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Reading the Sermon on the Mount with John Stott: 8 Weeks for Individuals or Groups (Reading the Bible with John Stott)
by Douglas Connelly John StottThe Message of the Sermon on the Mount
Reading the Times: A Literary and Theological Inquiry into the News
by Jeffrey Bilbro"Reading the morning newspaper is the realist's morning prayer."—G. W. F. Hegel Whenever we reach for our phones or scan a newspaper to get "caught up," we are being not merely informed but also formed. News consumption can shape our sense of belonging, how we judge the value of our lives, and even how our brains function. Christians mustn't let the news replace prayer as Hegel envisioned, but neither should we simply discard the daily feed. We need a better understanding of what the news is for and how to read it well. Jeffrey Bilbro invites readers to take a step back and gain some theological and historical perspective on the nature and very purpose of news. In Reading the Times he reflects on how we pay attention, how we discern the nature of time and history, and how we form communities through what we read and discuss. Drawing on writers from Thoreau and Dante to Merton and Berry, along with activist-journalists such as Frederick Douglass and Dorothy Day, Bilbro offers an alternative vision of the rhythms of life, one in which we understand our times in light of what is timeless. Throughout, he suggests practices to counteract common maladies tied to media consumption in order to cultivate healthier ways of reading and being. When the news sets itself up as the light of the world, it usurps the role of the living Word. But when it helps us attend together to the work of Christ—down through history and within our daily contexts—it can play a vital part in enabling us to love our neighbors. Reading the Times is a refreshing and humane call to put the news in its place.
Reading the Women of the Bible: A New Interpretation of Their Stories
by Tikva Frymer-KenskyReading the Women of the Bible takes up two of the most significant intellectual and religious issues of our day: the experiences of women in a patriarchal society and the relevance of the Bible to modern life.
Reading Theology Wisely: A Practical Introduction
by Kent Eilers&“Could reading theology turn you toward God in astonished worship? Could it enliven your reading of Scripture? Could it move you toward your true self in Christ? Could it turn you toward your neighbors in self-giving love? Could it unmask your prejudices? Could it dethrone your idols? Should we hope for anything less?&” In this illuminating introduction, Kent Eilers invites Christians of all backgrounds into the practice of reading theology. With a classroom-tested approach, Eilers shows how theology can form the imagination and enhance &“the human capacity for perceiving reality beyond the surface of things&”—allowing Christians to see and experience God in the everyday. He then guides readers through the essential facets of theology so that it can begin to feel familiar and accessible, even (and especially) to beginners with no prior experience. Written conversationally and illustrated beautifully with art by Chris Koelle, Reading Theology Wisely is welcoming and engaging in every respect. Eilers takes a well-rounded approach to his subject, utilizing Scripture and the wisdom of past thinkers as well as references to film and the arts—including a special emphasis on architecture as part of an ongoing metaphor of &“inhabiting texts&” as we do physical spaces. Each chapter ends with a prayer and questions for reflection and discussion, followed by a &“theology lab&” in which readers can put the content of the preceding chapter into practice.
Reading Timothy and Titus with John Stott: 13 Weeks for Individuals or Groups (Reading the Bible with John Stott Series)
by John StottThe Message of Timothy & TitusThe Message of 2 Timothy
Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope
by Esau McCaulleyGrowing up in the American South, Esau McCaulley knew firsthand the ongoing struggle between despair and hope that marks the lives of some in the African American context. A key element in the fight for hope, he discovered, has long been the practice of Bible reading and interpretation that comes out of traditional Black churches. This ecclesial tradition is often disregarded or viewed with suspicion by much of the wider church and academy, but it has something vital to say. Reading While Black is a personal and scholarly testament to the power and hope of Black biblical interpretation. At a time in which some within the African American community are questioning the place of the Christian faith in the struggle for justice, New Testament scholar McCaulley argues that reading Scripture from the perspective of Black church tradition is invaluable for connecting with a rich faith history and addressing the urgent issues of our times. He advocates for a model of interpretation that involves an ongoing conversation between the collective Black experience and the Bible, in which the particular questions coming out of Black communities are given pride of place and the Bible is given space to respond by affirming, challenging, and, at times, reshaping Black concerns. McCaulley demonstrates this model with studies on how Scripture speaks to topics often overlooked by white interpreters, such as ethnicity, political protest, policing, and slavery. Ultimately McCaulley calls the church to a dynamic theological engagement with Scripture, in which Christians of diverse backgrounds dialogue with their own social location as well as the cultures of others. Reading While Black moves the conversation forward.
Reading with Allah: Madrasas in West Bengal
by Nilanjana GuptaBased on extensive fieldwork and archival records, this book traces the emergence and flourishing of madrasas and the myriad ways in which they impact upon local Muslim communities, especially in West Bengal. It also addresses issues of identity, ‘secular’ education and gender in this context, while exploring the myths that surround these institutions. Amongst other things, it interrogates why Muslim communities prefer sending their sons to government schools to receive a secular education, while the daughters are sent to madrasas.
Reading with the Grain of Scripture
by Richard B. HaysChristianity Today Book Award in Biblical Studies (2021) &“All these essays illustrate, in one way or another, how I have sought to carry out scholarly work as an aspect of discipleship—as a process of faith seeking exegetical clarity.&” Richard Hays has been a giant in the field of New Testament studies since the 1989 publication of his Echoes of Scripture in the Letters of Paul. His most significant essays of the past twenty-five years are now collected in this volume, representing the full fruition of major themes from his body of work: the importance of narrative as the &“glue&” that holds the Bible togetherthe figural coherence between the Old and New Testamentsthe centrality of the resurrection of Jesusthe hope for New Creation and God&’s eschatological transformation of the worldthe importance of standing in trusting humility before the textthe significance of reading Scripture within and for the community of faithReaders will find themselves guided toward Hays&’s &“hermeneutic of trust&” rather than the &“hermeneutic of suspicion&” that has loomed large in recent biblical studies.
Reading, Writing and Riddles (Tales From Grace Chapel Inn #34)
by Jolyn Sharp William SharpThe winter cold seems to fuel the creative fires of the citizens of Acorn Hill. A contest sponsored by the Acorn Nutshell inspires its readers and brings to light a puzzle that both captivates and mystifies the Howard sisters. Who submitted the remarkable anonymous contest entry? Is it fact or fiction? Meanwhile, Alice and the ANGELS become involved with a project that brings cheer to old and young, and Jane involves herself in an undertaking that matches her talents with the needs of the poor. Through all of their activities, the sisters are reminded that there is great power in words. Once you visit the charming village of Acorn Hill, tucked away in rural Pennsylvania, you'll never want to leave. Townsfolk relax on their porch swings or gather to discuss the day's events at the Coffee Shop over homemade pie. It's the kind of town where friendship and faith flow together like a wide river on a fine spring day. And you'll love spending time with the Howard sisters, who have begun a new life together in their childhood home, a gracious Victorian house that is now a bed-and-breakfast called Grace Chapel Inn. Here they rekindle old memories, rediscover the bonds of sisterhood, revel in the blessings of friendship and meet many fascinating guests along the way.
Reading Your Life's Story: An Invitation to Spiritual Mentoring
by Keith R. AndersonSpiritual mentoring is a particular kind of friendship in which, according to Keith R. Anderson, "two or more people walk together in heightened awareness of the presence of yet Another"—the Holy Spirit. "Spiritual mentoring is not a complicated process that requires technical training and complex protocol," Anderson continues. "It is essential, authentic, and maybe even natural human speech that is focused, disciplined and nurtured by training for one of the hardest natural things we do: listening reflectively to another. It is sacred companionship as life is lived and story told. Available to almost all, it requires deliberate recruitment, preparation and practice." These pages unfold a vision for mentoring that invites us to read our own lives as narrative and to learn how to enter the narrative of another life. The book covers the scope of the mentoring relationship through various seasons, offering helpful and inspiring metaphors for mentoring. All are invited to enter the mentoring story.
Reading Your Male
by Mary FarrarThere is a growing crisis among our men and boys in the area of sexual temptation and sin: pornography use is skyrocketing and increasing numbers of men find themselves entangled in a web they can't seem to escape. Yet many men feel greatly misunderstood by their women, while just as many women feel mystified and powerless to help their men.--Mary Farrar, Reading Your MaleNow author Mary Farrar confirms that every woman--whether a wife, mother, or single woman--can play a powerful and pivotal role in the male sexual struggle by entering into her man's world, and: seeing through his eyes, thinking with his mind, feeling with his emotions, connecting with his soul.Reading Your Male de-mystifies inner male sexuality, exposes the enemy's tactics in taking down our men, and equips women to use their innate gifts in becoming a man's greatest ally in the fight for victory. Using biblical insight and up-to-date research, Farrar also tackles some of the most elusive questions women are asking today, such as: Why do men struggle so deeply in the area of sexuality? What are we to think about pornography and masturbation? Why does this generation of men appear to be so reticent? What does a man crave most from a woman? What is a woman's most powerful gift to her man? How can a woman draw out an emotionally unavailable man? What is a healthy view of strong femininity and beauty?
Readings from the Ancient Near East: Primary Sources for Old Testament Study
by Bill T. Arnold Bryan E. BeyerThe present volume complements Encountering the Old Testament and likewise targets an undergraduate audience. The book's goal is to provide college students with a basic collection of the ancient Near Eastern texts that most closely parallel or complement the biblical text. We want our readers to understand that the Bible was written in a certain historical, political, social, and cultural context, and we trust that these texts will help provide some of that context.
Readings from the Lu-Wang School of Neo-Confucianism
by Phillip J. IvanhoeThis volume provides selected translations from the writings of Lu Xiangshan; Wang Yangming; and the Platform Sutra, a work which had profound influence on neo-Confucian thought. Each of these three sections is preceded by an introduction that sketches important features of the history, biography, and philosophy of the author and explores some of the main features and characteristics of his work. The range of genres represented--letters, recorded sayings, essays, meditations and poetry--provide the reader with insights into the philosophical and stylistic themes of this fascinating and influential branch of neo-Confucian thought.
Readings in Christian Ethics: Issues and Applications (Volume #2)
by David K. Clark Robert V. RakestrawWhat happens when ethical interpretations meet life? Readings sample divergent views on moral issues. Readers can work through case studies.
Readings in Christian Ethics: A Historical Sourcebook
by J. Philip Wogaman Douglas M. StrongReadings in Christian Ethics presents in one volume the most consequential ethical writings from the earliest days of Christianity through the late twentieth century. Introductory material for each selection is provided to help set each piece in its proper historical and social context.
Readings in Christian Thought (Second Edition): Second Edition
by Hugh KerrIlluminates the history and development of Christian thought by offering selections from the writings of 55 great Christian theologians. The volume includes substantial excerpts from notable women theologians and from black and liberation perspectives, plus a new section from deceased theologians such as Thomas Merton, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Karl Rahner. Each passage is prefaced by detailed introductory comments on the life and thought of each theologian and the significance of his/her work.
Readings in Church Authority: Gifts and Challenges for Contemporary Catholicism
by Richard Gaillardetz Kenneth WilsonThe issues of Authority and Governance in the Roman Catholic Church permeate each and every aspect of the Church's identity, teaching, influence, organisation, moral values and pastoral provision. They have left their mark, in turn, upon its diverse theological and philosophical traditions. The trends of postmodernity, advances in communication, the advent of new ecclesial movements and theologies, and a perceived policy towards increasing institutional centralisation on the part of the Curial authorities of the Church in Rome, have all facilitated a continuous and lively stream of dialogue and disagreement on authority and governance in relation to the place of the Church in our age and the new Millennium. This comprehensive Reader uniquely gathers together in one volume key writings and documents from the wealth of published literature that has emerged on the issues of authority and governance in the Roman Catholic Church. With guided introductions to each section and to each reading, and end of chapter further reading lists, this Reader offers a balanced range of perspectives, themes, international writings, ecumenical dimensions, and formal church documents and Papal pronouncements on core areas of contemporary study and debate. Focusing on the modern/post-modern period in the Roman Catholic Church, but grounded in the historical contexts, Readings in Church Authority presents an accessible source book and introduction for all those exploring current debates and studying central themes in church authority.
Readings in Historical Theology: Primary Sources of the Christian Faith
by Robert F. LayThis broad-ranging collection of the primary sources that have shaped the theology of Christianity, spans Old Testament to modern writings. This historical theology textbook includes informative introductions and guiding questions from the author.
Readings In Judaism, Christianity, And Islam
by John Corrigan Martin S. Jaffee Frederick M. Denny Carlos M. N. EireComposed mainly of primary source readings, but including important secondary sources well, Readings in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam is designed to provide both chronological and topical coverage of each religion. The readings are grouped under six headings: Scripture and Tradition, Monotheism, Authority and Community, Worship and Ritual, Ethics, and Religion and Political Order. Readings for all three religions are arranged to allow for the identification of similarities and differences among the traditions. A brief introduction sets each reading in its time and place and, in many cases, provides commentary on the significance of the material. Readings in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam is designed to supplement lectures and textbooks; is accessible to those just embarking on their study of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam; provides a comprehensive basis for further study of all three religious traditions; and balances short, pointed excerpts with longer, detailed readings.
Readings in the History of Christian Theology: From The Reformation To The Present (Readings In The History Of Christian Theology Ser.)
by William C. Placher Derek R. NelsonWilliam Placher and Derek Nelson compile significant passages written by the most important Christian thinkers, from the Reformers of the sixteenth century through the major participants in the contemporary theological conversation. Illustrating the major theologians, controversies, and schools of thought, Readings in the History of Christian Theology is an essential companion to the study of church history and historical theology. Excerpts are preceded by the editors' introductions, allowing the book to stand alone as a coherent history. This revised edition expands the work's scope, drawing throughout on more female voices and expanding to include the most important twenty-first-century theological contributions. This valuable resource brings together the writings of major theologians from the church's history for a new generation of students.
Readings in the Theory of Religion: Map, Text, Body (Critical Categories in the Study of Religion)
by Scott S. Elliott Matthew Waggoner'Readings in the Theory of Religion' brings together classic and contemporary texts to promote new ways of thinking about religion. The texts reflect the diverse methods used in the study of religion: text and textuality; ritual; the body; gender and sexuality; religion and race; religion and colonialism; and methodological and theoretical issues in the study of religion. 'Readings in the Theory of Religion' is an indispensable introduction to theoretical and interdisciplinary approaches in religious studies and provides the student with all the tools needed to understand this fascinating and wide-ranging field.
Readings in World Christian History: Earliest Christianity to 1453
by John Coakley Andrea SterkThrough the advice of many scholars of Christian origins the selections here include texts that show students how Christianity developed and was lived in Asia, Africa, and the Mediterranean. These texts show Christian life beyond the confines of Byzantine and Western Christendom as Christians enter the Mongol and Chinese courts, struggle to cope with Islam, and continue to live in places such as Ethiopia and Egypt. <p><p>Designed for the classroom Readings in World Christian History highlights the variety of Christianities that grew out of the Palestinian Jesus Movement of the first century.
Readings of Dōgen's "Treasury of the True Dharma Eye" (Columbia Readings of Buddhist Literature)
by Steven HeineThe Treasury of the True Dharma Eye (Shōbōgenzō) is the masterwork of Dōgen (1200–1253), founder of the Sōtō Zen Buddhist sect in Kamakura-era Japan. It is one of the most important Zen Buddhist collections, composed during a period of remarkable religious diversity and experimentation. The text is complex and compelling, famed for its eloquent yet perplexing manner of expressing the core precepts of Zen teachings and practice.This book is a comprehensive introduction to this essential Zen text, offering a textual, historical, literary, and philosophical examination of Dōgen’s treatise. Steven Heine explores the religious and cultural context in which the Treasury was composed and provides a detailed study of the various versions of the medieval text that have been compiled over the centuries. He includes nuanced readings of Dōgen’s use of inventive rhetorical flourishes and the range of East Asian Buddhist textual and cultural influences that shaped the work. Heine explicates the philosophical implications of Dōgen’s views on contemplative experience and attaining and sustaining enlightenment, showing the depth of his distinctive understanding of spiritual awakening. Readings of Dōgen’s Treasury of the True Dharma Eye will give students and other readers a full understanding of this fundamental work of world religious literature.
Readings of Śāntideva's Guide to Bodhisattva Practice (Columbia Readings of Buddhist Literature)
by Jonathan C. Gold Douglas S. DuckworthŚāntideva’s eighth-century work, the Guide to Bodhisattva Practice (Bodhicaryāvatāra), is known for its eminently practical instructions and its psychologically vivid articulations of the Mahāyāna path. It is a powerful, succinct poem into which are woven diverse Buddhist traditions of moral transformation, meditative cultivation, and philosophical insight. Since its composition, it has seen continuous use as a ritual, contemplative, and philosophical manual, making it one of the crucial texts of the Buddhist ethical and philosophical tradition.This book serves as a companion to this Indian Buddhist classic. The fifteen essays contained here illuminate the Guide’s many philosophical, literary, ritual, and ethical dimensions. Distinguished scholars discuss the historical significance of the text as an innovative piece of Indian literature, illuminate the important roles it played in shaping Buddhism in Tibet, and bring to light its contemporary significance for philosophy and psychology. Whether experienced or first-time students of Buddhist literature, readers will find compelling new approaches to this resonant masterpiece.
Readings of the Lotus Sutra (Columbia Readings of Buddhist Literature)
by Jacqueline Stone Stephen TeiserThe Lotus Sutra proclaims that a unitary intent underlies the diversity of Buddhist teachings and promises that all people without exception can achieve supreme awakening. Establishing the definitive guide to this profound text, specialists in Buddhist philosophy, art, and history of religion address the major ideas and controversies surrounding the Lotus Sutra and its manifestations in ritual performance, ascetic practice, visual representations, and social action across history. Essays survey the Indian context in which the sutra was produced, its compilation and translation history, and its influence across China and Japan, among many other issues. The volume also includes a Chinese and Japanese character glossary, notes on Western translations of the text, and a synoptic bibliography.