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This book develops a theory of imagining biblically that explores the contributions scripture can make to a new way of thinking about creativity, reading, interpretation, and criticism. The methodology employed in order to demonstrate this thesis consists of a theoretical exploration of current theological understandings of the "imagination" and their implications within the fields of literary studies. The biblical texts locates the function generally defined as "imagination" in the heart ("the eyes of your heart," Ephesians 1:18). This book assesses what the biblical text as a literary and religious document contributes to the concept of "imagination." Due to the eclectic nature of the individual books that comprise the scriptural canon, the text is considered primarily in terms of its overarching metanarrative, language, genres, and theological propositions. Tracing the various trajectories the biblical text opens up and the ways in which they intersect with and modify post-Romantic assumptions about the imagination reconfigures traditional definitions of this concept. A Calvinistic, evangelical hermeneutic is deployed to establish a theoretical concept of what it means to "imagine biblically." This is further substantiated by a comparative study of authors ranging from the seventeenth to the twentieth centuries (John Bunyan, Samuel Rutherford, Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, and C. S. Lewis). Each author's chapter incorporates a close reading of a key text which concretely examines various trajectories of imagining biblically, including creativity, faith, morals, narrative, Romanticism, and eschatology. The conclusion returns to the biblical text and draws these elements together, with a definition of the concept of imagining biblically and its implications for literary studies.

In the context of Latin America, the theology of liberation is both dominant and world renowned. However, this context and the pursuit of theological relevance belong also to other voices. Orlando E. Costas, Samuel Escobar, J. Andrew Kirk, Emilio A. Nunez and C. Rene Padilla are thinkers who have sought to bring an evangelical understanding of liberation to the people of Latin America. Despite their influence on national and international theology and despite their transformative contribution to the praxis of churches ministering in contexts of poverty, their thought has not been systematized to dates. This work deals with this lacuna presenting the vitality of Latin American evangelical theology which seeks to be biblical, relevant and missiologically effective, thus offering a liberation which is holistic and grounded in the kingdom of God.'For over thirty-five years the Latin American Theological Fraternity (FTL, its acronym in Spanish) has been actively engaged in articulating an evangelical and liberating response to a wide variety of socio-economic, political, cultural and religious issues that affect the life and mission of the church in Latin America. Without denying the contextual character of the FTL, one is safe in claiming that this theology has very much to say to Christians all over the world. That being the case, many readers will be deeply thankful to Sharon Heaney for providing a first-class systematic and comprehensive review of the historical background and the main themes of this most significant theological movement in Latin America - and indeed, in the world today.'C. Rene Padilla, International President of Tearfund,Emeritus President of the Kairos Foundation in Buenos Aires, Argentina'Whereas Latin American Liberation Theology is renowned throughout the worldwide Christian community, a fresh expression of evangelical mission theology from the same context is less well known. This book redresses the balance and shows why this latter pattern of theological thought offers a new focus and process of the renewal of theology that successfully combines faithfulness to the full biblical message with sensitive awareness of the historical and social reality of a turbulent, suffering continent. Her comprehensive, sympathetic and discerning treatment of this theological approach deserves to be read widely, pondered deeply and enacted practically.'J. Andrew Kirk, author of What is Mission? Theological Explorations and Mission under Scrutiny: Confronting current Challenges'Well-researched, clearly written, informative and illuminating. Sharon Heaney's study of evangelical theology in Latin America is a significant contribution to our understanding of the contemporary church and its mission.'Stephen N. Williams, Professor of Systematic Theology, Union Theological College, BelfastSharon E. Heaney was educated at Carrickfergus Grammar School and Queens University Belfast. She holds an honors degree from Queens University in Theology and Hispanic Studies. Presently Dr Heaney teaches Religious Studies at Bloxham School, Oxfordshire. She lives in Oxford with her husband Robert and son Sam.

A work of historic and systematic theology, Barth and Dostoevsky, examines the influence of the Russian writer and prophet Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky on the Swiss theologian Karl Barth. This is a study that demonstrates that the writings of Dostoevsky affected the development of the theology of Karl Barth. This was an influence mediated by his friend and colleague Eduard Thurneysen and was in the form of a key element of Barth's thought: his understanding of sin and grace. Therefore, this study explicates first, the reading of Dostoevsky by Barth, 1915-1916, and the influence on this understanding of sin and grace; second, a study of Eduard Thurneysen in so far as his life and work complements and influences Barth; third, Barth's illustrative use of Dostoevsky, around 1918-1921, the period of the rewriting of his seminal commentary on Romans--""the bombshell on the playground of the theologians,"" as Karl Adams put it.""This is a fascinating and thoroughly informed study of a largely uncharted topic in the history of theology, which illuminates not only Barth and his development but also the intellectual context in which his thought took shape.""--John Webster, Professor of Systematic Theology, University of Aberdeen""It is one thing to demonstrate coincidence of ideas, citations, illustrative use, and even appreciative acknowledgment, yet it is notoriously hard to establish influence or dependence. This is a painstaking and persuasive attempt in this direction which, at very least, establishes an influence in Barth's initial rejection of Liberalism, alongside other influences, that too often has been overlooked or dismissed too quickly.""--John E. Colwell, Tutor in Christian Doctrine and Ethics and Director of Post Graduate Research, Spurgeon's College, London""References to Dostoevsky in Barth's work, while occasionally noted, have never been explored in depth. Paul Brazier corrects that oversight and provides us with a meticulous and fascinating account of Dostoevsky's impact upon Barth's early theology, especially his theology of sin and grace.""--Murray Rae, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Otago, Dunedin, New ZealandOriginally trained in the fine arts in the 1970s and having taught extensively, Paul Brazier holds degrees in Systematic Theology from King's College London, where he completed his PhD on Barth and Dostoevsky. He is the editor of Colin E. Gunton's The Barth Lectures (2007) and The Revelation and Reason Seminars (2008).