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In this important study John de Gruchy examines the relationship between the Christian churches and the development of democracy, from the earliest days of Christendom to the late twentieth century, and explores the ways in which the Christianity of the future can achieve a theology for a just world order.

'There could not have been a more timely publication ... this is a splendid contribution to the debate of the role of the church in exhiliarating times when there are no real paradigms to turn to for what to do next. I commend Professor Villa-Vicencio's effort warmely.' Desmond Tutu, Archbishop of Cape Town

This book argues that Christian theology, although it can no longer claim to provide a comprehensive theory of justice, can provide insights into justice which give illumination, challenge some aspects of the conventional wisdom, and contribute to the building of just communities.

In western Christianity, the mystic was seen as having direct access to God and great authority. Men controlled who counted as a mystic: women were excluded. Dr Jantzen's philosophical argument takes issues of gender seriously and makes use of them for a deconstructive approach to Christian mysticism.

This 2000 book analyses the revival of charismatic Protestant Christianity as an example of globalization. Simon Coleman shows that, along with many social movements, these religious conservatives are negotiating their own interpretations of global and postmodern processes. They are constructing an evangelical arena of action and meaning within the liminal, chaotic space of the global. The book examines globalization not only as a social process, but also as an embodied practice involving forms of language and ritualized movement. Charismatic Christianity is presented through its material culture - art, architecture and consumer products - as well as its rhetoric and theology. The book provides an account of the incorporation of electronic media such as television, videos and the Internet into Christian worship. Issues relating to the conduct of fieldwork in contexts of globalization are raised in an account which is also a major ethnography of a Faith ministry.

This study examines the role of Christianity in Liberia under the corrupt rule of Samuel K. Doe (1980-90). Paul Gifford argues that the Church encouraged obedience and acceptance of the status quo and thus served to entrench Doe's power and promote US objectives in the region.

A leading contemporary theologian provides a wide-ranging account of modern thought on the function of religion in society. The chief questions of the day are taken up, expounded with lucidity and clarity, and assessed for their contributions to social theory.

This 1996 book examines the relationship between the theologies of atonement and penal strategies. Gorringe argues that 'satisfaction theory' led to retributive policies. He reviews theory and practice in the twentieth century, and makes concrete proposals for both theology and criminal and societal violence.

Pastoral care in the Northern hemisphere has traditionally focussed upon the well-being of individuals, ignoring the social order of which they are a part. This pioneering book draws on the methods and insights of Latin American liberation theology in order to present a new vision of socially and politically committed pastoral care.

This study offers fascinating insights into the beliefs and practices of a little-documented section of Chinese society. The peculiar character of Chinese Protestantism is seen to result from an interesting blend of old and new religious elements, and the resulting survey constitutes one of the most complete pictures of Christianity in China.

Pressing liberation, feminist and ecological theologies into service, this book seeks to answer the question: how is theology liberating? Reflecting as it does on the nature of 'theology after Gorbachev', it outlines a theology which is practical and contextual, and enquires how Christianity might help to actually change society.

This incisive 1997 study examines the fate of progressive Catholicism in Brazil. It traces the development of Latin American liberation theology and explores recent interactions between politics, society and religion, arguing that the current threat to progressive Catholicism is part of a wider contemporary crisis.

This important book poses acute questions about the basic moral foundations of liberal societies. Lord Plant focuses on the role of religious belief in argument about public policy in a pluralistic society. The book discusses the place of religious belief in policy formation and identifies relevant issues of Christian concern.