Archive for the 'Book' Category

The Promotion of Devotion: Saints, Celebrities and Shrines

Published on January 29, 2012 in Book and Newsletter. 0 Comments

As a special offer, all orders placed by 31 March 2012 receive the introductory price of US$25 (RRP US$35). You can order online here.

The Promotion of Devotion: Saints, Celebrities and Shrines by Donn James Tilson is available as part of the Religion in Society series.

What do St. Francis, Oskar Schindler, Princess Diana and Smokey Bear have in common? Religion, communication and devotion form an inseparable trinity of being, interwoven strands of a tapestry that has enveloped all faiths through the ages. A closer examination of ancient-to-modern-day culture, including such “folk-hero-saints” as St. Francis and others, suggests that religion and devotion – oftentimes coated with a layer of promotion – lie at the heart of much of the history of communication and of civilization itself.

Written in a lively yet informative style, The Promotion of Devotion is the first comprehensive analysis of the convergence of religion and promotional communication from historical origins to modern times. Ten chapters take the reader on a journey through unexplored territory from an introduction to sainthood across faith traditions, the interplay of religion and communication in the making of saints – religious and secular (and animal) – discussions of town and vestment partnerships, road tours of the sacred, the use of the arts to promote devotion, to heavenly endorsements, lost shrines and re-animation. A concluding chapter reflects on the implications of the intersection of devotion and communication. Chapters provide a look at the sacred across a wide spectrum of faith traditions, illustrated with a selection of intriguing photos.

Donn James Tilson, an associate professor of public relations at the University of Miami’s School of Communication, has published and lectured internationally on public relations and religion and is considered the leading scholar in the field. A member of the Public Relations Society of America’s College of Fellows and Religion Communicators Council, he served as a public relations manager for BellSouth prior to joining UM, directing the company’s philanthropy program in Florida.

Anglicanism and Homosexuality

Published on January 20, 2012 in Book, Headline and Newsletter. 0 Comments

As a special offer, all orders placed by 31 March 2012 receive the introductory price of US$20 (RRP US$30). You can order online here.

Faith, Belief, and Scripture: Anglicanism and Homosexuality by Rob James is now available as part of the Religion in Society series.

The Anglican Communion has been tearing itself apart over the issue of homosexuality since the Lambeth Conference in 1998 and rumblings of discontent stretch back years before that. Most Anglican debate on homosexuality focuses the argument on the Bible. Does the Bible allow homosexuality or not? This book begins by taking one step back from the argument. It looks at what it means to approach a text as scripture, from the standpoint of faith. It then examines why the Bible is used to claim such radically different positions and why those who argue for either position can legitimately claim to find their argument supported by reading the Bible. Anglicans (and others) who disagree about what their scriptures claim need to understand why there is a disagreement. It is only by stepping back from the argument and trying to understand why it exists hat any sort of resolution can ever be found.

Rob James began his studies of religion at the University of Kent at Canterbury, gaining a first class degree in 2001. He then studied Eastern Christianity at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London and then at Cambridge. He then returned to SOAS to write his PhD on modern African Christianity. Rob teaches undergraduates as a visiting lecturer at the University of Wales, Newport and is a member of the part-time tutor panel of Oxford University.

Hockey as a Religion: The Montreal Canadiens

Published on November 23, 2011 in Book and Newsletter. 0 Comments

Hockey as a Religion: The Montreal Canadiens by Olivier Bauer is now available as part of the  Sport and Society series.

Sport is all about play and game, aesthetic and strength, passion and emotion, challenge and rivalry. But because sometimes players and fans look for a little extra help from God, gods, spirits or any other Supreme Being, sport is also a matter of beliefs and Faith. Often, sport uses religion if the sport itself does not become a religion first.

In Montreal, the fans’ passion and emotion benefits the Montreal Canadiens, the oldest and the most victorious National Hockey League team.

Since 2008, the Protestant Theologian Olivier Bauer, a former hockey goaltender, is carefully studying the religious aspects of the Montreal Canadiens. In his book, Olivier Bauer reveals how the Montreal Canadiens becomes a religion, specifies which kind of religion it is, and explains how it is interrelated with Quebec’s Catholicism. From a theological point of view, he analyses two ways of practicing the Montreal Canadiens Religion, shows why both ways are idolatry, denounces the weakness of such a religion, and pleads for an evangelical use of the Montreal Canadiens.

Based on the Montreal Canadiens, Olivier Bauer explains how sport becomes a religion, but he also critics the religion that sport offers.

Call for Book Reviewers

Published on October 28, 2011 in Book and Newsletter. 0 Comments Tags: .

Common Ground Publishing is seeking distinguished peer reviewers to evaluate book manuscripts submitted to the Religion in Society Book Series.

As part of our commitment to intellectual excellence and a rigorous review process, Common Ground sends book manuscripts that have received initial editorial approval to peer reviewers to further evaluate and provide constructive feedback. The comments and guidance that these reviewers supply is invaluable to our authors and an essential part of the publication process.

Common Ground recognizes the important role of referees by acknowledging book reviewers as members of the Religion in Society  Book Series Editorial Review Board for a period of at least one year. The list of members of the Editorial Review Board will be posted on our website. In addition, Common Ground also offers a US$200 voucher for each completed review which meets the standards set out by the Commissioning Editor at the commencement of assignment. Vouchers may be used in the Common Ground Bookstore or for registration at one of our international conferences.

If you would like to referee book manuscripts submitted to Religion in Society  please email:

  1. a brief description of your professional credentials
  2. a list of your areas of interest and expertise
  3. a copy of your CV with current contact details

If we feel you are qualified and we require refereeing for manuscripts within your purview, we will contact you.

Anglicanism and Homosexuality

Published on September 2, 2011 in Book and Newsletter. 0 Comments

Faith, Belief, and Scripture: Anglicanism and Homosexuality by Rob James is now available as part of the Religion in Society series.

The Anglican Communion has been tearing itself apart over the issue of homosexuality since the Lambeth Conference in 1998 and rumblings of discontent stretch back years before that. Most Anglican debate on homosexuality focuses the argument on the Bible. Does the Bible allow homosexuality or not? This book begins by taking one step back from the argument. It looks at what it means to approach a text as scripture, from the standpoint of faith. It then examines why the Bible is used to claim such radically different positions and why those who argue for either position can legitimately claim to find their argument supported by reading the Bible. Anglicans (and others) who disagree about what their scriptures claim need to understand why there is a disagreement. It is only by stepping back from the argument and trying to understand why it exists hat any sort of resolution can ever be found.

Rob James began his studies of religion at the University of Kent at Canterbury, gaining a first class degree in 2001. He then studied Eastern Christianity at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London and then at Cambridge. He then returned to SOAS to write his PhD on modern African Christianity. Rob teaches undergraduates as a visiting lecturer at the University of Wales, Newport and is a member of the part-time tutor panel of Oxford University.

The Promotion of Devotion

Published on August 6, 2011 in Book and Newsletter. 0 Comments

The Promotion of Devotion: Saints, Celebrities and Shrines by Donn James Tilson is now available as part of the Religion in Society series.

What do St. Francis, Oskar Schindler, Princess Diana and Smokey Bear have in common? Religion, communication and devotion form an inseparable trinity of being, interwoven strands of a tapestry that has enveloped all faiths through the ages.

Written in a lively yet informative style, The Promotion of Devotion is the first comprehensive analysis of the convergence of religion and promotional communication from historical origins to modern times.

Donn James Tilson, an associate professor of public relations at the University of Miami’s School of Communication, has published and lectured internationally on public relations and religion and is considered the leading scholar in the field. A member of the Public Relations Society of America’s College of Fellows and Religion Communicators Council, he served as a public relations manager for BellSouth prior to joining UM, directing the company’s philanthropy program in Florida.

Faith, Belief, and Scripture: Anglicanism and Homosexuality

Published on August 2, 2011 in Book, Headline and Newsletter. 0 Comments

Faith, Belief, and Scripture: Anglicanism and Homosexuality by Rob James is now available as part of the Religion in Society series.

The Anglican Communion has been tearing itself apart over the issue of homosexuality since the Lambeth Conference in 1998 and rumblings of discontent stretch back years before that. Most Anglican debate on homosexuality focuses the argument on the Bible. Does the Bible allow homosexuality or not? This book begins by taking one step back from the argument. It looks at what it means to approach a text as scripture, from the standpoint of faith. It then examines why the Bible is used to claim such radically different positions and why those who argue for either position can legitimately claim to find their argument supported by reading the Bible. Anglicans (and others) who disagree about what their scriptures claim need to understand why there is a disagreement. It is only by stepping back from the argument and trying to understand why it exists hat any sort of resolution can ever be found.

Rob James began his studies of religion at the University of Kent at Canterbury, gaining a first class degree in 2001. He then studied Eastern Christianity at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London and then at Cambridge. He then returned to SOAS to write his PhD on modern African Christianity. Rob teaches undergraduates as a visiting lecturer at the University of Wales, Newport and is a member of the part-time tutor panel of Oxford University.

The Promotion of Devotion

Published on July 5, 2011 in Book and Newsletter. 0 Comments

The Promotion of Devotion: Saints, Celebrities and Shrines by Donn James Tilson is now available as part of the Religion in Society series.

Written in a lively yet informative style, The Promotion of Devotion is the first comprehensive analysis of the convergence of religion and promotional communication from historical origins to modern times.

an intriguing and… original study of contemporary religious practice. I know of no comparable work that tackles the topic from the distinctive standpoint of public relations

Dr. Richard H. Roberts, former Professor and Dean of Divinity, University of St Andrews, and Visiting Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies, University of Stirling, Scotland

good and important work…as moral philosophers and applied ethicists, we cannot continue to ignore religion – and of course we cannot continue to ignore it in any of our fields of inquiry

Dr. Sherry Baker, Department of Communications, Brigham Young University

an acknowledged authority in the public relations field

Dr. Bonnie J. Knutson, Broad College of Business, Michigan State University
Dr. Lisa Fall, School of Advertising & Public Relations, University of Tennessee

The Promotion of Devotion

Published on June 17, 2011 in Book, Headline and Newsletter. 0 Comments

The Promotion of Devotion: Saints, Celebrities and Shrines by Donn James Tilson is now available as part of the Religion in Society series.

What do St. Francis, Oskar Schindler, Princess Diana and Smokey Bear have in common? Religion, communication and devotion form an inseparable trinity of being, interwoven strands of a tapestry that has enveloped all faiths through the ages. A closer examination of ancient-to-modern-day culture, including such “folk-hero-saints” as St. Francis and others, suggests that religion and devotion – oftentimes coated with a layer of promotion – lie at the heart of much of the history of communication and of civilization itself.

Written in a lively yet informative style, The Promotion of Devotion is the first comprehensive analysis of the convergence of religion and promotional communication from historical origins to modern times. Ten chapters take the reader on a journey through unexplored territory from an introduction to sainthood across faith traditions, the interplay of religion and communication in the making of saints – religious and secular (and animal) – discussions of town and vestment partnerships, road tours of the sacred, the use of the arts to promote devotion, to heavenly endorsements, lost shrines and re-animation. A concluding chapter reflects on the implications of the intersection of devotion and communication. Chapters provide a look at the sacred across a wide spectrum of faith traditions, illustrated with a selection of intriguing photos.

Series: Religion in Society

Published on August 4, 2010 in Book and Newsletter. 0 Comments Tags: .

We are accepting book proposals for the imprint Religion in Society.

Common Ground is setting new standards of rigorous academic knowledge creation and scholarly publication.

Unlike other publishers, we’re not interested in the size of potential markets or competition from other books. We’re only interested in the intellectual quality of the work.

If your book is a brilliant contribution to a specialist area of knowledge that only serves a small intellectual community, we still want to publish it. If it is expansive and has a broad appeal, we want to publish it too, but only if it is of the highest intellectual quality.