Reaching beyond Faith: A Modern Mind Reads the Koran takes the reader beyond the realm of pure faith to explore the Koran from an essentially non-pietistic point of view and in social, historical, geographic, and above all, human contexts. Its 14 chapters, using some 800 verses from the Koran, take a critical look at a wide range of issues: from the audience the message of the Koran was meant for to the role of humans in the compilation of the Koran itself, from the nature of Gods speech to the human side of the life of the Prophet of Islam, from jihad to crime and punishment, from the Korans call to piety to the place of women in society, from the magnificence of Gods creation to the insignificance of man. The rationale of such an exploration should be rather obvious. Although the state of the human mind that read the Koran some 1400 years ago may still be evidenced in many parts of the Muslim world, most modern Muslims today will be mortally offended if someone were to tell him or her that their minds harked back to those ancient times. To them, it is impossible to ignore the epochal strides made in human knowledge and circumstance since Mu?ammad was first inspired to say: Read!

Throughout recorded history mankind has attempted to define perfection. This always has been a most perplexing task, almost as difficult as attaining perfection once the term has been defined. One of the most vexing problems facing the perfectionist has been how to elevate themselves above matter, especially the body, in order to emulate their god-model. Reaching Beyond: Chapters in the History of Perfectionism highlights the concept of perfection in primitive man, in both Old and New Testaments, and in a variety of perfectionist individuals and movements throughout Christian history, including the Montanists, the Medieval Apocalyptist, Joachim of Fiore; the rationalist, Thomas Aquinas; a leading Eastern Orthodox mystic, St. Symeon the New Theologian; Calvin and his followers; early modern Puritans and later primitivists; and the Pentecostals, who strive for both purity and preparation. In short, this book is a study of the human perfectionist impulse and its motivations. In certain cases, perfectionism is a reaction against limitation, inadequacy, incompleteness and evil-a rejection of comfortable, popular religion. In other instances, perfectionism is a more positive effort, a striving after holiness or knowledge, a preparation for the parousia or a quest for a return to primitive religious roots.

Originally published between 1926 and 1986, the books in this series provide an extensive exploration of Christianity covering a wide range of different perspectives and topics, including the relationship between Christianity and other religions; the history and development of Christianity; Christian theology and philosophy; the presence of Christianity across the world; women and the Church; approaches to the study of Christianity; and poetry inspired by religious architecture.

Originally published in 1970, Peter Abelard provides an exploration into the social and religious background to the story of Abelard and Heloise. The book presents the twelfth century as an age of renaissance, which saw the revival of Greek philosophy and Roman law, a renaissance just as important as that which was to come three centuries later. Through an examination of the life of Peter Abelard, the book offers an insight into this age of enlightenment in which dialects flourished and religious thought began to break away from the bonds of traditionalism. Peter Abelard will appeal to those with an interest in religious and social history, medieval history, and the story of Abelard and Heloise.

This book critically analyzes the portrayals of Black women in current reality television. Audiences are presented with a multitude of images of Black women fighting, arguing, and cursing at one another in this manufactured world of reality television. This perpetuation of negative, insidious racial and gender stereotypes influences how the U.S. views Black women. This stereotyping disrupts the process in which people are able to appreciate cultural and gender difference. Instead of celebrating the diverse symbols and meaning making that accompanies Black women's discourse and identities, reality television scripts an artificial or plastic image of Black women that reinforces extant stereotypes. This collection's contributors seek to uncover examples in reality television shows where instantiations of Black women's gendered, racial, and cultural difference is signified and made sinister.

Johannes de Silentio, the pseudonymous author of Fear and Trembling, concludes that faith is “absurd” (irrational), and therefore lies beyond the scope of reason. But if we ascribe authorship ultimately to Kierkegaard, as is common practice, we must conclude that he himself is an irrationalist. Given the myriad of competing voices throughout Kierkegaard’s writings, this seems highly questionable at best.If, however, we take the pseudonymous author strictly at his authorial word, it changes the shape and dynamic of the text inviting us to read it, instead, as a “thought experiment.” In this way, the text demonstrates both the absurdity and sin of reason in its bid to fully grasp the mystery of faith on its own rational terms.

The Spirituality Revolution addresses the major social issue of spirituality which requires immediate attention if we are to creatively respond to spiralling outbreaks of depression, suicide, addiction and psychological suffering.

The passion of Paul Lee for Jesus drove him to write John: Loving Jesus and Keeping His Word. Here is one of the most profound reflections on the Gospel of John in our time. Thoroughly researched and written in Lee’s distinct voice, this is a book I wish I had on my shelves fifty years ago, and provides the kind of insight that will reach preachers, scholars, students, and anyone who wishes to learn more about the living Christ for years to come. (Dr. James B. Mooneyhan, Clergy, Atlanta Area of the UMC) The Gospel of John becomes alive anew with the reading of this book. Dr. Lee has compiled a contextual interpretation of the Gospel in a way that informs casual readers and yet challenges serious scholars and seminary students. This is an invaluable resource in sermon preparation, Bible studies, Sunday school lessons, or daily devotions. This work is so extensive, yet very understandable that it should be included in every serious student of the Scriptures! I highly recommend this book. (Rev. Dr. Philip D. DeMore, Former District Superintendent of the UMC) This book is the labor of a lifetime, as Paul Lee shares the fruit of decades of living with the Gospel of John, and for persons committed to serious study of the Bible. The title itself is a challenge as the aim of every Christian. My prayer for potential readers is that they will experience Jesus as “Lord and Teacher,” love him more dearly, and keep his word more faithfully. (Maxie Dunnam, Former President of Asbury Seminary, now Minister at Large, Christ UMC, Memphis, TN) The Gospel of John continues to be an inexhaustible source of Christian faith and theology. Paul Lee has given us a fresh, clear and faithful reading of John, combining chapter by chapter overviews, detailed commentary, and insightful practical reflections on John’s implications for Christian life and witness. This book is an excellent resource for pastors, teachers and anyone who desires a deeper encounter with the Johannine biblical text in relation to the New Testament. (Rev. Dr. Don E. Saliers, Candler School of Theology, Emory University)

Pilgrimage has been a part of Christian experience since biblical times. Creating new stories, pilgrimage affords sacred travelers experiences that transcend nationalism, denominational identity, and cultural borders, melding their individual constructs of meaning with communal experiences to create new insights. On these pilgrimages, music has played a significant role in the development of community. While pilgrimage is an independent act, it is also a shared existence with other pilgrims, with music serving as a bridge between these two realities. With an estimated 100 million people undertaking pilgrimages at the beginning of the twenty-first century, the rediscovery of pilgrimage, and the music that accompanies it, has meaningful connections for the postmodern church struggling to find a new identity. The ecumenical communities at Iona and Taize provide particular case studies for the role of music in forming community among disparate travelers. The individual and communal nature of pilgrimage, the ability of pilgrimage to provide commonality in a diverse society, and the role of singing and traveling music calls for the reexamination of this ancient practice for the postmodern church.

In Transcendence , thinkers from John Milbank, Graham Ward, and Kevin Hart, to Thomas Carlson, Slavoj Zizek, and Jean-Luc Marion have come together to create the definitive analysis of this key concept in modern theological and philosophical thought.