Grenz examines the topography of postmodernism, a phenomenon everyone acknowledges, but has difficulty describing with precision. Of particular significance is his discussion of the challenges this cultural shift presents to the church.

Research has shown there is a great divide between the church and the unaffiliated, to include those who tend toward atheism. This concern inspired the author to step away from full-time ministry to work as a counselor in a state-owned and -operated residential facility to better understand the thought processes of those who are not invested in Christianity. He became aware of an us-versus -them mindset held by some Christians; this attitude has resulted in Christians drawing a tight circle around themselves that has created a barrier for reaching those not affiliated with the church. There are several consequences. First, it has resulted in a deep decline in baptisms and church affiliation for churches; less than 50 percent of Americans surveyed are members of a church. Second, it has resulted in Christians believing there is no hope for those outside the church. Third, the "gospel presentation" utilized by many is to continually make jabs at the unaffiliated, bordering on a scare tactic. Too many churches have attempted to use revival-era styles of evangelism, contemporary approaches, and/or a social perspective; however, the chasm has widened. This book takes an in-depth look at the philosophical systems that keep people from embracing Christianity. The author also provides a theological model for helping others understand a theological base for the Christian worldview. The greatest contribution of the book is the way it offers hope for reaching the unaffiliated and provides practical ways of connecting with those outside the church.

John Barth's eminence as a postmodernist is indisputable. However, much of the criticism dealing with his work is prompted by his own theories of «exhaustion» and subsequent «replenishment, » leaving his writing relatively untouched by theories of postmodernism in general. This book changes that by focusing on the relationship between Barth's aesthetic and the ideology critique of the historical avant-gardes, which were the first to mobilize art against itself and its institutional practices and demands. Examining Barth's metafictional parodies in the light of theories of space and subjectivity, Clavier engages the question of ideology critique in postmodernism by offering the montage as a possible model for understanding Barth's fiction. In such a light, postmodernism may well be perceived as a mimesis of reality, particularly a recognition of the collective nature of self and the world.

"Who am I?" If you are unsure of your personal identity, you are not alone. Our postmodern culture multiplies identity-crisis. Identity comes from story--the better our story, the healthier our identity and our behavior. Searching for the Self helps you discover your own story, and discern how cultural narratives shape your behavior. Channeling the ancient wisdom of classic stories--including Christian Scripture viewed as true story--this book offers hope to anyone searching for a better story to live by. Searching for the Self provides a groundbreaking synthesis of narrative psychology, cultural analysis, biblical studies, and English Literature 101--all written in an engaging style and interwoven with revealing personal anecdotes.

Postmodern, Marxist, and Christian Historical Novels: Hope and the Burdens of History argues historical novels can help readers receive the burdens of history—meaning both the burdens of the past, present, and future and the burden of living in time—and develop a more robust conception of and concrete practice of hope. Since the 1960s, historical novels have been a dominant literary genre, but they have been influenced primarily not by Christian but by postmodern and marxist thinkers and writers. This book provides a theological and literary analysis of all three types of historical novels—postmodern, marxist, and Christian—and outlines what each school of thought can learn from each other regarding historical understanding and hope. Using Jürgen Moltmann’s theology of hope and Frank Kermode’s literary criticism as a theoretical basis, the book offers readings of novels by Julian Barnes, A.S. Byatt, Kazuo Ishiguro, Margaret Atwood, Michael Ondaatje, Ian McEwan, and Ursula LeGuin, among others, and ends with an extended analysis of Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead series.

After a substantial new essay examining the nature of a properly skeptical historical inquiry into Jesus of Nazareth in the context of contemporary worldviews, from pre-modernism to meta-modernism, Behold the Man presents revised essays on an eclectic range of issues: from how the Epistle of James treats Jesus as Divine within decades of the crucifixion, and an evaluation of recent arguments about the dating of the Fourth Gospel, to debunking claims about Jesus and “ancient aliens,” and furthering debate about the resurrection. With a foreword by eminent New Testament scholar Craig L. Blomberg, and extensive recommended resources, Behold the Man: Essays on the Historical Jesus represents a wide-ranging, interdisciplinary engagement with historical Jesus studies.

Demonstrates that the quest for immediacy, or experiences of direct connection and presence, has propelled the development of American literature and media culture.

One of the major dilemmas facing the administrative state in the United States today is discerning how best to harness for public purposes the dynamism of markets, the passion and commitment of nonprofit and volunteer organizations, and the public-interest-oriented expertise of the career civil service. Researchers across a variety of disciplines, fields, and subfields have independently investigated aspects of the formidable challenges, choices, and opportunities this dilemma poses for governance, democratic constitutionalism, and theory building. This literature is vast, affords multiple and conflicting perspectives, is methodologically diverse, and is fragmented. The Oxford Handbook of American Bureaucracy affords readers an uncommon overview and integration of this eclectic body of knowledge as adduced by many of its most respected researchers. Each of the chapters identifies major issues and trends, critically takes stock of the state of knowledge, and ponders where future research is most promising. Unprecedented in scope, methodological diversity, scholarly viewpoint, and substantive integration, this volume is invaluable for assessing where the study of American bureaucracy stands at the end of the first decade of the 21st century, and where leading scholars think it should go in the future. The Oxford Handbooks of American Politics are a set of reference books offering authoritative and engaging critical overviews of the state of scholarship on American politics. Each volume focuses on a particular aspect of the field. The project is under the General Editorship of George C. Edwards III, and distinguished specialists in their respective fields edit each volume. The Handbooks aim not just to report on the discipline, but also to shape it as scholars critically assess the scholarship on a topic and propose directions in which it needs to move. The series is an indispensable reference for anyone working in American politics. General Editor for The Oxford Handbooks of American Politics: George C. Edwards III

A new title in the Architectural Design series that explores the potential of computational mathematics in cutting-edge design Mathematics has always been a vital tool in the architect's trade, but the last fifteen years have seen a sharp rise in the power of computers and has led to computational abilities far beyond anything previously available. Modern design software and computing power have changed the traditional role of geometry in architecture and opened up new possibilities enabled by topology, non-Euclidean geometry, and other areas of mathematics. With insight from a top-notch list of contributors, including such notables as Philippe Morel and Fabien Scheurer, Mathematics in Space discusses how the advent of computation and information technology has affected the work of contemporary architects. This new title in the Architectural Design series updates architectural mathematics since the digital revolution With world-class contributors, this is an essential resource for anyone interested in the ways computation has transformed the discipline The book explores fascinating issues in modern design, most importantly the impact of mathematics on contemporary design creativity For students and practitioners alike, Mathematics in Space covers vital topics in a constantly changing discipline.