Many of us, even on our happiest days, struggle to quiet the constant buzz of anxiety in the background of our minds. All kinds of worries-worries about losing people and things, worries about how we seem to others-keep us from peace of mind. Distracted or misled by our preoccupations, misconceptions, and, most of all, our obsession with ourselves, we don't see the world clearly-we don't see the world as it really is. In our search for happiness and the good life, this is the main problem. But luckily there is a solution, and on the path to understanding it, we can make use of the rich and varied teachings that have developed over centuries of Buddhist thought. With clarity and compassion, Nicolas Bommarito explores the central elements of centuries of Buddhist philosophy and practice, explaining how they can improve your life and teach you to live without fear. Mining important texts and lessons for practical guidance, he provides a friendly guide to the very practical goals that underpin Buddhist philosophy. After laying out the basic ideas, Bommarito walks readers through a wide range of techniques and practices we can adopt to mend ingrained habits. Rare for its exploration of both the philosophy that motivates Buddhism and its practical applications, this is a compassionate guide to leading a good life that anyone can follow.

In "The Muslim Creed: A Contemporary Theological Study", Dr Amjad Hussain presents a concise introduction to what Muslims believe in and practice, and also why they continue to do so in the twenty-first century. "The Muslim Creed" is divided into three parts. Part One is an introduction to Islamic creed and a survey of the most important developments in classical theology, including discussions of the schools of the Ash`ariyya and the Maturidiyya. Part Two provides a detailed account of the six articles of faith-God, the angels, the prophets and messengers, the sacred scriptures, the Hereafter and the divine decree-and the debates that surround them. In Part Three Dr Hussain discusses the current state of Islamic theology and raises the subject of its future, making a genuine contribution to this discussion.---"The Muslim Creed: A Contemporary Theological Study" introduces the reader to the range of debates and discussions that have occurred in relation to the subject of creed and theology throughout Muslim history, including the opinions of various theologians who represent the unity as well as the diversity of Muslim theology. "The Muslim Creed: A Contemporary Theological Study" is suitable for both academics and non-academics alike, and is essential reading for all those studying Islamic theology.

In this book Sarah Coakley confronts a central paradox of theological feminism - what she terms 'the paradox of power and vulnerability'.
Confronts a central paradox of theological feminism - what Coakley terms 'paradox of power and vulnerability'.
Explores this issue through the perspective of spiritual practice, philosophical enquiry and doctrinal analysis.
Draws together an essential collection of Sarah Coakley's work in this field.
Offers an original perspective into contemporary feminist theology.

In "The Muslim Creed: A Contemporary Theological Study", Dr Amjad Hussain presents a concise introduction to what Muslims believe in and practice, and also why they continue to do so in the twenty-first century. "The Muslim Creed" is divided into three parts. Part One is an introduction to Islamic creed and a survey of the most important developments in classical theology, including discussions of the schools of the Ash`ariyya and the Maturidiyya. Part Two provides a detailed account of the six articles of faith-God, the angels, the prophets and messengers, the sacred scriptures, the Hereafter and the divine decree-and the debates that surround them. In Part Three Dr Hussain discusses the current state of Islamic theology and raises the subject of its future, making a genuine contribution to this discussion.---"The Muslim Creed: A Contemporary Theological Study" introduces the reader to the range of debates and discussions that have occurred in relation to the subject of creed and theology throughout Muslim history, including the opinions of various theologians who represent the unity as well as the diversity of Muslim theology. "The Muslim Creed: A Contemporary Theological Study" is suitable for both academics and non-academics alike, and is essential reading for all those studying Islamic theology.

This engaging book by one of today's best-known Christian writers explores the history of heaven, from its origins in biblical writings to its most recent representations.
A short, accessible book on the history of heaven.
Draws together representations of heaven by a wide range of writers, theologians, politicians and artists.
Covers literary works such as Dante's "Divine Comedy," Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress," and the poems of George Herbert.
Considers discussions by Marx and Freud of heaven's role in society.
Based on serious scholarship but is ideal for the non-specialist who wants to learn more about the idea of heaven.
Alister E. McGrath is one of today's best-known Christian writers.

Contextualizing Eschatology in African Cultural and Religious Beliefs addresses the African consciousness and nuances of eschatological beliefs as part and parcel of the holistic African Indigenous worldviews within the context of the people's traditional heritage. The concept of eschatology is usually explained from the perspective of "endtimes" in relation to either the human individual or the cosmos. Within these contexts, the primary interests, particularly with regard to human eschatology, have centred on the questions of death, afterlife, immortality, destiny, judgment, reward and punishment, and the final destination or eternal "home" of humans. This book explores the characteristic nature, the modes, the process as well as the dynamics associated with the various features culminating the functional expression of the "reality" of eschatological beliefs demonstrated in varied but fundamentally the same subject matter of practices among different African ethnic groups. It also discusses the influences of other religious traditions, particularly Christianity and Islam, on contemporary African eschatological thoughts and their attendant consequences. This book will be of interest to students and scholars of African studies, eschatology, religious studies, and the philosophy of religion.

John Swinton has indelibly shaped the discipline of practical theology not only in the United Kingdom but globally, and has been especially influential in the areas of disability theology, dementia, healthcare, and chaplaincy. Swinton presses one question with a special intensity: What does it mean to be human? The chapters in this volume display why this question unifies his wide-ranging corpus of work and show how Swinton has answered it in the various domains he has explored. The chapters range as widely as his work, from "Swintonian" practical theological methodology, to specific themes like friendship, peace, and belonging. Several chapters offer concrete testimonies of how Swinton's work has influenced scholars and practitioners alike. Contributors identify the pivotal moves in Swinton's work and draw together into a single volume an account of how these themes have been developed in different material discussions. Disciples and Friends, as a survey of John's key methodological and theological stances, will become an indispensable resource for students and scholars of practical theology, disability theology, mental health, dementia, and cognate fields. The volume brings together renowned scholars who know not only John Swinton's work but also him as a person. This knowledge enables contributors to insightfully link Swinton's work to the life he has lived and to suggest promising avenues for further development of his signature ideas. In compiling for the first time an accessible survey of and introduction to one of the most important voices to emerge in disability theology for many decades, Disciples and Friends represents a seminal scholarly undertaking and a fitting tribute to Swinton's legacy.

Big people aren't the only ones pondering big questions. Children are natural-born philosophers. They wonder and speculate and worry about death, God, love, hope, eternity and uncertainty - and they often come up with downright uncanny ways of unraveling the mysteries of life. This direct, fully-illustrated collection of children's musings on where people (and pets) go when they die is full of funny, honest, simple and disarmingly candid wisdom that anyone, big or small can relate to. They bring us back to a time when we knew much less and wondered much more, and when we allowed ourselves to think about the really important things without self-consciousness or inhibitions.

In this book, economist Jean-Philippe Platteau addresses the question: does Islam, the religion of Muslims, bear some responsibility for a lack of economic development in the countries in which it dominates? In his nuanced approach, Platteau challenges the widespread view that the doctrine of Islam is reactionary in the sense that it defends tradition against modernity and individual freedom. He also questions the view that fusion between religion and politics is characteristic of Islam and predisposes it to theocracy. He disagrees with the substantivist view that Islam is a major obstacle to modern development because of a merging of religion and the state, or a fusion between the spiritual and political domains. But he also identifies how Islam's decentralized organization, in the context of autocratic regimes, may cause political instability and make reforms costly.

Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya on Divine Wisdom and the Problem of Evil is a translation of selections from two of Ibn Qayyim's books Key to the Blissful Abode and Remedy for Those who Question on Matters Concerning Divine Decree, Predestination, Wisdom and Causality. As with all his other writings, Ibn al-Qayyim's foremost goal is to establish the wisdom of God, the primacy of the Qur'an and Sunna, and the congruity between reason and revelation. In the present selections, Ibn al-Qayyim focuses on the application of the wisdom of God to the existence of evil.Ibn al-Qayyim first discusses twenty-six wise purposes behind God creating humanity and settling them on Earth. His perspective is that whatever exists in this world is either purely or preponderantly good, or indirectly leads to a greater good. Ibn Qayyim then explores how the presence of evil allows the manifestation of many of God's Beautiful Names, glorious attributes and compassionate actions. While for humanity, the existence of the evil provides the righteous with opportunities to strive against it; for Paradise can only be reached by 'traversing a bridge of hardships and tribulations'.The discussions of the existence of evil is followed by thirty wise purposes and secrets in God allowing people to sin. Prominent among them are that God loves repentance and loves to manifest His Attributes of forgiveness and mercy. Here, Ibn al-Qayyim also debates at length whether the punishment of Hellfire will be eternal or whether it will come to an end. He favours the the latter position in accordance with the Qur'anic verse 107 of the Chapter Hud and because of God's mercy.

Over the past centuries the pendulum has constantly swung between an emphasis on the role of either nature or nurture in shaping human destiny, a pendulum often energised by ideological considerations. In recent decades the flourishing of developmental biology, genomics, epigenetics and our increased understanding of neuronal plasticity have all helped to subvert such dichotomous notions. Nevertheless, the media still report the discovery of a gene 'for' this or that behaviour, and the field of behavioural genetics continues to extend its reach into the social sciences, reporting the heritability of such human traits as religiosity and political affiliation. There are many continuing challenges to notions of human freedom and moral responsibility, with consequent implications for social flourishing, the legal system and religious beliefs. In this book, Denis Alexander critically examines these challenges, concluding that genuine free will, often influenced by genetic variation, emerges from an integrated view of human personhood derived from contemporary biology.

At a time when Latin American Protestantism has increasingly become a force to be reckoned with in the public realm and has attracted growing scholarly interest, this book contributes to the understanding of the sociopolitical relevance of the Protestant presence in Brazilian history and society. Raimundo Barreto argues that progressive Evangélicx Christianity, a branch of Brazilian Christianity that combines charismatic spirituality and sociopolitical progressive action, offers valuable sources for Christian social ethics in contemporary Brazil. Drawing on the typology proposed by José Míguez Bonino in his Faces of Latin American Protestantism (1993), which examined the Latin American Protestant field through the analogy of fundamental "faces," Protesting Poverty interrogates three Protestant faces—ecumenical, evangelical, and Pentecostal—in the Brazilian context as well as their respective responses to realities of suffering, injustice, and oppression. The common thread of the argument is the search for a Brazilian Protestant social ethics, a progressive Christian sociopolitical praxis in a Protestant key. A spirituality that combines key elements of these three ethical responses is at the root of a theological ethics capable of promoting substantive social transformation that impacts both the individual and society at large. The interrogation of the three specific Protestant responses to the plight of the poor is thus presented as a map toward a Christian social ethics that can effectively respond to the demands of justice. Barreto adopts an inductive approach that seeks to learn from these specific Brazilian Protestant "faces" to advance what Orlando Espin has called "universally relevant truth claims." At a time when ecumenical relations are being relocated and reinvented to address the conflicts and demands of a new era, this sociohistorical study points to new ecumenical possibilities.

The field of Hindu-Christian studies revives theology as a particularly useful interreligious discipline. Though a sub-division of the broader Hindu-Christian dialogue, it is also a distinct field of study, proper to a smaller group of religious intellectuals. At its best it envisions a two-sided, mutual conversation, grounded in scholars' knowledge of their own tradition and of the other. Based on the Westcott-Teape Lectures given in India and at the University of Cambridge, this book explores the possibilities and problems attendant upon the field of Hindu-Christian Studies, the reasons for occasional flourishing and decline in such studies, and the fragile conditions under which the field can flourish in the 21st century. The chapters examine key instances of Christian-Hindu learning, highlighting the Jesuit engagement with Hinduism, the modern Hindu reception of Western thought, and certain advances in the study of religion that enhance intellectual cooperation. This book is a significant contribution to a sophisticated understanding of Christianity and Hinduism in relation. It presents a robust defense of comparative theology and of Hindu-Christian Studies as a necessarily theological discipline. It will be of wide interest in the fields of Religious Studies, Theology, Christianity and Hindu Studies.

No issue is more fateful for civilization than moral relativism. History knows not one example of a successful society which repudiated moral absolutes. Yet most attacks on relativism have been either pragmatic (looking at its social consequences) or exhorting (preaching rather than proving), and philosophers' arguments against it have been specialized, technical, and scholarly.

In his typical unique writing style, Peter Kreeft lets an attractive, honest, and funny relativist interview a "Muslim fundamentalist" absolutist so as not to stack the dice personally for absolutism. In an engaging series of personal interviews, every conceivable argument the "sassy Black feminist" reporter Libby gives against absolutism is simply and clearly refuted, and none of the many arguments for moral absolutism is refuted.

This work encourages readers to trust God and offers insights into the components of prayer: silence, acceptance, hope compassion and prophetic criticism. It is updated with photography and an introduction by Sue Monk Kidd, author of the bestseller "The Secret Life of Bees."

In Emil Brunner: A Reappraisal, renowned theologian Alister E. McGrath presents a comprehensive intellectual history of Emil Brunner, the highly influential Swiss theologian who was instrumental in shaping modern Protestant theology. * Explores Brunner s theological development and offers a critical engagement of his theology * Examines the role that Brunner played in shaping the characteristics of dialectical theology * Reveals the complex and shifting personal and professional relationship between Brunner and Barth * Delves into the reasons for Brunner s contemporary neglect in theological scholarship * Represents the only book-length study of Brunner s works and significance in the English language

Al-Ghazali on Poverty and Abstinence is the thirty-fourth chapter of the Revival of the Religious Sciences. It falls in the section dealing with the virtues. Ghazali traces poverty and abstinence back to the Prophet Muhammad who exhorted the faithful to love the poor and described this love as a key to heaven. But behind the Prophet's love of the poor lay his legendary humility, and the life of poverty on which Ghazali expatiates in this treatise refers to what every devoted follower of the Prophet is meant to adopt, not simply an accidental state of destitution that might befall anyone. What is true piety? What spiritual infirmities impede the path of poverty? These are the questions that preoccupy Ghazali in the Book on Poverty and Abstinence. His aim in this chapter is to teach the ordinary believer about inner purification through inner poverty and abstinence. The result is a rich tapestry of practises, thoughts, concepts and anecdotes drawn from some of the most fascinating figures in the tradition of practical ethics in Islam, a tradition that harks back to the enduring examples of pre-Islamic prophets like Jesus, Moses and Joseph.

"Jesus the Jewish Theologian" establishes Jesus firmly within the context of first-century Judaism and shows how understanding Jesus' Jewishness is crucial for interpreting the New Testament and for understanding the nature of Christian faith. Insights from Jewish literature, archeology, and tradition help modern readers place Jesus within his original context. Particular attention is given to the Jewish roots of Jesus' teaching concerning the kingdom of God.

A concise and illuminating portrait of Allah from one of the world's leading Qur'anic scholars The central figure of the Qur'an is not Muhammad but Allah. The Qur'an, Islam's sacred scripture, is marked above all by its call to worship Allah, and Allah alone. Yet who is the God of the Qur'an? What distinguishes the qur'anic presentation of God from that of the Bible? In this illuminating study, Gabriel Said Reynolds depicts a god of both mercy and vengeance, one who transcends simple classification. He is personal and mysterious; no limits can be placed on his mercy. Remarkably, the Qur'an is open to God's salvation of both sinners and unbelievers. At the same time, Allah can lead humans astray, so all are called to a disposition of piety and fear. Allah, in other words, is a dynamic and personal God. This eye-opening book provides a unique portrait of the God of the Qur'an.

Originally published in 1908, this book presents a concise study regarding the lives and works of Theognostus, Pierius and Peter the Martyr. The text was written in 'an attempt to estimate the teaching of these three Alexandrians with special reference to their adherence or their opposition to the teaching of their great predecessor Origen'. Textual notes are incorporated throughout. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in theology and philosophy.

The American Association of Christian Counselors and Tyndale House Publishers are committed to ministering to the spiritual needs of people. This book is part of the professional series that offers counselors the latest techniques, theory, and general information that is vital to their work. While many books have tried to integrate theology and psychology, this book takes another step and explores the importance of the spiritual disciplines in psychotherapy, helping counselors to integrate the biblical principles of forgiveness, redemption, restitution, prayer, and worship into their counseling techniques.

Mark R. McMinn, Ph.D., is professor of psychology at Wheaton College Graduate School in Wheaton, Illinois, where he directs and teaches in the Doctor of Psychology program. A diplomate in Clinical Psychology of the American Board of Professional Psychology, McMinn has thirteen years of postdoctoral experience in counseling, psychotherapy, and psychological testing. McMinn is the author of Making the Best of Stress: How Life’s Hassles Can Form the Fruit of the Spirit; The Jekyll/Hyde Syndrome: Controlling Inner Conflict through Authentic Living; Cognitive Therapy Techniques in Christian Counseling; and Christians in the Crossfire (written with James D. Foster). He and his wife, Lisa, have three daughters.

Jews and Christians alike have made Psalm 91 one of the most commonly used and cited parts of the Bible. For over two thousand years, the psalm has played a pivotal role in discussions of theology and politics, of medicine and mysticism. In He Will Save You from the Deadly Pestilence, acclaimed religion scholar Philip Jenkins illustrates how the evolving uses of Psalm 91 map developing ideas about religion and the supernatural. Depending on the era, Psalm 91 is protective; it is triumphalist; it is messianic; it is millenarian and apocalyptic; it is therapeutic. It has shaped theories of politics and government. In different ages, it has borne many different names: the Song of Evil Spirits, the Soldier's Psalm, and most broadly, the Protection Psalm. As the Song of Plagues, it has gained a whole new relevance in an age of global pandemic. In the New Testament, Satan himself quotes the psalm, and ever since, that text has both reflected and shaped changing concepts of evil and the demonic. It can be read as a lesson in exalted monotheistic theology, but it was and is used for magical purposes, including for exorcism and demon-fighting. As threats have evolved in various societies, so interpretations of Psalm 91 have developed to accommodate each new reality. The psalm's language about demons and evil forces has repeatedly come into play when Christianity encounters other religious traditions. At every stage, interpretations have to be understood in the larger context of social, spiritual, and practical concerns-indeed, a biography of Psalm 91 is also a history of critical themes in Western religion.

Originally published in 1932, this book presents a comprehensive study regarding the life and works of Peter Abelard. The text reflects the renewed interest in medieval thought at the time of publication, incorporating ideas from a broad variety of perspectives. A preface is included by the renowned theologian and biblical scholar Alexander Nairne. Detailed notes, appendices and a bibliography are also contained. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in logic, medieval philosophy and theology.