Carl E. Braaten – författare

Leading theologians speak out on the crisis in the role of biblical authority and the interpretation of the Bible in the church. 'The various chapters in this excellent book, summarised as to leading themes by editors in the introduciton, orginated as conference papers which addressed the question: can the Bible still speak to the Church in an age of critical historical awareness? It is a book which will repay careful reading by all those concerned to maintain or restore an intergral connection between Bible and Church while retaining also a personal integrity of intellect and spirit. There are eight essays in all, each addressing the central question in its own unique manner.' Colm O Baoill, University of Aberdeen, Scottish Journal of Theology

Leading theologians speak out on the crisis in the role of biblical authority and the interpretation of the Bible in the church.''The various chapters in this excellent book, summarised as to leading themes by editors in the introduciton, orginated as conference papers which addressed the question: can the Bible still speak to the Church in an age of critical historical awareness? It is a book which will repay careful reading by all those concerned to maintain or restore an intergral connection between Bible and Church while retaining also a personal integrity of intellect and spirit. There are eight essays in all, each addressing the central question in its own unique manner.'' Colm O Baoill, University of Aberdeen, Scottish Journal of Theology

While Christians and Jews have always been aware of their religious connections — historical continuity, overlapping theology, shared scriptures — that awareness has traditionally been infected by centuries of mutual suspicion and hostility. As this important volume shows, however, theologians and scholars of Judaism and Christianity alike are now radically rethinking the relation between their two covenant communities.Jews and Christians presents the best of this work, introducing readers to current attempts to construct a coherent Jewish theology of Christianity and a Christian theology of Judaism. Here are leading Christian and Jewish thinkers who have engaged in extensive conversation, who take each other's work seriously, and who avoid the pitfall common to Jewish-Christian dialogue — watering down distinctive beliefs to accommodate both partners. Indeed, these pages show how the new theological exchange goes to the roots of that "olive tree" of which both Judaism and Christianity are branches, and the book as a whole represents post-Holocaust Jewish-Christian dialogue at the highest theological level. In addition to eight major chapters, Jews and Christians includes a moving testimony by Reidar Dittmann on his experience of the Holocaust and reprints the 2000 manifesto Dabru Emet: A Jewish Statement on Christians and Christianity, followed by incisive Christian and Jewish responses.

Many mainline church members no longer understand what Christianity really is and why they themselves are Christians. Bible-centered doctrine is being adulterated, and the meaning of Christian living is being compromised by the pagan elements of modern culture. America is a new mission field where the gospel is in a life-and-death struggle with the "spirits of the age." Seeking a return from pagan tendencies to biblical orthodoxy, the contributors to Either/Or argue that neopaganism in not merely an objective threat from outside the walls of the church, but has permeated the church's inner life under such guises as "pluralism," "multiculturalism," " feminism," and "hospitality." They address the crucial issues facing the church and explore the implications of these issues for preaching, worship, pastoral care, and evangelism.Contributors: Carl E. Braaten Robert Jenson J.A. DiNoia Robert Wilkin Kenneth Paul Wesche L. Gregory Jones James R. Crumley

The Princeton Proposal is a landmark statement on the present situation and future possibilities of modern ecumenism. Drafted by sixteen theologians and ecumenists from various church traditions, who met over a period of three years in Princeton, New Jersey, this document seeks to steer contemporary efforts at church unity away from social and political agendas, which are themselves divisive, and back to the chief goal of the modern ecumenical movement — the visible unity of Christians worldwide, of all those who are reconciled “in one body through the cross.” Since the study group that produced this statement was instituted and its participants were chosen by an independent ecumenical foundation, the Center for Catholic and Evangelical Theology, their “unofficial” work presents especially profound and creative reflection on the ecumenical task. With this report the study group members do not claim to speak for their churches, but hope to speak to all the churches out of shared concern for the founding ecumenical imperative “that they all may be one . . . so that the world may believe.”  

Signatories of the Princeton Proposal:

William Abraham * Mark Achtemeier * Brian Daley * John H. Erickson * Vigen Guroian * George Lindbeck * Lois Malcolm * Bruce McCormack * R. R. Reno * Michael Root * William G. Rusch * Geoffrey Wainwright * Susan K. Wood * Telford Work * J. Robert Wright * David Yeago

This is a print on demand book and is therefore non- returnable.I Am the Lord Your God explores anew the place of the Ten Commandments in contemporary civil society, their relation to natural moral law, their relevance for Christian instruction, and their pertinence to ethical issues such as abortion, killing, homosexuality, lying, greed, and the like. Written by an outstanding group of ethicists, theologians, and Bible scholars from various church traditions — Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist — this timely work argues unequivocally for the divine authority and permanent validity of the Ten Commandments in both church and society While including the Judge Roy Moore controversy in Alabama and other pertinent current issues in their discussion, the authors above all call the church to remain faithful to its heritage — ultimately to the Lord God — amid our postmodern culture at large.

In today's postmodern culture many people are turning to religion, but they are not necessarily finding their way back to the church. Most unbelievers in America and other Western countries are "post-Christians." Though baptized and brought up in a church, they no longer believe and practice the Christian faith. In such a time, the great challenge facing the church is re- evangelization. This volume provides serious theological reflection on Christian missions within postmodern, post-Christian culture. Written by respected scholars representing the Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox traditions, these chapters point out elements of the gospel that will help the church speak effectively to contemporary society, particularly in the United States. Suggesting startling approaches to Christian proclamation, this volume shows how "the strange new word" of the gospel can reawaken faith in the postmodern world.Contributors:John Milbank Robert W. Jenson David L. Schindler R. R. Reno Philip Turner Anthony Ugolnik Todd E. Johnson Frank C. Senn Carl E. Braaten

As the title of this learned collection of essays suggests, "catholicity" was the true intent of the Reformation. The Reformers did not set out to create what later came to be known as Protestant Christianity. Theirs was a quest for reformation and renewal in continuity with the "one holy catholic and apostolic church" of ancient times. This informed and informative book continues the appeal of previous voices that have pointed out the catholic intention of the Reformation — such voices as those of Friedrich Heiler, Philip Schaff, and Paul Tillich, to name only a few — and calls the heirs of the Reformation, both pastors and churches, to be faithful to the evangelical and catholic elements of the great Christian tradition.Contributors:Carl E. BraatenJames R. CrumleyGunther GassmannRobert W. JensonFrank C. SennRobert L. WilkenDavid S. Yeago

The chapters of this book offer informed perspectives on a "theology of the world," exploring the question How does/should the church relate to the secular world? The standard dogma of the 1960s was Let the world set the agenda! Such a perspective has often caused the American church merely to reflect, rather than to inform and lead, the society in which it lives. Surely, say the authors of this volume, it must be the other way around. Using the biblical image of the earthly city and the heavenly city, Robert Benne, Carl E. Braaten, Robert W. Jenson, Gilbert Meilaender, Christopher R. Seitz, Anthony Ugolnik, George Weigel, and Robert L. Wilken discuss such subjects as natural law, politics, the academy, economics, and marriage. Each essay boldly asserts that the church's most faithful service in the world begins and ends with her life in the communion of the triune God. The first task of the church is to be true to her own self as the Body of Christ in the world. As such the church is a sign and agent of the heavenly city within and for the earthly city.

Reformation & Revival "This important book introduces to the English-speaking world the new Finnish interpretation of the theology of Luther, initiated by the writings of Tuomo Mannermaa of Helsinki University. . . Offers some interesting historical/theological insights that may aid the necessary recovery of biblical balance for what is truly important to serious evangelicalism."Theology Today "The editors are to be congratulated for offering for the first time in English a handy synopsis of current Finnish scholarship on Luther by its leading proponents, whose theories have attracted considerable attention in recent times."Word & World "This book is valuable for the introduction of English-speaking Lutherans to the world of Finnish Luther interpretation. . . The reflective pastor will be able to recognize new angles for preaching and teaching that run counter to traditional conceptions. The Finns deserve praise for their efforts to provide a new entry point into the magnificent corpus of Luther's work."St. Vladimir's Theological Quarterly "Even in a time when there is so much turmoil in the ecumenical movement, conflicts within the WCC and NCC, protests from member churches, particularly criticism from the Orthodox churches and strong appeals for quitting ecumenical participation by the Orthodox, it is heartening to be able to point out something genuinely good, true and beautiful, stemming from encounters among divided Christians. This excellent volume of essays by the recent or 'new' Finnish Lutheran scholars is just such a find."

Calvin Theological Journal "This is a delightful romp through Luther's seven marks of the church. . . Is it possible that the North American evangelical world will start taking its ecclesiology seriously again? This book is a hopeful sign."Religious Studies Review "Insofar as the authors offer not only descriptive, but critical, insight on proclamation, baptism, eucharist, the office of the Keys, ordination, catechesis, and discipleship, they invite wide ecumenical discussion on the state of the Christian church today."

Sin, death, and the devil, called the "unholy trinity" by Martin Luther, are the classic biblical tyrants, portrayed in Scripture as the enemies of God and the oppressors of humanity. This engaging book, which takes its cue from John Paul II's description of Western society as a "culture of death," unveils the many faces of sin, death, and the devil manifest in today's world. Eight recognized Christian thinkers show that while the forms taken by these diabolical forces may have changed under the conditions of modern life, the underlying realities remain the same. Thus politics can become demonic, power can promote death, and sin can be disguised as virtue. Far from being pessimistic, however, the authors affirm God's victory over these enslaving powers through the proclamation of the gospel and the sacraments of the church.Contributors: Gary A. Anderson Carl E. Braaten Vigen Guroian Stanley Hauerwas Robert W. Jenson Gilbert Meilaender Richard John Neuhaus A. N. Williams

This is a print on demand book and is therefore non- returnable.

In modern theology the "last things" of traditional Christian doctrine have largely been ignored or replaced with various metaphysical, psychological, or ethical reinterpretations of Christianity. This volume takes the biblical vision of the future seriously once again, explaining the significance of Christian eschatology for the faith and theology of the contemporary church.Contributors: Carl E. Braaten, Paul D. Hanson, Arland J. Hultgren, Robert W. Jenson, Philip D. W. Krey, John A. McGuckin, George L. Murphy, David Novak, Wolfhart Pannenberg

New Testament scholars have long debated the historical identity of Jesus and the development of Christology within the church's history. In Who Is Jesus? Carl Braaten reviews the various historical Jesus quests, arguing that it is time for the current ("third") quest to admit failure. Against the implication that "the real Jesus has been lost and needs to be found," Braaten maintains that the only real Jesus is the One presented in the canonical Gospels and that "any other Jesus is irrelevant to Christian faith." He draws on a wealth of historical resources to address such contentious questions as these:What can we actually know about Jesus of Nazareth?Did Jesus really rise from the dead?Is Jesus unique -- the one and only way of salvation?Why did Jesus have to die on the cross?Was Jesus the founder of the Christian church?What does Jesus have to do with politics?