A most needed and creative beginning in theological prolegomena, says Norman L. Geisler of Handmaid to Theology. In this work the long-neglected use of philosophy in evangelical theology is overcome. Philosophical Prolegomena does not in this case constitute an introduction to theology, preliminary material of which one must dispose before delving into the actual content of divine revelation. Instead it constitutes a handmaid to theology, the philosophical categories that necessarily help to shape each doctrine. In addition to demonstrating the inevitable reliance of theology on certain philosophical concepts, the author pleads for a clear distinction between biblical theology and systematic theology within the evangelical tradition. Particularly helpful . . . says Geisler, is the emphasis on the need to use biblically compatible concepts in order to construct a systematic theology. After two introductory chapters (What Is Prolegomena? and Prolegomena: The Starting Point), the author devotes two chapters to the doctrine of man, as many to the doctrine of revelation, three to the doctrine of God, and a final chapter to the doctrine of regeneration. This book turns over new ground in theological prolegomena, concludes Geisler. Its pace-setting insights could, and I hope will, signal a return to a proper harmony between philosophy and biblical theology in the practice of systematic theology among evangelicals.

Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale captivates readers with its disturbingly prescient vision of the future and haunting insights into the world as we know it. Religion--especially elements of the Christian faith--pervades every inch of the world as Atwood imagines it. Gilead's leaders use perverse forms of Christianity to sustain their authority and privilege, making understanding religion an integral part of understanding Gilead. In the face of the inextricable role of religion in the novel, readers are left to puzzle out religious references and allusions on their own. From the significance of names to twisted uses of religion to the origins of the Ceremony, this book answers all the questions you might have about religion in this prophetic novel. For anyone who's ever googled a biblical precedent or religious phrase after encountering Atwood's dystopia, this essential guide explains it all and gives readers a fascinating look into the novel and its world. Read it and understand The Handmaid's Tale like never before.

Margaret Atwood talks to a host of interviewees, including Joyce Carol Oates and Graeme Gibson, about a range of subjects. She discusses feminism, Canadian literature, the differences between novels and poetry, how she started writing and who it is she feels she writes for.

Medieval images of the Virgin Mary for veneration usually showed a mother and child enthroned, bearing signs of regal authority. Yet modern images show her standing alone, without signs of authority or maternity. This work argues that this and other developments in the cult of the Virgin in western Christianity must be understood against the background of our changing relationship with "nature". The book offers a new assessment of the significance of the cult of the Virgin in Christianity. It also includes an original account of the development of the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception. The theorectical perspective is strongly influenced by the Critical Theory of the Frankfurt School, in its critique of domination.

In this profound book on the mystery of Mary, Adrienne von Speyr reflects on the life, attitude, and prayer of the Mother of God. She shows how Mary's assent to God's will—her Fiat: "Let it be done to me according to thy word"—is what defines and sanctifies every aspect of her life. She gives new insights into Mary's holiness, suffering, prayer, and role of spiritual motherhood for all mankind. Handmaid of the Lord is not a biography detailing the daily life of the Mother of Jesus, filled with the sights and the sounds found in the holy imagination of a saintly visionary. Rather, it responds to our desire to know Mary in a penetrating and personal way, opening us to the mystery of her inner life, which can be revealed only by the Word himself and pondered in the heart, just as Our Lady herself did. Humility, obedience, availability, joy, suffering, and transparency before God are some of the key spiritual attributes of Our Lady found in this timeless work. As with her other books, von Speyr helps us to savor and to appreciate each word of Sacred Scripture as self-revelation from the Father through the heart of the Church, the Bride of the Son, in a loving exchange of the Spirit. In this way, the Word may be absorbed into the very core of our being, as it was for Mary, the Mother of God.

This book tries to uncover science's discoverer and explain why the conception of science has been changing during the centuries, and why science can be beneficial and dangerous for humanity. Far from being hermetic, this research can be interesting for all who want to understand deeper what really conditions the place of science in culture.

Considered by many to be the greatest book of Marian spirituality in one volume, True Devotion to Mary is St. Louis de Montfort's classic statement on the spiritual way to Jesus Christ though the Blessed Virgin Mary. In Behold the Handmaid of the Lord, Marian theologian Fr. Edward Looney masterfully summarizes the central teachings of St. Louis in a ten-day personal retreat that will bless even those who have completed the full devotion. During the course of ten days, you’ll explore ten different titles for Mary popularized by St. Louis. Each presents a distinct aspect of her motherhood and protection while illuminating the spiritual path to Jesus through Mary. You’ll get to know Mary and become devoted to her as: The Queen of All Saints Our Lady of the Holy Trinity The New Eve The Mother of the Interior Life The Mother of Disciples The Star of the Sea The Queen of All Hearts The Mediatrix of Grace The Mold of God Our Mother and Our Queen Each day you will reflect on Mary’s role in your life and the practical implications of that connection before wrapping up with a brief closing prayer tailored to the day’s title. You’ll come away prepared to begin or renew your consecration to Mary and with a refreshed love for the Mother of Jesus. The book includes an appendix for step-by-step consecration to Mary.

This wonderful novel transports us to Nazareth in biblical times, where we meet Mary and Joseph–and understand them as never before: young, in love, and suddenly faced with an unexpected pregnancy. Aided by a great and abiding love, they endure challenges to their relationship as well as threats to their lives as they come to terms with the mysterious circumstances surrounding the birth of their child, Jesus. For Mary, the pregnancy is a divine miracle and a privilege. For Joseph, it is an ongoing test of his faith–in his wife as well as in his God. Exquisitely written and imbued with emotional truth and richness of detail, The Handmaid and the Carpenter explores lives touched profoundly by miracles large and small. Praise for The Handmaid and the Carpenter “The oldest story ever told becomes fresh, even modern. [Grade:] A.” –Entertainment Weekly “Poetic, reflective, and intricate . . . There is a crystalline humanity, a logical vulnerability in [Elizabeth] Berg’s imaginative interpretation [that] brings novel resplendence to a familiar story.” –Booklist “Sweetly lyrical and yet movingly realistic.” –New York Daily News “[Berg] movingly takes the story of the least ordinary couple in history, and by respectfully evoking the rhythms and rituals of daily life, makes them more human, yet no less transcendent.” –Richmond Times-Dispatch “Imaginative and compelling.” –Star Ledger

15. Moderating the Magnanimous Man: Aquinas on Greatness of Soul - Marc D. Guerra -- 16. Charles De Koninck and Aquinas's Doctrine of the Common Good - Sebastian Walshe, O Praem -- 17. Reading Aquinas's Commentary on Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics: A Reply to Mark D. Jordan - Christopher Kaczor -- Afterword: Remembering a Genuine Lover of Wisdom: The Impressive Legacy of Ralph McInerny - Michael Novak -- Selected Bibliography -- Contributors -- Index

Join author and minister David Murray as he introduces you to Jesus through the lens of the Old Testament. When you think of a son trudging uphill, carrying wood for his own sacrifice because his father has decided to give him up to death, what biblical event does this bring to mind? Is it Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22, or is it Christ's passion in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John? The kinship between these two stories is deeper than mere coincidence, and the similarities don't end there. In fact, Murray argues that Christ isn't just present in the story of Abraham and Isaac--he's present on every page of the Old Testament. In Jesus on Every Page, Dr. Murray guides the reader down his own Road to Emmaus, describing how the Scriptures were opened to him, revealing Jesus from Genesis 1 all the way through Revelation 22. Dr. Murray shares his ten simple ways to seek and find Christ in the Old Testament, diving deep into: Christ's planet--discovering Jesus in the story of Creation Christ's people--discovering Jesus in the characters of the Old Testament Christ's promises--discovering Jesus in the covenants of the Old Testament Recognizing Jesus in the full breadth of scripture is important for every Christian. In this step-by-step guide to discovering Jesus in the Old Testament, Dr. Murray provides a framework that will help you start practicing this wonderful way of enjoying Jesus throughout the Bible. Whether you are preaching Jesus through Old Testament readings or just beginning to discover the reality of Christ in the Old Testament, Jesus on Every Page is an accessible guide to getting to know the Old Testament for what it truly is: full of Jesus.