This undergraduate level one textbook provides an introduction to the apparently incompatible subjects of religion and science. Each chapter contains references for finding out more about particular arguments, be they scientific or religious areas for discussion. Where particularly difficult concepts are referred to in the body of the text, further explanations are provided in boxed sections.

Spiritual, religious, sacred, or mystical experiences may be broadly defined as subjective human experiences that appear to the person undergoing them, or to others, to convey or imply contact with or knowledge about a transcendent power, presence, or superior reality beyond the realm of the physical. Research has shown that these forms of awareness of ‘something beyond’ are of considerable significance in the ordinary lives of very many people, as well as being elements of signal importance in the origin and development of religion: not least by deepening characteristically spiritual or religious attitudes, emotions, beliefs, values and practices, along with fundamental orientations of life and quests for meaning. This Studyguide provides a succinct and lucid introduction to the subject for those studying religion at both undergraduate and GCE AS/A level. By exploring the key areas of both the empirical and theoretical study of religious and spiritual experience, the Studyguide will serve as an accessible and nonpartisan guide to enable its readers to explore the range of challenging data, debates, approaches, and issues that relate to the study of this widespread and significant phenomenon.

The challenges that Western culture keeps posing to the Christian faith are ever new. The goal-posts keep changing. This study guide will equip theology students to understand the culture-shaping beliefs that are driving the kinds of questions it brings to faith. It will be an historical overview of the key stages in the history of Western philosophy with each section carefully tracing the genealogical line of ideas and the Christian responses to them, right up to the present day. For most theology students, learning abstract philosophical concepts involves literally learning a new language, a language that the initiated converse in with ease but which leaves the uninitiated baffled. Thus, each chapter in this study guide opens with a glossary of terms. Throughout the studyguide students are encouraged to reflect on the ways in which what has been learned might be applied in both explicitly theological and wider cultural contexts - for example, they might be asked to think of a film or book that seems to express elements of existentialism or postmodernism, or to describe how something very like the extreme subjectivity of idealism can sometimes shows itself in Sunday morning worship.

Providing the level one student with all they will need to know to understand their course fully, the textbook covers the major areas of ethical theory and methodology that are key to the use of the Bible in Christian ethics, natural law, conscience, various philosophical approaches to ethics and the influence of liberation theologies.

A step by step guide to learning about preaching and more importantly how to craft and deliver a sermon. It offers a student friendly, jargon-free introduction that requires no prior knowledge of the subject.

Through the course of their work with people engaged in ministries of various kinds - spiritual directors, healthcare chaplains, local clergy, theological educators, youth workers, the authors of this groundbreaking book have become convinced of the need to provide a practical guide to the practice of pastoral supervision understood as a core discipline of the Christian church and enriched by the best of what other supervision disciplines have to offer. Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of pastoral supervision, embedding it theologically and offering rooted examples from their own practice. At the end of each chapter practical exercises are offered to help the reader reflect on their own practice and tools are suggested for use with supervision groups and in work with individuals.

TheSCM Studyguide: Christian Spiritualityis designed as an introduction to spirituality for students of all religious backgrounds coming to the subject for the first time.