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Contents Part I: Christianity and Catholicism 1 Modernism and Tradition 2 Various Forms of Modernism 3 The Old Orthodoxy 4 The New Orthodoxy 5 Newman's Theory of Development 6 First Results of New Testament Criticism 7 The Christ of Liberal Protestantism 8 The Christ of Eschatology 9 The Christ of Catholicism 10 The Abiding Value of the Apocalyptic Idea 11 The Truth-Value of Visions 12 The Apocalyptic Vision of Christ 13 The Apocalyptic Vision and the Catholic Church Part II: Christianity and Religion 1 Exclusiveness and Tolerance 2 The Unification of Religion 3 The Science of Religions 4 Character of an Universal Religion 5 The Religion and Personality of Jesus 6 The Church and Its Future

This volume contains six sermons delivered during Lent of 1919 at St. Paul's Church (Knightsbridge) and at St. Barnabas's Church (Oxford). Every time that we make our Communion, every time that we are present at the offering of the sacrifice, every time that we visit the reserved Sacrament, we are met by a challenge. It is the challenge of our Lord, who recalls our minds to what He is and what He has done. There is before us the memorial which is at once the reminder to ourselves and the presentation to God the Father, the memorial of the human life of God the Son. We see the stainlessness of His purity, the completeness of His holiness, the greatness of His self-sacrifice. By our Communion we claim that, as we plead all this before the Father, so also we receive it into ourselves. We are the Christ-bearers, filled with the power of His life, able, if only we will use that power, to reproduce its splendour. And the supreme triumph of the Christ of the Eucharist is as He conforms our lives to HIm. --from chapter 6

This volume began as the John Bohlen Lectures in 1906. Contents 1 The Re-discovery of the Samaritans 2 The Land of Samaria and the City of Shechem 3 The Modern Samaritans 4 The Origin of the Samaritan Sect 5 The Samaritans under the Hellenic Empire 6 The Samaritans under the Roman Empire 7 The Samaritans under Islam 8 The Geographical Distribution of the Samaritans 9 The Samaritans in the Apocryphal Literature, the New Testament, and Josephus 10 The Samaritans in the Talmuds and Other Rabbinic Literature 11 The Talmudic Booklet, the Masseket Kutim 12 The Theology of the Samaritans 13 The Samaritan Sects: Gnosticism 14 The Languages and Literature of the Samaritans

The history of Jews from the period of the Second Temple to the rise of Islam. From 'A History of the Mishnaic Law of Appointed Times, Part 1' This volume introduces the sources of Judaism in late antiquity to scholars in adjacent fields, such as the study of the Old and New Testaments, Ancient History, the ancient Near East, and the history of religion. In two volumes, leading American, Israeli, and European specialists in the history, literature, theology, and archaeology of Judaism offer factual answers to the two questions that the study of any religion in ancient times must raise. The first is, what are the sources -- written and in material culture -- that inform us about that religion? The second is, how have we to understand those sources in reconstructing the history of various Judaic systems in antiquity. The chapters set forth in simple statements, intelligible to non-specialists, the facts which the sources provide. Because of the nature of the subject and acute interest in it, the specialists also raise some questions particular to the study of Judaism, dealing with its historical relationship with nascent Christianity in New Testament times. The work forms the starting point for the study of all the principal questions concerning Judaism in late antiquity and sets forth the most current, critical results of scholarship.

The primal destruction of man was self-love. There is no one who does not love himself; but one must search for the right love and avoid the warped. Indeed you did not love yourself when you did not love the God who made you. These three sentences set side by side show why the problem of self-love in St. Augustine of Hippo constitutes a problem. Self-love is loving God; it is also hating God. Self-love is common to all men; it is restricted to those who love God. Mutually incompatible assertions about self-love jostle one another and demand to be reconciled.--from the IntroductionIn saying that self-love finds its only true expression in love of God Augustine is formulating in one of many possible ways a principle fundamental to his metaphysical and ethical outlook, namely that moral obligation derives from an obligation to God which is at the same time a call to self-fulfillment.--from the ConclusionSome thinkers never become unimportant; some topics always repay renewed attention. St. Augustine is such a thinker; self-love is such a topic. It is, therefore, good that Oliver O'Donovan's analysis of the problem of self-love in Augustine's thought is again in print and available for study. It is a careful unraveling of the development of Augustine's thinking on self-love, and it is also an important guide for our own attempts to probe various aspects of one of the most complicated problems in the moral life.--Gilbert MeilaenderDuesenberg Professor in Christian EthicsValparaiso University, and author of The Way That Leads There: Augustinian Reflections on the Christian Life (2006)Few people in the last thirty years have done more than Oliver O'Donovan to make Augustine a living, breathing source for Christian moral reflection. With the increasing recognition that deep confusion about love lies at the heart of modernity's pathos and with renewed attention being paid to the nature of love in all its personal, social, and ontological dimensions, the recovery of Augustine's profound insights has become an urgent matter. The re-issue of this seminal work is thus both timely and important. --Michael HanbyAssistant Professor of Theology, Honors CollegeBaylor University, and author of Augustine and Modernity (2003). Oliver O'Donovan is Professor of Christian Ethics and Practical Theology at the University of Edinburgh. He is the author of numerous books including Resurrection and Moral Order (1986), The Desire of Nations (1996), and The Ways of Judgment (2005).

The history of Jews from the period of the Second Temple to the rise of Islam. From 'A History of the Mishnaic Law of Appointed Times, Part 1' This volume introduces the sources of Judaism in late antiquity to scholars in adjacent fields, such as the study of the Old and New Testaments, Ancient History, the ancient Near East, and the history of religion. In two volumes, leading American, Israeli, and European specialists in the history, literature, theology, and archaeology of Judaism offer factual answers to the two questions that the study of any religion in ancient times must raise. The first is, what are the sources -- written and in material culture -- that inform us about that religion? The second is, how have we to understand those sources in reconstructing the history of various Judaic systems in antiquity. The chapters set forth in simple statements, intelligible to non-specialists, the facts which the sources provide. Because of the nature of the subject and acute interest in it, the specialists also raise some questions particular to the study of Judaism, dealing with its historical relationship with nascent Christianity in New Testament times. The work forms the starting point for the study of all the principal questions concerning Judaism in late antiquity and sets forth the most current, critical results of scholarship.

The history of Jews from the period of the Second Temple to the rise of Islam. From 'A History of the Mishnaic Law of Appointed Times, Part 1' This volume introduces the sources of Judaism in late antiquity to scholars in adjacent fields, such as the study of the Old and New Testaments, Ancient History, the ancient Near East, and the history of religion. In two volumes, leading American, Israeli, and European specialists in the history, literature, theology, and archaeology of Judaism offer factual answers to the two questions that the study of any religion in ancient times must raise. The first is, what are the sources -- written and in material culture -- that inform us about that religion? The second is, how have we to understand those sources in reconstructing the history of various Judaic systems in antiquity. The chapters set forth in simple statements, intelligible to non-specialists, the facts which the sources provide. Because of the nature of the subject and acute interest in it, the specialists also raise some questions particular to the study of Judaism, dealing with its historical relationship with nascent Christianity in New Testament times. The work forms the starting point for the study of all the principal questions concerning Judaism in late antiquity and sets forth the most current, critical results of scholarship.

Sharing buildings with another ministry allows church members to engage other cultures, see a young ministry develop and thrive, and practice good stewardship. But these arrangements present unique challenges, too. Utility, maintenance, and renovation costs must be fairly divided. Personality differences arise and communication barriers may emerge, particularly with perceptions of turf and identity.'Sharing Your Church Building' is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you navigate these often unfamiliar waters and avoid potential pitfalls. It offers management insights, specific problem-solving guidelines, and strategies for preparing a congregation to share its facilities--either as a host or as a guest. It will help with establishing healthy boundaries that allow all the ministries in the building to flourish.I strongly urge every pastor and church leader considering sharing their church buildings to read this excellent book at the start of the process. Each hour spent with this book, I can assure you, will save you countless hours of 'I wish we had done such and such.'--Dr. Gary G. Cohen, professor, Trinity International University of South FloridaA tremendously helpful resource filled with practical ideas on how to maximize church facilities for the work of the kingdom.--Robert E. Coleman, author; Distinguished Professor of Discipleshipi and Evangelism, Gordon-Conwell Theological SeminaryRalph Curtin has proven that you can't out-give God. His generosity in sharing his church building has given birth to one of the strongest ethnic churches in America today.--Dan Southerland, author; pastor and teacher, Flamingo Road Church, Ft. Lauderdale, FloridaRalph D. Curtin has taught at Trinity College and the Moody Bible Institute External Studies program and has served as pastor at North Pompano Baptist Church in Pompano Beach, Florida. He is also the author of 'Ancient Lights'.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN TWO SEMINARY PROFESSORS LEAVE their classrooms and spend time among the homeless people and teach on city streets? In this unique collection of essays and sermons, Stanley P Saunders and Charles L. Campbell reflect on their encounters with the homeless folks in Atlanta and seek to discern the way of Jesus on the streets of the city.These passionate, often moving writings demonstrate the power of Scripture to shape the way we see the world, and they explore the significance of social location for exegesis, ethics, worship, and preaching. From the perspective of the street, central Christian practices such as baptism, Eucharist, and preaching come to life in new ways. Scripture takes on fresh meaning too, while ancient insights into the principalities and powers, the practice of scapegoating, and the organization of households become contemporary and immediate. Even theological themes--grace and discipleship, sin and forgiveness, crucifixion and resurrection--look different when take to the street.Accented by six powerful artworks from Christina Bray's exhibit Street Prayers/Spiritual Journeys, this book also sheds light on the problem of homelessness in America and calls the church to action. Through their reflection on personal experiences and their interpretation of biblical texts, Saunders and Campbell provide meaningful theological categories for addressing pressing social issues in the urban context, making The Word on the Street a helpful resource on the realities of poverty, race, and injustice.

As a missionary in overcrowded China for many years, Mabel Williamson learned that she was not her own. She could not stand for her own rights because, in a real sense, she had no rights. Throughout this interesting and informative book, the author shows you the difference between suffering hardships and suffering the infringement of one's rights. She says that every truly consecrated Christian must be willing to give up the right to the normal comforts of life, to physical health and safety, to the privacy of business, and to time, friends, romance, family, and home. There are numerous illustrations and frank discussions that will provide you with fascinating material. This is especially good material for mission groups and churches.

In this insightful work, the author explores the fundamental Christian virtue of 'agape.' Spicq's genius is the way he combines fine linguistic analysis, exegesis, and theological insight. The three volumes cover most of the New Testament books: Volume 1: 'Agape in the Synoptic Gospels' Volume 2: 'Agape in the Epistles of St. Paul, the Acts of the Apostles, the Epistles of St. James, St. Peter, and St. Jude' Volume 3: 'Agape in the Gospel, Epistles and Apocalypse of St. John'The word 'agape,' in particular, had acquired so specialized and rich a meaning that it seemed almost a neologism. . . . The final word of the mystery of God and the source of the Christian life is always love. Everything is summed up in love. --from the Introduction

JUSTIFICATIONIn this unusual and engaging experiment in exegesis, Markus Barth explores the concept and vocabulary of Justification as revealed so prominently in Paul's formulation of the message of Christ. According to Dr. Barth, when Paul speaks about justification, he is speaking about a single juridical event. The methodology Barth uses to explore this thesis is one that takes full account of the Old Testament background of Paul's thought--a key Barth finds too frequently ignored.Recognizing the inherent limitations in trying to say what is unspeakable and describe what no eye has seen, Barth turns to drama as the best medium for talking about this article of faith, on which the church stands or falls, as Luther said. Setting his argument in a scheme of five days of judgment, he presents the miracle of justification in narrative and dramatic terms that will appeal to all readers, not just to those versed in traditional theological language. The more traditional theological terminology is relegated to the copiously documented footnotes.An impressive attempt to breathe new life into the biblical understanding of justification . . . probes to the heart of the Christian faith, and leaves the reader with a profound sense of its joy and triumph.--Brevard S. Childs, Professor of Old Testament, Yale Divinity SchoolMarkus Barth (1915-1994) studied Protestant theology in Bern Basel, Berlin, and Edinburgh, and received his Th.D.from the University of Goettingen in 1947. He served as pastor in Bubendorf, Switzerland, from 1940-1953. Thereafter, he taught New Testament at theological schools in Dubuque, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Basel. His books include Israel and the Church, The People of God, Rediscovering the Lord's Supper, and Jesus the Jew.

Augustine's Confessions is one of the most powerfully evocative autobiographies of the Christian West. It recounts the complex experiences through which this formative theologian came to renounce the compulsive sexual practice of his youth, reinvesting his attention and affection in a disciplined spirituality. The Confessions is explicitly about desire, longing, passion--physical and spiritual. It narrates Augustine's desperate attempt to get, and to keep, the greatest degree of pleasure. Even his conversion to Catholic Christianity is narrated as a seduction to continence, and the model of spirituality he articulated relied intimately and profoundly on his sexual experience. Desire and Delight explores the erotics of asceticism as described by Augustine, noticing the gendered foundation of his model of spiritual aspiration. Going beyond the tormented, self-conscious Augustine of conventual interpretations, one discovers in this book a man impelled by the eros that defines human beings as such: the pursuit up the scale of pleasures to the ultimate Pleasure. The pursuit is analyzed here in the text, context, and subtext, with such intellectual and emotional engagement that the Confessions becomes a text of pleasure.To say that Margaret Miles's 'New Reading of Augustine's Confessions' is 'better than the original' might seem an overstatement, but only just. It is a 'new' reading, not just a feminist reading, though that angle of course does not come through. It took me back to the Confessions (which I have not read for years) and will no doubt be used extensively by people alongside the bishop of Hippo himself as a kind of Virgil-and-Beatrice guide to that forerunner of the Divine Comedy.--Harvey CoxHarvard Divinity SchoolA gem of a book. This passionate rereading of the Confessions produces the very kind of pleasure it sets out to describe. Readers will want to return to Augustine, and to more of Margaret Miles, at the first opportunity.--Elizabeth V. SpelmanSmith CollegeMargart R. Miles was formerly Bussey Professor of Historical Theology at the Harvard University Divinity School. She is the author of Augustine on the Body, Image as Insight, and Carnal Knowing.

Vital . . . pertaining to life; essential; of critical importance. Theological . . . pertaining to the study of God, of His nature and will. Issues . . . a point or matter, the decision of which is of special or public importance. A dictionary can define the terms, but the tough questions faced by pastors, teachers, missionaries, and Christian leaders are the real test of one's theological understanding. Vital Theological Issues: Examining Enduring Issues of Theology draws upon the insights and study of leading evangelical scholars and writers to address enduring theological questions. Included are articles by Lewis Sperry Chafer, J. Ronald Blue, John F. Walvoord, Charles C. Ryrie, and Roy B. Zuck.Some of the issues discussed in this volume include: If God is in control, why should I pray? What difference does it make that Jesus was sinless? Can a person be saved who has never heard of Jesus? Has Lordship salvation really been taught throughout Christian history?Christian readers, church leaders, and pastors alike will appreciate the practical insights and spiritual focus of Vital Theological Issues. Roy B. Zuck is Senior Professor Emeritus of Bible Exposition at Dallas Theological Seminary, where he taught for twenty-three years, including seven years as Vice President for Academic Affairs. He is editor of 'Bibliotheca Sacra' and coeditor of the widely acclaimed two-volume 'Bible Knowledge Commentary'. He has written or edited more than seventy books on Christian education and biblical and theological topics. His books include 'Teaching as Paul Taught', 'Spirit-Filled Teaching', and 'Basic Bible Interpretation'.

Vital . . . pertaining to life; essential; of critical importance. Church . . . a body or organization of religious believers. Issues . . . a point or matter, the decision of which is of special or public importance. A dictionary can define the terms, but tackling the tough texts and difficult issues of church leadership requires skillful study and balanced reflection upon the whole of Scripture. Vital Church Issues: Examining Principles and Practices in Church Leadership draws upon the insights and study of numerous evangelical scholars and writers to address crucial issues in church leadership. Some of the chapters included are: Personal Challenges for 21st-Century Pastors by Leith Anderson The 'Laying on of Hands' of Elders by David A. Mappes Can Fallen Leaders Be Restored to Leadership? by Jay E. Smith Assimilating New Converts into the Local Church by R. Larry Moyer Confidentiality in Counseling Individuals with HIV/AIDS by Jay A. QuinePastors, laypeople, and seminary students will appreciate the helpful scholarship of Vital Church Issues.Roy B. Zuck is Senior Professor Emeritus of Bible Exposition at Dallas Theological Seminary, where he taught for twenty-three years, including seven years as Vice President for Academic Affairs. He is editor of 'Bibliotheca Sacra' and coeditor of the widely acclaimed two-volume 'Bible Knowledge Commentary'. He has written or edited more than seventy books on Christian education and biblical and theological topics. His books include 'Teaching as Paul Taught', 'Spirit-Filled Teaching', and 'Basic Bible Interpretation'.

How do we find and contact pastoral candidates?What background information do we need to know about pastoral candidates?What do we need to consider when developing a salary and benefit package for a new pastor?Each year several thousand churches face questions like these as they search for new pastors. To help make the process easier to help avoid costly mistakes, Dr. Henry Virkler has organized a comprehensive, step-by-step plan to guide search committees through the intricacies of selection procedures in Choosing a New Pastor. Dr. Virkler employs a transdenominational approach as he:-identifies twenty-one mistakes that pastor nominating committees make and suggests alternative steps to take;-steers churches through the phases of transition, from saying good-bye to the old pastor to orienting the new one;-proposes guidelines for conflict resolution when pastor and congregation disagree;-plus, it includes sample information forms, interview forms, and letters.This complete guide to pastoral selection will successfully guide you through the process both efficiently and effectively.Henry A. Virkler has been training Christian counselors for more than thirty years: fifteen years at the Psychological Studies Institute in Atlanta, five years at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, and since 1996 at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Florida. His other books include 'Hermeneutics: Principles and Processes of Biblical Interpretation', 'Speaking the Truth in Love: A Christian Approach to Assertiveness', 'Broken Promises: Healing and Preventing Affairs in Christian Marriages', and 'Choosing a New Pastor'.

Have you ever heard a Bible interpretation or a scientifically-based argument that just didn't seem correct?Did you wish you knew how to show that it wasn't true?In a postmodern society, Christians are increasingly confronted with assertions that contradict the principles they believe. They need to be able to critically analyze arguments and know how to refute, in a gentle way, those assertions that are not true.In order to do this Christians need three sets of skills:-hermeneutical skills -- to know how to accurately interpret God's Word and be able to correct misinterpretations of Scripture;-research design and statistical skills -- to be able to examine statements about God's world and evaluate whether or not they represent valid conclusions from the data;-knowledge of logical fallacies -- in order to be able to identify when invalid inductive or deductive conclusions were being drawn, either from God's Word or from research studies about God's world.This book will help you be able to do the following:-know and use valid hermeneutical skills;-understand research design and statistical analysis techniques;-recognize logical fallacies and replace them with accurate analyses.An excellent resource for pastors, Sunday school teachers, and group leaders, this book is as practical as it is valuable for persons who want to discern truth and refute error in a spirit of love.Henry A. Virkler has been training Christian counselors for more than thirty years: fifteen years at the Psychological Studies Institute in Atlanta, five years at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, and since 1996 at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Florida. His other books include 'Hermeneutics: Principles and Processes of Biblical Interpretation', 'Speaking the Truth in Love: A Christian Approach to Assertiveness', 'Broken Promises: Healing and Preventing Affairs in Christian Marriages', and 'Choosing a New Pastor'.

In this, his most eloquent and far-reaching book, James Douglass explores the haunting parallels between the situation of Jesus and our situation today. Jesus, who lived in anticipation of the impending destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans and suffered from this vision, called urgently for a radical conversion to avert the tragedy. The choice then -- as now -- was between nonviolence and nonexistence.This choice is even more stark in the nuclear age. Whether describing the visions of Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Archbishop Romero, or the witness of his own community against the White Train carrying warheads across the country, Douglass can discern the sights of a second coming, a nonviolent coming of God. The possibility for a different future depends on a different kind of humanity, renewed and transformed by the nonviolent cross of Christ.This gripping and hopeful book not only declares God's nonviolent coming, it helps bring it about.Walter Wink, Auburn Theological SeminaryTake a deep breath before you start to read this book....The gospels will never again look the same.Mary Jo Leddy, in Catholic New TimesProfound and personal...Douglass's book is a prophecy and a history. Read it, enjoy it, and learn.John L. McKenzie, author, Dictionary of the BibleWill cause reverberations far beyond the circles of the peace movement. I was instructed, challenged, and profoundly motivated.Mary Evelyn Jegen, Pax Christi InternationalJim Douglass is a writer and a Catholic Worker. He and his wife Shelley are co-founders of the Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action in Poulsbo, WA, and Mary's House, a Catholic Worker house of hospitality in Birmingham, AL. He is currently writing three books on the assassinations of the Kennedys, Malcom X and King in the 1960's (with Orbis Books).The James Douglass Reprint Series: The Non-Violent Cross Resistance and Contemplation Lightning East to West The Nonviolent Coming of God

The present work aims to set before the public the history, as told by the participants and eye-witnesses themselves in all the unreserve of private correspondence, of the most momentous crisis in the annals of Europe. It is impossible here to appreciate the importance of the Reformation; I have done it, partially, elsewhere, and hope to return to it in future. Suffice it to say that the revolution which goes by this name wrought an upheaval in the political, social and religious structure of Europe and prepared the ground for our modern civilizaiton. Every element of the movement is reflected in these letters: the return to the Bible, the revolt from ecclesiastical abuse and from papal authority, the economic and social reform, the growing nationalism and awakening subjectivism. The launching of the 'Ninety-five Theses' is described and their working on the minds of men portrayed; the summons of Luther before his ecclesiastical superiors first at Heidelberg and then at Augsburg, the great debate with Eck at Leipsic, the trumpet call to spiritual emancipation in the pamphlets of 1520, the preparation of the bull of excommunication and the burning of the same, and finally, as a fitting climax, the memorable appearance of Luther before the Emperor and Diet at Worms, are all set before our eyes. --from the Preface

Dialogue among religions has always been challenging. Today the questions are becoming more fundamental: are the various traditions-Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Tao-even talking about the same thing when they speak of Nature, of God, Emptiness or Brahma? The Divine Matrix represents a bold scholarly attempt to provide a framework for discussing these and other questions that will keep the interreligious dialogue project from grinding to a halt. In 'The Divine Matrix' philosopher and theologian Joseph Bracken first names the idea that the Infinite is the transcendent source and goal of human activity to be the notion common to virtually all the major world religions. He suggests that the Infinite is prototypically experienced not as an entity but as an ongoing activity-the principle of activity for all beings (God included). This idea is consistent with the notion of eternal and continuous motion in Aristotle, with the act of being (actus essendi) in the theology of Thomas Aquinas and Meister Eckert, and with the ground of being of Schelling and Heidegger, as well as with Whitehead's definition of creativity. Bracken goes on to show that this idea is implicit in descriptions of Brahman in the Hindu Upanishads, in the experience of pratitya-samutpada (dependent co-arising) in classical Buddhism, and in descriptions of the Tao in Tao Te Ching and Chuang Tzu. The Divine Matrix proposes that the Infinite, thus identified, be understood as a nondual reality: an activity that does not exist in itself but only in the entities which it thereby empowers to exist. This, Bracken argues, becomes the key to understanding ultimate reality within the different world religions.

The Parker Society was the London-based Anglican society that printed in fifty-four volumes the works of the leading English Reformers of the sixteenth century. It was formed in 1840 and disbanded in 1855 when its work was completed. Named after Matthew Parker -- the first Elizabethan Archbishop of Canterbury, who was known as a great collector of books -- the stimulus for the foundation of the society was provided by the Tractarian movement, led by John Henry Newman and Edward B. Pusey. Some members of this movement spoke disparagingly of the English Reformation, and so some members of the Church of England felt the need to make available in an attractive form the works of the leaders of that Reformation.

Entertainment has long been a source of controversy in American life. On the one hand, American popular culture is enormously desired, captivating audiences around the world. On the other hand, more and more critics blame it for the breakdown of morals and even civilizations itself. Surely Christians and other religious citizens have something to contribute to what is, after all, a discussion of morality. But too often their contributions have been ill-informed, unreflective and reactionary. In this groudbreaking book, William Romanowski brings something desperately needed to the discussion: an informed, systematic and challenging Christian perspective. Comprehensive and historically revealing, Pop Culture Wars bids to accomplish nothing less than to reframe and render more constructive a crucial but angry cultural debate. William Romanowski has done our embattled society a remarkable favor by providing an impressively informed and passionately argued case for the immediate cessation of the culture wars. The energy exerted in verbal warfare should be redirected into critical and creative involvement with popular entertainment. He is to be commended for deconstructing the false polarization of high and low culture and for reconstructing the linkage of art with the mission of God in the world. SCOTT YOUNG, Codirector, City of Angels Film FestivalA well-written history of film's and television's attempts to define themselves in our culture. It clarifies the many disparate views with which organized religions have approached the media. The author presents an excellent argument for media literacy and voices a strong view that religious leaders should be embracing and developing the media as the new literature of our time. JACK SHEA, Catholics in Media AssociatesPop Culture Wars is historically solid, biblically insightful and exciting to read. Romanowski gives a sharp Christian vision for understanding popular art and entertainment today without oversimplifying their seductive complexity. CALVIN SEERVELD, Institute for Christian StudiesWilliam D. Romanowski is Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He has coauthored Dancing in the Dark: Youth, Popular Culture, and the Electronic Media as well as Risky Business: Rock in Film.

Current biblical scholarship tends to treat the nativity narratives as having little historical basis and to see in them illustrations of the particular theologies of Matthew and Luke. Nonbiblical scholarship sees in these narratives only an adaptation of traditional folklore themes relating to the birth of the hero. This leaves the ordinary Christian in a vacuum that the mass media and other commercial interests are only too anxious to fill.'Liberating Christmas' shows that, regardless of whether the nativity narratives are rooted in actual historical situations, they do portray a particular network of social-political relationships. Thus Caesar ruled and taxed peoples, such as the Jews, through client-kings, such as Herod, who ruled with sharply repressive violence. But the narratives also celebrate the birth of a messiah who will finally liberate his people even though he and his family are driven into exile. The Christmas stories as reappraised by this book have, therefore, important political implications, implications not only about first-century Palestine but about contemporary history as well. These latter implications are brought out by an extensive analysis of the political-economic domination exercised in much of Latin America by the United States, domination maintained by ""client dictators who use death squads (paralleling Herod's slaughter of innocents) to terrorize and control the exploited peasants while driving members of basic Christian communities into exile.'Liberating Christmas' has as much to say about the 'Pax Americana' as the original nativity narratives had to say about the 'Pax Romana'. The story of Jesus is as important to ordinary readers today as it was when it was first told centuries ago.Richard A. Horsley is Distinguished Professor of Liberal Arts and the Study of Religion at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. He is the author of numerous works, including 'Jesus and Empire,' 'Jesus and the Spiral of Violence,' 'Galilee,' and 'Hearing the Whole Story.' He is also editor of 'Christian Origins,' which is volume 1 of A People's History of Christianity.

The essays in this volume address a closely interconnected set of questions: To be true to its mission, what function is the Church meant to perform? What does the faith of Christians contribute to the human perception of justice? What is the theological significance of action undertaken by Christians for political or social transformation? Is justice to be looked on as one of the moral virtues that it is incumbent on Christians to practice or has it a more intrinsic link to the gift of faith which Christians have received? Does the following of Christ call Christians away from social systems into ""the new creation or is the call extended to them to concern themselves with the social systems which shape human beings?-- from the ForewordContributors include:-Avery Dulles-William Dych-John Donahue-John Langan-David Hollenbach-Richard Roach-William WalshJohn C. Haughey, SJ, is the author of 'The Holy Use of Money' and 'Should Anyone Say Forever?'.

The end times have captivated the imaginations of Christians throughout the centuries. Significant portions of Scripture are devoted to Christ's return, and countless theological works have been written on death, heaven and hell, the apocalypse, and other eschatological topics. This volume adds an important voice to the volumes of literature already written on the subject. Pohle writes lengthy chapters on death, heaven, hell, purgatory, along with the resurrection and the last judgment.

Most readers of the New Testament have a clearly defined attitude towards the Apostle Paul, and frequently it is a negative one. In many instances, their opinion is based upon a combination of misunderstanding, prejudice, and a failure to recognize that Paul wrote for an age very different from our own. We naturally tend to interpret Paul from our own standpoint, forgetting that the situation of the early Christian community was totally unlike that of Christians today. The result is that Paul is not allowed to speak for himself, but is expected to answer our questions--and blamed when he fails to do so to our satisfaction. This introduction to the church's first great theologian does not attempt to produce a systematic account of his theology. Indeed, it begins from the recognition that such an attempt is impossible: all we have on which to base our reconstruction of Paul's thought is part of his correspondenc with some of his churches, and usually we have to guess at what these letters presuppose. All too often, readers of Paul make the mistake of treating the Pauline material as a corpus of teaching, comprehensive in its range and timeless in its relevance. Pauline Pieces attempts to show that we distort Paul's meaning when we treat him in this way, but that by trying to put ourselves imaginatively into his situation we can begin to understand how the Apostle's thought can still be relevant to us today.Morna Hooker is Lady Margeret's Professor of Divinity Emerita at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of Robinson College.

Due in large measure to its unique literary genre, the Song of Songs has been interpreted in diverse ways. According to Andre LaCocque, this supports the notion that the issue with which any reader of the Song must come to grips is, first and foremost, a hermeneutical one.""Once in a generation a biblical scholar unlocks the hidden secrets of an entire biblical book. Building upon a thorough knowledge of the full range of ancient and modern exegesis of the Song of Songs, Andre LaCocque--the rare combination of first-rate philologist, theologian, teacher, and preacher--proves that the Song of Songs is the work of a single ancient Hebrew poetess. This poetess, LaCocque demonstrates, writes neither about sex nor about marriage but about that extremely rare occurrence of the meeting and pairing of two human souls, which the Greeks call eros 'love,' an event not so different from the equally rare meeting of a human person and God, which is often called 'religious experience.'""--Mayer I. Gruber, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheva, Israel""Andre LaCocque has written a remarkable, postmodern study of the Song of Songs. On the one hand, it exemplifies the intertextual reading of the Bible as fully as any midrash, but on the other hand, he resists all attempts to harmonize the text with the pieties of tradition. Most of all it continues the 'critique from the margins' begun in his earlier book, The Feminine Unconventional, and shows that a senior, white, European male can have exceptional empathy with female sensitivity.""--John J. Collins, Holmes Professor of Old Testament Criticism and Interpretation, Yale Divinity SchoolAndre LaCocque is Professor of Old Testament Emeritus at Chicago Theological Seminary. He is the author of The Trial of Innocence and The Feminine Unconventional and coauthor of Thinking Biblically: Exegetical and Hermeneutical Studies.

This study articulates the distinctive moral character of the Afro-American women's community. Beginning with a reconstructive history of the Afro-American woman's situation in America, the work next traces the emergence of the Black woman's literary tradition and explains its importance in expressing the moral wisdom of Black women. The life and work of Zora Neale Hurston is examined in detail for her unique contributions to the moral tradition of the Afro-American woman. A final chapter initiates a promising exchange between the works of Hurston and those of Howard Thurman and Martin Luther King, Jr.A pioneering and multi-dimensional work, 'Black Womanist Ethics' is at once a study in ethics, gender, and race.