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Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Protestantism & Protestant Churches > General
This lively update of Edward's classic "Treatise Concerning
Religious Affections" is an analysis of today's spiritual life,
with vivid illustrations.
To many Christians theology is something alien, overly intellectual
and wholly unappealing. Even seminary students are known to balk at
the prospect of a course on theology. Yet theology--most simply,
the knowledge of God--is essential to the life and health of the
church. In this short introduction, Stanley Grenz and Roger Olson,
two theologians who care deeply about the witness of ordinary
Christians and the ministry of the church, show what theology is,
what tools theology uses, why every believer (advanced degrees or
not) is a theologian and how the theological enterprise can be
productive and satisfying. Their clear, easily understood book is
ideal for students, church study groups and individual Christians
who want to strengthen understanding, belief and commitment by
coming to know God more fully.
Apophatic theology, or negative theology, attempts to describe God,
the Divine Good, by negation, to speak only in terms of what may
not be said about the perfect goodness that is God. It is a way of
coming to an understanding of who God is which has played a
significant role across centuries of Christian tradition but is
very often treated with suspicion by those engaging in theological
study today. Seeking the God Beyond explores the difference a
negative theological approach might make to our faith and practice
and offers an introduction to this oft-misunderstood form of
spirituality. Beginning by placing apophatic spirituality within
its biblical roots, the book later considers the key pioneers of
apophatic faith and a diverse range of thinkers including CS Lewis
and Keats - to inform us in our negative theological journey.
The story of John Wyclif, a spiritual reformer and the first
translator of the Bible into English.
'His finest work and one that was both symptom and engine of the
concept of "history from below" ... Here Levellers, Diggers,
Ranters, Muggletonians, the early Quakers and others taking
advantage of the collapse of censorship to bid for new kinds of
freedom were given centre stage' Times Higher Education In 'The
World Turned Upside Down' Christopher Hill studies the beliefs of
such radical groups as the Diggers, the Ranters, the Levellers and
others, and the social and emotional impulses that gave rise to
them. The relations between rich and poor classes, the part played
by wandering 'masterless' men, the outbursts of sexual freedom, the
great imaginative creations of Milton and Bunyan - these and many
other elements build up into a marvellously detailed and coherent
portrait of this strange, sudden effusion of revolutionary beliefs.
'Established the concept of an "English Revolution" every bit as
significant and potentially as radical as its French and Russian
equivalents' Daily Telegraph 'Brilliant ... marvellous erudition
and sympathy' David Caute, New Statesman 'This book will outlive
our time and will stand as a notable monument to the man, the
committed radical scholar, and one of the finest historians of the
age' The Times Literary Supplement 'The dean and paragon of English
historians' E.P. Thompson
A new translation with expanded introductions and annotations.
This is a new title in the "Facets" series. It provides an
interesting and entertaining introduction to Martin Luther's
thought. It shows how Luther enjoyed using humour in his
interpretation of the Bible, his pastoral relationships and his
encounters with death. It reveals that humour in the face of
mortality is an indication of human freedom, a way of making life a
divine comedy. It brings out the deeper religious meaning behind
Luther's theological thought.
Many scholars assume that Luther advocates for a Christian life in
which human beings are always passive recipients of God's grace as
it is delivered in preaching, and mere instruments through which
God works to serve their neighbors. This book offers a different
reading of Luther's views on human agency by drawing on a fresh
source: Luther's preaching. Drawing on Luther's sermons in the
Church Postil as a primary source, Justin Nickel argues that Martin
Luther preached as though Christians have real, if secondary,
agency in the lives they lead before God and neighbor. As a result,
Nickel presents a Luther substantively concerned with how
Christians lead their lives.
For Amish fiction readers, young and old alike, Plain Answers
About the Amish Life provides a glimpse into an obscure,
fascinating world--what the Amish believe and how they live. An
engaging question-and-answer format showcases fun and fresh facts
about the people who abide by this often-misunderstood faith and
unique culture.
This updated and revised guide by Mindy Starns Clark (more than
250,000 Amish-themed books sold), covers a wide variety of topics,
such as:
- beliefs and values
- clothing and transportation
- courtship and marriage
- shunning and discipline
- teens and rumpsringa
- children and the elderly
- education and work
Presented in an easy-to-read style, these Plain answers to
questions about the Amish are a great resource for anyone
interested in Amish life. Formerly titled A Pocket Guide to Amish
Life
From the turn of the twentieth century until the end of the Irish
Civil War, Protestant nationalists forged a distinct counterculture
within an increasingly Catholic nationalist movement. Drawing on a
wide range of primary and secondary sources, Conor Morrissey charts
the development of nationalism within Protestantism, and describes
the ultimate failure of this tradition. The book traces the
re-emergence of Protestant nationalist activism in the literary and
language movements of the 1890s, before reconstructing their
distinctive forms of organisation in the following decades.
Morrissey shows how Protestants, mindful of their minority status,
formed interlinked networks of activists, and developed a vibrant
associational culture. He describes how the increasingly Catholic
nature of nationalism - particularly following the Easter Rising -
prompted Protestants to adopt a variety of strategies to ensure
their voices were still heard. Ultimately, this ambitious and
wide-ranging book explores the relationship between religious
denomination and political allegiance, casting fresh light on an
often-misunderstood period.
Lutheran colleges and universities occupy a distinctive space in
American higher education. In an age where the dividing line
between sacred and secular has become blurred, Brian Beckstrom
argues that their "rooted and open" approach, combined with
adaptive theological leadership, could be the best hope for faith
based higher education. To do so, he provides an overview of
Lutheran higher education, its history, and identity, and combines
surveys of students, faculty, and staff at Lutheran institutions
with leadership theory and theological reflection. Leaders at
Lutheran colleges and universities will find it to be helpful in
understanding their mission, identity, and vocation in a secular
age, and navigating the changing cultural environment that
challenges the church and higher education alike.
As recently as the 1960s, more than half of all American adults
belonged to just a handful of mainline Protestant
denominations-Presbyterian, UCC, Disciples of Christ, Episcopal,
Lutheran, Methodist, and American Baptist. Presidents, congressmen,
judges, business leaders, and other members of the elite
overwhelmingly came from such backgrounds. But by 2010, fewer than
13 percent of adults belonged to a mainline Protestant church. What
does the twenty-first century hold for this once-hegemonic
religious group? In this volume, experts in American religious
history and the sociology of religion examine the extraordinary
decline of mainline Protestantism over the past half century and
assess its future. Contributors discuss the demographics of
mainline Protestants; their beliefs, practices, and modes of
worship; their political views and partisan affiliations; and the
social and moral questions that unite and divide Protestant
communities. Other chapters examine Protestant institutions,
including providers of health care and education; analyze churches'
public voice; and probe what will come from a diminished role
relative to other groups in society, especially the ascendant
evangelicals. Far from going extinct, the book argues, the mainline
Protestant movement will continue to be a vital remnant in an
American religious culture torn between the contending forces of
secularism and evangelicalism.
In this time-honored manifesto, Arnold and Merton add their voices
to the vital discussion of what real community is all about: love,
joy, unity, and the great adventure of faith shared with others
along the way. Neither writer describes (or prescribes) community
here, but they do provide a vision to guide our search."
Isobel Miller gave up God for worldly pursuits. But as graduation
approached and her engagement was broken, she questioned that
decision. "If You will prove to me that You are, and if You will
give me peace, I will give You my whole life." God heard Isobel's
prayers and responded. He reached out to her, ending years of
searching, and building her up for decades of fruitful missionary
service with her husband, John Kuhn, in China.
The dual biography of two remarkable women - Catherine Parr and
Anne Askew. One was the last queen of a powerful monarch, the
second a countrywoman from Lincolnshire. But they were joined
together in their love for the new learning - and their adherence
to Protestantism threatened both their lives. Both women wrote
about their faith, and their writings are still with us. Powerful
men at court sought to bring Catherine down, and used Anne Askew's
notoriety as a weapon in that battle. Queen Catherine Parr
survived, while Anne Askew, the only woman to be racked, was burned
to death. This book explores their lives, and the way of life for
women from various social strata in Tudor England.
A reflection on Quaker life by the Australian Young Friends. This
latest issue of the James Backhouse Series is a collective effort
in which the Young Friends talk about their place within the Quaker
spiritual community, and finding their voice for the sake of
spiritual discovery and bonding.
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