Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons^™

Sojourn Through Spiritual And Religious Tension: A Quantitative Study Of Intercultural Competence And Worldview Development, Naomi Ludeman Joy Smith

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In today’s increasingly interculturally connected world, educators are charged to prepare students to be productive global citizens. The dilemma is determining pedagogy to effectively support students through the intercultural challenges they face during crosscultural experiences. This quantitative study investigated intercultural competence and worldview development, based on Milton Bennett’s Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity, and the relationship to students’ reflective processing of their spiritual and religious tension during a semester study abroad. To explore this relationship, the researcher applied a quasi-experimental strategy of inquiry using nonrandomized control (N=56) and treatment (N=42) groups. The voluntary participants were undergraduate students from a liberal …

Unlocking Catholic Social Doctrine: Narrative Is Key, William J. Wagner

Scholarly Articles

The argument of the present essay is that the pragmatic pressures of contemporary circumstances that lead to Catholic social doctrine – as set out in the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church, for example, – to being strongly emphasized in Catholic law schools should not be permitted to create a doctrinal hegemony severing doctrine from the contextualization from which it draws its meaning. Catholic social doctrine depends, for its coherence and truth, as do all of the doctrinal formulations within Catholicism, on its relation to both philosophical and theological understanding and, for the purposes of my present …

Cosmic Conflict As A Hermeneutical Framework For Mission Theology In The Old Testament, Cristian Dumitrescu

Dissertations

This research aims to rediscover mission as taught by the Old Testament and to show how that mission is consistent with God's loving and just character as reflected in the whole Bible. Toward this end, the research surveys assumptions that influence Old Testament mission theology and evaluates ways in which current theologies of mission and theological currents relate to the unity and continuity of the Bible. With this background, the study then proposes a comprehensive theological framework that preserves the unity of God's character and his mission.

Chapter 1 shows how the traditional understanding of centrifugal and centripetal mission is …

Menorah Review (No. 73, Summer/Fall, 2010)

Menorah Review

An Interpretation of the Valley of Bones (Ezekiel 37:1-14) -- Books in Brief: New and Notable -- Hebrew: A World of Its Own -- How an Educated Elite May Have Shaped the Bible -- Moreshet: From the Classics -- Saul Bellow to Cynthia Ozick on the Holocaust -- Speaking Otherwise: Form and Meaning in the Book of Ruth -- Two Poems

Women As Leaders In Buddhism, Karma Lekshe Tsomo Phd

Theology and Religious Studies: Faculty Scholarship

For Buddhists, the epitome of enlightened leadership is the Buddha himself. The Buddha, the “awakened one,” led by teaching a path to awakening that is open to all. The path to awakening – a process of purifying the mind of afflictions, such as greed, hatred, and ignorance – can be followed by women and men alike. Traditionally, however, the fact that the Buddha, the model of human perfection, was male seemed to imply to future generations that men were more somehow more capable of awakening than women. This impression was bolstered by the eight special rules attributed to the Buddha …

Investigating The Presuppositional Realm Of Biblical-Theological Methodology: Part 3: Application And Comparison, Oliver Glanz

Oliver Glanz

No abstract provided.

Investigating The Presuppositional Realm Of Biblical-Theological Methodology: Part 4: Critique And Transformation, Oliver Glanz

Oliver Glanz

No abstract provided.

Daniel's Message To Modern Man, Paul Z. Gregor

Paul Z. Gregor

No abstract provided.

The Decalogue Before Mount Sinai, Jo Ann Davidson

Jo Ann Davidson

No abstract provided.

The Gospel According To Moses And Elijah, Roy E. Gane

Andrews University Seminary Studies (AUSS)

Jesus’ gospel culminates the deliverance messages of Moses and Elijah and points to our role: If we love Christ a lot because he has forgiven us a lot (Luke 7:40-47), we will find no greater joy than reconciling precious people to one another and to him before the great day of his return.

A Review Essay: "Coming To Terms With Perfection", Kenneth M. Loyer

The Asbury Journal

Perfection: Coming to Terms with Being Human
Michael J. Hyde
2010. Waco: Baylor University Press

Wesley, Aquinas, and Christian Perfection: An Ecumenical Dialogue
Edgardo A. Colin-Emetic
2009. Waco: Baylor University Press

Book Reviews, Michael Matlock, Bradley Johnson, Charles Meeks, Amos Yong, Joseph Okello, Kandace Brooks, J. Ellsworth Kalas

The Asbury Journal

BibleWorks. DVD-ROM and CD-ROM, version 8 2009. BibleWorks, LLC. $349
Reviewed by Michael D. Matlock and Bradly T. Johnson

Paul A. Hartog, ed.
The Contemporary Church and the Early Church: Case Studies in Ressourcement
Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2010
Reviewed by Charles Meeks

Gary B. McGee
Miracles, Missions, and American Pentecostalism
American Society of Missiology series 45
2010. Maryknoll: Orbis Books
Reviewed by Amos Yong

John R. Levison
Filled with the Spirit
Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2009.
Reviewed by Joseph B. O. Okello

Constance M. Cherry
The Worship Architect: A Blueprint for Designing Culturally Relevant and …

Discipleship Development In Persons Who Considered Leaving The Vestal Center United Methodist Church And Decided To Stay : A Grounded Theory Study, Roger Lawrence Frederick

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Journey Of Decision Making In The Word-Directed Christian Churches, Craig J. Smith

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Introduction To America's Four Gods: What We Say About God And What That Says About Us, Paul Froese, Christoper Bader

Sociology Faculty Books and Book Chapters

Despite all the hype surrounding the "New Atheism," the United States remains one of the most religious nations on Earth. In fact, 95% of Americans believe in God--a level of agreement rarely seen in American life. The greatest divisions in America are not between atheists and believers, or even between people of different faiths. What divides us, this groundbreaking book shows, is how we conceive of God and the role He plays in our daily lives.

America's Four Gods draws on the most wide-ranging, comprehensive, and illuminating survey of American's religious beliefs ever conducted to offer a systematic exploration of …

Changing Paradigms Of Evangelism: Three Generational Views, Elmer Towns

Great Commission Research Journal

This paper attempts to summarize the overarching movements of evangelism in the past 70 years in the United States, most of which this author has personally observed and influenced. While there has always been evangelism in various expressions and to some degree, certain expressions of evangelism have been more effective than others. The primary emphasis of evangelism has gone from soul-winning evangelism (pre-1950), to Church Growth evangelism (1960–1990), to missional evangelism (2000-to the present). Each of these categories will be explored with concluding observations made as to the continued import of evangelism as a priority.

The Conversations Of Our Times, Bill Easum

Great Commission Research Journal

The changes in what the church is and what the church does is explored in this article. These changes are the result of the challenges that have descended on culture in the 21st Century. In the midst of these challenges several conversations are taking place that Christian leaders can’t afford to ignore because each one challenges the fabric of Western Christianity as we know it today. With the goal of reporting what is at stake six budding movements are explored: Emergent, Incarnational, Organic, Reproductive, Missional and Sim Card. Each is summarized with a short explanation as to their potential impact …

Building Bridges Of God During Calamity: Lessons Learned From India, Gary L. Mcintosh

Great Commission Research Journal

The Church Growth Movement has historically placed a priority on evangelism over that of social action. From a church growth perspective, if social action takes priority, evangelism is eventually lost amid the numerous good things that a church can do. In contrast the thinking of the missional church declares it is possible keep evangelism and social action in balance with neither gaining a priority edge. Using a real story from the missionary life of Donald McGavran’s father, John G. McGavran, this article illustrates that when social action does, as it often must, take first place over evangelism, effectiveness in evangelism …

Emerging Church Growth Oxymoron: Mcgavran And Newbigin In Dialog, David Drury

Great Commission Research Journal

The Emerging church and the Church Growth movement are presented in the article in comparison and contrast, with special attention paid to the fathers of both movements, Lesslie Newbigin and Donald McGavran, respectively. An overview of problematic critiques and unhelpful practices in the treatments of each movement is given. Current trends are noted involving shifts in both movements, leaving open a possibility for more constructive dialog and partnership. A final synergy is suggested to envision a future way forward.

A Process Model For Church Change As Redected In St. Thomas’ Anglican Church, Shefceld, England, Bob Whitesel

Great Commission Research Journal

This article is an abbreviation of research originally presented to Dr. Eddie Gibbs, Donald McGavran Professor of Church Growth at Fuller Theological Seminary. Gibbs has been involved with the church under study for over two decades and lauded the author’s research. The research indicates a five-stage/four-trigger process model of change that may serve as an ecclesial prototype for effective change. The article is presented here in honor of Dr. Eddie Gibbs on his retirement.