In this highly accessible guide a team of expert contributors provide an authoritative and comprehensive survey of Christian belief. After an initial historical overview, six major chapters on Faith, God, Jesus, Salvation, the Church and Christian Hope assess in detail the breadth of Christian teaching and doctrine. Each chapter is interspersed with user-friendly boxed features that focus on key subjects such as Jesus and women and Christian ethics. Culminating with an anthology of extracts from major Christian thinkers, this book provides an ideal overview for scholars at all levels of study seeking to become acquainted with the sweep of Christian teaching.

Recipient of a 1988 ECPA Gold Medallion Award An Eternity 1987 Book of the Year "I could never myself believe in God, if it were not for the cross . . . In the real world of pain, how could one worship a God who was immune to it?" With compelling honesty John Stott confronts this generation with the centrality of the cross in God's redemption of the world -- a world now haunted by the memories of Auschwitz, the pain of oppression and the specter of nuclear war. Can we see triumph in tragedy, victory in shame? Why should an object of Roman distaste and Jewish disgust be the emblem of our worship and the axiom of our faith? And what does it mean for us today? Now from one of the foremost preachers and Christian leaders of our day comes theology at its readable best, a contemporary restatement of the meaning of the cross. At the cross Stott finds the majesty and love of God disclosed, the sin and bondage of the world exposed. More than a study of the atonement, this book brings Scripture into living dialog with Christian theology and the twentieth century. What emerges is a pattern for Christian life and worship, hope and mission. Destined to be a classic study of the center of our faith, Stott's work is the product of a uniquely gifted pastor, scholar and Christian statesman. His penetrating insight, charitable scholarship and pastoral warmth are guaranteed to feed both heart and mind.

World-renowned scientist Richard Dawkins writes in The God Delusion: 'If this book works as I intend, religious readers who open it will be atheists when they put it down'. The volume has received wide coverage, fuelled much passionate debate and caused not a little confusion. Alister McGrath is ideally placed to evaluate Dawkins' ideas. Once an atheist himself, he gained a doctorate in molecular biophysics before going on to become a leading Christian theologian. He wonders how two people, who have reflected at length on substantially the same world, could possibly have come to such different conclusions about God. McGrath subjects Dawkins' critique of faith to rigorous scrutiny. His exhilarating, meticulously argued response deals with questions such as: Is faith intellectual nonsense? Are science and religion locked in a battle to the death? Can the roots of Christianity be explained away scientifically? Is Christianity simply a force for evil? This book will be warmly received by those looking for a reliable assessment of The God Delusion and the many questions it raises - including, above all, the relevance of faith and the quest for meaning.

Embracing current ideas and concerns, a fresh look at a hugely important subject

By the author of The Dawkins Delusion which has sold 150,000 copies worldwide in 17 languages.

In exploring Christian discipleship, Alister McGrath encourages us to move beyond a superficial grasp of our faith to discover its depth and riches. He sees discipleship as a process of growth in wisdom, through which we absorb a Christian vision of reality, and allow it to percolate our minds and inform the way in which we think, imagine and act. Helpfully drawing on the insights of Dorothy L Sayers, C S Lewis, John Stott and J I Packer, whom he finds both astute and illuminating, the author offers counsel on holding on to hope while journeying through darkness, and how to live meaningfully in a world in which things don't always seem to make sense.

This volume engages with the relative absence and underrepresentation of female voices in the field of science and religion, which tends to be dominated by male academics who are in the later stages of their careers. It makes a valuable contribution to correcting this imbalance by showcasing the work of a talented set of rising female scholars, which is not necessarily explicitly feminist in content or approach. All the authors featured are at a relatively early stage in their careers with diverse backgrounds and interests. Engaging with traditional and new questions, they promise to contribute much to the future development of the field of science and religion.

The recent rise of the New Atheism has aroused great general interest, thrown up questions of fundamental importance, and started a fascinating conversation. Why God Won't Go Away invites us to join in. The volume opens with a survey of the main ideas of the New Atheism, as expressed in the works of Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Sam Harris and Christopher Hitchens. We then examine the core views of the movement closely, making due reference to its 'virtual community' of websites and blogs. Subjects explored include: whether religion is delusional and evil, the belief that human beings are fundamentally good, whether we should have faith only in what can be proved through reason and science, the idea that the best hope for humanity is a 'New Enlightenment' The result is a lively and highly thought-provoking volume that poses a number of interesting questions. Why is religion experiencing a resurgence in the twenty-first century, when we are meant to have grown out of such a primitive fixation? Has the New Atheism's fascination with rationality led to a fatal underestimation of the longing of the human heart to adore? And if, as Christopher Hitchens writes in exasperation, religion is 'ineradicable', doesn't this tiresome fact suggest that dismissing belief in God as irrational and unscientific might just be a waste of time?

Never has there been such interest in heresy and the 'religious forbidden' But what is heresy? Why has it been sprinkled with stardust in recent years? How did it originally develop? Are heresies liberating ideas that were ruthlessly suppressed? Or are they flawed visions of Christianity, abandoned because of their inadequacies? In Heresy, worldrenowned historian and theologian Alister McGrath expertly reveals the surprising history of his subject, presenting a powerful, compassionate and deeply attractive orthodoxy that will equip the Church to meet the challenge from renewed forms of heresy today. 'An extremely important book.' Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life Alister McGrath helps us understand what heresy is and why it exercises a powerful attraction upon the human mind. This book is full of illuminating historical discussions and insights. Dallas Willard, author of Knowing Christ Today Not only a riveting story of ancient controversies, but also a much needed and timely correction to the commonly held notion that heretics were mostly freethinkers who challenged a narrow and closed orthodoxy. Justo L. Gonzalez, author of The Story of Christianity

At Oxford University in the 1970s, Alister McGrath faced a crisis when he realized that his scientific atheism made less sense of reality than the 'big picture' offered by Christianity. A reluctant convert, he was astonished by the delight he found in exploring a previously unknown world of ideas. Crucial to his understanding have been the Christian Creeds, which he regards as maps to the landscape of faith. His hope in this volume is that we too may grasp comprehensively the treasure to which they point: the living God, who is the ground of our existence; Jesus Christ who journeys with us; the Holy Spirit who offers us reassurance and affirmation on the way. Drawing on the theology of popular writers like C. S. Lewis, G. K. Chesterton and Dorothy L. Sayers, and full of stories and illustrations, this vivid portrayal of the imaginative power and vision of Christianity will prove invaluable to clergy, church leaders, theological students - and all who long to expand their understanding and love of God.

In The Cross of Christ, John Stott explains the significance of Christ's cross and answers objections commonly brought against biblical teaching on the atonement.

Stott will help you discover how Jesus himself understood the cross, and how 'Christ in our place' is at the heart of its meaning. Understand what the cross achieved and learn what it means to live under the cross.

These modern classic combines excellent biblical exposition, and a characteristically thoughtful study of Christian belief, with a searching call to the church to live under the cross.

In this exceptional volume, Alister McGrath writes for scientists with an interest in theology, and Christians and theologians who are aware of the importance of the natural sciences. A scene-setting chapter explores the importance of the human quest for intelligibility. The focus then moves to three leading figures who have stimulated discussion about the relationship between science and theology[LC1] in recent years: Charles Coulson, an Oxford professor of theoretical chemistry who was also a prominent Methodist lay preacher; Thomas F. Torrance, perhaps the finest British theologian of the twentieth century; and John Polkinghorne, a theoretical physicist, theologian and Anglican priest. The latter part of the book features six parallel 'conversations' between science and theology, which lay the groundwork for the kind of enriched vision of reality the author hopes to encourage. Here, we are inspired to enjoy individual aspects of nature while seeking to interpret them in the light of deeper revelations about our gloriously strange universe. 'Enriching our Vision of Reality is elegant, erudite, and animated by a constant enthusiasm for its subject. There is everything here - science, theology, philosophy, biography, even some poetry - all enlisted to help us to see the world as it is, both more clearly and with greater delight.' The Revd Dr Andrew Davison, Starbridge Lecturer in Theology and Natural Sciences, University of Cambridge, and Fellow in Theology at Corpus Christi College

The Complete Topical Guide to the Bible provides Scripture references, definitions, and cross-references for the study of the Bible by topic. The topical approach differs significantly from the lexical approach of a concordance, and a topical guide is an essential supplement to a concordance. While a concordance is limited to the connection of biblical passages in which the same word appears, the topical approach identifies and connects all of the underlying concepts related to a topic. A concordance would not yield John 3:16 for a study of grace because the word grace does not appear in the verse, but The Complete Topical Guide to the Bible includes John 3:16 for grace because it's an essential verse on the topic. The topics in this resource include biblical, doctrinal, and historical subjects, and they are organized into nine major categories: God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, creation, humanity, sin and salvation, God's people, the life of the believer, and the last things. In addition to the great themes of the biblical message, practical issues of Christian living are also included.

All too often, pastors or professional counselors try to "rescue" people from a low self-esteem using approaches that either dilute the reality of sin or distort the biblical demand for humility. Where does the balance fall, especially as you consider that God's Word commands us not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought? How do we properly recognize our self-worth without falling into self-worship?

It is in God's Word that we find the true worth of human beings. This book, now updated and in its second edition, develops a genuinely scriptural approach to the question of self-esteem, showing that Christian confidence rests totally upon the work of Christ. A proper understanding of how Christ's death on the cross dealt with sin and enables our salvation gives believers a healthy view of contentment, humility, and affirmation. His redemption allows us to "attach" to God and live out our status as His adopted children--a truth that has implications for the entire body of Christ.

The authors, one a theologian and one a psychologist, speak from their individual disciplines to honestly confront some of the tensions between the Gospel and most secular psychotherapies. But they clearly demonstrate that while modern psychology has some validity, it is the Christian view of human nature that ultimately yields proper perspective on who we are in Christ.

For thoughtful Christians and Agnostics alike. Are you looking to understand the role of Christianity in the making of the modern Western world? Will provide encouragement and stimulation to develop a 'discipleship of the mind'. In this inviting, accessible and exhilarating volume, Alister McGrath explores how the great tradition of Christian theological reflection can enrich our faith and deepen our engagement with the concerns and debates of the world around us. The first part of the book deals with the purpose, place and relevance of Christian theology. It provides a helpful introduction to: * the role of theology in transforming the way we see things; * how we might handle theological ambiguity; * the difference the Christian faith makes to our treatment of the natural world; * the link between theology and apologetics. The focus then switches to engaging with contemporary culture and concerns, including many issues raised by the new atheism. The second part of the work deals with the relation of the natural sciences and faith: here the core arguments of recent atheist writers are critically examined, including their demand for a 'New Enlightenment'. In short, Mere Theology addresses matters of real importance for Christian life and thought. It will prove both encouraging and stimulating to all those concerned with developing a 'discipleship of the mind'.

The Faraday Institute has become justifiably famous for its excellent work on the interface between science and faith.

The Christian Belief for Everyone series comprises five guides to the basic ideas of the Christian faith. Full of stories and helpful illustrations, these guides have been written primarily for ordinary churchgoers, though they will no doubt also appeal to interested readers outside the church. The approach Alister McGrath adopts is non-denominational, very similar to the 'mere Christianity' advocated by C. S. Lewis. Indeed, the series may be seen as a guide to 'mere Christianity', focusing clearly as it does on the life of faith. We look at why Christians believe what they do; how we can best understand these ideas, and the difference they make to the way we think about ourselves and our world. The first volume, Faith and the Creeds, concentrates on the nature of faith and the history and relevance of the Creeds, in a thrilling reflection on what we really mean when we say 'I believe'. This is excellent preparation for exploring the leading themes of the Creeds in four subsequent volumes: The Living God, Lord and Saviour - Jesus of Nazareth, Spirit of the Living God and The Christian Life and Hope.

One of the world's most popular theologians explores the comforting yet mysterious place of the Holy Spirit in the life of faith. The fourth volume in this highly engaging series of study guides to the basics of Christian belief looks at the Holy Spirit, human nature, the doctrine of grace, and the place of the church in the Christian life. Full of stories and helpful illustrations, the material has been tested out on congregations to ensure that it is enjoyable, useful, and easy to read! Spirit of the Living God follows the well-received Faith and the Creeds (February 2013), The Living God (September 2013) and Lord and Saviour: Jesus of Nazareth (April 2014). The Christian Life and Hope will be published in April 2015.

Bestselling author - The Dawkins Delusion? has now sold over 150,000 copies in 17 languages.

The Christian Belief for Everyone series comprises five guides to the basic ideas of the Christian faith. Full of stories and helpful illustrations, these guides have been written primarily for ordinary churchgoers, though they will no doubt also appeal to interested readers outside the church. The approach Alister McGrath adopts is non-denominational, very similar to the 'mere Christianity' advocated by C. S. Lewis. Indeed, the series may be seen as a guide to 'mere Christianity', focusing clearly as it does on the life of faith. We look at why Christians believe what they do; how we can best understand these ideas, and the difference they make to the way we think about ourselves and our world.

A New Interpretation of Protestantism and Its Impact on the World

The radical idea that individuals could interpret the Bible for themselves spawned a revolution that is still being played out on the world stage today. This innovation lies at the heart of Protestantism's remarkable instability and adaptability. World-renowned scholar Alister McGrath sheds new light on the fascinating figures and movements that continue to inspire debate and division across the full spectrum of Protestant churches and communities worldwide.

Alister McGrath has written to great acclaim on both Richard Dawkins and C. S. Lewis. Here he brings these two intriguing and well-known writers into a conversation. They could hardly have more different perspectives! Engaging with their views is a brilliant way of sharpening up our own thinking on the meaning of life.