Ecumenism Books

The First Seven Ecumenical Councils (325-787): Their History and Theology (Theology and Life Series 21)

Leo Donald Davis

Amazon Price: $16.29 List Price: $23.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Liturgical Press Amazon Marketplace: 20 new & used starting at $10.30

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> History -> Ancient -> General
Subjects -> History -> Ancient -> General AAS
Subjects -> History -> World -> Medieval

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

The best one on the subject 4 out of 5 stars.
17 of 19 people found this review helpful.

I know of no equivalent to this book. It does exactly what one would expect from its title. Even though, as has been pointed in previous reviews, Fr. Davis is a Roman Catholic and assumes a good many more Councils to be Ecumenical. The sub-title, 'Their History and Theology' is absolutely accurate. Fr. Davis gives ample historical and doctrinal introduction to each of the 7 Councils. The necessity and significance of the theology laid down by the Councils is very clearly expressed. Reading this book will definitely help you to gain, maintain, or further inform a sound and orthodox (if not Orthodox ! ) personal theology. Iow it may help you grow in your faith, as an Orthodox or a Catholic, and even a Protestant will walk away with a significant boost to his/her life of faith.

After having read this book, and having familiarized yourself with its contents you will have a good and balanced understanding of the theology of the Councils and you will understand the theology from its historical context which helps understand and underscore the necessity of the doctrinal decisions of the Councils to safeguard and make possible a salvific relationship to the All-Holy Trinity. But the book is not just a good personal read, I would put it to any teacher of theology that this book could very well serve as THE textbook for a Dogmatics 101 course.

Indispensible for those who want to have a good and balanced grasp of the history of doctrine and its relevance for today. I gave it 4 stars because it fails to refer to the Oriental Orthodox as such, the incorrect and derigatory term 'monophysite' is used instead. It also portrays a clear Roman Catholic tendency in its title and its emphasis on the role of the Pope of Rome.

IC XC

Grigorii

A Community Called Taizé: A Story of Prayer, Worship and Reconciliation

Jason Brian Santos

Amazon Price: $10.20 List Price: $15.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: IVP Books Amazon Marketplace: 6 new & used starting at $10.20

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Church History -> General
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Church History -> General AAS
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Ministry & Church Leadership -> Church Institutions & Organizations

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Taizé--the word is strangely familiar to many throughout the contemporary church. Familiar, perhaps, because the chanted prayers of Taizé are well practiced in churches throughout the world. Strangely, however, because so little is known about Taizé--from its historic beginnings to how the word itself is pronounced.

The worship of the Taizé community, as it turns out, is best understood in the context of its greater mission. On the day Jason Brian Santos arrived in the Taizé community its leader was brutally murdered before his eyes. Instead of making Santos want to leave, the way the community handled this tragedy made him long to stay and learn more about this group of people who could respond to such evil with grace and love.

In this book he takes us on a tour of one of the world's first ecumenical monastic orders, from its monastic origins in the war-torn south of 1940s France to its emerging mission as a pilgrimage site and spiritual focal point for millions of young people throughout the world. In A Community Called Taizé you'll meet the brothers of the order and the countless visitors and volunteers who have taken upon themselves a modest mission: pronouncing peace and reconciliation to the church and the world.

The Gospel of Inclusion: Reaching Beyond Religious Fundamentalism to the True Love of God and Self

Carlton Pearson

Amazon Price: $16.32 List Price: $24.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Atria Amazon Marketplace: 42 new & used starting at $12.32

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Church History -> Ecumenical Movements
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Literature & Fiction -> General
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Literature & Fiction -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Fourth-generation fundamentalist Carlton Pearson, a Christian megastar and host, takes a courageous and controversial stand on religion that proposes a hell-less Christianity and a gospel of inclusion that calls for an end to local and worldwide conflicts and divisions along religious lines.

The Gospel of Inclusion explores the exclusionary doctrines in mainstream religion and concludes that according to the evidence of the Bible and irrefutable logic, they cannot be true. Bishop Pearson argues that the controlling dogmas of religion are the source of much of the world's ills and that we should turn our backs on proselytizing and holy wars and focus on the real good news: that we are all bound for glory, everybody is saved, and if we believe God loves all mankind, then we have no choice but to have the same attitude ourselves.

The Gospel of Inclusion also tells the story of a powerful religious figure who watched everything he had crumble due to a scandal. Why? He didn't steal money nor did he have inappropriate sexual relationships. Following a revelation from God, he began to preach that a loving God would not condemn most of the human race to hell because they are not Christian. Hepreaches that God belongs to no religion. The Gospel of Inclusion is the journey of one man's quest to preach a new truth.

What I Wish My Christian Friends Knew about Judaism

Robert Schoen

Amazon Price: $11.16 List Price: $13.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Loyola Press Amazon Marketplace: 38 new & used starting at $4.05

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Theology -> Ecumenism
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Judaism -> General
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Judaism -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

You don't have to be Christian to love Schoen's book 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

As a Jew I frequently am asked by non-Jews about such things as Kaballah (which I know nothing about) and if I keep kosher (I don't, but I have a hard time explaining why I don't). When I hear phrases such as "Christian values" I want to say that they originally were Jewish values. When people wish me a happy Easter or merry Christmas, I want to explain to them why I don't celebrate either of those holidays and why Hannukah is not a big holiday for adult Jews without children.

Along came Schoen's book, and suddenly the answers are there, with simple explanations that are non-confrontational. With about 70 short chapters, Schoen has created a reference work that clearly explains how the religion is practiced in the US today, the holidays, the beliefs and the food.

Chapters cover Jewish weddings, bar mitzvahs, circumcisions and funerals. The different branches of Judaism from Orthodox to Reform are covered, as are the different holidays, the symbols, women and Judaism and social issues.

Schoen covers some of Jewish history including the Holocaust, but fortunately avoids partisan lectures about such controversies as supporting Israel and condemning radical Muslims.

This should be required reading for Jewish and non-Jewish schoolchildren alike. It is a reference work that need not be read cover to cover. One can simply go to a particular relevant chapter as needed, such as High Holidays, Intermarriage or Anti-Semitism. The glossary and pronunciation guide will help readers to understand the Yiddish words that are finding their ways into the American lexicon. Schoen has condensed information about nearly everything Jewish into an easy-to-read, 250 page book that could help us all understand one another a little better.

Editorial Review:

While admitting that "describing what itís like to be Jewish is like describing snow," author Robert Schoen provides a smart and practical understanding of Judaism for a Christian audience. In What I Wish My Christian Friends Knew about Judaism, he presents readers with thoughtful insight into Judaism. Writing from the perspective of an "average Jewish American," Schoen points out the differences and highlights the similarities between Judaism and Christianity.

Readable chapters promote understanding and tolerance. Schoen discusses the different sects of Judaism and what they mean and believe; describes Jewish ceremonies, holidays, and festivals; and explains religious texts, symbols, religious apparel, and kosher food. Important historical and social issues including anti-Semitism, the Holocaust, Israel, and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East are also addressed. The book includes a glossary of Hebrew and Yiddish words and a pronunciation guide.

The Eucharist and Ecumenism: Let us Keep the Feast (Current Issues in Theology)

George Hunsinger

Amazon Price: $21.59 List Price: $29.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Cambridge University Press Amazon Marketplace: 22 new & used starting at $21.59

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Church History -> Ecumenical Movements
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Theology -> Ecumenism
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Theology -> Soteriology

Editorial Review:

The theology of the Eucharist has long been the subject of heated debate, particularly since the Reformation. George Hunsinger's book explores ways in which Christians might resolve their differences in this area. With the aim of fostering ecumenical convergence, he tackles three key issues dividing the churches about the Eucharist: real presence, Eucharistic sacrifice, and ordained ministry. Hunsinger, a Protestant theologian in the Reformed tradition, brings Eastern Orthodox views more systematically into the discussion than has been common in the West. He also discusses the social significance of the Eucharist. His detailed conclusion summarizes and clarifies the argument as a whole with an eye to explaining how the views proposed in the book could lead the churches, beginning with the Reformed church, closer to the day when obstacles to Eucharistic sharing are overcome.

Noah's Other Son: Bridging the Gap Between the Bible and the Qu'ran

Brian Arthur Brown

Amazon Price: $14.93 List Price: $21.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Continuum Amazon Marketplace: 36 new & used starting at $10.50

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Theology -> Ecumenism
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Religious Studies -> Comparative Religion
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A top pick for any serious spirituality collection. 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

NOAH'S OTHER SON: BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN THE BIBLE AND THE QUR'AN examines over twenty figures who plan major roles in both the Old and New Bible Testaments and the Qur'an. Author Brian Brown is a Canadian minister ministering in communities where Christian majorities interact with Muslim and Jewish minorities: his purpose in NOAH'S OTHER SON is to bridge gaps between Islam and the West through considering common religious experiences and images. Even readers well versed in Christianity may be surprised to learn that women who are nameless in the Bible have their records in the Qur'an, and that Noah had a rebellious other son who refused to get on board the ark and thus drowned. A top pick for any serious spirituality collection.

Editorial Review:

The title of the book comes from the description of believers in the Abrahamic faith traditions in the Qur'an. Brown very simply proceeds through his book to help Jews and Christians understand the role that several biblical figures from their own traditions play in Islam. Do Christians know, for example, that Jesus in the Qur'an was speaking about Muhammad when he promised to send an Advocate or Comforter? Who would have imagined that Noah had a rebellious son who refused to get on the ark? Brown uses this method of examining scriptural characters as a way of seeing Islam in its pure light, without the distortions of history or individual failings.

Lesslie Newbigin: Missionary Theologian: a Reader

Amazon Price: $12.24 List Price: $18.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company Amazon Marketplace: 35 new & used starting at $3.92

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Church History -> Ecumenical Movements
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Evangelism -> Missions & Missionary Work
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Evangelism -> General

Ecumenism And Interreligious Dialogue: Unitatis Redintegratio, Nostra Aetate (Rediscovering Vatican II)

Edward Idris Cardinal Cassidy

Amazon Price: $12.89 List Price: $18.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Paulist Press Amazon Marketplace: 29 new & used starting at $9.95

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Catholicism -> Roman Catholicism
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Catholicism -> General
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Catholicism -> General AAS

Editorial Review:

In commemoration of the 40th anniversary of Vatican II, Paulist Press has created a groundbreaking 8-book series, Rediscovering Vatican II, that places the Council in dialogue with today's church and her people and focuses on what today's Catholics need to know, not just historically. The first volume, Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue: Unitatis redintegratio, Nostra aetate, looks at the relationship of the Catholic Church with other Christian churches and other great religions.

Cardinal Cassidy devotes part one of his book to Unitatis redintegratio, the decree on Restoring Christian Unity, which brought the Catholic Church into the modern ecumenical movement. And in part two, Nostra aetate (the Declaration on Interreligious Dialogue), he looks at the relationship of the Catholic Church with other world religions.

This work, and indeed the entire series, which is the only one of its kind at this level and organization, will prove valuable for religious educators, theologians, church historians (of all faiths, especially Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), undergrad and grad students, as well as readers who have heard much about Vatican II, but who have never sat down to understand certain aspects of it.

After Our Likeness: The Church As the Image of the Trinity (Sacra Doctrina)

Miroslav Volf

Amazon Price: $21.12 List Price: $32.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company Amazon Marketplace: 35 new & used starting at $16.55

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Christian Living -> General
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Church History -> General
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Reference -> Theology -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

A defense of free church ecclesiology. 2 out of 5 stars.
34 of 47 people found this review helpful.

Volf's book is not so much about a Trinitarian theology of the Church as it is a theological foundation for the ecclesiology of free and congregational churches. Volf is presenting a case for the inclusion of free churches within what is commonly known as the holy catholic, apostolic and universal Church. He compares the ecclesiology of the free (congregational) churches with the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Church. Naturally, he does not totally accept their systems. However, he does recognize the value of the relational ties that connect the parishes together in their respective traditions. He rejects their hierachial structures, but values the quality of community that exists beyond the local congregation. The larger community is an antidote to parochialism and the danger of local congregations becoming merely religious clubs consisting of like minded persons. Yet, he sees the real strength of Christianity residing in the local congregation. He supports the grassroots or bottom up system of inter-congregational relationships. His ideal of a cooperative Christian community is Trinitarian in nature, many equal bodies joining together to form one unity which is not greater than the sum of the parts. He sees the opposite in the Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions. There, the many have their origin from the one. The whole gives identify to the many, and without the unity of the one, the many cannot exist. He understands the Holy Trinity as being three separate and equal persons of the same substance making up the Godhead. This view is part of his justification of free church ecclesiology. He says that the Orthodox and Roman Catholics have a trinity of unequal persons and practice an ecclesiology of inferior parts. Volf presents a strong academic defense for free church ecclesiology. It is a defense with many useful insights, even for traditions with an episcopalian structure. However, a general weakness of his work is the assumption that all local churches and parishes perfectly practice the theologies and doctrines of their respective traditions. I believe that there is more diversity within denominations and traditions at the local level than anyone in higher academic or ecclesiastical circles wants to admit. Volf carries on a hypothetical dialogue with John Zizioulas and Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger who represent the Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church respectively. He claims to present their authentic positions by offering quotes from their writings, However, he is the one selecting the passages to debate. I do not know the context from which he selected the passages; thus, I am not able to determine his objectivity. Ratzinger and Zizioulas do not carry on any authentic dialogue with Volf; it is quotation without true participation. I feel that Volf is presenting Zizioulas and Ratzinger from a position that is most favorable to his cause. Even with this most favorable presentation, I still find myself agreeing more with their positions than with Volf's. This is somewhat unusual because I usually disagree with Ratzinger on most issues. Also, at times, there seems to be a similarity between Ratzinger's idea of ecclesiolgy and those of John Wesley in my own Methodist tradition.

Editorial Review:

In After Our Likeness, Miroslav Volf explores the relationship between persons and community in Christian theology. He seeks to counter the tendencies toward individualism in Protestant ecclesiology and give community its due.

Interfaith Families: Personal Stories of Jewish-Christian Intermarriage

Jane Kaplan

Amazon Price: $13.60 List Price: $20.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Seabury Books Amazon Marketplace: 18 new & used starting at $9.94

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Health, Mind & Body -> Relationships -> Marriage
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Christian Living -> Relationships -> Marriage
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Theology -> Ecumenism

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Christmas or Hanukkah? Bris or baptism? Church or synagogue? As the number of Jewish-Christian marriages in America continues to rise, couples find themselves searching for ways to navigate the choppy waters of interfaith families. Children, extended family, and communities can all contribute to the strain a marriage might feel when religion is an issue. Should the children be raised in one faith and not the other? Who should decide which holidays to celebrate and how? How can couples deal with extended family members who may not understand or accept the interfaith marriage? Here, couples in Jewish-Christian marriages describe their experiences and reveal intimate details of their lives as members of these unique families. Without being prescriptive, this book offers examples of the successes and failures, struggles and triumphs of such religiously mixed families, shedding light on new ways to approach everyday situations and major life decisions. The couples whose stories are found in these pages describe how they tackled these topics. Many decided to maintain a Jewish household, while others decided on a Christian family life. Still others found ways to incorporate both religions, and in some cases one partner converted to the other's faith. In all situations, the couples describe their sacrifices, feelings, frustrations, and religious behaviors and practices. Readers will find an array of reactions and approaches in these pages, and will come away with fresh insight into interfaith families in general and Jewish-Christian marriage in particular.