Purity is a condition of the soul that implies divine grace has been acknowledged and further has been granted with this condition of light not having any relationship with the darkness of evil. The angels, the cherubs, the seraphim are pure with this status enabling them to see the face of the Almighty. Angels are spirits of light, the spirit begotten children of the Father of lights, messengers of the spirit of mercy, faithfulness, truthfulness, forgiveness, optimism and joy that impart a language of service by means of the spirit of altruism, where the strong serve the weak, to all who are to inherit paradise and salvation. Since the faithful angels are pure spirits the Father is a pure spirit, a Holy Spirit, being undefiled and therefore all that is in him are the spirits of selfless love, of selfless justice, of selfless power and of selfless wisdom which all shine as radiant light opposing and exposing the spirits of evil which are selfish love, selfish justice and selfish wisdom. It follows then that the Father of lights having no sharing with evil does not punish, punishment being evil, anybody for anything at all but only protects, guides, supports and disciplines but never punishes, not even those that stand firmly as enemies and adversaries. The Father has no hatred, indifference, bitterness or enmity in His heart towards anyone but has a heart that vibrates with purity and affection. God is Love.

In this revised edition of a longtime bestselling anthology of Christian mysticism, editors Louis Dupre and James Wiseman bring together selections from the writings of twenty-three of the most important Christian mystics, from Origen of Alexandria in the third century to Thomas Merton in the twentieth.This edition retains most of the authors included in the first addition, but has replaced some authors from that edition with ones that will be of greater interest to readers today, e.g., Francis and Clare of Assisi, Francis de Sales and Jane de Chantal, and Evelyn Underhill. A general introduction discusses the place of mysticism within the Christian life as a whole, while individual chapter introductions place the mystical writers in their historical context and relate their works to others in the anthology. In addition, the editors have completely updated the bibliographies at the end of each chapter.Students and teachers of spirituality, as well as persons interested in their own spiritual growth, will welcome this popular revised resource, because it makes readily available in one volume major works by important Christian mystical writers. Like its predecessor, it is sure to be welcomed in the academic world and spiritual and devotional circles.

The contributors to Divine Love cover a broad spectrum of world religions, comparing and contrasting approaches among Christians of several denominations, Jews, Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, and adherents of traditional African religions. Each chapter focuses on the definition and conceptual boundaries of divine love; its expression and experience; its instrumentality and salience; how it can become distorted, and how it has been made manifest or restored by great historic exemplars of altruism, compassion, and unlimited love. The ultimate aim for many of the world’s major faith traditions is to love and be loved by God—to live in connection with the Divine, in union with the Beloved, in reconciliation with the Ultimate. Religious scholars Jeff Levin and Stephen G. Post have termed this connection “divine love.” In their new collection of the same name, they have invited eight of the world’s preeminent religious scholars to share their perspectives on the what, how, and why of divine love. From this diverse gathering of perspectives emerges evidence that to love and to be loved by God, to enter into a mutual and covenantal relationship with the Divine, may well offer solutions to many of the current crises around the world. Only a loving relationship with the Source of being within the context of the great faith and wisdom traditions of the world can fully inform and motivate the acts of love, unity, justice, compassion, kindness, and mercy for all beings that are so desperately required to counter the toxic influences in the world. Contributors: William C. Chittick, Vigen Guroian, Ruben L. F. Habito, William K. Mahony, John S. Mbiti, Jacob Neusner, Clark H. Pinnock, and David Tracy.

The Reformer Martin Luther is the source of endless fascination and dispute. Not only his antagonists but also his supporters have created a host of representations of his thought. On the one hand, Catholic and other similar voices have accused Luther of being the major agent in the birth of modern secularism. On the other hand, Lutherans themselves are divided on the meaning of Reformation. In view of all these interpretations and dismissals of Luther and the Lutheran Reformation, it requires a certain boldness to claim that Luther's theology is intellectually fascinating and contains exceptional resources. This is precisely what the present volume claims. The studies collected in this volume aim at showing in which sense Luther remains a fully Catholic and genuinely Augustinian theologian who is not so much a forerunner of problematic modernity as a representative of classical Christianity. At the same time, Luther's theology contains ideas that can be made fruitful in dialogue with currents like communitarianism or Radical Orthodoxy. The volume consists of articles written by scholars affiliated with the project known as "the New Finnish Interpretation of Luther." The topics include Luther's theological anthropology, Trinity, christology, sacraments, faith, theology of the cross, the Virgin Mary, sexuality, music, and the spiritual reading of the Holy Scriptures.

Denis Edwards was a theoloian concerned with the science and religion discourse and eco-theology. He died in March 2019. This book is a collection of his till now unpusblished talks and essays.

Motivation, Altruism, Personality and Social Psychology takes up the debate around altruism and the acceptance in society that self-interest is a healthy guiding principle in life, and argues that helping behaviour can lead to self-fulfilment and happiness and is beneficial to psychological health and society in general.

Rarely does a new theological position emerge to account well for life in the world, including not only goodness and beauty but also tragedy and randomness. Drawing from Scripture, science, philosophy and various theological traditions, Thomas Jay Oord offers a novel theology of providence—essential kenosis—that emphasizes God's inherently noncoercive love in relation to creation.

In this volume, The Unity of Faith, Thomas G. Weinandy, OFM, Cap., has compiled a theologically significant medley of essays. The first section deals with the Trinity, ranging from the question of the filioque to the trinitarian thought of Johnathan Edwards. The second section addresses a topic for which Weinandy has become notable - the impassability of God and human suffering. The third takes of the topic of Christology, particularly from within the contemporary theological milieu. For example, what is the relationship between the Incarnation and Soteriology? What is the nature of Christ's human consciousness and knowledge? How does Paul perceive the primacy of Christ within his Christological hymns? The next collection of essays focuses on the relationship between faith and reason. In doing Catholic theology, how do theologians apply reason when contemplating the mysteries of faith? What is the philosophical and theological significance of Pope John Paul II's encyclical, Fides et Ratio? Ecclesiology is the final topic addressed. Weinandy examines the contributions that Henri de Lubac has contributed to our understanding of the Church. He also takes up the very delicate issue of the Jews in relationship to the Church. How important is it that Jews become Christians? The nature of the sacramentality of the Catholic priesthood is investigated. What does it mean that the priest acts in persona Christi? Lastly, Weinandy broaches a topic that has received very little theological attention - the Christian family as a Domestic Church. In what manner are spouses and parents, in imitation of Christ, priests, prophets and kings? Weinandy invariably writes in a clear and engaging manner, so much so that these essays would benefit not only academics, and students of theology, but also the educated laity.

In the face of the current environmental crisis—which clearly has moral and spiritual dimensions—members of all the world’s faiths have come to recognize the critical importance of religion’s relationship to ecology. The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Religion and Ecology offers a comprehensive overview of the history and the latest developments in religious engagement with environmental issues throughout the world. Newly commissioned essays from noted scholars of diverse faiths and scientific traditions present the most cutting-edge thinking on religion’s relationship to the environment. Initial readings explore the ways traditional concepts of nature in Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and other religious traditions have been shaped by the environmental crisis. Readings then address the changing nature of theology and religious thought in response to the challenges of protecting the environment. Various conceptual issues and themes that transcend individual traditions—climate change, bio-ethics, social justice, ecofeminism, and more—are then analyzed before a final section examines some of the immediate challenges we face in caring for the Earth while looking to the future of religious environmentalism. Timely and thought-provoking, Companion to Religion and Ecology offers illuminating insights into the role of religion in the ongoing struggle to secure the future well-being of our natural world. With a foreword by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, and an Afterword by John Cobb