A historical and anthropologic retrospective on the evolution of politico-religious politic man from the time of Adam until today. The two most important aspects of man’s developmental civilization and his continuance are politics and religion. In a historical sense the two have gone hand in hand, regardless of the modern concept of separating church and state. It is the author’s premise that politics and religion should be in juxtaposition as they were in the Byzantine period. The author does not overlook the fact that both politics and religion have had their character stained. But the stains are superficial and fade from view when the substantive qualities of both axiomatic systems are brought into focus. One of the interesting tools the author uses in bringing these substantive qualities to light is discussing the two systems in terms of their paternalistic and maternalistic behavior and thereby setting up, through empirical evaluation, a natural order of things according to what paternalism and maternalism make of man. For the historical and social testing ground the author especially looks into the Byzantine period for testing the good and evil precepts of his theory. From this study comes a oneness, an Ecumenical Legacy, the author calls it, of politics, religion and ethics, a divine direction for man, “Synodically” oriented, that is realistic and optimistic, too, a joining of those normally interpreted opposites seldom seen these days.

"An impressive array of selections. They show common ethics that transcend the narrow confines of sectarianism." ATLANTA JOURNAL & CONSTITUTION Beneath the seeming differences of all the world's great religions, lies a pool of universal truth. ONENESS collects these beliefs together for the first time, in the actual words of each religion's scriptures. These universal principles act as a guide to inner development, and allow each individual to achieve spiritual richness.

Two-term governor of Tennessee Bill Haslam reveals how faith--too often divisive and contentious--can be a redemptive and unifying presence in the public square. As a former mayor and governor, Bill Haslam has long been at the center of politics and policy on local, state, and federal levels. And he has consistently been guided by his faith, which influenced his actions on issues ranging from capital punishment to pardons, health care to abortion, welfare to free college tuition. Yet the place of faith in public life has been hotly debated since our nation's founding, and the relationship of church and state remains contentious to this day--and for good reason. Too often, Bill Haslam argues, Christians end up shaping their faith to fit their politics rather than forming their politics to their faith. They seem to forget their calling is to be used by God in service of others rather than to use God to reach their own desires and ends. Faithful Presence calls for a different way. Drawing upon his years of public service, Haslam casts a remarkable vision for the redemptive role of faith in politics while examining some of the most complex issues of our time, including: partisanship in our divided era; the most essential character trait for a public servant; how we cannot escape "legislating morality"; the answer to perpetual outrage; and how to think about the separation of church and state. For Christians ready to be salt and light, as well as for those of a different faith or no faith at all, Faithful Presence argues that faith can be a redemptive, healing presence in the public square--as it must be, if our nation is to flourish.

To describe the Church as "united" is a factual misnomer--even at its conception centuries ago. Ephraim Radner provides a robust rethinking of the doctrine of the church in light of Christianity's often violent and at times morally suspect history. He holds in tension the strange and transcendent oneness of God with the necessarily temporal and political function of the Church, and, in so doing, shows how the goals and failures of the liberal democratic state provide revelatory experiences that greatly enhance one's understanding of the nature of Christian unity.

The acclaimed author of The Barbary Wars offers a critical analysis of the often uneasy relationship between religion and politics in the United States from the Founding Fathers to the twenty-first century.

One of the most awkward things about growing up is learning to communicate with the opposite sex. What is she thinking? Why did he do that? Teen guys and girls know they often don't understand the opposite sex or know how to talk to one another. Communication is a key tool in life. We interact with words, gestures, and movements. The devotions in Girl Talk Guy Talk give insights that focus on different aspects of teen life to help both guys and girls better understand and communicate with the opposite sex. Various styles of devotions, including stories, checklists, quizzes, fact-based news, text messages, and skill-building tips will encourage and equip young girls and guys to understand how the opposite sex is wired and how to best relate with them.

16 contributors represent four positions on the biblical role of civil government. Originally delivered at a consultation on that topic, each of the four major papers is presented by a leading representative of that view and is followed by responses from the three other perspectives. The result is a vigorous exchange of ideas aimed at pinpointing areas of agreement and disagreement and equipping God's people to serve him more effectively in the political arena.