Ultimum Mysterium


Book Description

Ultimum Mysterium attempts to explain mysterious phenomena from a new perspective. In Section I: “The Puzzle”, the author sets out and examines a number of reportedly true cases of such activity, both from history and from more recent times, which are so bizarre that even current scientific theories are unable to offer an explanation. In Section II: “The Physics”, the author reviews the latest scientific discoveries (mainly in physics, but also in neurological research) with a view to seeing whether these can offer any kind of explanation to the strange phenomena described in Section I. In Section III: “The Philosophy”, the author examines the underlying philosophical issues to see what may be possible in terms of a scientific explanation. He argues the universe is what it is, regardless of what we may think about its workings. If the impossible happens, so be it. We need keep an open mind on the subject and embrace the bizarre, but fascinating world of the impossible.




Experience the Mystery


Book Description

"A Liturgical Press book."Revision of the author's thesis (doctoral)--Pontifical Gregorian University at Rome, 1992. Includes bibliographical references and index.













The Catholic Doctrine of Non-Christian Religions


Book Description

In the Second Vatican Council (1962-65) the Catholic Church for the first time recognized non-Christian religions as entities which the Church should respect and with which Christians should enter into dialogue. There are, however, conflicting views in Catholic interpretations of Conciliar theology: to what extent did the Council see other religions as means to salvation? The author offers The Catholic Doctrine of non-Christian Religions according to the Second Vatican Council as the first comprehensive and analytic piece of research on Conciliar teaching concerning the nature of other faiths. His study is based on the original Latin and covers Conciliar and pre-conciliar documents, with special focus on the Declaration on the relation of the Church to Non-Christian religions, (Nostra aetate). In his detailed and careful analysis Ruokanen demonstrates that Vaticanum Secundum understood non-Christian religions as naturally good entities, part of human culture. Religions express in many ways and to varying degrees the natural cognition of God and of natural moral law. Except for Judaism, they do not, however, possess the status of being considered channels of divine revelation or salvific grace. The seeds of truth present in other faiths must be purified and perfected by the fullness of grace and truth given in Christ and entrusted to the Church.




Neopragmatism and Theological Reason


Book Description

Neopragmatism and Theological Reason examines the recent explosion of interest in pragmatism. Part I traces the source of classical pragmatism's distinctive thought to Peirce, James, and Dewey - specifically to their shared theological understanding inherited from Emerson's Transcendentalism and British Romanticism. Part II reconstructs this rationality for postmodernity, showing how neopragmatism, properly understood, is theological reason. Kimura discusses the return of religious themes in philosophers like Putnam, Cavell, and Rorty and critiques the neopragmatic theologies of West, McFague, and Kaufman. Neopragmatism and Theological Reason explores pragmatic themes across philosophy, theology, and literary theory, arguing that neopragmatism must acknowledge its theological sources and then reconstruct its rationality to the religious context of modernity/postmodernity.







The Religious History of American Women


Book Description

More than a generation after the rise of women's history alongside the feminist movement, it is still difficult, observes Catherine Brekus, to locate women in histories of American religion. Mary Dyer, a Quaker who was hanged for heresy; Lizzie Robinson, a former slave and laundress who sold Bibles door to door; Sally Priesand, a Reform rabbi; Estela Ruiz, who saw a vision of the Virgin Mary--how do these women's stories change our understanding of American religious history and American women's history? In this provocative collection of twelve essays, contributors explore how considering the religious history of American women can transform our dominant historical narratives. Covering a variety of topics--including Mormonism, the women's rights movement, Judaism, witchcraft trials, the civil rights movement, Catholicism, everyday religious life, Puritanism, African American women's activism, and the Enlightenment--the volume enhances our understanding of both religious history and women's history. Taken together, these essays sound the call for a new, more inclusive history. Contributors: Ann Braude, Harvard Divinity School Catherine A. Brekus, University of Chicago Divinity School Anthea D. Butler, University of Rochester Emily Clark, Tulane University Kathleen Sprows Cummings, University of Notre Dame Amy Koehlinger, Florida State University Janet Moore Lindman, Rowan University Susanna Morrill, Lewis and Clark College Kristy Nabhan-Warren, Augustana College Pamela S. Nadell, American University Elizabeth Reis, University of Oregon Marilyn J. Westerkamp, University of California, Santa Cruz




Veronica Brady in her Own Words


Book Description

Veronica Brady in her Own Words, is a collection of essays and papers by Veronica, many unpublished and all without a date and cover a range of topics: religion, the arts, politics and relations with Australian indigenous peoples.




Recent Books