This second edition of Dr Bram Oppenheim's established work, like the first, is a practical teaching text of survey methods. The new edition has extended its scope to include interviewing (both clip-board and depth interviewing), sampling and research design, data analysis, and a special chapter on pilot work. As before, the chapters on questionnaire design are supported by further chapters on attitude scaling methods, and on projective techniques. There is refreshingly critical treatment of problems such as faulty research designs, errors in sampling, ambiguities in question wording, biases in interviewing, losses of information, and the interpretation of attitude scales and of projective data. The book is laced throughout with instructive examples from many fields, ranging from marketing surveys to the study of children's political perceptions. Problems of reliability and validity are kept to the fore. Above all, the need for pilot work is emphasized at every stage. The book is intended for graduate methodology courses in the social sciences, but it is also designed to reach other professionals, including teachers, social workers, medical researchers, and opinion pollsters, who have to evaluate or carry out social surveys.>

A history of doctrines of the Early Church, written and arranged with exceptional clarity by a leading patristic scholar. Canon Kelly describes the development of the principal Christian doctrines from the close of the first century to the middle of the fifth, and from the end of the apostolic age to the council of Chalcedon.

Karl Rahner (1904-1984) has been called the most important and influential Roman Catholic thinker of the twentieth century. He was a major influence at the Second Vatican Council, and his extensive writings have inspired generations of modern students of theology. Dych provides a concise introduction to Rahner's theological interests and covers his thinking from his student days to the time of his death.

Rahner's writings are numerous and complex, but this volume provides a sure and accessible guide to his legacy. In addition, Dych attempts to connect Rahner's main theological teachings with those of Vatican II and with the teachings found in the Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola. In so doing, Dych places Rahner in the context of modern Catholic doctrine and the ongoing experience of Christians anxious to explore the mysteries of God and creation.

Scholarly discussions of biblical interpretation often ignore the fact that language and literature form an integral part of a people's culture, that interpretation therefore implies the total cultural system of the relevant literature, and that biblical interpretation consequently implies inter-cultural communication. This book explores the theoretical and practical implications of this observation from a cultural anthropological perspective, looks at recent anthropological studies of ancient Israelite society, supplies practical examples of a cultural interpretation of ancient Hebrew narratives, and discusses the impact of the notions 'cultural relativity' and 'inter-cultural communication' for biblical interpretation.>

What did Christ feel and know during his life on Earth? Raymond Moloney ventures a consideration utilizing perspectives based in exegesis, patristics, and philosophy. This book traces the shifting opinions on the knowledge of Christ in the New Testament and medieval periods--a period during which there was a consensus against ignorance in Christ. Moloney then examines how both Protestant and Catholic theologists, such as Karl Rahner, Hans Urs von Balthasar, and Bernard Lonergan, have questioned this consensus. Drawing on the insights of transcendental theology, The Knowledge of Christ ultimately stresses the mysteriousness of this question.

Thomas O'Loughlin examines the theological framework within which St. Patrick presented his experiences and considers how the Celtic lands of Ireland and Wales developed a distinctive view of sin, reconciliation, and Christian law which they later exported to the rest of western Christianity. He looks at writers like Adomnan of Iona and at Muirchu, who reflected on the meaning of the conversion of his people two centuries earlier. He surveys how they approached liturgy, sacred time, and the Last Things. By examining well-known texts such as the Voyage of St. Brendan, the Stowe Missal, and the Book of Armagh from the standpoint of formal theology, the book brings familiar texts to life in a new way.

Blessed with the possibility of a love that transcends the socially constructed boundary of gender identity (masculine/feminine) and the biologically constructed boundary of sex (male/female), bisexual persons speak to a number of theological principles as no others can.

Reflecting a wide spectrum of religious traditions and spiritual paths -- including Buddhist, Hindu, 12-Step, Pagan, Indigenous, Christian, and Jewish -- more than 30 contributors speak about the intersections of their faith practice and their sexual orientation. Some write about struggles in their denomination to be "out" as bisexuals. Others find their capacity to love both woman and men rooted in their faith traditions. Still others create new prayers and rituals to widen the boundaries of their faith practice.

While there have been many anthologies devoted to the specific spiritual inheritance of heterosexual women, lesbians, and gay men, this is the first such anthology in which bisexual persons speak for themselves. Contributors share rich insights on achieving wholeness, balance, and integration, on reconciling transcendence and immanence, on sacred sexuality, crossing boundaries, and living fully in one's calling.

Table of Contents 1. From Here to Integrity Ron Best, Chris Watkins and Caroline Lodge 2. Integrity and Uncertainty - Why Young People Need Doubtful Teachers Guy Claxton 3. The Child Tricia David 4. Curriculum for the Future Ian Barr and Margaret McGhie 5. 'Now just compose yourselves' - Personal Development and Integrity in Changing Times Chris Watkins 6. Stand and Deliver - The Teacher's Integrity? John Sullivan 7. Schools as Places of Learning and Integrity Caroline Lodge 8. Family Relationships, Learning and Teachers - Keeping the Connections Neil Dawson and Brenda McHugh 9. Prospective Institutional Inequities, Interculturalism and Education in Britain Jagdish Gundara 10. Schools for Communities John MacBeath 11. Policy and Governance John Tomlinson 12. And How Will We Get There From Here? Chris Watkins, Ron Best and Caroline Lodge

In the first part of this thought-provoking book, moral theologians address the worldwide AIDS pandemic and illustrate the complexity of HIV prevention and treatment within the context of local issues and cultural concerns in twenty-six cases from Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America, and North America.

In the second part, essays by well-known theologians home in on the fundamental moral issues involved and demonstrate how the Roman Catholic tradition can help in constructively mediating the moral conundrum of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment.

A concluding essay by Kevin Kelly focuses on the challenges AIDS presents to moral theology at the beginning of the new millennium.

Hans-Georg Gadamer is considered to have made the most important contribution to hermeneutics of this century through his major work, Truth and Method. Born in Marburg on February 11, 1900, he earned his doctorate under Paul Natorp, the Plato scholar, in 1922 and completed his habilitation thesis on Plato's dialectical ethics under Martin Heidegger in 1928. He spent the major portion of his teaching career at the University of Heidelberg, becoming emeritus professor in 1968. In retirement he became widely known in the United States through his regular fall courses at Boston college and his numerous lectures at major universities throughout the century.

Many people's lives are crippled, or at least hampered, by what other people have done to them, or what they have done to other people. Only by finding a way to get free of the past, can people truly live. This book is a study into the process of life-giving forgiveness in the light of the events of Holy Week nearly two thousand years ago. Readers will be able to make connections between life at the beginning of the twenty-first century and some of the events and characters of Christ's passion and death.

In this wise and pithy book, Una Kroll, an experienced doctor and priest, sheds new light on the how and why of forgiveness and how coming to understand the meaning of the death of Jesus and helps everyone to forgive and live. Each chapter begins with a story taken from life and ends with an illuminating passage from the Bible.

Contents:
-- Do We Need to Forgive and Be Forgiven?
-- What About Criminals and Those Who Have Done Real Harm?
-- Practical Ways of Asking for Forgiveness
-- How Do we Feel About the World?
-- Do We Need Scapegoats?
-- Hate Amnesty and Transforming Hope
-- The First Fruits of Forgiveness

An introduction to social anthropology, dealing chapter by chapter with some of the key topics of the subject, such as kinship, politics and religion. Professor Pocock highlights the moral and intellectual relevance of social anthropology to living in the increasingly complex society of the 20th century, and by means of an interactive approach, he encourages readers to think anthropologically and gain an idea of how anthropology might tell them something about their own lives. The introduction takes stock of the developments in the field since the title's first publication.ON DISK: A comprehensive introduction to social anthropology covering the key topics and setting anthropology firmly in a cross-cultural context. The book highlights the moral and intellectual relevance of social anthropology to living in the increasingly complex society of the Twentieth Century. A new introduction outlines the contemporary value of Pocock's classic text and, with the new Guide to Further Reading, resituates the text within contemporary thought and literature.

This book is an exhilarating and important addition to the literature on sexuality and on education. An unusually international collection--with contributions on Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Africa, the UK and the United States--it includes chapters written both by internationally known leaders in the field and by exciting newcomers. The book challenges conventional ways of thinking both about sexuality and about pedagogy, with sections on myth-making, identity, globalization and interventions in education. It will be a key text for undergraduate and postgraduate students of social and cultural theory, queer studies, gender and women's studies and education.

It has been argued that religious studies is a polymethodic discipline, and that the student of religion should be familiar with the approaches of the major disciplines concerned with understanding the nature of religion, not least because the approach adopted has profound influence on the phenomena chose for investigation and the conclusions reached.This book is the first textbook, specifically designed for undergraduate students, that provides the essential background on methods of the major relevant disciplines.Presenting each of the significant approaches to religion in an informed manner, the book brings together experienced researchers from feminism, anthropology, sociology, phenomenology, psychology, philosophy, and theology. It presents a consistent approach throughout, with each chapter dealing with the same themes: the historical development of the approach, the characteristics of the approach, and the surrounding issues and debates.

This major new text critically assesses the key political ideologies of the 20th century. The 1970s and 1980s witnessed a flowering of new and popular ideologies, such as feminism and ecologism, and a revival of others, notably liberalism. The upheavals of the early 1990s have initiated fresh debate amongst major thinkers on the nature of ideology, much of it however hostile or polemical. "Modern Political Ideologies" examines in an objective scholarly manner the evolution of key political ideologies and assesses their impact and development during the 20th century. This volume is essential reading for all students of politics, and indeed anyone who has an interest in current events and wishes to acquire a deeper understanding of the nature, scope and ambition of different ideologies.

Ever since it first appeared in the 15th century, "The Imitation of Christ" by Thomas a Kempis has been one of the most widely read books in world literature. With the renewal of the Church in the 1960s, however, it went into complete eclipse. Its spirituality, it was felt, was no longer compatible with the religious and lay people of the day. The author argues that, despite its many limitations, the "Imitation" has a timeless message and insights that are still valid as meaningful expressions of Christian ideals. This book is a contemporary adaptation of the "Imitation", similar to Meninger's succesful adaptation of the mediaeval classic "The Cloud of Unknowing". He has kept the essential elements of the "Imitation's" spirituality, while modifying or opposing those time-bound aspects that have been responsible for its modern rejection.

The artistic and religious traditions of Africa constitute a primary example of the intelletual and cultural vitality of this vast and fascinating continent. Art plays a vital role - especially when oral traditions dominate - in expressing and communicating ideas about the relationships between the human, spiritual and natural worlds. However, despite the ritual and symbolic significance of many artistic works, the interactive and interdependent relationship between art and religion in the African context remains understudied and misunderstood. This book draws on the methodologies of several disciplines to provide a greater understanding of the philosophical and reigious aspects of artistic works and to challenge Western perceptions of what is 'important'. Case studies and examples reflect the geographical, material and gendered diversity of Africa's visual and performing arts and highlight the changes imposed by Christianity, Islam and the newer religious movements in post-colonial Africa. Rosalind I.J. Hackett is Professor of Religious Studies, University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

This book analyses what 'power' means in the church today, both politically and in terms of its abuse in personal relationships, and also its place in the charismatic movement. Martyn Percy brings insights from theology, sociology and political science to bear on questions of power. He finds that they provide a master-key for unlocking core dilemmas in the church's self-understanding, and in pointing the way towards a relevant ecclesiology for the twenty-first century.

This scholarly and authoritative book throws light on questions which many academic theologians feel themselves ill-equipped to address. It is an essential tool for students of ecclesiology, and for anyone concerned about the use or abuse of power within the church today.

Many thousands of people across the world have found their spiritual lives enriches by the daily practice of Christian meditation, the method of silent prayer taught by Benedictine monk John Main. It is a tradition which draws on the ancient wisdom of the Bible, the Hindu Upanishads and the early Christian Desert Fathers.John Main wrote several books on contemplative prayer before he died in 1982, but this collection is the only one to draw the essence of all his teachings into one volume. Paul Harris has devotedly selected the essential extracts from each of John Main's works and arranged them here in an attractive and practical daily readings format.>

A Feminist Companion to Reading the Bible: Approaches, Methods and Strategies forms a conclusion to the series of 10 volumes published in the groundbreaking Feminist Companion to the Bible since 1993. Not only is this the companion to the Companion, but, it is at the same time the forerunner and companion to a second series of nine volumes of the Feminist Companion. In all, there will be a unique collection of 20 volumes representing the enormous range of influence that feminist criticism has come to have in biblical studies. Anchored always in particular biblical texts, the essays in this multi-authored Companion to Reading the Bible have a distinct methodological slant, reflecting the numerous developments in feminist criticism that have occurred since the first books in the series were published, and forming an indispensable handbook for every biblical scholar and student today. >

This book explores doubt - what is its meaning?; what does it bring?; and why does personal experience often run counter to the teachings of the Church about hope?

In this fascinating and original book, Leslie J. Francis applies personality type theory to the way we study the bible. Why, when two people are asked what they find important in a biblical text, are they likely to come up with different answers? Why, when a sermon speaks strongly to someone, do others find it incprehensible? In recent years, both inside and outside the Christian community, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) has been extensively used as an aid to spiritual growth, self-knowledge and community building. Type theory has become an invaluable resource in the spheres of education, management and pastoral care. Here, Lesie J. Frances suggests that in learning to understand our own preferred pattern of spirituality we do not only deepen our understanding of the gospels but also increase our sensitivity to the approaches of others. Personality Type and Scripture brings together the texts from St Mark's gospel which are included in Year B of the Revised Common Lectionary, and uses the insights of MBTI theory to explore the range of possible responses to them. Accessible enough for use in personal Bible reading, its disciplined and professional approach makes it an invaluable companion for Bible study leaders and preachers. Leslie J. Frances is D.J.James Professor of Pastoral Theology and Trinity College, Carmarthen, and University of Wales, Lampeter, UK. He is an Anglican priest, a Fellow of the British Psychological Society and a qualified practitioner of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.

This volume offers a critique of the literature on political development from the 1960s and 1970s, and traces its influence in contemporary approaches to democratization. It argues that the orthodox view was never optimistic about the immediate prospects for democracy around the Third World. On the contrary, it was always fearful that democratic reform, once initiated, would prove hard to control. This prompted the formulation of a pragmatic "doctrine for political development" which survived failed attempts to establish a persuasive theory to back it up. Pardoxically, suggests this book, despite such failure, this doctrine dominates discussion of democratization today.

Socio-rhetorical criticism has established itself as one of the promising new methods of biblical study today. Vernon K. Robbins here provides an accessible introduction to socio-rhetorical criticism, illustrating the method by guiding the reader through the study of specific New Testament texts and stories.An opening chapter outlines this new approach and its focus on values, convictions, and beliefs both in the texts we read and in the world in which we live. Then follow chapters on getting inside a text (inner texture), that is, studying the internal aspects of words and meanings in the text: entering the interactive world of the test (intertexture, ), that is relating the text being interpreted to a wide range of phenomena that lie outside the text: living with the text in the world (social and cultural texture), that is, examining the social and cultural locations in the world that the language of the text evokes: and shared interests in commentary and in the text (ideological texture), that is, looking at the way the text itself and interpreters of the text position themselves in relation to other individuals and groups.Texts studied include the rich man and Jesus in Mark 10:17-22 (inner texture): the Pentecost event in Acts 2 (intertexture): the woman who anointed Jesus in Luke 7:36-50 and John 9 (social and cultural texture): the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:26-40 and "women keep silent" in 1 Corinthians 14: 26-40 (ideological texture).Vernon K. Robbins is Professor of Religion in the Department of Religion, Emory University, and the author of Ancient Quotes and Anecdotes: From Crib to Crypt and The Rhetoric of Pronouncement.

This addition to the Old Testament Guides series studies the only two biblical books to have been named after women, and finds them refreshingly different. A rich field of new writing on Esther is surveyed, showing that this exotic book is emerging from a long period under a cloud to make valuable contributions to a number of current debates: what makes a biblical text theologically valuable or dangerous - and how do our perceptions change? what is the relation beween history and theology? what is the status of variant forms of the biblical tradition? how does the book achieve its literary impact? - and, of course, what contribution does it make to feminist biblical studies? Ruth is more of an established favourite in the biblical canon. The Guide tackles the elusive questions of its dating and the nature of its relationship to Israelite law, as well as the contrivance of its literary beauty and the subtlety of its theology. The needs of students studying Ruth as a set text in Hebrew are taken into account, but the Guide follows the series as a whole in catering primarily for those studying English text.>