Religion Theory

Is meditation an escape from - or a solution to - our psychological problems? Is the use of antidepressants counter to spiritual practice? Does a psychological approach to meditation reduce spirituality to "self-help"? What can Zen and psychoanalysis teach us about the problems of the mind and suffering?

In Thick and Thin: Moral Argument at Home and Abroad, Michael Walzer revises and extends the arguments in his influential Spheres of Justice, framing his ideas about justice, social criticism, and national identity in light of the new political world that has arisen in the past three decades. Walzer focuses on two different but interrelated kinds of moral argument: Maximalist and minimalist, thick and thin, local and universal.

A sermon by Charles Spurgeon, in which he claims that Christ died out of sheer pity for the ungodly.

The salvation of the soul is probably one of the most misunderstood concepts in the church today. Most people think that the salvation of the spirit and the salvation of the soul are the same thing, even though the Scriptures tell us something different. The salvation of a person’s spirit is very simple. Acts 16:30-31 tells us: "30) 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' 31) So they said, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.'" The salvation of the spirit is based on the finished work of our savior Jesus Christ at Calvary.

What does it mean to accept God’s grace? New York Times best-selling author Max Lucado believes, “When grace happens, generosity happens.” God’s grace is always there, ready to do wonders in your life. In Grace Happens Here, you’ll learn how to accept His grace and forgiveness and how to extend the same blessing toward others.

For the first time in any modern language, a female scholar and translator reimagines The Art of War. Sun Tzu’s ancient book of strategy and psychology has as much to tell us today as when it was first written 2,500 years ago. In a world forever at odds, his rules for anticipating the motivations and strategies of our competitors never cease to inspire leaders of all kinds.

He who does not take the step of faith and enter upon the road to heaven will perish. It will be an awful thing to die close to yet outside the gate of life. Almost saved, but altogether lost! This is the most terrible of positions. A man just outside Noah’s ark would have drowned; a murderer close to the wall of the city of refuge, but outside of it, would be slain; and the man who is within a yard of Christ but has not trusted him will be lost.

In this work, John Bunyan addresses the issue of imputation in great detail. The imputed righteousness of Christ was of the highest importance to him, as the only way of salvation. He opposed any manifestation of self-righteousness among Christians, any any claim of justification built thereon.

This 1754 work by Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) is subtitled An Inquiry into the Modern Prevailing Notions of the Freedom of the Will Which Is Supposed to Be Essential to Moral Agency, Virtue and Vice, Reward and Punishment, Praise and Blame. Edwards was a Christian reformer, theologian, and author in the Calvinist tradition, and in this work he explores the necessity of divine grace for the redeeming of the damaged will of humanity. He contends that free will is an extension of, and connected to, the grace of God.

Has God withdrawn his special blessing from the United States? Americans ponder that painful question in troubled times, as we did during the devastation of the Civil War and after the assassinations of the '60s, and as we do in our present polarization. Yet, somehow - on battlefields, across western wilderness, and in raucous convention halls - astounding events have reliably advanced America, restoring faith in the Republic’s providential protection. In this provocative historical narrative, Michael Medved brings to life 10 haunting tales that reveal this purposeful pattern.

King Josiah inherited a kingdom in ruin and under the judgment of God. He heard a message of destruction from prophets and changed his ways, but quickly found out sincere faith is not enough! While cleaning up his kingdom and placing the temple in order, the workers discovered the Book of the Law which told Josiah how to worship before God. When he humbled himself to God and His Word, he was spared the destruction that was coming.

We’ve all felt the weight of shame and brokenness. We long for a fresh start, but what we need most is the ability to see ourselves through God’s eyes of grace. New York City pastor Chris Durso believes grace is the central message of all Scripture. While there have been some daring heists and cunning capers throughout history, this book is about the greatest heist the world has ever seen...a daring raid where God’s son took back what the enemy had stolen, freeing us from the power of shame, sin, and Satan.

You will be treated like Jesus on the Day of Judgment! That is exactly what the entire New Testament is shouting to believers. There will be no fear, no shame, and no guilt on the Day of Judgment. Instead, we can have confidence on the Day of Judgment because we are totally forgiven and just like Jesus. In The Cross Worked., Zach Maldonado explores the Scriptures about forgiveness, reward, and judgment and dismantles the popular religious jargon around these verses.

Some people think that salvation is merely about meeting the minimal entrance requirements needed to get into heaven when they die. But that’s not how Jesus talked about it. Rightly understood, salvation is an invitation to know God and to experience his presence, favor, and power starting right here on earth. Best-selling author John Ortberg dispels the myth that eternal life is something we can only hope to experience after we die; recaptures the New Testament definition of salvation, eternal life, and the Good News of the Gospel; and explains what it really means to be a disciple.

Aren't you a lucky child? A long time ago, the right to suffrage was only granted to certain members of the society. These days, everyone can vote. The question now is: "Who should you vote?" You will find your answer will depend on the influences of the people around you. Get to know the individuals who will shape your voting preference later on in life.

Every Christmas, we celebrate the events surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ, the savior of the world. But few have ever captured the profound implications of Christ’s birth like the ancient church father, Athanasius. In this audiobook, The Face of Infinite Love, you’ll explore the profound miracle of the Incarnation through the lens of one of the greatest treasures in Christian literature, Athanasius’ On the Incarnation.

Romans nine has been a theological battleground for centuries. Scholars from all perspectives have debated whether Paul is teaching corporate or individual election, whether or not God truly hates Esau, and how to understand the hardening of Pharaoh's heart. Both sides have accused the other of misrepresenting God.

All Americans, liberal or conservative, religious or not, can agree that religious freedom, anchored in conscience rights, is foundational to the US democratic experiment. But what freedom of conscience means, what its scope and limits are, according to the Constitution - these are matters for heated debate.

Noll demonstrates how supporters and opponents of slavery and segregation drew equally on the Bible to justify the morality of their positions. He shows how a common evangelical heritage supported Jim Crow discrimination and contributed powerfully to the black theology of liberation preached by Martin Luther King Jr.

Despite numerous warnings from intelligence services, ISIS' rise to power has left countries around the world floundering for solutions. Today we face a threat that is more violent, more powerful, and financially stronger than ever before. In this audiobook journalist Benjamin Hall will provide insights by answering the basic questions we still don't have the answers to: Who are they? Where did they come from? How are they so successful so quickly? How can they be stopped?