MedievalChurch.org.uk

Theology on the Web Hub launched

2009-03-08T00:01:00.000Z

I have today launched a "hub site" called "Theology on the Web" which contains some of the material that has previously been duplicated on several sites. Having a central hub will help me to be able to keep the shared material updated and help visitors to understand better the vision that underlies the development of the other four - soon to be five - sites.

John T. Christian on The Paulician Churches

2009-01-28T08:50:00.000Z

The following article is now available on-line in PDF:

John T. Christian, "The Paulician Churches," Review & Expositor 7.3 (July 1910): 414-433.

There are so few articles on the Paulicians (ATLA lists only one) that I was very pleased to find this one while working on an on-line table of contents for the Review & Expositor. As the article was published prior to 1921 it is now Public Domain and can therefore be freely distributed and copied. My thanks to Harding University Library for providing a PDF of the original article.

A. Skevington Wood on Nicolas of Lyra

2008-09-11T19:17:00.006Z

The following article is now on-line in PDF:

A. Skevington Wood, "Nicholas of Lyra," Evangelical Quarterly 33 (1961): 196-206.

Nicholas of Lyra was one of the most influencial exegetes of the Middle Ages because he mediated to the Church the fruits of medieval Jewish exegesis. His was the first every Bible commentary to appear in print. My own research on the history of the interpretation of Genesis indicates that he is the first known proponent of a form of the Framework Hypothesis for interpreting the Days of Genesis 1:

The idea that the first three days describe the acts of creation, separation and adornment has a much longer history. It is mentioned by Martin Luther in his Lectures on Genesis, but Luther disregarded it because in his opinion it did not appear to fit the facts. He referred those interested in such trivia to the work of Nicholas de Lyra (c. 1270-1349) on Genesis, to whom Luther himself was heavily indebted.

David Keep on William Tyndale and the Lollards

2008-06-24T17:51:00.003Z

The following article is now on-line in PDF:

David Keep, "Is not Tyndale also among the Prophets?" Epworth Review 14.2 (May 1987): 57-63.

This article portrays Tyndale, in both churchmanship and doctrine, as a radical in the tradition of the Lollards.

My thanks to Methodist Publishing House for their kind permission to reproduce this article.

Theology on the Web group launched on Facebook

2008-04-29T07:34:00.000Z

I have created a new group on Facebook called Theology on the Web. I am hoping that it will serve both to raise the profile of my websites and provide a forum for visitors to provide feedback on current and future projects. Feel free to sign up.

Isa Glaser on Islam

2006-11-23T21:22:00.000Z

The following articles are now available in PDF:

Ida Glaser, "Towards a Mutual Understanding of Christian and Islamic Concepts of Revelation," Themelios 7.3 (1982): 16-22.

Ida Glaser, "The Concept of relationship as a Key to the Comparative Understanding of Christianity and Islam," Themelios 11.2 (1986): 57-60.

Book Review: Islam. The Challenge to the Church

2006-11-22T14:34:00.000Z

Patrick Sookhdeo, Islam. The Challenge to the Church. Pewsey: Isaac Publishing, 2006. Pbk. ISBN: 0954783549. pp.125.

Available from the Barnabas Fund, Old Rectory, River Street, PEWSEY, Wiltshire, SN9 5DB. Tel: +44 1672 564938. Fax: +44 1672 565030

Contents and Summary:

1) Understanding Islam

Discusses the basic teachings of Islam, its sects, morality (including the issues of lying, Jihad and Shari'a). Four "myths" about Islam are refuted:

The Word "Islam" means "peace".

Islam is a religion of peace and there are many verses to prove this in the Qur'an.

The Qur'an says: "If you kill one soul it is as if you killed all mankind."

The Qur'an says: "There is no compulsion in religion."

2) Comparing Islam with Christianity

This chapter is one fo the best in the book and provides a very pithy analysis of a complex subject. My favourite section deals with the knotty issue of the Crusades and is worth citing in full:

The real difference between Christianity and Islam lies in the core issues of their sacred writings and the persons of their founders. Christians have frequently in their long history departed from Christ's teachings and perpetrated cruelties against Jews, Muslims and heretics. However, when returning to their source scriptures they come face to face with the person of Christ and the Gospel of love and forgiveness he preached, as well as his atoning death and supreme example of humility, service, suffering and non-violence.

When Muslims return to their original sources, they have a very different encounter. The later dated verses of the Qur'an, revealed to Muhammad in Medina, contain much that is intolerant and belligerent. According to the most commonly followed doctrine of abrogation, later verses supersede earlier (more peaceable) verses dating from his days in Mecca. Muslims also meet Muhammad, whose words and actions, recorded in the hadith, give many clear examples of aggression, warmongering, even what in modern terminology appear to be assassination, torture and genocide. Some Muslims will argue that these actions were for a particular context only, but the fact remains that they occurred. Setting up Muhammad as the supreme example in every aspect of his words and actions, necessitates transforming his vices into virtues. This is the real cause of the contradictions so prevalent in Islamic societies and Islamic history, especially on issues relating to jihad, the treatment of women, and the contempt shown to non-Muslims.

Having made this comparison, it should be added that another vital difference is the relative importance of the founder and of the scriptures. The Christian faith is ultimately a relationship with a Person, but Islam is focused on the authority of a book.

Dr Sookhdeo concludes the chapter by refuting the claim that Islam, along with Judaism and Christianity are the three Abrahamic faiths. To say that they are is to accept the muslim's claim that Islam is the final and purest revelation.

3) Issues

This chapter outlines the use made by Muslims of the Law, the media, politics and our education system in order to further their aims. There are helpful sections on the position within Islam of women and non-muslims living in an Islamic society (Dhimmi).

4) Christian-Muslim Relations

Good relations between Christian and Muslims are seriously hampered by Islam's teaching about the correct way to treat unbelievers. hospitality and gifts may be given by Muslims, but not accepted from Christians. The dangers of allowing Muslims to address churches are outlined, as are those arising from allowing muslims to use church buildings for Friday prayers and inter-faith marches of witness and giving to Islamic charities. Conversion from Islam to Christianity can have severe - sometimes fatal - consequences, even in the UK. This has implications for how church's support new believers and their families.

Conclusion

Appendix: Ten Christian Approaches to Islam

Glossary of Arabic Terms

Assessment

I am continually surprised at how naive many Christians in the UK are about the teachings and practice of Islam. Dr Sookhdeo has done us a great service in producing a brief but authoritative summary of the ways in which Islam is a challenge to the church and how it can respond to these challenges. It is a book that every Christian should read.

Book Aid [del.icio.us]

2006-11-14T14:42:14-08:00

Not to be confused with Book Aid International - a more recent secular imitator. Book Aid collected Christian Books to be sent out to Africa where they are in short supply.

Web Style Guide, 2nd Edition [del.icio.us]

2006-11-14T14:39:53-08:00

Should be recommended reading for all webmasters!

Welcome to the Wipf and Stock Publishers [del.icio.us]

2006-11-14T14:35:02-08:00

Reprint a large number ofotherwise unobtainable titles

Biblical Studies Rare Books [del.icio.us]

2006-11-14T14:29:25-08:00

Another sources of freely downloadable books

The Tertullian Project [del.icio.us]

2006-11-14T14:23:14-08:00

All you ever wanted to know about Tertullian - and much more

Early Church Fathers - Additional Works in English Translation unavailable elsewhere online [del.icio.us]

2006-11-14T14:21:01-08:00

A superb site hosted by Roger Pearce. Roger share's my interest in making important dicuments available to everyone at no cost.

The New Testament Gateway [del.icio.us]

2006-11-14T14:12:53-08:00

A tremendous resource for an serious student of theology

Tyndale House, Doorway to Biblical Studies [del.icio.us]

2006-11-14T14:11:30-08:00

One of the finest library of evangelical titles in Europe.

bible.org [del.icio.us]

2006-11-14T14:08:49-08:00

Provide an excellent in-depth Bible training course

Margaret Deanesly on the Lollard Bible

2006-08-28T14:22:00.000Z

I have just uploaded the following lecture in PDF:

Prof. Margaret Deanesly, The Significance of the Lollard Bible. Ethel M. Wood Lecture delivered before the University of London on 13 March, 1951 London: Athlone Press, 1951. pp.23.

All reasonable efforts have been made to contact the copyright holder without success. If you are the copyright holder, please contact me.

TheologicalStudies.org.uk: An Introduction to the Site [del.icio.us]

2006-08-21T01:02:54-07:00

http://www.medievalchurch.org.uk/ [del.icio.us]

2006-08-21T01:02:31-07:00

EarlyChurch.org.uk: An Internet Resource for the Study of the Early Centuries of Christianity [del.icio.us]

2006-08-21T01:02:10-07:00

BiblicalStudies.org.uk: Making Biblical Scholarship Accessible [del.icio.us]

2006-08-21T01:01:52-07:00

Extensive bibliographies and many full-text theological articles and books.

M.L.W. Laistner on the Venerable Bede

2006-07-11T18:22:00.000Z

I have just uploaded in PDF:

M.L.W. Laistner, "Bede as Classical and as a Patristic Scholar," Transactions of the Historical Society. London Series 16 (1933): 69-94.

This document is now Public Domain and can be freely distributed and copied.

Lecture by Brian Edwards on William Tyndale available

2006-01-04T10:13:00.000Z

The Christian Institute have made available a lecture by Brian Edwards on William Tyndale in mp3 format. Click here for more details.

Institute for the Study of Islam and Christianity

2005-11-10T15:37:00.000Z

This site hosts a large number of thought-provoking articles on Islam.

Two important books on Islam

2005-10-25T20:04:00.000Z

Anyone interested in Islam should take a look at these two works, published 142 years apart.

William Muir, The Life of Mohamet, Vol. 1. Smith, Elder, & Co., London, 1861. is available in HTML format from the Answering Islam website. It may be an old book, but it is still well-worth reading.

Don Richardson, Secrets of the Koran: Revealing Insight into Islam's Holy Book Regal Books, 2003. Pbk. ISBN: 0830731237. pp.260. Richardson presents a detailed case against the claims of Islam - this book is highly recommended.

MedievalChurch site upgraded to PHP

2005-10-25T08:09:00.000Z

Regular visitors will notice that almost all the pages have changed from .html to .php to allow easier updating of page elements. If you link to any page other than the home page (index.html) please update your link. Thanks!