In this book, Colleen Conway looks at the construction of masculinity in New Testament depictions of Jesus. She argues that the New Testament writers necessarily engaged the predominant gender ideology of the Roman Empire, whether consciously or unconsciously. Although the notion of what constituted ideal masculinity in Greek and Roman cultures certainly pre-dated the Roman Empire, the emergence of the Principate concentrated this gender ideology on the figure of the emperor.

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen was one of the leading religious figures of the 20th century and the chief spokesman of American Catholicism. Previously unpublished, this work reflects his 16 years of service as national director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith and 26 years on radio and television. It is the only work where he describes his Christian philosophy.

Though love is a perennial topic for writers of all kinds, much of what is written aboutlove is simplistic and unsatisfying. In Conscious Love, Richard Smoley—an expert on the esoteric traditions of mystical Christianity—incorporates insights and wisdom about love from noted thinkers in literature, art, philosophy, sociology, cultural criticism, and even neurology. This remarkable book offers a blueprint for infusing conscious love into human relationships.

Many people have heard the term "Talmud" but have little or no idea what it is, what it contains, and why it was written; moreover, few have ever actually looked into one of its works, and even fewer would make any sense of it if they did. Here, Sicker provides readers with insight into the nature and history of Judaic thought and its literature through illustrative examples and clear explanations.

Love it or hate it, the Catholic Church has been for 2,000 years at the very center of Europe and Western civilization in all its important aspects: theological, political, social, moral, economic, etc. It has been attacked on many different grounds, often violently, yet it still remains standing. Occasionally weakened, and then subject to an energetic renaissance, the Church can look back upon now long-gone empires, emperors, kings, intellectual traditions and philosophies, heresies and schisms, and in all cases say, "I was there."

At a time of renewed interest in Empire, this stimulating volume explores the complex relationship between the Bible and the colonial enterprise, and examines some overlooked aspects of this relationship.

A global study of the Society of Jesus's early missions. Luke Clossey follows trails of personnel, money, relics and information between missions in seventeenth-century China, Germany and Mexico, and explores how the Jesuits understood their universal mission, demonstrating that the global perspective is essential to understanding the Jesuits.

What is the Bible's stance on such controversial issues as homosexuality and polygamy? What does it have to say about sexual behaviors that some would deem perverted or criminal? Is sex always wrong if it is not used to create life?

The Virgin Mary plays a major - although often paradoxical - role in the incarnation and crucifixion and in the ecclesiastical structure of Christianity. This role is shaped by sacrifice as understood in terms of the religious patrimony of ancient Israel and as refigured in the new Christian and Islamic paradigms arising from it. Here the offering up of a son is a frequently occurring motif, one in which fathers and mothers play an emotionally fraught, anthropologically conditioned and theologically significant role.

What is the nature of world Anglicanism in a postcolonial, global age? With talk of fragmentation constantly in the media, what does it mean to be 'Anglican'? This book presents Anglicanism as a conversation over time amongst a community of people held together by sets of practices and beliefs.

Bestselling author Keith Ward provides a unique and authoritative introduction to Christianity which will reward both the curious and those seeking a deeper understanding of their religion. Examining themes ranging from Creation to conceptions of the Trinity, Ward reveals a multifaceted religion united by a common belief, and encourages readers to think creatively about a tradition whose impact has been felt in the remotest areas of the planet.

An essential collection of more than 2,500 deities of the world. For more than 60,000 years, people have worshiped deities of the sun, sky, and sea, as well as creator gods, relying on the guidance of faith in the midst of the mysterious world around them. Dictionary of Gods and Goddesses, Second Edition provides access to more than 2,500 of these religious figures, from ancient Sumerian gods through the modern Haitian deities.

For thousands of years shamans have traveled the spirit world, hunting lost souls, healing the sick, interpreting dreams, and guiding human endeavors on behalf of individuals and communities. Shamanism: An Encyclopedia of World Beliefs, Practices, and Culture is the first worldwide survey to trace the continuous thread of shamanic beliefs and rituals across cultures and through time. It is the only reference to fully convey what it means to be a shaman and how the role of the shaman influences—and draws meaning from—each culture from which it emerges.

As recently seen by the Kitzmiller vs. Dover case, the evolution versus creation debate never goes away. The best way to understand these debates is to read the arguments of the individuals involved. This reference work provides over 40 of the most important documents to help readers understand the debate in the eyes of the people of the time. Each document is from a major participant in the debates -- from the predecessors of Darwin to the judges of the influential court cases of the present day. The editors have included an introduction and analysis of each document that places it within historical and scientific context.