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The Zondervan 2025 Pastor's Annual: An Idea and Resource Book
by T. T. CrabtreeCountless preachers have turned to the Zondervan Pastor's Annual to save them time in sermon and service preparation. This tried-and-true resource makes your demanding job as a pastor a lot easier. Use its contents as is, or tailor it to fit your unique approach.The Zondervan 2025 Pastor's Annual supplies you with:Morning and evening services for every Sunday of the yearSermon topics and texts fully indexedDefinitive and usable sermon outlinesDevotionals and Bible studies for midweek servicesFresh and applicable illustrationsAppropriate hymn selectionsSpecial-day services for church and civil calendarsMeditations on Lord's Supper observanceWedding ceremonies and themesFuneral messages and ScripturesBasic pastoral ministry helpsMessages for children and young peopleOffertory prayers
Zondervan All-in-One Bible Reference Guide
by Kevin GreenTo get the most out of studying the Bible usually requires a concordance, a dictionary, a topical Bible, and a handbook. The Zondervan All-in-One Bible Reference Guide combines the best features of all four—in one convenient location. This easy-to-use resource covers a wide range of topics, people, places, events, and themes from Scripture. Entries are arranged alphabetically, making it easy for us to find the information needed to expand our understanding of God’s Word. The Zondervan All-in-One Bible Reference Guide is ideal for pastors, Bible study leaders, and everyone who wants to learn more from God’s Word. Based on the NIV—the most read, most trusted translation of the Bible—this reference guide will prove to be indispensable, no matter what translation is used.
Zondervan Bible Dictionary
by J. D. Douglas C. MerrillWho were the Pharisees? What did Samson and John the Baptist have in common? Does an altar really have "horns?" Turn to the Zondervan Bible Dictionary and find out. It has the answers to these and hundreds of other questions you're likely to wonder about as you read the Bible. Condensed from the New International Bible Dictionary, this unique volume actually offers three books in one: • A Dictionary—for easy-to-find, practical information on thousands of topics • A Topical Index—for detailed study of nearly 150 larger topics, listing all articles in the dictionary that relate to a given topic • A Survey—providing an introductory overview of the Bible, biblical history, and biblical culture. Concise, readable, and informative, the Zondervan Bible Dictionary is ideal for use at home, in study groups, and in schools. It will help you clear up the who, what, where, why, and how of the Bible so you can better appreciate the depth of its wisdom and its relevance for you today.
Zondervan Dictionary of Bible and Theology Words
by J. Edward Miller Matthew S. DemossReach for almost any commentary or other Bible study text and sooner or later (probably sooner!) you’re bound to stumble over a word you don’t know. Unfortunately, the dictionary doesn’t shed much light on terms such as agraphon, deutero-Isaiah, pretribulationism, synonymous parallelism, Transjordan, or zugoth. Even words you are able to look up can have specific nuances and applications in biblical and theological study. What you need is a study book to help you understand the study books. You need the Zondervan Dictionary of Bible and Theology Words. This hugely practical volume puts the definitions you need most right at your fingertips. Over 1,700 words and phrases from Old and New Testament studies, biblical languages, and systematic theology have been compiled, alphabetized, and defined as succinctly as possible. You’ll never be left scratching your head again. The Zondervan Dictionary of Bible and Theology Words is destined to become a staple reference tool for pastors, Sunday school teachers, and everyone with an interest in learning more about the Bible and theology. The more you study the Bible, the more you’ll appreciate having this unique resource in your library.
Zondervan Dictionary of Biblical Imagery
by John A. BeckLearning the meaning and significance of biblical images will revolutionize your grasp of the Bible as a whole. Scripture is packed with symbolic imagery and metaphors: looms, donkeys, water cisterns, grapes, sackcloth—all carry symbolic or emotional weight that sharpens the broader picture of the passage.The biblical authors used their reality to enhance the impact of their message on the audience around them, and the language they used is rich with meaning. The words might be familiar today, but the cultural connotations of things like manna, millstones, or myrrh might be missed by contemporary Christians and might cause us to lose the fullest significance of the Bible passage.The Zondervan Dictionary of Biblical Imagery surveys the use and connotations of familiar images in the Bible to illustrate the intricate and subtle ways they're put to work in the text. The types of entries include:Cultural artifacts from the biblical world (such as arrow or sandal)Components of natural history (such as fox or fig tree)Named places (such as Mount Sinai or Nazareth)Components of Israel's physical geography (such as mountain or wilderness)Each entry describes an image's characteristics, appearance, intended use, and cultural connotations, as well as the rhetorical impact of its use in the Bible. As you read, you'll begin to understand things like why Jesus called for us to become the salt of the earth, why dew was a controversial topic in Bible times, and why a roof might be mentioned to draw attention to a violation of expected norms.With accessible, well-illustrated entries and numerous black & white visuals, The Zondervan Dictionary of Biblical Imagery is an inspiring portal into the biblical world for any student of the Bible.
The Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible, Volume 1: Revised Full-Color Edition
by Merrill C. Tenney Moisés SilvaRevised edition. Volume 1 of 5. The Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible has been a classic Bible study resource for more than thirty years. Now thoroughly revised, this new five-volume edition provides up-to-date entries based on the latest scholarship. Beautiful full-color pictures supplement the text, which includes many new articles in addition to thorough updates and improvements of existing topics. Different viewpoints of scholarship permit a well-rounded perspective on significant issues relating to doctrines, themes, and biblical interpretation. The goal remains the same: to provide pastors, teachers, students, and devoted Bible readers with a comprehensive and reliable library of information. • More than 5,000 pages of vital information on Bible lands and people • More than 7,500 articles alphabetically arranged for easy reference • Hundreds of colorful maps, illustrations, charts, and graphs • Scholarly articles ranging across the entire spectrum of theological and biblical topics, backed by the most current body of archaeological research • Over 250 contributors from around the world • Introductions to each book of the Bible • Bibliographies and helpful cross-references
The Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible, Volume 2: Revised Full-Color Edition
by Moisés Silva Merrill C. TenneyRevised edition. Volume 2 of 5. The Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible has been a classic Bible study resource for more than thirty years. Now thoroughly revised, this new five-volume edition provides up-to-date entries based on the latest scholarship. Beautiful full-color pictures supplement the text, which includes new articles in addition to thorough updates and improvements of existing topics. Different viewpoints of scholarship permit a wellrounded perspective on significant issues relating to doctrines, themes, and biblical interpretation. The goal remains the same: to provide pastors, teachers, students, and devoted Bible readers a comprehensive and reliable library of information. • More than 5,000 pages of vital information on Bible lands and people • More than 7,500 articles alphabetically arranged for easy reference • Hundreds of full-color and black-and-white illustrations, charts, and graphs • 32 pages of full-color maps and hundreds of black-and-white outline maps for ready reference • Scholarly articles ranging across the entire spectrum of theological and biblical topics, backed by the most current body of archaeological research • 238 contributors from around the world
The Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible, Volume 3: Revised Full-Color Edition
by Moisés Silva Merrill C. TenneyRevised edition. Volume 3 of 5. The Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible has been a classic Bible study resource for more than thirty years. Now thoroughly revised, this new five-volume edition provides up-to-date entries based on the latest scholarship. Beautiful full-color pictures supplement the text, which includes new articles in addition to thorough updates and improvements of existing topics. Different viewpoints of scholarship permit a wellrounded perspective on significant issues relating to doctrines, themes, and biblical interpretation. The goal remains the same: to provide pastors, teachers, students, and devoted Bible readers a comprehensive and reliable library of information. • More than 5,000 pages of vital information on Bible lands and people • More than 7,500 articles alphabetically arranged for easy reference • Hundreds of full-color and black-and-white illustrations, charts, and graphs • 32 pages of full-color maps and hundreds of black-and-white outline maps for ready reference • Scholarly articles ranging across the entire spectrum of theological and biblical topics, backed by the most current body of archaeological research • 238 contributors from around the world
The Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible, Volume 4: Revised Full-Color Edition
by Merrill C. Tenney Moisés SilvaRevised edition. Volume 4 of 5. The Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible has been a classic Bible study resource for more than thirty years. Now thoroughly revised, this new five-volume edition provides up-to-date entries based on the latest scholarship. Beautiful full-color pictures supplement the text, which includes new articles in addition to thorough updates and improvements of existing topics. Different viewpoints of scholarship permit a wellrounded perspective on significant issues relating to doctrines, themes, and biblical interpretation. The goal remains the same: to provide pastors, teachers, students, and devoted Bible readers a comprehensive and reliable library of information. • More than 5,000 pages of vital information on Bible lands and people • More than 7,500 articles alphabetically arranged for easy reference • Hundreds of full-color and black-and-white illustrations, charts, and graphs • 32 pages of full-color maps and hundreds of black-and-white outline maps for ready reference • Scholarly articles ranging across the entire spectrum of theological and biblical topics, backed by the most current body of archaeological research • 238 contributors from around the world
The Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible, Volume 5: Revised Full-Color Edition
by Moisés Silva Merrill C. TenneyRevised edition. Volume 5 of 5. The Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible has been a classic Bible study resource for more than thirty years. Now thoroughly revised, this new five-volume edition provides up-to-date entries based on the latest scholarship. Beautiful full-color pictures supplement the text, which includes new articles in addition to thorough updates and improvements of existing topics. Different viewpoints of scholarship permit a wellrounded perspective on significant issues relating to doctrines, themes, and biblical interpretation. The goal remains the same: to provide pastors, teachers, students, and devoted Bible readers a comprehensive and reliable library of information. • More than 5,000 pages of vital information on Bible lands and people • More than 7,500 articles alphabetically arranged for easy reference • Hundreds of full-color and black-and-white illustrations, charts, and graphs • 32 pages of full-color maps and hundreds of black-and-white outline maps for ready reference • Scholarly articles ranging across the entire spectrum of theological and biblical topics, backed by the most current body of archaeological research • 238 contributors from around the world
Zondervan Essential Atlas of the Bible
by Carl G. RasmussenAn Up-Close and Comprehensive Look at the Lands of the Bible No Bible Degree Required Discover everything you need to know about the lands where Jesus walked, Moses traveled, and Paul preached. Packed with multidimensional maps, photos, and charts, the Zondervan Essential Atlas of the Bible is designed to help you better understand the history and places of the Bible and its world. This full-color atlas is concise but thorough, perfect for Bible students, travelers to the Holy Land, or any reader of the Bible curious to find out more about commonly mentioned places in the Old and New Testaments. The Zondervan Essential Atlas of the Bible features: Nearly 200 stunning multidimensional and three-dimensional maps and full-color images Accurate and up-to-date mapping technologies Innovative chronological charts and maps covering historical backgrounds, regions, weather, and roads With this easy-to-understand atlas, you’ll find Bible study more engaging and comprehensible, and you’ll learn the essential facts about the fascinating lands of the Bible.
Zondervan Essential Companion to Christian History
by Stephen BackhouseThe Zondervan Essential Companion to Christian History gives you what it promises: the essentials. This highly informative, broad-ranging book provides vital facts on the growth and impact of Christianity from the apostles to the present day not only in the Western world but also globally, including the development of Eastern Orthodox and Armenian Christianity, as well as considering Christianity in Latin America, Southeast Asia, the Baltic and Slavic states, and India. The companion is organized by century, going through the major events, ideas, and personalities that have shaped Christian history around the world.Following a brief introduction that outlines the key events of the New Testament era, there is a chapter devoted to each century of Christian history beginning with the year 100 and ending roughly at the year 2000. Each chapter flows chronologically featuring:A brief overview, highlighting the main threads and issues running through the relevant centuryKey historical developments explainedThematic connections between centuriesColor-coded sidebars on Persons, Ideas, or EventsPersons: key figures either within or without the Church who have impacted Christian history significantly or who otherwise deserve special mentionIdeas: important Christian books, as well as heresies, doctrines, or political movementsEvents: world-historical occurrences such as battles, natural disasters, inventions, or elections that have affected the development of Christianity in the worldThe final chapter, devoted to the present century concludes the companion identifying key themes that the Christian Church is presently dealing with and suggesting future issues. A select Glossary of terms is provided at the end of the book, as well as a bibliographic list of suggested reading.Whether you are a student or a lay person, a church-goer or unacquainted with Christianity, this book will help you grasp the global, multifaceted story of Christians.
Zondervan Handbook of Biblical Archaeology: A Book by Book Guide to Archaeological Discoveries Related to the Bible
by J. Randall Price H. Wayne HouseExplore significant archaeological discoveries pertaining to every book of the Bible.Laypersons, pastors, students, academics, and anyone looking for a current and comprehensive biblical archaeology resource need look no further. The Zondervan Handbook of Biblical Archaeology provides a wealth of information that supplements the historical context of the Bible, providing a window into the past that will enhance your understanding and enjoyment of biblical text.Immerse yourself in the world of the Bible and the intertestamental period with these special features:Introduction to the field of archaeologyArchaeological discoveries in canonical orderThe latest photos and information from new discoveriesAerial photos of excavation sitesPhotos of artifacts and historic structuresSidebars and study helpsRobust glossaryDetailed mapsBibliographyThe Zondervan Handbook of Biblical Archaeology gives readers the opportunity to visit ancient sites and historical places while remaining in the comfort of their own home.
Zondervan Handbook to the Bible: Fifth Edition
by ZondervanContinuously in print since 1973, this fifth edition of the classic Zondervan Handbook to the Bible has been updated with new imagery. From the history and design of the temple in Jerusalem to God's relationship with the universe, you'll find it here. The land, culture, battles, feast days, heroes, and villains of Scripture come alive through spectacular color-filled articles and images of meticulous clarity and detail.Special features include:A four color guide to all the books of the BibleOver 120 articles by an international team of expertsMore than 700 color photographs, many of them new68 maps and 20 chartsComplete with a comprehensive "Rapid Fact-Finder to the Bible" section, the Zondervan Handbook to the Bible remains the best book to have next to your Bible.
Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary
by J. D. Douglas Merrill C. TenneyA visually stimulating journey for anyone interested in learning more about the world of the Bible.The Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary offers a wealth of insight into the historical, chronological, archaeological, geographical, social, theological, and biographical aspects of the Bible. Through the articles, sidebars, charts, maps, and full-color images included in this volume, the text of the Old and New Testaments will come alive for you as never before. As a condensation of the Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, the information contained within this reference work is solid and biblically sound. The material is based completely on the NIV and cross-referenced to the King James Version.Features include:Over 7,200 entries with up-to-date scholarship, archaeological findings, and more75 full-color maps created with new mapping technologiesOver 500 full-color photographs, charts, and illustrationsUnderstanding the Bible can be difficult. The Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary will help you make sense of the Bible's context, people, places, and objects so you can better understand and apply the scripture. Ideal for pastors, Sunday school teachers, students, and general Bible readers.
Zondervan NIV Atlas of the Bible
by Carl G. RasmussenFor quick reference and detailed study, the Zondervan NIV Atlas of the Bible is the most comprehensive Bible atlas available. The Geographical section presents the physical geography of the lands of the biblical word, from Egypt to Mesopotamia. The Israel/Jordan region especially is discussed in depth. The HISTORICAL SECTION presents in detail the flow of biblical history in its geographical context and shows how geography influenced the course of biblical history. A separate section on JERUSALEM traces the history and development of the city that is at the center of much of biblical history. THE DISCIPLINES OF HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY shows the reader how the actual sites of ancient cities are rediscovered--an often complex process that sirs the imagination with the excitement of highly specialized detective work. An outstanding feature is the GAZETTEER. This is an exhaustive place-name index that gives the exact geographical location for each name with the pages and maps on which the name is found in the Atlas.
Zondervan NIV Matthew Henry Commentary (Premier Reference Series)
by Matthew HenryTime has sealed the reputation of Matthew Henry's classic commentary as a rich source of insight into God's word. Four centuries after its first publication, it remains one of the best-loved, most popular commentaries ever written. However, while its wisdom is timeless, the English language has changed much through the years. Words that meant one thing in Matthew Henry's day have taken on different meanings today. In addition, Henry's often wordy reflections are generations removed from the crisp style that communicates most effectively to contemporary readers. The Zondervan NIV Matthew Henry Commentary is a masterful response to these concerns. It delivers the heart and soul of Henry's incomparable writings in a style that is easy to read and understand. -Dr. Leslie Church's meticulous abridgment retains the essential content of the original work. - Easily misunderstood words have been replaced with modern ones while keeping Henry's style. - Use of the New International Version (NIV) instead of the King James Version makes this edition fully compatible with today's most widely used Bible translation. In one volume, here is a wealth of exposition, metaphors, analogies, and illustrations, ideal for - Personal devotions - Bible study - Sermon and lesson preparation
Zondervan's Great Bible Trivia Workout
by Brad DensmoreBuild Brain Mass While Toning Your Methuselah Muscles Think the Bible is boring? Think again! The Great Bible Trivia Workout will delight and amuse you with a fun collection of trivia covering the entire Bible. Shape up your knowledge of Old and New Testament people, places, and things with multiple-choice quizzes, top-ten lists, true/false tests, and even some Bible-based ditties written to favorite tunes. Brad Densmore offers a true challenge of Bible knowledge with a dose of humor along the way, giving you all new Aha! moments such as these: • "Ouch! Painful and/or Unusual ways to Die": Sisera bit the dust after an encounter with the business end of a tent peg. • "Whatever Floats Your Boat:" Noah was 600 years old at the time of the flood, true or false? • "Top Ten Old Testament Stocks": including MicahSoft and General Ecclesiastes • What do Tamar, Absalom, and the Shulammite woman have in common? They were all noted for their good looks! Ready for your workout? Go for it! You haven't had this much fun since you hid a mouse in that stuffy Sunday school teacher's desk.
Zongmi on Chan (Translations from the Asian Classics)
by Jeffrey BroughtonJapanese Zen often implies that textual learning (gakumon) in Buddhism and personal experience (taiken) in Zen are separate, but the career and writings of the Chinese Tang dynasty Chan master Guifeng Zongmi (780-841) undermine this division. For the first time in English, Jeffrey Broughton presents an annotated translation of Zongmi's magnum opus, the Chan Prolegomenon, along with translations of his Chan Letter and Chan Notes. The Chan Prolegomenon persuasively argues that Chan "axiom realizations" are identical to the teachings embedded in canonical word and that one who transmits Chan must use the sutras and treatises as a standard. Japanese Rinzai Zen has, since the Edo period, marginalized the sutra-based Chan of the Chan Prolegomenon and its successor text, the Mind Mirror (Zongjinglu) of Yongming Yanshou (904-976). This book contains the first in-depth treatment in English of the neglected Mind Mirror, positioning it as a restatement of Zongmi's work for a Song dynasty audience. The ideas and models of the Chan Prolegomenon, often disseminated in East Asia through the conduit of the Mind Mirror, were highly influential in the Chan traditions of Song and Ming China, Korea from the late Koryo onward, and Kamakura-Muromachi Japan. In addition, Tangut-language translations of Zongmi's Chan Prolegomenon and Chan Letter constitute the very basis of the Chan tradition of the state of Xixia. As Broughton shows, the sutra-based Chan of Zongmi and Yanshou was much more normative in the East Asian world than previously believed, and readers who seek a deeper, more complete understanding of the Chan tradition will experience a surprising reorientation in this book.
Zooburbia: Meditations on the Wild Animals Among Us
by Dave Buchen Tai MosesTo be alienated from animals is to live a life that is not quite whole, contends nature writer Tai Moses in Zooburbia: Meditations On The Wild Animals Among Us. Urban and suburban residents share their environment with many types of wildlife: squirrels, birds, spiders, and increasingly lizards, deer, and coyote. Many of us crave more contact with wild creatures, and recognize the small and large ways animals enrich our lives, yet don't notice the animals already around us.Zooburbia reveals the reverence that can be felt in the presence of animals and shows how that reverence connects us to a deeper, better part of ourselves. A lively blend of memoir, natural history, and mindfulness practices, Zooburbia makes the case for being mindful and compassionate stewards--and students--of the wildlife with whom we coexist. With lessons on industriousness, perseverance, presence, exuberance, gratitude, aging, how to let go, and much more, Tai's vignettes share the happy fact that none of us is alone and separate, and that our teachers are right in front of us. We need only go outdoors with our eyes and ears open to find a rapport with the animal kingdom. Zooburbia is a magnifying lens turned to our everyday environment, reminding us that we, as individuals and as a species, are not alone.Illustrated by Dave Buchen with original black and white wildlife linocuts.
Zora and Nicky
by Claudia Mair BurneyTwo Hearts, One God.? Should Anything Else Matter?Zora Nella Hampton Johnson knows exactly where she comes from--and her daddy won't let her forget. Of course for that privilege he keeps her in Prada and Kate Spade, Coach and YSL. He chooses her boyfriend, her car, her address, and ignores her love of painting, art, and the old ways of her grandaddy's soulful AME church--where the hymns pleaded, cajoled, and raised the roof. Her daddy may be a preacher, but some-where among the thousands of church members, the on-site coffee house, and the JumboTron, Zora lost God. And she wants Him back.Nicky Parker, a recent graduate of Berkeley and reformed playboy, also suffers the trials of being a preacher's kid, and he can't remember the last time he saw eye-to-eye with his white, racist, Southern Baptist father. What he does remember--and it will be forever burned in his brain despite myriad prayers to Jesus--is the way Zora looked the first time he saw her. Like Nefertiti. Only better. When they meet at a bible study far from their respective home churches, the first churlish, sarcastic sparks that fly sizzle with defensiveness. But God has a special way of feeding the flames and though of different flocks, these two lost sheep will find Him and much, much more.Click here to listen to an interview with Claudia Mair Burney: http://buzzplant.com/zoranicky/ecard1/#/author-interview/
Zorba the Buddha
by Hugh B. UrbanZorba the Buddha is the first comprehensive study of the life, teachings, and following of the controversial Indian guru known in his youth as Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and in his later years as Osho (1931-1990). Most Americans today remember him only as the "sex guru" and the "Rolls Royce guru," who built a hugely successful but scandal-ridden utopian community in central Oregon during the 1980s. Yet Osho was arguably the first truly global guru of the twentieth century, creating a large transnational movement that traced a complex global circuit from post-Independence India of the 1960s to Reagan's America of the 1980s and back to a developing new India in the 1990s. The Osho movement embodies some of the most important economic and spiritual currents of the past forty years, emerging and adapting within an increasingly interconnected and conflicted late-capitalist world order. Based on extensive ethnographic and archival research, Hugh Urban has created a rich and powerful narrative that is a must-read for anyone interested in religion and globalization.
Zuckerman Unbound
by Philip RothNow in his mid-thirties, Nathan Zuckerman, a would-be recluse despite his new-found fame as a bestselling author, ventures onto the streets of Manhattan in the final year of the turbulent sixties. Not only is he assumed by his fans to be his own fictional satyr, Gilbert Carnovsky ("Hey, you do all that stuff in that book?"), but he also finds himself the target of admonishers, advisers, and sidewalk literary critics. The recent murders of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr., lead an unsettled Zuckerman to wonder if "target" may be more than a figure of speech. Zuckerman retreats from his oldest friends, breaks his marriage to a virtuous woman, and damages, perhaps irreparably, his affectionate connection to his younger brother...and all because of his great good fortune!
Zuckerman Unbound (Vintage International)
by Philip RothNow in his mid-thirties, Nathan Zuckerman, a would-be recluse despite his newfound fame as a bestselling author, ventures onto the streets of Manhattan in the final year of the turbulent sixties. Not only is he assumed by his fans to be his own fictional satyr, Gilbert Carnovsky ("Hey, you do all that stuff in that book?"), but he also finds himself the target of admonishers, advisers, and sidewalk literary critics. The recent murders of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr., lead an unsettled Zuckerman to wonder if "target" may be more than a figure of speech.In Zuckerman Unbound—the second volume of the trilogy and epilogue Zuckerman Bound—the notorious novelist Nathan Zuckerman retreats from his oldest friends, breaks his marriage to a virtuous woman, and damages, perhaps irreparably, his affectionate connection to his younger brother...and all because of his great good fortune!
Zum christlichen Menschenbild (Das Bild vom Menschen und die Ordnung der Gesellschaft)
by Rémi BragueDieses Buch entfaltet das christliche Menschenbild in seinen Umrissen. Die Frage nach dem Menschen verdient es nämlich, wieder neu gestellt zu werden, weil heute der ‚Humanismus‘ von einem zerstörerischen ‚Antihumanismus‘ bedroht ist.Warum besitzt der Mensch eine Würde und mithin Rechte? Die Antwort auf diese Frage fällt sehr unterschiedlich aus. Entsprechend unbestimmt, verschwommen und vieldeutig bleibt das Lippenbekenntnis zu Menschenwürde und Menschenrechten. Wer also ist jenes Lebewesen, das wir ‚Mensch‘ nennen? Jeder Versuch einer wissenschaftlichen ‚Definition‘ führt theoretisch und praktisch zu unmenschlichen Folgen, wie zahllose Beispiele in der Geschichte des 20. Jahrhunderts auf erschreckende Weise zeigen. Das christliche Menschenbild verzichtet auf eine solche Definition und zeichnet jene Kontur eines Vorbildes, auf die hin der Mensch in Christus seine vollkommene, abgeschlossene Gestalt gefunden hat.Die anthropologischen, sozialen und politischen Folgen eines so geprägten Menschenbildes werden in diesem Buch erörtert: als Plädoyer für die Achtung der Natur des Menschen, die nicht der eigenen Verfügungsgewalt noch der Beherrschung durch Dritte in die Hand gelegt ist.