Religion : History

The only comprehensive and up-to-date look at Reform Judaism, this book analyzes the forces currently challenging the Reform movement, now the largest Jewish denomination in the United States. As an unintended result of its success, the movement now struggles with an identity crisis brought on by its liberal theology. Kaplan asks, can Reform Judaism continue to thrive? Can it be broadly inclusive and still be uniquely and authentically Jewish? Addressing the issues that have confronted the movement—including the ordination of women, acceptance of homosexuality, the problem of assimilation, the question of rabbinic officiation at intermarriages, the struggle for acceptance in Israel, and others—Kaplan sheds light on the connection between Reform ideology and cultural realities. He unflinchingly, yet optimistically, assesses the movement’s future and cautions that stormy weather may be ahead. more...

Price: $22.00

What does it mean to “believe” in America? Why do we always speak of our country as having a mission or purpose that is higher than other nations? Modern liberals have invested a great deal in the notion that America was founded as a secular state, with religion relegated to the private sphere. more...

Price: $24.95

Angels have made a remarkable comeback in the popular imagination; their real heyday, however, was the Middle Ages. This text offers a study of angels and angelology in the Middle Ages, seeking to discover how and why angels became so important in medieval society. more...

Price: $110.00

Complete interlinked edition. Includes contemporary maps, timelines, family trees, coinage, and units of measure, as well as modern view of history and analysis of Josephus works. Josephus fought the Romans in the First Jewish-Roman War as a Jewish military leader in Galilee. After the the Romans invaded, killing thousands, Josephus and one of his soldiers surrendered to the Roman forces. He became a prisoner and provided the Romans with intelligence on the ongoing revolt. He appears to have played some role as a negotiator with the defenders of Jerusalem in 70. In 71, he arrived in Rome in the entourage of Titus, becoming a Roman citizen. It was while in Rome, and under Flavian patronage, that Josephus wrote all of his works. The works of Josephus were studied for nearly 2,000 years by scholars, pastors, students, and everybody interested in history. Josephus writes in enlightened and provocative style. He offers information about individuals, groups, customs and geographical places. His writings provide a significant, extra-biblical account of the Maccabees, the Hasmonean dynasty and the rise of Herod the Great. He makes references to the Sadducees, Jewish High Priests of the time, Pharisees and Essenes, the Herodian Temple, the Zealots, and to such figures as Pontius Pilate, Herod the Great, Agrippa I and Agrippa II, John the Baptist, James the brother of Jesus. The Josephus'' books provide the most important contemporary reference to Jesus Christ. The updated translations of Josephus'' works by William Whiston are easy to read and are essential to understanding of the first century Jerusalem, the time of Christ and the New Testament. Table of Contents. Antiquities of the Jews or Jewish Antiquities (c. 94). Appendix:. 1. Maps of Palestine: 830 BC | 50 AD | Galilee 50 AD. 2. Maps of Assyria and Persian Empire: Assyria 824-671 BC | Persian Empire 490 BC. 3. Maps of Roman Empire: 218 BC - 117 AD | 69 AD | 117 AD | Legions Camps 80 AD. 4. Models: Jeru more...

Price: $3.99

Archiv für Religionsgeschichte is a specialised journal dealing primarily with religions of the ancient world. The different aspects of the field of research are covered in essays, reports on the main areas of religious studies and in individual articles. Each volume has a thematic focus, which is dealt with either in a larger study or from the different point of views of a number of writers. The history of religion unfolds from the perspectives of different disciplines (philology, history, archaeology, iconology and historical anthropology) but with an emphasis on the historical approach. Besides the individual articles the archive is based on the presentation and interpretation of documents. more...

Price: $249.00