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Full-Text Articles in Arts and Humanities

Sacred Space And Self: Feminist Reflections In The Church Of Mary, Ozan Can Yilmaz Jun 2024

Sacred Space And Self: Feminist Reflections In The Church Of Mary, Ozan Can Yilmaz

Journal of Global Catholicism

This study recontextualizes Mary's obedience and nurturing characteristics as a counterbalance to Eve's disobedience, symbolically representing a trajectory towards reconciliation and redemption. It delves into Mary's multifaceted role as a bestower of life and grace, her intrinsic maternal compassion, and her facilitation of female empowerment. Through this analytical framework, it offers a nuanced perspective on pilgrimages to sacred sites associated with Marian veneration, suggesting that these journeys transcend mere historical and religious connections to become platforms for personal healing, spiritual growth, and the exploration of feminine identity. The research is underpinned by a fieldwork conducted at the Church of Mary …


Women Senior Pastors In The Black Baptist Church: A Study Of Pathways To Access And Model For Sustainability, Wendy Vanhosen Jan 2024

Women Senior Pastors In The Black Baptist Church: A Study Of Pathways To Access And Model For Sustainability, Wendy Vanhosen

Doctor of Ministry

The thesis of this research is that the continued survival and influence of the Black Church hinges on the level of access and sustainability of women in senior leadership roles, emphasizing the historically protected position of senior pastor. It has become urgently necessary to move the needle beyond engaging in the perpetual debate about the role of women in ministry, and towards solutions that address the unique issues of this contemporary era. This era is characterized by a collision of the rise in women occupying senior leadership roles, increases in social justice concerns, and the unanticipated post-pandemic ramifications that have …


"Understanding Transgender Identities: Four Views" [Review] / Beilby, James K. And Paul Rhodes Eddy, Eds. ., Ronald Rojas Jan 2023

"Understanding Transgender Identities: Four Views" [Review] / Beilby, James K. And Paul Rhodes Eddy, Eds. ., Ronald Rojas

Andrews University Seminary Studies (AUSS)

This is a book review


The Moralist International: Russia In The Global Culture Wars, Kristina Stoeckl, Dmitry Uzlaner Dec 2022

The Moralist International: Russia In The Global Culture Wars, Kristina Stoeckl, Dmitry Uzlaner

Politics

The Moralist International analyzes the role of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian state in the global culture wars over gender and reproductive rights and religious freedom. It shows how the Russian Orthodox Church in the past thirty years first acquired knowledge about the dynamics, issues, and strategies of Right- Wing Christian groups; how the Moscow Patriarchate has shaped its traditionalist agenda accordingly; and how the close alliance between church and state has turned Russia into a norm entrepreneur for international moral conservativism. Including detailed case studies of the World Congress of Families, anti-abortion activism, and the global homeschooling …


Global Megachurch Studies: The State, Evolution, And Maturation Of A Field, Chad Bauman Jan 2022

Global Megachurch Studies: The State, Evolution, And Maturation Of A Field, Chad Bauman

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

Over the past decade, the field of megachurch studies has matured and become global in its scope and orientation. The number of texts produced on megachurches since 2010 is nearly triple the number produced before that date, and many of the newest texts decenter North America. Megachurch studies today, therefore, is a properly international and cosmopolitan field. The article has four interrelated aims: (1) to provide a thorough overview of major themes and work in megachurch studies, with special emphasis on works emerging in the last decade; (2) to update two excellent state-of-the-field reviews by Stephen Ellingson (in 2008 and …


The Contradictory Interpretations Of Genesis 4:7—Ellen G. White Versus The Theology Of Ordination Study Committee Position 1, Michael F. Younker May 2020

The Contradictory Interpretations Of Genesis 4:7—Ellen G. White Versus The Theology Of Ordination Study Committee Position 1, Michael F. Younker

Andrews University Seminary Student Journal

Reflecting a widespread tension throughout the world of biblical interpretation, Ellen G. White and the Theology of Ordination Study Committee Position 1 (TOSC1) propose contradictory interpretations of Genesis 4:7. Given the content of Genesis 4:7, which addresses issues relating to psychology and authority, which are often connected with Genesis 3:16 and gender, and its use by the TOSC1, the promotion of the TOSC1 interpretation of Genesis 4:7 within Seventh-day Adventist circles as well as broader Christianity will encourage further unpleasant confrontations concerning the issues related to the psychology of gender and authority in Scripture.


Sexuality, Gender, And Marriage: Pentecostal Theology Of Sexuality And Empowering The Girl-Child In India, Brainerd Prince, Atula Walling Apr 2018

Sexuality, Gender, And Marriage: Pentecostal Theology Of Sexuality And Empowering The Girl-Child In India, Brainerd Prince, Atula Walling

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

Th e focus of the article arises from a case study of an Indian woman and her adopted child, Sunita and Komal. Th ere are three key issues that can be abstracted from the story of Sunita and Komal. Th e abandoned “girl-child” Komal raises the question of sex—what am I? What does it mean to be biologically female? What consequences are there for being born female? Sunita’s and Komal’s rejection from their families has led them to ask the question about their gender—who am I? What does it mean to be a girl or woman in a predominantly Hindu …


Christians’ Cut: Popular Religion And The Global Health Campaign For Medical Male Circumcision In Swaziland, Casey Golomski, Sonene Nyawo Jan 2017

Christians’ Cut: Popular Religion And The Global Health Campaign For Medical Male Circumcision In Swaziland, Casey Golomski, Sonene Nyawo

Anthropology

Swaziland faces one of the worst HIV epidemics in the world and is a site for the current global health campaign in sub-Saharan Africa to medically circumcise the majority of the male population. Given that Swaziland is also majority Christian, how does the most popular religion influence acceptance, rejection or understandings of medical male circumcision? This article considers interpretive differences by Christians across the Kingdom’s three ecumenical organisations, showing how a diverse group people singly glossed as ‘Christian’ in most public health acceptability studies critically rejected the procedure in unity, but not uniformly. Participants saw medical male circumcision’s promotion and …


The Faith And Rationality Of Dalit Christian Experience, Mathew Schmalz Aug 2015

The Faith And Rationality Of Dalit Christian Experience, Mathew Schmalz

Mathew Schmalz

No abstract provided.


Obedience To The Inward Oracle: An Analysis Of Some Early Quaker Women's Publications, Julie Sutherland Nov 2014

Obedience To The Inward Oracle: An Analysis Of Some Early Quaker Women's Publications, Julie Sutherland

Quaker Studies

An undeniable tension exists in human nature between conscience and external authority. This dichotomy was no less existent in seventeenth-century England, when George Fox began preaching about the inward voice-or Christ's light-as a greater authority than any external entity. His thoughts were radical (anachronistic; fanatical or enthusiastic would be the seventeenth-century terms) because they challenged the hierarchical framework of Early Modern England. The notion of obeying internal authority was particularly 'radical' for Quaker women, whose gender offered them little opportunity to challenge the roles society imposed on them; by challenging external authority these women were bringing into question societal norms …


Broken-Hearted Mothers: Gender And Community In Joan Whitrow Et Al., The Work Of God In A Dying Maid (1677), Naomi Baker Nov 2014

Broken-Hearted Mothers: Gender And Community In Joan Whitrow Et Al., The Work Of God In A Dying Maid (1677), Naomi Baker

Quaker Studies

This article discusses an early modern autobiographical text in which several female Quaker authors narrate the circumstances surrounding the death of Susanna Whitrow. The Work of God in a Dying Maid (1677) represents the Quaker community as a largely autonomous group of mothers and daughters, set against negative and disruptive male influences. In its adoption of clear gender boundaries, the text reflects the new emphasis on gender binaries within Quakerism in the 1670s. As well as exemplifying the ambiguous position of women within the movement at this later stage, Whitrow et al. renegotiate wider contemporary representations of women, especially mothers, …


'Will The Last (Woman) Friend To Leave Please Ensure That The Light Remains Shining?', Bill Chadkirk Oct 2014

'Will The Last (Woman) Friend To Leave Please Ensure That The Light Remains Shining?', Bill Chadkirk

Quaker Studies

This paper analyses trends in membership of the Religious Society of Friends in Britain, the number of members per Meeting and the changes in the gender balance of membership. It identifies polynomial equations to curves that match the data very closely. An accelerating decline in membership commencing in 1990 is identified. Trends are extrapolated to determine an end-point in 2032. The paper makes clear that as this date approaches the relationship between the data and trend is liable to breakdown.


Women In The Quaker Community: The Richardson Family Of Newcastle, C.1815-60, Jonathan Mood Oct 2014

Women In The Quaker Community: The Richardson Family Of Newcastle, C.1815-60, Jonathan Mood

Quaker Studies

The town of Newcastle in the early nineteenth century offered many diverse forms of entertainment and socialising for middle class men and women. Although the religious beliefs of Quakers excluded them from sharing in many of these activities, their faith offered them unique opportunities to participate in, lead, and challenge middle class lifestyle. Through examining the domestic, religious, and charitable conduct of the women of the Richardson family it can be seen how their understanding of society was mediated through religious beliefs that allowed them to challenge the role of the typical middle class woman.


'Gaining A Voice': An Interpretation Of Quaker Women's Writing 1740-1850, Sheila Wright Oct 2014

'Gaining A Voice': An Interpretation Of Quaker Women's Writing 1740-1850, Sheila Wright

Quaker Studies

The aim of this paper is to suggest way s in which Quaker women Ministers, in a period of considerable doctrinal and secular change, used their journal writings as a tool to maintain their position within the Society of Friends. Expanding on previous work on Quaker women's spiritual autobiography, it suggests that these writings were not only written for spiritual purposes but also had a temporal dimension, providing women with an authorized 'voice' through which to express their concerns. The paper explores how in these writings Quaker women represented themselves, their work and their struggles when confronted with a male …


'Vain Unsettled Fashions': The Early Durham Friends And Popular Culture C. 1660-1725, Erin Bell Oct 2014

'Vain Unsettled Fashions': The Early Durham Friends And Popular Culture C. 1660-1725, Erin Bell

Quaker Studies

Participation in popular, or worldly, culture was a moot point for the early Friends. Although they were not encouraged to do so many still took part in aspects of male or female culture, but experienced tension between Quaker and 'carnal' ideals of behaviour. Female Friends were expected to limit their clothing according to the edicts of their Yearly Meeting, although female culture treated clothing as a medium of exchange and' gifting clothing was central to female social life. This proved difficult for women such as Sarah Kirkby (d.1692) of Auckland, a fabric seller, who traded with non-Quakers and could not …


The Faith And Rationality Of Dalit Christian Experience, Mathew N. Schmalz Mar 2011

The Faith And Rationality Of Dalit Christian Experience, Mathew N. Schmalz

Religious Studies Faculty Scholarship

A reflection on the John Paul II’s encyclical Fides et Ratio in connection to Dalit (Untouchable) Catholic and Christian experience in India. The article focuses on the spirituality of a Dalit Christian woman and relates it to the debate between historicity and ahistoricity in the appreciation of faith, rationality, and spirituality. The article was published in Asian Horizons, a peer reviewed journal published by Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram in Bangalore, India