The church in the West has subsisted for five hundred years in a state of ever-increasing multiple identities, many of which claim to be the best representation of the church established by Christ. Often attending novel models of the church are new scriptural interpretive methods that support theological claims. Rarely, however, has an exploration been undertaken to test the impact of this ecclesiological division on the reading of the Bible. A Darkened Reading explores the specific case of thenineteenth-century Church of England and competing interpretations of the book of the prophet Isaiah - a book of great importance in theological history - as a kind of parable of the existential anguish the church has experienced as a consequence ofbeing torn apart.

In 'The History of Persecution, from the Patriarchal Age, to the Reign of George II' by Samuel Chandler, readers are presented with a comprehensive examination of persecution throughout history. Chandler's book is a meticulously researched and detailed study that covers the various forms of persecution from ancient times to the eighteenth century. Written in a scholarly and factual style, the book provides an in-depth analysis of the political, religious, and social factors that have contributed to persecution in different eras. Chandler's work is a valuable resource for those interested in understanding the complexities of intolerance and discrimination. By examining historical events, the book sheds light on the enduring impact of persecution on societies. Samuel Chandler, a renowned historian and theologian, was driven by a desire to unravel the roots of persecution and its impact on humanity. His expertise in the subject matter is evident in the thorough research and analysis presented in the book. 'The History of Persecution' is highly recommended for readers seeking a scholarly exploration of this important aspect of human history.

The writers known as the English deists were not simply religious controversialists, but agents of reform who contributed to the emergence of modernity. This title claims that these writers advocated a failed ideology which itself declined after 1730. It argues for an evolution of their ideas into a more modern form.

The integrative theme of this collection of essays is change and transformation explored in the context of diverse expressions within the context of Anglican Church history. It addresses some central themes--notably the sacraments, liturgy, biblical interpretation, theological education, the relationship of church and state, governance and authority, and Christian education. The volume traces Anglican Church history chronologically. It includes a comparative study of penance in the thought of John Wyclif and Thomas Cranmer. The book also treats the dispersal of authority evident in the development of the Book of Common Prayer and the King James Bible, consensus in eucharistic theology in the seventeenth century, and developments in biblical interpretation in the early eighteenth century. This book also discusses a vision for the Christian education of children, change in theological education in the 1830s, the metanarrative of continuity developed by High Church historians in the late nineteenth century, increasing self-government in the Church at the outset of the twentieth century, and models of governance at the outset of the twenty-first. While this collection highlights aspects of change and transformation as an integrative theme, it is not its premise that change was normative or pervasive, perpetual or constant, within Anglicanism. Nevertheless, these essays raise some new lines of inquiry, make some suggestive interpretations, or propose revision of accepted views.