With sensitivity to the Christian tradition and a rich understanding of postmodern thought, Peter Rollins argues that the movement known as the "emerging church" offers a singular, unprecedented message of transformation that has the potential to revolutionize the theological and moral architecture of Western Christianity.
"How (not) to Speak of God" sets out to explore the theory and praxis of this contemporary expression of faith. Rollins offers a clear exploration of this embryonic movement and provides key resources for those involved in communities that are conversant with, and seeking to minister effectively to, the needs of a postmodern world.
"Here in pregnant bud is the rose, the emerging new configuration, of a Christianity that is neither Roman nor Protestant, neither Eastern nor monastic; but rather is the re-formation of all of them. Here, in pregnant bud, is third-millennium Christendom." --Phyllis Tickle
"I am a raving fan of the book you are holding. I loved reading it. I have already begun widely recommending it. Reading it did good for my mind and for my soul. It helped me understand my own spiritual journey more clearly, and it gave me a sense of context for the work I'm involved in. In fact, I would say this is one of the two or three most rewarding books of theology I have read in ten years." --Brian McLaren, from the Foreword

"An engaging, sophisticated yet accessible, account of the Orthodox Church-its self-understanding, theology, sacramental life, and history. . . . One of the best introductions available."-John Behr, author of The Mystery of Christ An insider's account of the Eastern Orthodox Church, from its beginning in the era of Jesus and the Apostles to the modern age "Lucid. . . . Engrossing . . . [A] thorough history."-Publishers Weekly In this lively and intimate account of the Eastern Orthodox Church, John McGuckin tackles the question "What is the Church?" His answer is a clear, historically and theologically rooted portrait of what the Church is for Orthodox Christianity and how it differs from Western Christians' expectations. McGuckin explores the lived faith of generations, including sketches of some of the most important theological themes and individual personalities of the ancient and modern Church. He interweaves a personal approach throughout, offering to readers the experience of what it is like to enter an Orthodox church and witness its liturgy. In this astute and insightful book, he grapples with the reasons why many Western historians and societies have overlooked Orthodox Christianity and provides an important introduction to the Orthodox Church and the Eastern Christian World.

"I felt my heart strangely warmed." That was how John Wesley described his transformational experience of God's grace at Aldersgate Street on May 24, 1738, an event that some mark as the beginning of the Methodist Church. Yet the story of Methodism, while clearly shaped by John Wesley's sermons and Charles Wesley's hymns, is much richer and more expansive. In this book, Methodist theologian Jeffrey W. Barbeau provides a brief and helpful introduction to the history of Methodism-from the time of the Wesleys, through developments in North America, to its diverse and global communion today-as well as its primary beliefs and practices. With Barbeau's guidance, both those who are already familiar with the Wesleyan tradition and those seeking to know more about this significant movement within the church's history will find their hearts warmed to Methodism.

This Council spanned the pontificates of five popes and shone as a beacon to all the world, condemning errors of the Protestant Reformation and making pronouncements on a vast number of Church doctrines and disciplines. Covers such topics as Holy Orders, Original Sin, Purgatory, Nicene Creed and much more! Fr Schroeder's translation demonstrates the authority and clarity with which the Church makes her official pronouncements.

Giordano Bruno challenged everything in his pursuit of an all-embracing system of thought. This not only brought him patronage from powerful figures of the day but also put him in direct conflict with the Catholic Church. Arrested by the Inquisition and tried as a heretic, Bruno was imprisoned, tortured, and, after eight years, burned at the stake in 1600. The Vatican "regrets" the burning yet refuses to clear him of heresy.

But Bruno's philosophy spread: Galileo, Isaac Newton, Christiaan Huygens, and Gottfried Leibniz all built upon his ideas; his thought experiments predate the work of such twentieth-century luminaries as Karl Popper; his religious thinking inspired such radicals as Baruch Spinoza; and his work on the art of memory had a profound effect on William Shakespeare.

Chronicling a genius whose musings helped bring about the modern world, Michael White pieces together the final years -- the capture, trial, and the threat the Catholic Church felt -- that made Bruno a martyr of free thought.

In this sometimes controversial book, Lynda Telford explores the lives of women who have had personal and unofficial influence at the Vatican over the centuries. They may have coerced or otherwise influenced various popes into making decisions which affected papal rule. Against the background of the history of the papacy, when popes were expected to be celibate, the author identifies those popes whose love and admiration for women led to their giving them a voice, not only in their domestic arrangements but also in matters concerning the Church. The women discussed include Marozia, said to have been the mistress of Pope Sergius III, who appears to have taken a violent path to power; and Vanozza dei Catanei, who was the mistress of Alexander VI (Rodrigo Borgia) and bore him four children. Rodrigo was thought to have obtained the title of pope through simony and, although possessed of many engaging qualities, there was no denying his worldliness and determination to ignore the Church's rules on celibacy. He then took on a mistress, Giulia Farnese, who was able to use her influence to promote the cause of her brother, Alessandro Farnese, who would later become Pope Paul III. There were several notable and influential women through the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, including Felice della Rovere, Catherine de Medici and Olimpia Pamphilj. The list also includes queens, such as Christina of Sweden, who abdicated and moved to Rome. Although the scandals abated in the nineteenth century, Mother Pascalina's close relationship with Pope Pius XII in the twentieth caused a great deal of speculation. Engaging, controversial and sometimes illuminating, this is ultimately an exploration of the Catholic Church's sometimes fraught relationship with women.

Faith-based organizations are sometimes known for what we're against--and all too often that includes being against each other. But amid growing distrust of religious institutions, Christ-centered nonprofits have a unique opportunity to link arms and collectively pursue a calling higher than any one organization's agenda. Rooting for Rivals reveals how your ministry can multiply its impact by cooperating, rather than competing. Peter Greer and Chris Horst explore case studies illustrating the power of collaborative ministry. They also vulnerably share their own failures and successes in pursuing a kingdom mind-set. Discover the power of openhanded leadership to make a greater impact on the world. "I love the African quote, 'If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.' I'm grateful to Peter Greer and Chris Horst for celebrating Christ-centered teamwork and collaboration in Rooting for Rivals."--RICHARD STEARNS, president of World Vision U.S. and author of The Hole in Our Gospel

From the moment you pick it up, you'll know it's a classic. "The MacArthur Study Bible" is perfect for serious study. Dr. John MacArthur has collected his pastoral and scholarly work of more than 35 years to create the most comprehensive study Bible available. No other study Bible does such a thorough job of explaining the historical context, unfolding the meaning of the text, and making it practical for your life.

Features include:

• 125-page concordance, including people and places
• More than 20,000 study notes, charts, maps, outlines, and articles from Dr. John MacArthur
• Concise Topical Index
• Type size: 12 point

Part of the "Signature Series" line of Thomas Nelson Bibles.

"MacArthur Study Bibles" sold to date: More than 1.8 million

The New King James Version--More than 60 million copies sold in 30 years

Die Vorstellungen von den Osmanen schwanken in ihren Nachbarlandern und uberhaupt im Abendland. Eingebettet in eine romanhafte Rahmenhandlung werden Geschichte, Soziologie und Psychologie der Osmanen des 18. Jahrhunderts vor ihrer zunehmenden Verwestlichung im 19. Jahrhundert dargestellt und zeigen ein Selbstverstandnis, das in abgewandelter Form vor allem auch heute noch nachschwingt. Insgesamt vermitteln sie einen verstandnisvolleren Blick in die Entwicklung des Islam.

Morrissey has written a lengthy and detailed life and times biography of Peter Kenney. His book is an important contribution to 19th-century Irish and American religious history.

In der Geografie, als einer Leitwissenschaft in Sachen "Landschaft", definiert man aktuell Stadtelandschaften als massstablich und raumlich ganz unterschiedliche Ebenen. Diese lassen sich auf einzelne Stadte, auf bestimmte Stadtregionen und selbst auf Metropolregionen oder die seit 1918 eingefuhrte Megalopolis projizieren. Historiker verstehen unter einer "Stadtelandschaft" meist ein Gebiet mittlerer Groessenordnung mit unterschiedlich starker Urbanisierung, wobei in der "Stadtlandschaft" Stadte und Markte, Burger und Handler im umschriebenen Raum zwangslaufig eine dominierende Rolle spielen. Der interterritoriale Vergleich fuhrt uns einerseits hinaus in die Welt der europaischen Urbanitat, andererseits liegt ein deutlicher Fokus auf den grossen wie kleinen Stadten Suddeutschlands. In Farbe und Ausfuhrlichkeit analysieren die Autoren dort die Stadtkultur vom Mittelalter bis zur Moderne. Politische, soziale und oekonomische Netzwerke werden ebenso behandelt wie spannende interstadtische Bezuge durch Reisende, Gelehrsamkeit, Schulen, Literatur oder Musik. Teildisziplinen wie die Historische Ortsnamenforschung runden das Bild ab.

Am 15. September 1680 fand die feierliche Translation der Reliquien der Katakombenheiligen Sergius, Bacchus, Hyacinthus und Erasmus im Kloster St. Gallen statt. Als Director musicae bekam der Stiftsorganist Pater Valentin Muller (Molitor) die Aufgabe, die Musik fur die Feier zu verfassen. 1681 wurde ein Teil des dafur komponierten Repertoires unter dem Titel Missa una cum tribus Mottetis in Solemni Translatione SS. MM. Sergii, Bacchi, Hyacinthi et Erasmi ab octo vocibus concertantibus, et 7. Instrumentis, sed tantium quatuor necessariis in Monasterio S. Galli decantata herausgegeben. Der im Kloster St. Gallen produzierte Musikdruck enthalt ein vollstandiges Ordinarium missae (Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus und Agnus Dei) sowie drei Motetten. Grandios ist die aufwendige Besetzung mit zwei vierstimmigen Choeren sowie einem reichen, dem Festcharakter angemessenen Instrumentarium. Die Musik stellt damit ein wertvolles Zeugnis des benediktinischen Musikrepertoires dar, wie es im Kloster St. Gallen in der zweiten Halfte des 17. Jahrhunderts gepflegt wurde. Der vorliegende Band enthalt die vollstandige kritische Ausgabe der 1681 erschienenen Werke von Pater Valentin Muller (Molitor) sowie eine historische Einleitung.

Shu'ayb al-'Arna'ut war ein zeitgenoessischer Hadith-Gelehrter, der einen grossen Teil des Hadith-Kanons und daruber hinaus klassifiziert hat. In diesem Band wird zum ersten Mal seine Methodologie vorgestellt. Anhand einer komparativen Analyse wird ein exemplarischer Korpus von Hadithen untersucht, um die Charakteristika der Methodologie von al-'Arna'ut feststellen zu koennen. Zudem werden seine Beurteilungen von Hadithen mit denen von al-Tahanawi und al-'Albani verglichen. Die Autorin zeigt in diesem Buch auf, wie zeitgenoessische Hadith-Gelehrte mit den Erkenntnissen fruherer Gelehrter umgehen, welche Herausforderungen und neuen Entwicklungen dabei entstanden sind.

Recent studies on the development of early Christianity emphasize the fragmentation of the late ancient world while paying less attention to a distinctive feature of the Christianity of this time which is its inter-connectivity. Both local and trans-regional networks of interaction contributed to the expansion of Christianity in this age of fragmentation. This volume investigates a specific aspect of this inter-connectivity in the area of the Mediterranean by focusing on the formation and operation of episcopal networks. The rise of the bishop as a major figure of authority resulted in an increase in long-distance communication among church elites coming from different geographical areas and belonging to distinct ecclesiastical and theological traditions. Locally, the bishops in their roles as teachers, defenders of faith, patrons etc. were expected to interact with individuals of diverse social background who formed their congregations and with secular authorities. Consequently, this volume explores the nature and quality of various types of episcopal relationships in Late Antiquity attempting to understand how they were established, cultivated and put to use across cultural, linguistic, social and geographical boundaries.

"Gnosticism" has become a problematic category in the study of early Christianity. It obscures diversity, invites essentialist generalisations, and is a legacy of ancient heresiology. However, simply to conclude with "diversity" is unsatisfying, and new efforts to discern coherence and to synthesise need to be made. The present work seeks to make a fresh start by concentrating on Irenaeus' report on a specific group called the "Gnostics" and on his claim that Valentinus and his followers were inspired by their ideas. Following this lead, an attempt is made to trace the continuity of ideas from this group to Valentinianism. The study concludes that there is more continuity than has previously been recognised. Irenaeus' "Gnostics" emerge as the predecessors not only of Valentinianism, but also of Sethianism. They represent an early, philosophically inspired form of Christ religion that arose independently of the New Testament canon. Christology is essential and provides the basis for the myth of Sophia. The book is relevant for all students of Christian origins and the early history of the Church.

Obwohl die Apostolische Paenitentiarie das alteste Dikasterium der Roemischen Kurie ist, gehoert sie zugleich zu den unbekannteren Dikasterien. Ihr Hauptcharakteristikum ist ihre exklusive und fast ausschliessliche Zustandigkeit im Forum internum. Ihre Aufgaben sind vielfaltig und umfassen den Strafnachlass von reservierten Zensuren genauso wie die Gewahrung verschiedener Gnadenerweise und von Ablassen. Die vorliegende Arbeit stellt Kompetenzen, konkrete Aufgaben, personelle Zusammensetzung und spezifische Verfahrensweisen der Apostolischen Paenitentiarie anhand der geltenden Rechtsgrundlagen dar. Dabei werden fortlaufend unter vergleichendem Aspekt die AEnderungen, Erganzungen und Modifikationen mit vorangegangenen Gesetzes- und Normenkomplexen gepruft und ausgewertet.

2020 For the Church Book Award This brief, accessible invitation to the historic creeds and confessions makes a biblical and historical case for their necessity and shows why they are essential for Christian faith and practice today. J. V. Fesko, a leading Reformed theologian with a broad readership in the academy and the church, demonstrates that creeds are not just any human documents but biblically commended resources for the well-being of the church, as long as they remain subordinate to biblical authority. He also explains how the current skepticism and even hostility toward creeds and confessions came about.