Ministry explores the rich and consistent history of lay ministry in the Roman Catholic Church since the first witness in the Bible. Kenan Osborne, a well-known theologian, combines his personal insights in contemporary spirituality to address the major issues that lay men and women face within the church structures at various periods of time. Has the role of the lay person in the Roman Catholic Church been diminished or supported over the centuries? 'Ministry' examines the historical evidence thoroughly and focuses on three important factors. First, Osborne offers a critical examination of the discipleship of every follower of Jesus. Next he describes the gradual de-emphasis of the non-cleric and non-religious in the church. Finally, he discusses the gradual emergence of the lay person into the mainstream of discipleship. 'Ministry' is designed for the lay person and the ordained. A complement to Osborne's previous book, 'Priesthood', this book is an extremely important historical study and must reading for those who seek the central foundation of discipleship within the Roman Catholic Church.

Is Christianity exclusively a religious phenomenon, which must separate itself from all things political, or do its concepts actually underpin secular politics? To this question, which animated the twentieth-century debate on political theology, Liturgical Power advances a third alternative. Christian anti-politics, Heron contends, entails its own distinct conception of politics. Yet this politics, he argues, assumes the form of what today we call “administration,” but which the ancients termed “economics.” The book’s principal aim is thus genealogical: it seeks to understand our current conception of government in light of an important but rarely acknowledged transformation in the idea of politics brought about by Christianity. This transformation in the idea of politics precipitates in turn a concurrent shift in the organization of power; an organization whose determining principle, Heron contends, is liturgy—understood in the broad sense as “public service.” Whereas until now only liturgy’s acclamatory dimension has made the concept available for political theory, Heron positions it more broadly as a technique of governance. What Christianity has bequeathed to political thought and forms, he argues, is thus a paradoxical technology of power that is grounded uniquely in service.

Ten years have passed and he has forgotten her. But Mirari would still do anything to save her childhood friend from the executioner’s sword. Meanwhile, Fangbane has spent his life trying to end centuries of social and political hostility. As his fame spreads, brave Knights rally to his cause. But to truly succeed, Fangbane must have two others: Gaven, the headstrong warrior he helped put on death row, and Mirari, a simple merchant with a past as secretive as her formidable magical ability. Their aid could be the difference between success and failure. Can Gaven put aside his apathy to fully commit to the alliance? Will Mirari become a worthy fighter and subdue her desire for revenge? With the threat of a growing movement of underground vigilantes bent on tipping the system, the Knights must act quickly. Time is running out to rid the world of evil. * * * PRAISE FOR "KNIGHTS OF THE ALLIANCE" * * * Finalist for Book of the Year - Indies Today Awards 1st Place Debut Author - Feathered Quill Book Awards 2nd Place Best Fantasy - Feathered Quill Book Awards Best New Fiction - Firebird Book Awards “Strong, solid, and a world fully imagined.” -Reader Views “Rare and dazzling. Combines the best of contemporary imagination.” -AuthorsReading “Actually original. No cliches or love triangles. Just a good fantasy read.” -Goodreads Review If you thrive on quality action, humor, and political intrigue, then you’ll love this Young Adult / New Adult series. Immerse in this epic heroic tale today!

The Encyclopedia of Christian Theology, translated from the French Dictionnaire Critique de Théologie 2nd Edition, features over 530 entries, contributed by 250 scholars from fifthteen different countries. Alphabetically arranged entries provide the reader a critical overview of the main theological questions and related topics, including concepts, events, councils, theologians, philosophers, movements, and more. Hailed as a "masterpiece of scholarship," this reference work will be of great interest and use for scholars, students of religion and theology as well as general readers.

Provides an introduction to the academic study of early Christianity (c. 100-600 AD) and examines the vast geographical area impacted by the early church, in Western and Eastern late antiquity. --from publisher description.