The study analyses the current state of research on the synoptic problem and proves that the Synoptic Gospels were written in the Mark, Luke, Matthew order of direct literary dependence. Moreover, the work demonstrates that the Synoptic Gospels are results of systematic, sequential, hypertextual reworking of the contents of the Pauline letters. Accordingly, the so-called 'Q source' turns out to be an invention of nineteenth-century scholars with their Romantic hermeneutic presuppositions. Demonstration of the fact that the Gospels are not records of the activity of the historical Jesus but that they narratively illustrate the identity of Christ as it has been revealed in the person and life of Paul the Apostle will certainly have major consequences for the whole Christian theology.

"Sino-Christian theology" usually refers to an intellectual movement emerged in Mainland China since the late 1980s. The present volume aims to provide a self-explaining sketch of the historical development of this theological as well as cultural movement. In addition to the analyses on the theoretical issues involved and the articulations of the prospect, concrete examples are also offered to illustrate the characteristics of the movement.

"Contesting Ecumenical Theology" is a major contribution to the study of the Church. It provides clear and authoritative orientation for the student, while probing deep into a range of key issues in ecclesiology and ecumenical dialogue from a critical standpoint that will stimulate discussion among scholars and ecumenists. It reclaims some old orthodoxies, while challenging some new ones, and points to a deeper and more personal engagement with the major traditions of the Christian Church as the way to fuller unity and more effective mission. "Contesting Ecumenical Theology" argues that the values of difference and diversity and the priority of mission and evangelisation must shape our picture of unity. It transcends old arguments about 'establishment', by showing that all churches are compelled to develop a constructive relationship to the modern state, wherever possible, if they are to be effective in mission. The central ecumenical notion of 'reception' is re-interpreted, not as the faithful unquestioningly receiving the teaching of church authorities, but as the process whereby the whole Church discerns the truth of new developments. The mantra 'baptism is complete sacramental initiation' is challenged, and the place of confirmation is secured within a total process of initiation. The ministry of the episcopate is affirmed, but only by being related to the gospel on which the Church is founded. The nature of communion is examined and the imperative of maintaining it against divisive tendencies is affirmed. 'The hermeneutics of unity' shows that we are shaped by each other through the conflict or rivalry of traditions: 'We are what we are because you are what you are'.

This book argues that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, locked as they have been over the centuries in many kinds of mutual enmity and violence, now need to join resources to resist the destructive economic and political forces now on the loose across the globe, some of which distrust among these faiths has tended to intensify. Such a project requires relational practices among the faiths, all of them based on mutual moral commitments that draw on the respective communities' scriptural traditions of covenantal promise-keeping. That is, each tradition has a gift of responsibility, both to its God and to its people. Mudge wants to plumb the resources of each of these religions and encourage them to be responsible in taking these gifts seriously.Such relational practices are hardly used as resources in interreligious dialogue. Mudge contends that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are called to practice moral hospitality and covenantal humanism in order to foster justice and responsibility in societies around the globe.

Based on original research in the archive of the Council of Churches in Wales, this volume provides a history of the modern ecumenical movement in Wales--a movement that has attempted to foster closer collaboration among the churches and denominations and enabled working partnerships in response to national and international social, cultural, and economic issues. Providing a critical account of issues of both faith and order, as well as questions of life and work in the contemporary ecumenical movement, "A History of Ecumenism in Wales, 1956-1990" tells the story of a movement whose enormous influence on the churches in Wales helped them to meet the changes and challenges within Welsh society during the latter half of the twentieth century.

At a time when Anglican and Evangelical seem to be increasingly polarised rather than part of the same tradition, an Evangelical Anglican takes a fresh look at the historical and contemporary expressions of each to assess their distinctive standpoints, to show how much common ground they share and to examine what this means for the church today. Practitioners who consider themselves on one or the other side of the debate, as well as those who would ally themselves with both traditions, will welcome this new appraisal with its insight into meeting points and mutual goals. This is a vital contribution for all who are concerned to arrest the perception, whatever the reality, of the Anglican church's inexorable decline.

Maverick theologian Matthew Fox brings readers into the common heart of the world's great religions, illuminating a "deep ecumenism" for seekers everywhere.
We get to the core of religion by going to the heart experience, Matthew Fox says, not by dwelling on doctrines that so easily divide even within religious traditions. In "One River, Many Wells," Fox exhorts readers to embrace the common faith of deep ecumenism.
Fox masterfully distills the common principles of the world's religions, and shows exactly how the different fingers of world faiths connect to a single hand. Drawing on seminal quotes, lessons, and ideas from the great faiths, he demonstrates how each expresses a common goal and approach to life, and concludes the book with "18 New Myths and Visions" that will inspire readers to embrace deep ecumenism.
"One River, Many Wells" is an indispensable resource, envisioning a new and exciting way of faith that erases the lines of false distinction between religions and calls upon each of us to worship from our common heart.

This book presents the text of the Declaration, which had been drafted after a thorough process of interreligious and international consultation by Hans Kung, with a commentary explaining how it came to take its present form and what it sets out to do. Dr. Karl-Josef Kuschel, Hans Kung's Tubingen colleague, describes the historical background to the Parliament and gives an account of its proceedings.

Die Veroeffentlichung gehoert zu den wenigen Publikationen zum Reformationsjubilaum 2017, die in oekumenischer Gemeinschaft konzipiert worden sind. Der Altenberger Kreis steht fur Optionen in der OEkumene, die offen in die Zukunft weisen und sich von bestehenden kirchenamtlichen Vorgaben nicht schrecken lassen. UEber lange Zeit hat Johannes Brosseder dem Kreis angehoert; ihm wird in der Studie mit seinem oekumenischen Engagement ein lebendiges Gedachtnis bewahrt. Das Jahr 2017 ladt zu einer Bestandsaufnahme in der OEkumene ein. Was ist erreicht worden? Was ist in Zukunft noch dringend erforderlich? UEber lange Zeit war der gemeinsame Blick von Christinnen und Christen auf 2017 von der Frage bestimmt, ob es anlasslich dieses Datums uberhaupt etwas zu feiern gibt, oder ob einzig die Trauer uber die Folgen der Reformation gemeinsam zu beklagen sind. Beides ist wahr. Trotz der vielen offenen Fragen haben sich die Kirchen in Deutschland auf den Weg gemacht, eine Zeit der Versoehnung miteinander zu gestalten. Der Sammelband orientiert uber die geplanten Vorhaben und beleuchtet deren Hintergrunde. Perspektiven der OEkumene werden mit biblischen und liturgischen Bezugen eroeffnet. Im Blick ist dabei nicht nur die lutherische Reformation, vielmehr kommen exemplarisch auch weitere Orte der Reformation in Europa vor allem die reformierte Tradition in den Niederlanden und in der Schweiz - zur Sprache. Das Buch ist ein Votum fur mehr OEkumene gerade angesichts des Reformationsjubilaums im Jahr 2017. Konkrete Handlungsformen (beispielsweise Gemeindepartnerschaften) werden vorgestellt. Die Gemeinschaft von Taize, deren Weg in die OEkumene erinnert wird, ist eine Quelle der Inspiration fur die geistliche OEkumene der Zukunft. Versoehnung ist ein Leitwort der OEkumene und die Zeit ist nun gekommen, sie zu leben. Die Geschehnisse im Jahr 2017 koennen dazu wichtige Impulse geben.

The study describes and analyses the history of mission studies and mission activities at Utrecht University (UU), from the establishment of UU in 1636 onwards. It also describes and examines the overseas ministries of Dutch, German, Hungarian, South African, and other alumni in the past 375 years. In each of the four periods of UU's history (the years 1797, 1876, and 1968/69 functioning as watersheds), attention is paid to professors and lecturers, honorary doctors, doctors, and students and student bodies connected with mission. In the period 1968/69 until today the Inter-university Institute for Missiological and Ecumenical Research (IIMO), as well as missiological journals, series, and publications are dealt with. Special attention is paid to the Anti-Apartheid Fund, to missiological projects such as the Religious Education project (in cooperation with the University of Zimbabwe), and to the non-Western students who since the 17th century have studied theology in Utrecht.

Divided into 3 parts, this handbook provides a wide-ranging survey and analysis of the Christian Church. The first section addresses the scriptural foundations of ecclesiology; the second section outlines the historical and confessional aspects of the topic; and the final part discusses a variety of contemporary and topical themes in ecclesiology. Compiled and written by leading scholars in the field, the T&T Clark Handbook of Ecclesiology covers a range of key topics in the context of their development and importance in each stream of historic Christianity and the confessional traditions. The contributors cover traditional matters such as creedal notes, but also tackle questions of ordination, orders of ministry, and sacraments. This handbook is extensive enough to provide a true overview of the field, but the essays are also concise enough to be read as reference selections.

Die Evangelische Kirche im Rheinland gehoert zu den Kirchen, die als erste aufmerksam die OEffnungen des Zweiten Vatikanischen Konzils verfolgt und darauf geantwortet haben. Dieser Dokumentationsband belegt erstmals den eber 50-jahrigen oekumenischen Weg, den die Evangelische Kirche im Rheinland seit den frehen sechziger Jahren mit der roemisch-katholischen Kirche genommen hat. Jeder seiner 6 Teile ist einem Jahrzehnt gewidmet. Einige Akzente: Hoehepunkt in den sechziger Jahren war fraglos das oeffentliche Podiumsgesprach, dass Prases Beckmann und Kardinal Jaeger wahrend des 12. Deutschen Evangelischen Kirchentages in Koeln am 30. Juli1965 zum Thema fehrten: -Katholiken und Protestanten angesichts des Konzils."1973 verabschiedete die Landessynode eine erste bahnbrechende Erklarung -eber die Zusammenarbeit der evangelischen und katholischen Kirche". (In den achtziger Jahren erarbeitete die Landessynode 1985 eine offizielle Stellungnahme zu den Lima-Erklarungen von 1982 zu Taufe, Eucharistie und Amt.) Anlasslich der Trierer Heilig-Rock-Wallfahrt 1996 kam am 26. Marz eine -Vereinbarung ... zur gegenseitigen Anerkennung der Taufe" zustande. Auf die vatikanische Erklarung Dominus Jesus im Jahr 2000 antwortete die Rheinische Landessynode 2001 mit der Stellungnahme: -Der Weg der Evangelischen Kirche im Rheinland bleibt oekumenisch." Ausserdem empfahl sie den Abschluss weiterer Gemeindepartnerschaften am Ort. (2013 wurde eine theologische Grundlegung zum oekumenischen Charakter des Reformationsfestes 2017 erarbeitet.)Dieser Dokumentationsband ist eine Fundgrube fer das oekumenische Engagement der Evangelischen Kirche im Rheinland und eine Inspiration fer ihren kenftigen oekumenischen Weg.

The Malankara Mar Thoma Church's ecumenical outlook - marked by twin facets of openness and autonomy - has been the underlying ethos guiding its history, helping it to establish a unique identity. The book retells the church's ecumenical history dating back to its founding in 52 CE. This study throws ample light on the period between the significant changes of 1889 and the present times. It deals with questions such as: How did the church start practising an ecumenical outlook even before the word ecumenism was coined? Could this have resulted from the church's interaction with Indian culture that upholds unity in diversity?

Cardinal Waler Kasper is a distinguished theologian who has been a colleague of Cardinal Ratzinger, Karl Rahner and Hans Kung at the Universtities of Munster and Tubingen. Kasper now heads the Vatican's Ponitifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, with the specific task of fostering relations between the Catholic Church and the other Christian Churches and Eccesiastical communities. By any reckoning, Kasper is a key leader in the eccumenical movement today. In this new book, he outlines his vision for the unity of Christian Churches. A man with an open mind, Kasper covers one of the major responsibilities of the contemporary Catholic Church. His perspective of the uniqueness of the Catholic Church and its magisterium is presented here as a modern inquiry into the nature of truth. His views are enlightened and engaging, and reflect the important role of dialogue as understood by the Catholic Church, which must also listen to other traditions and learn from them. But Kasper also realises that the cause of unity is exceptionally difficult at the present time.Dialogue is often challenged by developments between and within Christian communions and obstructed by historical tensions. This book will command quite exceptional interest. Many will read it in the hope that the thought of this renowned, open-minded Church leader may give hope to people of all traditions that they may learn to understand Jesus's injucntion - 'that they may be one'.

In this book, Brother David Steindl-Rast, who has been a monk for more than 50 years, argues that every sensual experience--whether the joy of walking barefoot or the fragrance of the season--should be recognized as a spiritual one.

How has Christianity engaged with democracy? In this authoritative new treatment of a sometimes troubled relationship, Donald Norwood reflects on the way that democracy has become, especially under the auspices of the United Nations and the World Council of Churches, not just an ideal but a universally applicable moral principle. Yet, as the author demonstrates, faith and democracy have not always sat comfortably together. For example, the Vatican has dealt harshly with radical theologians such as Leonardo Boff and Hans Kung; while churches with a dictatorial style have all too often shown a willingness to accommodate authoritarian regimes and even dictators. Norwood argues that if democracy is a universal norm, a basic right, it is not possible for the Church to be indifferent to its claims. Offering a sustained exposition - from Marsilius of Padua to Christian Democracy and Christian Socialism - of the often uneasy interaction between Christianity and democratic politics as both idea and ideal, this is a major contribution to church history and to wider topical debates in politics and religious studies.

Aggiornamento, Verheutigung des Glaubens im Sinn des Konzilpapstes Johannes XXIII.: Das ist das Grundmotiv, das die Aufsatze und Vortrage durchzieht. Ziel ist die schwierige Transferarbeit der wissenschaftlichen Dogmatik, die traditionellen Glaubensformulierungen in den heutigen soziokulturellen Lebenskontext zu ubersetzen. Konkret wird in den einzelnen Beitragen auf je spezifische Weise versucht, die Relevanz des Glaubens fur das Leben der Menschen in der Welt von heute deutlich zu machen.

Fur diese Arbeit ist der Autor mit dem Johann-Peter-Hebel-Preis 2002 der Evangelischen Landeskirche Baden ausgezeichnet worden. Das Spannungsverhaltnis von Mission und interreligioesem Dialog ist Gegenstand dieser Arbeit. Der Autor untersucht die wichtigsten oekumenischen und evangelikalen (Welt-)Missionskonferenzen des 20. Jahrhunderts und das II. Vatikanische Konzil nach dem Selbst- und Missionsverstandnis, die Sicht auf die nichtchristlichen Religionen sowie die missiologischen Neuansatze. Der systematische Teil entfaltet das Missions- und Dialogverstandnis der gangigen religionstheologischen Modelle Exklusivismus, Inklusivismus und Pluralismus. Dabei werden Moeglichkeiten aufgezeigt, das Dreierschema zu uberwinden. Zuletzt wird eine theologische Begrundung fur Mission und den interreligioesen Dialog sowie die konkrete Umsetzung eines interreligioesen Dialogs im Klassenzimmer vorgestellt. Dabei werden die Bedeutung der Konvivenz, des Dialogs und des Zeugnisses fur den Religionsunterricht aufgezeigt.

Die Idee der europaischen Einheit hat im protestantischen Denken keine lange Tradition. UEber Jahrhunderte war der Protestantismus aufs engste mit der Staats- und Nationenwerdung in Europa verbunden gewesen, weshalb er lange Zeit fur europaische Vielfalt und Disparatheit, nicht aber fur eine wie auch immer geartete Einheit stand. Erst ab Ende der 1930er Jahre ist das Entstehen eines protestantischen Europadiskurses zu beobachten und zwar innerhalb der internationalen oekumenischen Bewegung. Dort, wo die Einheit der Kirchen uber die nationalen Grenzen hinweg angestrebt wurde, liess der drohende Krieg zwischen eben jenen Nationen ein europaisches Bewusstsein entstehen, und fuhrende Vertreter der OEkumene begannen, sich in die allgemeine Diskussion uber die Zukunft Europas einzuschalten. Von zentraler Bedeutung war dabei der niederlandische Theologe Willem Adolph Visser t Hooft, der den oekumenischen Protestantismus im 20. Jahrhundert wie kein Zweiter pragte. In der vorliegenden Studie untersucht Jan Schubert, wie sich seine Wahrnehmung Europas als einer politischen, kulturellen und gesellschaftlichen Einheit von den 1920er bis zu den 1960er Jahren entwickelte. Dabei vollzieht die Studie nach, welche Personen, Gruppierungen sowie welche geistigen, ideellen und theologischen Stroemungen ihn bei seiner Meinungsbildung bezuglich Europa beeinflusst haben. Auf diese Weise eroeffnet sie einen exemplarischen Einblick in die Entstehungsphase des protestantischen Europadiskurses, der in der historischen Forschung bislang weitgehend vernachlassigt wurde.