Since David Hume, the interpretation of miracle stories has been dominated in the West by the binary distinction of fact vs. fiction. The form-critical method added another restriction to the interpretation of miracles by neglecting the context of its macrotexts. Last but not least the hermeneutics of demythologizing was interested in the self-understanding of individuals and not in political perspectives. The book revisits miracle stories with regard to these dimensions: 1. It demands to connect the interpretation of Miracle Stories to concepts of reality. 2. It criticizes the restrictions of the form critical method. 3. It emphasizes the political implications of Miracle Stories and their interpretations. Even the latest research accepts this modern opposition of fact and fiction as self-evident. This book will examine critically these concepts of reality with interpretations of miracles. The book will address how concepts of reality, always complex, came to expression in stories of miraculous healings and their reception in medicine, art, literature, theology and philosophy, from classic antiquity to the Middle Ages. Only through such bygone concepts, contemporary interpretations of ancient healings can gain plausibility.

A hundred years ago, an open and adaptive attitude towards technology made Australia the wealthiest society in the world. Today this same attitude is transforming the nation and creating unexpected opportunities for Australia's inventors, discoverers and entrepreneurs. Australia's economy underwent a miraculous expansion over the twenty years from the early 1990s onwards - an economic transformation that pre-dated the late twentieth-century mining boom, and which was driven by investment in ideas and technology. The Australian Miracle, first published by Picador in 2006, highlights the growing role of innovation in modern Australian life. It also presents a refreshing and invigorating scepticism about the role of government in a world where research and innovation have never been more important. Politically charged, controversial, and sharply written, it should be essential reading for anyone interested in Australia's economy of ideas. "This is the ultimate myth buster; the killer of cliches Australian science so badly needs. Tom Barlow's iconoclasm will shock some, thrill others. I consumed this timely book with unaccustomed relish. Read it." -- Robyn Williams.

Martin Luther's conception of the Nativity found expression in sermon, song, and art. This beautiful gift edition of a classic collection combines all three.

In this innovative study, Horsley builds on his earlier works concerning the problematic and misleading categories of "magic" and "miracle" to examine in-depth the meaning and importance of the narratives of healing and exorcism in the Gospels. Incorporating his work on oral performance and turning to important works in medical anthropology, a new image emerges of how these narratives help us re-evaluate Jesus's place in first-century Galilee and Judea. In his exorcisms and healings, Jesus-in-interaction was empowering the villagers in their struggles for renewal of personal and communal dignity in resistance to invasive Roman rule.

Christian faith depends upon the resurrection of Jesus, but the claim about Jesus’ resurrection is, nevertheless, disputed. This book, written by a New Testament scholar and a systematic theologian in conjunction, develops the conditions for the claim. It carefully analyzes the relevant texts and their possible interpretations and engages with New Testament scholarship in order to show nuances and different trajectories in the material. The picture emerging is that the New Testament authors themselves tried to come to terms with how to understand the claim that Jesus had been resurrected from the dead. But the book does not stop there: by also asking for the experiential content that gave rise to the belief in the resurrection. Sandnes and Henriksen argue that there is no such thing as an experience of the resurrection reported in the New Testament—only experiences of an empty tomb and appearance of Jesus, interpreted as Jesus resurrected. Hence, resurrection emerges as an interpretative category for post-Easter experiences, and is only understandable in light of the full content of Jesus’ ministry and its context.

How Does the Alcoholic/Addict stop drinking and drugging? What happens inside the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous? What is the path to recovery? These and other questions are answered in 365 daily inspirations. Miracles of Recovery was written, not just for those addicted, but for the parents, the spouse --anyone touched by the disease.Miracles of Recovery is written, not just for those addicted, but for their parents, spouses, and children --anyone touched by the disease. Miracles of Recovery opens a door to secrets and solutions that will become part of your daily life.

God's Miracle offers a riveting testimony of God's grace, mercy, and His love for those who trust and believe in Him and are obedient to His commandments. Elaine is a born-again Christian who experienced death and life after death. The book offers true insight into the reality of heaven and its glory. On October 6, 2016, Elaine was preparing to travel to Europe on a month-long vacation to visit with family and friends. It had been nineteen years since she last visited her youngest son's tomb site, and she was looking forward to the trip. As she worked in her vegetable garden that Thursday afternoon, she heard a voice say, "Call your helper to come over to help you." She said to herself, "I don't need help because I am almost finished." The voice again said, "Call your helper to come over to help you." The second time, she listened to the voice and called for help. Within a half hour of the helper's arrival, Elaine suffered a massive heart attack and died three times. By the grace of God, she was able to dial 911 and request assistance before passing out. Her helper intervened and completed the call. Upon arrival to her home, the EMT's found her on the floor in a pulseless state. She was transported to the local hospital to be pronounced. She was miraculously revived after being deceased for forty-five minutes the first time. She flat lined three more times at the hospital before being medivacked to the trauma center but died again in route. She died again at the trauma center. In reality, she actually died six times. Her survival was nothing short of a divine and miraculous return to life. She was renamed "Ms. Miracle" by the doctors and hospital staff at the trauma center as she sustained no neurological damage after the trauma of dying and being revived six separate times. After her experience in Heaven and upon her return to earth, she realized that the voice she heard that afternoon was the voice of God speaking to her.

The appearance of this comet caused so many panicked inquiries to be made of Pierre Bayle, one of the Enlightenment's greatest thinkers, that he decided to formally respond to them, hence the present work, which first appeared in 1682. The book's principle task was to undermine the influence of "superstition" in political life, and it was here that Bayle made the notorious suggestion, unique in the history of political thought until then, that a decent society of atheists is possible in principle. There is no other English translation of this book in print -- the only other version was printed in 1708. This translation is based on a recently revised critical edition of the complete French text and includes a substantial interpretive essay that both elucidates the arguments of the work and indicates the importance of Bayle in the history of the modern Enlightenment.

The Q-Hypothesis has functioned as a mainstay of study of the synoptic gospels for many years. Increasingly it comes under fire. In this volume leading proponents of Q, as well as of the case against Q, offer the latest arguments based on the latest research into this literary conundrum. The contributors to the volume include John Kloppenborg, Christopher Tuckett, Clare Rothschild, Mark Goodacre, and Francis Watson. The Q-Hypothesis is examined in depth and the discussion moves back and forth over Q's strengths and weaknesses. As such the volume sheds light on how the gospels were composed, and how we can view them in their final literary forms.

The new edition of this celebrated anthology surveys the Western philosophical tradition from its origins in ancient Greece to the work of today’s leading philosophers Western Philosophy: An Anthology provides an authoritative guided tour through the great tradition of Western philosophical thought. The seminal writings of the great philosophers along with more recent readings of contemporary interest are explored in 144 substantial and carefully chosen extracts, each preceded by a lucid introduction, guiding readers through the history of a diverse range of key arguments, and explaining how important theories fit into the unfolding story of Western philosophical inquiry. Broad in scope, the anthology covers all the main branches of philosophy: theory of knowledge and metaphysics, logic and language, philosophy of mind, the self and freedom, religion and science, moral philosophy, political theory, aesthetics, and the meaning of life, all in self-contained parts which can be worked on by students and instructors independently. The third edition of the Anthology contains newly incorporated classic texts from thinkers such as Aquinas, Machiavelli, Descartes, William James, and Wittgenstein. Each of the 144 individual extracts is now followed by sample questions focusing on the key philosophical problems raised by the excerpt, and accompanied by detailed further reading suggestions that include up-to-date links to online resources. Also new to this edition is an introductory essay written by John Cottingham, which offers advice to students on how to read and write about a philosophical text. Part of the Blackwell Philosophy Anthologies series, Western Philosophy: An Anthology, Third Edition remains an indispensable collection of classic source materials and expert insights for both beginning and advanced university students in a wide range of philosophy courses.