Books published by Augsburg Fortress Publishers

Conflict between the church of Rome and the reformers reached its most violent peak in the five years before the Council of Trent in 1545, a council the pope had been delaying for years. Luther had not only given up hope for a "free, Christian council," but had also come to the conclusion that the authority of such a council was limited to reaffirming the ancient faith of the apostles. This radical departure from Rome's interpretation of its own authority forms the basis of Luther's new doctrine of the church -- and also of his advice to Protestant princes on the problems of ecclesiastical property. It is this doctrine of the church which is the theme of the three treatises written during this period and included in this volume.

The final volume in the section entitled "Word and Sacrament" of Luther's Works traces the development of Luther's concept of the Lord's Supper from the time of the Marburg Colloquy in 1529 down to 1544, two years before his death.

Book is accompanied by a Leader guide and DVD.

In Ministry with Persons with Mental Illness and Their Families, psychiatrists and pastoral theologians come together in an interdisciplinary, collaborative effort to ensure accuracy of information concerning the medical dimensions of mental illness, interpret these illnesses from a faith perspective, and make suggestions relative to effective ministry. Readers will learn how science and a faith tradition can not only co-exist but work in tandem to alleviate the pain of the afflicted and affected.

* Offers the biblical and theological bases for Christian social ministry * Explores the new landscape for large-scale organizational social ministry

Just what is a proper use of the Bible, especially the New Testament, in Christian debates about acceptance of homosexuals? In addition to bringing clarity and honesty to issues of the relevance of the Bible, this work brings a little more light and a little less heat to the discussion, a little more acceptance of all persons on the "other side," and maybe even an awareness that in Christ there is really no "other side" at all.

Adolf von Harnack was the most outstanding student of early Christianityin modern times and one of the most persuasive exponents of liberaltheology. Although subsequent scholarship has strongly challenged manyof his conclusions, the questions he raised remain central to muchtheological endeavor.Despite their critique of Harnack, both Karl Barth and DietrichBonhoeffer - two of his most eminent students - recognized the immensecontribution he made to Christian theology in the modern era.This volume concentrates on the key texts and ideas in Harnack'sthought. It presents the essential Harnack for students and the generalreader.Martin Rumscheidt's introductory essay and notes on the selected textsset Harnack in his historical context, chart the development of histhought, and indicate the significance of his theology in thedevelopment of Christian theology as a whole.Substantial selections from Harnack's work illustrate key themes: History as a science in the service of theologyThe gospel, early Christianity, and the history of dogma and thechurchThe presence and influence of the 'religious genius' in the history ofChristianityThe religious-social imperative in the gospel and churchThe personal faith of the theologian

Russell Pregeant shows that reading the Bible "without interpretation" is impossible. The right question is which assumptions are appropriate. --from publisher description

Tom Christenson dares to turn philosophy inside out in this remarkable new book. Starting with the ongoing public debate over Gods existence, he approaches traditional arguments in philosophy of religion and peels back their veneers to uncover the questionable assumptions underlying each. This valuable, brief book drives the reader to reconsider how to think about the most fundamental questions which surround the matter of faith and religious belief. For Christenson, there are three key assumptions which need unpacking: that believing is the focal act of faith; that the basic religious question is about the existence of God; and that religious language is primarily referential.

In eight chapters the author explains, against many current misunderstandings, what Christians mean by faith.

Stressing the historical and theological significance of pivotal figures and movements, William Baird guides the reader through intriguing developments and critical interpretation of the New Testament from its beginnings in Deism through the watershed of the Tubingen school. Familiar figures appear in a new light, and important, previously forgotten stages of the journey emerge. Baird gives attention to the biographical and cultural setting of persons and approaches, affording both beginning student and seasoned scholar an authoritative account that is useful for orientation as well as research.

One Hope: Re-Membering the Body of Christ is a rich ecumenical resource designed to help Catholic and Lutheran communities mark the approaching 500th anniversary of the Reformation. By gathering together to reflect on and discuss its contents, Christians will foster the churchs unity on a grassroots level and grow in their awareness of the ways that unity already exists. The essays in One Hope are the product of an intense collaborative process by six gifted scholars and pastoral leaders, three Lutheran and three Catholic.

This volume takes the reader on a journey from New Testament and early church views of incarnation to contemporary understandings of Christology. A prominent group of scholars explores and debates the idea of deep incarnationthe view that the divine incarnation in Jesus presupposes a radical embodiment that reaches into the roots of material and biological existence, as well as into the darker sides of creation. Such a wide-scope view of incarnation allows Christology to be meaningful when responding to the challenges of scientific cosmology and global religious pluralism.