The essays in this volume explore the significance of Christianity in society with special reference to theological education and the preparation of church leaders for the 21st century. It closes with an afterword by Robert Bellah, on "coming to our senses" and three challenges that the church must face in the coming years.
Visionary strength was given to the piety, polity, and political activity of Protestantism in its formative periods through the way in which the Apocalypse was read. By identifying with the text depicting two witnesses, or prophets, who preach at the end of history, are slain by the beast from the abyss (understood to be Antichrist), and rise again victoriously, representatives of the Protestant movement found a measure of self-identity. This text, Revelation 11:3-13, became the lens through which many envisioned the movement of history from the first advent of Christ to his promised return. It was used by earlier reform movements, but it lent special definition to the work of Protestant ministers through the nineteenth century, suggesting different approaches to social organization. Preaching in the Last Days is a study in the history of how the Apocalypse was read. It is also an examination of how social groups are formed through ideas occasioned by texts. It offers an account of the interplay between religious and social history during the time of the development of Protestantism. Petersen's study provides a fascinating look at the theological significance of how we read biblical texts and the insights this offers on the development of culture, the Christian movement, and its churches. The book is especially important for understanding the assumptions behind the ways in which the book of Revelation is being read and used in our own day.
Finding Heaven on Earth does just what it promises, chronicles the journey of Robert W. Boston, no ordinary preacher. His journey, documented by Bob himself, was compiled and realized posthumously by his family, resulting in a memoir that delivers love, laughter, heartache, and hope in a series of stories from Bob's boyhood to his last days on Earth. His narrative reminds us that purpose, meaning, and heaven itself aren't attained with big acts of heroism or on life-altering adventures. Instead, we are inspired to find fulfillment in the everyday, in the imperfect love we share, the mishaps we face, and the chances we take.
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