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Epworth Books

Liberal and Progressive Christian titles

Here is a selection of popular current and forthcoming liberal and progressive Christian titles available from Epworth Books.

Prices and availability shown were correct as at 5 May 2010, but may have changed since this page was last updated.

Please scroll to the end of this list to order.

NEW - Case For God: What Religion Really Means. Karen Armstrong $39.99 (3 copies in stock) Random House, US. isbn 9781847920355 Item Ref 228453 Theology.

Why has the modern God become incredible? Has God a future in this age of aggressive scientific rationalism? Karen Armstrong suggests that if we draw creatively on the insights of the past, we can build a faith that speaks to the needs of our troubled and dangerously polarized world.

Also by Armstrong:

• Battle For God: Fundamentalism In Judaism, Christianity & Islam. Karen Armstrong $22.99 (1 copy in stock.) HarperCollins. isbn 9780006383482 Item Ref 138925 Theology
• Buddha. Karen Armstrong $38.99 (1 copy in stock) Penguin Books. isbn 9780143034360 Item Ref 163895 World Religions
• Great Transformation: Pbk The World In The Time Of Buddha, Socrates, Confucius And Jeremiah. Karen Armstrong $29.99 (4 copies in stock.) Penguin Books. isbn 9781843540564 Item Ref 194780 Theology
• History Of God: From Abraham To The Present: 4000 Year Quest For God. Karen Armstrong $34.99 (2 in stock) Vintage, UK. isbn 9780099273677 Item Ref 100623 Theology
• History Of Jerusalem : One City, Three Faiths 2nd Ed, 2005. Karen Armstrong $29.99 (Allow 3-4 weeks) HarperCollins. isbn 9780006383475 Item Ref 178530 Church History/Biography
• Muhammad: Prophet For Our Times Hbk. Karen Armstrong $36.99 (1 copy in stock) HarperCollins. isbn 9780007232451 Item Ref 212060 World Religions
• On The Bible: (Books That Shook The World Series). Karen Armstrong $29.99 (2 copy in stock.) Allen & Unwin. isbn 9781741148985 Item Ref 199166 Theology
• Short History of Myth. $28.00 Cannongate isbn 9781920885878  Item Ref 176666 (1 copy in stock)
• Spiral Staircase: My Climb Out Of Darkness (Pbk). Karen Armstrong $25.99 (1 copy in stock.) HarperCollins. isbn 9780007122295 Item Ref 166760 Church History/Biography
• Through The Narrow Gate: A Nun's Story. Karen Armstrong $24.99 (1 copy in stock) Flamingo, UK. isbn 9780006550549 Item Ref 139284 Church History/Biography

NEW - People's History Of Christianity: The Other Side Of The Story. Diana Butler Bass $39.99 (1 copy in stock.) HarperCollins. isbn 9780061448706 Item Ref 220366 Theology

For too long, the history of Christianity has been told as the triumph of orthodox doctrine imposed through power and hierarchy. In A People's History of Christianity, historian and religion expert Diana Butler Bass reveals an alternate history that includes a deep social ethic and far-reaching inclusivity: "the other side of the story" is not a modern phenomenon, but has always been practiced within the church. Butler Bass persuasively argues that corrective—even subversive—beliefs and practices have always been hallmarks of Christianity and are necessary to nourish communities of faith.

Also by Butler Bass:

• Christianity For The Rest Of Us: How The Neighborhood Church Is Transforming The Faith. Diana Butler Bass $34.00 (2 copies in stock.) HarperCollins. isbn 9780060859497 Item Ref 195267 Theology
• From Nomads To Pilgrims: Stories From Practicing Congregations. Diana Butler Bass $29.99 (1 copy in stock.) Alban Institute, US. isbn 9781566993234 Item Ref 206833 Theology
• Practicing Congregation: Imagining A New Old Church. Diana Butler Bass $29.99 (2 copies in stock.) Alban Institute, US. isbn 9781566993050 Item Ref 206841 Theology
• Strength For The Journey: A Pilgrimage Of Faith In Community. Diana Butler Bass $32.99 (1 copy in stock.) Jossey-Bass Inc Pub,. isbn 9780787974251 Item Ref 206858 Theology

NEW - First Paul: Reclaiming The Radical Visionary (Pbk). Marcus J. Borg & John Dominic Crossan $29.99 (1 copy in stock) SPCK, UK. isbn 9780281061587 Item Ref 225635 Theology.

How could the letters of Paul be used both to inspire radical grace and to endorse oppression? Borg and Crossan use the best of biblical and historical scholarship to explain the reasons for Paul’s mixed reputation and reveal that the later letters of Paul were created by the early church to dilute Paul‘s egalitarian message and transform him into something more “acceptable.”

Also by Borg:

• First Christmas: Pbk What The Gospels Really Teach Us About Jesus's Birth. Marcus J. Borg  & John Dominic Crossan $27.99 (Not in Srtock, 5 on order) SPCK, UK. isbn 9780281060047 Item Ref 218515 Theology
• Heart Of Christianity: Rediscovering A Life Of Faith (Pbk). Marcus J. Borg $27.99 (1 copies in stock.) HarperCollins. isbn 9780060730680 Item Ref 162291 Theology
• Jesus & Buddha: The Parallel Sayings [Large Format]. Marcus J. Borg $39.00 (Not in stock, 1 on order) Ulysses Press, US. isbn 9781569754610 Item Ref 170146 Theology
• Jesus: Uncovering The Life, Teachings & Relevance Of A Religious Revolutionary Pbk. Marcus J. Borg $42.00 (2 copies in stock.) HarperSanFrancisco. isbn 9780061434341 Item Ref 196758 Theology
• Last Week: [Pbk] What The Gospels Really Teach About Jesus's Final Days In Jerusalem. Marcus J. Borg $29.99 (3 copies in stock) HarperCollins. isbn 9780060872601 Item Ref 187355 Theology
• Meeting Jesus Again For The First Time. Marcus J. Borg $38.00 (1 copy in stock.) HarperSanFrancisco. isbn 9780060609177 Item Ref 100816 Theology
• Reading The Bible Again For The First Time (Pbk). Marcus J. Borg $40.99 (1 copy in stock.) HarperSanFrancisco. isbn 9780060609191 Item Ref 135850 Bibles/Commentaries
• Experiencing The Heart Of Christianity: (Study 12 Sessions) Incl DVD Tim Scorer $65.00 (Allow 6-8 weeks) Wood Lake. isbn 1551455110 Item Ref 166808 Spirituality/Devotional

Who On Earth Was Jesus?: Modern Quest For Jesus Of History. David Boulton $55.00 (1 copy in stock) O Books, US. isbn 9781846940187 Item Ref 211646 Theology

A comprehensive, engrossing account of the state of the current debate between modern scholars on what we can learn about the Jesus of history before he became the Christ of faith. All the major schools of historical Jesus detective-work are surveyed in turn. “The best and most thorough account of the breadth and variety of historical Jesus scholarship. Lively, informed, fair and highly recommended.” Marcus Borg.

What Does A Progressive Christian Believe? A Guide For The Searching, The Open And The Curious. Delwin Brown $34.00 (1 copy in stock) Seabury Books, US. isbn 9781596270848 Item Ref 221053 Theology

This book explores what it means to be a pluralistic, compassionate, open-minded, justice-seeking Christian today.

"Brown offers a contemporary theology that unites rational integrity with the passionate convictions of Christian faith in a way that is deeply informed by the witness of Scripture. He expresses what’s at stake for us today in our beliefs about God, Christ, humanity, the Bible, and the nature of sin and salvation. This is a prophetic, grace-filled and profoundly pastoral book addressed to general readers." Jennifer Jesse, Assoc Professor of Philosophy and Religion, Truman State University.

Mandate To Difference: Invitation To The Contemporary Church. Walter Brueggemann $39.99 (3 copies in stock) Westminster John Knox. isbn 9780664231217 Item Ref 195765 Theology

Brueggemann sets forth a new vision of the Christian church in today's world. Based on his critical passion and conviction ­– that the church in this moment must set itself in tension with the rest of the world – these essays call the church to courageously defy political polarisation, consumerism, and militarism.

 NEW - Resistance: The New Role Of Progressive Christians. John B. Cobb $49.99 (Allow 3-4 weeks) Westminster John Knox. isbn 9780664232870 Item Ref 227508 Theology

“A welcome redefinition of what we used to mean by ‘liberal’ and now call ‘progressive’ Christianity. ...this book reintroduces deeper streams of social possibility, those of prayer, community, and the liberation of saying no to bread that does not satisfy. Spiritually alert people will want to read this book.” Donna Schaper, senior minister of Judson Memorial Church in New York City.

God And Empire: Jesus Against Rome, Then And Now PBK. John Dominic Crossan $37.99 (2 copies in stock.) HarperSanFrancisco. isbn 9780060858315 Item Ref 202251 Theology

At the heart of the Bible is a moral and ethical call to fight unjust superpowers, whether they are Babylon, Rome, or perhaps even America. Through the revolutionary messages of Jesus and Paul, Crossan reveals what the Bible has to say about land and economy, violence and retribution, justice and peace, and ultimately, redemption.

Also by Crossan:

• Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography. John Dominic Crossan $45.99 (1 copy in stock.) HarperSanFrancisco. isbn 9780060616625 Item Ref 101046 Theology

God Book: Talking About God Today. Neil Darragh $29.99 (Allow 1 week) Accent, NZ. isbn 9780958345484 Item Ref 221205 New Zealand/Pacific

Traditional language about God often does not work. It doesn’t easily express modern Christian spirituality and has been dismissed by secular society as irrelevant.

The God Book looks at modern people and ancient sources to discover a new set of images and ways of talking about God. A great resource for Christians who want to talk about what believing in God can contribute to our world.

The 19 New Zealand contributors include: Susan Smith - ecology, Zain Ali - Islamic reflections, Neil Darragh - images and names for God, Ann-Marie Harvey - on the mystics, Ann Gluckman - a Jewish perspective, Trish McBride - feminine images of God, and Margaret France - talking about God with friends and neighbours.

NEW - Liberal Theology: A Radical Vision. Peter C. Hodgson $42.99 (1 in stock) Fortress Press, US. isbn 9780800638986 Item Ref 227493 Theology

In this incisive work, distinguished theologian Peter Hodgson reflects on the precarious yet vital role of theology today and its nearly lost and sometimes discredited tradition of liberal thought, especially liberal theology. Liberal theology has been the main thread of Christian thinking over the last 200 years, but it threatens to be obscured by a rising tide of conservative and even fundamentalist Christianity, on the one hand, and a secular materialism, on the other.

Hodgson's sure-footed work offers a way of seeing our religious and political situations together. He calls for liberal theology to reinvent itself and to fulfil its crucial historical roles as a mediator between Christian commitment and the cultural situation and as a critical lens through which to retrieve and reconstrue key Christian doctrines.

Between The Monster And The Saint. Richard Holloway $28.00 (4 copies in stock.) Canongate Books, UK. isbn 9781921520112 Item Ref 219516 Theology

In this thought-provoking new book Holloway holds a mirror up to the human condition. The reflection isn't always pretty. But by drawing on a colourful and eclectic selection of writings from history, philosophy, science, poetry, theology and literature, he shows how we can stand up to the seductive power of the monster and draw closer to the fierce challenge of the saint. A challenging and heartfelt study of the human capacity for good and evil.  

Also by Holloway:

• Doubts And Loves: What Is Left Of Christianity (Pbk). Richard Holloway $26.00 (3 copies in stock.) Canongate Books, UK. isbn 9781841956411 Item Ref 179347 Theology
• Godless Morality (Pbk). Richard Holloway $27.00 (2 copies in stock.) Canongate Books, UK. isbn 9781841955780 Item Ref 169240 Theology
• How To Read The Bible (US). Richard Holloway $27.00 (Allow 4-6 weeks) W W Norton. isbn 9780393329544 Item Ref 203084 Bibles/Commentaries
• Looking In The Distance: The Human Search For Meaning (Pbk). Richard Holloway $27.00 (3 copies in stock.) Canongate Books, UK. isbn 9781841956039 Item Ref 172830 Theology
• On Forgiveness: How Can We Forgive The Unforgivable. Richard Holloway $35.00 (2 copies in stock.) Canongate Books, UK. isbn 9781841953588 Item Ref 144876 Theology

NEW - Jesus Was A Liberal: Reclaiming Christianity For All. Scotty McLennan $59.99 (Allow 3-4 weeks) Palgrave Macmillan. isbn 9780230614291 Item Ref 227485 Theology

McLennan advocates a sense of religion based not on doctrinal readings of scripture but on the humanity behind Christ’s teachings. He addresses such topics as intelligent design, abortion, same sex marriage, war, torture and much, much more. “An immensely readable book that reclaims the honorable word ‘liberal’ for a vision of Christianity that is persuasive, compelling, and faithful.” Marcus Borg.

NEW - Double Rainbow: James K Baxter, Ngati Hau And The Jerusalem Community. John Newton $40.00 (2 copies in stock.) Victoria University. isbn 9780864736031 Item Ref 228308 New Zealand/Pacific

In 1969, Baxter moved to Jerusalem on the Whanganui River and established an intentional community under the mana of the local hapu, Ngati Hau.The Jerusalem commune proved a magnet for disaffected and damaged young people. What was life really like at Jerusalem, beyond the popular stereotypes? And what did it mean, for Ngati Hau, to be deluged with long-haired strangers and with the media attention which followed them?

“John Newton’s book about Baxter’s final years succeeds so brilliantly because it concentrates less on the barefoot guru of media legend and more on the rise and fall of his commune at Jerusalem. Newton does not treat Jerusalem as a cultural dead end, but as an early prototype (10 years before the Maori resurgence reached the mainstream) of the bicultural struggles that New Zealand society is still engaged in.” Gordon Campbell, METRO

NEW - To Do Justice: A Guide For Progressive Christians. Rebecca Todd Peters $39.99 (Allow 4-6 weeks) Westminster John Knox. isbn 9780664232825 Item Ref 227573 Theology

This book provides tools for studying complex domestic social problems and a guide to becoming involved in social action. Each essay analyses a contemporary problem from social, biblical, and theological perspectives before providing directions for public policy. Includes discussion questions for each chapter.

Jesus For The Non-Religious: Recovering The Divine [Pbk]. John Shelby Spong $39.99 (2 copies in stock) HarperCollins. isbn 9780732284954 Item Ref 194475 Theology

Says Spong, “I am convinced that a God the mind rejects will never be a God that the heart will adore.”

Spong looks critically at the New Testament nativity stories, miracles, crucifixion and resurrection narratives,  and contends that these myths arose because Jesus’ followers saw everything he did through the lens of Hebrew scriptures.

Spong outlines Jesus as a heroic figure who revealed divinity through his humanness and can still guide us today – a revolutionary, life-giving figure we all need to meet.

Also by Spong:

• New Christianity For A New World: Why Traditional Faith Is Dying And How A New Faith Is Being Born.. John Shelby Spong $34.99 (Allow 4 weeks) HarperCollins. isbn 9780732274603 Item Ref 125656 Theology
• Sins Of Scripture: Exposing The Bible's Texts Of Hate (Pbk). John Shelby Spong $36.00 (1 copy in stock.) HarperCollins. isbn 9780732282028 Item Ref 169072 Theology
• Why Christianity Must Change Or Die: A Bishop Speaks To Believers In Exile. John Shelby Spong $40.99 (2 copies in stock.) HarperSanFrancisco. isbn 9780060675363 Item Ref 102512 Theology
• NEW Eternal Life: A New Vision. Now in paperback. HarperOne. $38.99 (2 copies in stock) isbn 9780732290627 Item Ref 235196 Theology

Always compelling and controversial, Spong, the leading Christian liberal and pioneer for human rights, wrestles with the question that all of us will ultimately face. In his final book, Spong takes us beyond religion and even beyond Christianity until he arrives at the affirmation that the fully realised human life empties into and participates in the eternity of God. The pathway into God turns out to be both a pathway into ourselves and a doorway into eternal life. To Job’s question “If a man (or a woman) dies, will he (or she) live again?” he gives his answer as a ringing yes!

New Spiritual Home: Progressive Christianity At The Grass Roots. Hal Taussig $48.00 (Allow 4-6 weeks) Polebridge Press, US. isbn 9780944344712 Item Ref 190648 Theology

A new kind of Christianity is emerging at the grass roots. Full of heart-felt expression, artistic creativity, and liberal social values, progressive churches and small Christian communities have established themselves across the denominational spectrum. Reporting on a national research study that undercuts the impression that right-wing Christianity is the only new development on the contemporary American religious landscape, Hal Taussig identifies thousands of progressive churches and para-churches and describes five characteristics of this new movement. He then proceeds to analyze its blind spots, project its future, and suggest how to start a progressive church.

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