Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Book Reviews, Denise A. Austin, Jon K. Newton, Timothy B. Cremeens, Daniel Isgrigg, John Christopher Thomas, Robert K. Whitaker, Arden C. Autry, Henkholun Doungel

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

No abstract provided.

Restoring Truth To The Intellectual Life: A Response To Rusty Reno, William Epperson

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

Editor’s note. ORU English professor William Epperson drafted the first version of this response after reading two essays by Reno that faculty were asked to read before Reno addressed them. Encouraged by the response of several peers and the request of Spiritus, he revised his response, which Spiritus is pleased to publish.

Restoring Love To The Intellectual Life, R. R. Reno

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

Editor’s note. Reno gave this address to the faculty of Oral Roberts University on January 9, 2017. It appears here in its original form.

The Good Life: Descriptors Of Change In Roma Pentecostal Communities In Serbia And Croatia, Melody J. Wachsmuth

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

Studies in specific geographical contexts have shown that the spread of Pentecostalism’s impact on Roma communities is twofold: it is linked to social change including a rise of education levels, literacy, decrease in crime, better relationships with the majority culture, and also is instrumental in the fostering of a “trans-national” identity and revitalization of their respective Roma identities. However, Pentecostalism cannot be considered a formula that intersects with a Romani community with consequential predictable results— in fact, in Southeastern Europe, Romani Pentecostalism is growing at a much slower rate than that of its counterparts in Western Europe and in places …

Poverty Reduction As A Christian Call: A View On Microfinance Loans From Pentecostal Churches In Zambia, Irene Banda

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

The impact of microfinance activities in reducing poverty has received mixed reviews. Some studies show positive impact while others show increasing criticism towards practices considered deleterious to poor people’s welfare. There are similar opinions amongst Pentecostal churches in Zambia. These churches acknowledge the usefulness of microfinance, but because of negative experiences, they are concerned about its efficacy. The general observation of these churches is that spiritual maturity helps those living in poverty identify the root causes, and are therefore able to plan tangible ways out of poverty. They assert that when people grow spiritually and biblical principles like those in …

Jesus’ Mother “Treasured All These Words . . . In Her Heart” (Luke 2:19): On Using A Spirit Hermeneutic To Reflect Together About Mary, Sally Jo Shelton

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

A major issue over which many Evangelicals and Pentecostals differ from Roman Catholics is the status of Mary, Jesus’ mother. Evangelicals critique some of the Marian dogmas and practices as excesses that challenge Christ’s sole mediation and eclipse the Spirit, while Catholics warn that neglect of Mary potentially leads to failure to acknowledge Christ’s full humanity and divinity. This is a proposal to place Spirit hermeneutics into ecumenical service to bridge the gap between the Catholic and Evangelical Marys. The Spirit hermeneutics proposed here is built on Amos Yong’s (and other Pentecostal scholars’) Word-Spirit-Community epistemology, Catholic philosopher Bernard Lonergan’s call …

Wisdom Pneumatology And The Creative Spirit: The Book Of Wisdom And The Trinitarian Act Of Creation, Jeffrey Lamp

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

Recent interest in Trinitarian theology has given rise to consideration of the act of creation as a Trinitarian act. Focus on the Father and the Son in the act of creation is abundantly attested in this scholarship. However, consideration of the place of the Spirit in the creative act is somewhat underdeveloped. Th is article delves more deeply into the Spirit’s role in creation by looking at wisdom and spirit language in the deuterocanonical Wisdom of Solomon. In the early chapters of the book, wisdom is characterized as a kindly spirit that brings life and penetrates all things, human and …

Tragedy Of Spirit-Empowered Heroes: A Close Look At Samson And Saul, Wonsuk Ma

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

This study is motivated by the ongoing dilemma of the ethical failures among well-known leaders of the modern Pentecostal/Charismatic movements. Through a close look at Saul and Samson, the two charismatic leaders of the Old Testament who have the most frequent references to the Spirit of God, the study probes the internal and private layers of their experience with the Spirit of God. The intention of the Spirit’s presence includes both an internal transformation as well as external tasks. The scriptural evidence demonstrates that there is no less work of the Spirit for the internal working of the recipients than …

Oral Roberts: Son Of Pentecostalism, Father Of The Charismatic Movement, Vinson Synan

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

Oral Roberts was one of the most important religious figures of the twentieth century. He was born and raised in the Pentecostal Holiness Church, hence, a “son” of the Pentecostal movement. He first became famous as a Pentecostal preacher who conducted large healing crusades under his huge tent. By the 1960s, he became the best known Pentecostal in the world, founding Oral Roberts University in 1965. In the last part of his life, Roberts became a father of the charismatic movement in the mainline churches through his television ministry. For nineteen years, Roberts was a member of the United Methodist …

Editorial, Jeffrey Lamp

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

No abstract provided.

Front Matter, Spiritus Editorial Board

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

No abstract provided.

Full Issue

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

No abstract provided.

Full Issue

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

No abstract provided.

Book Reviews And Subscription Form, Robert G. Tuttle Jr., James Allen Hewett

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

No abstract provided.

Integrating The Problem-Solving Task And Divergent Professional Values, J. David Pierce

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

In the cross-pollinated approach to healing, implicit and underlying value structures of the "healers" need to be made explicit and correlated with the task at hand. A theoretical model and an example are presented that clarify the professional roles and associates values; further, the complementarity needed in a coordinated healing effort is explicated.

Bondageanalysis, Burrell Dinkins

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

Bondageanalysis is as concerned about history as with other therapeutic systems. It assumes that persons trapped in bondage participate in some way in their own bondage, even when they appear to be victims of oppression. The dynamics of this are the primary concern.

For The Healing Of The Nations, John M. Miller

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

In this article, John M. Miller argues that the culminating portrayal of God's eternal purpose for the church provides a powerful paradigm by which to establish missional priorities. Guided by the primary text, he addresses three critical missiological issues: 1) the lack of missionary interest in the church; 2) tire problem of defining the unfinished task; and 3) the crucial character of healing in ministry for the world.

Origins Of The Divine Healing Movement In America, Paul G. Chappell

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

The American divine healing movement was born and nourished during a period in which the nation wrenched its soul over the moral evil of slavery. The birth arid nourishment of the movement was also during a time when the spiritual stabilities of life were being tampered with by the forces of modern science and biblical criticism. With a vigorous expectation on the part of the people, this new manifestation of the supernatural began.

Healings: Sign Or Gift, Howard M. Ervin Jr

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

As signs of the kingdom "at hand," healing is a divine response to repentance and faith. Can the same be said of healings within the household of faith, the church? Or must other criteria be applied to the interpretation? It is here that current charismatic exegesis must be scrutinized rigorously

Front Matter

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

No abstract provided.

Relating Christian Faith To Physics For Scientists And Engineers, Dominic Halsmer, Calvin Roso, P. Wesley Odom

Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning for Christians in Higher Education

As part of an initiative by the new Center for Faith and Learning at Oral Roberts University, an introductory college-level physics course for scientists and engineers was reconfigured to facilitate the integration of physics and Christian faith. Regular readings from a popular book, Einstein and Religion (Jammer, 1999), on the compatibility between physics and Christian doctrine were assigned. Questions based on the readings were then posed and a small fraction of class time (10%) was reserved for discussion of these issues. The students also submitted book reports summarizing their perspectives at the end of the course. A detailed rubric was …

Effectiveness Of Content Order In Improving Ethical Communication Choices In Oral Communications, Rhonda Gallagher, Mary Lou Miller, Calvin Roso

Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning for Christians in Higher Education

Ethics is a concern within the field of communication (Canary, 2007; Cheney, 2008), and ultimately, the spiritual intent of oral communications at a Christian university is for students to relate biblically with other people. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine if change in content order improved integration of Biblical ethics into student knowledge and understanding in an oral communication course.

The hypothesis for this study was as follows: There is a difference in the ability to integrate Biblical ethics into knowledge and understanding in an oral communication course between those students who are taught using content focused …

Reviewing Shadow & Light, William Epperson, Kay Meyers

Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning for Christians in Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Guest Editorial: A Tribute To Dr. Kay Meyers, Ardith Baker

Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning for Christians in Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Editorial: Accreditation In A Christian University: Its Real Purpose, Timothy D. Norton

Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning for Christians in Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Letter From The Editor: Reflecting The Image Of Christ In Our Scholarship, Timothy D. Norton

Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning for Christians in Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Teaching Ethical Use Of Product-Specific Incentives To Marketing Students In A Christian Higher-Education Environment, Kenneth E. Jones Jr.

Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning for Christians in Higher Education

With the growing popularity of retail sales as a job opportunity for Christian college graduates and students, the dilemma of incentive pay can cause many to face a sudden reality check on their ethical system. This article provides insight into the dilemma of product-specific incentives (PSIs or spiffs), which are so popular in the marketing environment where multiple brands exist in the same showroom. The model contained in this work is designed to allow the Christian retail sales professional with a plan of action, or a means of providing the information needed to create ethically sound incentive practices for all …

Dealing With Dual Anxieties, Kenneth Preston, Dorothy Radin

Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning for Christians in Higher Education

Focusing on time as an issue, research was done to examine the concept of timed examinations as a possible reason for low scores in mathematics classes. This paper details the research and its results. In this study, the time allotted for a statistics examination was increased in order to determine if test scores improved. Mean scores from ten 90-minute introductory statistics exams were compared to mean scores from 50-minute exams given in prior introductory statistics classes to test for improvement. An Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) using an alpha (α) of 0.05 was used to make the determination. The results indicate …

Building Construct Validity For A New Measure Of Christian Spiritual Maturity, Edward W. Watson, Angela L. Watson

Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning for Christians in Higher Education

This study (N = 672) develops further a model of Christian spiritual maturity based upon two dimensions of Bernard of Clairvaux’s staircase of godly love: Step 2 (Loving God for Self’s Sake) (α ≥ .89) and Step 3 (Loving God for God’s Sake) (α ≥ .88). Data were collected in two waves: (a) undergraduates at a private Christian university in the Midwest (Watson, 2011) and (b) undergraduate theology majors, graduate students, and graduate professors from the same university. Principal axis factor analysis supported a two factor solution with low inter-factor correlations (r = .08). While mature volunteers were under-represented, significant …

The Courage To Teach: From The Inside Out, Laura Foote

Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning for Christians in Higher Education

In contrast to God’s wisdom, earthly wisdom is rooted in earthly systems and the epistemologies that undergird those systems. A primary and powerful epistemic system is the educational system (Goldman, 2011) and particularly higher education, upon which much of man’s wisdom is built. Parker Palmer’s (2007) book, The Courage to Teach, challenges the commonly accepted wisdom of higher education’s focus on outcomes and “the impact of our society’s growing obsession with educational externals—including relentless and mindless standardized testing” (p. ix). Palmer offers a roadmap for reform that begins with a call for self-reflection and ends with a call for …