The First and the Last: The Claim of Jesus Christ and the Claims of Other Religious Traditions
The First and the Last: The Claim of Jesus Christ and the Claims of Other Religious Traditions
Overview
Description
Editorial Reviews
-- Yale Divinity School
"In the closing decades of the twentieth century Christian theologians in the West became increasingly concerned with religious pluralism and the viability of truth claims. George Sumner's work tracks the debate and shows how the pace is unlikely to slacken in the course of the twenty-first century. He links the grammar of faith to the truth claims of religion and with communities of practice and mission. In the absence of a knockout argument to settle the issue, Sumner returns to the sources of the tension with a fresh examination of truth claims as the basis of final primacy with a built-in openness to encounter. His book makes a cogent case against the view that truth claims are discontinuous with the demands of interfaith conversation."
R. R. Reno
-- Creighton University
"Provides indispensable orientation to the crucial question of religious pluralism. Sumner shows how Western Christianity has often used religious pluralism to disguise or excuse its captivity to modern secularism, and he guides us forward with an irenic postliberal proposal that establishes a clear, Christ-centered bottom line: We are to engage the world with a faithful charity shaped by the biblical grammar of Christ's final primacy, his lordship over creation and history.
The First and the Last is a must-read for anyone seeking to discern the mission of the church in an age of global consciousness."
Michael Barnes, S. J.
-- Heythrop College
"This is not a book for the theologically fainthearted. Clear in its argument, robust in its critique, wide-ranging in its command of sources,
The First and the Last offers a thoroughly incisive analysis of the key issues at stake in the theology of religions. One does not have to agree with everything George Sumner says to appreciate the force and cogency of his argument."
J. A. DiNoia
-- Vatican City
"Exposing the distinctively Western historical roots of pluralist theologies of religion, Sumner offers a refreshingly 'postpluralist' account of the relationship between Christianity and other religious traditions. His important book shows that one can take the claims of other religious interlocutors seriously without displacing the grammar of the final primacy of Jesus Christ fundamental to all appropriately Christian theologies of religions."
CrossCurrents
"Sumner's sophisticated, rigorous, and theologically challenging work comprises a strenuous effort to move Christian discourse in interreligious dialogue past what he calls 'the quagmire of pluralism'. . . A courageous effort, one worthy of attention."
About the Author
Reclaiming Faith: Essays on Orthodoxy in the Episcopal Church and the Baltimore Declaration and
The Rule of Faith: Scripture, Canon, and Creed in a Critical Age."
Condition Guidelines
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The following guidelines apply to books:
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- Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
- Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.
Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.
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Estimated delivery times:
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- Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days
Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.
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If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.
Returns & Refunds
You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.
Additional non-returnable items:
- Gift cards
- Downloadable software products
- Some health and personal care items
To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)
- Book with obvious signs of use
- CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
- Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
- Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery
Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.
Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.
If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:
- Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
- Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
- Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.
Shipping Cost
We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.
If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.
Categories
Overview
Description
Editorial Reviews
-- Yale Divinity School
"In the closing decades of the twentieth century Christian theologians in the West became increasingly concerned with religious pluralism and the viability of truth claims. George Sumner's work tracks the debate and shows how the pace is unlikely to slacken in the course of the twenty-first century. He links the grammar of faith to the truth claims of religion and with communities of practice and mission. In the absence of a knockout argument to settle the issue, Sumner returns to the sources of the tension with a fresh examination of truth claims as the basis of final primacy with a built-in openness to encounter. His book makes a cogent case against the view that truth claims are discontinuous with the demands of interfaith conversation."
R. R. Reno
-- Creighton University
"Provides indispensable orientation to the crucial question of religious pluralism. Sumner shows how Western Christianity has often used religious pluralism to disguise or excuse its captivity to modern secularism, and he guides us forward with an irenic postliberal proposal that establishes a clear, Christ-centered bottom line: We are to engage the world with a faithful charity shaped by the biblical grammar of Christ's final primacy, his lordship over creation and history.
The First and the Last is a must-read for anyone seeking to discern the mission of the church in an age of global consciousness."
Michael Barnes, S. J.
-- Heythrop College
"This is not a book for the theologically fainthearted. Clear in its argument, robust in its critique, wide-ranging in its command of sources,
The First and the Last offers a thoroughly incisive analysis of the key issues at stake in the theology of religions. One does not have to agree with everything George Sumner says to appreciate the force and cogency of his argument."
J. A. DiNoia
-- Vatican City
"Exposing the distinctively Western historical roots of pluralist theologies of religion, Sumner offers a refreshingly 'postpluralist' account of the relationship between Christianity and other religious traditions. His important book shows that one can take the claims of other religious interlocutors seriously without displacing the grammar of the final primacy of Jesus Christ fundamental to all appropriately Christian theologies of religions."
CrossCurrents
"Sumner's sophisticated, rigorous, and theologically challenging work comprises a strenuous effort to move Christian discourse in interreligious dialogue past what he calls 'the quagmire of pluralism'. . . A courageous effort, one worthy of attention."
About the Author
Reclaiming Faith: Essays on Orthodoxy in the Episcopal Church and the Baltimore Declaration and
The Rule of Faith: Scripture, Canon, and Creed in a Critical Age."
Condition Guidelines
Books - New and Used
The following guidelines apply to books:
- New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
- Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
- Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.
Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.
Shipping & Delivery
Shipping Fees
- Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
- Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
- No additional fees and charges.
Delivery Times
The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.
Estimated delivery times:
- Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
- Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days
Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.
Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times.
Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.).
If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.
Returns & Refunds
You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.
Additional non-returnable items:
- Gift cards
- Downloadable software products
- Some health and personal care items
To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)
- Book with obvious signs of use
- CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
- Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
- Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery
Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.
Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.
If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:
- Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
- Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
- Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.
Shipping Cost
We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.
If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.
Categories
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