This volume brings Iwand's reflections on justification to bear on questions of the intersection of church and society. Iwand critiques the typical Lutheran understanding of the two kingdoms and charts a new way forward for understanding Luther's theology, as well as the way it addresses Christian life within society. Most importantly, Iwand discusses church and society, which have so often been closed to one another, and how they have been and continue to be opened up to each other by the kingdom of God.

All arts and sciences, in their own way, ultimately try to come to grips with reality. What sets philosophy, theology and religion apart is that they grapple with ultimate reality. Over the decades spanned by John Hick's life, in the course of this grappling (reminiscent of Jacob's nocturnal encounter with the angel) philosophy became analytic, theology dialogical and religion comparative along one line of development. In these essays, written in honour of Professor Hick, leading world scholars in these fields share their most recent insights. They are, so to speak, postcards from the cutting edge.

Contemporary philosopher William Desmond has many companions in thought, and one of the most important of these is Augustine. In lucid prose that draws on the riches of a vibrant philosophical-theological tradition, Renee Kohler-Ryan explores Desmond's metaxological philosophy. She elaborates on how Desmond's philosophical work in discovering how humans are constantly "between" remains in conversation with a tradition of thinkers that includes Plato, Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, and Shakespeare. This book concentrates especially on how Desmond both draws upon and develops some of the central insights in Augustine. At the same time, it brings together philosophy, theology, and literature into a rich engagement of ideas that impact the way humans think and live. Whether considering how our elemental wonder at creation brings us closer to God, or how our most intimate revelations about being human happen in the interior space of prayer, reading Desmond with Augustine illuminates a porous and interdisciplinary space of inquiry. Companions in the Between is a unique contribution to the growing body of scholarship on William Desmond's thought. It opens with a foreword from Desmond. Its pages will entice any reader who wants to know more about how contemporary philosophy can contest a space where philosophers are formulaically expected to shy away from divine transcendence.

For as long as men and women have pondered the mysteries of their existence, they have answered their own questions with stories of gods and goddesses. This reference text lists all the known gods throughout recorded history. Alphabetically arranged entries provide the name of each deity, the tribe or culture that worshipped the deity, and the god's origins and functions are explained.

Do you want to understand Jesus of Nazareth, his apostles, and the rise of early Christianity? Reading the Old Testament is not enough, writes Matthias Henze in this slender volume aimed at the student of the Bible. To understand the Jews of the Second Temple period, it's essential to read what they wrote-and what Jesus and his followers might have read-beyond the Hebrew scriptures. Henze introduces the four-century gap between the Old and New Testaments and some of the writings produced during this period (different Old Testaments, the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, the Dead Sea Scrolls); discusses how these texts have been read from the Reformation to the present, emphasizing the importance of the discovery of Qumran; guides the student's encounter with select texts from each collection; and then introduces key ideas found in specific New Testament texts that simply can't be understood without these early Jewish "intertestamental" writings-the Messiah, angels and demons, the law, and the resurrection of the dead. Finally, he discusses the role of these writings in the "parting of the ways" between Judaism and Christianity. Mind the Gap broadens curious students' perspectives on early Judaism and early Christianity and welcomes them to deeper study.

Until recently, more scholarly careers were being devoted to the study of the teaching of St Thomas Aquinas than to any other philosophical or theological doctrine, with the possible exception of Marxism. Roman Catholic scholars have tended, however, to isolate his philosophical theology from its neo-Platonism, while others have treated the various parts of his Summa Theologiae without regard to their historical context. Dr Hankey's main contention is that Aquinas was less of an Aristotelian than is commonly supposed, and that a proper appreciation of his work requires us to take fuller notice of his reliance on neo-Platonism. In setting out his case, Dr Hankey pays special attention to the influence of Proclus, whose work receives a critical exposition. The author supports his position by making a careful analysis of the first 45 questions of the Summa Theologiae.

The forgotten legacy of religious Jewish anarchism, and the adventures and ideas of its key figures, finally comes to light in this book. Set in the decades surrounding both world wars, No masters but God identifies a loosely connected group of rabbis and traditionalist thinkers who explicitly appealed to anarchist ideas in articulating the meaning of the Torah, traditional practice, Jewish life and the mission of modern Jewry. Full of archival discoveries and first translations from Yiddish and Hebrew, it explores anarcho-Judaism in its variety through the works of Yaakov Meir Zalkind, Yitshak Nahman Steinberg, Yehudah Leyb Don-Yahiya, Avraham Yehudah Heyn, Natan Hofshi, Shmuel Alexandrov, Yehudah Ashlag and Aaron Shmuel Tamaret. With this ground-breaking account, Hayyim Rothman traces a complicated story about the modern entanglement of religion and anarchism, pacifism and Zionism, prophetic anti-authoritarianism and mystical antinomianism. -- .

In Kerala, Vakkom Moulavi motivated Muslims to embrace modernity, especially modern education, in order to reap maximum benefit. In this process, he initiated numerous religious reforms. However, he held fairly ambivalent attitudes towards individualism, materialism and secularization, defending Islam against the attacks of Christian missionaries.

Philip Mauro introduces here a unique argument about God and the Devil; namely that Satan's mission was not to make mankind evil, but merely good without the influence of God. Using scriptural references to support his arguments, the author sets out to demonstrate the interplay between God, Satan and mankind. Over the course of his central argument, Mauro touches on many points ranging from the lessons on life conferred by the Bible and what it is to be a faithful believer in the Christian Lord. Although Mauro agrees that Satan is a corrupting influence on Christianity and its power to do good on the Earth, he also asserts that Satan's motives are not as simple as mere evil-doing. The devil desires that humanity carry out their virtues and live in harmony, but uncouple themselves from any belief in God - essentially, that they be atheistic and turn their back on the Lord. Later in the text, Mauro offers counter-arguments to evolutionary theory, lambasting the implications of this science as blasphemy.

The last days of the apocalypse are already upon us, but most people don't know it. Author Louis A. Kelsch, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, reveals that the last days are already here and will not be deterred. He explores the methods God will use to teach us repentance and how selected individuals will benefit others as events unfold. Christ will reign on Earth, and life will be restored to a true utopia.

He also considers the ways in which the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints looks exactly like the church that Christ once organized. Founded on the principle of revelation from God, it is a truly an original American church.

There are trying times ahead for the Latter-Day Saints, and if you're already a member of the church, your faith will be tested. But it will not be more than you can bear, and there will also be times of unspeakable joy. No matter what your faith, there's not much time left to start living a life that will free you from sin. Discover how to find the path to salvation with The Apocalypse Has Begun.

This title presents an introduction to the influence of Kant's though on theology and the response from theology. The philosophy of Kant is widely acknowledged to have had a major impact on theology. However, due to the vastness and complexity of Kant's philosophical system, contemporary theologians and ethicists tend to steer clear of his actual writings and often exhibit a misunderstanding of his central ideas on reason, morality and religion. Anderson and Bell aim to make Kant accessible again to new generations of students and to challenge twenty-first century academics to return to Enlightenment rationality. "Kant and Theology" takes a fresh look at freedom, evil and human autonomy in Kant's "Critique of Pure Reason, Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals and Critique of Practical Reason", as well as his "Religion Within the Boundaries of Mere Reason" and "An Answer to the Question: What is Enlightenment?", demonstrating how these core texts can inform debates about a range of topics including salvation, purgatory, ritual practice and the role of reason for religious people today. "The Philosophy and Theology" series looks at major philosophers and explores their relevance to theological thought as well as the response of theology.

In the last elections in Turkey, in December 1995, an Islamic party had come to power by means of free elections for the first time in history. The rise to power of the Turkish Islamists is a result of several decades of revivalism. In this process the veil has been a prominent symbol of the new religious puritanism, causing resentment among those who regard the bare-headed woman as the symbol of progress and emancipation. In the light of a century-long conflict between secularism and popular Islam, this study describes the conflict over the veil as it became a burning issue in the decade following the military intervention of 1980, and remains a matter of controversy. While focusing on the issue of veiling, the author also considers the wider picture of tension between official secularism and popular Islam in present-day Turkey. Although she does not discount this tension, the author argues that the fact that the Islamic movements is on the rise does not mean that it threatens the very foundations of modern Turkish society

In this series of lectures on of the most eminent Christian theologians of our time, Metropolitan John Zizioulas, give his account of the fundamental teachings of Christian theology. He presents Christian doctrine as a comprehensive account of the freedom that results from relationship with God. The whole lecture series lays out complex ideas with the utmost simplicity, illustrates the grandeur of Christian teaching, and is a profound exploration of freedom.

In this unique collection, theologians born and formed during the Cold War offer their insights and perspectives on theological relationships with such musical artists and groups as Joy Division, U2, Nick Cave, and John Coltrane. These essays demonstrate that one's personal music preferences can inform and influence professional interests.