No Ordinary Angel

In this provocative, intelligent, and highly original addition to the Anchor Yale Bible Reference Library, Susan R. Garrett argues that angel talk has never been merely about angels. Rather, from ancient times until the present, talk about angels has served as a vehicle for reflection on other fundamental life questions, including the nature of God's presence and intervention in the world, the existence and meaning of evil, and the fate of humans after death. In No Ordinary Angel, Garrett examines how biblical and other ancient authors addressed such questions through their portrayals of angels. She compares the ancient angel talk to popular depictions of angels today and considers how the ancient and modern portraits of angels relate to Christian claims about Jesus. No Ordinary Angel offers important insights into the development of angelology, the origins of Christology, and popular Western spirituality ranging from fundamentalist to New Age. In doing so, it provokes stimulating theological reflection on key existential questions.

A new Council is being forged... The epic journey of self-discovery begun by the Changelings in BEING WERE continues, as mythical creatures world-wide are drawn to a flame sparked by Angel's journal. For five hundred years, Baylor, Demon, Piper and the twins searched for their missing kin, or any that might enlighten them to what was befalling their kind. In Scotland, werewolves began taking mates and defending their own. In Rome, the Blessed Ones heard rumors of witches with frightening powers. In Egypt, the sand whispered its memories to the heavens, like a slowly fading death-bed confession. It still sang of gods and their unimaginable deeds, promising it knew why a question has echoed since the first breath of man, "What then shall We be?" Now they find themselves pinning their souls on that answer. Retrace their steps to find why even the brightest, most glorious myth, shows pale against the truth and how the truth can surely set you free but as easily destroy you.

This Festschrift draws on the research interests of Christopher Rowland. The collection of essays comes from former doctoral students and other friends, many of whom shed light on the angelic contribution to the thought-world of developing Christianity. The significance of the Jewish contribution to developing Christian ideology is critically assessed, including the impact of the original Jewish sources on the earliest Christian belief. The distinguished contributors to this volume include April DeConick, Paul Foster, John Rogerson, Tobias Nicklas and Andrei Orlov.

No one saw what happened. No one will talk about it. But 2-year-old Hal is dead. Whose fault is it? Within a volatile and unpredictable family, May O'Mally, the oldest of six siblings, must come to terms with her own guilt, as well as the mysterious connection she forges with her deceased baby brother.