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1
Goins, Jeffrey P. (Jeffrey Paul). "Expendable Creation: Classical Pentecostalism and Environmental Disregard." Thesis, University of North Texas, 1997. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc278335/.
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Whereas the ecological crisis has elicited a response from many quarters of American Christianity, classical (or denominational) Pentecostals have expressed almost no concern about environmental problems. The reasons for their disregard of the environment lie in the Pentecostal worldview which finds expression in their: (1) tradition; (2) view of human and natural history; (3) common theological beliefs; and (4) scriptural interpretation. All these aspects of Pentecostalism emphasize and value the supernatural--conversely viewing nature as subordinate, dependent and temporary. Therefore, the ecocrisis is not problematic because, for Pentecostals, the natural environment is: of only relative value; must serve the divine plan; and will soon be destroyed and replaced. Furthermore, Pentecostals are likely to continue their environmental disregard, since the supernaturalism which spawns it is key to Pentecostal identity.
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Velthuysen, Daniel Nicholas. "A pastoral theological examination of inner healing." Thesis, Rhodes University, 1990. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1016248.
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Doing a survey of the ministry of inner healing, one is arrested by three salient features: its pragmatic and correlative development, its lay orientation, and the inconsistent and naïve theoretical explanation of the phenomenon. Inner healing, or as it was first known, the healing of the memories, appears to have its roots with Agnes Sanford during the 1940's (Sandford 1982: 3-4). Over a period of time and through a series of events, Sanford experienced what she termed a healing of memories. After some reflection on her experiences she began to teach her views at the School of Pastoral Care started by her husband in 1958, at Camps Farthest Out (CFO), and at numerous churches and conferences.
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Chant, Jeffrey MacIntosh, and University of Lethbridge Faculty of Education. "Experiences of male woundedness and the influence of understandings of Christ." Thesis, Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Education, 2005, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10133/341.
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The purpose of this study was to bring to consciousness the varied experiences that men
have had of feeling wounded and to explore how a relationship to Jesus the Christ has
influenced their understanding of those experiences. A modified naturalistic inquiry
model was used as the qualitative research method, and the research was developed using
grounded theory. This method of inquiry encouraged participants, and the researcher, to
voice their experiences and to utilize them in a way that made the research significant.
This methodological approach allowed themes to emerge, while honouring the stories and
experiences that the participants shared. The theoretical framework for the study emerged
from two major fields of research: Christian theology and gender-male studies. This
research is located where these two fields intersect and overlap. It builds on the research
from gender-male studies, specifically the psychological study of men and masculinity,
organized men's movements, mythopoetic movements, profeminist movements, as well
as the Christian theological understanding of a Messiah who has been portrayed and
understood as the "wounded healer." The research focuses on the point at which men's
experiences connect with their own sense of woundedness, their Christian faith, and their
process of healing. The researcher engaged a discriminate group of men in exploring and
trying to understand their experiences of feeling wounded in relation to the Christian
story. Four men were identified who have had formal education in both pastoral
psychology and theology. The participants were interviewed, and a constant comparative
method was employed. Throughout the process of interviewing these men and being
privy to their stories, my own story of feeling wounded often surfaced. This research is significant because allowing these men to articulate their experiences of woundedness facilitates healing, for themselves but also for other men who may access their own
stories of feeling wounded through hearing those of the participants. Identifying and
articulating woundedness helps to manifest the path of healing and self-understanding,
ultimately leading to happier lives.<br>x, 130 leaves ; 29 cm.
4
Menatsi, Richard. "The concept of "the people" in liberation theology." Thesis, Rhodes University, 1994. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1015654.
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The concept of "the people" has become a key concept within the work of several Latin American theologians, Korean Minjung theologians and South African theologians. When liberation theologians use the concept of "the people" in their literature they do so with a lack of clarity, to the extent that the exact meaning of the term is obscure. In their usage of the concept "the people" liberation theologians come up with differing and at times contradictory meanings, particularly as regards the concrete and symbolic meanings of the concept. This thesis sets out to investigate the use of the concept "the people" by liberation theologians by consulting a selection from Latin American theology, Korean Minjung theology, South African liberation theology and Marxism, to detect its influence on the use of this notion. A general overview of the thesis indicates the following. The first chapter provides a detailed analysis of the concept of "the people" in the work of different liberation theologians. Chapter two considers "the people" in relation to poverty and oppression. The third chapter deals with "the people" as subjects of history. In the fourth chapter "the people" as a concept is developed in relation to belief within the Christian church. The final chapter is an evaluation. The thesis reveals that the following characteristics are central to "the people", they are poor and oppressed but are also inclusive of all those persons who identify and actively support the struggle against poverty and oppression. "The people" are subjects of their own history, finally they are Christian believers.
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Dyck, Veronica H. "Self-sacrifice, caring and peace : a socio-ethical preface to feminist theology." Thesis, McGill University, 1997. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=34949.
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This thesis is a critical survey of selected feminist writings on topics of interest to Christian, feminist thinkers. Specifically, this thesis has examined inter-feminist debates, highlighting those themes related narrowly to the virtues of self-sacrifice, care and peace, and broadly to how these relate to wider themes in Christian theology. This survey indicates directions and tendencies within works on virtues connected to women's work and gendered ideological assumptions about public and private spheres.<br>A summary of the contribution and themes of this thesis includes using critical social theory to uncover ideological distortions such as those perpetuated by patriarchy. The thesis highlights how a feminist critique contributes to the debate on values and virtues, pointing out biases which previously hid the contributions of women. An important theme uncovered using these critical tools is the dualist division between the public and the private spheres which reinforce gendered social and moral roles. The discussion is structured around three virtues with an emphasis on praxis, that is, since values arise out of shared practices, these values are inherently teachable and able to contribute to an evolving understanding of moral principles which break from and/or enhance traditional liberal understandings of these principles. Finally, connections are made with the gospel and utopian values grounded in a Christian vision of the kingdom of God.
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Boyd, Paul. "The Afrocentric rewriting of history with special reference to the origins of Christianity." Thesis, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, 2010. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.683366.
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Beattie, Cora Rebecca. "An exploration of a London Church Congregation's perceptions of homosexuality." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1640.
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The following treatise focuses on the ongoing conflict within the church regarding the issue of homosexuality. It is an important issue that has divided both churches and denominations and it continues to cause hurt in both the lives of Christians and non-Christians alike, both straight and gay. The popular position seems to be that the church, and Christians in general, are homophobic and believe that Christianity and homosexuality are not compatible. This research is a case study and focuses on a church in London. The research was carried out to discover whether this position, often portrayed by the media, was true of this church. It also sought to discover whether theories of conflict management and in particular John Burton’s theory of basic human needs could offer insight and alternative approaches in future discussions. The findings of this research offer hope in the situation in that they show this particular church is not homophobic, nor do the majority believe homosexuality and Christianity to be incompatible.
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McArthur, M. Jane. "Memory in the New Creation : a critical response to Miroslav Volf's eschatological forgetting." Thesis, University of St Andrews, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10023/13543.
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In this thesis I respond to Miroslav Volfs proposal that in the eschaton painful memories will be forgotten in order not to detract from the joy of the New Creation. Through consideration of the constitution of personal identity and memory I will show that his proposal is problematic if, in the New Creation, persons are to be continuous with themselves. In my chapter on forgiveness I show that that it is possible, through forgiveness, for people to come to remember even the most painful of experiences without experiencing pain anew, I will show that painful memories can be healed and transformed, and thus that eschatological forgetting is not necessary. I will argue in the final chapter that, just as in his resurrection body Christ bore scars of the crucifixion, so in the New Creation we too will bear scars from our earthly lives. The main sources in the chapter on personal identity are John Macmurray, Alastair McFadyen and, to a lesser extent, Paul Ricoeur. The work of Gregory Jones is significant in chapters 2 and 3 (looking at memory and forgiveness respectively). In chapter 4 (New Creation) I have drawn on the work of Jurgen Moltmann as well as that of Bauckham and Hart.
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Schaefer, Robyn 1951. "Rock of ages cleft for me : an analysis of journeys in Christian feminism." Monash University, School of Humanities, Communications and Social Sciences, 2004. http://arrow.monash.edu.au/hdl/1959.1/5350.
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Faber, Alyda. "Wounds : theories of violence in theological discourse." Thesis, McGill University, 2001. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=36922.
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My dissertation presents a survey of theories of violence in contemporary theological discourse. I consider four positions that represent a range of current trends within theology: Girardian anthropology, the radical orthodoxy movement, liberation theology, and feminist theology.<br>Rene Girard creates a scientific model of violence as a universal scapegoating mechanism at the origin of all human culture, which he posits as knowledge gained through the revelation of Jesus Christ. A key figure in the radical orthodoxy school, John Milbank, recovers Augustine's theology of history as a narrative of the ontological priority of peace in an attempt to discipline human desire away from its fascination with violence. Latin American theologians argue a similar priority of the peace and justice of the kingdom of God in their rhetoric of revolutionary violence as a defense of a poor majority oppressed by the structural violence of the state. Three feminist theologians, Carter Heyward, Rita Nakashima Brock, and Susan Thistlethwaite, construct an essentialist eros untroubled by violence in order to denounce the abuses of patriarchal sexual violence.<br>These contemporary theologians structure their discussions of violence as a speculative problem within categorical distinctions of good and evil. Their ordered theological systems exclude real negativity, not only from God as a totality of good, but also from humans. Within these theodicies, violence becomes unrepresentable in terms of damage to bodies.<br>I analyze the work of Georges Bataille, a philosopher of religion, as a critical counterpoint to these theories of violence. Bataille's practice of a mysticism of violence disturbs theological assumptions of humanness as intrinsically good and extends the notion of the sacred to include abject flesh and its violence.<br>Bataille's work provides resources for a "poetics of reality," a way for Christian theologians to express negativity---undecidability, ambiguity, disorder, pain, violence, bodily disintegration, death---as part of their religious imagination rather than perceiving it as an external threat to ordered theological systems. A poetics of reality is a practice of attention that lives deeply in human instability and human yearning for God.
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Morse, Holly. "And God created woman : an exploration of the meaning and the myth of Eve." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2016. https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:08616a56-67b0-47ba-ba87-01715f1daae5.
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The aim of my thesis is to destabilise the persistently pessimistic framing of Eve as a highly negative symbol of femininity within Western culture by engaging with marginal, and even heretical interpretations that focus on more positive or sympathetic aspects of her character. My objective is to question the myth that orthodox, popular readings represent the 'true' meaning of Genesis 2-4, and to explore the possibility that previously ignored or muted rewritings of Eve, which emphasise her knowledge or her motherhood, are in fact equally 'valid' interpretations of the biblical text. By staging analytical and dialogic encounters between the biblical Eve and re-writings of her story, particularly those that help to challenge the interpretative status quo, my thesis re-frames the first woman using three key themes from her story: sin, knowledge, and life. Employing a method of ideological reception criticism, I consider how and why the image of Eve as a dangerous temptress has gained considerably more cultural currency than the equally viable pictures of her as a subversive wise woman or as a mourning mother. To conclude, I argue that Eve is neither an entirely negative nor entirely positive figure, but rather that her characterisation, both biblically and in reception, is ambiguous and multivalent. My thesis thus offers a re-evaluation of the meanings and the myths of Eve, deconstructing the dominance of her cultural incarnation as a predominantly flawed female, and reconstructing a more nuanced and balanced presentation of the first woman's role in the Bible and in her afterlives.
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Miller, Martin Jonathan. "Singing and dancing in Holy Spirit: an understanding of the Xhosa Zionist healing service." Thesis, Rhodes University, 1985. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007638.
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Introduction: This project takes as its subject a particular example of ecstatic Christianity of the African Zionist type, practised by a group of urban African persons in Grahamstown, South Africa. The study is concerned specifically with the meanings of music (singing and drumming) and movement (dancing and clapping) in the context of a Church service whose overall intention is the employment of spiritual powers in the healing of sick persons.
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Venter, Johannes Machiel. "How the Christian church can help in building business ethics." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012905.
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Research suggests that there is a relationship between religion and business ethics. When looking at the South African society and the statistics that says that 80 percent of the population is Christian but on the other hand we are confronted within this country with increasing incidents of corruption in private companies as well as in public services. Why would that be the case? This study seeks to understand if Christianity or the local church really makes an impact on the lives of its members. The research starts of by looking at behaviour in general and what constitute to good ethical decision-making. In the study on Christian ethics it becomes clear that there is a strong appeal in the Bible on ethical behaviour. The Bible goes as far as to claim that, when in a relationship with the Lord, the followers will show His character in the way they live at home and the way they behave and make ethical decisions at the workplace. This study used focus groups to research the role of the local church in changing behaviour. The study finds that Christianity per se does not change the behaviour of church members. The church members‘ definition of the church largely determines the impact the church will have on their lives. In the study on the Christian ethics it was clear that ethics were seen as something that was formed in communities and not by rules or regulations. It was not a case of people telling others what to do and what not. It was more a case of mentors that helped others to live differently in community with others. The study finds that when the local church is build on relationships and if there is a strong sense of community, the church has a huge impact on the lives of its members. This suggests that the local church should be more focused on strong and intimate relationships and not so much on the church as organisation or institute. This is also important for the businesses that will employ these members because they will make better ethical decisions.
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Kasmed, Fa-eeza. "The identity alignment of Christian beliefs and homosexual orientation in adult women." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/17658.
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The homosexual orientation has been controversial in many countries around the world, with religion often used as the foundation for critique against this orientation. The prevalence of discrimination, and the expectation of rejection, often results in homosexual individuals concealing their sexual identity. In the process homosexual individuals may deny, hide, or even discarded their authentic selves. However, some individuals reach a point of comfort with both these constructs of their identity, a position that supports the authentic self. The aim of this study is to explore and describe the process of how individuals who identify as both Christian and homosexual align these parts into their identity, to reach a place of comfort. The study further seeks to generate insight that can be used to assist individuals in similar positions of identity conflict. The study uses qualitative methodology, more specifically an exploratory- descriptive design. The sample is identified through non-probability purposive sampling, and data collected through semi- structured interviews. The data is analysed using an interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) framework. Thematic analysis identified major themes of denial, conflict, anger, bargaining, deconstruction, and self- acceptance. These themes followed a non- linear and interactive process, and present participants reaching a place of comfort with their Christian beliefs and homosexual orientation; which is discussed through the interpretative lens of social constructionism and queer theory.
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Ducklow, Carole Anne. "The skilled helper for Christians : an outcome study on empathy." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 1990. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/29669.
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This study was conducted to research any increase in empathic discrimination resulting from an empathy training program for paraprofessional Christian counsellors entitled, The Skilled Helper for Christians. There were 13 male and 23 female subjects with a mean age of 38.9 years in the Experimental Group. The two control groups used were similar to the Experimental Group in mean age, gender and Christian faith. The first Control Group, those students enrolled in a course entitled Building Strong Marriages in the Local Church, was made up of 8 male and 8 female students, with a mean age of 38.9 years. The second Control Group consisted of graduate theological students who attended Introduction to Christian Counselling. There were 22 male and 11 female subjects with a mean age of 33.4 years.
A pretest-posttest design was used, adapting two instruments based on the Truax Accurate Empathy Scale. The dependent variable was the empathy score attained on each measure.
Four null hyotheses were advanced. Both instruments, the Questionnaire in Helpful Responding and the Exercises in Caring and Understanding, were initially analyzed using dependent t-tests. An analysis of covariance and a Tukey multiple comparison were also used.
The findings indicated that a significant increase in empathic discrimination resulted from the Skilled Helper for Christians, as measured by the Questionnaire in Helpful Responding. Each Control Group also indicated an increase as measured by the Questionnaire in Helpful Responding, however at a less significant level. The second measure, the Exercises in Caring and Understanding, resulted in no significant increase for any of the groups. Thus, the Skilled Helper for Christians produced a significant gain in empathic discrimination. Other findings suggested that modeling empathy may have had a positive effect on all of the groups.<br>Education, Faculty of<br>Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of<br>Graduate
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Liu, Wenting, and 刘雯婷. "The Christian dimension of the origin of constitutionalism: St. Augestine, Thomas Aquinas, RichardHooker and John Locke." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2012. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B4786977X.
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In 2011, many countries experienced great travail in the process of constituting a new order. Of different religious backgrounds, these countries have been seeking to establish a constitutional order to assure greater liberty and higher estimation of human rights. However, the idea of constitutionalism is a legal concept that has its origins in Christianity. For states of non-Christian backgrounds to embrace constitutionalism, more than simple transplantation is needed. This research looks at the Christian legal tradition that incubated the idea of constitutionalism. It aims to provide a timely reference for the non-Christian countries to communicate with their local legal traditions when constructing the constitutional order during this current period of political change.
The research demonstrates an incubation process in which Christianity has played a major part in generating constitutionalism. It traces the constitutional thinking of St. Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Richard Hooker and John Locke, and presents how their legal thoughts were intertwined together with the Christian faith. The research shows the interlocking relationships among the four thinkers, with each of them establishing their constitutional ideas on those of the one before him. St. Augustine formed the embryo of the process. He introduced the idea of two cities, which established a concept of higher justice above all human authorities. He also redefined the concept of people in order to explain the relations among God, people and the state. Thomas Aquinas applied the higher justice concept to medieval order and developed a mixed constitutional polity supported by bible verses. He defined law with rationality, which is God’s command. Richard Hooker amended Aquinas’ general theory of law and grounded the popular sovereignty on reasonable men exercising their consent. John Locke finally rendered the sovereignty to independent individuals; thence, individual human rights must be guarded against any interventions from public authority. The protection of individuals is the paramount value that identifies constitutionalism. Therefore, the author argues that Christianity is one of the major dimensions that enabled the birth of constitutionalism.<br>published_or_final_version<br>Law<br>Master<br>Master of Philosophy
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Marin, Andrew. "Wounds yet visible above : constructing a theology of remembrance through the divine and human embodiment of scars." Thesis, University of St Andrews, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10023/15586.
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Miroslav Volf argues traumatic memories are a temporal and eschatological stain on divine-human relations, making non-remembrance a mandatory component of reconciliation. Yet I contend the ‘problem of traumatic memories' is more convincingly addressed through remembrance, exemplified in the continuity of the divine and human embodiment of scars. The investigation begins temporally, in Part I, with consensus neuroscientific data arguing remembrance is the human brain's autonomic response to trauma and cognitive embodiment is how the brain best reconciles that remembrance of scars. Congruent with this biological reality, scripture records how the incarnate Son embodies his scars without attempts ‘to let go of such memories'. Then, eschatologically, because of the forerunning way of redemption how the Father accepts the Son's embodiment of scars is eternally perfect – without having to be erased, uncreated, or non-remembered – so will humanity's embodied remembrance of scars be accepted as eternally perfect in their elevation. Yet this conclusion is highly problematic for Volf because any form of eschatological remembrance of trauma is a perpetuation of evil (sin) poisoning God's eternal perfections. In direct response to Volf's concern, Part II offers a doctrinal construction of the paradox of Triune (im)possibility detailing how divine kenosis creates a bridge from the temporal possibility of traumatic memories to the Godhead's impassable nature without poisoning the eternal perfections. I argue all divine kenotic suffering in the world, including, prominently, the cross event, was already eternally conditioned in the united will (in difference) of the Trinity. Therefore eschatological remembrance of trauma cannot poison the eternal perfections because its temporal possibility has already been perfectly qualified by a divine continuity of victorious elevation. Just like the eschatological remembrance of the cross's trauma, all other remembrance of trauma continues only in a perfected state wholly unconnected from the nature of sin permeating the memories' temporal iterations. This is how remembrance better answers the problem of traumatic memories – by forging temporal-to-eschatological continuity of the divine and human embodiment of scars, no temporal suffering is done in vain because it is perfectly redeemed in the eschatological victory of divine-human remembrance.
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Taute, Harold Graeme. "The psychological role of homoeroticism in the spiritual growth of priests: a study of individuation processes and homoerotic sexualities." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002578.
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The study explored the psychological role of homoeroticism in the spiritual growth of priests, using Grounded Theory and James Fowler’s stages of faith development as the basis for the research methodology. Three Anglican priests were interviewed using a semi-structured interview format. The research interview combined Fowler’s Faith Development Interview Guide and a semi-structured interview in order to ascertain the priests’ level of spiritual development, as well as to explore their experience of the homoerotic component to their sexuality, and its influence on their spiritual growth. The interviews and iterative analysis focussed on four major questions: (1) Are priests who experience and actively work at integrating the homoerotic aspect to themselves assisted thereby in their spiritual growth, and if so, how might this be accounted for?; (2) Following Fowler’s model of spiritual development, what processes characterise each priest’s approach to meaning-creation in their lives?; (3) Following Fowler’s model, can the psychological work of engaging with and accepting homoeroticism be conceived of as serving an initiatory function in the emergence of new processes of meaning-creation?; (4) What role does homoeroticism serve in the spiritual growth of priests? The interpretative phase consisted of three stages. A grounded theory analysis of each interview was undertaken, developing a model for understanding the role of homoeroticism in spiritual growth. In the second stage, the priest’s level of spiritual development was ascertained, using Fowler’s Faith Development Guide. The third stage linked each participant’s level of spiritual development (in Fowler’s terms) with their core stories regarding experiences, meanings, and roles of homoeroticism. Finally, an integrative theory of the role of homoeroticism in spiritual growth was developed, using Jungian and post-Jungian theory as a basis for the discussion. The results suggested that homoeroticism did not play any role in spiritual growth and individuation separate to the manner in which it was experienced as having been constructed by society and the Church, and separate to the manner in which each priest in the study expressed, experienced, or engaged with it. In this context the experience of homoeroticism appeared to play a diversity of roles, including representing the collective and personal shadow, the archetypal anima/animus, the archetypal puer/senex constellation, the transcendent function, and thereby, as an expression of these roles, contribute to the emergence of new processes of meaning-creation in the spiritual growth and individuation of priests.
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Carbonneau, André 1952. "Conscientious objectors to a medical treatment - what are the rules?" Thesis, McGill University, 1999. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=30290.
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Patients who refuse a specific medical treatment for religious reasons must often overcome strongly entrenched presumptions held by physicians and judges, presumptions frequently based on personal values. A case in point is the refusal of blood transfusion therapy by Jehovah's Witnesses.<br>This paper rests on the following theory: The sanctity of life principle is not necessarily violated by respecting the autonomous decision of a patient who, for religious or moral reasons, chooses one therapy over another that may be favored by the treating physician. Where a patient has decided for conscientious reasons against a certain treatment in any given medical situation, the need to be informed will shift from the patient to the physician. The physician must understand the nature of the religious or moral conviction, as well as his own moral and legal obligation to respect the patient's wishes by providing the best medical care under the circumstances.
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Reddy, Mike Megrove. "Communication in Christian groups from movements to organisations." Thesis, University of Zululand, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10530/456.
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A dissertation submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of D. Litt. In Communication Science University of Zululand, 2004.<br>This dissertation reports the results of a study made of the forms of communication employed by Judaeo-Christian religious groups when they saw themselves as movements, compared to when they had become organisations. Beginning with ancient Israel, the study documents how forms of communication become elaborated during the organisational phase of groups' existence. The forms of communication used in Christian religious groups are documented from the rime of the eady Christian Church, through the Reformation period, through the 17* century to present-day Christian groups. The dissertation also reports as a case study an empirical analysis of the forms of communication used by the Cell Church and churches with cell groups, both of which are inter-denominational and host regular informal gatherings. It is found that these gatherings display the onset phase characteristics of Christian movements.
From a theoretical point of view the research reported here provides evidence in support for the following Christian Religious Communications Hypothesis: Christian religious groups will use a limited number offorms of communication when they perceive themselves as movements and they will expand their forms of communication, as they become organisations, which forms special instance of Klopper (2003)'s general Theory of the Optimisation of Human Communication: Humans optimise a variety of forms of communication within a culture, to ensure immediate direct personal survival and to maintain their culture as a fongterm indirect survival strategy. By confirming the validity of the Christian Religious Communications Hypothesis, the research findings also provide indirect validation for Klopper's general Theory of the Optimisation of Human Communication.
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(EFSA), Ecumenical Foundation of Southern Africa. "The land is crying for justice: a discussion document on Christianity and environmental justice in South Africa." Ecumenical Foundation of Southern Africa (EFSA), 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/68865.
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South Africa is a land of extraordinary beauty, ecological diversity and abundance. However, the land that God has entrusted to us is crying for justice. During the years of struggle against apartheid several ecumenical documents addressed the issues of the day. The Letter to the People of South Africa (1968), the Kairos Document (1985), the Evangelical Witness in South Africa (1986), the Road to Damascus (1989) and the Rustenburg Declaration (1990) may be mentioned in this regard. In the same ecumenical and prophetic spirit, this document seeks to address the escalating destruction of our environment that results in immense suffering for people, for other living species and for our land as a whole. In responding to this challenge Christians in South Africa may recognise, acknowledge and learn from the many voices and contributions on environmental concerns coming from all over the world — from churches and ecumenical movements, from the Earth Charter movement, from other religious traditions and from environmental organisations. The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) - 26 August to 4 September 2002, Johannesburg - also challenges the churches in South Africa to respond to these concerns.<br>1st ed<br>Ecumenical Foundation of Southern Africa (EFSA)
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鄭明眞 and Ming-chun May Cheng. "Christianity fever: contagion and constraint of a religious movement in China." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 1996. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B31235621.
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The Best MPhil Thesis in the Faculties of Architecture, Arts, Business & Economics, Education, Law and Social Sciences (University of Hong Kong), Li Ka Shing Prize, 1995-1997.<br>published_or_final_version<br>Sociology<br>Doctoral<br>Doctor of Philosophy
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Rutledge, Jonathan. "Forgiveness & atonement : a sacrificial account of divine-human reconciliation." Thesis, University of St Andrews, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10023/15593.
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In this thesis, I construct a sacrificial explanation of atonement, the expanded version of which explains how the work of Christ addresses in various ways every component of the problem of sin. The first two chapters of this endeavour argue for a Wolterstorffian definition of forgiveness according to which forgiveness is the act of ceasing to treat a wrong as part of a wrongdoer's moral history and instead as part of their personal history. Moreover, I demonstrate that this definition of forgiveness is superior to the major alternatives in the literature due in no small part to its consistency with various philosophical desiderata and biblical constraints detailed in the first two chapters. In the final two chapters, I turn to an investigation of the doctrine of atonement. The most popular contemporary model of atonement in many Protestant Christian circles is a penal substitution model that assumes the centrality of a strong form of retributivism in the biblical narrative. In chapter three, I argue that the major biblical understanding of justice as fundamentally restorative in nature. I then develop an alternative form of penal substitution that rests on this restorative rationale for justice rather than the typical retributivist strain. This model of atonement, however, seems to me lacking in explanatory scope due to its limited appeal to the biblical texts. Thus, in chapter four, I offer an alternative atonement model- i.e. a sacrificial one- that combines elements of the rituals of yom kippur and Passover to explain how the work Christ addresses most of the components of the problem of sin. Lastly, I combine this sacrificial model with my account of forgiveness to address the remaining components of the problem of sin.
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Bosman, Lourens Lemmer. "'N Narratiewe beskouing van die pastoraal terapeutiese self in 'n postmoderne samelewing." Thesis, Pretoria : [s.n.], 2001. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-08142006-113817/.
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Springer, Michelle J. "Religious and eating disorder beliefs and behaviors." Virtual Press, 1997. http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/1041888.
Full textAbstract:
This study utilized both qualitative and quantitative procedures to examine the relationship between religiosity and eating disorders among a sample of nineteen eating disordered individuals who sought treatment at one of two college counseling centers, or at a hospital unit which specializes in treating eating disorders. Following theoretical works that point to asceticism as the link between religion and eating disorders, it was hypothesized that subject scores on the Shepherd Scale, a measure of religiosity from a Christian perspective, would positively correlate with scores on the Eating Disorder Inventory, a measure of eating disorder symptomatology, which includes a subscale that assesses asceticism. Analysis of subject scores shows no statistically significant correlation between religiosity and asceticism, though statistically significant negative correlations were found between religiosity and other Eating Disorder Inventory subscales. A marked difference in asceticism scores was found between subjects treated at the college counseling centers and those treated at the hospital unit.<br>Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services
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Cheung, Man-ling, and 張曼玲. "The role of religious attributions in coping with bereavement." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 1995. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B3197787X.
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Faleni, Mzukisi Welcome. "Hagar: case study of abuse of women." Thesis, University of the Western Cape, 2008. http://etd.uwc.ac.za/index.php?module=etd&action=viewtitle&id=gen8Srv25Nme4_1551_1254303991.
Full textAbstract:
<p>According to modern standards, the narratives about Hagar in Genesis 16 and 21 are stories of abuse, as many feminist commentators have pointed out. Some of them, however, argue that the narrator condones what happened to Hagar, seeing it as perfectly normal. This thesis aims to investigate whether and how Hagar was abused according to the narrator of Genesis 16 and 21: 8-21.</p>
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Wong, Kam-fai John, and 黃錦暉. "Nationalism and the anti-Christian movement in the 1920s." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 1991. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B3195019X.
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Patten, Malcolm. "An analysis of a multicultural church." Thesis, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, 2011. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.682999.
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Maclean, Hilary C. "Singing the Lord's song in a strange land : compositional voice towards expression of Christian transcendence." Thesis, 2009. http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/46919.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis explores the musical expression of Christian transcendence in my folio of compositions. The “Lord’s song” of the thesis title is a reference to Psalm 137, in which the Psalmist, in exile in Babylon, asks “how shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?” (King James). This question could be paraphrased, in terms of the thesis, as “how can the transcendent be expressed in the material form of music?” The transcendent is primarily expressed in these compositions by static referential pitches which symbolise the immanence of the eternal within the temporal, and by the use of borrowed musical material that has associations of transcendence. The compositions are seen as places that contain the transcendent and in which the transcendent may be met, and these places are likened to a musical ‘nest’ in which my own and borrowed musical materials are woven together. The compositional credo discusses ways that music refers to and contains the transcendent through the voices of the composer, other musics and the transcendent at work in the process of composition. The chapter on compositional voice and craft lays out the general principles of mosaic form and modal voice-leading that are at work in these pieces. Three chapters cover individual works in detail, showing how they express particular aspects of the transcendent drawn from their texts or titles.
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Davis, Michael Larry. "Intentional Practice of Shared Leadership in the Marketplace by Christian Leaders: A Multi-case Study." Diss., 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10392/4856.
Full textAbstract:
INTENTIONAL PRACTICE OF SHARED LEADERSHIP
IN THE MARKETPLACE BY CHRISTIAN LEADERS:
A MULTI-CASE STUDY
Michael Larry Davis, Ed.D.
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2014
Chair: Michael S. Wilder
In light of the biblical roots of shared leadership it is difficult to understand the
lack of research related to the practice of shared leadership by Christian business leaders
in the marketplace. Although research of shared leadership has been robust since its
emergence in the last quarter-century, little or no research of shared leadership by
Christian leaders existed before this study. Designed as a qualitative multiple case study,
this thesis explores the practice of shared leadership in three cases for the express purpose
of discovering best practices for shared leadership in the marketplace by Christian
leaders. Although the enterprises studied are not necessarily described as Christian
companies, all clearly understand their existence as a tool for living out the Gospel in the
world.
I isolated ten established best practices of shared leadership through the
literature review. Through case observation, personal interviews, and document
collection, the established best practices were validated for each site. Additionally, five
unique best practices for shared leadership by Christian marketplace leaders were
identified. Christian marketplace leaders who practice shared leadership:
1. Seek to enrich the lives of all stakeholders as a primary purpose of the enterprise by
providing good paying jobs for employees, exceptional service to customers, and a
fair profit for owners and stockholders.
2. Encourage stakeholders to embrace biblical discipleship practices in leadership by
honoring God in their work and by treating others as they wish to be treated.
3. Seek to support corporate as well as biblical values by articulating a biblical view of
work.
4. Leverage the value of people for the common good of employees, customers, and
other stakeholders.
5. Expect stakeholders to embrace and live out biblical virtues.
Chapter 1 introduces the research problem, its theological foundation, and
practical significance. It also defines the research question while plotting the study's
limitations. Chapter 2 examines the precedent literature and recounts the history of shared
leadership as it emerged from antecedent forms of leadership. Chapter 3 presents the
research design, defines the population, establishes the selection criteria, and outlines the
instrumentation. Chapter 4 analyzes the findings, while chapter 5 presents my
conclusions. The study's ultimate aim is to enrich the literature base by acknowledging
the biblical foundations of shared leadership and the natural inclination of Christian
business leaders to practice shared leadership as a result of their Christian faith.
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Garrison, Jennifer Rose. "Marriage, sexuality, and Christian parental instruction: a descriptive analysis of perspectives and practices." Diss., 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10392/5179.
Full textAbstract:
ABSTRACT
MARRIAGE, SEXUALITY, AND CHRISTIAN PARENTAL
INSTRUCTION: A DESCRIPTIVE ANALYSIS OF
PERSPECTIVES AND PRACTICES
Jennifer Rose Garrison, Ph.D.
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2016
Chair: Dr. Hal K. Pettegrew
The purpose of this study was to describe the perspectives among Christian parents toward marriage and sexuality, to describe the resources and practices utilized by these parents in teaching their children about marriage and sexuality, and to describe to what extent, if any, these parents’ perspectives and teaching practices are influenced by the local church. 28 semi-structured interviews were conducted with Christian parents having at least one child in the range of kindergarten to sixth grade.
Chapter 1 offers a detailed description of the research problem and the purpose of the research. Though traditional forms of marriage and sexuality have long been building blocks of society, current American culture now presents many alternative choices to both marriage and sexuality.
Chapter 2 provides an overview of the precedent literature concerning marriage, sexuality, and Christian parental instruction, as well as key cultural trends related to marriage and sexuality, and a review of twelve parental help texts addressing both issues.
Chapter 3 presents the research methodology of this study. The qualitative research design consisted of the following steps. First, access was obtained to churches who attended CentriKid Camp on the campus of Campbellsville University during summer 2014. Second, children’s ministry group leaders from attending churches were invited to participate in the study. Personal contact information was gathered from each volunteer. Third, an interview protocol was created, validated through an expert panel, and approved by the Ethics Committee of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Fourth, a pilot study was conducted. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded. Fifth, 28 interviewees were purposefully selected based upon the highest number of volunteers from participating churches. Sixth, a Dissertation Participation Form was gathered from each participant. Seventh, 28 interviews were conducted, transcribed, and coded. Types of coding applied to the research included In Vivo and values coding. Eighth, content analysis was completed on the gathered data. Finally, findings were evaluated and conclusions were drawn.
Chapter 4 provides an analysis of the research findings. These findings describe the values expressed by Christian parents in regard to the research questions.
Chapter 5 presents conclusions drawn from the research.
KEYWORDS: Bible, biblical discipleship, biblical teaching, biblical worldview, Christian parenting, church discipleship, church equipping, church influence, cohabitation, comfort measures, culture, discipleship, divorce, gender confusion, homosexuality, life experience, life stage, marriage, marriage education, mass media, mentoring, parental controls, parental instruction, parental responsibility, parental struggle, parental teaching, parental training, parenting, parents, pastor, perspectives, pornography, public school, sexual ethics, sexual morality, sexuality, sexuality education, teaching methods, teaching practices, teaching resources, textual resources, values.
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"A Christian critique of the spirituality of free market: from the perspectives of 'freedom' and 'market spirituality'." 2010. http://library.cuhk.edu.hk/record=b5894333.
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Ip Hon Ho.<br>Thesis (M.Div.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010.<br>Includes bibliographical references (leaves 80-82).<br>Abstracts in English and Chinese.<br>Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.3<br>Chapter 2. --- Different beliefs of the free market --- p.5<br>Chapter 2.1 --- Market' as invisible hand guided by self-interest --- p.6<br>Chapter 2.2 --- Market as a platform to promote prosperity of life and freedom --- p.7<br>Chapter 2.3 --- Market as a place of competition --- p.8<br>Chapter 2.4 --- Market as a self-regulating system --- p.9<br>Chapter 2.5 --- Private Property right as the necessary condition for free market economy --- p.9<br>Chapter 3. --- Review of contemporary Christian critiques of market --- p.10<br>Chapter 3.1 --- Michael Novak: defense of classic liberal economy --- p.11<br>Chapter 3.1.1 --- The concept of liberty --- p.11<br>Chapter 3.1.2 --- The 'co-creation' role of man --- p.12<br>Chapter 3.1.3. --- The tripartite system and the sinful nature of man in a free market economy --- p.13<br>Chapter 3.2 --- Rebecca M. Blank: Criticism on Market from an economist and a theologian --- p.14<br>Chapter 3.2.1 --- The model of competitive market --- p.14<br>Chapter 3.2.2. --- Conflicting values between beliefs in competitive market with Christian values --- p.15<br>Chapter 3.3 --- Paul Tillich's critique on free market --- p.19<br>Chapter 3.3.1. --- The religious relevance of Capitalism and Free market --- p.20<br>Chapter 3.3.2 --- Tillich model of criticism --- p.21<br>Chapter 3.3.3 --- Depending Conditions for capitalism: Technical reasons --- p.22<br>Chapter 3.3.4 --- Criticism of the Spirit of Capitalism and Free market --- p.23<br>Chapter 3.3.5 --- Criticism of the form of capitalism --- p.26<br>Chapter 3.3.6 --- The big machine --- p.27<br>Chapter 3.4 --- The insufficiencies of the above Christian Critique --- p.30<br>Chapter 3.4.1 --- Michael Novak: --- p.31<br>Chapter 3.4.2 --- Rebecca Blank --- p.32<br>Chapter 3.4.3 --- Paul Tillich --- p.32<br>Chapter 4. --- The discussion on the freedom in free market --- p.33<br>Chapter 4.1 --- Economic Compulsion --- p.34<br>Chapter 4.1.1 --- Economic reason: Monopolistic power --- p.35<br>Chapter 4.1.2 --- Political Reason: Political Economy --- p.37<br>Chapter 4.1.3 --- Short Summary --- p.39<br>Chapter 4.2 --- Slavery Characteristics of free market --- p.40<br>Chapter 4.3 --- Basic Characteristics of a slavery system --- p.40<br>Chapter 4.3.1 --- Backgrounds of Slavery system in Greco Roman Empire --- p.41<br>Chapter 4.3.2 --- Structure of the working relationship: Dehumanized structure --- p.42<br>Chapter 4.3.3 --- Social status: Alienation --- p.43<br>Chapter 4.3.4 --- Incentive system: Another form of Economic Compulsion --- p.44<br>Chapter 4.3.5 --- Short summary --- p.47<br>Chapter 4.4 --- Slavery characteristics of the free market --- p.47<br>Chapter 4.4.1 --- Working relationship: dehumanized structure --- p.48<br>Chapter 4.4.2 --- Social status: Alienation --- p.50<br>Chapter 4.4.3 --- Incentive system: Another form of Economic Compulsion --- p.51<br>Chapter 4.4.4 --- Short Summary --- p.54<br>Chapter 5. --- The critique of the spirituality of market by the concept of 'market spirituality' --- p.54<br>Chapter 5.1 --- The ground of understanding spirituality --- p.55<br>Chapter 5.2 --- Basic Characteristics of spirituality --- p.57<br>Chapter 5.2.1 --- First-order and second-order experiences of Spirituality --- p.57<br>Chapter 5.2.2 --- The trainable quality of Spirituality: Ascetical and Mystical aspect --- p.58<br>Chapter 5.2.3 --- The unintentional ascetical aspect of spirituality --- p.59<br>Chapter 5.3 --- The understanding and basic assumptions of Market Spirituality --- p.62<br>Chapter 5.4 --- The Formation of spirituality in our daily routine --- p.64<br>Chapter 5.4.1 --- Pathway of knowing in free market --- p.66<br>Chapter 5.4.2 --- Pathway of acting in free market --- p.67<br>Chapter 5.4.3 --- Pathway of relating to others in free market --- p.69<br>Chapter 5.5 --- Common examples of market spirituality --- p.69<br>Chapter 5.5.1 --- Believing in the self-regulatory mechanism --- p.69<br>Chapter 5.5.2 --- Competitive spirituality --- p.70<br>Chapter 5.5.3 --- Detachment relationship --- p.72<br>Chapter 5.5.4 --- Consumerism --- p.73<br>Chapter 5.5.5 --- Commodification --- p.74<br>Chapter 5.5.6 --- Short summary --- p.75<br>Chapter 5.6 --- Theological reflections on market spirituality --- p.76<br>Chapter 5.6.1 --- The penetration of the market spirituality into our church and individual life --- p.76<br>Chapter 5.6.2. --- Contrast with the Christian Spirituality --- p.77<br>Chapter 6. --- Conclusion --- p.79<br>Bibliography --- p.80
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"Metaphor of light as a Christian identity marker." 2011. http://library.cuhk.edu.hk/record=b5894783.
Full textAbstract:
Lee, Ka Keung Caramon.<br>"December 2010."<br>Thesis (M.Div.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011.<br>Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-89).<br>Abstracts in English and Chinese.<br>Chapter Chapter 1: --- Identity and Metaphors --- p.2<br>Chapter 1.1) --- Introduction --- p.2<br>Chapter 1.2) --- Aspects of Identity --- p.3<br>Chapter 1.3) --- Construction of Social Identity as Revealed on Texts --- p.6<br>Chapter 1.4) --- Functions of Metaphors --- p.10<br>Chapter 1.5) --- Light as an Ancient Metaphor --- p.13<br>Chapter 1.6) --- Outline of the Thesis --- p.14<br>Chapter Chapter 2: --- The Metaphor of Light in the Gospel of John --- p.18<br>Chapter 2.1) --- Introduction --- p.18<br>Chapter 2.2) --- Johannine Symbolism --- p.19<br>Chapter 2.3) --- Old Testament Sources of the Johannine Light --- p.19<br>Chapter 2.4) --- Anti-Language in the Gospel of John --- p.21<br>Chapter 2.5) --- Exegesis of Johannine Light Passages --- p.22<br>Chapter 2.6) --- Self-understanding of the Johannine Community and Unity of the Enemy --- p.29<br>Chapter 2.7) --- Parting of the Ways? --- p.31<br>Chapter Chapter 3: --- Metaphor of Light in the Writings of Pseudo-Dionysius --- p.33<br>Chapter 3.1) --- Introduction --- p.33<br>Chapter 3.2) --- Historical Context --- p.34<br>Chapter 3.3) --- Opponents of Pseudo-Dionysius --- p.36<br>Chapter 3.4) --- Light and Darkness . --- p.38<br>Chapter 3.5) --- Unknowability of God --- p.40<br>Chapter 3.6) --- The Dionysian Hierarchies --- p.42<br>Chapter 3.7) --- The Celestial (Angelic) Hierarchy --- p.43<br>Chapter 3.8) --- The Ecclesiastical Hierarchy --- p.44<br>Chapter 3.9) --- The Relationship between the Two Hierarchies --- p.45<br>Chapter Chapter 4: --- The Metaphor of Light in the Writings of Symeon the New Theologian --- p.49<br>Chapter 4.1) --- Introduction : --- p.49<br>Chapter 4.2) --- Introducing Symeon the New Theologian --- p.49<br>Chapter 4.3) --- Conflicts Faced by Symeon --- p.53<br>Chapter 4.4) --- Key Theological Elements of Symeon --- p.56<br>Chapter 4.5) --- Establishment of Christian Identity as an Individual --- p.59<br>Chapter 4.6) --- Establishment of Christian Identity as a Community --- p.66<br>Chapter Chapter 5: --- Conclusion --- p.71<br>Chapter 5.1) --- "Relationship Between John, Pseudo-Dionysius, and Symeon the New Theologian" --- p.72<br>Chapter 5.2) --- Major Findings --- p.74<br>Chapter 5.3) --- Future Works --- p.76<br>Bibliography --- p.78
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Vander, Wiele Matthew Alan. "AN ANALYSIS OF STUDENTS' PERCEPTION OF BIBLICAL COMMUNITY WITHIN THE ENVIRONMENT OF DIGITAL MEDIA: A MIXED METHODS STUDY." Diss., 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10392/4875.
Full textAbstract:
ABSTRACT
AN ANALYSIS OF STUDENTS' PERCEPTION OF BIBLICAL
COMMUNITY WITHIN THE ENVIRONMENT OF DIGITAL
MEDIA: A MIXED METHODS STUDY
Matthew Alan Vander Wiele, Ed.D.
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2014
Chair: Dr. Troy W. Temple
This study is an examination of teen perception regarding their understanding of biblical community within the environment of digital media. The study also examines the principles, essentials, or characteristics of biblical community regardless of environment.
The researcher surveyed a sample of teens that attend classical, open enrollment, and closed enrollment Christian schools of various denominations as well as no denomination. A survey presenting a list of the essential principles of biblical community, regardless of environment, including questions for each objective was sent to the sample. The respondents were asked to participate in a quantitative Lickert-scale survey. An expert panel was utilized to validate and approve the principles of biblical community that were used in the student survey. The validation by the experts regarding the literature review was then used to form objective questions regarding the principles or characteristics of biblical community regardless of environment. Triangulation was utilized as the principles reviewed in the literature review, validated by the expert panel, were formulated into a survey to measure perception.
The researcher analyzed the data in light of the principles or essentials of biblical community reviewed in the literature review and validated upon by the experts to demonstrate a need to better measure the effectiveness of biblical community within a particular environment. Also, the research demonstrated a need to educate parents and students alike as to what makes a community biblical. The benefit of the expert panel allowed for the findings to be validated in order to then create an instrument that measures student perception. The researcher sought to answer the question: Do teens, that attend Christian high schools, perceive their online relationships to facilitate the principles or essentials of biblical community? The more commonly asked questions concerning the effects of digital media on one's face-to-face relationships cannot adequately be answered until the above question is answered.
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Mulvihill, Josh. "An analysis of the practices and perceived roles of American grandparents among evangelical Christians." Diss., 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10392/5185.
Full textAbstract:
AN ANALYSIS OF THE PRACTICES AND PERCEIVED
ROLES OF AMERICAN GRANDPARENTS
AMONG EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS
Joshua Robert Mulvihill, Ph.D.
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2016
Chair: Dr. Timothy Paul Jones
The purpose of this study was to provide a portrait of grandparenting from the Bible and analyze the place and purpose of grandparents in American society based on a synthesis of research literature. The second purpose of the study utilized semi-structured interviews to determine the perceived roles and accompanying practices of grandparents in evangelical contexts.
The biblical study of grandparenthood revealed six themes that inform the role and responsibility of grandparenthood to pass on a godly heritage of faith. The semi-structured interviews suggest that evangelical grandparents gravitate to one of four different roles with their grandchild: encouraging voice, supportive partner, loving friend, or disciple-maker. The interviews also revealed eight disciple-making practices that intentional grandparents utilize with grandchildren.
The research uncovered three problems that exist in the family ministry world. First, evangelical churches have a limited emphasis on equipping grandparents to pass faith on to future generations. Second, high numbers of evangelical grandparents are not intentionally or significantly investing in the spiritual life of their grandchildren and do not have a clear understanding of their role as a grandparent. Third, limited resources are available to encourage and equip grandparents who profess evangelical faith to accomplish their God-given role in the church and home.
As a result, the potential contribution of this research is significant as evangelical Christians have been greatly influenced by American society, are often marginalized by family and church, confused about their role as grandparents, and resigned to minimal spiritual impact in their grandchild’s life. The results of this research provide an overview of grandparenting according to the Bible, summarize society’s understanding of the role of grandparents, and suggest eight spiritual practices that will help grandparents embrace multigenerational discipleship and pass faith on to future generations. Pastors and grandparents need a renewed biblical vision regarding the biblical role and disciple-making practices of grandparents and this research project will help toward that end.
KEYWORDS: biblical role, Bible, Christian education, church and home, discipleship, disciple maker, encouraging voice, equipping grandparents, evangelical grandparents, Evangelical Free Church of America, family ministry, future generations, godly heritage, grandchildren, grandparents, intentional grandparents, loving friend, multigenerational discipleship, resources, responsibility of grandparents, role of grandparents, supportive partner.
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"Scientific perspective on the rationality of Christianity." 2012. http://library.cuhk.edu.hk/record=b5896930.
Full textAbstract:
Kong Hoi Sang.<br>"June 2012".<br>Thesis (M.Div.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012.<br>Includes bibliographical references (leaves 39-43).<br>Chiefly in Chinese ; abstract in Chinese and English.<br>論文摘要 --- p.第2頁<br>引言：科學與基督教信仰曾發生過衝突 --- p.第5頁<br>Chapter 第一章： --- 達爾文式的進化論對基督教的影響<br>Chapter 1.1 --- 達爾文式的進化論對基督教信仰的挑戰 --- p.第6頁<br>Chapter 1.2 --- 達爾文式的進化論成立的話，又會帶來什麼影響 --- p.第7頁<br>Chapter 第二章： --- 反對「達爾文式的進化論」的証據<br>Chapter 2.1 --- 有科學的証據顯示達爾文式的進化論是錯的嗎？ --- p.第9頁<br>Chapter 2.1.1 --- 海克爾的胚胎圖是偽造的 --- p.第9頁<br>Chapter 2.1.2 --- 寒武紀大爆炸 --- p.第10頁<br>Chapter 2.1.3 --- 始祖鳥的化石 --- p.第11頁<br>Chapter 2.1.4 --- 耳廓：退化的痕跡？ --- p.第12頁<br>Chapter 2.1.5 --- 垃圾DNA是退化的痕跡？ --- p.第12頁<br>Chapter 2.2 --- 微進化可否看為早已存在於生物中的一種適應機制 --- p.第13頁<br>Chapter 2.3 --- 進化論的「口號」，本身隱含了目的論的意識 --- p.第13頁<br>Chapter 第三章： --- 智慧設計論<br>Chapter 3. --- 批評達爾文的進化論的新模式 --- p.第15頁<br>Chapter 3.1 --- 達爾文的進化論被證為偽的條件 --- p.第15頁<br>Chapter 3.2 --- 生化發展的新里程´ة帶動微觀細節的批判 --- p.第15頁<br>Chapter 3.3 --- 請達爾文式進化論學者，為每一個細節提供進化的步驟及証據 --- p.第16頁<br>Chapter 3.4 --- 達爾文主義的天敵：具有「不能約簡的複雜」的器官 --- p.第18頁<br>Chapter 3.4.1 --- 智慧設計論的皇牌：細菌鞭毛(flagellum) --- p.第18頁<br>Chapter 3.4.2 --- 進化論學者對細菌鞭毛(flagellum)的回應 --- p.第19頁<br>Chapter 3.5 --- 智慧設計論 Intelligent Design (ID)<br>Chapter 3.5.1 --- 何謂智慧設計論 --- p.第21頁<br>Chapter 3.5.2 --- Dembski認為有可辨別的特定模式，加上小機率，才是設計的條件 --- p.第22頁<br>Chapter 3.5.3 --- 設計性容易被錯誤分類的例子 --- p.第23頁<br>Chapter 3.5.4 --- 智慧設計推斷 --- p.第24頁<br>Chapter 3.5.5 --- 細菌鞭毛(flagellum)是「智慧設計」 --- p.第25頁<br>Chapter 3.5.6 --- 其他「智慧設計」的例子 --- p.第26頁<br>Chapter 第四課： --- 「智慧設計論」答客問<br>Chapter 4.1 --- 「智慧設計論」是科學 --- p.第27頁<br>Chapter 4.1.1 --- 「智慧設計論」可被証偽 --- p.第27頁<br>Chapter 4.2 --- 「智慧設計論」對科學有何貢獻 --- p.第28頁<br>Chapter 4.3 --- 歷史告訴我們：真正基督教思想對科學的發展有幫助 --- p.第29頁<br>Chapter 4.4 --- 「智慧設計論」是科學與神學之橋 --- p.第31頁<br>Chapter 第五章： --- 「智慧設計論」以外的科學論據<br>Chapter 5.1 --- 宇宙的微調 --- p.第34頁<br>Chapter 5.2 --- 宇宙有一個起點 --- p.第36頁<br>總結 --- p.第39頁<br>《中文參考書》 --- p.第40頁<br>《英文參考書》 --- p.第42頁
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Frost, William John. "A critical analysis of Sallie McFague's body of God model as a resource for a Christian ecological theology." Thesis, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/1288.
Full textAbstract:
The purpose of this study is to determine whether or not Sallie McFague's body of God model is an adequate resource for a Christian ecological theology. The study endeavours to evaluate, test and revise this particular theological model. It is located on the abstract and hypothetical level and is thus a non-empirical analysis of McFague's thought. The researcher analysed the body of God model by using theological and philosophical resources. Current literature on ecological theology was studied in order to formulate thirteen criteria for an adequate Christian theology. These criteria were used throughout the study to test the theology that accompanies McFague's model. The study analysed three key areas of McFague's thought: cosmology, anthropology and theology. It was found the body of God model tends towards reductionism, because it does not appear to endorse a coherent complexity hierarchy. This reductionism was apparent in the three key areas of McFague's thought. However, it was found the body of God model functions as a transformative metaphor that takes into account the social reality that affects the health of planet earth. Its strength is a clear orientation towards ethics that takes Jesus' praxis as its departure point. The researcher provides suggestions on how the body of God model may overcome reductionism. After consideration of the three key areas of McFague's thought, the researcher concluded that the body of God model is an adequate resource for a Christian ecological theology. It is suggested that this theological model is applicable to the South African context in three areas: the socio-economic reality and its impact on the natural environment, the land ownership and the issue of racism.<br>Thesis (M.Th.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, [2006]
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Palmer, Gillian Ann. "Plants and trees of syrio-palestine: cultivation and uses." Thesis, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/1328.
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Born, Daniel Ferris. "The figurative use of "son(s) of" in the New Testament." Diss., 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10392/5188.
Full textAbstract:
Daniel Ferris Born, Ph.D.
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2016
Chair: Dr. William F. Cook
The figurative use of "son(s) of" phrases in the NT represents the author employing the father-son relationship, and what this relationship represents in the ancient world, as a tool to illustrate and explain various concepts and ideas in NT thought. As a result, the father-son relationship in the ancient world must be employed in the interpretation of these figurative "son(s) of" phrases. Failing to understand the importance of genealogical identification, kinship, and the social implications of the father-son relationship in the ancient world and bring these concepts to bear in interpretation, will result in a failure to understand what the NT authors seek to communicate by using "son(s) of" phrases.
Chapter 1 provides an introduction to this topic and a history of how linguists and commentators have approached these phrases in the past. There are very few scholars who have sought to employ the father-son relationship in their interpretation of these phrases and their figurative use.
Chapters 2 and 3 survey the use of these phrases inside and outside the NT. Chapter 2 includes the use of בֵּן in the Hebrew Bible, "son(s) of" phrases in the LXX, as well as the use of υἱός plus the genitive in Classical Greek, the OT and NT apocrypha and pseudepigrapha, other early Jewish and Christian writings, coins and inscriptions, and the papyri and ostraca. Chapter 3 surveys the use of υἱός in the NT.
Chapter 4 explores the father-son relationship in the social context of the NT in order to distill the major features of the father-son relationship into an interpretive framework which can be utilized in understanding what the NT authors seek to communicate in their figurative use of "son(s) of" phrases. Chapter 5 employs this framework in the interpretation of the figurative "son(s) of" phrases in the NT. Chapter 6 concludes the work, discusses its implications, and recognizes the need for further study in certain areas.
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De, Bruyn Jacob Philippus Johannes. "'n Missiologiese evaluering van 'n aantal musiekvideos." Thesis, 1996. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/17951.
Full textAbstract:
Text in Afrikaans<br>Musiekvideos is 'n integrerende deel van die (rock)-musiekbedryf, hoofsaaklik as reklame vir die kunstenaars en hul musiekopnames. Musiekvideos is verder 'n wesenlike deel van die massamedia, in so 'n mate dat daar verskeie spesialismusiektelevisiekanale is wat 24 uur per dag op al die kontinente uitsaai, wat 'n aanduiding gee van die omvang van musiekvideos. Hierdie videos speel veral 'n vemame rol by die jeug as sub-kultuurgroep. Ook christenmusikante gebruik musiekvideos, en hul videos word gereeld as deel van christelike programme
uitgesaai. Dit is gewoonlik een van die oogmerke van christenkunstenaars om die evangelie deur hul musiek uit te dra, en in die geval van christelike musiekvideos dien hulle dikwels nie net as reklame nie, maar word daar ook 'n christelike boodskap oorgedra, veral in die geval van verhalende en konsepvideos. Daar word na die rol van hierdie videos in die konteks van die christene se benutting van die massamedia gekyk en daar word onder meer 'n teologiese fundering vir die gebruik van die massamedia in die algemeen, asook musiekvideos in die besonder gegee. 'n Aantal musiekvideos van kontemporere musiekkunstenaars soos Carman, Michael W. Smith, Steve Taylor, The Newsboys, en Steven Curtis Chapman word individueel beskryf en vanuit 'n teologiese perspektief beoordeel om te sien hoe suksesvol hulle in die oordra van 'n christelike boodskap is. Daar word 'n vergelyking getref tussen christelike en sekulere musiekvideos en hoe sekere onderwerpe benader word. Sekere tekortkominge, sowel as positiewe aspekte by christelike musiekvideos word as deel van 'n missiologiese reflektering uitgewys.<br>Missiology<br>D.Th. (Missiology)
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Smith, Willem Jacobus. "'n Prakties-teologiese perspektief op hoop as pastorale bemagtiging en verryking in die rouproses (Afrikaans)." Thesis, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/27448.
Full textAbstract:
Nobody has a safeguard against loss. All people experience loss and the accompanying grief process during their lifetime. Grieving is a complex process. There are many different forms of grief. The grief process is understood in this study as identifiable moments rather than successive stages. The moments of grief are experienced on an unconscious level and vary in intensity. The role of the counsellor is to facilitate the process of bringing the experiences of grief into the conscious. This provides the counselee with the opportunity to work through his or her experience of loss. The contention of this study is that an existential experience of God’s presence can counteract the despair often associated with loss and the grief process. A method of story telling is used to bring hopeless stories into the empathic presence of God. Hope then becomes possible. A person’s experience of God is articulated by means of metaphors. Some of these are shared with the faith community as a whole, whereas other metaphors express the person’s individual experience of God. The different God images function in relation to one another. This study investigates how images of God can be harmful or helpful to the counselee in the grief process. The use of imagery assists in bringing the person’s perceptions of God to conscious awareness. By means of questions asked from a not-knowing position the counsellor helps to facilitate the telling of their story of grief, the story of God’s presence, and eventually their new story of hope for the future. The counselee experiences consolation, healing, liberation and a victory which becomes an existential reality in God’s presence. This pneumatic event is understood as God’s deliverance through Jesus Christ from a situation of hopelessness. This liberation takes place here-and-now. At the same time it is open toward the future.<br>Thesis (PhD (Practical Theology))--University of Pretoria, 2006.<br>Practical Theology<br>unrestricted
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Gerritsma, Sara L. "From Paradox to Possibility: Gauging the Unique Contribution of Christian Voices to the Public Discussion of Ecological Crisis." Thesis, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10756/288491.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis argues that western societies are caught in a paradox: Individuals and groups are increasingly concerned about the harmful effects humanity is having on the earth's health, while at the same time environmental degradation increases and societies are doing relatively little to stop environmentally harmful actions. Chapter 1 explores the deeper roots of our current situation, arguing that westerners are caught up in a harmful ideology that prioritizes economic growth and material prosperity at all costs, which means that steps to protect the environment will not be undertaken if these steps will have negative (or even neutral) impacts on economic growth. Suggesting a theocentric (God-centered) alternative to this harmful ideology, chapter 2 defends the expression of openly religious perspectives in the public political discussions of environmental crises but also emphasizes the responsibility of all participants to dialogue in a respectful, civil manner and to be open to truths coming from marginal perspectives. Finally, chapter 3 gives a number of concrete suggestions for public policies that can address the roots of ecological degradation and engage citizens who are ready and willing to take steps to reduce their environmental footprint.
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"Theological competence of going public in modernity by meeting the challenge of Jurgen Habermas." 2006. http://library.cuhk.edu.hk/record=b5896743.
Full textAbstract:
Chan Chun Chiu.<br>Thesis (M.Div.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006.<br>Includes bibliographical references (leaves 63-65).<br>Abstracts in English and Chinese.<br>Title Page --- p.i<br>English Abstracts --- p.ii<br>Chinese Abstracts --- p.iv<br>Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.1<br>Chapter 1.1 --- Statement of Thesis and its Motivation --- p.1<br>Chapter 1.2 --- Theological Competence and Critical Theory --- p.6<br>Chapter 1.3 --- Critical Theology as Revisionary Method of Correlation --- p.12<br>Chapter 2. --- The Critical Political Theology of Peukert --- p.20<br>Chapter 2.1 --- A Theory of Science: Communicability and Intersubjectivity --- p.24<br>Chapter 2.2 --- A Theory of Action --- p.33<br>Chapter 2.3 --- A Hermeneutical Criterion and Ethical Response: Anamnestic Solidarity --- p.40<br>Chapter 2.4. --- Peukert´ةs View on the Gospels and its Relation to His Critical Political Theology --- p.48<br>Chapter 3. --- An Evaluation of the Critical Theology --- p.54<br>Chapter 3.1 --- Conclusions --- p.61<br>Bibliography --- p.63
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"The relationship between dispositional factors, situational factors and the adoption of religious coping styles." 1999. http://library.cuhk.edu.hk/record=b5890062.
Full textAbstract:
by Samuel Ng Ka Chiu.<br>Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1999.<br>Includes bibliographical references (leaves 64-66).<br>Abstracts in English and Chinese, questionnaire in Chinese.<br>ABSTRACT --- p.ii<br>ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.iii<br>TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iv<br>LIST OF TABLES --- p.vi<br>LIST OF APPENDICES --- p.viii<br>Chapter CHAPTER 1 - --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1<br>Religious population and church's community involvement --- p.2<br>What is religious coping --- p.2<br>Religious coping styles and coping outcomes --- p.4<br>Factors contributing to religious coping styles --- p.5<br>The Need for a theoretical framework to study religious coping styles --- p.10<br>Transactional model of stress and coping --- p.10<br>Objective of the present study --- p.18<br>Chapter CHAPTER 2 - --- METHOD --- p.19<br>Participants --- p.19<br>Measures --- p.20<br>Procedures --- p.23<br>Chapter CHAPTER 3 - --- RESULTS --- p.25<br>Internal consistency of the measures --- p.25<br>Descriptive statistics of the participants --- p.25<br>Relationship between religiousness and religious coping styles --- p.27<br>"Relationship between internal control, God-mediated control, optimism and religious coping styles" --- p.30<br>Predictive power of dispositional factors on religious coping styles --- p.32<br>Manipulation check and differential use of religious coping styles --- p.36<br>Mediational role of situational control appraisals --- p.39<br>Chapter CHAPTER 4 - --- DISCUSSION --- p.48<br>The role of dispositional factors in religious coping styles --- p.48<br>Situational variation of religious coping styles --- p.52<br>Interaction between dispositional and situational factors --- p.55<br>Implications for psychotherapy --- p.57<br>Limitations of the present study --- p.59<br>Future research direction --- p.60<br>Summary --- p.62<br>REFERENCES --- p.64<br>APPENDIX --- p.67
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Gibson, Barry James. "Emerging Adults and the Elusiveness of Commitment." Diss., 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10392/5054.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis highlights the lack of responsible commitment among emerging adults and proposes biblical analyses and direction toward fostering an authentic commitment in emerging adults in the context of mentoring and discipleship.
The thesis begins with an introduction of the emerging adult and how this social construct developed among young people ages 18 to 29. Further, generational trends and patterns are explored to illuminate the lack of responsible commitment and to direct attention towards the need for biblically based solutions of formidable commitment.
Specifically, David Powlison’s Comprehensive Internal framework is discussed and utilized in order to provide a structure and lens for critical biblical analysis. Additional resources are employed in order to provide specific direction for Christian mentoring and discipleship for emerging adults in order to foster and develop responsible commitment to forge the proper path to full adulthood.
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Turpin, Christopher Eric. "The anthropological pastor: navigating the culture of an established church by implementing anthropological tools and resources." Diss., 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10392/5173.
Full textAbstract:
ABSTRACT
THE ANTHROPOLOGICAL PASTOR: NAVIGATING THE CULTURE
OF AN ESTABLISHED CHURCH BY IMPLEMENTING
ANTHROPOLOGICAL TOOLS AND RESOURCES
Christopher Eric Turpin, Ph.D.
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2016
Chair: Dr. George H. Martin
This dissertation explores anthropological tools and resources and their potential usefulness in navigating the culture of an established church. The application of the principles contained herein can be used for church revitalization, pastor transitions, and established church leadership. These principles can also be applied to business and organizational cultures.
Chapter 1 presents the research question that serves as the investigative guide for the dissertation. This dissertation argues that the pastor(s)/elders, and/or potential pastor(s)/elders, of established local churches, should know and implement many of the tools and resources of cultural anthropology within their ministry context in order to enhance understanding and communication between the pastor and his congregation, resulting in healthier pastor-congregation relations, healthier churches, and greater Kingdom effectiveness. Further, this chapter proposes an amalgamation of the research from the fields of anthropology/missiology, relevant organizational culture literature, and church leadership materials.
Chapter 2 serves as a survey of much of the relevant literature surrounding the study of anthropology/missiology, church leadership, and relevant organizational culture literature. This literature review traces an overview of the development of anthropological thought and the value of anthropological tools and resources. The review then demonstrates how anthropology is being discussed in church leadership materials, but without significant interaction with anthropological resources. Due to the scope of this research, the author narrows his interaction with church leadership material to materials that include sections that seem to recognize that each established churches exhibit culture.
Chapter 3 presents the author’s findings from anthropological research most relevant to the work of a local church pastor. Paul Hiebert’s book Anthropological Insights for Missionaries serves as a blueprint for the outline of the chapter. The chapter continues to look at available anthropological tools and resources, the ways they are understood and implemented by others, and potential applications toward established churches.
Chapter 4 examines church leadership literature resources that consider established churches to exhibit culture. Aubrey Malphurs’ book, Look before You Lead serves as a blueprint for the outline of the chapter. The primary objective of this chapter is to demonstrate the fact that church leadership authors interact very little with the writings, research, paradigms, and tools of anthropologists or missiologists.
Chapter 5 presents the author’s findings and conclusions. The focus is on developing the field of congregational cultural anthropology for the purpose of equipping pastors to understand and work through established church cultures. The author introduces a rapid assessment process (RAP) for understanding and navigating congregational culture. He concludes with an adaptation of Paul Hiebert’s method for engaging in critical contextualization, but for the purpose of transforming congregational culture. He also proposes the development of a field handbook for rapid assessment processes among established churches and an expansion of the field of congregational cultural anthropology.
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Chingondole, Samuel Mpeleka. "A promise or a threat? : a theological critique of genetic engineering and biotechnology with particular reference to food security and sovereignty in Africa." Thesis, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/3745.
Full textAbstract:
Today, Africa has more countries with food security problems than any other region on the globe. Two-thirds of all countries suffering food insecurity are in Africa. Present trends would mean that the number of chronically undernourished people in the Southern region of Africa would rise from 180 to 300 million by the year 2010.
In this research, I note that in the face of this food or hunger crisis, particularly in Africa, some have argued that genetic engineering biotechnology promises to combat food insecurity. Opponents of the technology argue that, to the contrary, genetic engineering biotechnology undermines food security, food sovereignty and livelihoods on the continent. The technology is designed to block access to food and kill agricultural biodiversity, vest excessive, monopolistic and exclusive power in the hands of a few biotechnologists and giant multinational corporations, and ultimately, create hunger and poverty in Africa and other developing countries by undermining organic and conventional means of farming.
The thesis offers a critical theological assessment of the structural, ecological and socioeconomic effects of genetic engineering and biotechnology on agriculture, food production, food security and sovereignty in Africa against some core theological principles. The study, therefore, brings a careful critique to the growing area of science in its relationship to the current issues of food security and sovereignty. The theological framework provides a moral framework for analysis that can be applied in the debate about genetic engineering and biotechnology. In this thesis, I will consistently demonstrate that opponents of the GE technology think that proponents of r-DNA technology are mostly driven by the intent to generate and maximize profits rather than a concern for the common well being, and the intent to control all the stages of agricultural production. The corporate control over essential agricultural resources such as seeds and food entails that multinational companies have control over fundamental human rights of access to healthy, safe and adequate food, nutrition, and ultimately to social and economic development itself. This, then, becomes an issue of justice and hence the concern of the churches and theologians. In this light, then, the study argues that issues of food security and sovereignty cannot be meaningfully and credibly pursued without taking adequate recognition of moral, ethical and theological insights. Such framework would guide scientific and GE technological
activities.<br>Thesis (M.Th.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2002.
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Alokwu, Cyprian Obiora. "The Anglican church, environment and poverty : constructing a Nigerian indigenous oikotheology." Thesis, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/424.
Full textAbstract:
This research proposes a Nigerian indigenous oikotheology to assist the Church of Nigeria
(Anglican Communion) better meet the challenges of the “double earth crisis” of poverty and
environmental degradation. The thesis begins by arguing that the crisis of poverty and the
crisis of ecology are inextricably linked. It does this by examining the situation globally, in
Africa and in Nigeria. It argues that for the church to be able to articulate the needed
theological paradigm in response to the “double earth crisis”, it is important that it is
adequately informed and equipped with environmental knowledge as well as the dynamics of
the global capitalist system and its hegemonic influences. This understanding is imperative
because these affect the environment and poverty nexus.
The thesis then examines the response of the Anglican Church to the environment and
poverty by situating this within the wider biblical, Christian and ecumenical history, and the
history of the Anglican Church itself. It then looks at the Anglican Church in Nigeria by
investigating the engagement of the three Anglican Dioceses in Anambra State (Nigeria) in
environment and poverty issues. It also investigates the understanding of the diocesan clergy
on these issues.
Findings from the research field work indicate that a majority of the clergy exhibited an
appreciable level of environmental awareness contrary to the hypothesis of the study.
However, this knowledge is a “paper knowledge” because of its heavy reliance on the
‘traditional’ view of understanding of the environment. Thus it creates a huge gap between
theoretical knowledge and practical commitment on the part of the dioceses. Collective will
and practical commitment which are vital for the church’s engagement in poverty and
environment issues are therefore lacking, and this leads to the church’s difficulty in
significantly living up to its environmental responsibility in practical ways.
In responding to the identified gap, the thesis examines ‘four generations’ of ecological
motifs in theology, namely, dominion, stewardship, eco-theology and oikotheology.
Oikotheology is an attempt to strengthen the weaknesses in the Christian ecological thoughts
(from dominion to ecotheology) and hence provide an eco-theological framework that will
engender commitment and action. However, because of the challenges with which
Oikotheology grapples (strong eschatological influences and inaccessibility to African
culture), it could not achieve this aim in the Nigerian setting. In a continued search for an
eco-theological framework that is more African, the study articulates the synthesis of
Oikotheology and African indigenous ecological ethics (a fifth generation) as a theological
framework which would uniquely appeal to African Christianity in its attempt to collaborate
with other disciplines in addressing the challenges of the environment and poverty in Africa
and the world.
Key to this synthesis is an examination of Nigerian Igbo proverbs-the egbe belu
precautionary principle and onye aghana nwa nne ya in particular, and the African
cosmology in general. This synthesis, considered in our opinion as Africa’s gift to humanity
and Christendom, will no doubt significantly contribute to the global discussion on the
current double earth crisis of environment and poverty.
The thesis concludes with a series of practical suggestions including among others the
formation of a National Commission on the environment by the Church of Nigeria (Anglican
Communion) as a way of fostering environmental education.<br>Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2009.
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Kim, Youn Soo. "The Use of Imagination for Expository Hermeneutics and Homiletics." Diss., 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10392/4855.
Full textAbstract:
ABSTRACT
THE USE OF IMAGINATION FOR EXPOSITORY
HERMENEUTICS AND HOMILETICS
Barnabas Youn Soo Kim, Ph.D.
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2014
Chair: Dr. Robert A. Vogel
The purpose of this dissertation is to discover the value of imagination for expository preaching. The thesis of this dissertation is that a rightly developed evangelical theory and use of imagination will improve the practice of expository hermeneutics and homiletics.
In the introductory chapter, the challenging nature of imagination is examined. Despite its subjective challenging nature, imagination is an important subject for expository preaching. Imagination is necessary in order to improve both hermeneutics and homiletics.
The second chapter provides an overview of expository preaching. Essential elements of expository preaching, author-centered hermeneutics and audience-focused homiletics, are discussed to form the backdrop against which imagination is to be examined. Second, the concept of imagination is introduced and explained.
Chapter 3 demonstrates how the New Homiletic methodology deals with imagination in preaching. After a brief introduction to the basic philosophy of the New Homiletic, the work of two new homileticians, Paul Scott Wilson and Thomas H. Troeger, is discussed. They are important, because they were one of the first to devote an entire work to imagination and preaching. This chapter concludes with a critical evaluation of their methods in light of evangelical expository preaching.
Chapter 4 presents suggestions for the use of imagination in expository hermeneutics. In particular, the role of imagination in specific steps of the exegetical process is explained. Furthermore, boundaries are discussed that ensure imagination is used in way that is faithful to the biblical text and the author's intention.
Chapter 5 suggests how imagination can be used in homiletics. Committed to a hermeneutic that is faithful to the text and the author's intention, preachers can find in imagination a rich resource to convey God's truth to people.