Persecution And Cosmic Conflict

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Persecution and Cosmic Conflict

Author : Joshua Caleb Hutchens
Publisher : Wipf and Stock Publishers
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 221 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (852 download)

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Book Synopsis Persecution and Cosmic Conflict by : Joshua Caleb Hutchens

Download or read book Persecution and Cosmic Conflict written by Joshua Caleb Hutchens and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2024-03-11 with total page 221 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "But just as then the child born as a result of the flesh persecuted the one born as a result of the Spirit, so also now" (Gal 4:29 CSB). Why do God's people suffer? In Galatians, Paul makes an argument from persecution for the authenticity of his gospel. Persecution demonstrates that Paul and the Galatians belong to God and have believed in the divinely revealed gospel. While Paul does not offer an explicit theodicy in Galatians, his argument from persecution requires an implicit one. Paul's theodicy can primarily be understood through his interpretation of earlier Scripture, especially the story of Isaac and Ishmael in Genesis. In Persecution and Cosmic Conflict, Joshua Caleb Hutchens examines the theme of persecution in Galatians and Paul's theological context in earlier Scriptures and early Judaism. Hutchens argues that Paul sees persecution as a manifestation of the cosmic conflict between God in Christ and the present evil age. Paul argues for this by appealing to earlier Scripture in Genesis. Hutchens offers a biblical-theological reading of Genesis that makes sense of Paul's usage of the book in Galatians.

Persecution and Cosmic Conflict in Galatians

Author : Joshua Caleb Hutchens
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 272 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (13 download)

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Book Synopsis Persecution and Cosmic Conflict in Galatians by : Joshua Caleb Hutchens

Download or read book Persecution and Cosmic Conflict in Galatians written by Joshua Caleb Hutchens and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This dissertation argues that persecution in Galatians manifests the cosmic conflict between God and the present evil age. Chapter 1 introduces the reader to the topic of persecution in Galatians and the history of research. Chapter 2 demonstrates that Paul uses the theme of cosmic conflict to place the crisis in Galatia within a broader context of a conflict between God who has inaugurated the new creation within the present time and this present evil age. Chapters 3-4 examine Paul's theological context. Chapter 3 investigates a theme of cosmic conflict in Genesis, Psalms, Isaiah, and Habakkuk. Chapter 4 examines the theme in other early Jewish texts (Daniel; 1 Enoch; 4 Ezra; 2 Baruch; Jubilees; 1 Maccabees; 2 Maccabees; 4 Maccabees; 1QS; CD; 1QM). This survey reveals that Paul's iteration of the theme possesses continuity and discontinuity with other authors. Chapter 5 offers a historical reconstruction of the instances of persecution mentioned in Galatians. Four instances of persecution in Galatians are examined: (1) Paul the Persecutor (1:13, 23). (2) Paul the Persecuted (3:1; 4:13, 19; 5:11; 6:17) (3) The Opponents as Potential Targets (6:12) (4) The Persecution of the Galatians (3:4; 4:17-18, 29). Paul uses the theme of persecution to reshape the perception of the Galatian believers and to reveal the danger of the false gospel preached by his opponents. Chapter 6 identifies persecution as a specific manifestation of the cosmic conflict between God and this present evil age. Galatians 4:29 directly connects the phenomenon of persecution with the broader cosmic conflict. Paul does so by identifying typology in Genesis 21:9. In light of this understanding of Paul's use of Genesis, other significant passages on persecution in Galatians are reexamined to see how they fit within a cosmic conflict reading: 1:13, 23; 3:4; 5:11; 6:12, 17. In conclusion, chapter 7 offers three possible results of Paul's understanding of persecution as cosmic conflict. It then examines the significance of the thesis for global Christianity today.

Eschatology, Cosmic Conflict, and Suffering in 1 Peter

Author : Christopher Michael Byrley
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (12 download)

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Book Synopsis Eschatology, Cosmic Conflict, and Suffering in 1 Peter by : Christopher Michael Byrley

Download or read book Eschatology, Cosmic Conflict, and Suffering in 1 Peter written by Christopher Michael Byrley and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Part of the biblical theology of Satan and the demonic realm includes a depiction of cosmic conflict, wherein earthly events and conflicts are portrayed as a reflection of heavenly ones, and vice versa. While this portrayal has been explored from various angles, it has not been applied to an examination of the letter of 1 Peter. This dissertation argues that the depiction of cosmic conflict does inform Peter's paraenesis and depiction of suffering to a significant degree. Chapter 1 contains a survey of revelant research and presents the thesis: that the portrayal of cosmic conflict informs Peter's dipiction of suffering in that Peter pictures the current persecution of the readers as a necessary and inevitable part of the cosmic struggle against Satan and the demonic realm. Chapter 2 presents an examination of the paraenesis of 1 Peter, arguing that the letter reflects the paradigm of conflict, whereby the author seeks to subvert the perceived social values and structures. This chapter shows how cosmic conflict reflects this paradigm, as the world is depicted as an arena for opposing cosmic and human forces. Chapters 3 through 5 contain a detailed survey of biblical and Second Temple Jewish literature as it portrays the figures of Satan and the demonic realm, as well as the conflict that exists between Yahweh and the forces of darkness. These chapters also make note of the connections drawn by the biblical authors between the earthly and heavenly realms. Chapter 6 contains an examination of the suffering and persecution envisaged in 1 Peter, and argues for a portrayal of suggering that includes verbal, social, economic and legal components. This chapter also emphasizes how early Christian writers could speak of their struggles as having imperial and cosmic dimensions. Chapter 7 offers a succinct reading of 1 Peter as a whole, with particular attention to how the depiction of cosmic conflict detailed thus far influences Peter's teaching and exhortation throughout the epistle. Chapter 8 contains a conclusion of major arguments and suggests possible implications for broader study of the New Testament and application to the church at large today.

Radical Martyrdom and Cosmic Conflict in Early Christianity

Author : Paul Middleton
Publisher : A&C Black
ISBN 13 : 0567041646
Total Pages : 225 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (67 download)

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Book Synopsis Radical Martyrdom and Cosmic Conflict in Early Christianity by : Paul Middleton

Download or read book Radical Martyrdom and Cosmic Conflict in Early Christianity written by Paul Middleton and published by A&C Black. This book was released on 2006-08-30 with total page 225 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Several view of martyrdom co-existed in the early Church. The 'orthodox' position, generally accepted by scholars, was that a Christian should choose martyrdom rather than deny the Faith, but should not, on any account, court death. Although it has been recognised that some in the early Church did seek a glorified death, by giving themselves over to arrest, most scholars have dismissed such acts as differing from 'the accepted attitude to martyrdom' in the early Church. Therefore, instances of volitional, or radical martyrdom, have been largely overlooked or sidelined in scholarly investigations into the theology and origins of Christian martyrdom. Paul Middleton argues that, far from being a deviant strand of early Christianity, 'radical martyrdom' was a significant, and widely held idealised form of devotion in the late first to early third centuries. Christian martyrdom is placed within the heritage of Jewish War tradition, with each martyr making an important contribution to the cosmic conflict between Satan and God. Radical Martyrdom re-examines the presentation, theology, and origins of Christian martyrdom up to the beginning of the Decian persecutions in the light of new perspectives on the subject.

Blessed Victors

Author : Ruth Sutcliffe
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 0567710777
Total Pages : 306 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (677 download)

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Book Synopsis Blessed Victors by : Ruth Sutcliffe

Download or read book Blessed Victors written by Ruth Sutcliffe and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2024-07-25 with total page 306 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The late second through third centuries saw the remarkable confluence of the early church's developing identity, theological understanding and praxis, with a period of opposition and intermittent persecution from the world around it. Theology necessarily engaged with the persecution experience, as the church considered the goodness and providence of God, the Name to be confessed and the purposeful outcome of the antagonism they faced. Ruth Sutcliffe argues that the early fathers' theological understanding of the role of persecution in the Christian life informed their exhortations to individual and communal response, contributing to the church's remarkable survival and growth through this period. Four great thinkers of this era - Clement and Origen of Alexandria and Tertullian and Cyprian of Carthage - each have much to contribute to a theological understanding of Christian persecution, and Sutcliffe explores their widely different perspectives, intellectual milieu and experiences. She explains these differences and similarities in terms of their use of the Scriptures, in conversation with their own contexts and agendas; concluding that their differences in approach to persecution can be explained theologically, and that these differences offer a unique window into their respective thought. Despite such differences, Sutcliffe stresses that the early church did have a fundamentally coherent “theology of persecution” which speaks to the worldwide church today.

Christians in the Crosshairs

Author : Gregory C. Cochran
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781941337615
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (376 download)

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Book Synopsis Christians in the Crosshairs by : Gregory C. Cochran

Download or read book Christians in the Crosshairs written by Gregory C. Cochran and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An insightful and (surprisingly) encouraging biblical explanation as to why trouble and persecution are inevitable for Christians. Since they are a peculiar people, are in the world but not of the world, and follow a Master who is offensive to many, Christians are naturally the objects of disdain and hostility. Understanding the nature of the enmity between the world and the Christian is critical for living in a world where Satan is its prince. The book is an attempt to start a conversation about the reality of Christian persecution. It is a wake-up call to the modern church, especially in the United States. "My hope for all who read this volume," writes the author, "is a strengthened faith. One of the most surprising aspects of studying persecution has been its effect on me. I thought I would feel woeful and defeated after hearing of such great suffering. However, the opposite is true. The Gospel, with its resurrection power, is able to take the worst situations and reframe them in victory. Hearing stories of triumph through suffering has been nothing short of glorious."

Galatians

Author : Thomas R. Schreiner
Publisher : Zondervan Academic
ISBN 13 : 0310492165
Total Pages : 434 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (14 download)

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Book Synopsis Galatians by : Thomas R. Schreiner

Download or read book Galatians written by Thomas R. Schreiner and published by Zondervan Academic. This book was released on 2011-01-04 with total page 434 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Concentrate on the biblical author’s message as it unfolds. Designed to assist the pastor and Bible teacher in conveying the significance of God’s Word, the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament series treats the literary context and structure of every passage of the New Testament book in the original Greek. With a unique layout designed to help you comprehend the form and flow of each passage, the ZECNT unpacks: The key message. The author’s original translation. An exegetical outline. Verse-by-verse commentary. Theology in application. While primarily designed for those with a basic knowledge of biblical Greek, all who strive to understand and teach the New Testament will benefit from the depth, format, and scholarship of these volumes. In this volume, Thomas R. Schreiner offers pastors, students, and teachers a focused resource for reading Galatians. Through the use of graphic representations of translations, succinct summaries of main ideas, exegetical outlines and other features, Schreiner presents Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians with precision and accuracy. Because of this series’ focus on the textual structure of the scriptures, readers will better understand the literary elements of Galatians, comprehend the author’s revolutionary goals, and ultimately discover their vital claims upon the church today.

The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Christian Martyrdom

Author : Paul Middleton
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
ISBN 13 : 111909982X
Total Pages : 564 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (19 download)

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Book Synopsis The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Christian Martyrdom by : Paul Middleton

Download or read book The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Christian Martyrdom written by Paul Middleton and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2020-04-06 with total page 564 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A unique, wide-ranging volume exploring the historical, religious, cultural, political, and social aspects of Christian martyrdom Although a well-studied and researched topic in early Christianity, martyrdom had become a relatively neglected subject of scholarship by the latter half of the 20th century. However, in the years following the attack on the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001, the study of martyrdom has experienced a remarkable resurgence. Heightened cultural, religious, and political debates about Islamic martyrdom have, in a large part, prompted increased interest in the role of martyrdom in the Christian tradition. The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Christian Martyrdom is a comprehensive examination of the phenomenon from its beginnings to its role in the present day. This timely volume presents essays written by 30 prominent scholars that explore the fundamental concepts, key questions, and contemporary debates surrounding martyrdom in Christianity. Broad in scope, this volume explores topics ranging from the origins, influences, and theology of martyrdom in the early church, with particular emphasis placed on the Martyr Acts, to contemporary issues of gender, identity construction, and the place of martyrdom in the modern church. Essays address the role of martyrdom after the establishment of Christendom, especially its crucial contribution during and after the Reformation period in the development of Christian and European national-building, as well as its role in forming Christian identities in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. This important contribution to Christian scholarship: Offers the first comprehensive reference work to examine the topic of martyrdom throughout Christian history Includes an exploration of martyrdom and its links to traditions in Judaism and Islam Covers extensive geographical zones, time periods, and perspectives Provides topical commentary on Islamic martyrdom and its parallels to the Christian church Discusses hotly debated topics such as the extent of the Roman persecution of early Christians The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Christian Martyrdom is an invaluable resource for scholars and students of religious studies, theology, and Christian history, as well as readers with interest in the topic of Christian martyrdom.

Cosmic Conflict

Author : Ellen G. White
Publisher : Shelter Publications
ISBN 13 : 9780828002110
Total Pages : 630 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (21 download)

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Book Synopsis Cosmic Conflict by : Ellen G. White

Download or read book Cosmic Conflict written by Ellen G. White and published by Shelter Publications. This book was released on 1982 with total page 630 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: COSMIC CONFLICT wrestles with these questions and answers them forthrightly and with authority. Millions of readers have benefited from its behind-the-scenes revelation of the forces that shape their daily lives. Discover the role you can play in the great controversy between good and evil. - 1. A Forecast of the World's Destiny; 2. The First Christians; 3. An Era of Spiritual Darkness; 4. Faithful Torchbearers; 5. The Light Breaks in England; 6. Two Heroes Face Death; 7. Luther--A Man for His Time; 8. A Champion of Truth; 9. Light Kindled in Switzerland; 10. Progress of Reform in Germany; 11. The Protest of the Princes; 12. Daybreak in France; 13. The Netherlands and Scandinavia Stirred by Reform; 14. Truth Advances in the British Isles; 15. Terror and Retribution in France; 16. Seeking Freedom in a New World; 17. Promises of Christ's Return; 18. New Light in the New World; 19. Light Through Darkness; 20. A Global Religious Awakening; 21. Results of Rejecting Truth; 22. Prophecies Fulfilled; 23. The Mystery of the Sanctuary Unfolded; 24. Jesus Christ Our Advocate; 25. America in Prophecy; 26. An Hour for Reform; 27. Modern Reivals; 28. Facing Our Life Record; 29. Why Were Sin and Suffering Permitted?; 30. Man's Worst Enemy; 31. Who are the Angels?; 32. Snares of Satan; 33. The Mystery of Immortality; 34. Can the Dead Speak to Us?; 35. Liberty of Conscience Threatened; 36. The Impending Conflict; 37. Our Only Safeguard; 38. God's Final Warning; 39. The Time of Trouble; 40. God's People Delivered; 41. The Earth in Ruins; 42. The Controversy Ended; Appendix; Index of Scripture References; General Index

Blessed Victors

Author : Ruth Sutcliffe
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 0567710750
Total Pages : 305 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (677 download)

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Book Synopsis Blessed Victors by : Ruth Sutcliffe

Download or read book Blessed Victors written by Ruth Sutcliffe and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2024-07-25 with total page 305 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The late second through third centuries saw the remarkable confluence of the early church's developing identity, theological understanding and praxis, with a period of opposition and intermittent persecution from the world around it. Theology necessarily engaged with the persecution experience, as the church considered the goodness and providence of God, the Name to be confessed and the purposeful outcome of the antagonism they faced. Ruth Sutcliffe argues that the early fathers' theological understanding of the role of persecution in the Christian life informed their exhortations to individual and communal response, contributing to the church's remarkable survival and growth through this period. Four great thinkers of this era - Clement and Origen of Alexandria and Tertullian and Cyprian of Carthage - each have much to contribute to a theological understanding of Christian persecution, and Sutcliffe explores their widely different perspectives, intellectual milieu and experiences. She explains these differences and similarities in terms of their use of the Scriptures, in conversation with their own contexts and agendas; concluding that their differences in approach to persecution can be explained theologically, and that these differences offer a unique window into their respective thought. Despite such differences, Sutcliffe stresses that the early church did have a fundamentally coherent “theology of persecution” which speaks to the worldwide church today.

The Great Controversy

Author : Ellen G. White
Publisher : Good Press
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 587 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (64 download)

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Book Synopsis The Great Controversy by : Ellen G. White

Download or read book The Great Controversy written by Ellen G. White and published by Good Press. This book was released on 2020-12-08 with total page 587 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Great Controversy is a work by Ellen G. White, a founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, considered a prophetess or messenger of God among Seventh-day Adventist members. The book tells about the ever-persistent controversy between the good and the bad, represented by the opposition of Christ and Satan and the forces of angels that accompany them.

The Cosmic Conflict

Author : Kenneth Ocasio
Publisher : Book Writer Corner
ISBN 13 : 9781960815804
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (158 download)

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Book Synopsis The Cosmic Conflict by : Kenneth Ocasio

Download or read book The Cosmic Conflict written by Kenneth Ocasio and published by Book Writer Corner. This book was released on 2023-10-03 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the vast expanse of the universe, a story older than time unfolds-a tale of celestial powers locked in eternal combat, where destinies are shaped and where humanity finds its place. "Cosmic Conflict: War of the Gods" delves deep into this age-old struggle, unearthing the myths, scriptures, and beliefs that have captured human imagination for millennia. Journey through epochs and civilizations as this book deciphers the enigmatic characters that populate these legends: from the rebellious fallen angels, the enigmatic Nephilim, to the omnipresent demons that challenge faith. But as technology races forward, new actors emerge. How do AI, transhumanism, the Homo Deus concept, and the mystifying UFO phenomena fit into this grand narrative? Author Kenneth Ocasio draws upon over 30 years of ministry experience, combining scholarly research with profound spiritual insights, guiding readers through a maze of beliefs to uncover the essence of the cosmic conflict. It's a story of free will, redemption, and the indomitable human spirit, reminding us of our pivotal role in this celestial war. Step into a world where the spiritual and the terrestrial intertwine, where every choice reverberates in cosmic realms, and where, despite the shadows, hope burns eternal. Dive into "Cosmic Conflict: War of the Gods" and discover your place in this grand, unfolding epic.

The Origin of Satan

Author : Elaine Pagels
Publisher : Vintage
ISBN 13 : 0679731180
Total Pages : 242 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (797 download)

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Book Synopsis The Origin of Satan by : Elaine Pagels

Download or read book The Origin of Satan written by Elaine Pagels and published by Vintage. This book was released on 1996-04-30 with total page 242 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the National Book Award-winning and National Book Critics Circle Award-winning author of The Gnostic Gospels comes a dramatic interpretation of Satan and his role on the Christian tradition. "Arresting...brilliant...this book illuminates the angels with which we must wrestle to come to the truth of our bedeviling spritual problems." —The Boston Globe With magisterial learning and the elan of a born storyteller, Pagels turns Satan’s story into an audacious exploration of Christianity’s shadow side, in which the gospel of love gives way to irrational hatreds that continue to haunt Christians and non-Christians alike.

The Coming Persecution

Author : Larry W. Poland
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9780898402773
Total Pages : 230 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (27 download)

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Book Synopsis The Coming Persecution by : Larry W. Poland

Download or read book The Coming Persecution written by Larry W. Poland and published by . This book was released on 1990 with total page 230 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

The Big Picture

Author : Kevin Agorastos
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 116 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (574 download)

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Book Synopsis The Big Picture by : Kevin Agorastos

Download or read book The Big Picture written by Kevin Agorastos and published by . This book was released on 2020-07-16 with total page 116 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The world is in chaos. Wars, pestilence, natural disasters, civil strife, and death occur on a daily basis. How did it get this way? Unbeknownst to many a cosmic conflict has raged for eons between the forces of light and the forces of darkness. The leader of the Kingdom of Darkness, Lucifer, led a rebellion that continues to affect each and every one of us. The Big Picture details this ongoing conflict between God and Lucifer and how it shapes our world today. It's an ancient story that begins in the distant past and continues into eternity's future. Many topics are covered in this journey from history to theology and even eschatology. Buckle up for a wild ride that has been eons in the making.In this cosmic overview of history, you will learn from a Christian perspective why things are the way that they are. Along the way, many common questions will be answered that have plagued humanity for ages. Ultimately, it's a story about good triumphing over evil. In The Big Picture you will learn about: - The cosmic conflict between God and Lucifer- An exposé of Lucifer and the origins of evil- Why evil and suffering exists in the world- Why hell exists- And much more

Christian Martyrdom and Political Violence

Author : Rubén Rosario Rodríguez
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
ISBN 13 : 1107187141
Total Pages : 321 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (71 download)

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Book Synopsis Christian Martyrdom and Political Violence by : Rubén Rosario Rodríguez

Download or read book Christian Martyrdom and Political Violence written by Rubén Rosario Rodríguez and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2017-07-13 with total page 321 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book examines the commonalities of Christianity, Judaism and Islam, and presents martyr narratives as a resource for resisting political violence.

The Global War on Christians

Author : John L. Allen, Jr.
Publisher : Image
ISBN 13 : 0770437370
Total Pages : 338 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (74 download)

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Book Synopsis The Global War on Christians by : John L. Allen, Jr.

Download or read book The Global War on Christians written by John L. Allen, Jr. and published by Image. This book was released on 2016-03-15 with total page 338 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: One of the most respected journalists in the United States and the bestselling author of The Future Church uses his unparalleled knowledge of world affairs and religious insight to investigate the troubling worldwide persecution of Christians. From Iraq and Egypt to Sudan and Nigeria, from Indonesia to the Indian subcontinent, Christians in the early 21st century are the world's most persecuted religious group. According to the secular International Society for Human Rights, 80 percent of violations of religious freedom in the world today are directed against Christians. In effect, our era is witnessing the rise of a new generation of martyrs. Underlying the global war on Christians is the demographic reality that more than two-thirds of the world's 2.3 billion Christians now live outside the West, often as a beleaguered minority up against a hostile majority-- whether it's Islamic fundamentalism in the Middle East and parts of Africa and Asia, Hindu radicalism in India, or state-imposed atheism in China and North Korea. In Europe and North America, Christians face political and legal challenges to religious freedom. Allen exposes the deadly threats and offers investigative insight into what is and can be done to stop these atrocities. “This book is about the most dramatic religion story of the early 21st century, yet one that most people in the West have little idea is even happening: The global war on Christians,” writes John Allen. “We’re not talking about a metaphorical ‘war on religion’ in Europe and the United States, fought on symbolic terrain such as whether it’s okay to erect a nativity set on the courthouse steps, but a rising tide of legal oppression, social harassment and direct physical violence, with Christians as its leading victims. However counter-intuitive it may seem in light of popular stereotypes of Christianity as a powerful and sometimes oppressive social force, Christians today indisputably form the most persecuted religious body on the planet, and too often its new martyrs suffer in silence.” This book looks to shatter that silence.