No Beauty We Could Desire: Thoughts on Beauty and Faith

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Archives: Books I’ve Contributed To

Feasting on the Gospels – Mark

Feasting on the Gospels – Mark

Feasting on the Gospels is a new seven-volume series that follows up on the success of the Feasting on the Word series to provide another preaching resource, this time on the most prominent and most preached upon books in the Bible: the four Gospels. With contributions from a diverse and respected group of scholars and pastors, Feasting on the Gospels includes completely new material that covers every single passage in the Gospels, making it suitable for both pastors who preach from the lectionary and pastors who do not. Moreover, these volumes incorporate the unique format of Feasting on the Word, giving preachers four perspectives to choose from for each Gospel passage: theological, pastoral, exegetical, and homiletical. Feasting on the Gospels offers a unique resource for all who preach, either continuously or occasionally, on the Gospels.

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Realism and Antirealism

Realism and Antirealism

Throughout the past century, a debate has raged over the thesis of realism and its alternatives. Realism—the seemingly commonsensical view that all or most of what we encounter in the world exists and is what it is independently of human thought—has been vigorously denied by such prominent intellectuals as Jacques Derrida, Michel Foucault, Richard Rorty, Thomas Kuhn, Hilary Putnam, and Nelson Goodman. The opponents of realism, among them historians and social scientists who support social constructionism, hold that all or most of reality depends on human conceptual schemes and beliefs. In this volume of original essays, a group of philosophers explores the ongoing controversy. The book opens with an introduction by William P. Alston, whose writing on the subject has been widely influential. Selected essays then compare and contrast aspects of the arguments put forward by the realists with those of the antirealists. Other chapters discuss the importance of the debate for philosophical topics such as epistemology and for domains ranging from religion, literature, and science to morality.

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Conversations with the Confessions: Dialogue in the Reformed Tradition

Conversations with the Confessions: Dialogue in the Reformed Tradition

Fourteen Presbyterian scholars enter into conversations with the confessions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and examine the major theological themes that make the confessions such foundational commitments of faith. This collection of insightful essays provides readers with a clear understanding of the confessions from different periods of the church’s life. These conversations with the confessions found in the PC(USA)’s Book of Confessions include some illuminating commentary on why they were written and demonstrate how they can be used to address major theological issues. This important work will help scholars, pastors, and church leaders interested in studying the Reformed tradition appreciate the role of the confessions in shaping Christian life and faith today.

From the Back Cover

“This book provides just what the church needs–conversations with the confessions! Essays in the first half open each of the historical periods of confession making and invite us to interact with profound insights found there. The second-half essays begin with the deep questions that we ask as Christians, and human beings, and show how the confessions respond to those questions. This is solid scholarship presented in a fresh and engaging way. Individuals and church groups, especially office bearers, will benefit from this work.” –Jack Rogers, author of Presbyterian Creeds: A Guide to the Book of Confessions and Moderator of the 213th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
“The Book of Confessions is a constitutional cornerstone of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), but many Presbyterians have never even read it. Speaking with different Reformed accents, the authors of this volume draw us into conversation and argument with the documents and major themes of The Book of Confessions and show how this Presbyterian treasure can both enrich and challenge our faith.” –Amy Plantinga Pauw, Henry P. Mobley Jr. Professor of Doctrinal Theology, Louisville Presbyterian Seminary”Conversations with the Confessions invites Presbyterians to engage with our theological teachings in rich and accessible ways. Each document is introduced in its historical context, and major themes are explored through The Book of Confessions as a whole. All the while we are drawn into the discussion, with the questions and objections of our own age. All church officers should read this book.” –Gary Neal Hansen, Assistant Professor of Church History, University of Dubuque Theological Seminary

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Radical Orthodoxy and the Reformed Tradition: Creation, Covenant, and Participation

Radical Orthodoxy and the Reformed Tradition: Creation, Covenant, and Participation

In this work, leading scholars compare the differences and points of intersection between the growing Radical Orthodoxy (RO) movement and the Reformed tradition. This timely discussion deals with many of the hot topics currently being debated in theological and philosophical circles, including the material world’s participation in transcendence, aesthetics, politics, covenant, and cultural theory. It represents an emerging willingness among proponents of RO to examine and engage the Dutch Reformed tradition, and also reflects the growing influence of RO on the Reformed tradition. This book will be enjoyed by scholars concerned with the intersection between RO and the Reformed tradition. A companion book to Smith’s recently published Introducing Radical Orthodoxy, it will also be of interest to students of philosophy and theology.

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What Is Justification About?: Reformed Contributions to an Ecumenical Theme

What Is Justification About?: Reformed Contributions to an Ecumenical Theme

This book offers a Reformed perspective on contemporary ecumenical discussion by carefully exploring the biblical message of justification and then demonstrating how justification as a doctrine functions as an integrative theological principle. Written by an international group of distinguished Reformed scholars, with the support of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, What Is Justification About? also considers the relevance of justification for social ethics and contemporary cultural issues.

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