How has our understanding of our world and our place in the universe changed in recent decades through the momentous discoveries of science? Do recent developments in the philosophy of science, which place limitations on scientific knowing, provide a more level playing field? This collection of essays and sermons, which have not been readily available before, address these thought-provoking questions. The John Templeton Foundation sponsored an essay and sermon contest to convey an expanded vision of God, one that is informed by recent discoveries of science on the nature of the universe and the place we have in the world. These selections are the winners of that competition. The book is divided into three sections: “Contemporary Science Raising Theological Questions,” “New Visions of Theology,” and “Historical and Philosophical Perspectives on the Science-Religion Dialogue.” The essays cover such areas as physics, theology, cosmology, origins, and artificial intelligence. “There is another way to conceive our life together. There is another way to conceive of our life in God, but it requires a different worldview—not a clockwork universe in which individuals function as discrete springs and gears, but one that looks more like a luminous web, in which the whole is far more than the parts. In this universe, there is no such thing as an individual apart from his or her relationships. Every interaction—between people and people, between people and things, between things and things—changes the face of history. Life on earth cannot be reduced to four sure-fire rules. It is an ever-unfolding mystery that defies precise prediction. Meanwhile, in this universe, there is no such thing as 'parts‚' The whole is the fundamental unit of reality.” —Barbara Brown Taylor, “Physics and Faith,”
- What is the importance of recognizing the presence of the sacred within us and around us?- How can individuals create a purposeful and fruitful way of life?- How does happiness relate to one's purpose?
Why does the church engage in missions? Where in the Bible do we find support for this work? These questions have been asked and answered by many throughout the centuries, though rarely does the investigation span across the entire canon of Scripture. In this study Newkirk explores the breadth and depth of biblical teaching concerning God’s mission for his people and the church’s call to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth. By beginning with creation and ending with new creation, this study reveals that rather than simply deriving from a few “missions verses,” the church’s call to missions is grounded in the full spectrum of biblical revelation.
Controversy rages on about God's choosing people for salvation. Are only the few elect? Rather than typically beginning with the preconceptions of systematic theologies, Dr. William Klein takes up this question by searching for a biblical theology of election. He surveys the OT contexts of God's choosing individuals--prophets, priests, kings--to serve divine purposes, and considers God's election of the nation of Israel as his special people. This OT study proposes that God's election is both individual and corporate, but not always determinative. Individuals entered the people of God by birth, but not all the people found salvation. Faith in Yahweh was required. This book traces these elective understandings through the intertestamental literature, identifying continuities and shifts. The bulk of the study, and the heart of the argument, focus on the New Testament. Klein identifies concepts of election, and relationships between writers in the gospels, the Lucan material, Paul's writings, and the rest. The new covenant, God choosing the church in Christ, emphasizes election as corporate, while the individual election of Jesus' disciples and of Paul raises the question whether such chosenness is necessarily salvific. In closing, Klein discusses the most engaging and divisive questions around God's election, and offers a real challenge to today's church.
‘Fizzes with intellectual curiosity. Kane writes engagingly and with a humility difficult to find among idea-entrepreneurs’ James Harkin, Independent We all think we know what play is. Play is what we do as children, what we do outside of work, what we do for no other reason than for pleasure. But this is only half of the truth. The Play Ethic explores the real meaning of play and shows how a more playful society would revolutionize and liberate our daily lives. Using wide and varied sources – from the Enlightenment to Eminem, Socrates to Chaos theory, Kierkegaard to Karaoke – The Play Ethic shows how play is fundamental to both society and to the individual, and how the work ethic that has dominated the last three centuries is ill-equipped to deal with the modern world. With verve, wit and intelligence, Pat Kane takes us on a tour of the playful world arguing that without it business, the arts, politics, education, even our family and spiritual lives are fundamentally impoverished. The Play Ethic seeks to change the way you look at your daily life, how you interact with others, how you view the world. It is a guidebook to new, exciting – and unsettling – times. Shocking, controversial, yet magnificently argued, The Play Ethic is a book no one who works, or has ever worked, can afford to be without. ‘Kane's Manifesto for a Different Way of Living is a brave attempt to inject a little playfulness . . . into the dull grind of the working stiff’ Iain Finlayson, The Times
The biography of the "Wizard of Wall Street" who has dedicated his life to advancing the scientific study of spiritual realities has been revised and updated. Sir John Templeton was an inspiring and motivational force both through his personal example and through the foundation that bears his name and is dedicated to his mission. This volume reviews the life of this man of vision, from his childhood in rural Tennessee, to his education at Yale and Oxford, to his legendary years on Wall Street, the birth of his children, and the development and growth of "humility theology science." Interwoven with the stories and facts are the roots of his faith and the values that he credits for his financial success and are the catalyst for his lifelong mission. Sir John's biography updates the growth of the many and varied programs of the John Templeton Foundation that support this mission. It also introduces some of the scientists, theologians, philosophers, writers, and fellow investors who now serve as staff and advisors to the John Templeton Foundation, striving toward Sir John's goal of one-hundred-fold more spiritual information gained through the application of scientific methodology and analysis.
God’s Story Will End Better than It Began . . . Experienced Bible teacher Nancy Guthrie traces 9 themes throughout the Bible, revealing how God’s plan for the new creation will be far more glorious than the original. But this new creation glory isn’t just reserved for the future. The hope of God’s plan for his people transforms everything about our lives today.
This study offers an intercultural theory of interpretation and religion. It does so by bringing Western and East Asian traditions into dialogue regarding the nature of interpretation. The result of this innovative study is a theory of interpretation which integrates the socially embodied dimension of human life with the study of hermeneutics and religion in post-foundational and cross-cultural perspective. Toward this end, Paul Chung offers a constructive theology of divine speech-acts in a manner more amenable to the social-public sphere than other proposals. In all of this he deeply considers intercultural horizon of interpretation between West and East and its implications for a theology of interpretation. The result is a truly theological theory of interpretation that takes seriously the issues of intercultural studies and their intersection with Christian doctrine.
The Creator's Three Dimensional Strategic Plan And Purpose For Humanity. The author of this book is very excited to share his joy of a life-changing discovery he made with everyone who will pick up this book. He is glad to tell everyone that the seal has been broken off from what Jesus said in Luke 13: 32. And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. This is the conclusion of the matter: There is a first day Church that enjoys the Lord's presence and a second day Church that knows His burden removing yoke destroying power that does great exploits in this world. However, there is a 3RD DAY CHURCH that walks in the weight of His glory and splendour that is well able to bring order and decency, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost in a crazy world. This is the Church that walks in His perfect will, whose desire has become His desire; therefore, the whole universe is cooperating with this dynamic church. This is the Church that will bring about a sudden shift in the affairs of humanity. This is that GIANT that everyone was talking about She is the glorious Church that has been made ready to do kingdom business and to occupy all influential places in this world until He comes back again. It is not a Church that is passively waiting for His coming! And He (Jesus) called His ten servants (3rd Day Church well equipped Servants), and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy (make business) until I come (Luke 19:13). We have received a Kingdom that cannot be shaken by anything bad that is happening in this world. This Kingdom is eagerly waiting for the saints to possess it. It is an unseen reality, just like Goshen has been to Israelites, which was and is a place where there is nothing missing and nothing broken. It is the will of God that we should all enjoy a Kingdom of God reality on earth in the here and now! His abundant life is for the NOW and the life to come. The Creator's - three dimensional strategic plan and purpose for humanity. The author of this book is very excited to share his joy of a life-changing discovery he made with everyone who will pick up this book. He is glad to tell everyone that the seal has been broken off from what Jesus said in Luke 13: 32. And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. This is the conclusion of the matter: There is a first day Church that enjoys the Lord's presence and a second day Church that knows His burden removing yoke destroying power that does great exploits in this world. However, there is a 3RD DAY CHURCH that walks in the weight of His glory and splendour that is well able to bring order and decency, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost in a crazy world. This is the Church that walks in His perfect will, whose desire has become His desire; therefore, the whole universe is cooperating with this dynamic church. This is the Church that will bring about a sudden shift in the affairs of humanity. This is that GIANT that everyone was talking about She is the glorious Church that has been made ready to do kingdom business and to occupy all influential places in this world until He comes back again. It is not a Church that is passively waiting for His coming! And He (Jesus) called His ten servants (3rd Day Church well equipped Servants), and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy (make business) until I come (Luke 19:13). We have received a Kingdom that cannot be shaken by anything bad that is happening in this world. This Kingdom is eagerly waiting for the saints to possess it. It is an unseen reality, just like Goshen has been to Israelites, which was and is a place where there is nothing missing and nothing broken. It is the will of God that we should all enjoy a Kingdom of God reality on earth in the here and now! His abundant life is for the NOW and
