Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Black Liberation Theology In The Civil Rights Movement: Contextualizing The Works Of James H. Cone, Ella Cox

Honors Theses

In recent years, the need for racial reconciliation within the American Church has become increasingly apparent. In order to move toward justice and promote diversity, however, White Americans must first develop a greater understanding of the Black struggle for equality and equity, which has been largely shaped by liberation theology. James H. Cone, known as the Founder of Black Liberation Theology, has authored many books on this topic, but his works lack the understanding and attention they merit in predominantly White circles. This thesis seeks to shed light on the importance of liberation theology to the Black American experience by …

Rethinking Apologetics As An Entry Strategy For Missions In Europe, Katelyn Brown

Honors Theses

“Does apologetics play a role in modern-day missions at all?” When discussing this question with current missionaries, the answer became apparent: apologetics can be an effective tool to aid in missions, but it does not prove effective or even beneficial in every cultural context. This realization begs the following question: “In what kind of cultural context can apologetics help rather than hinder missions?” Through my research, I found that the post-modern, secular context of Europe provides a ripe harvest for apologetics in missions. Throughout my paper, I explore a broad biblical framework for apologetics in missions then expound specifically on …

The Trial Of Jesus: A Historical Look At The Jewish And Roman Trial Proceedings, Vivian Pryor

Honors Theses

The death of Jesus Christ is an event that sets Christianity apart from other religions. A blameless savior, believed to come and conquer all evil on earth, was killed before the eyes of his followers. At the seeming end of the story of Jesus’s life, there was unimaginable confusion. Though the Scripture foretold the fate of Jesus, many followers of Christ felt as if their Savior had been defeated. For Christians, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ is the source of salvation. The death of an innocent man paid for the sins of those truly guilty. For self-proclaiming 2.38 billion people …

Keeping The Heart: Contemporizing The Parables Of Jesus, Hannah Tullos

Honors Theses

One of the main teaching techniques of Jesus was his usage of stories, also known as parables. Although the power of his words never fades, the impact of the details of his stories inevitably gets lost when the stories are read in a different cultural context. This thesis provides a method that brings Jesus’s parables into a modern context. In being able to completely transform parables into a modern context, the message of the parables can reach wider audiences on a more personal level. The goal is to revive the heart of storytelling within the parables of Jesus and communicate …

Catholicism Online: How The Church Is Communicating In The Visual Field, Alexandra Barfield

Honors Theses

ABSTRACT

Given the rise and importance of social media in the last two decades, religious institutions, especially the Roman Catholic Church, have an important place online to fulfill their mission and belief of spreading the Gospel message. Communicating this message on social media and with contemporary marketing practices is an opportunity and a challenge for churches, Catholics, and apostolates alike. In this study, I analyze a variety of Catholic-related Instagram accounts and interview individuals involved in Church management and content creation. This primary research is prefaced with secondary research exploring the status of the Catholic Church in the United States, …

How To Become A Butterfly, Jillian Parsons

Honors Theses

Few could naturally imagine how a lowly caterpillar can become a majestic butterfly. And yet, God uses the very parts that make up the humble insect to form and grow it into unequaled beauty. He works with what is available; the components are already present. My goal with this paper is to inspire you to think about what goes on inside that chrysalis from a perspective of God’s original purpose for humanity and how Jesus has renewed that original purpose. As you linger in these pages, try to imagine how God workshopped the butterfly and decided the transformation should come …

Mountains In The Deep, Andy Strauss

Honors Theses

When Evan, prince of the Fourth Quadrant, sees a vision of a ghost-like crown hovering over his father's head, he is sent on a dangerous mission to face the mystical shadow beast ravaging his kingdom--the same beast that has marked him as its prey and that will stop at nothing to hunt him down.

How Properly Contextualized Christianity Could Benefit Japan, Benjamin Highsmith

Honors Theses

This thesis aims to ask the question “how could Christianity, if properly contextualized, benefit Japan?” It does so through the use of academic sources, interviews, and personal observations. Topics covered include Japanese culture, its perception of Christianity, and the lifestyles of Japanese Christians. This thesis uses cultural concepts to explain how Christianity and Japanese culture might find themselves at odds, but also explains how Christianity could work in unison with Japanese culture in order to benefit Japanese society as a whole, defending its argument using Biblical concepts intertwined with Japanese values.

Short-Term Missions: Helping Or Hurting?, Hannah Rossell

Honors Theses

Every year, thousands of short-term mission teams are sent out all over the world. It is estimated that more than four million Americans take an overseas short-term mission trip every year. Most of these participants are youth and young adults. The American church is estimated to spend as much, or more, on short-term mission trips as they do on sending and sustaining long-term missionaries. The question is, with all these participants and resources being sent out, are short-term mission trips helping or hurting the long-term goal of missions? Short-term missions can be helpful if they are plugging in and supporting …

Jewish Presence In The Venetian Empire: A Challenge To Venetian Mythology, Avery Rosensweig

Honors Theses

This paper attempts to explain the significance of Jewish presence in the Venetian Empire in the context of the myth of Venice. Jews were officially permitted to settle in Venice in 1516, but their connection with the Venetian Empire goes further back. Jews were important for the success of the Venetian Empire, particularly from the sixteenth century onward. The permanent settlement of the Jews in Venice directly impacted the very ideology of the Venetian Empire.

Although the phrase "myth of Venice" was developed by twentieth-century historians, Venetians perpetuated the myth and wove its ideals into the foundation of the Venetian …

Influence Of The Virgin Mary In Anglo-Saxon Christianity, Kimberly Merfert

Honors Theses

Though it remains unclear when Christianity was first introduced to England, it is certain Christianity was established by the early third century. It was not until the beginning of the seventh century, however, that Christianity flourished in Anglo-Saxon England, bringing with it a new understanding of the feminine role. Once enthralled by the coming of Jesus Christ, worshippers of the Virgin Mary idealized the Mother of God as the realization of the ideals of purity, humility, and passivity. They defined Saint Mary by her sinlessness, valuing her unbreakable virginity as a symbol of unparalleled strength, responsibility, and holiness. Mary herself …

Church State Relations: Religiopolitics In Chile And Uruguay In The 21st Century, Calley Overton

Honors Theses

This paper addresses the issue of Church-state relations in the last twenty years with special respect to Latin America, specifically in Chile and Uruguay. In my project, I will be looking at the presidential administrations of Chilean presidents Michelle Bachelet and Sebastian Piñera and Uruguayan president Tabaré Vázquez. I will use newspaper articles from El Pais (Uruguay) and El Mercurio (Chile) to examine whether political affiliation or country history determines the activism of the Catholic Church in these countries. I argue that country history has a greater influence on the role of the Catholic Church in a country’s politics than …

An Investigation Of Junia As A Prominent Christian Woman According To Romans 16, Lacey Pettigrew

Honors Theses

This thesis investigates the role of Junia as mentioned in Romans 16:7, in both a historical and exegetical sense.

Il Complesso Allontanamento Di Boccaccio Dal Cristianesimo E Dal Giudizio, Olivia Jane Lomax

Honors Theses

Il Decameron di Giovanni Boccaccio presenta un gruppo di giovani che fuggono da Firenze per rifugiarsi nella campagna nel 1348 durante la Peste Nera. La brigata, come viene chiamato il gruppo, è composta da 7 giovani donne e 3 giovani uomini. Boccaccio introduce questo gruppo in fuga dalla peste di Firenze attraverso il commovente discorso di Pampinea. Lei sottolinea alle sue amiche l'importanza di proteggere la propria vita. Boccaccio inizia il Decameron con la proposta di una giovane donna forte, che implora altre giovani donne di prendere controllo delle loro vite: “ ‘Donne mie care, voi potete, cosí come io, …

Why "Monotheistic" May Not Be The Best Description Of The Old Testament, Jacob L. Thomas

Honors Theses

Monotheism has been commonly claimed as the form of worldview the Old Testament authors held originally. Due to evidence present in several key passages, this is brought into question and can be disputed. A more full description of the original worldview must be pursued to understand the context of the Old Testament.

The Scribe, The Prophet, And The Monk: Three Archetypes For Pursuing God Through The Word Of God, Lucas Mccann

Honors Theses

Throughout the history of the world, there have been many individuals who have difficulty reading scripture. This may be because of a lack of access to the written word, a lack of ability to read the written word in one's language, or even just a predisposition against reading the written word. Thus, this paper explores how, though reading the word is vitally important, there are other ways one can pursue God, particularly through hearing and seeing the word.

"It's Not About The Polar Bears": Evangelical Christian Arguments For Environmentalism, Teresa D. White

Honors Theses

In recent history, white conservative evangelical Christians have formed an influential voting bloc of the Republican party in United States politics. Historically, conservatives have often denied the reality of human-induced climate change and have opposed climate change action and many environmental regulations. However, a number of conservative evangelical Christians have split from their traditionally conservative political views and have accepted the reality of climate change, becoming strong advocates for climate change action. This paper examines the arguments often presented by such advocates. I argue that evangelical environmental advocates craft specific arguments to convince fellow evangelicals to care for the environment …

"But The Spirit Himself Intercedes": An Exegetical On Romans 8:26-27, Carmen Alide Scott

Honors Theses

In two short verses, Paul communicates the deep dependency a believer must have on the Holy Spirit to be sustained through this age, specifically on the topic of prayer. The aim of this thesis is to give a fuller approach to the interpretation of Romans 8:26-27. Many sources have contributed to the interpretation of this passage and the purpose of this thesis is to bring together many of those contributions to shed light on the meaning of Paul’s words and produce an insightful and cohesive reading of the passage. The thesis will explore an array of material, including an analysis …

In His Image And Into His Likeness: Human Nature's Theosis In C.S. Lewis's Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold, Jacob Ross Taylor

Honors Theses

C.S. Lewis’s standalone title Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold transforms the Greek mythos “Cupid and Psyche” into a novel about human nature being deified. In TWHF, Lewis presents an arc from pagan dualism through rationalism and finally to our relational God who makes us holy like Him. Lewis studies have suffered from the lack scholarship applying St. Thomas Aquinas’s christened Aristotelianism which would illuminate the metaphysical foundations that Lewis founds his words and builds his worlds upon. In Aristotle metaphysical biology he proposed that the human soul is neither an altogether separable spirit divorced from the bodily …

Sexual Ethics From A Biblical Perspective, Braylon Pilant

Honors Theses

This honors thesis paper is over the ethics of sexual conduct from a Biblical perspective. This paper aims to be theological, as it will examine God’s view, creation, and design of sex; anthropological, as it will view the human role in sexual conduct and ethics from a Biblical perspective; and Christological, as it will examine how Christ redeems the breaching of said ethics. With this goal in mind, the research for this paper will be twofold.

First, there will be an examination of sexual ethics through a Biblical, and particularly Old Testament, lens. This will be done through a reading …

Making The Bible Modern: How I Created A Retelling Of The Good Samaritan, Laura Beth Warner

Honors Theses

This thesis includes the process and methods employed in creating a modern-day retelling of the parable of The Good Samaritan for a first-grade audience and the final product of a children's picture book.

Meditation In Buddhism, Mbsr, And The Bible: Examining The Implications For Christian Counselors, Kara Delaune

Honors Theses

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) has become a popular treatment in clinical settings for a variety of conditions. The term mindfulness was first used in relation to the Satipaffhana Sutta. 1 This passage from the Buddhist texts contains instructions regarding sati, which roughly translates from the Pali language to English as mindfulness. Mindfulness is a key component of the Buddhist religion, finding its place in both the Threefold Way and the Seven Factors of Awakening, or Enlightenment. Mindfulness falls under the umbrella of meditation. 2 Meditation takes several forms. Meditation is extremely useful for Christians, but not every type of meditation …

Spiders In A Window: How Dangerous Stories Lead To Dangerous Women, Mattie Mae Motl

Honors Theses

Christian women have been marginalized, suppressed, and forgotten by Christian men for centuries. In many cases, these actions are polite when compared to the horrors which self-proclaimed Christ-followers have afflicted on women. Countless sexual abuse cases have been discovered within the walls of the Southern Baptist Church, and the headlines have not stopped printing. Articles from major news outlets such as the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News have revealed that Southern Baptist pastors, youth leaders, and deacons have assaulted hundreds of women over the past twenty years—and those numbers only include the women who are confident enough to bring …

The Sermon On The Mount: A Call To Obedience, Rylee Roberts

Honors Theses

I recently went snorkeling in Hanauma Bay of the Hawaiian Island, Oahu. Coral reefs and big, brightly-colored fish fill the Bay. Without goggles, I could only float on top, unaware of the depth and beauty below. When I put them on, however, I could observe the life and beauty of the ecosystem for myself. I could dive under the surface and explore what I had not known was there. I could find firm places to plant my feet when I needed to stand. I have found studying Scripture to be a similar experience. Learning more about historical and particularly cultural …

Party Songs: A Correlation Between Political Affiliation And Liturgical Music, Renee Leavitt

Honors Theses

I believe that there is a correlation between musical taste and political affiliation, based upon my experience in the church and as an observer of the congregation. By asking individual people -- such as choir directors, organists, and theologians -- about a correlation between political affiliation and liturgical music taste, I believe there is enough of a pattern to deserve study. This pattern I am looking for should exhibit some shared interest in the subject at hand, some examples of the congregation liking or not liking particular music, or further information that I can explore. After interviewing those workers of …

Propaganda Y Progreso: El Rol Paradójico De La Magia En La España Premoderna, Alexander K. Rhodes

Honors Theses

La magia tiene varios roles diferentes en la literatura española premoderna. A causa de las connotaciones pecaminosas de la magia, frecuentemente se usa para discriminar contra un grupo subalterno, como en la obra de teatro El niño inocente de La Guardia de Lope de Vega. Se ve que esta forma de discriminación difunde y apoya la anxiety of sameness definida por Christina Lee. La anxiety of sameness es el temor de los nobles de ser infiltrados por los no nobles, incluyendo a los judíos, los moriscos y los de la clase baja. Pero, como se ve en esta tesis, la …

How To Be A Good Believer: A Multifaceted Defense Of Christian Belief, Cameron Bonsell

Honors Theses

In this paper I will argue that holding Christian beliefs is consistent with intellectual virtues. I must first clarify that holding Christian beliefs does not consist only in the affirmation of certain propositions like “God exists”. This is not to say that affirming certain doctrine is not essential to Christian belief, but this is only part of what it encompasses. When I refer to Christianity and Christian beliefs in this paper, I mean affirming basic religious propositions like “Jesus was the son of God”, but I also take certain practices to be part of Christian belief. For example, spiritual disciplines …

Does God Change His Mind? An Old Testament View, Colton Sims

Honors Theses

God is changeless. That is perhaps the simplest way to define the doctrine of Divine Immutability. Such a definition is non-controversial in the Evangelical world. For the most part, such a definition is non-controversial in Christendom as a whole and has been readily affirmed by Christians for two thousand years.

Unfortunately, Immutability is not that simple. The three-word definition of "God is changeless" does not address an important and highly controversial issue. What does it mean for God to be changeless? Even among evangelicals, there is significant debate over what it means for God to be changeless. One of the …

Canada And Koinonia: Contextualization Of Koinonia For The Peoples Of Modern Day Canada, Alex Gianelloni

Honors Theses

The objective of this thesis is to further my own understanding of the meaning and process of contextualization, as well as utilizing what I learn in an attempt to perform contextualization myself. The topic of Koinonia was chosen because of its degree of importance within the Christian faith, its ability to be applicable to many different cultures, and my own desire to study and implement the subject. In order to better contextualize the topic, I would need to spend a decent amount of time within the specific culture into which I was interpreting. As such, Canada was settled upon because …

Anthiom: A Christian Ya Novel, Krystal Parker

Honors Theses

Kaelyn gripped tight at the silk sheets around her before her body settled into even breaths. In. Out. In. out. She could still see the shadowed faces in their dark hoods and the fires. There were always fires.

She opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling above her, counting the number of tiles from the edge of her bed to the mahogany dresser. In. Out. One. In. Out. Two.

You are back in your room, she reminded herself. It was just a dream.

"Kaelyn?" her door creaked open and she jumped. "Are you okay?"

She rolled over and saw …