Rebecca Books

In 'Reconstructing Christian Theology', Rebecca Chopp and Mark Lewis Taylor have brought together a collection of essays from a formidible cast of theologians. As part of a Workgroup that met together regularly to reshape and construct a new theology for the new millennium, Chopp and Taylor served to focus the group together in this text that, while it embraces a diversity of voices, theological traditions and methodologies, nonetheless serves as a solid foundation for students and other interested readers to reconstruct theology along new lines.

This is intended for use in theology classes in seminaries and universities, most particularly in systematic theology classes. Essays address the classic topics of systematic theology (God, Church, Humanity, Creation, etc.), but it does so in ways that address modern concerns as well as traditional theological questions. For instance, in discussion of Humanity before God, essays include a discussion of those who are handicapped and differently-abled, ideas of race and justice, and environmentalism and stewardship of creation. In looking at the tradition topic of Christology, care is also given to examine the unfortunate history of Christian anti-semitism (rather strange in some regards, given the Jewish origins of Christianity), and ideas of pluralism in an inter-religious context.

If there is one overarching idea that runs through the entire text, from start to finish, across all categories, it would be that of Hope. Hope for the future of humanity, humanity before God and humanity in community with each other and all of creation -- this is what theology is ultimately concerned with in all of its facets. The theologians in this text would agree that such Hope is not found in rote recitations of ancient texts rendered into Elizabethan English; such Hope is not found in blind allegiance to bibliolatry or dogmatic codes. Rather, this kind of Hope follows on from the broadest concept of God that encompasses all of creation in all of its diversity, looking for those life-affirming practices that honour all of God's world as reflecting God's will, and all of humanity as reflective of God's image.

Through the essays, one feature that is of central importance is that of teaching the ability to ask questions. There are, in fact, few final answers here. What stands in place of this is the guidance of these theologian-educators toward the proper framing of questions, and the methodology for searching for answers. The task of theology is an important one, but one is in for disappointment if one looks for unmediated absolutes; at the very least, our understanding, our senses, and our capacity for faith itself is imperfectly cast in our limited physical being, and therefore God will always be somewhat (if not moreso) a mystery.

The one drawback that this collection has is that is contains little of theological voices beyond the currently-dominant North American/Western European paradigm. While this theological reconstruction does take account of different voices and issues, it is still very much a product of its culture. The authors present the image of a collage as opposed to a melting pot, recognising that for many people (including many theologians), their differences cannot be 'melted away'. While no theology can escape its origins entirely, this text does a good job at trying to mitigate the negative influences cultural contexts can bring.

A useful text for classes, small groups, and individual study, 'Reconstructing Christian Theology' should prove to be an engaging and enlightening experience.

When I learn about the things around me, forever after that they look more interesting to me. This book taught me a great deal about trees and led me to learn more on my own afterwards. Stop and smell the roses, AND stop and appreciate the trees! This book enabled me to do that more than before.

Via one "medieval best seller", the Connolly Book of Hours, this slim paperback provides a fascinating introduction to the world of illuminated manuscripts and those who created, purchased and used them. Most of us have probably seen illustrations from such books, but hesitated to do much more than admire their beauty/age. This book contains not only beautiful illustrations but a a succinct account of the creation of such manuscripts. Without speaking down to you, this book manages to turn what might be an intimidating subject into a very enjoyable read. It certainly whets your interest in life in the Middle Ages. The reflections accompanying each illumination were written by a variety of indidivuals within a college community and have a unique charm of their own. Perfect reading for a summer afternoon!

This book is AMAZING! Clarity gives great insight to relationships. She does it in a very humorous way, but to the point! If you try to over analyze life and relationships, just read this book and you will have the clarity that you strive for.

I have enjoyed reading this book. At first I was concerned that there would be too little information. Yet, the author has written this book so that statistics can be more understandable to a large audience.

Tanner Fairfax has learned plenty in his life, the most important thing being not to depend on anyone but himself. He agrees to return to his family's ancestral home after his grandfather's death, but only to sell the place and make sure it doesn't get turned into a museum making a hero out of the old villain. He doesn't know what to make of beautiful Cassie Leighton, the woman who's making repairs to his grandfather's house and who seems to think the old jerk was some sort of saint.

Cassie Leighton promised Frank Fairfax that she'd try to teach his grandson the value of family and the worth of living in a small town in Ohio where everyone knows you. New Haven is where the Fairfax family has always lived; it's where Tanner belongs. Of course he is too stuborn to see it, but he's attractive enough that Cassie doesn't mind spending the time needed to show him. What she fears, though, is that she'll fall for him. Cassie won't risk her heart to anyone who doesn't commit to the whole thing--living together, working together, sharing all of their dreams.

Both Cassie and Tanner have been injured, but both recognize the attraction that flows between them. Can they overcome their fears, agree to a compromise of their dreams to get what they really want?

In her first novel, author Rebecca Russell writes convincingly of life in small town central United States. Cassie and Tanner are multidimensional characters with a depth of history and emotion that is rare even in works by much more experienced authors. RIGHT WHERE HE BELONGS is a small jem of a novel. I'll keep my eyes open for more novels by this talented author.

Riley Watson is a master of disguise. Sent undercover to infiltrate Boone Fowler's Montana Militia, Riley takes a job as ranch manager at the Golden Saddle ranch. Riley is unsure of the role Golden Saddle's owner, Courtney Rogers plays in this deadly game of intrigue, but he is determined to find out.

Learning that Courtney is pregnant and alone is not what Riley expects. Finding her being targeted by his enemies is unfathomable. With the passion between Riley and Courtney intensifying, so does the danger. With Courtney's safety at risk, Riley will do whatever he must to protect her. The stakes couldn't be higher or the danger deadlier!

Riley's Retribution is my first ever Harlequin Intrigue. I am a huge fan of romantic suspense and am excited to find another source to satisfy my need! And Riley's Retribution does, indeed, satisfy. Full of suspense, romance, and passion, Ms. York kept me on the edge of my seat. The desire Riley and Courtney share is very heated. Add that to a thrilling plot with twists and turns, and I was biting my lip to see how the story ended. For fans of romantic suspense, I recommend Riley's Retribution for an exciting and pleasurable read!


Annabelle
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

"Rise Above the Truth" by Rebecca Thein, Author
Reviewed by: Joy McQuiston


"Rise Above the Truth" is a story of two people who seemed destined to meet. Misty's artistic drawings have intrigued a man enough to hire her to paint his office. He eventually becomes her mentor. Yet for the first few years, these two people were merely business acquaintances. From this, a deep and touching friendship blossomed. Rebecca Thein tells her story in such a fashion you feel you are the leading character; feeling every emotion; every thought of Misty, and even those feelings of her mentor when secrets begin to come to light.

The clandestine events Misty is to stumble upon almost shatters her spirits, however it also opens the hearts of all involved. Forgiveness was allowed to seep in, allowing many unanswered questions to be revealed. Rebecca's writing is excellent, and the storyline will keep you reading until you come to the mysterious conclusion. Her writing has earned her five, well-deserved stars. I found this book to be warm-hearted and yet quite thought-provoking.

This is a deeply impressive, rewarding, but also difficult work. "Ritual Practices to Gain Power" is a description in recent use for some of the procedures that are commonly referred to as "magic," a designation with many problems. The book is aimed at readers already familiar with studies of Jewish mystical and magical texts of late antiquity and the early middle ages, and their non-Jewish (pagan, Gnostic, and Christian) counterparts. Lesses provides excellent bibliographic guides and useful summaries of previous scholarship, but I suspect that a reader not already familiar with both post-Biblical Judaism in general and at least some studies of the mystical and magical fringes of Rabbinic Judaism in particular will be baffled.

Which is to say that the book is aimed at serious scholars, and those willing to read serious scholarship, even if they are not equipped to contribute to it themselves. For these, and for those willing to familiarize themselves with the basic literature, the book should be worth their time and effort. Lesses considers such issues as asceticism and ritual purity from points of view not often treated in discussions of Rabbinic thought, namely, their role as sources of power and access to knowledge.

The practices Lesses describes and analyses may seem surprising to many readers. They do not fit well into some of the standard models of Jewish history. The emergence of an elite based on mastery of knowledge, rather than inherited status and the performance of public rituals was, from our perspective, a democratization. This is an attractive simplification. The basic Rabbinic legal code, "The Mishnah," was originally supposed to be transmitted in oral form alone. The debates over its rulings, which allowed the development of a body of learning ultimately embodied in the Talmud (actually, two Talmuds), was also supposed to be purely oral, which meant learning by rote from living teachers.

All were eventually committed to writing, and made the basis of further written commentaries and codes. Even after printing made texts more readily available, however, the process of learning this material was (and is) difficult. In the earliest stages, those without the economic resources to spend years in study, and those students who found the memorization of recited traditions an insurmountable obstacle, must surely have been anything but happy with the situation. Social standing, not to mention intimacy with God, seemed to be just out of reach.

One way out for those so frustrated was the pursuit of knowledge through other means, including ritual practices. Goals ranged from acquiring angelic aid in memorization, to actual inspiration by the "Prince of Torah" -- knowing the answers without the bother of studying. (I suspect that rituals for the former purpose may sometimes have seemed to work; the intense concentration required by these rituals must have been good training in themselves, and their performance a builder of confidence.)

These forms of scholarly "magic" merge, through common practices and forms, with other, more secular pursuits of other goals, whose lack of legitimacy was usually more obvious. With the passage of time, these traditions, probably always marginal, passed almost completely out of the sight of Jewish scholarship. Their recovery, from medieval manuscript collections of esoteric lore, and from discarded documents accidentally preserved in the Cairo Genizah, was one of the more remarkable episodes of twentieth century scholarship, and is still continuing.

The Genizah, by the way, is the "attic" in which un-needed or unwanted documents written in the sacred Hebrew letters were stored, until they turned to dust of sheer age. The equally reverent European Jewish practice was to bury them like human remains, so the Great Synagogue of Old Cairo became a repository of Jewish texts, and texts merely written by Jews, of enormous historical and literary value.

This illustrates a problem. If you aren't already familiar with the term, you will certainly need an introduction to the Jewish mystical literature, and to several allied subjects. The Listmania of "Merkabah and Hekhalot Mysticism: in English," currently included as a link on this page, has excellent suggestions. However, I would recommend few if any of them for a complete beginner in Jewish studies, not already reasonably at home in at least the main personalities and events of the Second Temple and Talmudic periods.

Not that all of it is terribly difficult (although some of it is), but because it is still a fairly specialized area of study, and a good general education will be of only limited help. As a very basic, but sound, introduction, I would suggest "Back to the Sources: Reading the Classic Jewish Texts," edited by Barry W. Holtz.

(Reposted from my "anonymous" review of September 9, 2003.)

By 1990 Hussein had ruled Iraq for ten years and was leading forces to invade Kuwait, bringing popular attention to his regime. This surveys his life and times, examining his rise to power, the course of Arab politics during his lifetime, and his meaning to the Iraqis people. Over a hundred pages of detail will educate readers in grades 5-7.