Books by Jeff Astley

This collection of papers provides a synoptic view of the relationship between music, theology and Christian learning. It includes theological reflections on the nature and power of the musical experience, together with psychological, philosophical and educational perspectives; and draws on practical experience and empirical research.Topics covered include: Composing, performing and listening; worship and hymnody; classical music and jazz; Christian theology and spirituality; aesthetics, education and learning, and the psychology of music.Contributors include: James MacMillan, Martin Haselbock, Jeremy Begbie, John Sloboda, Bill Hall, Ian Ground, Michael Sadgrove

Jeff Astley helps readers reflect on critical issues in personal and social morality using the resources of Christian tradition and their own insights and reasoning. Moral issies dicussed include abortion and euthanasia, war and punishment, work and health, sex and society.

Adult Christian learning is central to the life of the Christian church, and is essential for its health, outreach and very survival. Leading Christian educators here apply the principles of Christian education to adult learning in the churches, and present the results and methods of empirical research relevant to the church's ministry of adult Christian education. This book will be of interest to all who are concerned for the ways in which adults learn to be Christian.The editor, Jeff Astley, is Director of the North of England Institute for Christian Education and Honorary Professorial Fellow in Practical Theology and Christian Education in the University of Durham.

This reader samples a wide range of modern moral and religious discussions on the subject of war and peace. It looks at pacifism, the just war debate, the nuclear option, genocide, and the concept of a holy war. It also introduces general issues in ethics and moral theology.

This reader brings together modern material from a wide range of Christian theologians on the meaning and status of the doctrine of creation; its relation to scientific theories, our understanding of God and the theology of redemption; and its implications for our attitude to the world of nature.

An accessible textbook for all engaging with Christian doctrine for the first time. A valuable resource and suitable for all clergy and all training for ministry.

Bringing together material on the meaning and status of divine action, this text features topics that include: locating God's action, images of divine control, human freedom in relation to providence and grace, the nature and evidence of miracle, prayer and pain, answers to prayer and the experience of grace.

This reader samples a wide range of modern theological, religious and philosophical discussion on the problem of evil, understood both in terms of the practical or spiritual problem of coping with evil, and the theological problem of explaining its presence in God's world.

This reader brings together carefully selected material from a wide range of authors on the relationships between science, religion and theology. It samples the recent literature on the challenges to religion posed by both modern physics and evolutionary biology as well as exploring the relationship between scientific and theological approaches.

The author attempts to articulate and defend ordinary people's religious understanding and reflections of the divine. Although the majority of contemporary "God-talkers" have not studied academic theology, they are engaged in doing their own theology when they speak and thinking about God.

Exploring God-talk maps the contours of religious language. It surveys the variety of ways in which religious believers both speak to God and speak about God, and tries to respond to the serious criticisms that have been raised of different aspects of our 'God-talk'. Beginning with an overview of the variety of ways in which language is used in faith and religion, the book moves on to consider the functions of language in religious experience and the religious life, particularly in prayer and worship. Two chapters are the devoted to a consideration of the important area of 'descriptive' God-talk, both figurative and literal. Problems relating to the meaningfulness of religious language and the interpretation of the Scripture are also addressed, and the pastoral and ethical significance of God-talk explored. Illustrations are drawn throughout from both everyday speech and the Christian tradition.