Table of Contents
Preface: From the Editor
Purpose of This Book
Audience
Organization of the Book and Revisions
Arrangement of Each Chapter
From the Reference Librarian: A Practical Guide to Doing Research
Starting with the Reference Collection--Skill Key #1
Review #1
Limited Resources
Review #2
Complete Review
The Internet
The Process of Research
Introduction: Religion, Spirituality, and the Question of God
What Is Religion?
What Is Spirituality For?
Tradition
How Big Is (My) Religion?
A Trip to Tuscany
This Book Has a Worldview
1.Discerning the Mystery of God
From the Editor
Wonderment and Perplexity Ways to God, Ways to Theology
What's in a Name? The Transcendence and Nearness of YHWH
Creation and the One God: From Narrative to Confession
Living the Triune Mystery: The God of Christian Faith
Participation in Divine Life: Scriptural Witness and Creedal Formulation
Conclusion: Trinitarian Theology Today
From the Reference Librarian: Researching "God"
PART I: THE SACRED SCRIPTURES AND CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY
2.The Old Testament
From the Editor
The Hebrew Bible, Called by Christians the "Old Testament"
Tanak Division 1--Torah: Words of Instruction
Tanak Division 2--Nebiim: Words of Judgment and Salvation
Tanak Division 3--Kethubim: Words of Wisdom
From the Reference Librarian: Researching Bible Topics--Old Testament
3.The New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature
From the Editor
Overview: The Early Christians and Their Writings
Early Christian Gospels
Keep in Touch: Early Christian Letters
Summary
From the Reference Librarian: Researching Bible Topics--New Testament
PART II: CHRISTIOLOGY AND ECCLESIOLOGY: FOLLOWING CHRIST IN A COMMUNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
4.Christology--"Who Do You Say That I Am?"
From the Editor
The Question
The Story Begins: Jesus of Nazareth and the Kingdom of God
The Story Continues: The Christology of the New Testament Church
Faithfully Interpreting the Story: The Christological Councils
Conclusion: The Never-ending Question
From the Reference Librarian: Researching Theological Topics--Christology
5.The People of God: The Church
From the Editor
An Image
After That First Day
A Historical Resource
Is Competition Good for the Church?
Studying Tradition
Conclusion: Leaving a Lot Out
From the Reference Librarian: Researching Using the Internet--Ecclesiology
6.Protestantism, Evangelicalism, Pentecostalism: Changing Contours of Christianity in the Modern Era
From the Editor
Introduction
Protestantism
Evangelicalism
Pentecostalism
From Unity to Diversity, and Back Again: A Final Hypothesis
From the Reference Librarian: Getting the Most out of Encyclopedia
7.Grace and Sacraments: The Mystery of the Divine-Human Encounter
From the Editor
Overview
Signs and Symbols: Creating Meaning in Human Communication
Describing and Defining the Sacraments
The Two Basic Sacraments of Christ and Church
The Seven Sacraments
Conclusion: Christians as Living Sacraments
From the Reference Librarian: Combining Subject Headings--Sacraments
PART III: THE CHURCH'S MISSION IN THE WORLD
8.Christian Morality: Choosing God in This World
From the Editor
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
What Resources Are Available?
Recognizing Moral Issues
From the Reference Librarian: The Synoptic Outline--Moral Issues
9.Social Justice: Gospel Witness and Mission of the Church
From the Editor
Overview
Gospel Witness
Conclusion: Social Justice and Christian Spirituality?
From the Reference Librarian: "Floating" Subdivisions and Social Justice Issues
PART IV: THE ABRAHAMIC FAITHS: CATHOLICISM AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH JUDAISM, ISLAM
10.Judaism, the Jewish People, and the Church
From the Editor
Overview
First-Century Judaism
Jewish Christianity
Rabbinical Judaism
Traditional Jewish Faith and Practice
Modern Judaism
Christian-Jewish Relations
The Holocaust and Vatican II on Jews and Judaism
From the Reference Librarian: The Encyclopedia Index in Research--Judaism
11.Islamic Religious Experience: Foundations, Scripture, and Spirituality
From the Editor
Overview
Islamic Images of God
The Qur'an and the History of Revelation
Muhammad and the History of Prophethood
Distinctive Scriptural Themes in Islamic Spirituality
From the Reference Librarian: Synoptic Outlines of Contents for all Topics--Islam
PART V: CATHOLIC THEOLOGY IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT
12.Catholic Theology in a Global Context: A World Church
From the Editor
Overview
Meaning of Terms: World Christianity, World Church
Theological Aspects of a World Church
Some Commonalities in Theologies from around the Globe
From the Reference Librarian: Geographical Descriptors--World Christianity
Index