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Karma In Theodicy, Joji Watanabe

Masters Theses

The study of religion explicates fascinating aspects of human history. From the past through the present to future times, in every area of human history a person's religious views provide his or her specific world view: How to consider the meaning of life or world. In a sense, suffering has come up as one of major problems in religion. This is because how a group of people finds release from suffering explains the specific aspect of each religious tradition.

With the above as a basis, theodicy was set not as God's justice in the Judeo-Christian tradition but as a broad …

The Empty Womb: A Christian Perspective On Infertility, Carl Lilienkamp

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

This paper will discuss how couples can learn to cope with their infertility, some of the problems facing couples as they try to deal with it, and give biblical encouragements to you as you try to find and follow God’s will in your life in the area of children and family. Each chapter will begin with a brief scenerio of a couple’s struggle with infertility, based on the situations of many couples I have known, pastored, or who have agreed to be interviewed. The names and situations are altered to protect their privacy.

New Measures: An Analysis Of An Argument Among Lutherans In The United States During The Fourth And Fifth Decades Of The Nineteenth Century, John Fuchs

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

This paper is a description and explanation of some aspects of the controversy over revivals and "new measures" which disturbed the Lutheran Church in the United States during the 1830s and early 1840s. Primarily, it is the story of an argument. Secondarily, it examines some of the theological assumptions implicit and explicit in the rhetoric of the controversy. The argument, however, was not about theology as much as it was about various practices in the life of the Church. Therefore this paper will of necessity describe some of those practices and attempt to evaluate them.

Auctoritas In Ecclesia: Jean Gerson And Martin Luther On The Authority Of The Papacy And General Councils, Paul Robinson

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

Luther's ecclesiology provides fruitful ground for testing the validity of these hypotheses. The development of Luther's doctrine of the church continues to generate interest, especially in regard to the question of Luther's relationship to the medieval theologians. The earliest statements of Luther's doctrine of the church, those found in his first lectures on the Psalms, have been treated in this regard by Scott Hendrix. Hendrix has isolated specific themes found both in Luther and in medieval commentators on the Psalms for the purpose of comparison. The study presented here will approach Luther's statements on authority in the church, specifically the …

The Use Of Lament In Pastoral Care: Exploring Its Use With Those Working Through The Loss Of A Child, Cornelius J. Deboer

CTS Master of Theology (ThM) Theses

The general purpose of the thesis is to reintroduce an ancient Jewish/Christian tradition of lamenting which taps the anger and inappropriateness of death, destruction, and injustice. This ancient tradition has been lacking and has not been readily encouraged in the Christian community, even though lamenting can easily be understood as a vital part of our relationship with a covenantal God.

More specifically the thesis describes ministry to bereaved parents, and the important place of lament in this ministry. Although the psalms of lament are set forth as the main model, other creative avenues of lamenting are explored. Some prayers and …

A Psychoanalytic And Archetypal Examination Of Two Seminal Dreams And Visions Of Ellen G. White, Dennis E. Waite

Dissertations

This study is a psychological examination of the earliest dreams and visions of Ellen G. Harmon (more commonly known by her married name Ellen G. White), a 19th century prophetess and founding leader of the Seventh-day Adventist church. The following two questions were addressed: (1) What effects did Mrs. White’s dreams and visions have upon her resolution of childhood emotional or developmental conflicts? and (2) In what way do Mrs. White’s early religious experiences clarify the role of religious experience in individual psychological and emotional development?

Two dreams and two visions were selected for analysis by two methods of dream …

Pastoral Emphases In Premarital Counseling, Paul Bramstedt

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

Many things in life start out as being something that is optional, but as time passes they soon become a necessity. Premarital counseling is one aspect of ministry which forty years ago was considered an optional service by many pastors. Today it is viewed as a necessity.

Premarital counseling which is conducted by a Christian minister is rooted in the Word of God. Teachings of Holy Scripture in respect to marriage are at the heart and core of the counseling process. While the premarital counseling which a Christian minister conducts may cover various topics, there are distinct pastoral emphases which …

He Will Baptize You With The Holy Spirit And Fire, Luther Esala

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The phrase, Αύτός ύμȃς βαπτίσει ε̍ν πνεύματι α̍γι̍ψ καί πυρί has puzzled me for years. This thesis is an attempt to solve the puzzle. The first half of the thesis will be a history of the interpretation of this phrase. An essay by James D. G. Dunn will provide the outline for this historical review. The second half of the thesis will be the interpretation of the phrase.

Luther And The Third Use Of The Law, With Special Reference To His Great Galatians Commentary, Jeffrey G. Silcock

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The question of whether Luther taught a third use of the law is far too broad for a thesis. We will therefore confine ourselves, in the main, to his great Galatians Commentary of 1531 / 1535, where he explicates in considerable detail the doctrine of justification and the proper distinction between law and gospel.4 Even though the nature of the letter is such that Paul speaks there more about justification than about sanctification, Luther still writes enough about the role of the law in the Christian life to warrant using this as our primary source. There are two main reasons …

Communication Principles In Pastoral Counseling, Dieter Joel Jagnow

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

There are many elements involved in a pastoral counseling process. A handbook would include all or some topics such as a definition of pastoral counseling, its distinctive nature, its objectives, counseling techniques, and the role of God's Word in the process. In this thesis we will touch some of the basic topics of pastoral counseling. However, the main purpose is to approach an important ingredient of pastoral counseling that usually is not included as a separate topic in counseling manuals, that is, communication, particularly interpersonal communication.

This study intends to explore the pastoral counseling process as an interpersonal communication process …

Reading 2 Corinthians 3:4-18: An Exercise In Exegesis, Vilson Scholz

Doctor of Theology Dissertation

Paul's letters have a reading history of almost two millennia. It is a history of readings and misreadings, of grasping the general drift of the texts and of being puzzled when it comes down to the details. Readers have felt this ever since the New Testament era. Already in the first century Saint Peter writes that some things in Paul’s letters are "hard to understand" (2 Pet. 3:16).

A Proposed Prolegomenon For Normative Theological Ethics With A Special Emphasis On The Usus Didacticus Of God's Law, John Tape

Doctor of Theology Dissertation

The purpose of this study is to examine and organize some of the current contrasting methodologies of theological ethics in an attempt to determine the Biblical method of choosing the moral option. This will be done in two different ways.

In the first part, two common methods in moral philosophy, the deontological method and the teleological method, will be defined and illustrated. It will be demonstrated that Scriptural ethics has elements in common with both rule deontology and rule teleology. In the second part, the Scriptural method of moral reasoning will be examined more closely by comparing three different ways …

Marian Days: An Ethnographic Study Of A Vietnamese Religious Pilgrimage To The Heartland Of America, C. H. Patton

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

For the past fifteen years Vietnamese people have made a pilgrimage from all over the United States and many other countries to the annual Marian Days Celebration held each summer in Carthage, Missouri. The observance is held to promote devotion to Mary, mother of Jesus Christ. For three days these people engage in prayer, renew their faith in God, renew old friendships, establish new ones, and attempt to preserve their culture. This annual influx of people, with a culture foreign to the area, has grown in such magnitude that it is now over four times larger than the population of …

Arriving At A Preferred Doctors Referral List For Use In Pastoral Counseling, Daniel Kriefall

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

This Major Applied Project consists of a series of steps carried out by the candidate in order to arrive at a Preferred Doctors Referral List. The list consists of the names and locations of a select group of health care professionals in the St.Louis/West County area. The complete list (along with explanatory information) is included in the final section of the report.

The candidate selected this area for growth and development out of a heartfelt need for such a record of professional persons in his everyday work and ministry. As Director of Family Care and Counseling at St. John's Lutheran …

Burnout In The Pastoral Ministry: The Need For Clear Boundaries, Russell Weise

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

A survey was conducted of 138 pastors in The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod in the Central and Southern Illinois districts in the Fall of 1991. The purpose of the survey was to determine the level of stress and burnout in the pastor's lives.

The survey revealed the following: generally pastors are very satisfied with their calling as pastors, but the findings reveal the pastor's strong proclivity to ignore his wife and family and to deny any possible warning signs of stress and burnout. The findings also uncovered that pastors are eager to have support groups but find themselves not wanting to …

Celebrating God's Grace: An Adult Information Course Which Teaches The Doctrine Of The Church As It Is Expressed In The Worship Of The Church, James Heining

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

The writer did a thorough study of the ongoing relationship of worship and doctrine as an influence in the formation of Lutheran worship practices.

He developed a class entitled "Celebrating God's Grace," which summarized the basic teachings of the church as they are expressed in the worship of the church. This was part of a revamped adult education program in his congregation.

In addition to the obvious benefits for those attending the class, the writer came to better understand the centrality of grace in the Christian faith and is now better able to plan and lead worship.

A Manual For Pastoral Care Of The Seriously Mentally Ill: A Lutheran Perspective, Thomas Oie

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

Persons with serious mental illness (schizophrenia, bipolar, unipolar depression) have often been seen as "strangers in our midst". Because state hospitals are relocating these patients into our communities (even though the community mental health resources may not be there) and because of stigma, persons with mental illness are coming in from the "cold" to our churches. Pastors and staff need assistance in ministering to this needy population. This project attempts to define mental illness, identify persons with mental illness, and demonstrate models of ministry. Specific guidelines, helpful suggestions, and supporting evidence(appendices) will address ministry issues and concerns as they pertain …

Pastoral Premarital Counseling In A Campus Ministry Setting-Wittenberg Lutheran Chapel, University Of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota, Lindsay Watkins

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

The goal of this Major Applied Project was to submit, articulate, and elucidate at least ten specific objectives for pastoral premarital counseling in the campus ministry setting of Wittenberg Lutheran Chapel, the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota, and to present a process to achieve those objectives. Four components, a "Survey of Christian Married Adults," a "Survey of Christian Singles," a study of the Scriptural teachings regarding marriage, and a study of family therapy, psychological, and counseling resources furnished the specific objectives for pastoral premarital counseling. Thirteen specific objectives and a process to achieve those thirteen objectives resulted.

Diagnostically Correct Interventions Of Aerobic Activity And Prayer In Addressing Mild Depression And/Or 'Dark Night', Linda Strozdas

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Marriage And Family Enrichment Counseling In Pakistani Culture, Razia Shafi

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Initiating Adolescent Males Into Manhood: A Retreat Experience For Fathers And Sons, Michael P. Smith

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

The Passionate Eye: A Christian Social Political Ethic Of Resistance To Tyranny, Eliakim N. -K. Shaanika

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This essay discusses the moral permissibility of the use of violence in struggles for national liberation using the history of the movement for independence in Namibia as a test case. The methodology is that of liberation theology. The thesis is that the Namibian situation shows that, while violence is always at some level evil, it is sometimes a "necessary evil" and that, given the proper circumstances, participation in a violent revolutionary activity can be a permissible moral option for Christians. The first chapter summarizes some of the history of colonialism and the ethics of missionaries to Namibia, first under the …

The Empirical Development Of A Curriculum In Sports Acrobatics And Spiritual Witnessing, Robert U. Kalua

Dissertations

Problem. The purpose of this project was to develop empirically a curriculum to assist Seventh-day Adventist sports acrobatic coaches, physical education instructors, physical education majors and minors to integrate spiritual witnessing concepts into their acrobatics programs.

Method. The developmental process of Baker and Schutz (1971) was used to produce and validate the instructional product. First, the content of a curriculum to train Seventh-day Adventist coaches was identified through an examination of acro-gymnastic and witnessing literature.

The materials were divided into instructional units, arranged in a logical sequence, and introduced with behavioral objectives. It was established that the product would be …

William Clarence (W. C.) White: His Relationship To Ellen G. White And Her Work, Jerry Moon

Dissertations

The topic. William Clarence White (1854-1937), third son of Seventh-day Adventist founders James and Ellen G. White, was for thirty-four years his mother's counselor, editor, and spokesman. He was alleged by some to stand in a manipulative relationship to his mother and her work, a charge she denied.

The purpose. The purpose of the study was to describe, analyze, and evaluate W. C. White's relationship to his mother and her work during her lifetime. This purpose required the development of a partial biographical sketch of W. C. White as a context for understanding his relationship to his mother.

The sources. …

An Investigation Of The Chronology Of Daniel 9:24-27, Brempong Owusu-Antwi

Dissertations

This study attempted to investigate the chronological issues of Dan 9:24-27. Its main objective was to provide an interpretation based on textual, linguistic, literary, grammatical-syntactical, structural, and contextual study of the major terms and expressions in Dan 9:24-27.

Chapter 1 surveys the chronological interpretations of Dan 9:24-27. Four major schools of interpretation emerged (Historicist-Messianic Interpretation, Historical-Critical Interpretation, Futurist-Dispensational Interpretation, Historical-Critical Interpretation, Futurist-Dispensational Interpretation, and Symbolic-Amillennialist Interpretation) under the main categories of continuous and noncontinuous interpretations. Major chronological issues emerged from these interpretations and set the stage for this study.

Chapter 2 examines major Hebrew expressions and terms that affect chronology …

A Design For Spiritual Formation During The Academic Life Of The Adventist Seminary Students At Collonges-Sous-Saleve, France, Bruno R. Vertallier

Professional Dissertations DMin

Problem. This project report addresses the problem of lack of practicum of a spiritual formation for students at the seminary of Collonges-sous-Saleve, France.

Method. The project report is developed in four stages as follows: First, it investigates how spirituality was approached in the Roman Catholic as well as the mainline Protestant milieu. Second, it explores the Seventh-day Adventist background of spirituality. Third, it focuses on the Pastoral Epistles with regard to Paul's spiritual concerns for the leaders of the church. Four, it recognizes other needs of seminary students that must be considered in the light of spirituality.

Results. This report …

A Doctrinal Training Program Adapted To The Current Chinese Setting, Robert C. Wong

Professional Dissertations DMin

China is a country with the largest population and second largest territory in the world. During the past millenniums she has not had a considerable Christian background, but was strongly influenced by Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. In addition, from 1949 to 1990, atheism and evolutionism have been rampant under the Communist regime. By God’s grace and power, and through His faithful children’s witness, the Chinese church (including the SDA church), though experiencing severe trials, has not only survived but thrived. Church membership has increased dramatically.

The future of 200,000 SDAs and the progress of the Three Angels’ Messages in modem …

A Training Program In Pastoral Responsibilities For Church Elders In Lusaka, Zambia, Pardon Kandanga Mwansa

Professional Dissertations DMin

Problem. Elders in Lusaka mission districts, Zambia, perform pastoral duties because there are only four paid pastors in charge of over 35 organized churches and 20 companies. This presents a problem because the elders have no training in these tasks.

Method. In this study a theological basis for lay participation in ministry was developed. A biblical study of the duties of church elders was pursued to ascertain the qualifications and duties of elders. A Seventh-day Adventist perspective on the duties and qualifications of elders was studied. A survey was conducted in Lusaka to find out from the pastors and the …

James Malinki Of Malawi: Church Leader In Cross-Cultural Ministry, Jaspine D. Bilima

Professional Dissertations DMin

Problem. The Seventh-day Adventist Church was established in malawi at the turn of the century (1902). Since then, stalwart Malawian workers have made immeasurable contributions to the development, growth, and expansion of the church in Malawi and the neighboring countries of Zambia, Zaire, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Rwanda, and South Africa. James Malinki was probably the most outstanding early cross-cultural worker in the Adventist Church in Central Africa. As yet there has been no significant written account of his life and ministry.

Topic. This study examined the life and work of James Malinki of Malawi (1893-1982), whose ministry of nearly …

Polygamy In The Bible With Implications For Seventh-Day Adventist Missiology, Ron Du Preez

Professional Dissertations DMin

Problem Polygamy, or marriage to more than one spouse at the same time, is a worldwide practice that still affects the lives of many people. As such it must be given serious attention by any Christian group involved in mission work. As a denomination with a global mission emphasis, the Seventh-day Adventist Church is often confronted with the issue of polygamy. The question as to how these practicing polygamists should be treated must be approached from a biblical perspective.

Method Accepting the Bible as the authoritative revelation of the will of God, this project set out to make a hermeneutically …