Books by Ian S. (Virginia Theological Seminary) Markham

The revised second edition of the accessible guide to contemporary ethical issues that are at the intersection of religion and moralityThe updated second edition of Do Morals Matter? offers an authoritative yet approachable guide to the current ethical issues that bridge the gap between religion and morality. This informed text examines today's key ethical issues that range from making moral decisions in business and medicine, to the uncertainty of war and terrorism and the tenuous condition of our environment.This popular textbook embraces the dramatic changes that have occurred since the first edition was published such as changes in attitude towards the LGBT community as well as emerging ethical areas such as cyber ethics. In consultation with professors, the new edition includes sections at the beginning and end of each chapter that provide clear and succinct summaries of key issues, as well as reflective and discussion questions.This revised text:* Sets out all the major ethical options in a balanced way inviting students to make their own mind up* Deals with both moral philosophy and applied ethics* Starts every chapter with a thought-exercise to provoke discussion* Places Brexit and President Trump in an appropriate ethical framework* Develops the concept of a Morally Serious Person.Written for students studying ethics in departments of theology and religion, Do Morals Matter? is the thoroughly revised and updated edition of the text that explores contemporary ethical issues.

An Introduction to Ministry is a comprehensive and ecumenical introduction to the craft of ministry for ministers, pastors, and priests that make up the mainline denominations in the United States.

The comprehensive and engaging introduction to contemporary Christianity, revised and updated The second edition of Understanding Christian Doctrine presents a completely updated and revised edition that builds on the most popular features of the first edition to offer a lively overview to the central beliefs of Christianity. Ian S Markham, a noted authority of Christianity, discusses the great thinkers of the Christian tradition and puts them in conversation with contemporary progressive theologies in a book that goes from Augustine, Aquinas, and Luther to Liberationist, Feminist, and Queer theologies. Designed to be a basic primer, the text is written in a manner that assumes the reader has no prior knowledge of theology or Christian doctrine. The book is designed to present the basic options in all the key areas of Christianity as well as information on how to make complex theological decisions. The author tackles all the key questions from creation to eschatology. Furthermore, Markham makes his own distinctive contribution: he argues that theodicy (traditionally seen as a major difficulty with belief) is actually a theme that links many aspects of Christian doctrine. The revised second edition includes a wealth of new information, including: A lively and comprehensive introduction to Christianity that assumes no prior knowledge of the faith An overview to the great thinkers of Christian tradition that puts them in conversation with progressive liberationist theologies Suggestions that help even the most skeptical to learn to understand and possibly embrace theological assertions Breakout boxes that explain the significance of the text's various philosophical ideas and positions The text is ideal for anyone interested in learning about the foundations of Christianity as well as new ideas about the faith. Christianity is presented in a manner that embraces the richness of the tradition and affirms the central claims of the historical creeds, while engaging with liberationist challenges to the tradition.

Ian Markham provides an alternative to the liberal/orthodox divide in contemporary Christianity, defends Christianity's engagement with non-Christian traditions and provides a discussion of theological methods. The volume is illustrated with case studies.