies to enable cross-contextual comparisons Positions individual theologians in geographical regions, trans-local movements, and ecclesial contexts Features new and revised chapters written by experts in particular movements, topics, and individuals Providing in-depth critical evaluation and extensive references to further readings and research, Ford's The Modern Theologians: An Introduction to Christian Theology since 1918, Fourth Edition, remains an ideal textbook for undergraduate and graduate courses in Theology and Religious Studies, such as Introduction to Christian Theology, Systematic Theology, Modern Theology, and Modern Theologians. It is also an invaluable resource for researchers, those involved in various forms of Christian ministry, teachers of religious studies, and general readers engaged in independent study.
Postcolonial Theologies: an introduction
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Postcolonial and decolonial studies are generating more and more interest. In the last two decades, a diverse reception of these critical ways of thinking has developed worldwide, including in theology. This textbook aims at providing a fundamental insight into this diverse movement that is discussed globally. In recent years, various attempts have developed in different contexts and language areas around the world to make the learning progress of postcolonial studies fruitful for theology. This introduction takes up many of these examples and organizes them according to a structure based on central terms and methods of postcolonial studies. Numerous examples, literature references, and featured authors encourage readers to delve deeper into individual subject areas and/or authors. Finally, the book is also dedicated to possible consequences for theology and the church in Western contexts.
Types of Ecclesiology : five theological approaches
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This book introduces the study of the doctrine of the church. David Emerton highlights the breadth of contemporary ecclesiological thought by articulating five approaches to ecclesiology. He argues that we must ask what the church is before asking what the church does. Professors will find a valuable orienting text, students will grasp the stakes of contemporary debates, and scholars surveying ecumenical ecclesiology will discover an illuminating structural framework. Doing the work of the church requires discerning its essence, and this timely volume insightfully examines what is at the heart of the body of Christ.
Good news from Latin America : reflections in honor of John Stott
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Feminist Theologies: a companion
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Feminist Theologies: A Companion explores the contemporary contours of the field. With contributors from a diverse range of settings the volume captures the current diversity and richness of feminist theologies both in and beyond the academy. Focusing both on theory and praxis, chapters move from considering the outlines of the feminist agenda, to exploring the relationship between academic feminist theology and ecclesial or personal spiritual, and finally articulating how feminist theological outlooks manifest themselves in a variety of settings.With contributions from Gina Zurlo, Nancy Bedford, Agnes Brazil, Cathryn McKinney, Rebekah Pryor, Gale Yee, Heather Eaton, Al Barrett, Simon Sutcliffe, Hannah Bacon, Lisa Isherwood, Karen O'Donnell, Jane Chevous, Alana Harris, Antonia Sobocki, Tina Beattie, Janice McRandal, Stephen Burns, Cristina Lledo Gomez, Michael W. Brierley, Claire Renkin, HyeRan Kim-Cragg, Kerrie Handasyde, Gail Ramshaw and Anne Elvey
Also see our LibGuide on Global Theologies
Perplexed about Theology or Philosophy? See our series of books, "Guide for the Perplexed" and its original author, Maimonides
Reformed Social Ethics : perspectives on society, culture, state, church, and the kingdom of God
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In the process of translating Herman Bavinck's Reformed Ethics, John Bolt and his editorial colleagues discovered that the social ethics portion was unfinished. The first section will now be published as Reformed Ethics, vol. 3. The other five sections were outlined by Bavinck, but not completed. Following Bavinck's outline, John Bolt has reconstructed those last five sections on the basis of his extensive knowledge of Bavinck's work, culling Bavinck's other writings, in both Dutch and English, to summarize his teachings. This companion to Reformed Ethics offers readers Bavinck's main convictions and perspectives on critical topics of social ethics: society, art, scholarship, education, the state, the church, humanity, and the kingdom of God. Reformed Social Ethics completes the Reformed Ethics project and provides readers with a fuller picture of Bavinck's ethics. It will also be packaged with Bavinck's Reformed Ethics in a specially priced four-volume set.
Revelation and the Word of God
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A unique work of Fundamental Theology, Revelation and the Word of God explores key issues of divine revelation as open questions. They include: Why is revelation so elusive? Existential and philosophical problems of revelation in the context of apologetics. The self-revelation of God in mystery. What does it mean to say, as the Bible does, that God 'speaks' and 'acts'? How does revelation relate to the Bible, history, religious experience and the church? The relational and personalist dimensions of revelation. What the biblical Wisdom tradition contributes to our understanding of revelation. The threefold form of the Word of God: Jesus Christ - the incarnate Word (Logos) and Wisdom (Sophia) of God; the Scriptures that witness to him; and the church's proclamation (kerygma) in preaching, sacraments and other ways. The role of hermeneutics, cultural constraints and imagination in the reception of revelation. Critique (including Feminist Theology) of claimed 'revelation'. Is there revelation today? How do developments in doctrine and practice relate to divine revelation? The liturgy as a vehicle of the Word of God. The Word in pastoral practice. Jesus Christ as the crown and criterion of divine revelation according to the Fourth Gospel.
Jesus and the Genome : the intersection of Christology and biology
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Is a coherent worldview that embraces both classical Christology and modern evolutionary biology possible? This volume explores this fundamental question through an engaged inquiry into key topics, including the Incarnation, the process of evolution, modes of divine action, the nature of rationality, morality, chance and love, and even the meaning of life. Grounded alike in the history and philosophy of science, Christian theology, and the scientific basis for evolutionary biology and genetics, the volume discusses diverse thinkers, both medieval and modern, ranging from Augustine and Aquinas to contemporary voices like Richard Dawkins and Michael Ruse. Aiming to show how a biologically informed Christian worldview is scientifically, theologically, and philosophically viable, it offers important perspectives on the worldview of evolutionary naturalism, a prominent perspective in current science-religion discussions. The authors argue for the intellectual plausibility of a comprehensive worldview perspective that embraces both Christology and evolution biology in intimate relationship.
Developing a New Christology for a Postmodern Culture : knowing Christ today (2025)
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"From a semiotic description of secular, postmodern culture, the author distills its primary social values; and using a narrative approach to the Gospel's description of the person and work of Jesus Christ, constructs a Eucharistic Prayer that is accessible to inquirers, and equips church members with the vocabulary needed to share their faith."
Mystery Manifest: the triune God, figuratively speaking
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Renowned liturgist and scholar Gail Ramshaw mines the treasures of the Bible, patristic sermons, theological treatises, mystical reveries, liturgical texts, hymns, and poetry to craft a richly textured collection and framework for thinking about the language Christians use to address and describe the triune God. More than a compilation, yet more practical than a purely theological treatise, Mystery Manifestis a volume that liturgists, ministers, and theologians will return to again and again seeking wisdom and insight into the figures of speech humans have developed to express the ineffable. With astute analysis and an eye for the creativity of our language over time, Ramshaw grounds readers in the realm of metaphor as practice before presenting an example--the metaphor of God the Fire--as finely layered illustration. She then covers each of the Persons of the Trinity in turn before culminating with Trinitarian and extended metaphors for God. Readers will find in these pages a wealth of resources for liturgical study, homiletical preparation, worship preparation, and theological reflection. Scholars and ministers alike will want to keep a copy readily available on their shelves.
Next to Nothing: a theology from outside
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A lesser-known tradition in theology--the apophatic--has resurfaced in our time. Simply stated, this tradition has long recognized that discussion of what God is not is central to theological discernment. The apophatic emphasis on giving the negative its due has been rediscovered and enlarged today in several ways. Above all, this theological orientation warrants our radical questioning and honors the importance of doubt. It also leads us to greater awareness of our hidden fears of loss and of the costs of our unconscious flight from death. At the same time, it can open the door to new perceptions of what lay persons--as well as theologians such as Eckhart and Tillich--have understood as our deepest relationship to the God beyond God. This development is significant for those in progressive faith communities, for those who call themselves "spiritual but not religious," and those who assume that religion and spirituality have no place in their lives.
The Last Kingdom Standing : hope for a world in crisis (2024)
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Is there real help for the hurting people in our world? We think of the children in war, refugees adrift, patients without medicine, and those dying in droughts and floods. Lest we despair, Jesus announces that the Kingdom of God is near. This book defines the Kingdom anew and shows how it brings us hope even in the worst of circumstances.The Kingdom of God is bigger than we thought. When God was King there was liberation and enough to survive and thrive. Promises of the Kingdom's blessings kept hope alive through defeat and devastation. While forgiving, healing, feeding, raising the dead, and praising the enemy, Jesus announced the Kingdom was at hand even before he wept over the coming destruction of Jerusalem.As a political scientist, Robert Schmidt demonstrates the political importance of the Kingdom through the centuries. He also shows how Christ continues to work through churches, organizations, and governments to bring hope through what he calls "God's New World Society." As a pastor he reaches out to those who have left the church. Might God still use them in Jesus' Kingdom work? With hope in their hearts there is a lot to be done.
Heretic : Jesus Christ and the other sons of God (2024)
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Constructing an Incarnational Theology : a Christocentric view of God's purpose
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Why did Jesus come? The traditional argument is that he came to redeem us from sin and destroy death, and thus reverse the fall. Many have long found this unsatisfactory, because it centres human deficit, rather than divine abundance. In this study, Samuel Wells traces his notion of 'being with' right into the Trinity itself, and in dialogue with Maximus the Confessor, Duns Scotus and Karl Barth, among others, articulates a truly Christocentric theology in which God's means and God's ends are identical. In the process, Wells not only greatly expands the compass of 'being with,' showing its scriptural and doctrinal significance, but also offers a constructive account of the incarnation, cross and resurrection of Jesus that out-narrates conventional atonement theories. Wells correspondingly proposes an account of sin, evil, suffering and death that accords with this revised understanding. The result is a compelling and transformational proposal in incarnational theology.
Religion for Realists
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More than half a century ago, sociologist J. Milton Yinger remarked about religion, "There are few major subjects about which men know so little, yet feel so certain." Samuel L. Perry says that Yinger had it right. Americans--and Westerners more generally--neglect the scientific study of religion, and we do so at our peril. In Religion for Realists, Perry argues that we need the scientific study of religion--the rational, data-driven analysis of religious life--now more than ever. Contrary to the fears of many religious Americans, the scientific study of religion only threatens empirical falsehoods, promulgated often to the benefit of charlatans and demagogues. And contrary to the silent hopes of many secular academics, religion doesn't go away when you ignore it. Instead, interest groups fill the void to shape the public's understanding of religious reality: sometimes well, usually poorly. Perry makes the case that, as people in the West self-sort into partisan tribes, all of us--religious and irreligious alike--need the scientific study of religion. This book presents a practical roadmap for ensuring that its insights are widely available, accessible, and impactful.
Here's a selection of the latest (Summer/Fall 2024) full-text journal articles in Church History from a variety of history journals:
Recent (Fall 2024) articles on Church History--ATLA Religion, including ATLA Root Review
Here are some other recent (Spring 2024) full-text journal articles in Church History from these journals, Themelios, European Journal of Theology, Concordia Theological Quarterly, and Christian Century:
Additional recent full-text articles on church history from ATLA (2023)
"Recontextualising theology: A challenge for theological training" by J. Beyers. Open access in Verbum et Ecclesia, May 2025
"A Study of Natural Theology from a Lutheran Perspective" by T. Pandiangan, in RERUM: Journal of Biblical Perspective (5.1: April 2025)
Enjoy the latest articles (some by Luther Sem's own Faculty), from Word & World recent issues (44.3), accessed via Luther Library's subscription to ATLA -Religion Database. Here's a few samples: New Journal Articles in Church History & Theology, 2024
Why religion went obsolete : the demise of traditional faith in America
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A Theology of Health : Wholeness and Human Flourishing.
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Climate Change, Radical Uncertainty and Hope : theology and economics in conversation
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Views on climate change are often either pessimistic or optimistic. In this book Jan Jorrit Hasselaar discovers and explores a third way, one of hope. A debate within economics on risk and uncertainty brings him to theological questions and the concept of hope in the work of the late Jonathan Sacks--and to a renewed way of doing theology as an account of the good life. What follows is an equal conversation between theology and economics as has hardly been undertaken in recent times. It emerges that hope is not contrary to economic insights, but remarkably compatible with them. Communication between these fields of expertise can open the way for a courageous and creative embrace of radical uncertainty in climate change. A key notion here is that of a public Sabbath, or a 'workplace of hope'--times and places set aside to cultivate inspiration and mutual trust among all parties involved, enabling them to take concrete steps forward.
The Oxford handbook of Friedrich Schleiermacher (2024 EBOOK)
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The Pop Theology of Videogames:Producing and Playing with Religion
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Young people in the West are more likely to encounter religion in videogames than in places of worship like churches, mosques or temples. Lars de Wildt interviews developers and players of games such as Assassin's Creed to find out how and why the Pop Theology of Videogames is so appealing to modern audiences. Based on extensive fieldwork, this book argues that developers of videogames and their players engage in a 'Pop Theology' through which laymen reconsider traditional questions of religion by playing with them. Games allow us to play with religious questions and identities in the same way that children play at being a soldier, or choose to 'play house.' This requires a radical rethinking of religious questions as no longer just questions of belief or disbelief; but as truths to be tried on, compared, and discarded at will.
The Routledge Companion to Christian Ethics
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The Routledge Companion to Christian Ethics brings together two different but related disciplines; the first is contemplative or theoretical, asking what are the beliefs or doctrines that characterize Christianity, whilst the second is practical, asking what are the ethical practices that attend its teachings. The movement between the theoretical and practical aspects is not, however, one way, as doctrine and life are mutually informing. In this comprehensive volume, leading scholars address key topics, problems and debates in this hotly debated topic within a truly global context. Comprising over 35 chapters by a team of international contributors, the handbook is divided into three parts based on the three persons of the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Within these sections, cutting-edge issues are examined, including: God and genetics War, peace, and violence White supremacy Creation and sexuality Digital ethics Transgender studies Climate change Immigration and refugees Adopting a practical approach that must consider new concerns that have arisen with recent social, political, and cultural shifts, The Routledge Companion to Christian Ethics is essential reading for students and researchers in Christian ethics, religious ethics and Christianity studies. The handbook will also be very useful for those in related fields such as ethics and philosophy.
An Asian American theology of liberation (2023)
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