The history of Christian literature took a new turn in the 8th century when monks in the monasteries of Palestine began to write theology and saints' lives in Arabic; they also instituted a veritable programme for translating the Bible and other Christian texts from Greek (and Syriac) into the language of the Qur'an, the lingua franca of the Islamic caliphate. This is the subject of the present volume. Two key factors leading to this change, as Professor Griffith indicates, were that the confrontation with the developing theology of Islam created a direct need for apologetics to face this new religious challenge in its own language; and, second, simply that as the memory of Byzantine power waned, so too did the knowledge of Greek. Issues of particular interest in this apologetic literature are those of the freedom of the will, a key topic in the controversies between Melkites and Muslims, and of the legitimacy of icon veneration, a subject of great contemporary concern at the time of Iconoclasm in the Byzantine Empire. L'histoire de la litterature chretienne a pris un nouveau tournant au 8 siecle lorsque les religieux des monasteres de Palestine commencerent A ecrire la theologie et la vie des saints en arabe. De mAme, ils instituerent un veritable programme de traduction de la Bible et autres textes chretiens du grec (et du syriaque) en langue corannique, la lingua franca du califat islamique. Tel est l'objet du present recueil. Deux facteurs determinants ayant conduit A ce changement, comme l'indique le professeur Griffith, etaient, en premier lieu, la confrontation avec une theologie islamique croissante, qui creait un besoin pressant pour les apologetiques de faire face A ce nouveau defi religieux dans la langue propre A celui-ci; en second lieu, au fur et A mesure que s'estompait la memoire du pourvoir byzantin, il en allait de mAme pour la connaissance que l'on avait de la langue grecque. Ces textes traitent de q

This book continues a series of volumes containing the papers read at an annual conference held in turn by Tel Aviv and Bochum in the course of a co-operation between the Lester and Sally Entin Faculty of Humanities, Chaim Rosenberg School of Jewish Studies, the Department of Bible of Tel Aviv University and the Faculty of Protestant Theology in the University of the Ruhr, Bochum, since 1985. As a collection the book focuses on the important role religious views have played in critical moments during Jewish and Christian history. It argues for the significance that the role religious beliefs play in political and economic decision-making and the formation of worldviews; as well as demonstrating common convictions held by both Jewish and Christians that can be used as a foundation to find similar answers to actual problems. Focusing on the conference held in March 2005 at Tel Aviv, the book contains a collected biography of the literature quoted as well as a list of standard abbreviations.

In this volume, Harbin addresses two main ideas in relation to the larger issue of the origin and development of religion. First is the issue of historicity of key events in the founding of major religions. The author specifically addresses the exodus and the resurrection of Judaism and Christianity, respectively, as the historical foundations of those beliefs, and the lack of such historical events in 'all' other world religions. Secondly, Harbin explores the virtually universal observation of a 'primitive high God' present in various cultures throughout the world, suggesting an early monotheism. In the process of these explorations, the author repudiates the prevalent view that religion evolved from a primitive polytheism to the ' higher revealed' religions, and demonstrates instead that it evolved from an early monotheism into increasingly complex polytheisms. Contents: EARLY RELIGION; The Source; Polytheism Runs Rampant; THE SURVIVAL OF MONOTHEISM; The World's Old Organized Religion: Judaism; Hope Fulfilled: Christianity; THAT TRAGIC CENTURY; Avoiding Death by Dying; Under the Bohdi Tree: Buddhism; Mystics Galore: Other Eastern Religions; REVELATIONS OF ANGELS AND MEN; The Step Brother Resurgent: Islam; New Gods or Old?: Modern Religious Movements; The Right Road or a Rabbit Trail?

With typical eloquence and wisdom, in The Way of St Benedict Rowan Williams explores the appeal of St Benedict's sixth-century Rule, showing it to be a document of great relevance to present day Christians and non-believers at our particular moment in history. For over a millennium the Rule - a set of guidelines for monastic conduct - has been influential on the life of Benedictine monks, but has also served in some sense as a 'background note' to almost all areas of civic experience: artistic, intellectual and institutional. The effects of this on society have been far-reaching and Benedictine communities and houses still attract countless visitors, testifying to the appeal and continuing relevance of Benedict's principles. As the author writes, the chapters of his book, which range from a discussion of Abbot Cuthbert Butler's mysticism to 'Benedict and the Future of Europe', are 'simply an invitation to look at various current questions through the lens of the Rule and to reflect on aspects of Benedictine history that might have something to say to us'. With Williams as our guide, The Way of St Benedict speaks to the Rule's ability to help anyone live more fully in harmony with others whilst orientating themselves fully to the will of God.

Is there hope and help for those who are struggling? To someone struggling with homosexuality, churches can present a confusing message. Some insist that a repentant homosexual renounce all ties to the homosexual lifestyle and live out his or her days in celibacy. Others believe that since no one chooses to be homosexual, the only compassionate solution is complete acceptance. Neither viewpoint takes into account all aspects of the issue. Is there another option that incorporates not only the traditional position that homosexual acts are sinful but also the fundamental reality of every person's need for love and acceptance? Over the years, Francis MacNutt has seen phenomenal results in the area of healing for homosexuals. Through prayer, those same-sex desires can be changed . . . healed. Gays or lesbians actually become heterosexual. Here Dr. MacNutt shares real-life examples, compassionate understanding of the issues and practical advice for anyone seeking freedom from homosexuality, as well as for those seeking help for gay friends or family. Francis MacNutt, Ph.D., and his wife, Judith, are the founding directors of Christian Healing Ministries in Jacksonville, Florida. He is the best-selling author of a number of books, including Healing, which has sold nearly a million copies in the United States alone. This book was previously published under the title Homosexuality: Can It Be Healed?

This book shows how Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI mandated many confused, inconsistent, and misguided policies on clerical sexual abuse; actions that ultimately hindered the implementation of effective reforms to alleviate the crisis that has enveloped the Catholic Church for the last two decades. It also examines the possibility of authentic change by articulating the positive outreach of Pope Francis to the victims of abuse, his attempts at institutional atonement, as well as his struggles to implement systematic actions for the protection of young people.

The moral values and interpretive systems of religions are crucially involved in how people imagine the challenges of sustainability and how societies mobilize to enhance ecosystem resilience and human well-being. The Routledge Handbook of Religion and Ecology provides the most comprehensive and authoritative overview of the field. It encourages both appreciative and critical angles regarding religious traditions, communities, attitude, and practices. It presents contrasting ways of thinking about "religion" and about "ecology" and about ways of connecting the two terms. Written by a team of leading international experts, the Handbook discusses dynamics of change within religious traditions as well as their roles in responding to global challenges such as climate change, water, conservation, food and population. It explores the interpretations of indigenous traditions regarding modern environmental problems drawing on such concepts as lifeway and indigenous knowledge. This volume uniquely intersects the field of religion and ecology with new directions within the humanities and the sciences. This interdisciplinary volume is an essential reference for scholars and students across the social sciences and humanities and for all those looking to understand the significance of religion in environmental studies and policy.

Are you depressed? Do you feel hopeless? Do you feel distant from God?

There are many Christians who suffer from depression, but many feel alone in their struggle with it. There is still much stigma attached to the illness of depression, but this stigma is two-fold for Christians. They have stigma attached to them not only from society as a whole, but also in the place where they are supposed to find support and understanding-the church.

Those suffering from depression may see the cause of their depression attributed to being weak, not being a good Christian, not having enough faith, or having some hidden sin. If a Christian is receiving care through a community agency that provides counseling, psychiatric services, or case management services, there is a tendency to find limited support for their Christian views or encouragement from the Bible.

In this guide, author Derrin Drake relies on his twelve years of work experience in the mental health field as well as the Bible to provide hope, encouragement, stability, and direction through the illness of depression. Regardless of where a person is at in dealing with the illness of depression, "Hope Is Not Lost: Staying Connected with God in the Midst of Depression" can help you once again feel connected to God, find encouragement, find strength, and find hope for the journey.

What is the role of founding leaders in shaping terrorist organizations? What follows the loss of this formative leader? These questions are especially important to religious terrorist groups, in which leaders are particularly revered. Tricia L. Bacon and Elizabeth Grimm provide a groundbreaking analysis of how religious terrorist groups manage and adapt to major shifts in leadership. They demonstrate that founders create the base from which their successors operate. Founders establish and explain the group's mission, and they determine and justify how it seeks to achieve its objectives. Bacon and Grimm argue that how successors position themselves in terms of the founder shapes a terrorist group's future course. They examine how and why different types of successors choose to pursue incremental or discontinuous change. Bacon and Grimm emphasize that the instability surrounding succession can place a group at its most vulnerable-the precise time to explore options to weaken or defeat it. Bacon and Grimm highlight similarities between Islamic terrorist groups abroad and Christian white nationalist groups such as the 1920s Ku Klux Klan in the United States. Drawing on extensive field research in Afghanistan, Somalia, and Pakistan, Terror in Transition features detailed analysis of groups such as al-Shabaab, Egyptian Islamic Jihad, and al-Qaeda in Iraq / the Islamic State in Iraq, as well as the KKK. Offering a rigorous theoretical perspective on terrorist leadership transition, this policy-relevant book provides actionable recommendations for counterterrorism practitioners.

This book focuses on pastoral and lay leadership in the African American church. It deals with the internal and external issues such as the tendency toward a bifurcated mentality and practice such as the 'this is business' syndrome as well as the social issue of race and affirmative action. Ministers and laity in the black church must actively engage themselves in overcoming the inequities that are still endemic to life in urban America. Harris affirms that affirmative action policies are more important than ever in obtaining a degree of social justice.

This is the standard Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and Other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church together with The Psalter or Psalms of David according to use in the Episcopal Church in the United Statesas authorized in 1979."

Con influencia, usted puede lograr el exito en el hogar, el trabajo, y en toda area de la vida.

Cualquiera que sea su vocacion o aspiracion, usted puede aumentar el impacto que tiene sobre los demas al convertirse en una persona de influencia.

Ya sea que desse crear un negocio, fortalecer a sus hijos, o alcanzar al mundo, usted puede lograrlo elevando su nivel de influencia en la vida de los demas.

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.

In No Jim Crow Church, Louis Venters recounts the unlikely emergence of a cohesive, interracial fellowship in South Carolina, tracing the history of the community from the end of the nineteenth century through the Civil Rights era. By joiing the Baha'i faith, blacks and whites not only defied Jim Crow but also rejected their society's religious and social restrictions. The religion which emphasizes the spiritual unity of all humankind, arrived in the United States from the Middle East via northern urban areas. As early as 1910, Baha'i teachers began settling in South Carolina. Venters presents an organizational, social, and intellectual history of South Carolina's early Baha'i movement and relates developments within the community to changes in society at large, with particular attention to race relations and the civil rights struggle.

In The Roots of Pope Francis's Social and Political Thought Thomas R. Rourke traces the development of Pope Francis's thinking from his time as a Jesuit provincial through today. Meticulously researched, the book draws on decades of previously untranslated writings from Father Jorge Bergoglio, SJ, who went on to become archbishop and cardinal; this volume also references his recent writings as pope. The book explores the deepest roots of Pope Francis's thinking, beginning with the experience of the Jesuit missions in Argentina (1500s - 1700s), showing how both the success and tragedy of the missions profoundly formed his social and political views. Subsequent chapters explore influences from the Second Vatican Council through today regarding culture, politics, and economics. In Pope Francis's understanding, there is a perpetual tension between the attempts to redeem the social order through the Gospel and the never-ending attempts to dominate peoples and their lands through a variety of imperial projects that come from the powerful. What emerges is a profoundly Christian approach to the social, political, and economic problems of our time. The Pope is portrayed as an original thinker, independent of ideological currents, rooted in the Gospels and the tradition of Catholic social thought. In a time of division and violence, the writings of Pope Francis often point to the path of peace and justice.

Medieval Europe is a dark and dangerous place. In 1054 the Church tears itself in two, setting the scene for nearly 500 years of turmoil. Empires will collide and dynasties will rise and fall; marriages will be made and alliances broken. It is a place where love clashes with ambition and violence rules - enemies are blinded, rivals are murdered and heretics are burnt at the stake. As the Black Death sweeps the continent and the Mongol hordes threaten its borders, can the kings of the old world survive the dawn of a new era?

This exceptional work, with entries from Rav Abba to Rav Zutra, is an unprecedented study of every rabbi in the Talmud. The reader will find concise entries on every rabbinic personality mentioned in the Talmud, major and minor alike, and will discover such facts as their dates of birth, education, and occupation. Most entries are accompanied by a brief story about the rabbinic personality with sources cited for easy reference. Who's Who in the Talmud also includes a lengthy introduction to the Talmud in general and offers a lucid understanding of the timeless importance of aggadic (homiletic) literature. The reader will acquire valuable insight into the issues involved in reading talmudic stories as the author differentiates between truth and parable, law and lore. The author also chronicles the history and development of the Oral Law noting the variety of changes it underwent in its transmission from generation to generation and leaving no doubt as to the wisdom and the ways of our sages from centuries ago.

For over a thousand years, Benedictine monks around the world have followed the daily pattern of morning, noon, and evening prayer known as the Liturgy of the Hours, or the Divine Office. Gathered from the Benedictine tradition, the prayers included in this book grew up around the celebration of the Divine Office-embellishing it, illuminating it, and echoing it for generations of the faithful. The Saint Benedict Prayer Book also reclaims little-known prayers (Little Offices, Commemorations, and Litanies) from long ago. For anyone seeking a way of prayer rooted in ancient wisdom, this little book offers a sure path.

"John Dunne has been pursuing human wholeness through the course of his many books. His insights into our completeness come out of his unique journey leading to the healing of his own separations: from the paths not taken earlier in life that return to join the one consciously chosen; from his relationships with others, leading to his meeting other people where we are most alone; and, ultimately, from his discovery of God's presence in his own experience of longing." -Carol Ochs, Hebrew Union College "The old master has been at work again! John Dunne provides a rare combination of the poignantly personal with the utterly universal, a work of intense thought and reflection that erupts into song, a book that like a good friend pauses and responds to your questions about the life of the spirit as it pauses and responds to John Dunne's own doubts and difficulties and desires." -John T. Noonan, author of The Lustre of Our Country "Dunne is one of our finest writers of spiritual literature. His intellectual breadth alone marks his work as significant. His poetic style prompts slow and careful reading. . . . John Dunne offers nourishment to which we can return often." -Denise Carmody, Santa Clara University