Religion & Society

The Ancient Israelite World

This volume presents a collection of studies by international experts on various aspects of ancient Israel’s society, economy, religion, language, culture, and history, synthesizing archaeological remains and integrating them with discussions of ancient Near Eastern and biblical texts. Driven by theoretically and methodologically informed discussions of the archaeology of the Iron Age Levant, the 47 chapters in The Ancient Israelite World provide foundational, accessible, and detailed studies in their respective topics. The volume considers the history of interpretation of ancient Israel, studies on various aspects of ancient Israel’s society and history, and avenues for present and future approaches to the ancient Israelite world. Accompanied by over 150 maps and figures, it allows the reader to gain an understanding of key issues that archaeologists, historians, and biblical scholars have faced and are currently facing as they attempt to better understand ancient Israelite society. The Ancient Israelite World is an essential reference work for students and scholars of ancient Israel and its history, culture, and society, whether they are historians, archaeologists, or biblical scholars.

Biola University Contributor:
Charlie Trimm – “Warfare and Intelligence Gathering in Ancient Israel”

The Village Enlightenment in America: Popular Religion and Science in the Nineteenth Century

The Village Enlightenment in America focuses on three nineteenth-century spiritual activists who epitomized the marriage of science and religion fostered in antebellum, pre-Darwinian America by the American Enlightenment. Through the lives and work of these three influential men, The Village Enlightenment in America opens a window to a time when science and religion, instead of seeming fundamentally at odds with each other, appeared entirely reconcilable.

The Virtues of Capitalism: A Moral Case for Free Markets – eBook

In this timely and balanced book, Austin Hill and Scott Rae agree with capitalism’s critics that the economy is essentially a moral issue, but they argue that free markets are by-and-large the solution to financial disasters rather than the cause. Though they recognize that there are legitimate criticisms of the market system — and real limits to what it can and should accomplish — the authors further conclude that capitalism both depends upon and sustains classic Judeo-Christian virtues better than any of its rival systems.

Truth and the New Kind of Christian: The Emerging Effects of Postmodernism in the Church

R. Scott Smith surveys the influence of postmodernism and presents the claims of several Christian postmodern authors, including two key leaders in the Emerging Church. He uses their ideas as a starting point for a thorough critique of postmodernism, testing it against Scripture, reason, and logic, and evaluating its strengths and weaknesses. He assesses to what extent, if any, Christians should embrace “Christian” postmodernism.