Many would argue that a true understanding of contemporary Christian thought is impossible without a basic understanding of Calvin's contributions. William Stacy Johnson, a leading Presbyterian theologian, offers this clear and fundamental study of Calvin's insights as a primer for those with little or no knowledge of his work.

This volume, enhanced with questions for discussion and a handy glossary, is sure to be an invaluable resource for those who seek an accessible way into a deeper understanding of Calvin's impact on the development of Christian faith and on society.

Moving beyond traditional ways of reading Karl Barth, William Stacy Johnson proposes an approach that makes Barth relevant for the postmodern period. Recognizing Barth's insight that God is mystery, he suggests that theology is best seen not as a restating of old orthodoxies but as an ongoing response to that divine mystery. Johnson's reassessment of Barth opens exciting possibilities for a new appropriation of Barth's insights for contemporary theology and the church. The Columbia Series in Reformed Theology represents a joint commitment by Columbia Theological Seminary and Westminster John Knox Press to provide theological resources from the Reformed tradition for the church today. This series examines theological and ethical issues that confront church and society in our own particular time and place.

This excellent resource presents short, meaningful selections from major Reformed theologians of Europe, the British Isles, and America during the classical period, 1519-1799. Arranged thematically according to major doctrines, it identifies significant theological points that illustrate both the distinctiveness and diversity of Reformed thought.

As rhetoric continues to heat up on both sides of the debate over same-gender unions, clearly reasoned statements are in short supply. Watching this debate unfold, William Stacy Johnson found that he could be silent no longer. The result is this finely honed book.In A Time to Embrace Johnson presents a brilliant analysis of the religious, legal, and political stakes in the debates over gay marriage, civil unions, and the place of committed gay couples in a democratic society. Carefully weighing the pros and cons from across the moral and religious spectrum, Johnson here offers a fresh, thought-provoking examination of one of the most controversial issues in the West today.

This book brings together the best of the unpublished works of H. Richard Niebuhr, one of the outstanding American religious thinkers of this century. The collection includes lectures, sermons, and essays, some of which Niebuhr delivered at major universities to general audiences, and others that he prepared for circulation and discussion among colleagues at Yale and elsewhere. Contemporaneous events, religious figures, important issues in theology, and interpretations of American history and culture-all engaged Niebuhr's broad-ranging interest and revealed his concern with integrating theology and practical living. For those approaching the author's work for the first time, this volume opens the way; for readers already familiar with his concerns, it invites a deeper understanding of his theology. The collection will enrich contemporary public theological discussion, adding Niebuhr's confessionally grounded yet publicly focused voice to the conversation. Richard R. Niebuhr contributes a Foreword in which he recollects his father and offers insights from private writings, and William Stacy Johnson's Introduction orients the reader to Niebuhr's life and work, locating his writings in appropriate theological and historical contexts.