risk of faith

Meeting people of other faiths is an everyday experience not only for minority Christian communities in Asia and the Middle East but increasingly for Christians elsewhere. Yet although interfaith dialogue has established itself as a key concern for the churches and the ecumenical movement, it continues to raise spiritual, social, political, practical and theological concerns in many quarters. The insights in this book draw on the author’s wide range of personal experiences — as a child, student and Methodist pastor in Sri Lanka; as a participant in the controversial discussion of interfaith dialogue at the World Council of Churches’ fifth assembly (Nairobi 1975); as a student of Hinduism; and especially as a longtime staff member and director of the WCC’s dialogue programme. Weaving together accounts from daily life, ecumenical texts and discussions, and theological reflection, this book offers a clear and challenging introduction to key issues that arise again and again when Christians and churches enter into conversation with their neighbours of other faiths — among them interfaith prayer, interfaith marriage, religion and conflict, and dialogue and mission.

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A perfect introduction to the connection between religious faith and physical and mental health!

Faith, Medicine, and Science: A Festschrift in Honor of Dr. David B. Larson is a comprehensive collection of groundbreaking work from one of the principal figures in the establishment, expansion, and acceptance of scientific research at the interface of religion, spirituality, and health. Dr. Jeff Levin and Dr. Harold G. Koenig honor their late colleague with a retrospective of his writings on the impact of religious faith and identity on physical and mental health and on a variety of social issues, including criminal behavior, substance abuse, mental illness, juvenile delinquency, reproductive decisions, marital satisfaction, family functioning, and the quality of life. The book also features a concise history of the religion and health field, a biography of Dr. Larson, and tributes, essays, and remembrances from the leading figures in the field.

Faith, Medicine, and Science honors Dr. Larson’s role in raising awareness of the health effects of religious faith and his vision and efforts in establishing coursework on religion and spirituality within undergraduate and graduate medical education programs. His body of theoretical and empirical writings serves as a permanent record of the powerful role played by religion and spirituality, and his work stands as a lasting contribution to science, medicine, and society. These articles combine with the book’s supplemental features to provide social and behavioral scientists, medical researchers, and clinicians with an essential resource for clinical research and education.

Topics examined in Faith, Medicine, and Science include:

• the religious life of alcoholics
• religion, spirituality, and mortality
• the impact of religion on men’s blood pressure
• the systematic analysis of research on religious variables
• a systematic review of nursing home research
• religious affiliations in mental health research samples as compared with national samples
• the associations between dimensions of religious commitment and mental health
• and much more!

Faith, Medicine, and Science: A Festschrift in Honor of Dr. David B. Larson documents the work of one of the most important writers on the interface of the human spirit and the healing arts. His death in 2002 at the age of 54 remains a profound loss, but through this book, his pioneering research will continue to serve as a thorough and accessible introduction to the religion and health field.

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The Christian belief that God became incarnate in Jesus Christ to share the human condition with us challenges any absolute division between the spiritual and the material. To pray for daily bread and forgiveness of debts is to recognize that economics cannot be separated from faith. Yet this link is not an easy one to maintain. While the suffering of the poor and the devastation of the environment may anger us, the bewildering complexity of the global economy tempts us to conclude that economics must finally be left to the experts. This ‘primer for Christians’ addresses the paralysis created by seeking simple answers to today’s complex economic issues. Drawing on his experience in banking and economics as well as the ecumenical movement, the author provides lucid explanations of the major ideas, forces and realities of the global economy today: globalization, international trade, transnational corporations, international finance, employment and unemployment, land and resources, markets and growth. The concluding chapter describes some ‘signs of hope’ — recent initiatives to act within the global economy in ways that can build more just, participatory and sustainable communities.

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Christians are experiencing life pressures like never before. Crises have become a way of life. Nancy Kaltenberger tells of her captivating journey, merging Biblical truth with reallife miracles. For believers and nonbelievers alike, Hope is a story of God at work in adversity.
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