Introduction to Sacramental Theology presents a complete overview of sacramental theology from the viewpoint of the body. This viewpoint is supported, in the first place, by Revelation, for which the sacraments are the place where we enter into contact with the body of the risen Jesus. It is a viewpoint, secondly, which is firmly rooted in our concrete human bodily experience, thus allowing for a strong connection between faith and life, creation and redemption. From this point of view, the treatise on the sacraments occupies a strategic role. For the sacraments appear, not as the last of a series of topics (after dealing with Creation, Christ, the Church), but as the original place in which to stand in order to contemplate the entire Christian mystery. This point of view of the body, which resonates with contemporary philosophy, sheds fruitful light on classical themes, such as the relationship of the sacraments with creation, the composition of the sacramental sign, the efficacy of the sacraments, the sacramental character, the role of the minister, or the relationship of the sacrament with the Church as a sacrament. As a result of this approach, the Eucharist takes on a central role, since this is the sacrament where the body of Jesus is made present. The rest of the sacraments are seen as prolongations of the eucharistic body, so as to fill all the time and space of the faithful. This foundation of the theology of the sacraments in eucharistic theology is supported by an analysis of the patristic and medieval tradition. In order to support its conclusions, Introduction to Sacramental Theology examines the doctrine of Scripture (especially St. John and St. Paul), the main patristic and medieval authors (St. Augustine, Hugh of St. Victor, St. Bonaventure, St. Thomas Aquinas...), the response of Trent to the protestant challenges, up to modern authors such as Scheeben, Rahner, Ratzinger, or Chauvet, including the teaching of Vatican II about the Church as a kind of sacrament.

Angels occupy a significant space in contemporary popular spirituality. Yet, today more than ever, the belief in the existence of intermediary spirits between the human and divine realms needs to be evangelized and Christianized. Angels and Demons offers a detailed synthesis of the givens of the Christian tradition concerning the angels and demons, as systematized in its essential principles by St. Thomas Aquinas. Certainly, the doctrine of angels and demons is not at the heart of Christian faith, but its place is far from negligible. On the one hand, as part of faith seeking understanding, angelology has been and can continue to be a source of enrichment for philosophy. Thus, reflection on the ontological constitution of the angel, on the modes of angelic knowledge, and on the nature of the sin of Satan can engage and shed light on the most fundamental areas of metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics. On the other hand, angelology, insofar as it is inseparable from the ensemble of the Christian mystery (from the doctrine of creation to the Christian understanding of the spiritual life), can be envisioned from an original and fruitful perspective. Father Serge-Thomas Bonino is a renowned European theologian and highly regarded expert in Thomist thought, both philosophical and theological. He is the current Secretary of the International Theological Commission. To date very little of his work has been translated into English. This book is a comprehensive philosophical and theological investigation of angels and demons and is unquestionably the most comprehensive book on this neglected topic written since the Second Vatican Council.

The work of Jacques Lacan is associated more with literature and philosophy than mainstream American psychology, due in large part to the dense language he employs in articulating his theory including often at the expense of clinical illustration. As a result, his contributions are frequently fascinating, yet their utility in the therapeutic setting can be difficult to pinpoint. Lacanian Psychotherapy fills in this clinical gap by presenting theoretical discussions in clear, accessible language and applying them to several chapter-length case studies, thereby demonstrating their clinical relevance. The central concern of the book is the usefulness of Lacan's notion that the unconscious is structured like and by language. This concept implies a peculiar manner of listening ("to the letter") and intervention, which Miller applies to a number of common clinical concerns including including case formulation, dreams, transference, and diagnosis including all in the context of real-world psychotherapy.

The work of Jacques Lacan is associated more with literature and philosophy than mainstream American psychology, due in large part to the dense language he employs in articulating his theory including often at the expense of clinical illustration. As a result, his contributions are frequently fascinating, yet their utility in the therapeutic setting can be difficult to pinpoint. Lacanian Psychotherapy fills in this clinical gap by presenting theoretical discussions in clear, accessible language and applying them to several chapter-length case studies, thereby demonstrating their clinical relevance. The central concern of the book is the usefulness of Lacan's notion that the unconscious is structured like and by language. This concept implies a peculiar manner of listening ("to the letter") and intervention, which Miller applies to a number of common clinical concerns including including case formulation, dreams, transference, and diagnosis including all in the context of real-world psychotherapy.

This book contributes to current bioethical debates by providing a critical analysis of the philosophy of human death. Bernard N. Schumacher discusses contemporary philosophical perspectives on death, creating a dialogue between phenomenology, existentialism and analytic philosophy. He also examines the ancient philosophies that have shaped our current ideas about death. His analysis focuses on three fundamental problems: (1) the definition of human death, (2) the knowledge of mortality and of human death as such, and (3) the question of whether death is 'nothing' to us or, on the contrary, whether it can be regarded as an absolute or relative evil. Drawing on scholarship published in four languages and from three distinct currents of thought, this volume represents a comprehensive and systematic study of the philosophy of death, one that provides a provocative basis for discussions of the bioethics of human mortality.

Satellite Communications: Mobile and Fixed Services is based on the premise that designers of future satellite systems must take account of the strong competition that satellites face from optical fibers. In future years, satellites will continue to be commercially viable media for telecommunications only if systems designers take account of the unique features that satellites have to offer. Accordingly, Satellite Communications places more emphasis on satellite mobile services and broadcasting, and less emphasis on fixed, point-to-point, high-capacity services than traditional textbooks in the field. Also, an emphasis is given in the book to design issues. Numerous illustative system design examples and numerical problems are provided. The particular attention given to methods of design of satellite mobile communications systems should make it an indispensable resource for workers in this field. The book also contains some recent results of propagation modelling and system design studies which should be of particular value to researchers and designers of satellite systems for mobile communications services. Satellite Communications is suitable for use as a textbook for advanced courses on satellite communications, and is a valuable reference for all those working in the field.

Satellite Communications: Mobile and Fixed Services is based on the premise that designers of future satellite systems must take account of the strong competition that satellites face from optical fibers. In future years, satellites will continue to be commercially viable media for telecommunications only if systems designers take account of the unique features that satellites have to offer. Accordingly, Satellite Communications places more emphasis on satellite mobile services and broadcasting, and less emphasis on fixed, point-to-point, high-capacity services than traditional textbooks in the field. Also, an emphasis is given in the book to design issues. Numerous illustative system design examples and numerical problems are provided. The particular attention given to methods of design of satellite mobile communications systems should make it an indispensable resource for workers in this field. The book also contains some recent results of propagation modelling and system design studies which should be of particular value to researchers and designers of satellite systems for mobile communications services. Satellite Communications is suitable for use as a textbook for advanced courses on satellite communications, and is a valuable reference for all those working in the field.

Henri de Lubac, S.J., is considered along with Joseph Ratzinger and Hans Urs von Balthasar as one of the great theological giants of the 20th century. This work traces the life and writings of this French Jesuit priest, revealing the importance and brilliance of de lubac's works, the holiness of his life, and his deep love for the Church, which sometimes persecuted this faithful son and devoted priest.

Introduction to the Mystery of the Church is an ecclesiological survey presenting a doctrinal synthesis of the Church. The author's intention is to propose an overview of this mystery in connection with the entirety of the Christian mystery. The book is divided into two major parts, the first presenting the foundations in the Bible and the tradition up to our day, and the second being an explanatory proposal introducing the reader to the Church's definition and personality and concluding with an exposition of the four properties enunciated in the Creed (one, holy, catholic, and apostolic).

The Curious Elephant completes the elephant book trilogy, which includes The Blind Man's Elephant and The Hijacked Elephant. In all three, the elephant is a metaphor for Christianity. Pastors of religious organizations claim the US and the other Christian nations of the world are not in end-time prophecies, but nothing could be further from the truth. Lacking a clear understanding of the relevance of the covenants to Christianity, however, we've lost our understanding of the gospel Christ actually delivered in the first century. Christians are supposed to be followers individually, not denominationally, of Christ. Organized "churchianity" has made 21st century Christianity irrelevant. No wonder so many young people are becoming atheists. Lacking understanding of the gospel delivered by Christ in the first century, it's no surprise we are completely in the dark about understanding the end-time prophecies. It's like trying to unravel a riddle when someone has given us an incorrect clue. It's hopeless. And it shows today especially when we are repeatedly told the US is not in end-time prophecies. Comprehending the gospel delivered by Christ in the first century, rather than our 21st century evolutionary version, we can clearly see that the US is currently in the eye wall of the still distant, yet approaching climactic Apocalypse storm according to the prophecies in the Biblical record. The Curious Elephant, therefore, first discusses the significance of the covenants in relation to our Biblical history, both the Law and Abrahamic covenants from the first century perspective. We discover that the Biblical record is the singular story of the main characters, including the US, and the two covenants, from Genesis to Revelation. The second section of the book let's the Biblical record tells us what exactly the gospel is and for whom it was destined, though church organizations dismiss this plain fact today. Then, we look at the prophecies, the third section, finally recognizing ourselves in the pages of both the old and new testaments. The remaining sections round out the book. Each chapter in the book has the relevant Biblical verses bracketed for easy reference. Every sufficiently curious reader, therefore, can read it directly from the Biblical record. You can weigh the facts and form your own conclusions, individually. A flow chart at the end of the book diagrams all the relevant characters and historical events making it easy to follow the big picture from Genesis to Revelation. In the end, we discover the answer to the crucial question, "Twenty centuries later, why is first century Christianity more relevant than ever?"

The Hijacked Elephant takes up where The Blind Man's Elephant left off. It presents a profound paradigm shift for modern day Christianity with greater implications than the 95 Theses Martin Luther nailed to the church door in Wittenberg about 500 years ago. The astonishing information presented in The Hijacked Elephant is to current day mainstream Christianity what Einstein's E = mc2 was to Newtonian physics. See www.redshoe.com for more information.

A unique, fresh insight into science and the Biblical record regarding evolution, origin of life, creation in six days, the apocalypse and the key to the 4000 year old identity of the antichrist of Revelation.

There are a number of overviews of scholastic philosophy in print, all of which focus either on one stream of thought, one denomination, or one time period. With this book, distinguished historian of philosophy Ulrich Leinsle offers the first comprehensive introduction to scholastic theology -- a textbook for both Protestant and Catholic students. Leinsle works with a wide concept of scholasticism and therefore includes systematic theological thought from the Fathers of the church until Leo XIII. Scholasticism for Leinsle is not a label for certain characteristics or a specific time period. Rather, it is a term used to cover a variety of theological methods and concepts. Reading Introduction to Scholastic Theology is an exciting adventure, as it guides readers through the beginnings of scholastic theology in the works of the Fathers, on to Early Scholasticism, High Scholasticism, scholastic thought in a time of paradigm shifts (14 - 15th century) and its fate during Humanism and Reformation, to the beginnings of the Enlightenment, and Neo-Scholasticism in the nineteenth century. The book treats these time periods by pointing to specific theological and philosophical problems, methods, and persons. Since Leinsle is a philosopher, he approaches the selected theologians with a refreshingly different and interesting perspective. Since its original publication in German, Leinsle's book has been required reading in most seminars on the history of theological thought. This new edition provides an up-to-date, ecumenical introduction to the method of scholastic thought that will enable readers to grasp the richness and colorfulness of these many theological systems. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Ulrich Leinsle is chair of philosophy in the Theology Department at the University of Regensburg. He holds one doctorate in philosophy and one in theology, and is the author of numerous works published in German. PRAISE FOR THE BOOK: "Leinsle's superb Introduction to Scholastic Theology, which has already become the standard book in Germany on the diverse ecumenical landscape of Scholasticism, will provide students and academics with great insight into its different methods and approaches. It is a 'must have' on every theologian and philosopher's bookshelf."--Ulrich L. Lehner, Marquette University "This masterful work offers a profound, perfectly balanced, and quite exhaustive outline of scholastic theology from its medieval beginnings to the end of the so called second scholastic toward the close of the 18th century. Leinsle's work represents an original and very impressive contribution to the history of ideas of our civilization. With regard to the very rich and well-arranged material it contains, it offers students and scholars a quick glimpse of many sub-topics as well."--Stanislav Sousedik, Univerzita Karlova v Praze "The work's most remarkable feature is its attention not only to the familiar figures and movements of High Scholasticism but also to the gradual "genetic" development of scholastic approaches from the early medieval to early modern periods. This volume will be of interest to students and teachers of medieval and early modern theology alike, and it will make a valuable addition to university libraries and personal collections." Religious Studies Review

This book contributes to current bioethical debates by providing a critical analysis of the philosophy of human death. Bernard N. Schumacher discusses contemporary philosophical perspectives on death, creating a dialogue between phenomenology, existentialism and analytic philosophy. He also examines the ancient philosophies that have shaped our current ideas about death. His analysis focuses on three fundamental problems: (1) the definition of human death, (2) the knowledge of mortality and of human death as such, and (3) the question of whether death is 'nothing' to us or, on the contrary, whether it can be regarded as an absolute or relative evil. Drawing on scholarship published in four languages and from three distinct currents of thought, this volume represents a comprehensive and systematic study of the philosophy of death, one that provides a provocative basis for discussions of the bioethics of human mortality.