The papers in this volume were delivered viva voce at the 1998 Sabeel International Conference. Each was followed by formal questions in the plenary sessions, and more intimate discussion in other gatherings. In most cases, the speakers took account of these exchanges as they prepared their papers for publication. However, in a small number of papers, the editors, wishing to retain the immediately and intimacy of the spoken word, decided to publish texts with minimum concessions to the requirements of the academe.