Unbroken Communion

The reality of suffering is the greatest challenge to faith in the goodness of creation and the possibility of salvation. In Unbroken Communion, Kathleen Anne McManus, O.P., shows how the theology of Edward Schillebeeckx not only takes this into account, but dialectically turns suffering into hope.

The reality of suffering is the greatest challenge to faith in the goodness of creation and the possibility of salvation. Edward Schillebeeckx not only takes this into account, but dialectically incorporates the reality of suffering into a theology generally defined by its focus on the interrelated themes of creation, salvation, and eschatological hope. In Unbroken Communion, Kathleen Anne McManus, O.P., traces the origins of Schillebeeckx's thought, its development, and its consequences. Schillebeeckx grounds his entire theological project in the promise of a divine/human future made visible in creation and entrusted to human freedom. Because suffering is so tangibly present in human experience, it provides the means, dialectically, of imaging the horizon of our hope. It is thus that Schillebeeckx turns suffering into hope.

In this text first published in 1893, missionary James Hudson Taylor illuminates the Song of Solomon, dividing it into six sections, with glosses on the scripture throughout. He discusses how the Song shines light on aspects of faith, human experience, and the relationship to God and Christ. Both the longtime faithful and those new to the Bible can enjoy this lovely work, as it can both remind and teach anew. Even those familiar with the Song are sure to find new insight in this concise and clear book of teachings.British missionary JAMES HUDSON TAYLOR (1832-1905) founded the China Inland Mission and served there for five decades. He is considered one of the most successful and most significant missionaries of the 19th century.

In recent bilateral ecumenical dialogue the aim of the dialogue has been to reach some form of doctrinal consensus. The three major chapters of the book discuss the variety of forms of doctrinal consensus found in ecumenical dialogues among Anglicans, Lutherans and Roman Catholics. In general, the dialogue documents argue for agreement/consensus based on commonality or compatibility. Each of the three dialogue processes has specific characteristics and formulates its argument in a unique way. The Lutheran-Roman Catholic dialogue has a particular interest in hermeneutical questions and proposes various forms of "differentiated" or perspectival forms of consensus. The Anglican-Roman Catholic dialogue emphasises the correctness of interpretations. The documents consciously look towards a "common future", not the separated past.

Reproduction of the original: The Expositor’s Bible: Colossians and Philemon by Alexander Maclaren

This book presents the main teachings of Edward Schillebeeckx, widely considered one of the most important Catholic thinkers of the twentieth century. Schillebeeckx is known for his radical departure from traditional theology, which he saw as no longer relevant to the modern world. Because today's world has been shaped by a process of secularization heavily based on reason and progress in science, technology, economics, urbanism, etc., modern people seek relevant answers to their deep existential questions that can be explained rationally. In his quest to foster relevant and meaningful answers for today's world, Schillebeeckx changed the traditional metaphysical content of Christian theology into explanations that radically reinterpret traditional Christian doctrines. Primarily, the supernatural essence of Christianity is given up as irrelevant and is replaced by a natural perspective on the world. In Schillebeeckx's thoroughly historical and truly immanent theology, God is man's terrestrial future; Christ the symbol of universal human values; and the Church is identified with the world as those communities which share these universal human values. Schillebeeckx is convinced that these explanations--emptied of metaphysical content--can help today's people understand their existence in a new, relevant, and meaningful way.

The Abridged Version of "The Expositor's Bible" is a religious book by Alexander MacLaren. It chronicles events from a timeline of The Epistles of St. Paul, to the Colossians and ending with Philemon.