Do traditional distinctions between "belief" and "knowledge" still make sense? How are differences between knowledge and belief understood in different cultural contexts? This book explores conflicts between various types of knowledge, especially between orthodox and heterodox knowledge systems, ranging from religious fundamentalism to heresies within the scientific community itself. Beyond addressing many fields in the academy, the book discusses learned individuals interested in the often puzzling spatial and cultural disparities of knowledge and clashes of knowledge.

Clashes of Knowledge is the first volume of a series called Knowledge and Space dealing with spatial disparities of knowledge and the impact of the spatial context on the production and application of knowledge. The contributions in this book explore the conflicts between various types of knowledge, especially between orthodox and heterodox knowledge systems, which range from religious fundamentalism to heresies within the scientific community itself. Does the traditional distinction between belief and knowledge still make sense? How is the difference between knowledge and belief understood in different cultural contexts? How have the religious-based knowledge systems been displaced in their hegemonic role by scientific knowledge? In which ways do the agents of hegemonic, orthodox knowledge interact with the representatives of deviating, heterodox knowledge? These and many other questions are addressed in this volume.

In this collection, six leading theologians on political theology explore the contemporary states and potential future of the discipline. Offering a highly nuanced and complex picture of "older" and "newer" Political Theology, these scholars examine the multifaceted interconnections and tensions between political theologies, liberation theologies, feminist theologies, and theologies that see themselves as "postcolonial" or "decolonizing."

Among other topics, the authors address the ecumenical and global nature of political theology; the lack of critical feminist analysis in most political, liberation, and postcolonial theologies; the statements regarding political theology in the encyclicals of Benedict XVI; and the specific tasks that political theology must address to remain effective and relevant.

Contributors include Jurgen Moltmann, Johann Baptist Metz, Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza, Francis Schussler Fiorenza, Klaus Tanner, and Michael Welker."

In this collection, six leading theologians on political theology explore the contemporary states and potential future of the discipline. Offering a highly nuanced and complex picture of "older" and "newer" Political Theology, these scholars examine the multifaceted interconnections and tensions between political theologies, liberation theologies, feminist theologies, and theologies that see themselves as "postcolonial" or "decolonizing."Among other topics, the authors address the ecumenical and global nature of political theology; the lack of critical feminist analysis in most political, liberation, and postcolonial theologies; the statements regarding political theology in the encyclicals of Benedict XVI; and the specific tasks that political theology must address to remain effective and relevant. Contributors include Jurgen Moltmann, Johann Baptist Metz , Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza, Francis Schussler Fiorenza, Klaus Tanner, and Michael Welker.

This title presents distinguished scholars on Calvin and his surprising up to date relevance addressing three central current issues: faith - ecumenism - public responsibility. This inspiring collection of essays spells out the relevance of John Calvin's theology for today in three areas: Faith? Calvin's theology asks how God deals with the persistent presence of human sin. For Calvin, the chief end of life is to know God and devote our life to his glory. The still topical point is that we are freed from our fixation with ourselves, thereby recognising and living out our true reality in relation to God. Ecumenism? The unity of the Church in Christ is of central importance to Calvin. We must do our utmost to make it visible. In Calvin's view, if there is agreement in the understanding of God and grace, all other differences have no divisive importance. This still characterises Reformed understanding today. Public responsibility? Calvin posed the question about the church's public responsibility as no other Reformer did. Part 3 reveals the sources of the worldwide impact of Calvin's and Reformed theology on politics, the law, scholarship and the organising of life in society, including civil society.

Following the collapse of Bretton-Woods and the advent of floating exchange rates, economists noted the emergence of demand side substitution of the world's currencies, a phenomenon that has become known as dollarization and currency substitution. Currency substitution presents a number of problems to the policy maker and to the country experiencing the phenomenon. In this book, Michael J. Welker offers a summary of several key considerations that motivate this and other research on currency substitution. The discussion assumes the traditional welfare concept in macroeconomics that any reduction in the effectiveness of monetary and fiscal policy impairs the efficiency of resource allocation and the rate of economic growth. In theoretical work on currency substution one line of thought suggests that real exchange rate depreciation will result when a small open economy revalues under currency substitution, while another line of thought poses that real exchange rate appreciation will occur. Evidence from Mexico in the last decade of the 20th Century is presented in this text to contribute to the debate.

Ever since the sensational Azusa Street Revival in 1906, the global Pentecostal church has continued to explode numerically, pushing theological debates on the Holy Spirit to the forefront. This insightful collection draws together theologians, scientists, and Pentecostal scholars to make connections between the study and experience of the Holy Spirit. The authors begin by addressing theological implications before moving on to the Pentecostal experience, finally connecting the Spirit to scientific and philosophical reflections.

Filled with interdisciplinary insights, "The Work of the Spirit" is inspiring and timely, honoring a century of intense reflection on and involvement with the Holy Spirit.

Contributors: D. Lyle Dabney
James D. G. Dunn
Veli-Matti Karkkainen
Frank D. Macchia
Bernd Oberdorfer
John Polkinghorne
Margaret Poloma
Kathryn Tanner
Grant Wacker
Michael Welker
Amos Yong
Anna York
Donald G. York

In this volume first-rate scientists and theologians from both sides of the Atlantic explore the Christian concept of bodily resurrection in light of the views of contemporary science.

Whether it be the Easter resurrection of Jesus or the promised new life of individual believers, the authors argue that resurrection must be conceived as embodied and that our bodies cannot exist apart from their worldly environment. Yet nothing in todays scientific disciplines supports the possibility of either bodily resurrection or the new creation of the universe at large. Cosmology, for example, only forecasts an end to the universe. If persons and the cosmos are to rise up anew in the eschaton, such an event will have to be a willful act of God. Thus, while modern science can offer aid in constructing models for picturing what resurrection of the body could mean, the warrant for this belief must come from distinctly theological resources such as divine revelation. Christian faith ultimately gains its strength not from modern science but from Gods promises.

Bridging such disciplines as physics, biology, neuroscience, philosophy, biblical studies, and theology, "Resurrection" offers fascinating reading to anyone interested in this vital Christian belief or in the intersection of faith and scientific thought.

CONTRIBUTORS: Jan Assmann
Ernst M. Conradie
Frank Crsemann
Brian E. Daley, S.J.
Hans-Joachim Eckstein
Dirk Evers
Noreen Herzfeld
Peter Lampe
Detlef B. Linke
Nancey Murphy
Bernd Oberdorfer
Ted Peters
John Polkinghorne
Robert John Russell
Jeffrey P. Schloss
Andreas Schuele
Gnter Thomas
Michael Welker

This series relates past thought from the history of Western theological traditions to areas of contemporary concern in fresh, innovative, and constructive ways. Designed for those with no formal theological training, these student-friendly volumes guide readers through core theological issues in a systematic and accessible way.

Leading contemporary Reformed theologians from around the world provide here a unique summary of the range and wealth of Reformed theology today and explore its potential for the future. These thirty-one essays consider the task of Reformed theology in the modern world, give Reformed perspectives on key theological themes, and suggest fruitful present-day trajectories of Reformed thought from the past.