The T & T Clark Blog

Professorial Inaugural Lecture by Dom Henry Wansbrough: Liverpool Hope 7th March

Dom Henry Wansbrough

Liverpool Hope University have announced the Professorial inaugural lecture of Dom Henry Wansbrough, who has been appointed Alexander Jones Professor of Biblical Studies. It is taking place on Wednesday 7th March at 5.30pm and the title of the lecture is 'Was Jesus a Pharisee?'

Fr Henry is the former Master of St. Benet's Hall in Oxford, was for many years the only English member of the Pontifical Biblical Commission, and is the General Editor of the New Jerusalem Bible. He is a Benedictine monk of Ampleforth Abbey.

He is also one of T&T Clark's most valued authors. His bestselling book 'The Use and Abuse of the Bible' was published to great acclaim in 2010 - reprinting twice within its first year - and his new book 'The Sunday Word' has just come out under the Burns and Oates imprint. This book provides short commentaries on the Sunday Readings (and major feasts/solemnities) together with questions for personal reflection, and an introduction on the shape of the Lectionary. It will be a must for Lectio Divina and scripture study groups in both Roman Catholic and Anglican traditions.

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor says in his foreword to the book; 'In these commentaries the background and chape of every passage is opened up and shared with us. This is a great achievement by Henry Wansbrough and we should all be grateful to him'

and Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL, says; 'Beautifully written and drawing upon a lifetime of Biblical scholarship, Dom Henry Wansbrough's explanations of the Bible readings Sunday by Sunday are as informative as they are a delight!'

We congratulate Fr Henry on his Professorial appointment, and hope that the inaugural lecture will be a tremendous success.

Karl Barth's Church Dogmatics: An Introduction and Reader

I have just received an advance copy of R. Michael Allen’s new book – Karl Barth’s Church Dogmatics: An Introduction and Reader.

As always, we have received very interesting endorsements:

‘Embarking on the study of Barth’s Church Dogmatics is no easy matter; this careful selection, with its perceptive introduction and commentaries, is an excellent guide to exploring one of the monumental texts of modern theology.’ – John Webster, University of Aberdeen, UK

‘This volume is a welcome resource for both teachers and students of Karl Barth's theology. Michael Allen's well-chosen excerpts from the Church Dogmatics are lengthy enough to provide a feel for Barth's sprawling theological discourse and wide-ranging enough to provide an appreciation of the full scope of his dogmatic thought. The introduction and notes locate Barth's work within the context of classical and modern divinity and direct readers to the best English-language literature on the Basel theologian. Those who have heretofore feared the prospect of exploring Karl Barth's massive Church Dogmatics may now take courage thanks to Allen's able guidance.’ – Scott R. Swain, Reformed Theological Seminary, USA

‘This is a judiciously selected and carefully introduced series of key readings from the Church Dogmatics. Allen has done the newcomer to Barth a great service by preparing this collection of texts from what remains the most important work in theology of recent times. This volume is a fine resource both for inspiring readers to venture further into Barth's work for themselves and for encouraging students to engage appreciatively and critically with its content.’ – Paul T. Nimmo, The University of Edinburgh, UK

The book will be available in the UK in the middle of March and the readers based in the US can purchase a copy in May 2012.

'The Big Questions'

Newly minted professor (and T&T Clark author) Francesca Stavrakopoulou was on the BBC's 'The Big Questions', broadcast yesterday. Iplayer link here for those in the UK. The programme debated the existence of God. I haven't watched all of it, because my internet is a bit slow for such things at work (and, errr, because I'm at work). But the bit I did watch disappointed me a little because the theist arguments I heard seemed very simple, and to come from a wholly uneducated perspective. This was particularly the case when they were talking about an uncaused cause, or an unmoved mover, which even Nicky Campbell seemed to know something about - God (if he exists - I don't know cos I didn't watch the whole show) bless wikipedia. People clearly hadn't really grasped their Aquinas, and had I been there I'd have recommended that they consult several T&T Clark publications for help... notably our Aquinas Reader's Guide.

It was whilst some chap with the poetically significant name Adam, described as a 'Muslim Thinker', was getting himself tangled up that Francesca chipped in with the point that looking at creation as a single event doesn't entirely fit with the biblical account... which suggests an ongoing process of creation. One might even say 'Creation, Un-creation, Re-creation' (as Joe Blenkinsopp eloquently outlines in his book by this title). Of course, the biblical account does suggest an ongoing process of creation, a process of constant creation... (in addition of course to a 'beginning point') in which humanity has a part to play. This notion is present throughout the biblical text, and certainly in Christian theology. Sadly no-one on the theist front bench in 'The Big Questions' (at least not in the bit I watched) seemed to know this and some of them might need to read this, whereas certainly all of them could have done with a copy of this. They were all far more concerned with saying that the big bang doesn't disprove God. Of course, the Big Bang doesn't... so I'm not sure why they were all so preoccupied with it, but it seemed set to remain the battle ground de choix.

I gave up, as did my internet connection... when the old altruism debate (sometimes people are lovely for no apparent reason = God) was wheeled out in the most basic of terms. Of course there is rich fruit here and it is within this line of enquiry that I find my own belief, but sadly it wasn't put across well by the theist front bench.

Anyway, it was all good fun... and nice to have these debates on the telly I suppose. The best thing of all, however, is the way the programme is desribed on iplayer:

'Nicky Campbell debates evidence for the existence of God in Warrington'

I've never been to Warrington, so I wouldn't know.

Jesus, Criteria and the Demise of Authenticity

 

It's great to see a post about our forthcoming volume, 'Jesus, Criteria and the Demise of Authenticity' over on Mark Goodacre's blog. We're really excited about this volume as it looks to be an utterly timely collection, which should generate a lot of debate and really take Historical Jesus studies forward.

The contributors are top notch (Goodacre, McKnight, Stuckenbruck, Schroter, Hooker etc), and though it's a scholarly volume I can see it being required reading on some courses, and certainly supplementary reading on many others.

As a New Year gift, and to whet your appetite, here is the foreword by Morna D. Hooker ( Download Foreword_Hooker), who kicked off the authenticity debate some years ago.

The book will be out later this year.

God, Humanity and the Cosmos – 3rd Edition

A few months ago I have posted three author’s blog posts – all three form the Biblical Studies list. I have received some advance copies of God, Humanity and the Cosmos – 3rd Edition and then I thought that it would be good if Christopher Southgate could write a blog for this collection of essays – and here it is!

I hope you’ll enjoy reading this post and do follow it till the end as I have also included three endorsements, which are simply great:

‘This textbook for students of science and religion came originally out of meetings of those UK scholars who had won awards in the Science and Religion Course Program funded by Templeton. It became clear that there was no one book that offered a clear, lively and student-friendly account of the debate. In 2005 the book was strengthened by the inclusion of a new historical chapter, and additional material on the theology of creation. For the 2011 edition, further strengthening includes new chapters on climate change and the new atheism, as well as extensive updating of the other material and the bibliography. As the co-ordinating editor I am really grateful to my co-authors for all their insights, and for their loyalty to the book - fifteen years on from its original genesis. I'm also grateful to the members of the UK Science and Religion Forum who spent a whole day last year bombarding the authors with suggestions! Evolutionary psychology, transhumanism, and the 'dappled world' of Nancy Cartwright all get more attention as a result of their suggestions. The book has become an industry standard in countries all over the world. Check out the new edition, and feed back what you think!’ Christopher Southgate.

Ethnography as Christian Theology and Ethics

I am trying to catch up with my blogging and to flag up all the new books we have published recently. This is not an easy task...

Ethnography as Christian Theology and Ethics, a collection of essays from the new and growing field of Christian Ethnography, is edited by Christian Scharen and Aana Marie Vigen. It is available to readers right now, on both sides of the Ocean. This book is divided into three parts titled: Prolegomena, Exemplars and Method; and its Foreword is written by Mary McClintock Fulkerson.

You are probably guessing now… yes, this volume has received five great endorsements from Emilie M. Townes, Ted A. Smith, Pete Ward, João Biehl and Traci West, which I am placing below:

'This engaging collection is a helpful foundation for exploring the use of ethnography in Christian ethics and theology. The authors provide thoughtful and probing challenges to how social scientists and theologians do our work-encouraging us to question and alter some of the basic assumptions of our work so that we do it with genuine rigor rather than with unexamined normative commitments or using the social sciences as lax sources for theological reflection. The challenge is genuine and I encourage us to read and learn from this fine collection.’ - Emilie M. Townes, Yale Divinity School, USA.

Tom Greggs on Motifs in Religionlessness

Tom Greggs' forthcoming 'Theology against Religion' is clearly the most exciting theology manuscript I have read in a long time. Tom looks at the critique of 'religion' as found in Barth and Bonhoeffer. After a careful analysis of their work he identifies ten central motifs in religionlessness which he then uses to develop a vision for theology and indeed the church of the future. How should theology look like, how should the church look like in a time when Christianity as religion is a thing of the past?

 

To whet your appetites, read the concluding section of chapter four below. The book will publish in October in the UK (US: December). The cover on the left is a draft design.

 

Motifs in Religionlessnes (Tom Greggs)

A theology which takes the critique of religion seriously will in the first instance be (1) radically christocentric. In seeking to understand who God is, it will necessarily look to Jesus Christ, and seek to learn from Him. In doing this, such a theology will seek to affirm the humanity of God rather than any perceived innate divinity in humans. It will be a theology that realizes that the veil is truly rent, and God is most visibly seen, in the dead human corpse of the human who died for other humans, hanging on a cross. Jesus Christ, as one who stood in opposition to religious authorities and rulers, as the one who was never a member of a priestly class and never created a priestly class, and as the one in whom there is no longer any distance between God and humanity, will be the governing rule of a theology which takes the critique of religion seriously. Revelation will be understood not simply as a ‘thing’ in relation to Him, but as the act and event of God by which He is known to individuals and communities by the power of the Spirit.

Two new volumes in the Ecclesiological Investigations series

Communion, Diversity, and Salvation by Brian Flanagan and Denomination, a collection of essays edited by Paul M. Collins and Barry Ensign-George, are published in June.

Brian Flanagan discusses the significance of the term ‘communion’ and its use in the work of Jean-Marie Tillard, OP. I have received three great endorsements for this volume from Bradford Hinze, Michael Attridge and Michael A. Fahey, SJ – and these are below:

‘A valuable introduction to the ecclesiological contribution of Jean-Marie Tillard. Brian Flanagan deftly situates major facets of Tillard’s life work in relation to contemporary debates about communion ecclesiology and theological method. His most important contribution is his assessment of Tillard’s achievement and his appeal to remedy his limitations by critically engaging social theories in the study of the concrete practices of the church.’ – Bradford Hinze, Fordham University, USA.

T&T Clark at the CTSA and ATLA conferences

June has arrived and our New York office is busy busy preparing for two conferences later this week: the Catholic Theological Society of America and the American Theological Library Association.

You'll find me (hopefully all smiles due to that California weather!) selling three tables worth of books at the CTSA meeting in San Jose, CA, June 9-11. We're offering 35% off all books and will have new and recent titles such as The Ratzinger Reader and Newman and His Contemporaries. If you have a book proposal, stop by and chat and leave it with me, and I'll pass it along to our acquisitions editor after the show.

Kim Petit will be our rep at the ATLA meeting in Chicago, IL, June 9-10. There will be a good selection for librarians to browse and some great deals on books, such as our Church Dogmatics 31 volume set.

Hope to see you there!

Kara Zavada
US Religion Marketing Manager

‘Paul and the Second Century’ another guest post

A month or so ago, I introduced to you two authors’ posts about new LNTS volumes. I have now received another post, which I hope you’ll find informative. This very interesting collection of essays is already published in the UK and will be ready for readers in the US at the beginning of July 2011. So, without further ado here it is:

The second century was a tumultuous time for the church who had to wrestle with deviations of belief influenced by hyper-Hellenism, spasmodic persecution by Roman authorities, criticism from pagan intellectuals, and occasional departures from an assumed moral framework by certain figures in the church. It was in the midst of such difficulties that a great many voices came forward to define the doctrines and guiding characteristics of what they considered “genuine” Christianity. The interest of Paul and the Second Century is to explore how great an impact Paul made on the minds engaged in this endeavor.

Therefore, “this volume represents cutting edge research that combines experts in Pauline studies with experts in Second Century Christianity to identify the formative influence that Paul had on Second Century Christian groups and writings."