From the sex-free paradise of the Shakers to the worker's paradise of Marx, utopian ideas seem to have two things in common--they all are wonderfully plausible at the start and they all end up as disasters. In Visions of Utopia, three leading cultural critics--Edward Rothstein, Martin Marty, and Herbert Muschamp--look at the history of utopian thinking, exploring why they fail and why they are still worth pursuing. Edward Rothstein, New York Times cultural critic, contends that every utopia is really a dystopia--a disaster in the making--one that overlooks the nature of humanity and the impossibilities of paradise. He traces the ideal in politics and technology and suggests that only in art--and especially in music--does the desire for utopia find satisfaction. Martin Marty examines several models of utopia--from Thomas More's to a 1960s experimental city that he helped to plan--to show that, even though utopias can never be realized, we should not be too quick to condemn them. They can express dimensions of the human spirit that might otherwise be stifled and can plant ideas that may germinate in more realistic and practical soil. And Herbert Muschamp, the New York Times architectural critic, looks at Utopianism as exemplified in two different ways: the Buddhist tradition and the work of visionary Viennese architect Adolph Loos. Utopian thinking embodies humanity's noblest impulses, yet it can lead to horrors such as Nazi Germany and the Soviet Regime. In Visions of Utopia, these leading thinkers offer an intriguing look at the paradoxes of paradise.

Visions of Utopia (New York Public Library Lectures in Humanities)

History

Rothstein, Edward

Marty, Martin

Muschamp, Herbert

World

Oxford University Press

From the sex-free paradise of the Shakers to the worker's paradise of Marx, utopian ideas seem to have two things in common-they all are wonderfully plausible at the start and they all end up as disasters. In Visions of Utopia, three leading cultural critics-Edward Rothstein, Martin Marty, and Herbert Muschamp-look at the history of utopian thinking, exploring why they fail and why they are still worth pursuing. Rothstein contends that every utopia is really a dystopia- one that overlooks the nature of humanity and the impossibilities of paradise. He traces the ideal in politics and technology and suggests that only in art-and especially in music-does the desire for utopia find satisfaction. Marty examines several models of utopia-from Thomas More's to a 1960s experimental city that he helped to plan-to show that, even though utopias can never be realized, we should not be too quick to condemn them. They can express dimensions of the human spirit that might otherwise be stifled and can plant ideas that may germinate in more realistic and practical soil. Muschamp looks at Utopianism as exemplified in two different ways: the Buddhist tradition and the work of visionary Viennese architect Adolph Loos. Utopian thinking embodies humanity's noblest impulses, yet it can lead to horrors such as Nazi Germany and the Soviet Regime. In Visions of Utopia, these leading thinkers of Feran intriguing look at the paradoxes of paradise.

Hidden Discipline

Religion & Spirituality

concordia

In this cogent volume, renowned Christian historian Martin Marty delivers a brief yet sweeping account of Christianity and how it spread from a few believers two thousand years ago to become the world’s largest religion. Comprising nearly one third of the world’s population–more than two billion followers–Christianity is distinctive among major faiths in that it derives both its character and its authority from the divinity of its central figure, Jesus Christ. Examining this facet of Christianity from historical and sociological viewpoints, Marty lays bare the roots of this faith, in turn chronicling its success throughout the world. Writing with great style, and providing impeccable interpretations of historical, canonical, and liturgical documents, Marty gives readers of all faiths and levels of familiarity with Christian practices and history a highly useful and supremely accessible primer. He depicts the life of Christ and his teachings and explains how the apostles set out to spread the Gospel. With a special emphasis on global Christianity, he shows how the religion emerged from its ancestral homelands in Africa, the Levant, and Asia Minor, was imported to Europe, and then spread from there to the rest of the world, most often via trade and conquest. While giving a broad overview, Marty also focuses on specific issues, such as how Christianity struggles with the polar tensions inherent to many of the faith’s denominations, and how it attempts to reconcile some of its stances on armed conflict, justice, and dominion with the teachings of Christ. The Christian World is a chronicle of one of the great belief systems and its many followers. It’s a magnificent story of emperors and kings, war and geography, theology and politics, saints and sinners, and the earthly battle to save souls. Above all, it’s a remarkable testament to the teachings of Christ and how his message spreads around the globe to touch human experience everywhere.

The Christian World: A Global History (Modern Library Chronicles)

Modern Library

Rather than looking ahead to spring, The Promise of Winter explores the signs of promise and presence found in the winter of the soul. For all who experience the disappointments, frustrations, doubts, and despair that are a part of daily life, this beautiful volume holds up the presence and promise of God. It is this presence and promise that provide spiritual strength to help people live during ordinary days and fallow seasons. Through its striking photographs of winter and reflective meditations on psalms, this volume leads readers on a journey through the heart's winter to the discovery of the God of all seasons.

The Promise of Winter: Quickening the Spirit on Ordinary Days and in Fallow Seasons

Marty, Micah

Christian Books & Bibles

Eerdmans Pub.Co.

In this cogent volume, historian Martin Marty gives readers of all faiths a brief yet sweeping account of Christianity and how it grew from a few believers two thousand years ago to become the world’s largest religion. He depicts the life of Christ and his teachings and explains how the apostles set out to spread the Gospel. With a special emphasis on global Christianity, Marty shows how the religion emerged from its ancestral homeland in Africa, the Levant, and Asia Minor, was imported to Europe, and then expanded from there to the rest of the world. While giving a broad overview, Marty also focuses on specific issues, such as how Christianity attempts to reconcile with the teachings of Christ some of its stances on armed conflict, justice, and dominion. The Christian World is a remarkable testament to how Christ’s message has touched human experience everywhere.

Random House Publishing Group

Discusses the nature of interpersonal relations, how to be open to friendship, and how Christian faith can help friends overcome obstacles to their friendship

Friendship

Tabor Pub.

In the face of the growing threat from collisions of faith world-wide, this manifesto is a call to embrace religious pluralism. 
<ul>
<li>Martin E. Marty is a renowned commentator on religious matters, the author of over 50 books, winner of the National Book Award, and the recipient of 74 honorary doctorates 
</li> <li>Demonstrates that citizens, religions and identities can survive in radically pluralist settings 
</li> <li>Accessibly written, it tackles people’s fears of religious pluralism 
</li> <li>Argues that those involved in collisions of faith need to risk hospitality towards one another, as opposed to the conventional plea for tolerance 
</li> <li>Pays particular attention to the conflicts that affect or occur within those nations whose politics can be called republican, open, democratic, liberal, or free – particularly the UK, the US, and Western Europe.</li> </ul>

When Faiths Collide (Wiley-Blackwell Manifestos)

Wiley/Blackwell

A collection of essays on theological concepts in modern American Protestantism. They show that Protestantism had a near monopoly on theological production in America and that the country was a scene of great theological excitement.

Theological Themes in the American Protestant World (Modern American Protestantism and Its World)

Americas

K G Saur Verlag Gmbh & Co

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Marty, Martin. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Marty, Martin

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Marty, Martin. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Visions of Utopia (New York Public Library Lectures in Humanities)

Visions of Utopia (New York Public Library Lectures in Humanities)

Hidden Discipline

The Christian World: A Global History (Modern Library Chronicles)

The Promise of Winter: Quickening the Spirit on Ordinary Days and in Fallow Seasons

The Christian World: A Global History (Modern Library Chronicles)

Friendship

When Faiths Collide (Wiley-Blackwell Manifestos)

Theological Themes in the American Protestant World (Modern American Protestantism and Its World)