Bøger udgivet af Cascade Books

Melting glaciers and icecaps, massive forest fires, enormous storms, extensive and prolonged flooding, and desertification of large tracts of land are realities we currently face and will continue to struggle with as a result of climate change. Our climate crisis invites, if not demands, a critical evaluation of our political, religious, economic, and cultural narratives and rituals that give rise to our ways of relating to one another, to other species, and to planet Earth. This book argues that the climate emergency exposes deep problematic roots of Western religious and political paradigms and apparatuses that undergird ideas of and methods for human flourishing. In particular, Western religious and political philosophies have produced and maintained a radical rift between human beings and other species, as well as beliefs about human dominion over other species and the earth. These ideas and practices are responsible for the colonization of Nature and for climate change. Understanding these sources invites a radical reimaging of our religious ideas and practices. Specifically, this book proposes a coming Jesus--a form of life that traverses the rift, while denying human and divine dominion for the sake of recognizing and respecting the singularities and flourishing of all species.

Table of Contents 1 Alternative to the Bread of Affliction 2 Preaching the Psalms 3 On Tenacious Parenting 4 The Litigation of Scarcity 5 Twin Themes for Ecumenical Singing: The Psalms 6 In the ""Thou"" Business: The Travail of Biblical Language . . . Again 7 Reaping the Whirlwind 8 The Poem: Subversion and Summons 9 The Impossible Possibility of Forgiveness 10 On Appearing before the Authorities 11 Getting Your Sibilants Right: The Evangelical Shibboleth 12 Do the Numbers 13 Awaiting the Verdict 14 At the Death of Peter Knauert: Peter amid Remembering and Hoping 15 Advantage McEnroe 16 What Does It Mean to Be Human? 17 When the Music Starts Again 18 The First Great Commandment 19 A Little Evangelical Geography 20 Toward Perfect Health 21 Peace: The Fruit of the Spirit 22 Three Key Moves toward White Extremism 23 A Retrospect

Ryan J. Stark surveys the classic monsters in great literature and film, television, the Bible, and, perhaps unexpectedly, the world in which we live. Monsterdom is real, Stark observes, but often hidden beneath the concealment spell of modern secular thought. This guidebook aims to break that spell, and, if so, to confirm once more a world that brims with high strangeness, or what Christian philosophers have always called ""reality."" The book appeals to those who study the paranormal dimensions of religion and horror, broadly imagined. The clergy will also find it helpful, as will players of monster-riddled video games.

Sharon E. Heaney describes how the life-giving interruption of Latin American poets, novelists, artists, and theologians changed her life in a conflict-ridden Northern Ireland. An outsider, in this study she provides an engagement with a stream of theology in the United States she takes to be exemplary. Latino/a/x theology is teologia en conjunto (collaborative theology). It models ways to examine complicated and contested histories and identities, and it resists dominant assumptions about theological points of departure in favor of also valuing the everyday as locus theologicus. Identifying major themes and foundational thinkers, alongside more recent developments, Heaney offers an overview and invites readers to further reading, study, and formation. Modelling what it esteems, each chapter closes in conversation with a Latino/a/x leader in the church. The conclusion is written by practical theologian, Altagracia Perez-Bullard. She affirms, this "is not just an intellectual exercise, . . . this engagement . . . is the practice of our lives as we journey with God and as we journey with one another. . . . It is an exciting journey. It changes us."

The risen Jesus sends his disciples out as ""witnesses of repentance and the forgiveness of sins"" in his name. In a time of uncertainty for the western church--particularly for ""mainline"" congregations--this commission offers a simple framework for faithful, contextual work and witness, growing in the way of the God who sets captives free and raises the dead. One part call to action, one part celebration of the miracle that is the local church, Witnesses of These Things is an invitation to grab hold of the life that is truly life for which each one of us and this God-beloved world are made.

Paul's letters to the Thessalonians are the earliest surviving Christian documents. They are also among the most easily overlooked parts of the New Testament. What could these short, simple letters possibly have to say to a world caught in the throes of racial discord, political polarization, fears of an uncertain future, and fights over truth and false news? While Paul and his companions could not have imagined anything like the twenty-first century, their letters in the mid-first century to non-Jewish followers of Jesus in northern Greece address problems we still wrestle with today: race and ethnicity, family, ethics, an unknown future, how to respond to strangers, and more. These letters, rather than being an outdated part of Paul's collected letters, provoke us to throw ourselves into the great challenges of the modern world, to resist the temptation to repay "another person evil for evil," and to "pursue the good, both for one another and for everyone" (1 Thess 5:15). Will we read these ancient letters anew?

Reckoning Methodism addresses the brokenness of The United Methodist Church (UMC) in the United States. Homosexuality is but one of several fault lines with decades-long histories in this predominantly White denomination. Demographic shifts, racism, and imperialism are heavily implicated in the current state of division. What, then, is the true nature and mission of this church? The UMC is the public church divided. Distinct missional theologies arise from competing commitments and priorities. When Methodist programmatic initiatives--such as vital congregations, environmental witness, and volunteers in mission--fail to account for these differences, denominational unity is weakened. Constructively, this book seeks historical clarity, collective repentance, charismatic learning, and institutional courage as United Methodists reckon with inherited animosities and divisions. This book provides no answers or programmatic fixes. Rather, it provides possibilities for repairing past harms as United Methodists seek ways to continue living out their Wesleyan faith. Reckoning with the public church divided, we glimpse the nature and mission of the church--not only as it has been but also as it could be.

Divine Disorder and the Rescue of God is based on the idea that a kenotic approach is essential to a viable theology. It is deeply influenced by the way such an approach influenced the writings of Donald MacKinnon. Part I argues that God forces us to live in a state of uncertainty, even about God's existence. However compelling the sense of God's presence may be, religious experience cannot take that uncertainty away. We have to understand what sort of God would want to impose upon us the disorder of uncertainty. Part II explores this further in terms of God's willingness to give a degree of independence to the created order, while Part III compares the instability of the created order with that of the moral order. By giving human beings freedom, God opens up the possibility of failure, including that of God. The doctrine of the fall expresses the impossibility of giving human beings autonomy without risking disaster. In Parts IV and V the book looks more closely at the nature of this God who embraces risk, suffering, and even failure. Who is the deity behind this divine disorder? The focus from a Christian perspective is upon the risk, suffering, and failure displayed in the life of Christ. Jesus is drawn into something that it is beyond him to fathom--hence the troubled, uncertain character of his own life. But from a kenotic perspective, even a life marked by failure can be the focal point of God's self-revelation.

What can movements for decolonization teach Wesleyan theology? This book faces this question to show that decolonial voices are reshaping the contours of Methodist and Wesleyan traditions. Contributors to this volume include theologians, pastors, and leaders in the Global South who are leading the people called Methodists to encounter the tradition anew in the radical spirit of decolonization.

This book is the seventh and final volume in the Global Story of Christianity series. The volume's chapters, written by major scholars in the field, spotlight vital episodes and themes for understanding the historical development of Christianity in the United States and Canada. Serving as an accessible text for students and an informative volume for scholars, the book provides new insights into Christianity's development in North America, offering fresh perspectives on topics frequently overlooked by scholars. The book situates the history of North American Christianity within broader themes associated with Christianity's role as a global religion.

The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 ushered in a tumultuous period for Russia and Ukraine. The Soviet Union broke apart, Communism was exposed as morally bankrupt, and Russian leaders turned to the West for help. In an astonishing development, Mikhail Gorbachev and Boris Yeltsin invited a group of American evangelicals to give advice on restoring morality to Russia. The nation was moving toward democratic and religious freedoms until, one decade later, Vladimir Putin abruptly reversed course. He labeled most religious organizations as "foreign agents" and set in motion an aggressive plan to restore the pride of the "Russian world." Putin's alliance with the Russian Orthodox Church, and his hostility to true democracy, led to the brutal invasion of Ukraine, which had opted for freedom and democracy. Other books have analyzed the economic and social dynamics in Russia and Ukraine after 1991. This one chronicles a previously untold story: the role religion played in the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the rise of a newly autocratic Russia, and the emergence of democracy in Ukraine. What lay behind the radically different paths chosen by two former Soviet republics?

Though James finds it a challenge being the oldest boy in a large extended family, he longs for something more exciting. Then, he and his cousins Isaiah and Kevin venture down the valley behind their grandmother's backyard fence, and embark on a stomach-turning voyage to times long ago and far away. Though they hope to keep their magical visits a secret from their older sisters, they discover that sometimes help is welcome. Join the three boys, their teen sisters, and their older friend TJ, as they go on a night quest for the apostle James, encounter mystery with the prophet Isaiah, and frolic with St. Kevin of Ireland and his animals. Shudder at the demons in Apollo's temple during the rescue of Kevin's little sister, who has been trapped in an ancient dungeon with the martyr Empress Alexandra. Travel to the cinnamon-scented shores of India, where peacocks dance, and where St. Thomas and TJ stand up to a hostile warrior. And in the end, return home and find that the world has changed: or maybe you have!

In this book Peter Carnley examines the logical connection between the doctrine of the Trinity and the doctrine of redemption. In the companion volume to this, Arius on Carillon Avenue, contemporary expressions of belief in the "eternal functional subordination" of the Son to the Father were carefully discussed and found wanting when measured against the norms of orthodox trinitarian belief. This book examines the repercussions of this defective "trinitarian subordinationism" in relation to recent attempts to defend the "penal substitutionary theory" of the Atonement, which in turn is also found to fall short of trinitarian norms. As an alternative a less theoretical and speculative "incorporative" or "participative" theology of redemption is proposed.

The Babylonian attack on Jerusalem in 587 BCE forced upon the Israelite survivors the realization that Yahweh, one of the gods they had venerated, was an overwhelming presence in their affairs. The attack on their city had been devastating, overturning virtually the only world they knew. Such a disaster had been prophesied by several prophets of Yahweh who had warned them against worshipping other gods than Yahweh and ignoring his commandments. These prophets reminded them that in the ancient past Yahweh had established a special relationship with their people, binding them to himself through a covenant in which Yahweh promised to protect and lead their people while they were to honor him as their only god and keep his commandments. The community of survivors living as exiles in Babylon, and their heirs who would return to Judah after 539 BCE, believed that Yahweh had caused the destruction of their society because of the refusal of their people to abide by the terms of the ancient covenant. Indeed, they saw it as an act of Yahweh's love, an appeal for them to honor him as their only god so that he could show them his favor. Anthropologist Robert Canfield examines the process by which this transformation in religious understanding took place, describing it as an example of how human beings imaginatively imbue their affairs with moral significance.

Introducing Climax: A Woman's Guide to Sexual Satisfaction, the ultimate handbook that will revolutionize your understanding of your own pleasure and empower you to unlock your full sexual potential.This book is a game-changer for young women seeking fulfillment and satisfaction in their intimate lives.In this comprehensive guide, you will embark on an enlightening journey of self-discovery, breaking free from the shackles of societal expectations and embracing your sexuality with confidence. Prepare to dive into the captivating world of sexual satisfaction as you explore the depths of your desires, master the art of communication and consent, and learn to navigate the realm of pleasure with grace and self-assurance.With "Climax" as your trusted companion, you will navigate through the tantalizing chapters that will reshape your understanding of your body and revolutionize your approach to pleasure. Discover the intricacies of female anatomy and gain a profound understanding of your menstrual cycle, unraveling the secrets to embracing your sensual self. Let go of shame and guilt as you challenge societal norms, liberating yourself from inhibitions and fully embracing your authentic desires.Unleash the power of communication and consent in your sexual relationships, empowering yourself to express your needs and desires with clarity and confidence. Master the art of self-exploration through masturbation and unlock the secrets to achieving mind-blowing orgasms, taking control of your pleasure in a way you never thought possible.Dare to explore different sexual practices, indulge in your deepest fantasies, and experiment with exhilarating positions that will ignite passion and pleasure like never before. For those facing challenges, "Climax" offers valuable insights on overcoming sexual dysfunction, understanding its causes, and seeking professional help when needed.Your sexual health and safety are of paramount importance, and this book equips you with the knowledge to protect yourself from STIs, understand contraception options, and prioritize your sexual well-being.As you reach the exhilarating climax of this captivating journey, you will find a comprehensive recap of the key points that will solidify your newfound knowledge, empowering you to fully embrace your sexuality and achieve unparalleled satisfaction. Packed with final thoughts and valuable resources, "Climax" becomes your go-to reference, inspiring a life of pleasure, confidence, and fulfillment.Don't settle for anything less than extraordinary. Embark on this transformational adventure with Climax: A Young Woman's Guide to Achieving Sexual Satisfaction,"and let your desires become your reality. Unleash the power within you and claim the pleasure you deserve.