Belief in the possibility of truth demonstrates a belief in God. Professor Markham places this striking argument, which lies at the very heart of Augustinian theology, within the modern debate about truth and defends its underlying claim. Belief in God is, he claims, an all-embracing world view about the nature of reality of which the possibility of truth is a part. Drawing on the work of St Augustine and St Anselm, Richard Rorty, Don Cupitt, and in particular Alasdair MacIntyre, Markham demonstrates that the necessary assumptions underpinning the realist account of truth must entail the existence of God. Referring to Nietzsche, and again to St Augustine, Markham concludes with the stark choice: either God and truth, or no God and no truth.

Reimagining Nature is a new introduction to the fast developing area of natural theology, written by one of the world s leading theologians. The text engages in serious theological dialogue whilst looking at how past developments might illuminate and inform theory and practice in the present. * This text sets out to explore what a properly Christian approach to natural theology might look like and how this relates to alternative interpretations of our experience of the natural world * Alister McGrath is ideally placed to write the book as one of the world s best known theologians and a chief proponent of natural theology * This new work offers an account of the development of natural theology throughout history and informs of its likely contribution in the present * This feeds in current debates about the relationship between science and religion, and religion and the humanities * Engages in serious theological dialogue, primarily with Augustine, Aquinas, Barth and Brunner, and includes the work of natural scientists, philosophers of science, and poets

Sinceits founding by Jacques Waardenburg in 1971, Religion and Reason has been a leading forum for contributions on theories, theoretical issues and agendas related to the phenomenon and the study of religion. Topics include (among others) category formation, comparison, ethnophilosophy, hermeneutics, methodology, myth, phenomenology, philosophy of science, scientific atheism, structuralism, and theories of religion. From time to time the series publishes volumes that map the state of the art and the history of the discipline.

This is a comparative translation of the two earliest versions of the Syriac (or Aramaic) Gospels, with some interesting differences between the Aramaic and traditional Greek texts. This work is useful for theologians, interested laymen and students of Syriac.

The Accountable Animal: Justice, Justification, and Judgement offers a theological meditation on the human being as an accountable animal. Brendan Case introduces the idea of accountability, not merely as a structural feature of human institutions, but as a disposition to submit to rightly-constituted authority, whether divine or human. He relates this conception of accountability to the key themes of "justice, justification, and judgment".

Peter Annet was probably one of the most aggressive deists that the eighteenth century produced. His collection of statements on deistic principles invoked the following praise from one of his twentieth-century admirers, Ella Twyman, who compared him with Voltaire: 'these two great Deists lived in different countries, and under different conditions, there is a remarkable resemblance between them for classical knowledge, originality of thought and view-points, and, especially, for the brilliant wit and humour that flow, like sparkling sunlit streams, through the fair fields of their works.'

Organ Donation in Islam: The Interplay of Jurisprudence, Ethics, and Society delves into the complexities and nuances of organ donation in Muslim communities. A diverse group of authors including Muslim jurists, academic researchers, clinicians and policy stakeholders engage with the multi-faceted topic. Contributions from Sunni and Shia scholars are positioned alongside each other, giving the reader an appreciation of the different Islamic traditions and legal methodologies; and qualitative research examining the views and potential concerns of Muslim families towards donating organs of loved ones is juxtaposed with the work of academicians and community advocates engaging diverse Muslim communities to equip them with the knowledge and tools to make informed donation decisions. Taken together the collection yields new ethical, empirical and sociological insights into how issues of body ownership, the definition of death, and community engagement interface with the act of donation. Accordingly, this wide-ranging volume represents a invaluable resource for religious leaders, healthcare professionals, social scientists, policy makers, researchers, and others interested in the interplay between contemporary healthcare, religious tradition, health policy and the topic of organ donation.

This book contains a collection of easy to read biblical skits and devotionals with an emphasis on evangelism. These writings are designed to be used for various aspects of church ministry. Though initially written with youth groups in mind, these skits and devotionals are not limited in their appeal to all ages. Each skit is based on scriptures from the Holy Bible and injects dialogue from everyday life. The shortness of each skit makes them adaptable for use in enhancing a regular worship service as an added feature or as the main feature of the program. All writings are designed to positively impact people and to create versatility in the method of spreading the gospel to all generations. The format of each work is simple, yet effective in providing interesting, informative, and spiritual messages. The length of each performance can be varied through the inclusion or elimination of songs. Successful performances can be rendered without hours of rehearsal and preparation. Speaking parts can be read or memorized without depreciating the effectiveness of the underlying message. Program committee leaders for women's auxiliaries, brotherhoods, usher boards, choirs, and youth groups can use these writings in their monthly or annual programs. Since each skit has only a few characters, each work is adaptable for groups of any size. Flexibility in altering the method of presentation without changing the message affords the users an opportunity to customize a skit to meet their specific needs. Each skit has been successfully presented by several church organizations of which I am affiliated. This book, Write, is designed to glorify God, magnify Jesus Christ, and spread the gospel throughoutthe world.

Sinceits founding by Jacques Waardenburg in 1971, Religion and Reason has been a leading forum for contributions on theories, theoretical issues and agendas related to the phenomenon and the study of religion. Topics include (among others) category formation, comparison, ethnophilosophy, hermeneutics, methodology, myth, phenomenology, philosophy of science, scientific atheism, structuralism, and theories of religion. From time to time the series publishes volumes that map the state of the art and the history of the discipline.

The ecumenical dialogues within Christianity mostly concentrate on the issues of justification, the Church, and the Holy Spirit. An ecumenical theological anthropology can rarely be found. The book presents the classical topics in theological anthropology from the Reformed, Lutheran, Roman Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox perspectives. The plurality or sometimes even the apparent tensions among theological traditions are shown to be within the limits of God's word alone. "In this fascinating book, Kristanto shares his thoughts on biblical notions, his vast explorations in the history of theology, and his analysis of todays intellectual challenges. Bringing these all together in one highly readable work, Kristanto manages to demonstrate perfectly the relevance of the biblical concept of the human being for the Church and society." Herman Selderhuis

This enlightening analysis of the image of a cruel God sustained by conservative Christianity reveals how this image formed, the psychological effects of this concept, and the ways in which it has guided religious individuals-in both positive and negative ways. This book is born, in large measure, as a result of a writing by contemporary theologian J. Harold Ellens. In his essay "Religious Metaphors Can Kill" from Praeger's The Destructive Power of Religion, Ellens espouses that theological doctrines are rooted in a model of God that determines all the aspects of those doctrines, and strongly influences the cultures into which it is inserted. Conservative Christianity in the Western world, says Ellens, has at its center the image of a cruel and wrathful God. The juridical atonement theory of Anselm is a result of such an image of God, and has an important role in justifying the resort to violence in human interaction. Starting from these considerations, Cruel God, Kind God: How Images of God Shape Belief, Attitude, and Outlook analyzes three general topics: how two very different kinds of Christianities have emerged from these disparate images of God; how the doctrines of "original sin," "the plan of salvation," and "penal substitution" can be explained by psychological factors, as can the wide dissemination and acceptance of these doctrines; and how the image of a cruel God affects mental health, atrophies personality, and produces guilt and shame. An introduction that explains the objectives of the book

Christian Theology after Christendom: Engaging the Thought of Douglas John Hall brings together contemporary thinkers to engage and build upon Douglas John Hall's work-and to take up his challenge to reclaim a contextual and de-colonizing theology of the cross as a means to speak to the realities of life and faith today. With a focus on contemporary issues, this edited collection critically analyzes and deconstructs the centuries-old colonial triumphalism of Christian theology and the church in the West. This book seeks to frame present day crises in ways that honor a deeply rooted theologia crucis that does not colonize the "other." It explores constructive decolonizing possibilities for Christian theology at the end of Christendom.

Sinceits founding by Jacques Waardenburg in 1971, Religion and Reason has been a leading forum for contributions on theories, theoretical issues and agendas related to the phenomenon and the study of religion. Topics include (among others) category formation, comparison, ethnophilosophy, hermeneutics, methodology, myth, phenomenology, philosophy of science, scientific atheism, structuralism, and theories of religion. From time to time the series publishes volumes that map the state of the art and the history of the discipline.

Because God made a promise to Abraham concerning inheriting the land of Israel, a question arises. To which line of Abraham's descendants was the Promise made? That's important because they worship different Gods. This poses the problem, who is the true God?

This is the question of the ages concerning all claims of Deity. All things of life and death depend on that answer.

This book addresses questions from the perspective that the God of the Bible through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the true God and the God of true Christianity. It distinguishes between true and counterfeit Christianity.

The war that started with Satan's attempt to dethrone God and elevate himself to the Almighty is the defining factor of conflict. Association is made between spiritual determinations and earthly happenings. The next earthly event distinguishing where we are in time is the Russian invasion of Israel.

The only remaining possibility for Satan's success is stopping God from keeping His promise to Abraham. The mid-east peace problem is not just about ownership of land, but about "who is God"?

Also addressed - doctrines and theories taught in error. Dispensations, covenants, and promises are defined. How Revelation is structured and plays out is explained.

ne purpose of the book is to cause the reader to "think." Not just about things termed "religious" but in truth, how all things are related, especially "political." Hopefully it gives insight on how to prepare mentally, spiritually, and materially for what Scripture says will happen.

Evidence shows we are the generation that experiences the Biblical end times and the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham. America must choose - follow the true God or the Satanic one-world government

The book challenges the true Church to reestablish scripture as our highest authority and be about our task.

A reply to Mathew Tindal's Christianity as Old as the Creation, this text when first published provoked criticism for the author's free-thinking beliefs and led to many exchanges of opinions with other theologians.

This is an introduction to the influence of Kierkegaard's thought on the development of modern theology. Kierkegaard is in many respects an enigmatic figure. About half of his published work appears under an array of pseudonyms and Kierkegaard himself advises that readers should not presume his agreement with any of the views appearing under pseudonymous authorship. Alongside the pseudonymous works are a long series of discourses published under Kierkegaard's own name, and accompanying the whole corpus are six volumes of Journals in which Kierkegaard experiments with ideas and makes note of his own questions and discoveries. Kierkegaard's concern throughout the authorship was to make clear, in opposition to the corrosive forces of Christendom and the posturing of contemporary philosophy, what authentic Christian faith consists in. "The Philosophy and Theology Series" looks at major philosophers and explores their relevance to theological thought as well as the response of theology.

This open access book addresses, for the first time, Islamic social work as an emerging concept at the interface of Islamic thought and social sciences. Applying a multidisciplinary approach it explores, on the one hand, the discourse that provides religious legitimisation to social work activities and, on the other hand, case studies of practical fields of Islamic social work including educational programmes, family counselling, and resettlement of prisoners. Although in many cases, these activities are oriented towards Muslim clients, more often than not they go beyond the boundaries of Muslim communities to benefit society as a whole. Muslim actors are also starting to professionalise their services and to negotiate the ways in which they can become fully recognised service-providers within the welfare state. At a more general level, the volume also shows that in contrast to the widespread processes of secularisation of social work and its separation from religious communities, new types of activities are now emerging, which bring back to the public arena both an increased sensitivity to the religious identities of the beneficiaries and the religious motivations of the benefactors. The edited volume will be of interest to researchers in Islamic Studies, Social and Political Sciences, Social Work, and Religious Studies. This is an open access book.