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An Introduction to the Old Testament: Sacred Texts and Imperial Contexts of the Hebrew Bible (Journal For The Study Of The Old Testament Supplement #No. 225.)
by David M. CarrThis comprehensive, introductory textbook is unique in exploring the emergence of the Hebrew Bible in the broader context of world history. It particularly focuses on the influence of pre-Roman empires, empowering students with a richer understanding of Old Testament historiography. Provides a historical context for students learning about the development and changing interpretations of biblical texts Examines how these early stories were variously shaped by interaction with the Mesopotamian and Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, and Hellenistic empires Incorporates recent research on the formation of the Pentateuch Reveals how key biblical texts came to be interpreted by Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faiths Includes numerous student-friendly features, such as study questions, review sections, bibliographies, timelines, and illustrations and photos
An Introduction to the Old Testament: Second Edition
by Tremper Longman IIIAn upper-level introduction to the Old Testament that offers students a thorough understanding of three key issues: historical background, literary analysis, and theological message.This second edition of An Introduction to the Old Testament integrates recent developments in Old Testament scholarship. It has many distinctive features that set it apart from other introductions to the Old Testament:It's committed to a theologically evangelical perspective.Emphasizes "special introduction"—the study of individual books.Interacts in an irenic spirit with the historical-critical method.Features points of research history and representative scholars rather than an exhaustive treatment of past scholarship.Deals with the meaning of each book, not in isolation but in a canonical context.Probes the meaning of each book in the setting of its culture.Including callouts, charts, and graphs, An Introduction to the Old Testament is written with an eye to understanding the nature of Old Testament historiography.Perfect for seminary students, professors, and Bible teachers and ministry leaders, as well as anyone looking for an in-depth and balanced approach to Old Testament study.
An Introduction to the Old Testament: The Canon and Christian Imagination (Second Edition)
by Walter Brueggemann Tod LinafeltIn this updated edition of the popular textbook, Walter Brueggemann and Tod Linafelt introduce the reader to the broad theological scope of the Old Testament, treating some of the most important issues and methods in contemporary biblical interpretation. This clearly written textbook focuses on the literature of the Old Testament as it grew out of religious, political, and ideological contexts over many centuries in Israel's history. Covering every book in the Old Testament (arranged in canonical order), the authors demonstrate the development of theological concepts in biblical writings from the Torah through post-exilic Judaism. This introduction invites readers to engage in the construction of meaning as they venture into these timeless texts.
An Introduction to the Phenomenology of Religion
by James L. CoxIn this revised edition, the author provides an easily accessible introduction to the phenomenology of religion, which he contends continues as a foundational method for the academic study of religion in the twenty-first century. After dealing with the problematic issue of defining religion, he describes the historical background to phenomenology by tracing its roots to developments in philosophy and the social sciences in the early twentieth century. The phenomenological method is then outlined as a step-by-step process, which includes a survey of the important classifications of religious behavior. The author concludes with a discussion of the place of the phenomenology of religion in the current academic climate and argues that it can be aligned with the growing scholarly interest in the cognitive science of religion.
An Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion
by Michael J. Murray Michael C. ReaAn Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion provides a broad overview of the topics which are at the forefront of discussion in contemporary philosophy of religion. Prominent views and arguments from both historical and contemporary authors are discussed and analyzed. The book treats all of the central topics in the field, including the coherence of the divine attributes, theistic and atheistic arguments, faith and reason, religion and ethics, miracles, human freedom and divine providence, science and religion, and immortality. In addition it addresses topics of significant importance that similar books often ignore, including the argument for atheism from hiddenness, the coherence of the doctrines of the Trinity and the Incarnation, and the relationship between religion and politics. It will be a valuable accompaniment to undergraduate and introductory graduate-level courses.
An Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion (Third Edition)
by Brian Davies<p>The third edition of An Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion provides a critical examination of some fundamental questions posed by religious belief: What does belief in God amount to? Can God's existence be proved? Is there life after death? <p>Brian Davies considers these questions and many others, sometimes offering provocative answers of his own, but more often giving readers room to each independent conclusions. He explains how a range of thinkers have approached the subject -- including Anselm, Aquinas, Descartes, Leibniz, Hume, and Kant -- and also discusses how contemporary author now engage with the issues involved. Completely revised to cover the latest developments in the field, the new edition of this established textbook will prove the ideal introduction for all students of the philosophy of religion.</p>
An Introduction to the Scriptures of Israel: History and Theology
by Tzvi NovickIn this distinctive textbook for Hebrew Bible courses, author Tzvi Novick&’s approach is thematic rather than chronological. Sorting the books according to their historical context, theological claims, and literary conventions, Novick examines and elucidates the historical and intellectual development of the Hebrew Bible. With attentiveness to both historical-critical and traditional-canonical approaches, An Introduction to the Scriptures of Israel focuses on the dichotomy of the particular and the universal. It shows how this dichotomy impacts each book&’s style and content and how it informs the development of Jewish and Christian traditions. This nontraditional textbook is coherent, engaging, and succinct—a perfect resource for any introductory Hebrew Bible course.ContentsPreface Abbreviations 1. Three Introductions 2. The Wisdom Tradition: Religion without Revelation 3. Revelation and Love: The Patriarchal Narratives and the Song of Songs 4. Joseph and Narrative 5. The Exodus: Freedom and Sonship 6. Sinai: Covenant and Code 7. The Problem of Monarchy: Samuel and Kings 8. Condemning Israel, Sparing the Nations: Amos and Jonah 9. Eden and the Art of Reading 10. Priestly Theology and Holy Space 11. Exile and Return: Prophetic Visions 12. The Consolidation of Judaism: Temple and Torah 13. Violence and Identity: Joshua and Judges 14. Jews, Gentiles, and Gender: Esther, Ruth, Ezra, and Nehemiah 15. Apocalyptic: Daniel and the Dead Sea Scrolls 16. The Israelite at Prayer: The Book of PsalmsSubject Index Scripture and Other Ancient Sources Index
An Introduction to the Scriptures of Israel: History and Theology
by Tzvi NovickIn this distinctive textbook for Hebrew Bible courses, author Tzvi Novick&’s approach is thematic rather than chronological. Sorting the books according to their historical context, theological claims, and literary conventions, Novick examines and elucidates the historical and intellectual development of the Hebrew Bible. With attentiveness to both historical-critical and traditional-canonical approaches, An Introduction to the Scriptures of Israel focuses on the dichotomy of the particular and the universal. It shows how this dichotomy impacts each book&’s style and content and how it informs the development of Jewish and Christian traditions. This nontraditional textbook is coherent, engaging, and succinct—a perfect resource for any introductory Hebrew Bible course.ContentsPreface Abbreviations 1. Three Introductions 2. The Wisdom Tradition: Religion without Revelation 3. Revelation and Love: The Patriarchal Narratives and the Song of Songs 4. Joseph and Narrative 5. The Exodus: Freedom and Sonship 6. Sinai: Covenant and Code 7. The Problem of Monarchy: Samuel and Kings 8. Condemning Israel, Sparing the Nations: Amos and Jonah 9. Eden and the Art of Reading 10. Priestly Theology and Holy Space 11. Exile and Return: Prophetic Visions 12. The Consolidation of Judaism: Temple and Torah 13. Violence and Identity: Joshua and Judges 14. Jews, Gentiles, and Gender: Esther, Ruth, Ezra, and Nehemiah 15. Apocalyptic: Daniel and the Dead Sea Scrolls 16. The Israelite at Prayer: The Book of PsalmsSubject Index Scripture and Other Ancient Sources Index
An Introduction to the Sociology of Religion: Classical and Contemporary Perspectives
by Inger Furseth Pål RepstadIs it true that religion is weakening in modern times, or are we facing religious resurgence? What is fundamentalism? How does it emerge and grow? What role does religion play in ethnic and national conflicts? Is religion a fundamental driving force or do political leaders use religion for their own purposes? Do all religions oppress women? These are some of the questions addressed in this book. An Introduction to the Sociology of Religion provides an overview of sociological theories of contemporary religious life. Some chapters are organized according to topic. Others offer brief presentations of classical and contemporary sociologists from Karl Marx to Zygmunt Bauman and their perspectives on social life, including religion. Throughout the book, illustrations and examples are taken from several religious traditions.
An Introduction to the Sociology of Religion: Classical and Contemporary Perspectives
by Inger Furseth Pål RepstadWhat are religion and nonreligion? How do fundamentalism and religious radicalization emerge and grow? How do social class, gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, and other factors affect religious beliefs, practices, and organizations? Is religion a fundamental driving force or do political leaders use religion for their own purposes? In exploring these pertinent questions, An Introduction to the Sociology of Religion provides an overview of sociological theories of contemporary religious life. Theoretical discussion is accompanied by presentations of empirical research from several religious traditions in many parts of the world. The sociology of religion is linked closely to developments in general sociology. Some chapters are organized according to topic, while others offer brief presentations of classical and contemporary sociologists from Karl Marx to Patricia Hill Collins and their perspectives on social life, including on religion. This second edition has been thoroughly updated throughout with new chapters on religion and social inequalities, social and religious movements, and extremism. Covering classical sociology of religion as well as contemporary debates and topics, this book is ideal reading for students approaching the sociology of religion for the first time.
An Introduction to the Study of Christianity
by Frank DoddOriginally published in 1938, An Introduction to the Study of Christianity is a consideration of what is truly essential in the Christian faith. The book provides a detailed survey of key elements relating to the origin and growth of Christianity, and puts forward the argument that any apparent blemishes or mistakes are the result of human imperfection and misunderstanding of the real teaching of Jesus and his immediate followers, rather than of any shortcomings in the teaching itself. It first sets out the foundations of Christianity and then calls attention to the different interpretations that successive generations of Christians have placed on them. Exploring the history of the Christian faith up to the 1930s, An Introduction to the Study of Christianity will appeal to those with an interest in the history of religion, Christianity, theology, and religious studies.
An Introduction to the Study of Comparative Religion (Start Classics)
by Frank Byron JevonsThe Hartford-Lamson Lectures on The Religions of the World are delivered at Hartford Theological Seminary in connection with the Lamson Fund, which was established by a group of friends in honor of the late Charles M.Lamson, D.D., sometime President of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, to assist in preparing students for the foreign missionary field. The Lectures are designed primarily to give to such students a good knowledge of the religious history, beliefs, and customs of the peoples among whom they expect to labor. As they are delivered by scholars of the first rank, who are authorities in their respective fields, it is expected that in pubUshed form they will prove to be of value to students generally.
An Introduction to the Study of Mysticism
by Richard H. Jones2022 CHOICE Outstanding Academic TitleThe purpose of this book is to fill a gap in contemporary mystical studies: an overview of the basic ways to approach mystical experiences and mysticism. It discusses the problem of definitions of “mystical experiences” and “mysticism” and advances characterizations of “mystical experiences” in terms of certain altered states of consciousness and “mysticism” in terms of encompassing ways of life centered on such experiences and states. Types of mystical experiences, enlightened states, paths, and doctrines are discussed, as is the relation of mystical experiences and mysticism to religions and cultures. The approaches of constructivism, contextualism, essentialism, and perennialism are presented. Themes in the history of the world’s major mystical traditions are set forth. Approaches to mystical phenomena in sociology, psychology, gender studies, and neuroscience are introduced. Basic philosophical issues related to whether mystical experiences are veridical and mystical claims valid, mystics’ problems of language, art, and morality are laid out. Older and newer comparative approaches in religious studies and in Christian theology are discussed, along with postmodernist objections. The intended audience is undergraduates and the general public interested in the general issues related to mysticism.
An Introduction to the Trinity
by Rik Van Nieuwenhove Declan MarmionOver the last decade there has been a resurgence of writing on the Trinity, indicating a renewal of ideas and debate concerning this key element of Christian theology. This introduction challenges the standard account of a decline and revival in Trinitarian theology, taking into account recent, alternative readings of the theological tradition by Lewis Ayres and Michel Barnes amongst other scholars. By clearly analysing the scope of these new approaches, the authors establish the importance of a considered understanding of the Trinity, resisting the notion of separating faith and reason and identifying theology's link to spirituality. Their account also eschews the easy stereotypes of Western Christianity's supposedly more Unitarian approach as opposed to the more Trinitarian view of the East. Offering an overview of the main people and themes in Trinitarian theology past and present, this book thus provides an accessible, comprehensive guide for students and scholars alike.
An Introduction to the Unitarian and Universalist Traditions
by Andrea Greenwood Mark W. HarrisHow is a free faith expressed, organised and governed? How are diverse spiritualities and theologies made compatible? What might a religion based in reason and democracy offer today's world? This book will help the reader to understand the contemporary liberal religion of Unitarian Universalism in a historical and global context. Andrea Greenwood and Mark W. Harris challenge the view that the Unitarianism of New England is indigenous and the point from which the religion spread. Relationships between Polish radicals and the English Dissenters existed and the English radicals profoundly influenced the Unitarianism of the nascent United States. Greenwood and Harris also explore the US identity as Unitarian Universalist since a 1961 merger and its current relationship to international congregations, particularly in the context of twentieth-century expansion into Asia.
An Invitation to Analytic Christian Theology
by Thomas H. McCallIn recent decades a new movement has arisen, bringing the conceptual tools of analytic philosophy to bear on theological reflection. Called analytic theology, it seeks to bring a clarity of thought and a disciplined use of logic to the work of constructive Christian theology. In this introduction to analytic theology for specialists and nonspecialists alike, Thomas McCall lays out what it is and what it isn't. The goal of this growing and energetic field is not the removal of all mystery in theology. At the same time, it insists that mystery must not be confused with logical incoherence. McCall explains the connections of analytic theology to Scripture, Christian tradition and culture, using case studies to illuminate his discussion. Beyond mere description, McCall calls the discipline to a deeper engagement with the traditional resources of the theological task.
An Invitation to Joy: The Divine Journey to Human Flourishing
by Daniel J. DenkJesus came to bring joy to the world. What happened?In a world full of suffering, the declaration that God wants us to be joyful can sound tone-deaf at best or hypocritical at worst. In An Invitation to Joy, Daniel J. Denk invites readers to cast off hopelessness and rediscover joy. Yet, as Denk reminds us, &“we don&’t find joy by pursuing joy; we find it by pursuing something else,&” namely, the kingdom of God. This joy is not naive optimism but a profound sense of purpose and peace. Throughout his reflections, Denk approaches the topic of Christian joy with sensitivity and nuance, supporting his argument with Scripture and theological scholarship. But An Invitation to Joy is not primarily academic—Denk is just as likely to share his personal experience or his favorite passages from Lord of the Rings, all in an easy manner akin to a friendly conversation over coffee. Life-affirming, empathetic, and, above all, joyful, An Invitation to Joy is a salve for the wounds of the world-weary. If you have lost your joy, this book will help you find it again.
An Invitation to Prayer for Mothers
by Jack CountrymanBeautifully illustrated book with scriptures and prayers arranged topically to inspire, equip, and help mothers grow in their walk with the Lord and their calling of motherhood. This book has been priced affordably and makes a great gift for Mother's Day, birthday or as a presentation to new mothers on the birth of their child.
An Invitation to the Table: Embracing the Gift of Hospitality
by Michelle LazurekJesus spent a chunk of his ministry eating and drinking with the "sinners and tax collectors" of the world. If we strive to be more like Jesus, shouldn't we do more of what he did?Hospitality involves more than the domesticated event we have grown accustomed to practicing. It is an embodiment of all the Christian life stands for: a gesture of love, opening up our hearts and lives, and sacrificing luxury and security for the chance to display God's glory. To receive hospitality from others is an invitation to receive God's transformative power to work in their lives.Readers will ask themselves these questions:* What is hospitality? * Is it something I am, or something I do? * How do I offer my life as a gesture of hospitality? * What are some practical ways for me to display and receive hospitality?
An Irish Christmas
by Melody CarlsonA Captivating Story of Love, Deception, and Secret Passions. A WELL-HIDDEN SECRET has haunted Colleen for twenty years. Her husband made her promise she would never speak of it again; but now he's gone and life seems so out of control. Will her fragile relationship with her adult son Jamie survive the truth she's hidden for so long? Jamie has a few secrets of his own--like his desire to pursue his music. But as with many things in his life, it isn't going very well. Why doesn't it seem to fit in anywhere? When Jamie announces his plans to join the military, Colleen decides it's time for the two of them to take a trip together--to Ireland. But will this trip cost her the very relationship she's trying to save? The truth they discover could change their lives in a way neither ever thought possible. This will be a Christmas they will never forget.
An Irish Country Christmas
by Alice TaylorIn this holiday gift edition, Alice Taylor returns to share the warm glow of a child's Yuletide celebration. Her tales of the season and the Irish countryside sparkle with magic. [From The inside dust jacket Flaps:] "The magic of Christmas was out in the moonlit haggard with the cattle and down the fields with the sheep but most of all it was here in the holly-filled kitchen with the little battered crib under the tree and the tall candle lighting in the window. The candle was the light of Christmas and the key that opened the door into the holy night." Beloved by readers on both sides of the Atlantic for her warmly remembered tales of Irish childhood, Alice Taylor now returns to reacquaint us with the joyful glow of a child’s Yuletide celebration in An Irish Country Christmas. In these pages she conveys, as no other author can, the delight that lies in every detail of the festive season for a young child. Her Irish countryside is like an archetype of everyone’s ideal Christmas landscape: a world where the season came with holly bundles and real geese to capture for the holiday dinner. Most of all, her storytelling reminds us of the unsentimental, wondrous innocence of youth, where every snow-dusted corner holds a surprise, and the lighting of the Christmas candle marks the commencement of magic. If Charles Dickens had written from rural Ireland instead of
An Irish Country Village (Irish Country, Book #2)
by Patrick TaylorYoung Doctor Barry Laverty has only just begun his assistantship under his eccentric mentor, Dr. Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly, but he already feels right at home in Ballybucklebo. When the sudden death of a patient casts a cloud over Barry's reputation, his chances of establishing himself in the village are endangered, especially since the grieving widow is threatening a lawsuit. While he anxiously waits for the postmortem results that he prays will exonerate him, Barry must regain the trust of the gossipy Ulster village, one patient at a time. From a put-upon shop girl with a mysterious rash to the troubled pregnancy of a winsome young lass who's not quite married yet, Ballybucklebo provides plenty of cases to keep the two country G.P.s busy. Not all their challenges are medical in nature. When a greedy developer sets his sights on the very heart of the community, the village pub, it's up to the doctors to save the Black Swan (affectionately known to the locals as the 'Mucky Duck') from being turned into an overpriced tourist trap. After all, the good citizens of Ballybucklebo need some place to drink to each other's health. . .
An Irish Rebel in New Spain: The Tumultuous Life and Tragic Death of William Lamport (Latin American Originals #17)
by Andrea Martínez BaracsAn Irish Rebel in New Spain recounts the story of the so-called Irish Zorro, who, in 1659, was burned at the stake for conspiring against the empire to make himself king of Mexico, restore the privileges of the Indigenous people, end the persecution of the Jews, and free the African slaves.William Lamport was an Irish rebel, a soldier, a poet, and a thinker. His Catholic family lost their land and their religious freedom after the English conquest of Ireland. In 1640, Lamport emigrated to New Spain, where he witnessed the abuses of the colonial system and later ran afoul of the Mexican Inquisition. Imprisoned in 1642, Lamport argued his own defense as well as that of the Jews who were in prison with him. Along with a concise biography, this volume provides an anthology of Lamport’s most representative writings: his detailed project for a Spanish-supported Irish insurrection; a manifesto and plan for a Mexican uprising against Spain; his self-defense, which he nailed to the doors of the cathedral when he managed to momentarily escape from prison; a selection of his poetry; and the court documents about the accusation that led him to the pyre.This concise, compelling, and original reflection on the systems of (in)justice in seventeenth-century Mexico is designed for classes on early modern Spain, colonial Latin America, and the Inquisition. Those with an affinity for Irish history will also enjoy learning about the colorful life of William Lamport.
An Irish Rebel in New Spain: The Tumultuous Life and Tragic Death of William Lamport (Latin American Originals)
by Andrea Martínez BaracsAn Irish Rebel in New Spain recounts the story of the so-called Irish Zorro, who, in 1659, was burned at the stake for conspiring against the empire to make himself king of Mexico, restore the privileges of the Indigenous people, end the persecution of the Jews, and free the African slaves.William Lamport was an Irish rebel, a soldier, a poet, and a thinker. His Catholic family lost their land and their religious freedom after the English conquest of Ireland. In 1640, Lamport emigrated to New Spain, where he witnessed the abuses of the colonial system and later ran afoul of the Mexican Inquisition. Imprisoned in 1642, Lamport argued his own defense as well as that of the Jews who were in prison with him. Along with a concise biography, this volume provides an anthology of Lamport’s most representative writings: his detailed project for a Spanish-supported Irish insurrection; a manifesto and plan for a Mexican uprising against Spain; his self-defense, which he nailed to the doors of the cathedral when he managed to momentarily escape from prison; a selection of his poetry; and the court documents about the accusation that led him to the pyre.This concise, compelling, and original reflection on the systems of (in)justice in seventeenth-century Mexico is designed for classes on early modern Spain, colonial Latin America, and the Inquisition. Those with an affinity for Irish history will also enjoy learning about the colorful life of William Lamport.
An Irreverent Curiosity
by David FarleyA tour through the centuries and through a bizarre Italian town in search of an unbelievable relic: the foreskin of Jesus Christ In December 1983, a priest in the Italian hill town of Calcata shared shocking news with his congregation: The pride of their town, the foreskin of Jesus, had been stolen. Some postulated that it had been stolen by Satanists. Some said the priest himself was to blame. Some even pointed their fingers at the Vatican. In 2006, travel writer David Farley moved to Calcata, determined to find the missing foreskin, or at least find out the truth behind its disappearance. Farley recounts how the relic passed from Charlemagne to the papacy to a marauding sixteenth-century German solider before finally ending up in Calcata, where miracles occurred that made the sleepy town a major pilgrimage destination. Over the centuries, as Catholic theology evolved, the relic came to be viewed as something of an embarrassment, culminating in a 1900 Church decree that allowed the parish to display it only on New Year's Day. An Irreverent Curiosityinterweaves this history with the curious landscape of Calcata, a beautiful and untouched medieval village set atop four-hundred-fifty-foot cliffs, which now, due to the inscrutable machinations of Italian bureaucracy, is a veritable counterculture coven. Blending history, travel, and perhaps the oddest story in Christian lore, An Irreverent Curiosityis a weird and wonderful tale of conspiracy and misadventure.