A study of the fundamental religious ideas of the Reformation and their relationship to liberal Protestantism.

In this engaging volume, Capetz argues that Protestants have largely ignored Luther's heritage when it comes to thinking about biblical authority and instead have followed Calvin's biblicism, leading to many intellectual and moral problems in the face of a fully historical-critical understanding of the Bible in our time. After prefacing the book with a personal story that illustrates what is at stake in this question for the church's pastoral ministry, he examines in detail the debate between Barth--an heir of Calvin--and Bultmann--a Lutheran--regarding Sachkritik or "content criticism" of Scripture since their debate serves to clarify the central issue facing Protestants today. He then traces their debate back to the Reformation itself to show how the difference between Luther and Calvin presented Protestants from the outset with two conflicting models of biblical authority. He then reflects on how this question of the proper understanding of biblical authority manifests itself in the debates over sexual ethics that have plagued mainline denominations for the past four decades. And he concludes by arguing that Luther's heritage provides Protestants with a viable way to engage in a robust theological interpretation of the Bible that does not violate what historical criticism has taught us about it.

This book contains the first-time English translation of the main work of Paul Scholten, the General Method of Private Law. The introductory article analyzes Scholten’s view in contrast with a particular combination of Comte’s centralizing optimization program and Neo-Kantian Idealism, which is still dominant in political philosophy. Comte’s sociology and Scholten’s Jurisprudentialism are not presented here in the well-known opposition of Sein and Sollen, but by showing how their different views on scientific method are grounded in opposite views on the philosophical, political and ethical meaning of human action. Neo-Kantianism adheres to Comte’s view, while Scholten adheres to the Aristotelian view, as it had developed in Christianity and had provided the protestant foundation of the Dutch Republic in the seventeenth century. Comte attacks Aristotelian Protestantism, which he characterizes as the metaphysical stage of the Western development of state: negative, protestant, constitutional and juridical. Scholten’s views oppose the inherent trend towards centralization in Comte’s program to cover all aspects of optimization for the best of all, ever better. That branch of political philosophy not only has shaky foundations in scientific method but also has reached its boundaries of operational applicability. Scholten’s views oppose the emphasis in Comte’s program on a unified general will and stress the need for accepting the existence of deeply conflicting philosophies of life in society. This has consequences for the organization of democracy regarding independence of specialized agencies, the role of civil society and the voting system. It not just holds for the state level but also for Unions and supranational organizations. The legal system plays a key role in this development. Scholten’s views and activities have had great posthumous impact for the reconstruction of society and politics in the first years after World War II. They contributed to the collaboration between the different denominations in the Protestant church, opened up the social-democratic party to different denominations and helped develop the cooperation of different Christian parties, leaving the cleavages of the pre-war political spectre behind. Authors and open reviewers who have contributed to the DPSP project, have a broad international background, apart from the Netherlands: Finland, Germany, Austria, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Brazil, United States and Indonesia. Indonesia plays a substantial role in the book, as Scholten played a main role in setting up the legal education system in what was then the Netherlands Indies. Chapters 1. Paul Scholten, Aristotelian Protestantism in Dutch Legal Philosophy. Liesbeth Huppes-Cluysenaer (p.1) 2. Paul Scholten’s Life. Rogier Chorus, Liesbeth Huppes-Cluysenaer, Jacqueline Schoonheim (p.28) 3. General Method of Private Law. English translation of the First Chapter of the General Volume of the Asser-serie on Dutch Civil Law, written by Paul Scholten. Liesbeth Huppes-Cluysenaer, Marjanne Termorshuizen-Arts, Cassandra Steer, Paul Scholten (p.37) 4. Jumping Judges, Judicial Discovery of Law. Niels van Manen (p.225) 5. From a Legal Order to a Legal System, Scholten’s Contribution to a Theory of Legal Change. Jean-Louis Halpérin (p.249) 6. Law and Context, Scholten’s Open System of Law and Legal Harmonisation. Jaakko Husa (261) 7. Case-Based Reasoning and Formulary Procedure, A Guard against Individual Emotions. Marco Gardini (p.287) 8. Kelsen and Scholten on Reason and Emotion in Solving Cases. Nuno M.M.S. Coelho (p.315) 9. Trembling Necessity and Analogy, Juridical Reason as Judgment by the Similar. Luciano de Camargo Penteado (p.334) 10. Paul Scholten and the Founding of the Batavia Rechtshogeschool. Upik Djalins (p.354) 11. In Search of Scholten’s Legacy, The Meaning of the Method of Rechtsvinding for the Current Indonesian Legal Discourse. Shidarta (p.396) 12. Scholten’s Reflections on Judge’s Practices, An Apology of the Mystery of the Legal Craft. Robert Knegt (p.443) 13. The Reception of the Work of Paul Scholten in the Netherlands. Marjanne Termorshuizen-Arts (p.465) 14. Re-Appraising Paul Scholten, His Influence on the Development of a National Legal System in Indonesia. Tristam P. Moeliono (p.495)

The collection of English books printed before 1801 in the University Library of the Vrije Universiteit at Amsterdam is one of the largest collections of such books outside the English-speaking world, and by far the largest in the Netherlands. The collection numbers 5,600 titles and covers all subjects, but is especially concentrated on (reformed) protestantism in Great Britain, the Netherlands and America, and the exchange of ideas between these countries. The collection of which the existence is practically unknown, contains many rare items from the 16th to the 18th century. It covers the periods of the well-known and widely used bibliographies of English printed books (STC, Wing, and ESTC); in a large number of cases the catalogue entries correct or supplement these bibliographies. The catalogue is aimed both at a general public of bibliographers, literary and book- historians working with books from the STC, Wing and ESTC periods, and at researchers in the Netherlands, Great Britain and elsewhere specialised in church history and the manifold historical and cultural relations between the British Isles and the Low Countries.

What happens when a Protestant Fundamentalist becomes a Roman Catholic? Share one woman's journey into the land of mystics and scholars, and learn Catholicism from a Biblical perspective using the King James 1611 Bible. Employing humanity, humor and wit, this marriage of creative and analytical writing is also the fruition of four years of research, 80 sources, 190 Biblical passages, and the efforts of three theologians, each with a Master's Degree in Divinity. Readers experience Catholicism through songs, prayers, poetry, and descriptions of celebrations as well as face the bigotry and malice often directed at Catholics. A Faraway Ancient Country offers an intimate look at faith and challenges spiritual growth.

For more information including sample entries, full contents listing, and more, visit the Encyclopedia of Protestantism web site. Routledge is proud to announce the publication of a new major reference work from world-renowned scholar Hans J. Hillerbrand. The Encyclopedia of Protestantism is the definitive reference to the history and beliefs that continue to exert a profound influence on Western thought. Featuring entries written by an international team of specialists and scholars, the encyclopedia traces the course of Protestantism from its beginnings prior to 1517, when Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of Wittenberg Cathedral, to the vital and diverse international scene of the present day.

While serving as an introduction to ecumenical liberal Protestantism and the social gospel over the course of the twentieth-century this book also highlights certain totalitarian as well as more fundamental conservative tendencies within those movements.

In The Lost Soul of American Protestantism, D. G. Hart examines the historical origins of the idea that faith must be socially useful in order to be valuable. Through specific episodes in Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Reformed history, Hart presents a neglected form of Protestantism—confessionalism—as an alternative to prevailing religious theory. He explains that, unlike evangelical and mainline Protestants who emphasize faith's role in solving social and personal problems, confessional Protestants locate Christianity's significance in the creeds, ministry, and rituals of the church. Although critics have accused confessionalism of encouraging social apathy, Hart deftly argues that this form of Protestantism has much to contribute to current discussions on the role of religion in American public life, since confessionalism refuses to confuse the well-being of the nation with that of the church. The history of confessional Protestantism suggests that contrary to the legacy of revivalism, faith may be most vital and influential when less directly relevant to everyday problems, whether personal or social. Clear and engaging, D. G. Hart's groundbreaking study is essential reading for everyone exploring the intersection of religion and daily life.

The Greening of Protestant Thought traces the increasing influence of environmentalism on American Protestantism since the first Earth Day, which took place in 1970. Robert Booth Fowler explores the extent to which ecological concerns permeate Protestant thought and examines contemporary controversies within and between mainline and fundamentalist Protestantism over the Bible's teachings about the environment. Fowler explores the historical roots of environmentalism in Protestant thought, including debates over God's relationship to nature and the significance of the current environmental crisis for the history of Christianity. Although he argues that mainline Protestantism is becoming increasingly 'green,' he also examines the theological basis for many fundamentalists' hostility toward the environmental movement. In addition, Fowler considers Protestantism's policy agendas for environmental change, as well as the impact on mainline Protestant thinking of modern eco-theologies, process and creation theologies, and ecofeminism.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of Protestant Christianity in Korea. It outlines the development of Christianity in Korea before Protestantism, considers the introduction of Protestantism in the late nineteenth century and its widening and profound impact, and goes on to discuss the situation up to the present. Throughout the book emphasises the importance of Protestantism for Korean national life, highlights the key role Protestantism has played in Korea’s social, political, and cultural development, including in North Korea whose first leader Kim Il Sung was the son of devout Protestant parents, and demonstrates how Protestantism continues to be a vital force for Korean society overall.