Books published by Augsburg Fortress Publishers

"This book situates public theology within the genre of political theology. Drawing upon the distinct strands of political theologies identified by Daniel M. Bell, Jr., Gnana Patrick treats public theology as the form of political theology for our contemporary era and takes special care to relate these strands of political theologies to the Indian context, thereby opening up the theological horizon for Indian public theology. Further, Public Theology dwells upon certain prominent features of our contemporary global world and discerns the human need for experiencing transcendence today. Taking faith to be the catalyst for this experience of transcendence, it points to civil society as the interstice through which faith can be imparted to the contemporary world. And, it argues for the relevance of public theology for that work."-- Back cover.

This book looks at how Christians can think about their own theology in a manner that will allow them to not only be more open to interfaith dialogue but also to see that conversation as essential to what it means to be a Christian. For much of history, Christian theology has been used to undergird and justify imperial power. This has required a theological construction that advances a vision of belief that stands above and against the world and other faiths, or at the very least acts as the one vision under which all the others must unite. Empire and the colonizing enterprise do not lend themselves well to plural ways of understanding Christian faith, let alone a plurality of religious faiths. To take plurality seriously, we need a Christian theology that sees itself as a participant in that plurality.

With Courage and Compassion celebrates the contributions of women to nations, societies, churches, and the ecumenical movement. Through creative forms of resistance and daring theological exploration, women have enriched and advanced theological discourse and called for transformations in within human relationships with one another and with the earth. The World Council of Churches (WCC) has, since its inception in 1948, responded to the call of women for recognition of their leadership and theological gifts with efforts at affirmation and inclusion. However, all is not well. Structures and processes that permit many forms of exclusion and even violence against women in societies in the church and the ecumenical movement persist. This book analyses what lies at the heart of the struggle women go through and why the vulnerability of women continues to be exploited. It calls for a new theological vision and political imagination to transform unjust attitudes and systems that still exist, particularly in the ecumenical movement.

This work offers a series of theological explorations into questions of both contemporary and enduring interest in the Hindu tradition. These reflections build dialogical bridges with other religious traditions around matters of shared concern, including the nature of theology, vocation, social justice, nationalism, and violence and non-violence. In exploring these issues, Rambachan draws deeply from authoritative Hindu sources and offers an interpretation of the Hindu tradition to meet the challenges of the modern world.

Series numbering from series preface, page xiv.

Now in its 8th edition, Anatomy of the New Testament is one of the most trust-worthy and enduring introductory textbooks of its kind. Its authors bring literary and historical approaches to the New Testament together, offering a comprehensive and accessible approach that appeals to students at all levels. Visually appealing and well-designed this compact edition has been designed for today''s student, and is illustrated with engaging images, refreshed maps, and updated bibliographies that make the textbook enjoyable to read and easy to teach.The stand-out pedagogical features have been updated as well, updated for new advances in biblical scholarship and the needs of today''s student: Have You Learned it? Offering questions for analysis and reflection; What Do They Mean? Presenting definitions for key terms to enhance student comprehension and critical thinking.

This book is a contribution to the Christian ethics of war and peace. It advances peacebuilding as a needed challenge to and expansion of the traditional framework of just-war theory and pacifism. It builds on a critical reading of historical landmarks from the Bible through Augustine, Aquinas, the Reformers, Christian peace movements, and key modern figures like Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Reinhold Niebuhr, and recent popes. Similar to just-war theory, peacebuilding is committed to social change and social justice but includes some theorists and practitioners who accept the use of force in extreme cases of self-defense or humanitarian intervention. Unlike just-war theorists, they do not see the justification of war as part of the Christian mission. Unlike traditional pacifists, they do see social change as necessary and possible and, as such, requiring Christian participation in public efforts.Cahill argues that transformative Christian social participation is demanded by the gospel and the example of Jesus, and can produce the avoidance, resolution, or reduction of conflicts. And yet obstacles are significant, and expectations must be realistic. Decisions to use armed force against injustice, even when they meet the criteria of just war, will be ambiguous and tragic from a Christian perspective. Regarding war and peace, the focus of Christian theology, ethics, and practice should not be on justifying war but on practical and hopeful interreligious peacebuilding.

Theology and the Globalized Present focuses on the world's future in God and God's creativeness. In response to a globalized economy that reconfigures time to the detriment of human flourishing, McDowell presents a re-imagined theological vision of eschatological memory and Eucharistic performance. This entails not so much a dreaming of a different world as a dreaming of this world differently. The theological materials offer a temporality that is hope-generating, critically attentive to the inequitable character of features of our world, and educative of ethical wisdom in a self-regulating and emancipatory witness of remembering and anticipating the transformative presence of God.

This three-book collection, Good Grief: The Complete Set, offers Good Grief, a foundation for understanding grief; The Good Grief Devotional, a collection of valuable insights for those who grieve; and The Good Grief Journal, a pathway for expressing, exploring, and growing from a significant loss.

Good Grief: The Guide and Journal, a two-book pack, offers Good Grief, a foundation for understanding the natural process of grieving, along with The Good Grief Journal, a pathway for expressing, exploring, and growing from a significant loss.

This two-book pack, Good Grief: The Guide and Devotional, offers Good Grief, a foundation for understanding the natural process of grieving, along with The Good Grief Devotional, which provides valuable insights and wise companionship for reflecting on the experience.

Author Dana Horrell has called on his years of experience in community action to create this practical guide to help congregations reach out to their local communities. Church leaders often want to do more to engage their community contexts, but when it comes to the actual "how-to-do-it," they find themselves blocked. Engage! provides practical and proven tools to help leaders develop methods and strategies to get started and break through these barriers.These tools, twenty-six in all, are drawn from a variety of sources, including congregations, church consultants, researchers, and nonprofit organizations. Some of these tools have a long history of use and may seem quite familiar, while others may seem new and untested, yet intriguing. These tools represent best practices and have been tried somewhere and found a degree of success.

St. Hildegard of Bingen was a visionary mystic, a spiritual leader, and a woman ahead of her time. This edition highlights the thoughts of a compelling 12th-century saint.

In this critical time in history, this volume argues that what is urgently needed is a cogent, clear, biblically based and theologically grounded rationale for the manner in which the church speaks and acts in the political arena. Lured at times into other-worldly quietism because of the pressure of historical events or distorted through a rigid understanding of the two kingdoms, the church of the Reformation has at times been silent in addressing the political factors that create and contribute to hunger, injustice, and war. This book looks carefully at the public witness of Martin Luther and its meaning for preaching, teaching, and carrying out public ministry today.Luther's conviction was that government is responsible to God for containing evil and maintaining peace and good order, and for ensuring that no person is hungry or in want.The book asks critical questions: When should the church support the state's agenda? When should it resist? What are the options for critical but constructive cooperation?This helpful volume includes essays from leading Lutheran theologians, a summary description of what this means for local ministry, and a study guide to encourage conversation and action.

The Civil Rights Movement. The Cuban Missile Crisis. The assassination of a president and a senator. Praise turns into protest; hope into disenchantment. The 1960s was an era born in hope that ended in deep conflict. during this era, Reinhold Niebuhr, once dubbed "America's theologian," retired from Union Seminary in New York. in this book, the author introduces us to Niebuhr's life in the 1960s from his critical vantage point as Niebuhr's former student and later, colleague. Though little has been published about this decade in Niebuhr's life, the author's analysis shows a theologian whose work shifts to speak more effectively to the less religious, more secular world around him. The author introduces readers to never-before-seen letters between the author and Reinhold and Ursula Niebuhr, which shed light not only on the impact Niebuhr had on the 1960s but also on the way the 1960s shaped Niebuhr.

Love has the power to transform usIn the words of Mother Teresa, "We have forgotten that we belong to each other." This lapse in memory has caused deep fractures and allowed fear, hatred, and division to infect our lives together. We've become disconnected from each other and from our very selves.In Love Big, leadership coach Rozella Hayd‚e White introduces readers to the power of revolutionary relationships. Modeled after the image of God as a lover, these relationships can heal the brokenness of our lives by crossing over the dividing lines of race, gender, religion, orientation, ability, identity, and class to provide relief and inspiration.Revolutionary relationships will usher us into a reality marked by love, connection, and a belief in abundance.Revolutionary relationships lead us to love big--to love despite hardships and fear; to love in the face of despair; to love ourselves and others deeply and passionately; to love in ways that change us all.

"In A Grief Received, JL Gerhardt offers a personal, authentic, and practical approach to weathering grief with hope. Writing with deep insight, she draws on the loss of her younger brother when she was 21 and other personal experiences of grief. Through nine practices grieving people can adopt to position themselves to receive the gifts of grief, Gerhardt sheds light on a path to personal transformation. Chapters include personal reflection questions and suggested resources. Readers will feel comforted, directed, and inspired to seek God and God's shaping in their grief."--Publisher's website.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 141-142) .