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Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Christian theology
Introduction to Sacramental Theology presents a complete overview
of sacramental theology from the viewpoint of the body. This
viewpoint is supported, in the first place, by Revelation, for
which the sacraments are the place where we enter into contact with
the body of the risen Jesus. It is a viewpoint, secondly, which is
firmly rooted in our concrete human bodily experience, thus
allowing for a strong connection between faith and life, creation
and redemption. From this point of view, the treatise on the
sacraments occupies a strategic role. For the sacraments appear,
not as the last of a series of topics (after dealing with Creation,
Christ, the Church), but as the original place in which to stand in
order to contemplate the entire Christian mystery. This point of
view of the body, which resonates with contemporary philosophy,
sheds fruitful light on classical themes, such as the relationship
of the sacraments with creation, the composition of the sacramental
sign, the efficacy of the sacraments, the sacramental character,
the role of the minister, or the relationship of the sacrament with
the Church as a sacrament. As a result of this approach, the
Eucharist takes on a central role, since this is the sacrament
where the body of Jesus is made present. The rest of the sacraments
are seen as prolongations of the eucharistic body, so as to fill
all the time and space of the faithful. This foundation of the
theology of the sacraments in eucharistic theology is supported by
an analysis of the patristic and medieval tradition. In order to
support its conclusions, Introduction to Sacramental Theology
examines the doctrine of Scripture (especially St. John and St.
Paul), the main patristic and medieval authors (St. Augustine, Hugh
of St. Victor, St. Bonaventure, St. Thomas Aquinas...), the
response of Trent to the protestant challenges, up to modern
authors such as Scheeben, Rahner, Ratzinger, or Chauvet, including
the teaching of Vatican II about the Church as a kind of sacrament.
Christianity Today 2014 Book Award Winner How can I know God if he
is incomprehensible? Is it possible to know God in a way that takes
seriously the fact that he is beyond knowledge? Steven Boyer and
Christopher Hall argue that the "mystery of God" has a rightful
place in theological discourse. They contend that considering
divine incomprehensibility invites reverence and humility in our
thinking and living as Christians and clarifies a variety of
theological topics. The authors begin by investigating the
biblical, historical, and practical foundations for understanding
the mystery of God. They then spell out its implications for
theological issues and practices such as the incarnation,
salvation, and prayer, rooting knowledge of God in a concrete life
of faith. Evangelical yet ecumenical, this book will appeal to
theology students, pastors, church leaders, and all who want
intellectual and practical guidance for knowing the unknowable God.
The modern world portrays Jesus in many ways for many reasons. Some
are well-intentioned but misguided, others are aberrations, still
others have some but not all the essential keys. In order to see
and understand the real Jesus and what the Gospels say about him,
we have to see him in his first-century context-and work out from
there. Here is a portrait of Jesus that in some ways will affirm
what traditional Christianity has always understood about
him...and, in other ways, upend it altogether. Award-winning author
Mark Clark delves into the person and work of Jesus of Nazareth:
his parables and miracles, his controversial challenge of
discipleship and obedience, his seemingly insane claim to be God,
and what his death and resurrection (if they did happen) actually
mean. Mark is unafraid to tackle questions such as: What would
first-century Jews have immediately recognized about Jesus that
modern Christians often miss? What do the Gospels accomplish, and
can we trust them? Is there a problem with science and Jesus'
miracles? What are the barriers stopping people from following him?
And what is Christianity in light of an accurate portrayal of the
object of its faith? The Problem of Jesus engages with ideas from
all realms of study: from Malcolm Gladwell and Jordan Peterson to
historians, scientists, and philosophers; from N.T. Wright to C.S.
Lewis; from Star Wars to Pretty Woman-all unite to form a
breathtaking and accurate portrait of Jesus, the man, the message,
and the mission, who forever altered the course of human history.
"As a former atheist, I would call this book philosophical
dynamite...The Problem of Jesus will take your thinking about
Jesus-and your relationship with him-to whole new levels." -Pastor
and author, Ray Johnston.
In this book, Michael Reeves calls believers to see God as the
object of their fear-a fear marked not by anxiety but by reverence
and awe.
Rediscover the art of Christian persuasion in an age of increasing
unreason. For many Christians who've tried their hands at
evangelism or have had to defend their faith, it can feel like
doing PR work for God-limiting ourselves to a series of strategies
and tactics. In The Faithful Apologist, Scott Oliphint provides a
cross-centered foundation for Christians to explain their faith in
a welcoming and persuasive manner that avoids any burden to "sell"
Christianity to non-Christians. Drawing as much from the rich
tradition of Western apologetics as from the wisdom of effective
communication, this book bridges the gap between sharing the truth
of our faith and the art of persuasion by: Laying out the biblical
and theological foundations of apologetics. Studying the art of
persuasion as it's demonstrated in Scripture. Linking the
discipline of apologetics to the classical art of persuasion. As
devoted to people as he is to the intellect, Reformed theologian
Dr. Scott Oliphint has written this faithful book to explain the
importance of both devotions in apologetics and in Christian
correspondence with the world. He shows that, when our faith is
grounded in the Triune God and his sovereignty, our attempts to
defend it will grow more confident and convincing. Accessible and
thoroughly rooted in Scripture, The Faithful Apologist takes the
anxiety out of apologetics by revealing that success is not
measured in the number of minds we change, but in our faithfulness
to God, the Divine Persuader.
Creation is the theater of God's glory. Scripture is like a pair of
glasses that clarifies our vision of God. Justification is the
hinge on which religion turns. These and other affirmations are
often associated with John Calvin, the 16th-century French
Protestant Reformer best known for his ministry in Geneva and his
authorship of the Institutes of the Christian Religion. Over the
course of his lifetime and through several editions, Calvin
expanded the Institutes from a brief study to a four-volume book
that covers the main doctrines of the Christian faith and continues
to shape the theology of the Reformed tradition. In this volume,
Reformed theologian Yudha Thianto guides readers through a careful
study of Calvin's Institutes. After setting Calvin and his writing
in their historical context, he outlines the most significant
aspects of Calvin's theology, guiding those who would know more
about his work and, through it, the God who inspired him. Books in
the Explorer's Guide series are accessible guidebooks for those
studying the great Christian texts and theologians from church
history, helping readers explore the context in which these texts
were written and navigate the rich yet complex terrain of Christian
theology.
Don't you deserve a little happiness?
They are the questions that plague us:
- Is happiness within my reach?
- Why is life so frustrating?
- Is it too late for me?
Or to put another way, "Where can I find a little heaven on
earth?"
History's most successful man, Solomon, wondered just that. As
Dr. David Jeremiah shows us, he was a man who tested life's
haunting questions head-on. And tasted life's riches full-on. And
who found his answers in the last place he thought to look.
Listen, then, to his voice. A voice that, if you pay attention,
will speak directly to your flesh and bones and heart. A voice that
admits: Maybe happiness is an empty hope. Or maybe we've simply
been looking in all the wrong places. . .
This handy, accessible introduction to reading theology helps
readers engage doctrine critically and charitably. It serves as a
primer to theological texts, offering practical guidelines for
assessing theology and equipping the next generation of pastors and
theologians to read theological literature wisely--even when they
might disagree with it. An ideal theology textbook, it is
especially well suited for students reading theological literature
and discussing doctrine for the first time.
Radical Orthodoxy is the most influential theological development
in a generation. Many have been bewildered by the range and
intensity of the writings which constitute this movement. This book
spans the breadth of the history of thought discussed by Radical
Orthodoxy, tackling the accuracy of the historical narratives on
which their position depends. The distinguished contributors
examine the history of thought as presented by the movement,
offering a series of critiques of individual Radical Orthodox
'readings' of key thinkers. Contributors: Eli Diamond, Wayne J.
Hankey, Todd Breyfogle, John Marenbon, Richard Cross, Neil G.
Robertson, Douglas Hedley, David Peddle, Steven Shakespeare, George
Pattison, and Hugh Rayment-Pickard.
Sigmund Freud's essay 'The Uncanny' is celebrating a century since
publication. It is arguably his greatest and most fruitful
contribution to the study of culture and the environment.
Environmental Humanities and the Uncanny brings into the open
neglected aspects of the uncanny in this famous essay in its
centenary year and in the work of those before and after him, such
as Friedrich Schelling, Walter Benjamin, E. T. A. Hoffmann and Bram
Stoker. This book does so by focussing on religion, especially at a
time and for a world in which some sectors of the monotheisms are
in aggressive, and sometimes violent, contention against those of
other monotheisms, and even against other sectors within their own
monotheism. The chapter on Schelling's uncanny argues that
monotheisms come out of polytheism and makes the plea for
polytheism central to the whole book. It enables rethinking the
relationships between mythology and monotheistic and polytheistic
religions in a culturally and politically liberatory and
progressive way. Succeeding chapters consider the uncanny cyborg,
the uncanny and the fictional, and the uncanny and the
Commonwealth, concluding with a chapter on Taoism as a polytheistic
religion. Building on the author's previous work in Environmental
Humanities and Theologies in bringing together theories of religion
and the environment, this book will be of great interest to
students and scholars of the environmental humanities, ecocultural
studies and religion.
A Top Ten Book for Parish Ministry in 2017, Academy of Parish
Clergy A Jesus Creed 2017 Book of the Year (Honorable Mention) From
facing wild beasts in the arena to governing the Roman Empire,
Christian women--as preachers and philosophers, martyrs and
empresses, virgins and mothers--influenced the shape of the church
in its formative centuries. This book provides in a single volume a
nearly complete compendium of extant evidence about Christian women
in the second through fifth centuries. It highlights the social and
theological contributions they made to shaping early Christian
beliefs and practices, integrating their influence into the history
of the patristic church and showing how their achievements can be
edifying for contemporary Christians.
As a writer and prophet Dostoevsky was no academic theologian, yet
his writings are deeply theological: his life, beliefs, even his
epilepsy, all had a role in generating histheology and eschatology.
Dostoevsky's novels are riven with paradoxes, are deeply
dialectical, and represent a criticism of religion, offered in the
service of the gospel. In this task he presented a profound
understanding and portrait of humanity. Dostoevsky's novels chart
the movement of the human into death: either the movement through
paradox and Christlikeness into Christ's cross (a soteriology often
characterized by the apophatic negation and self-denial; what we
may term 'the Mark of Abel') leading to salvation and resurrection;
or, conversely, the movement of those who refuse Christ's
invitation to be redeemed, and continue to fall into a self-willed
death and a selfgenerated hell ('the Mark of Cain'). This
eschatology becomes a theological axiom which he unceasingly warned
people of in his mature works. Startlingly original, stripped of
all religious pretence, Dostoevsky as a prophet forewarned of the
politicized humanistic delusions of the twentieth century: a
prophet crying out through the wilderness.
A unique interreligious dialogue provides needed context for deeper
understanding of interfaith relations, from ancient to modern times
Freedom is far from straightforward as a topic of comparative
theology. While it is often identified with modernity and even
postmodernity, freedom has long been an important topic for
reflection by both Christians and Muslims, discussed in both the
Bible and the Qur'an. Each faith has a different way of engaging
with the idea of freedom shaped by the political context of their
beginnings. The New Testament emerged in a region under occupation
by the Roman Empire, whereas the Qur'an was first received in
tribal Arabia, a stateless environment with political freedom.
Freedom: Christian and Muslim Perspectives, edited by Lucinda
Mosher, considers how Christian and Muslim faith communities have
historically addressed many facets of freedom. The book presents
essays, historical and scriptural texts, and reflections. Topics
include God's freedom, human freedom to obey God, autonomy versus
heteronomy, autonomy versus self-governance, freedom from
incapacitating addiction and desire, hermeneutic or discursive
freedom vis-a-vis scripture and tradition, religious and political
freedom, and the relationship between personal conviction and
public order. The rich insights expressed in this unique interfaith
discussion will benefit readers-from students and scholars, to
clerics and community leaders, to politicians and policymakers-who
will gain a deeper understanding of how these two communities
define freedom, how it is treated in both religious and secular
texts, and how to make sense of it in the context of our
contemporary lives.
In recent decades a new movement has arisen, bringing the
conceptual tools of analytic philosophy to bear on theological
reflection. Called analytic theology, it seeks to bring a clarity
of thought and a disciplined use of logic to the work of
constructive Christian theology. In this introduction to analytic
theology for specialists and nonspecialists alike, Thomas McCall
lays out what it is and what it isn't. The goal of this growing and
energetic field is not the removal of all mystery in theology. At
the same time, it insists that mystery must not be confused with
logical incoherence. McCall explains the connections of analytic
theology to Scripture, Christian tradition and culture, using case
studies to illuminate his discussion. Beyond mere description,
McCall calls the discipline to a deeper engagement with the
traditional resources of the theological task.
This collection of papers, first published in 1992, grew out of a
concern for the perduring nature of the thought of John Henry
Cardinal Newman. Although Cardinal Newman died over one hundred
years ago, his influence on today's thinking is still strong.
Newman put forward an ideal of society and life which has a
recognizable relation to the lasting possibilities open to
humankind. The editors and contributors of this volume have been
brought together by a common interest in a man for whom the
continual search for truth is paramount.
In order to draw out the relationship between publicly-oriented
Christianity and education, this book demonstrates that education
is an important method and prerequisite of public theology, as well
as an urgent object of public theology research's attention.
Featuring work from diverse academic disciplines-including religion
education, theology, philosophy, and religious studies-this edited
collection also contends with the educational challenges that come
with the decline of religion on the one hand and its transformation
and regained public relevance on the other. Taken together, the
contributions to this volume provide a comprehensive argument for
why education deserves systematic attention in the context of
public theology discourse, and vice versa.
Over 100,000 Copies Sold Worldwide! Preaching Survey of the Year's
Best Books for Preachers Why is God love? Because God is a Trinity.
Why can we be saved? Because God is a Trinity. How are we able to
live the Christian life? Through the Trinity. In this lively book,
we find an introduction to Christianity and the Christian life that
is from start to finish rooted in our triune God--Father, Son and
Spirit. Not only do we understand the person and work of Christ
through the Trinity, but also prayer, the church and every aspect
of our faith. With wit and clarity, Reeves draws from church
history down to the present referencing a wide range of notable
teachers and preachers. Here is a rich and enjoyable portrayal of
the basic beliefs of Christianity that opens up the profound and
life-changing truths of our faith.
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