Martin E. Marty Book order

From National Book Award-winning author Martin Marty, the surprising story of a Christian classic born in a Nazi prison cellFor fascination, influence, inspiration, and controversy, Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Letters and Papers from Prison is unmatched by any other book of Christian reflection written in the twentieth century. A Lutheran pastor and theologian, Bonhoeffer spent two years in Nazi prisons before being executed at age thirty-nine for his role in the plot to kill Hitler. Ever since it was published in 1951, Letters and Papers from Prison has had a tremendous impact on Christian and secular thought, and has helped establish Bonhoeffer's reputation as one of the most important Protestant thinkers of the twentieth century. In this, the first history of the book's remarkable global career, National Book Award-winning writer Martin Marty tells how and why Letters and Papers from Prison has been read and used in such dramatically different ways, from the Cold War to today.

Focusing on Flushing, Queens, this work explores its significance in colonial America as a landmark for religious freedom. It highlights the neighborhood's evolution into a vibrant example of religious and ethnic diversity, making it a unique case study of America's ongoing journey with immigration and pluralism. Through a blend of historical analysis and ethnographic insights, the book examines how these themes have shaped the community and reflect broader societal dynamics.

On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther posted 95 theses about Christian faith on the door of a church in Wittenberg, Saxony, and launched the Protestant Reformation. In the document, Luther asserted that salvation was effected by God's grace alone, approached by faith alone. Marty argues that Luther's theses has now become the means of building a bridge for Catholics and Lutherans to work with each other.

The book delves into the profound impact of the modern schism on Western cultural and spiritual history, exploring how this division has shaped contemporary society. Martin E. Marty examines the preoccupation of modern religious thinkers with secular realities, offering a nuanced analysis of this pivotal episode and its lasting consequences. Through this exploration, readers gain insight into the intricate relationship between religion and secularism in today's world.

The book explores the emerging "public church" in America, a unique blend of mainline Protestantism, newer evangelicalism, and Roman Catholicism. It highlights how this community addresses the dynamics of citizenship and faith, responding to contemporary interreligious tensions and societal fatigue with pluralism. By fostering a sense of belonging and cooperation among diverse groups, the public church seeks to fill a growing void and offer a counter-narrative to prevailing trends both domestically and globally.

Exploring the metaphor of the "winter of the heart," this meditation delves into the challenges of faith amid pain, uncertainty, and loss. Drawing from the Psalms and the insights of theologian Karl Rahner, the author reflects on a "wintry sort of spirituality" that navigates the complexities of existence. Through years of study and writing, a profound journey emerges, revealing how hope can flourish even in the bleakest landscapes of the soul.

More than a dozen religious leaders offer authoritative statements and analyses of classic and contemporary perspectives on mission activity and conversion in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Focusing on dialogue over debate, this volume fosters understanding between Mormonism and other Christian traditions by featuring a diverse group of scholars. It highlights how contemporary theologies can be enriched by unique Mormon perspectives while also shedding light on significant theologians from the last century. By addressing key theological topics and offering insights from both sides, the book aims to pave the way for constructive conversations and serve as a model for broader intra-faith dialogue.

The book features a captivating collection of photographs and reflections that highlight the intersection of science and spirituality. It explores why contemporary scientists are increasingly contemplating spiritual dimensions in their quest to understand the universe, offering an exhilarating and thought-provoking perspective on the nature of God.

Martin Luther explores the records left by Luther of his inner struggles and his conflicts with the papacy, the Holy Roman Empire, leaders of the emergent Protestant movements, and, in the greatest stains on his reputation, peasants in their uprising and Jews. This is also a portrait of a man of conscience and courage who risked death to witness to his beliefs and whose arguments drew fellow believers who together created changes that altered the destiny of Christendom, the shape of Christianity, and the rise of new freedoms in church and state.