David S. Cunningham offers a sustained account of the relationship between rhetoric and Christian theology. He addresses various kinds of deconstructionist and literary interests, and discusses the grammatical, probabilistic, audience-centred concerns of Christianity's oldest theologians.

Cosmology and Self in the Apostle Paul challenges the traditional reading of Paul. Troels Engberg-Pedersen argues that the usual, mainly cognitive and metaphorical, ways of understanding central Pauline concepts, such as 'being in Christ', 'having God's pneuma (spirit), Christ's pneuma, and Christ himself in one', must be supplemented by a literal understanding that directly reflects Paul's cosmology.
Engberg-Pedersen shows that Paul's cosmology, not least his understanding of the pneuma, was a materialist, bodily one: the pneuma was a physical element that would at the resurrection act directly on the ordinary human bodies of believers and transform them into 'pneumatic bodies'. This literal understanding of the future events is then traced back to the Pauline present as Engberg-Pedersen considers how Paul conceived in bodily terms of a range of central themes like his own conversion, his mission, the believers' reception of the pneuma in baptism, and the way the apostle took the pneuma to inform his own and their ways of life from the beginning to the projected end.
In developing this picture of Paul's world view, an explicitly philosophically oriented form of interpretation ('philosophical exegesis') is employed, in which the interpreter applies categories of interpretation that make sense philosophically, whether in an ancient or a modern context. For this enterprise Engberg-Pedersen draws in particular on ancient Stoic materialist and monistic physics and cosmology - as opposed to the Platonic, immaterialist and dualistic categories that underlie traditional readings of Paul - and on modern ideas on 'religious experience', 'self', 'body' and 'practice' derived from Foucault and Bourdieu. In this way Paul is shown to have spelled out philosophically his Jewish, 'apocalyptic' world view, which remains a central feature of his thought.
The book states the cosmological case for the author's earlier 'ethical' reading of Paul in his prize-winning book, Paul and the Stoics (2000).

This collection of papers represents a wide range of opinions concerning the mental health implications of religious belief and practice.

Scepticism has been the driving force in the development of Greco-Roman culture in the past, and the impetus for far-reaching scientific achievements and philosophical investigation. Early Jewish culture, in contrast, avoided creating consistent representations of its philosophical doctrines. Sceptical notions can nevertheless be found in some early Jewish literature such as the Book of Ecclesiastes. One encounters there expressions of doubt with respect to Divine justice or even Divine involvement in earthly affairs. During the first centuries of the common era, however, Jewish thought, as reflected in rabbinic works, was engaged in persistent intellectual activity devoted to the laws, norms, regulations, exegesis and other traditional areas of Jewish religious knowledge. An effort to detect sceptical ideas in ancient Judaism, therefore, requires a closer analysis of this literary heritage and its cultural context. This volume of collected essays seeks to tackle the question of scepticism in an Early Jewish context, including Ecclesiastes and other Jewish Second Temple works, rabbinic midrashic and talmudic literature, and reflections of Jewish thought in early Christian and patristic writings. Contributors are: Tali Artman, Geoffrey Herman, Reuven Kiperwasser, Serge Ruzer, Cana Werman, and Carsten Wilke.

It has long been thought that Edwards's polemical arguments were aimed against Arminianism -- a doctrine that denied the Calvinist idea of predestination. In this book, Gerald McDermott shows that Edwards's real target was a larger and more influential one, namely deism -- the belief in a creator God who does not intervene in His Creation. To Edwards's mind, deism was the logical conclusion of most, if not all, schemes of divinity that appropriated Enlightenment tenets. McDermott argues that Edwards was an inclusivist who came to realize that salvation was open to peoples beyond the hearing of the Christian gospel.

This substantial anthology is a comprehensive, authoritative collection of the classical and contemporary readings in the philosophy of religion, providing a survey and analysis of the key issues, figures and concepts.
Comprises the most comprehensive and authoritative collection of the classical and contemporary readings in the philosophy of religion.
Provides a survey and analysis of the key issues, figures and concepts.
Examines religious identity, theism and divine attributes, explanations of religion, and theistic arguments.
Includes readings concerned with nontheistic religions, evils and goods, religious values, personal identity, and death.

This complete work unites two of Roman philosopher Boethius's finest works; his Theological Tracts regarding Christianity, and his Consolation of Philosophy which concerns the nature of fortune and dying. The works of Boethius emerged at the symbolic conclusion of the classical era, and the beginning of post-Roman Europe. As such they draw deeply upon extant classical traditions and the religious significance of Christianity; the chaos and upheaval of the author's time colors his writing in a fashion vibrant and compelling. Venerated in Catholicism for his theological studies, it was the philosophical ideas of Boethius that saw his popularity endure for ages. Given his compelling life story - Boethius was among the final Roman politicians to serve as a senator before the collapse of the Western Empire - the author's writings gain an additional, historic context. The famous Consolation was written while Boethius was in jail awaiting what transpired as the death sentence.

This magnum opus is not another catalogue of the forms of biblical literature, but a deeply reflected account of the significance of form itself. Buss writes out of his experience in Western philosophy and the intricate involvement of biblical criticism in philosophical history. Equally, biblical criticism and the development of notions of form are related to social contexts, whether from the side of the aristocracy (tending towards generality) or of the bourgeois (tending towards particularity) or of an inclusive society (favouring a relational view). Form criticism, in Buss's conception, is no mere formal exercise, but the observation of interrelationships among thoughts and moods, linguistic regularities and the experiences and activities of life. This work, with its many examples from both Testaments, will be fundamental for Old and New Testament scholars alike.>

This book collects multiple disciplinary voices which explore current research and perspectives to discuss how spirituality is understood, interpreted and applied in a range of contexts. It addresses spirituality in combination with such topics as Christian mysticism, childhood and adolescent education, midwifery, and sustainability. It links spirituality to a variety of disciplines, including cognitive neuroscience, sociology, and psychology. Finally, it discusses the application of spirituality within the context of social work, teaching, health care, and occupational therapy. A final chapter provides an analytical discussion of the different voices that appear in the book and offers a holistic description of spirituality which has the potential to bring some unity to the meaning, expression and practice of spirituality across a variety of disciplines as well as across cultural, religious and secular worldviews. "A strength of the book is that each chapter is characterized by a fearless confronting of oppositional perspectives and use of the latest research in addressing them. The book takes the difficult topic of spirituality into almost every nook and cranny of personal and professional life. There is a persistent grasping of the contentiousness of the topic, together with addressing counter positions and utilizing updated research across a range of fields in doing this. The opening and closing chapters serve as book ends that keep the whole volume together."Terence Lovat, The University of Newcastle, Australia "The interdisciplinary nature of the work is by far the strongest aspect of this volume. It has the potential to contribute to a dialogue between different professions and disciplines. This prospective publication promises to promote a more holistic approach to the study of spirituality. This volume takes into consideration a wide variety of issues. The way the editors have structured the sequence of chapters contributes to facilitate any possible dialogue between the different areas."Adrian-Mario Gellel, University of Malta, Malta

Plotinus' mysticism of henosis, unification with the One, is a highly controversial topic in Plotinian scholarship. This book presents a careful reading of the Enneads and suggests that Plotinus' mysticism be understood as mystical teaching that offers practical guidance concerning henosis. It is further argued that a rational interpretation thereof should be based on Plotinus' metaphysics, according to which the One transcends all beings but is immanent in them. The main thesis of this book is that Plotinus' mystical teaching does not help man attain henosis on his own, but serves to remind man that he fails to attain henosis because it already pertains to his original condition. Plotinus' mysticism seeks to change man's misconception about henosis, rather than his finite nature.

Prayer is a phenomenon which seems to be characteristic not only of participants in every religion, but also men and women who do not identify with traditional religions. It can be practised even by those who do not believe either in a God or transcendent force. In this sense, therefore, we may assert that the prayer is a typically human activity that has accompanied the development of different civilizations over the course of the centuries. Both the material issues of concrete daily life as well as more symbolic elements expressed through words, gestures, body positions, and community celebration are brought together in the act of praying.

Life is full of uncertainties, failures, disappointments - it's loaded with pain, grief and injustice. People mosey around this earth alone, afraid, and desperately in need of affection. All of our problems are directly related to our interpretation and application of our greatest single emotion...love. Love Life was written as an inspirational guide, simply to encourage people to live their lives in love. Love is more than an emotion; it is a way of life. This book is written in an essay form, with 16 different but relative subjects. This book takes each subject and teaches love principals that will allow people to live victoriously in life no matter who they are. From ages sixteen to one hundred, single or married, this book is for everyone - because everyone is capable of loving someone beyond them selves.

Duns Scotus, along with Thomas Aquinas and William of Ockham, was one of the three most talented and influential of the medieval schoolmen, and a highly original thinker. This book examines the central concepts in his physics, including matter, space, time, and unity.

Predestination has been the subject of perennial controversy among Christians, although in recent years theologians have shied away from it as a divisive and unedifying topic. In this book Matthew Levering argues that Christian theological reflection needs to continue to return to the topic of predestination, for two reasons:
Firstly, predestinarian doctrine is taught in the New Testament. Reflecting the importance of the topic in many strands of Second Temple Judaism, the New Testament authors teach predestination in a manner that explains why Christian theologians continually recur to this topic.
Secondly, the doctrine of predestination provides a way for Christian theologians to reflect upon two fundamental affirmations of biblical revelation. The first is God's love, without any deficiency or crimp, for each and every rational creature; the second is that God from eternity brings about the purpose for which he created us, and that he permits some rational creatures freely and permanently to rebel against his love. When theologians reflect on these two key biblical affirmations, they generally try to unite them in a logical synthesis. Instead, Levering argues, it is necessary to allow for the truth of each side of the mystery, without trying to blend the two affirmations into one.
Levering pairs his discussion of Scripture with ecumenically oriented discussion of the doctrine of predestination in through the ages through the figures of Origen, Augustine, Boethius, John of Damascus, Eriugena, Aquinas, Ockham, Catherine of Siena, Calvin, Molina, Francis de Sales, Leibniz, Bulgakov, Barth, Maritain, and Balthasar. He concludes with a constructive chapter regarding the future of the doctrine.

""God made the universe simplistic; man made the understanding of the universe complicated." "The modern world has so many theories-so many voices expounding on how the universe began, how it works, and how it may end-it's no wonder there is mass confusion that can end in miscommunication, hatred, and war. On deeper examination of the facts, however, we find that all these theories and voices have more in common than they believe. In "The Summation of Elohim, " author Deick Conrad Williams simplifies and unifies societal beliefs of science and spirituality-the beliefs of our civilization-and shows how understanding our universe on a new level helps us understand our relationship to God, to each other, and to ourselves.Williams, a philosopher and mathematician who has devoted his life to studying the workings of the universe though the lens of numerous disciplines, first explores the universe's beginnings, the advent of humanity, and how organized religion allowed civilization to flourish. Then, with minimal mathematical equations and ample analogies to modern life, Williams offers fresh, valuable insights on the algorithms governing our universe-and the chaos inherent to its existence. From exploring the chakras and how to produce multiple orgasms to the Freudian id manifest in the seven deadly sins, "The Summation of Elohim" takes an enlightening journey toward understanding our universe and our vital role within it.

The modern world has so many theories-so many voices expounding on how the universe began, how it works, and how it may end-it's no wonder there is mass confusion that can end in miscommunication, hatred, and war. On deeper examination of the facts, however, we find that all these theories and voices have more in common than they believe. In "The Summation of Elohim," author Deick Conrad Williams simplifies and unifies societal beliefs of science and spirituality-the beliefs of our civilization- and shows how understanding our universe on a new level helps us understand our relationship to God, to each other, and to ourselves.

Williams, a philosopher and mathematician who has devoted his life to studying the workings of the universe though the lens of numerous disciplines, first explores the universe's beginnings, the advent of humanity, and how organized religion allowed civilization to flourish. Then, with minimal mathematical equations and ample analogies to modern life, Williams offers fresh, valuable insights on the algorithms governing our universe-and the chaos inherent to its existence.

From exploring the chakras and how to produce multiple orgasms to the Freudian id manifest in the seven deadly sins, "The Summation of Elohim" takes an enlightening journey toward understanding our universe and our vital role within it.

What has happened to religion in modern times? Why has it happened? What might happen next?

This volume is the first to bring together a comprehensive selection of readings which illustrate and analyse religion's encounters with the forces of modernization - including nationalism, capitalism, colonialism, democracy, gender and identity politics.

Drawing on scholarly analysis, empirical research and vivid concrete examples, the book offers a picture of a religious world which is increasingly characterized by the coexistence of:
Old faiths and new spiritualities
A turn to tradition and a turn to experience
Decline and revival
Privatization and political militancy
Tolerance and intolerance"

Religion in Modern Times" offers a new framework and language for making sense of religion today.

This book is based on the study of the traditional Chinese philosophy, and explores the relationship between philosophy and people's fate. The book points out that heaven is an eternal topic in Chinese philosophy. The concept of heaven contains religious implications and reflects the principles the Chinese people believed in and by which they govern their lives. The traditional Chinese philosophy of fate is conceptualized into the "unification of Heaven and man". Different interpretations of the inter-relationships between Heaven, man and their unification mark different schools of the traditional Chinese philosophy. This book identifies 14 different schools of theories in this regard. And by analyzing these schools and theories, it summarizes the basic characteristics of traditional Chinese philosophy, compares the Chinese philosophy of fate with the Western one, and discusses the relationship between philosophy and man's fate.

Tom Christenson turns philosophy inside out in this remarkable new book. Starting with the ongoing public debate over God's existence, he approaches traditional arguments in philosophy of religion and peels back their veneers to uncover the questionable assumptions underlying each. This brief, valuable book drives the reader to reconsider how to think about the most fundamental questions that surround matters of faith and religious belief. For Christenson, three key assumptions need unpacking: that believing is the focal act of faith; that the basic religious question is about the existence of God; and that religious language actually refers to some thing, namely God. He interrogates each for its adequacy and implications for larger questions of faith and reason. By making these assumptions explicit, Christenson explores intriguing new ways of looking at the rationality of faith. Augmenting his analysis and critique, Christenson concludes each chapter with important questions for reflection. These questions carry through the critical stance that he asks of himself and his readers, challenging all to rethink and re-imagine whether religious faith is rational.