The T & T Clark Blog

New Release: Living Forms of the Imagination

It's with great joy that I announce the release of Douglas Hedley's brilliant book Living Forms of the Imagination. The book will be out in the US in April.

"This book is a clear and eloquent plea for a sacramental conception of our embodied life. Douglas Hedley's text presents an expansive intellectual vision, which shows how philosophical theology can take as its conversation partners not only Plato and Kant, but also Shakespeare and Coleridge, Holderlin and Tolkien, among many others. If you want to know how the tradition of Christian Platonism might be articulated in the context of contemporary debate, then read this book!" Mark Wynn, University of Exeter, UK

"Living Forms of the Imagination is a compelling, erudite articulation and defence of the indispensible cognitive value of the imagination in the philosophy of nature and God. Elegantly written, this book draws on Platonic and Romantic traditions to create a brilliant challenge to contemporary, reductive naturalists and those who advance a deflationary account of the imagination. This book is essential reading for those interested in the imagination, epistemology, naturalism, and the philosophy of religion." Charles Taliaferro, St Olaf College, Minnesota, USA.

Review: Word and Spirit in Ezekiel (LHBOTS)

The Review of Biblical Literature has released two reviews by H. F. Van Rooy and Lena-Sofia Tiemeyer of James Robson's Word and Spirit in Ezekiel, Vol. 447, which we published last November.

Speaking of Ezekiel, I've received a prophecy that we'll soon have images of the launch party at Oxford for Paul Joyce's Ezekiel: A Commentary!

Love the Secret Gospel of Mark? Hate it? Come hear about it!

One of our many biblical studies series is Claremont's Graduate University's Studies in Antiquity and Christianity, edited by the Institute for Antiquity and Christianity's director, Dennis R. MacDonald. If you're into the Secret Gospel of Mark and you're near southern California, you're in for a treat for a great debate with quite a group of T&T Clark authors.

Tomorrow, on Thursday, February 28 at 7:30 the IAC will be presenting an all star panel discussing

The Secret Gospel of Mark: Find or Forgery?

The panel includes:

Dennis R. MacDonald (presiding) - Director of the IAC and John Wesley Professor of New Testament at CST and  Professor of Religion at CGU. He also directs the IAC project Mimesis in Ancient Jewish and Christian Literature. He is the author of Mimesis and Intertextuality in Antiquity and Christianity.

Birger Pearson - Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara and Professor and Interim Director, Religious Studies Program at the University of California, Berkeley. He is the author of Gnosticism and Christianity in Roman and Coptic Egypt.

John Dart -  Christian Century News editor (and former Religion News Reporter at the LA Times) and author of Decoding Mark.

Gesine Robinson - Director of the IAC's Coptic Texts Editing Project and author of numerous publications in the fields of Gnosticism and Coptology. She is the author of The Berlin "Coptic Book."

Marvin W. Meyer - Meyer is director of the IAC Coptic Magical Texts project and Griset Professor of Bible and Christian Studies at Chapman University where he also directs the Albert Schweitzer Institute. He is the co-author of Jesus Then & Now: Images of Jesus in History and Christology and was on the team that translated and edited the National Geographic edition of the Gospel of Judas.

New Release: The Identity of Anglicanism

Paul Avis' masterly book on Anglican Identity has just published in the UK (pub date for the US is March 2008). It has gained the praise of many a scholar already, and rightly so, as far as I am concerned. You can browse the first pages of the book here. (Please ignore the fact that the cover you'll find on our website and on exacteditions is different. The correct cover is the one you see here on the left.)

‘The publication of The Identity of Anglicanism – Essentials of Anglican Ecclesiology  occurs at a most propitious moment as the Anglican Communion prepares for the 2008 Lambeth Conference. Avis draws attention to the essentials of Anglican ecclesiology amid the inter-Anglican search for consensus on Anglican identity and integrity, coupled with a growing concern in the ecumenical domain for the future of Anglicanism. Avis provides a confident and robust scholarly presentation of Anglicanism as a family of autonomous and interdependent churches, forming one part of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, with a rich tradition of theology, spirituality and liturgy. He presents ample evidence to support Anglicanism's self definition as Catholic and reformed, along with a refreshing treatment of traditional elements – for example, Anglican distinctiveness, provisionality, conciliarity and the threefold emphasis on Bible, tradition and reason. The clarity of presentation is supported by a host of sources both Anglican and ecumenical.

This excellent and informative treatment of the essentials of Anglican ecclesiology should quickly establish itself as an authoritative, balanced appraisal of Anglicanism as an integral participant in mainstream Christianity. It should become required reading for theological students and lay persons who seek a reliable guide to the history and development of Anglicanism. I warmly commend Dr Avis for this invaluable production.’

Drexel Gomez, Archbishop of the West Indies, Chair: Inter-Anglican Standing Commission on Ecumenical Relations

‘With characteristic clarity and comprehensiveness, Paul Avis provides a welcome study of the nature of contemporary Anglicanism. There is no doubt that if Anglicans today better understood the wealth of our tradition, we would be enriched in the life of faith we now pursue as well as being greatly assisted in navigating our way through our current differences. Avis offers important insights on which we can draw in developing constructive ways forward. This book is also an invaluable resource for engagement between Anglicans and Christians of other traditions, through which, I hope, our ecumenical partners may also find a fuller appreciation of the deep treasures we currently enjoy within our global Communion through our historic heritage.’

David Beetge, Bishop of Highveld, Church of the Province of Southern Africa, Co-Chair: International Anglican – Roman Catholic Commission on Unity and Mission

‘This is a passionate, frank and rigorous book, important reading for all who seek to understand its subject, especially those in ecumenical dialogue with Anglicans. Paul Avis has given us a highly informative and seriously thoughtful study, valuable also for its treatment of some key themes in modern ecclesiology. A much needed and very welcome contribution at a decisive time.’

Paul McPartlan, Carl J. Peter Professor of Systematic Theology and Ecumenism, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC.

Evolution and Conversion - published!

An excellent start to the day: we received, finally, and after an excruciatingly drawn out wait (which involved parcels vanishing in the post, etc), advance copies of Girard's new book Evolution and Conversion. For many years, of course, Girard's writings and theories (notably his ideas about mimetic desire and scapegoats) have caused debate among literary theorists, philosophers and social scientists. In Evolution and Conversion Girard discusses, in frank and open dialogue with Pierpaolo Antonello and Joao Cezar de Castro Rocha, not only these major tenets of his thought but also the centrality of religion to his work.

As well as talking about his major theories, Girard also discusses his life and career (involving, among other things, a meeting with Picasso and the ocassion when he lost his position at Indiana University for lack of publications - a curious fact that becomes increasingly ironic with the passing of time).

Evolution and Conversion includes a Foreward by Michael Kirwan, who is currently writing a book on Girard and Theology for us; an Introduction by Antonello and Castro Rocha, in which they explain the genesis of the book and the importance, to them, of Girard's theories; as well as a chronology of Girard's life and a full list of his publications.

You can browse through the opening pages here.

Evolution and Conversion is available now in the UK, Europe and Rest of the World and will be published in the US in April.

Endorsement for Calvin: A Guide for the Perplexed

Paul Helm's "Calvin" will be one of the next Guides for the Perplexed, being published in August 2008.

We have just received an endorsement from Dr Oliver Crisp from the University of Bristol:

“Paul Helm's guide to Calvin's thought provides an ideal beginning for those wanting to tackle the thought of the great Genevan Reformer for the first time - particularly those interested in the philosophical-theological ideas informing Calvin's system. Sure-footed and careful in exposition, and characteristically clear and generous in style, Helm brings to bear his considerable knowledge of Calvin's work in this short introduction. Students and scholars alike will greatly benefit from it.”

New LHBOTS Reviews

It's Friday so why not post some LHBOTS reviews as we look back upon our week? Click on the link to purchase (all prices are in US$ on this post).

Can A Cushite Change His Skin? , Vol. 425/ Rodney Steven Sadler, Jr.
“Those expert enough to follow the author’s examination and argument will be greatly rewarded.”-Dianne Bergant, The Bible Today, January/ February 2008 

Mixing Metaphors: God As Mother And Father In Deutero-Isaiah, Vol. 398/ Sarah J. Dille
“…Dille’s study demonstrates how profitable, and indeed, necessary it is to study mixed metaphors.  She has done a service to the study of biblical metaphors by directing future scholarship to new and rich areas for research.” -Kevin Chau, Hebrew Studies, 2007

The Fulfilment of Doom?  The Dialogic Interaction Between the Book of Lamentations and the Pre-exilic/Early Exilic Prophetic Literature, Vol. 437 / Elizabeth Boase
“Overall, Boase’s study represents a starting point.  It is helpful mostly in what it assumes but does not always consciously say, that the biblical texts, as products of their culture, share certain cultural meanings yet differ in their perspective and portrayal of those meanings.” -Jeremiah Cataldo, Hebrew Studies, 2007

The Stories About Naboth the Jezereelite: A Source, Composition, and Redaction Investigation of 1 Kings 21 and Passages in 2 Kings 9, Vol. 424 / Patrick T. Cronaur
“Those interested in tradition development will be enriched by a careful reading of the author’s painstaking argument.” -Dianne Bergant, The Bible Today, January/ February 2008 

Writing the History of Israel, Vol. 438/ Diane Banks
“This book explores the influences of the discipline of history on the work of history writing in biblical studies since the late nineteenth century until the opening years of the twenty-first…Any volume that increases our understanding of the development of the modern discipline of Hebrew Bible/ Old Testament Studies in relation to the academic trends of its time(s) is welcome, and this particular volume does fall into the category, with its many interesting observations on the history of historiography in general and the connections between this history and well-known historians of Israel like Wellhausen, Noth and Bright.” -Iain Provan, Journal of Hebrew Scriptures, Vol. 7, 2007

What's Perplexing in Biblical Studies?

Wow! We've gotten a great response to our post requesting ideas for theological Guides for the Perplexed. A big thanks to Ben Myers for getting the word out about the series and the request for ideas.

As we noted, we're also in the process of putting together Guides in Biblical Studies, as well. We have GFPs lined up for Paul, Eschatology in the Bible, and the Historical Jesus.

What are some Biblical GFPs YOU'D like to see available?

Feel free to spread our request around the blogosphere! The philosophical books in the series have been quite successful and we want to continue the high-caliber, accessible scholarship with our own subjects.

If you're interested in writing a Biblical GFP and have a subject in mind, email one of our Biblical Studies editors for more information.

Forthcoming Release and Guest Post: "Beloved Dust" by Robert D. Hughes III

Because it is Ash Wednesday, I thought it appropriate to ask the Rev. Robert D. Hughes, III, author of the forthcoming Beloved Dust: Tides of the Spirit in the Christian Life, to write a guest post for the blog. He kindly responded by sending me the sermon he delivery on Ash Wednesday in 2003 as it is directly related to the book.

Beloved Dust takes a realistic and contemporary view of human being as entirely physical (dust) and then shows it immersed in three great tides of the Holy Spirit, the traditional threefold rhythm of conversion, transfiguration, and glory. What is unique about Robert Hughes's approach, among other things, is the effort to root spiritual theology in the doctrine of the Spirit, an outgrowth of the renewed interest in the Trinity among both Catholics (Karl Rahner) and Protestants (Robert Jenson). Also striking is Hughes's emphasis on "ordinary life"—marriage, parenting, etc. Here as a married Episcopal priest/theologian he brings a distinctly "Protestant" perspective to a traditionally "Catholic" enterprise for so long the preserve of celibate priests. What he achieves is an entirely new presentation of the traditional teaching in the light of contemporary knowledge and practice.

Beloved Dust will be released in the Fall of this year.

Father Hughes' sermon is under the cut.

What's Perplexing in Theology?

Last year we published David Grumett's very fine book on Henri de Lubac which started the series of our Guides for the Perplexed in theology. More books are to follow this year, the next one being Agneta Sutton's Christian Bioethics. We had a lot of fun commissioning more titles, both on key thinkers in theology as well as on key concepts. Here is a list of forthcoming Guides for the Perplexed:

Balthasar
Barth
Bonhoeffer
Bultmann
Calvin
Luther
Newman
Origen
Pannenberg
Paul
Rahner
Schleiermacher
Tillich
Wesley

Christology
Christian Ethics
Eschatology in the Bible
Eucharist
Historical Jesus
Martyrdom
Political Theology
Science & Religion
The Trinity
The Church

Are there any subjects missing here? What do you find perplexing and which issues would you like to see covered? Let us know what you think - or even if you'd like to submit a proposal for the series! We are looking forward to hearing from you!