Mit seinem epochalen Werk »Idee und Grundriß einer nicht-Aristotelischen Logik« (1959) legte Gotthard Günther (1900–1984) den Grundstein für eine radikal neue Form der philosophischen Betrachtung der ontologischen Einheit des Universums, deren Richtigkeit heute (auch unabhängig von Günther und in der Regel auf ungleich niedrigerem Niveau) von den Wissenschaften bestätigt wird (so z.B. in der Chaos-Forschung). Gegen die klassische (aristotelische) Logik, die nur zweiwertige Entscheidungen für verbindlich hält (eine Behauptung ist entweder wahr oder falsch), zeigt Günther auf, daß die – (...) mathematisch widerspruchsfrei formulierbare – mehrwertige Logik auch auf dem Gebiet der Ontologie, d.i. der Erfassung der Grundstrukturen des natürlichen Universums und des gesellschaftlichen Dialogs zwischen dem Ich und dem Du, Erkenntnismöglichkeiten eröffnet, die das Limit des klassischen Denkens rational überwinden. (shrink)

In view of the subsequent career of the leading Lutheran theologian Paul Althaus, the student letters reproduced here obtain considerable biographical weight: 1913 doctorate in Göttingen, 1914 habilitated and a privatdozent, during the war an volunteer orderly, then a hospital and provincial pastor in Lodz, 1919–1924 Professor in Rostock, 1924–1966 Professor of systematic theology and New Testament exegesis in Erlangen. Althaus' letters shed light on the family and confessional traditions in which he originated, just as they do on his connections (...) with a fervent church as well as a national and patriotic life. In addition, they illustrate the outstanding powers of observation and formulation as well as the intelligence and wide interests of the young student, all qualities of importance for his later career. In addition, the student letters of the 18–19 year old Paul Althaus describe the conditions of studying in Tübingen a hundred years ago. The professors then instructing there, among them, especially Adolf Schlatter, are also vividly described in their various roles, just as the letters richly narrate aspects of the general conduct of studies, life in fraternities – Althaus was active in the Nicaren, a non-duelling Christian association – as well as the many student rambles through the woods. (shrink)

The history of the terms ‘elixir’ and ‘alchemy’ seems paradoxical; derived from Greek, the Arabic al-iksīr signified a dry powder capable of transforming base metals into gold or silver. Evolving through the European languages, elixir has come to mean a magic liquid that can be ingested to cure illness. The second term, al-kīmiyāʼ, which was in its Arabic beginnings almost synonymous with elixir, took a different turn and changed its meaning from a miraculous substance into an abstract noun connoting the (...) art of alchemy. This article intends to show that these changes of meaning are linked to inevitable interrelations between the two synonyms and, consequently, the generally assumed etymology of the Arabic alkīmiyāʼ from the seemingly corresponding Greek expression χυμεία must be questioned. Of particular interest is the hitherto overlooked fact that al-kīmiyāʼ ends in a glottal stop, indicated by the hamza and being a consonant in its own right, which ultimately points to a non-Greek origin. (shrink)

Die Kirchenmusik gehort zu den Reflexionsfeldern der Theologie und sollte trotz der anhaltenden Professionalisierung der Berufsbilder von Pfarrer und Kirchenmusiker auch nicht aus den Augen verloren werden. In diesem Handbuch kommen daher die praktisch-theologischen Wahrnehmungen und Leistungen der Kirchenmusik zur Geltung. Kirchenmusik wird dabei als religiose Praxis und als kulturelles Phanomen verstanden, das nicht auf den Gestaltungsraum Kirche begrenzt werden kann. Neben theologischen und kirchenmusikalischen Kategorien im engeren Sinne kommen so auch anthropologische, religiose und soziokulturelle Perspektiven in den Blick.In 50 (...) Artikeln wird all das praktisch-theologisch bedacht, was derzeit unter Kirchenmusik verstanden und gestaltet wird. Die Autorinnen und Autoren lehren in den Fachern Praktische Theologie, Gemeinde- und Religionspadagogik sowie Kirchenmusik an Universitaten, Fachhochschulen und kirchlichen Einrichtungen. (shrink)

t. 1. Les religions de l'Inde, et Bulletins des religions de l'Inde (1880-1885) -- t. 2. Bulletins des religions de l'Inde (1889-1902) -- t. 3. Comptes rendus et notices (1872-1886) -- t. 4. Comptes rendus et notices (1887-1898) -- t. 5. Comptes rendus et notices (1899-1911). Bibiliographie. Index général.

Roland Barthes, whose centenary falls in 2015, was a restless, protean thinker. A constant innovator, often as a daring smuggler of ideas from one discipline to another, he first gained an audience with his pithy essays on mass culture and then went on to produce some of the most suggestive and stimulating cultural criticism of the late twentieth century, including Empire of Signs, The Pleasure of the Text, and Camera Lucida. In 1976, this one time structuralist outsider was elected to (...) a chair at France's preeminent College de France, where he chose to style himself as professor of literary semiology until his death in 1980. The greater part of Barthes's published writings have been available to a French audience since 2002, but here, translator Chris Turner presents a collection of essays, interviews, prefaces, book reviews, and other journalistic material for the first time in English. Divided into five themed volumes, readers are presented in volume one, 'A Very Fine Gift' and Other Writings on Theory, with Barthes's attempts to frame his lifelong curiosities in theoretical form, from his early musings on the sociology of literature through his high period of structuralism to his later reflections on Derrida. (shrink)

Karl Barth was, without doubt, one of the most significant religious thinkers of modern times. His radical affirmation of the revealed truth of Christianity changed the course of Christian theology in the twentieth century and is a source of inspiration for countless believers. Pope Pius XII declared that there had been nothing like Karl Barth's later thought since Thomas Aquinas. God Here and Now offers a succinct and accessible overview of that thought. In it, Barth outlines his (...) position on the fundamental tenets of Christian belief, from the decision of faith to the authority of the Bible, and from the interpretation of grace to the significance of Jesus Christ. In this way Barth challenges each and every reader to discover what it means to encounter God, here and now. (shrink)

This is one of Barth's most important works - far more important than may appear at first sight.... Here we have not merely one great theologian taking the measure of another. That in itself would be interesting enough. But in addition to that we are here shown one great theologian clarifying and crystallizing, in conversation with another, his own ideas as to the nature of theology and of the theologian's task. Scottish Journal of Theology.

Roland Barthes, the French critic and semiotician, was one of the most important critics and essayists of this century. His work continues to influence contemporary literary theory and cultural studies. Image-Music-Text collects Barthes's best writings on photography and the cinema, as well as fascinating articles on the relationship between images and sound. Two of Barthes's most important essays, "Introduction to the Structural Analysis of Narrative" and "The Death of the Author" are also included in this fine anthology, an excellent introduction (...) to his thought. These essays, as selected and translated by Stephen Heath, are among the finest writings Barthes ever published on film and photography, and on the phenomena of sound and image. The classic pieces "Introduction to the Structural Analysis of Narrative" and "The Death of the Author" are also included. (shrink)