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Books > Religion & Spirituality > General > History of religion
This classic book, now in a second, expanded edition, is an
invitation to think along with major theologians and spiritual
authors, men and women from the time of St Augustine to the end of
the fourteenth century, who profoundly challenge our (post-)modern
assumptions. Medieval theology was radically theocentric,
Trinitarian, Scriptural, and sacramental, yet it also operated with
a rich notion of human understanding. In a post-modern setting,
when modern views on 'autonomous reason' are increasingly
questioned, it is fruitful to re-engage with pre-modern thinkers
who did not share our modern and post-modern presuppositions. Their
different perspective does not antiquate their thought; on the
contrary, it makes them profoundly challenging and enriching for
theology today. This survey introduces readers to key theologians
of the period and explores themes of the relationship between faith
and reason; the mystery of the Trinity; soteriology; Christian
love; and the transcendent thrust of medieval thought.
While many established forms of Christianity have seen significant
decline in recent decades, Pentecostals are currently one of the
fastest growing religious groups across the world. This book
examines the roots, inception, and expansion of Pentecostalism
among Italian Americans to demonstrate how Pentecostalism moves so
freely through widely varying cultures. The book begins with a
survey of the origins and early shaping forces of Italian American
Pentecostalism. It charts its birth among immigrants in Chicago as
well as the initial expansion fuelled by the convergence of
folk-Catholic, Reformed evangelical, and Holiness sources. The book
goes on to explain how internal and external pressures demanded
structure, leading to the founding of the Christian Church of North
America in 1927. Paralleling this development was the emergence of
the Italian District of the Assemblies of God, the Assemblee di Dio
in Italia (Assemblies of God in Italy), the Canadian Assemblies of
God, and formidable denominations in Brazil and Argentina. In the
closing chapters, based on analysis of key theological loci and in
lieu of contemporary developments, the future prospects of the
movement are laid out and assessed. This book provides a purview
into the religious lives of an underexamined, but culturally
significant group in America. As such, it will be of great interest
to scholars of Pentecostalism, Religious Studies and Religious
History, as well as Migrations Studies and Cultural Studies in
America
First published in 1990, Jesus in the Tide of Time considers the
historical Jesus and studies the ways in which he has subsequently
been regarded by different people in different cultures. The book
examines the political, social, economic and religious background
to Jesus' life. It also looks at what is known about Jesus as a
historical personality, and considers the use of symbolic figures
by the early Christians to represent him. It highlights the
attitude towards the person of Jesus as an indicator of the culture
of the particular period and place throughout history, and
questions whether different cultures, periods and individuals
manufacture Jesus in their own image. Jesus in the Tide of Time
will appeal to those with an interest in the history of
Christianity, religious history, and social history.
Pastoral Care, the religious mission of the Church to minister to
the laity and care for their spiritual welfare, has been a subject
of growing interest in medieval studies. This volume breaks new
ground with its broad chronological scope (from the early eleventh
to the late fifteenth centuries), and its interdisciplinary
breadth. New and established scholars from a range of disciplines,
including history, literary studies, art history and musicology,
bring their specialist perspectives to bear on textual and visual
source materials. The varied contributions include discussions of
politics, ecclesiology, book history, theology and patronage,
forming a series of conversations that reveal both continuities and
divergences across time and media, and exemplify the enriching
effects of interdisciplinary work upon our understanding of this
important topic.
New volume in SPCK's International Study Guide series
This volume focuses on the religious shrine in western India as an
institution of cultural integration in the period spanning 200 BCE
to 800 CE. It presents an analysis of religious architecture at
multiple levels, both temporal and spatial, and distinguishes it as
a ritual instrument that integrates individuals and communities
into a cultural fabr
Originally published in 1993, Medieval English Benedictine Liturgy
is a detailed study of the liturgical use of medieval monasteries
in England, spanning 500 years. The study examines the major votive
observances that came to fruition in the twelfth century and later
and argues that these important practices affected earlier monastic
observances. The book's emphasis on Anglo-Saxon liturgy provides a
bridge between the practices of the English Benedictines before and
after the Conquest. The book also traces the chronological progress
of three individual observances and extends where possible into the
sixteenth century. The book argues that, at a broader level, while
liturgy has been recognized as an indispensable part of the study
of the context and use of medieval chant and polyphony.
The Order of the Temple, founded in 1119 to protect pilgrims around
Jerusalem, developed into one of the most influential corporations
in the medieval world. It has retained its hold on the modern
imagination thanks to the dramatic events of the Templars' trial
and abolition two hundred years later, and has been involved in
historical mysteries from masonic conspiracy to the survival of the
Turin shroud. Malcolm Barber's lucid narrative separates myth from
history in this full and detailed account of the Order, from its
origins, flourishing and suppression to the Templars' historical
afterlife.
This book, first published in 1974, shows how social class and
origins in mid-nineteenth century Aberdeen were reflected in
religious belief and observance, and how in turn this acted as a
catalyst for change in society. Through a detailed analysis of this
topic, particularly in relation to the Presbyterian denominations,
the author directs fresh light on the emergence and development of
the Free Church. The Disruption in the Church of Scotland is
examined within the context of changes which had taken place in the
form of industrial production, whereby the city as a centre of
manufacturing had replaced the domestic production of the
countryside. The concomitant changes in the social structure, and
the divisions which resulted within the old ruling families, are
probed. The social patterns of adherence to the Established and
Free Churches are analysed in detail, and the subsequent
development of the Free Church is examined in terms of the social
support it enjoyed in 1843.
The purpose of this book, first published in 1945, is to consider
the problem of religion in its relation to the family. Even in 1945
there had been much talk regarding the break-up of family life and
the weakening of parental control, and this book examines the role
of religion in the social changes within the family unit.
In 1754, Voltaire, one of the most famous and provocative writers
of the period, moved to the city of Geneva. Little time passed
before he instigated conflict with the clergy and city as he
publicly maligned the memory of John Calvin, promoted the culture
of the French theater, and incited political unrest within Genevan
society. Conflict with the clergy reached a fever pitch in 1757
when Jean d'Alembert published the article 'Geneve' for the
Encyclopedie. Much to the consternation of the clergy, his article
both castigated Calvin and depicted his clerical legacy as
Socinian. Since then, little has been resolved over the theological
position of Calvin's clerical legacy while much has been made of
their declining significance in Genevan life during the
Enlightenment era. Based upon a decade of research on the sources
at Geneva's Archives d'A0/00tat and Bibliotheque de Geneve, this
book provides the first comprehensive monograph devoted to Geneva's
Enlightenment clergy. Examination of the social, political,
theological, and cultural encounter of the Reformation with the
Enlightenment in the figurative meeting of Calvin and Voltaire
brings to light the life, work, and thought of Geneva's
eighteenth-century clergy. In addition to examination of the
convergence with the philosophes, prosopographical research
uncovers clerical demographics at work. Furthermore, the nature of
clerical involvement in Genevan society and periods of political
unrest are considered along with the discovery of a 'Reasonable
Calvinism' at work in the public preaching and liturgy of Genevan
worship. This research moves Geneva's narrative beyond a simplistic
paradigm of 'decline' and secularization, offers further evidence
for a revisionist understanding of the Enlightenment's engagement
with religion, and locates Geneva's clergy squarely in the newly
emerging category of the 'Religious Enlightenment.' Finally, the
significance of French policy from the Revocat
In this collection of studies by James M. Powell, two related
centres of attention can be seen. One is the campaigns undertaken
by western Europeans in the eastern Mediterranean, chiefly in the
late twelfth and thirteenth centuries - the Crusades - the reasons
for them and manner in which they were organized and promoted. The
other is the Kingdom of Sicily under Frederick II, himself a
Crusader, and its society and economy, including its Muslim
population. A characteristic feature is the author's interest in
ordinary participants and the attempt to get behind the
generalizations of macro-historians to the extent that may be
possible.
It's a remarkable story. It spans 140 years and crosses cultures
and continents. It has revolutionized hundreds of thousands of
lives and it has had a radical impact on churches and communities.
It has launched new mission movements and pushed forward the
frontiers of the gospel. And it continues to grow, as Christians
the world over see the urgent need for spiritual renewal. Why has
this happened? What are the marks of this spiritual movement? In
'Knowing God Better', Jonathan Lamb introduces the big priorities
that shape the Keswick movement, priorities that are essential for
the well-being of Christians and local churches around the world
today.
In 1517, the usually tranquil friary in the Hungarian town of
Koermend found itself at the centre of controversy when its
Augustinian friars, charged with drunkenness, sexual abuses and
liturgical negligence, were driven out and replaced with observant
Franciscans. The agent of change in this conflict, cardinal Thomas
Bakocz, claimed to be acting in the name of 'cloister reform'
motivated by a religious agenda, while the Augustinians portrayed
themselves as the victims of a political game. Based on the
surviving interrogations of a papal enquiry into these events, this
book illuminates the tensions and potential conflict that lurked
within the religious culture of a seemingly unremarkable and remote
town. The story of the friary trial of Koermend provides a
fascinating window into religion and society of Europe at the dawn
of the Reformation, investigating the processes by which ordinary
people emerge as historical agents from the written records. By
focussing on their experiences as represented in the trial
documents the book reveals the spaces and borders of individual and
communal action within the dynamic of lay-clerical relations
negotiated in a friary reform at the beginning of the 16th century.
Furthermore, the moral nature of the accusations levelled at the
Augustinians - and whether these were justified or instigated for
political reasons - offers further insights into the nature of
late-medieval Catholicism and the claims of Protestant reformers.
Becket's life was lived on a European stage, his cause was
conducted in a European setting, and the cult of the new martyr
spread with extraordinary rapidity to the furthest reaches of Latin
Christendom before the end of the twelfth century. The fifteen
studies collected here reflect not only the global reach of the
subject but the diverse expertise of their author, whose edition
and translation of the Correspondence of Archbishop Thomas Becket
(2000) and acclaimed biography (Thomas Becket, 2004) have
established her place in Becket studies. Based on the critical
examination of manuscripts and texts, this collection focuses first
on the papal curia and Becket's household in exile. The following
studies deal with Becket's letters and their authorship, the
coronation of the young King Henry (1170), and Henry II's
reconciliation at Avranches (1172). The final part traces the
explosion of Becket's cult, the transmission of hagiographical and
liturgical texts to France, Germany, and Portugal, and the role of
diverse agencies of dissemination: Henry II's daughters, for
example, in Saxony, Castile, and Sicily, and the Cistercian and
Augustinian orders whose networks of houses embraced the whole of
Europe.
Richard Whitford's Dyuers Holy Instrucyons and Teachynges Very
Necessary for the Helth of Mannes Soule is the last printed work
written by a brother of the Brigittine community at Syon Abbey. A
vocal opponent of Lutheran reforms and Henry VIII's agenda to
install himself as the head of the Church of England, Richard
Whitford was also Syon's most prolific author. His writing provides
pastoral guidance on a range of issues as well as powerful
articulations of the value of religious life during the turbulent
years preceding the king's break from the Catholic Church.
Published in 1541, Dyuers Holy Instrucyons is also the only Syon
text printed after the dissolution of the monasteries. This text
thus offers a rare perspective on the concerns of those faithful to
the old religion from a religious brother who actively participated
in the abbey's campaign against Lutheran reformers. As with his
previous work, Whitford's Dyuers Holy Instrucyons maintains an
openly confrontational stance toward radical reformers while
offering instruction to readers on issues that would certainly have
been topical for faithful who lived after the 1534 Act of
Supremacy-issues focussed on patience, avoiding vice, impediments
to spiritual perfection, and detraction. This edition makes this
significant work available for the first time to modern readers
with crucial discussions of the history and themes of the texts,
including the indivisibility of politics and religion in the early
years of the Reformation and the crucial role that Syon Abbey
played in the textual representation of this period in English
history.
Martin Luther considered the reading of God's word to be his
primary task as a theologian, a pastor, and a Christian. Though he
is often portrayed as reading the Bible with a bare approach of
sola Scriptura-without any concern for previous generations'
interpretation-the truth is more complicated. In this New
Explorations in Theology (NET) volume, Reformation scholar Todd R.
Hains shows that Luther read the Bible according to the rule of
faith, which is contained in the church's ancient catechism of the
Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, and the Apostles' Creed. Hains
carefully examines Luther's sermons to show how Luther taught the
rule of faith as the guard and guide of Bible reading. This study
will helpfully complicate your view of Luther and bring clarity to
your own reading of God's Word. Featuring new monographs with
cutting-edge research, New Explorations in Theology provides a
platform for constructive, creative work in the areas of
systematic, historical, philosophical, biblical, and practical
theology.
William Paulet, first Marquis of Winchester, was one of the most
remarkable and influential men of sixteenth-century England. Born
in Wiltshire in 1475, he lived to the advanced age of 97, during
which time he held the posts of Lord Treasurer, Master of the
King's Wards, Controller of the Household, Lord Chamberlain,
Speaker of the House of Lords, and President of the Council. In
recognition of his services, Edward VI promoted him to the
Marquisate of Winchester in 1551, cementing his position amongst
the nation's elite. Providing for the first time a full length
account of Paulet's life and his extended role at the heart of
Tudor government, this book will be welcomed by scholars of
sixteenth-century England as an invaluable aid to better
understanding the period. Taking a broadly chronological approach,
the book presents the main features of his life against the
turbulent background of mid-sixteenth-century history. As well as
demonstrating how he managed to hold office under three monarchs -
Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I - with radically different
religious policies, this book considers Paulet's considerable
impact on the economic, political and ecclesiastical landscape of
Tudor England.
The author argues that mysticism is not confined to Christianity,
but the relation between the soul and Christ is a distinctive
mystical experience; and it is specific in this sense, that this
relation works out in a certain practice of life and certain
development of character. It is this concrete effect of a true
Christian mysticism which forms the subject of this book.
This book analyses the development of Sufism in Ottoman Egypt,
during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Examining the
cultural, socio-economic and political backdrop against which
Sufism gained prominence, it looks at its influence in both the
institutions for religious learning and popular piety. The study
seeks to broaden the observed space of Sufism in Ottoman Egypt by
placing it within its imperial and international context,
highlighting on one hand the specificities of Egyptian Sufism, and
on the other the links that it maintained with other spiritual
traditions that influenced it. Studying Sufism as a global
phenomenon, taking into account its religious, cultural, social and
political dimensions, this book also focuses on the education of
the increasing number of aspirants on the Sufi path, as well as on
the social and political role of the Sufi masters in a period of
constant and often violent political upheaval. It ultimately argues
that, starting in medieval times, Egypt was simultaneously
attracting foreign scholars inward and transmitting ideas outward,
but these exchanges intensified during the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries as a result of the new imperial context in
which the country and its people found themselves. Hence, this book
demonstrates that the concept of 'neosufism' should be dispensed
with and that the Ottoman period in no way constituted a time of
decline for religious culture, or the beginning of a normative and
fundamentalist Islam. Sufism in Ottoman Egypt provides a valuable
contribution to the new historiographical approach to the period,
challenging the prevailing teleology. As such, it will prove useful
to students and scholars of Islam, Sufism and religious history, as
well as Middle Eastern history more generally.
This volume makes a significant contribution to the 'history of
ecclesiastical histories', with a fresh analysis of historians of
evangelicalism from the eighteenth century to the present. It
explores the ways in which their scholarly methods and theological
agendas shaped their writings. Each chapter presents a case study
in evangelical historiography. Some of the historians and
biographers examined here were ministers and missionaries, while
others were university scholars. They are drawn from Anglican,
Baptist, Congregationalist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Fundamentalist
and Pentecostal denominations. Their histories cover not only
transatlantic evangelicalism, but also the spread of the movement
across China, Africa, and indeed the whole globe. Some wrote for a
popular Christian readership, emphasising edification and
evangelical hagiography; others have produced weighty monographs
for the academy. These case studies shed light on the way the
discipline has developed, and also the heated controversies over
whether one approach to evangelical history is more legitimate than
the rest. As a result, this book will be of considerable interest
to historians of religion.
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