In Christian Symbol and Ritual, Bernard Cooke and Gary Macy offer an accessible and engaging introduction to the topic written from a non-denominational... perspective. Cooke and Macy demonstrate that celebration, ritual, and symbol are already central to our lives, even though most do not see their actions as symbolic or ritualistic. They connect central Christian symbols to the symbols and rituals already present in everyday life and place Christian theology in a familiar context. After discussing the characteristics and functions of rituals, they explore different kinds of ritual, including those of friendship, worship, and healing. The authors also examine such questions as how rituals establish and maintain power relationships, how "official" rituals are different from "popular" Christian rituals and devotions, and how Christian rituals function in the process of human salvation. Christian Symbol and Ritual is an invaluable resource for students, teachers, and lay readers.

A guide for Christians teaching in public schools to (1) bring their faith to bear on their work and (2) understand the legal issues governing religion... and public schools.

Alister McGrath’s Christian Theology: An Introduction is one of the most internationally-acclaimed and popular Christian theology textbooks in use... today. This 5th edition has been completely revised, and now features new and extended material, numerous additional illustrations, and companion resources, ensuring it retains its reputation as the ideal introduction to Christian theology.Fully updated 5th edition of the bestselling textbook, incorporating expanded material, numerous student features and new illustrations Features new sections on Copernicanism and Darwinism Includes extended discussions of Augustine’s doctrine of creation, Trinitarian theologies of religion, and the relation of Christianity to other faiths May be used as a stand-alone volume, or alongside the Christian Theology Reader, 4th edition for a complete overview of the subject Retains the chapter structure of the 4th edition, ensuring comparability with earlier editions and courses based on these Accompanied by a revised instructor’s website featuring expanded resources including study questions and answers; visit www.wiley.com/go/mcgrath for more details and to register for access

Provide professionally sound and principled therapy based on the truth of GodChristians are faced with the same range of problems as everyone else.... However, Christian therapists understand deeply the unique issues involved with their therapy. The Christian Therapist’s Notebook is a single source for innovative, user-friendly techniques for connecting the everyday world of the client with Christian principles and Scripture. This creative, timesaving guide assists therapists in helping clients achieve therapy goals through professionally sound and principled exercises while always maintaining a positive, supportive connection with Christian beliefs. Helpful features include Scripture references relevant to common problems, case studies, vignettes, professional resource lists, client resource lists, in-session exercises, homework exercises, and handouts.The Christian Therapist’s Notebook bases its success on three foundations: the truth of scripture; the centrality of Christ; and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The book’s three sections include individuals, couples and families, and children and adolescents. Each chapter focuses on a single exercise to address an important issue that may be affecting the client. Chapters provide a guiding Scripture quote, an objective, rationale for use, clear and specific instructions, suggestions for a follow-up, a vignette illustrating the exercise’s success, contraindications, extensive resources, and related Scriptures.The Christian Therapist’s Notebook exercises include: “A New Creation,” which uses a Christogram to personalize the Biblical promises and truths of the spiritual transformation “Snapshots,” which reveals repetitive behavior patterns in relationships “Core Connections,” which helps the client explore the organization of relational core connections to other people as well as to God “Temptation Judo,” which explores the connection between temptation and needs while uncovering God’s promise of escape “Broken Mirrors,” which identifies unresolved issues affecting self-image and moves the client to a personal relationship with God “The Book of My Life,” which helps identify situations and people that have had an impact on clients, while helping them to acknowledge that God has a plan for them “Tearing Down Strongholds,” which helps take the client through the process of repentance “It Was Wrong,” which helps abuse victims deal with pain and frustration “Bowing Down,” which helps to restore a healthy relationship “Panic Breaker,” which helps get to the root of client fears “Parenting after Divorce” “Self-esteem,” which helps children with self-concept and many, many more!The Christian Therapist’s Notebook is the answer for practicing therapists, counselors, interns, pastors, educators, and students searching for activities for client therapy based upon the truth of God.

The story of Christian thought is essential to understanding Christian faith today and the last two millennia of world history. This fresh and lively... introduction explores the central ideas, persons, events, and movements that gave rise to Christian thought, from early beginnings to its present forms. By highlighting the important but often neglected role of women and the influence of non-Christian ideas and movements, this book provides a broader context for understanding the history of Christian ideas and their role in shaping our world. This work chronicles the impressive developments of Christian thinking which arose from these contexts and have transcended the ages. Christian Thought: provides an overview of the context of Christianity’s origin, including discussion of the influence of Hebrews, Greeks, and Romans in the ancient world and the founding figures of Jesus and Paul explores the major events and figures of the history of Christian thought, while drawing attention to significant voices which have often been suppressed analyses the impact on Christian thought of widely discussed events such as The Great Schism, the Scientific Revolution, and Modernism surveys contemporary trends such as fundamentalism, feminism, and postmodernism. Complete with illustrations, timelines and maps, this is an ideal resource for anyone wanting to learn more about the development of Christian thought and its influence over the centuries.

Ferguson gracefully and succinctly compels readers to think critically about the wide-ranging topic of Christianity--its historical development, diverse... branches, evocative facets, and the contributions Christians have made to civilization. Readers of all ages will enjoy Ferguson's fast-moving treatment of such topics as the life of Jesus, Christian spirituality, prayer and religious experience in everyday life, and the impact of various denominations on individuals and society. She handles the complexities of the religion in a balanced, authoritative way that engages rather than overwhelms contemporary readers. Titles of related interest also available from Waveland Press: Edwards (Simonson, ed.), Selected Writings of Jonathan Edwards, Second Edition (ISBN 9781577663317) and Frankiel, Christianity: A Way to Salvation (ISBN 9781577667643).

This volume brings together two areas of health that are among the foci of current development efforts, as articulated by the Millennium Development... Goals (MDGs), namely sexual and reproductive health (MDG 5: improve maternal health, target 2: achieve, by 2015, universal access to reproductive health); and Gender (MDG 3: promote gender equality and empower women). Few, if any, published books have dealt in a comprehensive way with public health aspects of these two strongly interrelated areas of health. Most published volumes devoted to sexual and reproductive health have a strong clinical focus whereas books on gender tend to concentrate primarily on the socio-cultural and anthropological aspects of the subject.* Focuses on the relationship between sexual and reproductive behaviors and the resulting impact on populations and societies as a group * Provides a science-based approach to identifying appropriate response plans, adaptations, and mitigation steps for related behaviors *Explores the financial and societal impact of behavioral choices *Includes new preface specifically for this audience

This unique textbook not only lays out the religious-studies framework of a contemporary understanding of worship, it also offers a full history of... Christian worship in each historical period, including the American experience. In light of this history of experiences, Ramshaw finally addresses ongoing issues in our understanding of Christian Worship (gender, authority, ethics, skepticism) and places them into an explicitly cross-religious framework with Islam, Judaism, and other religions.Gail Ramshaw is one of today's most important and influential thinkers about liturgy, is also a dedicated college professor with a keen sense for how to approach the full array of Christian worship experience in light of the contemporary study of religion.

Christian Worship (revised and expanded in this third edition) is the complete reference handbook on the meaning, expression, and conducting of worship,... from its foundational elements to the very latest contemporary issues. Taking into account cultural and denominational differences, this broad resource clearly directs all church members in the number one priority of worshipping God. Among the subjects addressed are: Banners and Symbolism (Do they have a place in worship?); Children in Worship; Copyright Laws (Does your church comply?); Drama; and Elements of Worship (What are the specific roles of music, prayer, Scripture reading, baptism, preaching, and the Lord’s Supper?).

Jeremiah's poignant lament over Judah's social and religious disintegration reflects God's own pathos-laden yearning for his disobedient covenant ... people. In this widely praised expository commentary Walter Brueggemann, one of the premier Old Testament scholars of our time, explores the historical setting and message of Jeremiah as well as the text's relevance for the church today. Offering a fresh look at the critical theological issues in the Jeremiah tradition, Brueggemann argues that Jeremiah's voice compels us to rediscern our own situation, issuing an urgent invitation to faith, obedience, justice, and compassion. This combined edition of Brueggemann's original two-volume work, published until recently as part of the International Theological Commentary series, is an essential resource for students, pastors, and general readers alike. It is reprinted here with a new introduction by Brueggemann that surveys the current state of Jeremiah studies.

A disaffected young man, Christie Malry, is a simple man who learns the principles of double-entry book-keeping while taking an evening class in... accountancy and working in the local bank. He begins to apply these principles to his own life, revenging himself against society in an increasingly violent manner for perceived 'debits'. Debit: the unpleasantness of the bank manager is the first on an ever-growing list; Credit: scratching the façade of the office block. All accounts are settled in the most alarming way.Christie Malry is a simple person. Born into a family without money, he realised early along in the game that the best way to come by money was to place himself next to it. So he took a job as a very junior bank clerk in a very stuffy bank. It was at the bank that Christie discovered the principles of double-entry book keeping, from which he evolved his Great Idea. For every offence Christy henceforth received at the hands of a society with which he was clearly out of step, a debit must be noted; after which, society would have to be paid back appropriately, so that the paper credit would accrue to Christy's account. Now made into a film starring Nick Moran of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels fame. Acerbic yet funny, this is a novel which, even as it provokes laughter, will alarm and disturb as well.

Christina Rossetti is unique among Victorian poets for the sheer range of her subject matter and the variety of her verse form. This first fully... annotated collection, based on the definitive texts, brings together fantasy poems such as "Goblin Market," terrifyingly vivid verses for children, love lyrics, sonnets, hymns, and ballads, as well as the vast body of her devotional poetry. Weaving connections between love and death, triumph and loss, heavenly joys and earthly pleasures, Rossetti's poems startle the imagination with their extraordinary truth, beauty, and intensity. This edition, the only one available in paperback, incorporates contextual notes as well as notes on the text and language, an introduction, and a chronology of Rossetti's life and work.

One of the 20th century's greatest works of social protest-and its 21st-century message. A classic examination of the American experience for... hard-working Italian immigrants living in New York City's Lower East Side shortly before the Great Depression, Christ in Concrete focuses on a family's struggle against harsh economic realities and tenement living.