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Associations Between Multidimensional Spirituality And Mental Health: Positive Psychological Traits As Mediators, Trever Dangel Dec 2019

Associations Between Multidimensional Spirituality And Mental Health: Positive Psychological Traits As Mediators, Trever Dangel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research in the areas of religion and spirituality and positive psychology have experienced considerable growth within the past two decades. Such growth has led to a plethora of research identifying important constructs in both areas and key relationships among them. The current literature is, however, limited by unclear distinctions between the constructs of religion and spirituality, and a general lack of research into their associations with positive psychological traits and mental health status. As such, the present study aimed to investigate a new model of spirituality, the RiTE model, which is a three-part model designed to capture the multifaceted nature …


Wholeheartedness And Acquaintance With God, Sarah Naomi Dannemiller Aug 2019

Wholeheartedness And Acquaintance With God, Sarah Naomi Dannemiller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, I demonstrate that wholeheartedness is a constitutive intellectual virtue. Wholeheartedness consists of a definite and unified volitional structure in which one’s desires are integrated around union with God and which contributes to one’s personal intellectual worth by positively orienting her toward acquaintance with God. Since wholeheartedness consists of a hierarchy of the will that prioritizes a desire for union with God, wholeheartedness aims towards the epistemic good of acquaintance. By desiring that one have a will that wills union with God, she cooperates with God toward wholeheartedness. As one becomes aware of her volitional structure changing, she …


Resilience Among Survivors Of Adverse Childhood Experiences In Appalachia, Bridget Jeter Aug 2019

Resilience Among Survivors Of Adverse Childhood Experiences In Appalachia, Bridget Jeter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The empirical investigation of adverse childhood events (ACEs) and their relationship with health and well-being outcomes in later life is increasing. Less is known about factors that may promote resilience for those who have survived such challenges, such as how resilience may be facilitated for those with ACEs residing in a marginalized region such as South Central Appalachia. Multidimensional spirituality, social support, stigma related to ACEs, and Appalachian acculturation may serve as both valid cultural factors and potential indicators of resilience. Cross-sectional, simultaneous multiple regression analysis was performed on data collected from 272 adult patients of a South Central Appalachian …


John The Solitary's Epistle To Marcianus: Edition, Translation, And Analysis, Ethan K. Laster Aug 2019

John The Solitary's Epistle To Marcianus: Edition, Translation, And Analysis, Ethan K. Laster

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents an edition, translation, and analysis of the heretofore unpublished Epistle to Marcianus, an early fifth-century letter attributed to Mar John the Solitary of Apamea. Mar John has long remained a somewhat shadowy figure in Syriac studies, given the complexities of his writings, confusion about what texts should be attributed to him, and his condemnation as a heretic by later Syriac writers. However, scholars have recently begun suggesting that Mar John was in fact quite influential in the development of Syriac ascetic theology. The Epistle to Marcianus (EpMar) considers the passion of lust, which is …


Spiritual Struggle And Gregory Of Nyssa’S Theory Of Perpetual Ascent: An Orthodox Christian Virtue Ethic, Stephen M. Meawad May 2019

Spiritual Struggle And Gregory Of Nyssa’S Theory Of Perpetual Ascent: An Orthodox Christian Virtue Ethic, Stephen M. Meawad

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This project utilizes virtue ethics as an especially suitable lens by which to develop an Orthodox Christian ethical model generally. At the same time, virtue ethics carries with it some complexities that are in turn mitigated by the particulars of this Orthodox model—spiritual struggle and perpetual progress, or epektasis. Spiritual struggle in this project, which ultimately shifts the emphasis from virtue’s acquisition to its pursuit, is defined as the exertion of effort in all conceivable dimensions—physical, emotional, psychological, intellectual, and spiritual—with intent to attain a semblance of, knowledge of, and intimacy with Jesus Christ in community, for God …


An Exploration Of The Context And Ecclesiastical Investigations Of The Virgin's Reported Appearance In Knock, Ireland In 1879, Erin Meikle May 2019

An Exploration Of The Context And Ecclesiastical Investigations Of The Virgin's Reported Appearance In Knock, Ireland In 1879, Erin Meikle

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

On August 21, 1879, the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, St. John the Evangelist, and the Lamb of God reportedly appeared in Knock, Ireland. Ecclesiastical authorities of the Roman Catholic Church investigated this reported apparition in 1879 and again in 1936. The first chapter of this paper explores the processes by which the Church investigates alleged apparitions and considers different models for conceptualizing the Church. The second chapter unpacks the context of two nineteenth century French apparitions. The third chapter explores the Knock apparition and the immediate historical context surrounding the apparition. The analyses in the first two chapters serve …


Religious Attendance, Surrender To God, And Suicide Risk: Mediating Pathways Of Feeling Forgiven By God And Psychopathology, Kelley Pugh May 2019

Religious Attendance, Surrender To God, And Suicide Risk: Mediating Pathways Of Feeling Forgiven By God And Psychopathology, Kelley Pugh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Suicide is a national public health concern, and college students may be at increased risk. Symptoms of psychopathology (i.e., stress, anxiety, and depression) may contribute to risk, whereas religiosity (i.e., religious attendance, surrendering to God, and feeling forgiven by God) may reduce risk. Students from a rural southeastern university (N=249) completed self-report measures. Serial mediation analyses indicate that attendance and surrender to God are inversely- predictive of suicide risk, both directly and through the indirect pathways of feeling forgiven by God (1st order mediator) and psychopathology (2nd order mediators). In all models, specific indirect effects occurred through feeling forgiven by …


The Effects Of The Counselors Spiritual Background And The Participants Spirituality On The Participants Perceptions Of The Expertness, Attractiveness, And Trustworthiness Of The Counselor, Mark Baldwin Jan 2019

The Effects Of The Counselors Spiritual Background And The Participants Spirituality On The Participants Perceptions Of The Expertness, Attractiveness, And Trustworthiness Of The Counselor, Mark Baldwin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of the counselors spiritual background and participant spirituality on the perceptions of the expertness, attractiveness, and trustworthiness of the counselor. The following questions were examined using a MANOVA: 1) Did participants perceive a counselors expertness, attractiveness, and/or trustworthiness differently based on the self-rated spirituality of the participant? 2) Did participants perceive a counselors expertness, attractiveness, and/or trustworthiness differently based on the spiritual background of the counselor? 3) Was there an interaction between the counselors spiritual background and the participants self-rated spirituality with regard to how the participant perceived the counselors …


Mothers Of Adult Children Who Have Down Syndrome: Understanding The Meaning Of Religion And Spirituality In Perception, Hope, And Coping, Stephanie G. Gotay Jan 2019

Mothers Of Adult Children Who Have Down Syndrome: Understanding The Meaning Of Religion And Spirituality In Perception, Hope, And Coping, Stephanie G. Gotay

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Since the 1970s, the number of individuals living with Down syndrome has continued to increase. Many of these individuals live with their families, and mothers are the primary caretakers for most of these children. As the life expectancy of individuals who have Down syndrome continues to rise, theses caregiving roles are expected to last longer. Unfortunately, the supports offered to families, and specifically mothers, have been inconsistent and often inadequate. Spirituality and religion offer some mothers additional supports and can enhance their resilience and endurance. This qualitative study employed a phenomenological approach to explore the experience of spirituality and religion …


Spirituality, Religiosity, And Perceived Ability To Provide Spiritual Care In Nursing Students, Shannon O'Connell-Persaud Jan 2019

Spirituality, Religiosity, And Perceived Ability To Provide Spiritual Care In Nursing Students, Shannon O'Connell-Persaud

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Objective. The objective of this study was to explore nursing students’ spirituality, religiosity, and perceived ability to provide spiritual care. Background. Nursing students must be prepared to respond to a patient’s spiritual needs. A gap in knowledge exists as to the educational preparedness necessary to provide a nursing student with the ability to respond to a patient’s spiritual need. To address the gap, this study explored the relationships between nursing students’ spirituality, religiosity, and perceived ability to provide spiritual care. Study Setting and Sample. This multi-site study used two accredited nursing programs located in the Western Region of the United …


"Repossessing Her Self-Possession": A Lesson In Communal Pedagogy, Crystal Dekesha Harris Jan 2019

"Repossessing Her Self-Possession": A Lesson In Communal Pedagogy, Crystal Dekesha Harris

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation uses historical and literary mediums to assign pedagogical skills and communal benefit to African American female subjugation and labor typically associated with turmoil, ignominy, and struggle. Accordingly, Black feminist commentary (Lorde) is in conversation with theories of pedagogy (hooks, Ladson-Billings, Dewey) as well as literary philosophy and criticism (Bakhtin, Baraka) about the particular ways each field of study contribute to the analysis of twentieth century African American literature but also provide specific methods for Black communities to construct, implement, and sustain educational principles throughout time. Using the term communal pedagogy, I argue that African American culture has an …


From Wanderer To Warrior: Martin's Journey To Sainthood In Brian Jacques's Redwall Series, Marie A. Bliemeister Jan 2019

From Wanderer To Warrior: Martin's Journey To Sainthood In Brian Jacques's Redwall Series, Marie A. Bliemeister

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Children’s fantasy series have been set in the Medieval Era, a way to explore contemporary themes. This use of the Medieval Era is known as medievalism, where authors can explore contemporary issues by comparing them to the past (Bradford 3). Brian Jacques, the author of the popular children’s series Redwall, uses many aspects of the Medieval Era such as prophecies, glory, and battle, and visions or dreams to effectively spin a good yarn while commenting on the religious development of England in the late twentieth century. English moral was down due to the devastation of World War Two and …