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Becomes A Woman Best: Female Prophetic Figures In Shakespeare's Plays, Alan Morris Cochrum

English Theses

This dissertation argues that female characters in Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale, Henry VIII, Richard III, Macbeth, and 1 Henry VI function as prophets in the style of the Old Testament. In a culture that venerates Holy Writ but also devalues women, a dramatic exemplar wrapped in the mantle of a biblical prophet becomes a potential model for playgoers as well as an embodied critique. Paulina, Katherine of Aragon, and Margaret of Anjou condemn injustice, uphold the cause of the vulnerable, challenge the abuse of royal and spiritual authority, and frequently echo aspects of biblical figures such as Moses, Isaiah, and …

A Gadamerian Analysis Of Roman Catholic Hermeneutics: A Diachronic Analysis Of Interpretations Of Romans 1:17-2:17, Steven Floyd Surrency

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Catholic exegesis of scriptural and dogmatic statements has become rigid in the period following the Enlightenment. Gadamer’s account of philosophical hermeneutics, when applied to the Catholic situation, elaborates how Catholic exegesis might return to its premodern, freer form. Following Gadamer, I hold that to understand is to fuse the horizon of the old with today’s horizon using the preunderstandings that have been provided by the tradition while at the same time bringing the questions of today into dialogue with the text.

Examples of how Romans 1 and 2 have been interpreted historically serve to support this thesis. Origen reads Romans …

The Beauty Of Enjoyment: Aesthetics In Ecclesiastes, Mark Andrew Crumbliss

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is an attempt to discover what Qohelet may have had in mind when he used the term "yapeh" Qohelet does not present his theory of aesthetics in an overt way, but it may be possible to infer what he could have in mind via analysis of his text. Beauty for Qohelet is something that he experiences firsthand, rather than a concept or principle one could memorize and then have at one's service, such as a mathematical concept "2+2-4." Beauty for Qohelet is something which comes from God, but it appears that God gives the gift of beauty to …

Dismantling A Clobber Text: An Engaged Critique Of Romans 1:26–27, Matthew Michels

Masters Essays

This paper grapples with the traditional anti-queer reading of Rom 1:26–27, which purportedly forbids Christians from entering lesbian and gay relationships in some real sense, if not entirely. I begin by sketching this traditional reading by referring to antiqueer interpretations of Rom 1:26–27 that are top hits in today’s online world; subsequently, I suggest the direction for a standard historical critique of the traditional reading by arguing for the fundamental incongruence of ancient Greco-Roman and modern Western categories of gender and sexuality. Finally, instead of establishing my own historical-critical exegesis of the text, I discuss the necessity of engaged exegesis. …

The Contemporary Context Of Milton's Typology: Biblical Exegesis And Literature In The Seventeenth Century, Everett T. Wade

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Literary scholars have recently shown renewed interest in John Milton’s unconventional religious and political thought. Milton was at odds with the dominant Protestant theology of his day. He believed that humans had free will, thus rejecting the central Calvinist doctrine that God predestined men for salvation or damnation. He also rejected the doctrine of the Trinity, claiming that Christ was not equal with God the Father, but rather a subordinate being. These departures from Protestant thought have considerable impact upon Milton’s major poems, Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained, and Samson Agonistes. While scholars have explored the role of Milton’s heretical thought, …

Story-Based Spiritual Formation For College Students, Anna Sikes

Honors Theses

The typical way that spiritual formation of college students is approached tends to be therapeutic instead of centered around God's big story. I believe the current approaches to spiritual growth do not adequately meet the needs of today's emerging adults because they are self-centered and simplistic. College is a time when those who want to grow can if they are placed in intentional, story-based process that allows them to realize their part in God's grand story. This becomes a way for those who are on a search for deep, authentic faith to find out how to grow. As a college …

Aporte Para Una Catequesis Pre Sacramental Bíblico-Narrativa, Sol María Figuera

Licenciatura en Educación Religiosa

Este trabajo de grado se relaciona con la catequesis. Su interés central radica en la búsqueda de lineamientos teóricos y prácticos para una catequesis pres-sacramental narrativa. En la primera parte se estudian los fundamentos teológico-bíblicos de este modelo catequético. Se muestra cómo la Iglesia católica, desde el vaticano II, ha dado un giro en la comprensión de la catequesis. Este giro se apoya en una nueva visión de la Revelación y de la Escritura. Luego se muestra un ejemplo inspirador: el realizado por Carlos Mesters. La segunda parte se dedica a estudiar los rasgos de una catequesis narrativa. Se termina …

A Trickster In Disguise: Reading A New Type Of Satan In 2 Corinthians, Miranda Julia Rutherford

Honors Papers

This paper examines three brief mentions of Satan in 2 Corinthians by comparing them with representations in two longer pseudepigraphal texts: the Testament of Job and the Greek Life of Adam and Eve. Although the Satan of 2 Corinthians is often read in tandem with other mentions of an apocalyptic evil figure, I argue that this Satan bears a greater resemblance to the Satan portrayed in the Testament and the Life. In these three texts, Satan's moral alignment is ambiguous: although he often acts for nefarious purposes, he does not oppose God on a cosmic scale as apocalyptic Satan figures …

Schleiermacher's Doctrine Of Biblical Authority: An Alternative To Content-Based/Supernaturalist And Function-Based Rationalist Models, Kerry W. Holton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines Friedrich Schleiermacher’s understanding of biblical authority and argues that, as an alternative to strictly supernaturalistic and rationalistic models, his understanding allows the New Testament to speak authoritatively in Christian religion in an age of critical, historical awareness. After classifying Schleiermacher’s position in a typology of the doctrine of biblical authority, this dissertation explores his conception of divine revelation and inspiration vis-à-vis scripture. It demonstrates that although he did not believe there is warrant for the claim of a direct connection between divine revelation and scripture, or that scripture is the foundation of faith, he nonetheless asserted that …

Content And Character: Modeling Christian Communication After Jesus' Sermon On The Mount, Sophie Demuth

Honors Theses

In order to learn about Jesus’ communication method, I decided to study the Sermon on the Mount. After doing an in-depth study of Jesus’ method (how he taught, the devices he used, and his structure), I realized his method is only a part of his effectiveness as a speaker. Without credibility and integrity as well, Jesus’ teaching would fall flat and cease to have authority. This realization especially struck me because, in the field of communications, method is emphasized over integrity and character. I decided to compare Jesus’ method and character with what the communication field teaches about public speaking. …