Victor a. Shepherd Knihy

The Committed Self is a clear and compelling introduction to Existentialism, the root of Postmodernism and, according to Victor A. Shepherd, still the most significant philosophy of our times. Focusing on Hegel, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Buber, Heidegger, and Sartre and their passionate commitment to the authenticity of the self, Shepherd maintains that Existentialism has much to say to Christians with its understanding of: What it is to be a human being, How diverse forces operative in the world and in the psyche shape human self-awareness, The manner in which radical commitment forges and forms that "self," which is nothing less than a new birth. Shepherd believes that an acquaintance with Existentialism will aid Christians in negotiating the minefield they think life has become. And he persistently draws attention to the manner in which Existentialism recalls theology to its proper vocation whenever theology appears to be in danger of becoming a species of rationalism that uses religious vocabulary

In Mercy Immense and Free, Victor Shepherd explores the context of John Wesley’s theology in four dimensions: - intellectual: Wesley’s grounding in Patristics and Anglican theology; - theological: his simultaneous acceptance of and penetration of Reformation theology through his insight that the purpose of justification by faith is the sanctification of believers, the church, and the world; -religious: his pioneering development of systems of accountability and support for Christians forgiven of their sins but longing for release from the habituation of their sins; and social: his communal understanding of holiness as “social holiness.” Shepherd also probes: -how Wesley’s theology is uniquely poised to inform a broader and deeper ecumenicism, not only because of his adaptation of Reformation theology but also because of his orientation toward the Eastern Fathers; -the way Wesley’s theology is deep enough to sustain his emphasis on “practical divinity” — theology not based on speculation but to the concrete patterns of the people of God in their engagement with the treachery of their own hearts and the turbulence of the world.

“However deeply we immerse ourselves in Luther, we are no closer to exhausting the riches his mind and thought make available to us.” So writes Victor Shepherd in this immensely readable and informative book — which aids in just such an immersion. Shepherd sets the ethos and legacy of Luther’s theology in its theological, religious, and sociopolitical context, tracing Luther’s theological development in chapters on such topics as: -Humanism in the fifteenth century -Freedom in Christ -The Lord’s Supper -Law and Gospel -Church and state -Luther and the Jewish people And all the while, he keeps a careful eye on the implications of applications of Luther’s thought for Christians and churches today.