In the 1920s, Robert Athlyi Rogers founded the Afro-Athlican Constructive Gaathly religion in the West Indies. He wrote The Holy Piby as a guiding text, seeing Ethiopians - in the classical meaning of all Africans - as God's chosen people, and he preached self-determination and self-reliance. The Holy Piby is a major source of influence to the Rastafarian faith, which holds Haile Selassie I as Christ, and Marcus Garvey as his prophet. The Holy Piby consists of four books, and the seventh chapter of the second book identifies Marcus Garvey as one of three apostles of God. Original copies are extremely rare, and it is not even listed in the Library of Congress. The text was banned in Jamaica and many other Caribbean Islands until the late 1920s.
Since Gerald H. Wilson's landmark work, The Editing of the Hebrew Psalter (1985), scholars have been divided on how to interpret the appearances of the king in Book V (Psalms 107-150). Many have agreed with Wilson in seeing a disjunction between Psalms 1-89 and 90-150, with Psalm 89 representing the apparent failure of the Davidic covenant, and signalling its replacement by a hope in the direct intervention of Yhwh without a role for a Davidic king. Although others have countered that Book V marks a return of the king, with references to David pointing to renewed hope in the Davidic covenant, in both cases scholars have interacted with the question as it was framed by Wilson. Vaillancourt moves the discussion forward by broadening the question to the portrayal of the figure of salvation in Book V of the Psalms, and by narrowing the scope to detailed canonical exegesis on two of its most salient psalms. Canonical exegesis of Psalm 110 displays a cosmic king at the right hand of Yhwh, who has a willing army at his disposal, who will mediate as priest between his people and Yhwh, and who will also accomplish a definitive victory for the people of God. Canonical exegesis of Psalm 118 displays a suffering and conquering king who leads the victory procession from the battle-field, one whose role resonates with a prophetic figure like Moses (cf. Deut. 18.18), as he echoes the songs of the first (Exod. 15) and of a second exodus (Isa. 12) in his responsive song of thanks (vv. 19-28). In the final form of the book of Psalms, the Saviour figure in these psalms emerges as an eschatological figure of salvation who encompasses many hoped-for figures from across the Old Testament in one person, the one who will achieved full-scale deliverance for the people of God.
In large chain bookstores the "religion" section is gone and in its place is an expanding number of topics including angels, Sufism, journey, recovery, meditation, magic, inspiration, Judaica, astrology, gurus, Bible, prophesy, evangelicalism, Mary, Buddhism, Catholicism, and esoterica. As Wade Clark Roof notes, such changes over the last two decades reflect a shift away from religion as traditionally understood to more diverse and creative approaches. But what does this splintering of the religious perspective say about Americans? Have we become more interested in spiritual concerns or have we become lost among trends? Do we value personal spirituality over traditional religion and no longer see ourselves united in a larger community of faith? Roof first credited this religious diversity to the baby boomers in his bestselling A Generation of Seekers (1993). He returns to interview many of these people, now in mid-life, to reveal a generation with a unique set of spiritual values--a generation that has altered our historic interpretations of religious beliefs, practices, and symbols, and perhaps even our understanding of the sacred itself. The quest culture created by the baby boomers has generated a "marketplace" of new spiritual beliefs and practices and of revisited traditions. As Roof shows, some Americans are exploring faiths and spiritual disciplines for the first time; others are rediscovering their lost traditions; others are drawn to small groups and alternative communities; and still others create their own mix of values and metaphysical beliefs. Spiritual Marketplace charts the emergence of five subcultures: dogmatists, born-again Christians, mainstream believers, metaphysical believers and seekers, and secularists. Drawing on surveys and in-depth interviews for over a decade, Roof reports on the religious and spiritual styles, family patterns, and moral vision and values for each of these subcultures. The result is an innovative, engaging approach to understanding how religious life is being reshaped as we move into the next century.
Denominations that formerly welcomed women in ministry often now oppose their ministry, not understanding their own history. No Time for Silence documents evangelical women who taught at Bible institutes, preached at Bible conferences, served at local church pastorates, and evangelized and lead revivals more than 100 years ago. Debate over women's public ministry tends to focus on biblical and theological issues without grappling with the historical questions. Janette Hassey counters the popular but misleading claim that evangelical feminism (the movement for women's equality rooted in Scripture and evangelical Christian faith) is simply an accommodation to recent secular feminist and theologically liberal movements for women's rights. Rather, evangelical feminism in America first surfaced in the mid-nineteenth century and accelerated at the turn of the century. Those who endorsed women's public ministry were convinced that a literal approach to the Bible, and especially prophecy, demanded such leadership by women.
The time has come for Pietism to revitalize Christianity in America. Historian Christopher Gehrz and pastor Mark Pattie argue that the spirit of Pietism, with its emphasis on our walk with Jesus and its vibrant hope for a better future, holds great promise for the church today. Modeled after Philipp Spener's Pia Desideria, this concise and winsome volume introduces Pietism to a new generation.
Joyce Rupp's bestselling contemporary classic has sold more than 200,000 copies. This new edition continues a fifteen-year tradition of helping individuals and groups pray. Now with a new preface and fresh design, The Cup of Our Life is available to anyone seeking a more intimate and disciplined life of prayer. Joyce Rupp, the bestselling Catholic woman writer today, illustrates how the ordinary cups used each day can become sacred vessels that connect readers with life and bring them into closer union with the Divine. She explores how the cup is a rich symbol of life, with its emptiness and fullness, its brokenness and flaws, and its many blessings. With daily devotions for six weeks, this book is ideal for individual usage as well as group usage in parish settings, religious communities, and small Christian communities.
Sensitive and compassionate, yet always pragmatic, Freedom from Sinful Thoughts offers insights into a crucial universal struggle. Drawing on the words of Jesus, and on years of experience as a pastoral counselor, J. Heinrich Arnold guides the reader from the throes of frustration, guilt, and self doubt to a life of single-minded freedom and joy.
