Most Popular Books by Keith Ward

In this book, the author considers the doctrine of ultimate reality - God - within five world religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism and Christianity. By closely studying an orthodox writer in each tradition, the author builds up "pictures" of God and uncovers a common core of belief.

Is the mind just a by-product of the brain? Or is mind the fundamental reality, which creates matter? In The Priority of Mind, Keith Ward mounts a definitive defence of mind as prior to matter. In an accessible style, he unpacks the sources and abilities of the mind, situates it in the wider world, or cosmos, and proposes a relation between mind and virtue, and the nature of mind after death. Along the way, he explores the different philosophical approaches to the mind-matter question taken by thinkers over time, settling on idealism as the teaching of most classical philosophers, and as most consistent with modern science. Lay readers and scholars alike will relish Ward''s clear, methodical exposition, and his counterarguments against the materialist narrative that dominates much of popular philosophical thinking today.

Can morality exist separately from a belief in God? From Descartes to Dostoevsky, the debate concerning the relationship between religion and morality has raged for centuries. Can there be a solid foundation for ethics without God? Or would we be consigned to a relativist morality, where "the good" is just a product of societal values or natural selection? In this landmark work, acclaimed philosopher and theologian, Keith Ward, presents a revolutionary new contribution to this discussion. Reflecting on the work of philosophers old and new - including Hume, Mill, Murdoch and Moore - he argues that our conception of morality intrinsically depends on our model of reality. And if we want a meaningful, objective ethics, then only God can provide the solid metaphysical foundations.Carefully structured and written in Ward''s famously clear prose, Morality, Autonomy and God will be an invaluable primer for students of theology or philosophy of religion. But more than that, this strident and controversial book is guaranteed to shape philosophical opinion for years to come.

If the New Atheists are to be believed, religious belief is not only dangerous and irrational, but just plain stupid. With increasingly intolerant polemic they are dismissing the views of religious people, and misconstruing them in the process. In this book, Keith Ward debunks the notion that rationality and intelligence are incompatible with belief in God, going through some of the main criticisms raised by the New Atheists (and their predecessors), for example: - Does God cause evil? - Is the universe intelligently designed? - Is God free? This book is essential reading for anyone interested in the current cultural war between atheism and belief.

''The question of what it is to be a human person is the biggest intellectual question of our day.'' Keith Ward has taught philosophy and theology in British universities for the past 40 years, and he is now weighing in on a major intellectual battle: whether human persons are purely materialistic - nothing but matter - or whether there is another, deeply valuable part of us, which transcends our bodies in nature and moral worth: the soul. For centuries philosophers have debated the question, but the battle has taken the limelight through the works of the New Atheists. In this book Professor Ward guides the reader through a panoply of thinkers and traditions, arguing that there is more to humanity than bodies. In fact, he argues, there is more to the entire universe than the naked eye perceives. (And contrary to the New Atheist assertions, there are good philosophical arguments to back this up!)

While building on the author''s previous book, "Financial Aspects of Marketing," this book is designed to provide marketing managers and students with the financial know-how to maximize the cost effectiveness of their marketing activities.

The "new materialism" argues that science and religious belief arencompatible. This book considers such arguments from cosmology, biology, andociobiology view points, and shows that modern scientific knowledge does notndermine belief in God, but points to the existence of God.

Richard Dawkins recently claimed that ''no theologian has ever produced a satisfactory response to his arguments''. The author welcomes all comers into philosophy''s world of clear definitions, sharp arguments, and diverse conclusions. But when Dawkins enters this world, his passion tends to get the better of him, and he descends into stereotyping, pastiche, and mockery. In this stimulating and thought-provoking philosophical challenge, the author demonstrates not only how Dawkins'' arguments are flawed, but that a perfectly rational case can be made that there, almost certainly, is a God.

* Challenging and provocative book * Shows how management accounting techniques can be integrated into the strategic decision making process * Extensive use of practical examples from a variety of contexts.An introduction to business strategy for management accountants, financial accountants or managers with an accounting orientation. The book places management accounting clearly within the context of strategic management of the business. Offers qualified accountants a sound introduction to strategic management, and with practical examples and mini-cases provided throughout, this book is comprehensive yet concise. Keith Ward addresses strategic management accounting as a continuous process of analysis, planning and control. Management accounting is about supplying the right information to the right people at the right time, and this can only be expressed in the context of the business strategy and strategic plan. The implementation of appropriate management accounting systems to complement different strategies is discussed in detail. Applications and examples include multinational organizations, non-profit organizations and varying organizational structures. Finally the author covers methods of using management accounting for strategic advantage.

Ward demonstrates that from its inception, Christianity has been expressed iniverse and constantly changing ways in response to new knowledge andnderstandings of the world. Consequently, there is no one continuing andmmutable Christianity, whatever might be claimed by adherents to the faitht different times in the past or present. In fact, the author argues,iversity and change were already occurring in the biblical text; not onlyre the Synoptic Gospels markedly different from the Gospel of John, but theauline letters give us yet another interpretation of the faith and theission and person of Christ. From the Hellenistic re-statement of the Gospelo the present day, Ward draws the conclusion that there is no one essence ofaith.

This prominent theologian adds his contribution to the authority of Scripture debate An impassioned contribution to the debate about the authority of scripture - how we read the Bible, and how, the author believes, a fundamentalist reading is unsustainable. This book will infuriate many and delight others, and will make a valuable contribution to the debate, which we plan to join with voices from many corners. The book works through a series of Bible passages often cited as ''proof texts'', and explores how they can be read, and how they are used.

Atheism and accidentalism are increasingly taken for granted as default positions, as if they have been proven by scientists. However, writes Keith Ward, there is a huge amount of evidence for the reality of a spiritual dimension. There is level of being that is deeper than the physical universe, that has purpose and value, and we humans can sometimes feel it and find in it resources of strength, hope, and inspiration. There is something like mind or consciousness at the heart of reality. Through an exploration of six areas of human experience - the arts, morality, philosophy, science, religion and personal experience - Ward demonstrates the existence of more than simply physical facts. His evidence builds to an impressive argument for a ''sense for the spiritual dimension'' that is beyond and yet expressed in and through physical facts.