God Forgive Us for Being Women: Rhetoric, Theology, and the Pentecostal Tradition, by Joy E. A. Qualls (associate professor of communication studies), Pickwick Publications, May 2018. The Pentecostal tradition, and specifically the Assemblies of God, has held that women can serve at all levels of church leadership. There is no role that is off-limits to women. But in practice, women are often frustrated by the lack of opportunity and representation in leadership roles. By exploring the rhetorical history, how Pentecostals talk about the role of women, the purpose of this book is to expose those rhetorical constraints that create dissonance and discontentment. This book explores how Pentecostals use and are used by language that shapes this dissonance and how that impacts the lived reality of both men and women in the Pentecostal tradition.
Dictionary of Christianity and Science: The Definitive Reference for the Intersection of Christian Faith and Contemporary Science, co-edited by Michael G. Strauss (’81), Zondervan, April 2017. How does Christian theology relate to scientific inquiry? What are the competing philosophies of science, and do they “work” with a Christian faith based on the Bible? This definitive reference work features entries from over 140 international contributors, offering deeply researched, peer-reviewed insights on the intersection of science and Christian belief. The volume provides summaries and critical analyses of over 450 relevant concepts, theories, terms, movements, individuals and debates — including answers to the toughest questions about faith and science, from the existence of Adam and Eve to the age of the earth, evolution and string theory.
Magill’s Medical Guide 8th Edition, co-edited by Bryan Auday (’80), Salem Press, January 2018. Auday, psychology professor and neuroscience program director at Gordon College, co-edited the 8th edition of Magill’s, a five-volume set that includes over 900 articles on all aspects of medicine. The guide covers a range of subjects within medicine and neuroscience, including topic such as infectious disease, medical technology, neurology, psychiatry, anatomy, physiology and medical ethics. It is written to provide readers with topical overviews, most of which are followed by focused resources that provide further information. A central goal of the guide is to provide easy access to the full range of medical and healthcare concerns by supplying ample online resources and trustworthy references that come from academic journals.
Sharing the Good News with Mormons: Practical Strategies for Getting the Conversation Started, co-edited by Sean McDowell (’98, M.A. ’03, associate professor of Christian apologetics), Harvest House, June 2018. How do you share the gospel with those who don’t think they need it? Someone you know is a Mormon — a family member, a coworker, a friend or a neighbor — and you long to present the truth about Jesus and what God’s Word teaches. But where do you start? These essays from respected scholars, apologists and pastors lay out a variety of creative methods for sharing the gospel effectively so you can initiate authentic conversations, respond with compassion and clarity to Mormon teachings, understand your Mormon friends and find ways to keep the dialogue going.
Evangelicals and Immigration: Fault Lines Among the Faithful, co-authored by Ruth Melkonian-Hoover (’91), Palgrave Macmillan, November 2018. At a time when the topic of immigration is at the center of contemporary politics, this book examines the historical and contemporary relationships between religion and immigration politics, with a particularly in-depth analysis of the fault lines within evangelicalism — divisions not only between whites and non-whites, but also the increasingly consequential disconnect between elites and laity within white evangelicalism. The book’s empirical analysis relies on original interviews with Christian leaders, data from original church surveys and secondary analysis of several national public opinion surveys. It concludes with suggestions for bridging the elite/laity and racial divides.
The Monkhood of All Believers: The Monastic Foundation of Christian Spirituality, by Greg Peters (associate professor, Torrey Honors Institute), Baker Academic, November 2018. Although the institution of monasticism has existed in the Christian church since the first century, it is often misunderstood. Peters argues that all monks are Christians, but all Christians are also monks. To be a monk, one must first and foremost be singled-minded toward God. This book presents a theology of monasticism for the whole church, offering a vision of Christian spirituality that brings together important elements of history and practice. The author connects monasticism to movements in contemporary spiritual formation, helping readers understand how monastic practices can be a resource for exploring a robust spiritual life.
