Senior BSSS

Religious freedom is a fundamental human right, safeguarded by the Australian Constitution; individuals are free to express a diversity of views, as long as they do not incite religious hatred. This book provides an overview of the latest trends in religious affiliation in Australia.

How can we make decisions that are consistent with our basic values? We must first, J. Philip Wogaman says, identify basic moral presumptions that can guide our thought as we face moral dilemmas. These basic moral presumptions include equality, grace, the value of human life, the unity of humankind, preferential claims for the poor and marginalized, and the goodness of creation. The burden of proof, he argues, must be borne by decisions that are contrary to such presumptions. He pulls into the conversation difficult ethical issues such as divorce, sexuality, abortion, political choices, economic justice, affirmative action, homosexuality, nuclear disarmament, economic globalization, global warming, international security, environmental policies, and military power. In the process, he provides a smart and helpful guide to Christian ethical behavior.

How did the universe begin? Can God's existence be proven? Do humans matter more than animals? For many years people have sent the scientist-turned-priest John Polkinghorne these and other questions about science and belief. In question-and-answer format, Polkinghorne and his collaborator Nicholas Beale offer their highly informed opinions about some of the most frequently asked of these questions. Readers can follow their own paths through the book, selecting questions that interest them and looking at the additional material if they choose. This unique book will help Christians clarify their beliefs regarding difficult issues and better face challenges--from within and from others--to their faith.

physicist-theologian John Polkinghorne, renowned as one of the world's foremost thinkers on science and religion, offers a lucid argument for developing the intersection of the two fields as another form of contextual theology. Polkinghorne explores ways that theology can be open to and informed by science. He describes recent scientific discourse on such subjects as epistemology, objectivity, uncertainty, and rationality, and he considers the religious importance of the evolution in these areas of scientific thought. Then, evaluating such topics as relativity, space and time, and evolutionary theory, he uses a scientific style of inquiry as a foundation on which to build a -- model of Christian belief structure. Science and theology share in the great human quest for truth and understanding, says Polkinghorne, and he illustrates how their interaction can be fruitful for both.

Discover Sociology: Core Conceptsexplores sociology as a discipline of curious minds, with the theoretical, conceptual, and empirical tools needed to understand, analyze, and even change the world--all in a more streamlined format. It is adapted from Discover Sociology, Third Editionand offers in-depth coverage of 12 high-priority topics that are at the core of almost all introductory sociology courses. Core Conceptsmaintains its reader-friendly narrative and the hallmark themes of the parent book, including the unequal distribution of power in society ("Inequality Matters"), the sociological imagination ("Private Lives, Public Issues"), and career skills ("What Can I Do With a Sociology Degree?").  A new feature, "Discover and Debate," shows students how to take effective, evidence-based positions on important social issues, and how to argue in a respectful manner that recognizes the value of different perspectives.   Also available as a digital option (courseware). Contact your rep to learn moreabout Discover Sociology: Core Concepts - Vantage Digital Option.

Published in 1990, this text contains reference to a wide range of global (nuclear threats, the human environment, economic inequality, human rights), social (work & unemployment, industrial relations, racism) and sexual (feminism, marriage & divorce, abortion, homosexuality) issues from a Christian perspective from that time.

This book explores the history of this religious group from its origins to the 1990s.

Provides the historical foundation of various Christian denominations: Mormon; Seventh-Day Adventists; Jehovah’s Witnesses; Christian Science; The Worldwide Church of God.

No other book answers the Jehovah's Witnesses' misinterpretation of Scripture so immediately and shows how to use the same Scripture in leading Jehovah's Witnesses to Christ.

Religion has been a force in the conduct of politics and the formation and functions of most nation-states. In the modern global system, the concept of secularization has been a cause of controversy, and, in some cases, political violence. But at the core of the debate over secularization lie the questions of defining the parameters and degree to which religion should influence the state and politics. Some measure of success may have been achieved in managing the influence and reach of religious institutions and actors in matters of the state and politics, but by its nature religion manifests itself individually, personally, and communally. Religion and the State explores how different societies have defined the relationship between religion and state over time, ranging from separation of church and state to theocracy. After an overview of the history of that relationship organized by religion, this new book explores the influence of Christianity on the founding of the United States and why religion still plays a major role in the country's politics and policy. Attention is then given to Iran, Saudi Arabia, Tibet, India, and Western Europe, regions and countries with drastically different levels of religious toleration and where the religions of Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christianity have varying degrees of political weight.

This ebook provides detail about the Mormon religion in terms of its origins; core beliefs and practices; key events in Mormon history; the church in American society and politics.