In a decisive advance, Love’s Entanglement locates meaning radically in relation, not metaphysics, breaking theology free from its long paralysis in Platonic other-world intellectualism. It discovers instead vital truth at the roots of human relation unearthed by the revolutionary anthropology of René Girard. The power of biblical revelation comes into its own, supplying new communication about what it means to be human—a choice between the annihilating cycles of violence and the ...

This book highlights the significance of René Girard's work for key criminological debates to provide new perspectives. Girard explores the causes of violence in humans and his work is used to interpret cultural phenomena related to criminology and victimology. The book focuses in particular on Girard’s cultural anthropology of the victim as being foundational to social order. The scapegoat mechanism, as developed by Girard, is an anthropological reading of myth which provides a site of ri...

We now live in a pre-crime society, in which information technology strategies and techniques such as predictive policing, actuarial justice and surveillance penology are used to achieve hyper-securitization.However, such securitization comes at a cost – the criminalization of everyday life is guaranteed, justice functions as an algorithmic industry and punishment is administered through dataveillance regimes.This pioneering book explores relevant theories, developing techn...

Drawing on criminology, philosophy and theology, this book develops a theory of ‘redemptive criminology’ for practice in criminal justice settings. The therapeutic impulse for the text is a focus on the individual practitioner’s ability to embrace difference with the other, to resist harsh penal measures and to bring about change from ‘the bottom up’.By challenging concepts and practices of rehabilitation, the authors argue for the possibility of redemption and for forgiveness as t...

At a time when criminal justice systems appear to be in a permanent state of crisis, leading scholars from criminology and theology come together to challenge criminal justice orthodoxy by questioning the dominance of retributive punishment.This timely and unique contribution considers alternatives that draw on Christian ideas of hope, mercy and restoration.Promoting cross-disciplinary learning, the book will be of interest to academics and students of criminology, socio-le...

Multi-agency working continues to be a core focus in criminal justice and allied work, with the government investing significantly in training criminal justice professionals. This fully revised and expanded edition of this comprehensive text brings together probation, policing, prison, social work, criminological and organisational studies perspectives, and is an essential guide for students and practitioners in offender management and other managed care environments. The contributors prov...

Drug use is a major challenge for public services, healthcare professionals and policy-makers all over the world. This book offers a complete overview of the issues associated with substance misuse from an interdisciplinary perspective. It begins by providing a reference guide to the different psychoactive substances, looking at the biological and psychological impact of their use. Key issues in the effect drugs have on society are then addressed, before outlining methods of recovery and t...

Understanding and Working with Substance Misusers explores the complex nature of addiction and the challenges involved in responding effectively through policy and practice. It examines the biopyschosocial elements of addiction to substances (including alcohol) and, draws together key research findings from these fields to present a new framework for integrating theory and practice.The book argues that the best way to understand addictions is as examples o...

In the past, changes in behavior and in belief have been leading indicators for missionaries that Christian conversion had occurred. But these alone--or even together--are insufficient for a gospel understanding of conversion. For effective biblical mission, Paul G. Hiebert argues, we must add a third element: a change in worldview. Here he offers a comprehensive study of worldview--its philosophy, its history, its characteristics, and the means for understanding it. He then provides a det...

Practical theology as a subject area has grown and become more sophisticated in its methods and self-understanding over the last few decades. This book provides a complete and original research primer in the major theories, approaches and methods at the cutting-edge of research in contemporary practical theology. It represents a reflection on the very practice of the discipline itself, its foundational questions and epistemological claims. Each chapter examines different aspects of the res...

Religion is one of the most powerful forces running through human history, and although often presented as a force for good, its impact is frequently violent and divisive. This provocative work brings together cutting-edge research from both evolutionary and cognitive psychology to help readers understand the psychological structure of religious morality and the origins of religious violence.Introduces a fundamentally new approach to the analysis of religion in a style access...

A resource for ministers and congregations who want to begin to understand and/or welcome transgender people into their congregations. The book has the following aims: to give the results of the first research based project into the experiences of trans Christians in the UK; to provide a theological and biblical framework by which ministers and congregations can begin to appreciate transgender people's perspectives; to provide a series of insights that inform the pastoral care of transgend...