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- Aimee Semple McPherson; Social Darwinism; eugenics; the poor; disenfranchised; William Jennings Bryan; Scopes Monkey Trial; Darwinism; modernism; modernist controversy (1)
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Articles 1 - 25 of 25
Full-Text Articles in Arts and Humanities
Renouncing The Dominant Script: Weaving Together Mysticism, Monasticism, And Sacramental Theology To Create A Pentecostal Model Of Spiritual Formation, Hilton Burkholder
Renouncing The Dominant Script: Weaving Together Mysticism, Monasticism, And Sacramental Theology To Create A Pentecostal Model Of Spiritual Formation, Hilton Burkholder
Doctor of Ministry (DMin)
From political division and culture wars to moral failures, it has become increasingly evident over the last few decades that the Church in North America has a formation problem. This project aims to tackle the issue of discipleship and formation by exploring the development and application of a practical, spirit-led model of spiritual formation for the 21st-century North American Church. By drawing on the rich traditions of monastic, mystical, and sacramental spirituality, this project seeks to create a Pentecostal model of spiritual formation that is communal, charismatic, and embodied, revealing that discipleship is not an end in itself but a …
Expanding The Church’S Understanding Of The Scope Of Apologetics In Evangelism, Jonathan Dinkins
Expanding The Church’S Understanding Of The Scope Of Apologetics In Evangelism, Jonathan Dinkins
Selected Honors Theses
This paper examines the scope of Apologetics. It argues for the need of a nuanced, holistic form of Apologetics that incorporates a vast array of forms of persuasion that may be used by the Holy Spirit to show a nonbeliever the truth of the Gospel and the necessity to trust in Jesus. It records data from a quantitative study which investigated the personal faith journeys of disciples of Christ and the factors which helped to persuade them of the truth of the Gospel and to submit to the leadership of Jesus. This thesis proposes that the common evangelical understanding of …
The Polyphonic Voices Of Suffering In The Book Of Job: A Dialogue On God’S Relation To The Suffering, Rebecca R. Clark
The Polyphonic Voices Of Suffering In The Book Of Job: A Dialogue On God’S Relation To The Suffering, Rebecca R. Clark
Masters of Theological Studies
Suffering is an experience that can lead one to question the goodness of God. Such an experience is exemplified in the narrative of Job. It is the argument of this thesis that the dialogue in Job ultimately reveals God’s character as good even in the midst of one’s suffering. This argument is supported through an examination of the polyphonic voices of the book of Job. The voice of Job demonstrates the tension of the sufferer, as a perceived absence of God seems contrary to His character. And yet, Job affirms God’s goodness. The voice of “the satan” demonstrates an awareness …
Christianity On The Way: An Eastern Orthodox-Pentecostal Dialogue On The Journey Of Salvation, Raphael J.T. Twitchell
Christianity On The Way: An Eastern Orthodox-Pentecostal Dialogue On The Journey Of Salvation, Raphael J.T. Twitchell
Masters of Theological Studies
We seek to develop a theological means of reconnecting the sojourners of the Way with each other through a recognition of common Christ-followership. Since no human life begins with the same conditions as any other, no two journeys with Christ will be the same, yet it is still the same Spirit who leads them all. This is a mystery which we will explore by peering through the theological framework of an Eastern Orthodox portrayal of the Way and bringing it into dialogue with Pentecostalism and Mysticism. This study seeks to show that the Way which Christ calls us to follow …
Creation Costs: Hermeneutical And Scientific Repercussions Through The Lens Of The Day Age And Young Earth Views, Mark Alan Langner
Creation Costs: Hermeneutical And Scientific Repercussions Through The Lens Of The Day Age And Young Earth Views, Mark Alan Langner
Doctor of Ministry (DMin)
Genesis’s creation narrative is crystal clear: God is eternal and preeminent, humankind is made in his image, and all nature results from God’s spoken word. Christocentric truth bursts forth from the opening words of creation, reality transcended by the Son of God. However, particularly in the years following the beginnings of Darwinian theory, questioning of the biblical creation narrative and variant versions of that narrative has exponentially expanded. This project is intended to biblically and systematically underscore the supernatural attributes of the Creator and the inerrancy of the Bible that God inspired, to determine hermeneutical and scientific costs associated with …
How Free: An Analysis Of Neo-Molinism In The Sovereignty And Freedom Debate, Reuben S. Imlah-Savitt
How Free: An Analysis Of Neo-Molinism In The Sovereignty And Freedom Debate, Reuben S. Imlah-Savitt
Selected Honors Theses
This extended literature review is an exploration and analysis of Neo-Molinism. Gregory Boyd’s Neo-Molinism is compared and contrasted with other theories of divine foreknowledge. Each theory is evaluated on the merits of how it interprets God’s sovereignty and human freedom. The major issues of each theory are brought to light along with how Neo-Molinism deals with these issues. Also, major objections to Neo-Molinism are answered using scripture. In conclusion, Neo-Molinism is an improvement upon its predecessor, Open Theism.
Improving Upon Traditional American Premarital Counseling Methods: Teaching A Foundational Theology For A Marriage Of Servanthood, Gregory D. Milewski
Improving Upon Traditional American Premarital Counseling Methods: Teaching A Foundational Theology For A Marriage Of Servanthood, Gregory D. Milewski
Masters of Theological Studies
The intention of this thesis is to stir up marriage counselors into taking a fresh look at their methods for preparing and educating American couples for marriage, as the research will show that couples need much more than mere test results and analytics. Couples need more than a diagnosis; they need the prognosis of the path for healing. The programs developed by Christian therapists that are used in many churches in America do a great job at showing areas where couples are strong and where they need work, but too little is done to address their core beliefs about marriage …
The Vulnerability Of God: Toward A Biblical, Theological And Pastoral View Of Divine P Assibility, Garrett R. Sederholm
The Vulnerability Of God: Toward A Biblical, Theological And Pastoral View Of Divine P Assibility, Garrett R. Sederholm
Masters of Theological Studies
The issues surrounding the debate of the aspect of God's passibility versus impassibility are important enough to give the topic its due respect and attention. Engaging with the debate itself promises to grant the hearer revelation of the nuances of who God is and how He works in the world. This author will in the end argue for divine passibility, but the intent of this work is not to stake a claim in the debate or merely contribute some nuance to one side of the discussion. Rather, it is to discover more richly a biblical, theological and pastoral vision for …
Anthropology & Apologetics: A Critical Analysis Of Contemporary Apologetic Method Through Their Anthropological Assumptions, Austin J. Spiller
Anthropology & Apologetics: A Critical Analysis Of Contemporary Apologetic Method Through Their Anthropological Assumptions, Austin J. Spiller
Master of Divinity (MDiv)
This thesis argues that contemporary apologetic approaches correlate to, or derive their methods from, different anthropological models with various degrees of accuracy, and that an interdisciplinary study of humanity leads to proper conclusions for apologetic method. Three of the most utilized contemporary apologetic methods are Traditional Apologetics, Presuppositionalism, and Experiential/Narratival Apologetics. Each method reflects an assumption of human persons as thinkers, believers, or desirers, respectively. Interdisciplinary research from theology, sociology, psychology, economics, and neuroscience corroborates the anthropological assumption of humans as essentially desirers. This research leads to at least three important implications for apologetic method, including a focus on persuasion …
Family Fuel: The Church Partnering With Parents In The Spiritual Formation Of Children And Family, Vanessa A. Flores
Family Fuel: The Church Partnering With Parents In The Spiritual Formation Of Children And Family, Vanessa A. Flores
Selected Honors Theses
American culture is shifting responsibilities away from parents and onto professionals, such as teachers and coaches for the informing and developing of their children. Is this applicable in the church setting, where parents drop off their kids to let the children’s ministry pastors spiritually influence their child? Through the corroboration of theology and social science, it is seen that the impact of children’s pastors is incomparable to the spiritual and emotional influence that parents give to their children. With the enjoin of Deuteronomy 6, churches today are equipping families to become the church so that there is a reciprocated relationship …
Censorship And Banned Books From A Christian Perspective, Sarah D. Jenkins
Censorship And Banned Books From A Christian Perspective, Sarah D. Jenkins
Selected Honors Theses
Removing material due to controversial content has been a common practice for much of recorded history. This action is often done in concern for the psychological and emotional well-being of viewers, especially if these viewers include children. However, this does not necessarily mean this practice is always warranted. Many researchers have studied this topic as well as its effects, expanses, and connections to religion. Research shows that exposure to certain material can potentially cause changed behavior in individuals who do not possess the maturity needed to process them effectively. Individuals who are more mature or emotionally stable show no lasting …
The Separation Of Church And Race: The Role Of Intent In Creating A Racially Integrated Church, Shannon Marie Wolf
The Separation Of Church And Race: The Role Of Intent In Creating A Racially Integrated Church, Shannon Marie Wolf
Selected Honors Theses
This thesis reviews the role of intent in creating a racially integrated church congregation in the United States. It considers a brief history of the American church’s relationship to race, surveying church involvement in slavery, segregation, and Civil Rights. It reviews the current state of race relations in the church through modern research on church responses to race and integration efforts, and it presents novel research on the factor of church mission in building racial integration in individual congregations. Research consisted of interviewing members of leadership at a successfully integrated church in the northeastern United States. Findings indicate that intent …
Aimee Semple Mcpherson’S Pentecostalism, Darwinism, Eugenics, The Disenfranchised, And The Scopes Monkey Trial, Margaret English De Alminana
Aimee Semple Mcpherson’S Pentecostalism, Darwinism, Eugenics, The Disenfranchised, And The Scopes Monkey Trial, Margaret English De Alminana
Selected Faculty Publications
This article posits that the cultural battle waged by Aimee Semple McPherson in concert with William Jennings Bryan over evolution and modernism was largely focused on a popular social theory linked to eugenics. On July 21, 1925, in the city of Dayton, Tennessee, a twentieth-century watershed event became a harbinger of the age: The State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes, popularly known as the Scopes Monkey Trial. The public remembers the event as spotlighting the fundamentalist-modernist controversy with respect to the teaching of evolution in the public-school curriculum against the protests of fundamentalist Christians who advocated Creationism. The …
Reconsidering The Roman Catholic Apocrypha, Alex Andersen
Reconsidering The Roman Catholic Apocrypha, Alex Andersen
Classical Conversations
For centuries, Protestants have debated with Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians over the canonicity of the Roman Catholic Apocrypha, a collection of seven books and two additions to books composed from the third century B.C. to the first century A.D. and considered to be canonical by all major non-Protestant Christian denominations. This thesis plunges into this discussion on the Roman Catholic Apocrypha’s canonicity, contending that the Roman Catholic Apocrypha is noncanonical. First, this thesis propounds two broad models for canonicity, the Community Canon Model and the Intrinsic Canon Model, and maintains that the Intrinsic Canon Model is a better model …
Epistemology And Presuppositional Thought, Courtney L. Krause
Epistemology And Presuppositional Thought, Courtney L. Krause
Selected Honors Theses
This paper will present the coherency of Reformed Christian theism’s presuppositional epistemology. It will argue for the biblical foundation of presupposing the existence and truth of God in every aspect of one’s life. This presupposition will be presented as the necessary component for interpreting the revelation of God correctly and righteously. This presupposition is vital, as it acknowledges Christ as sovereign over the realm of thought. Indeed, from the Reformed Christian theistic perspective, understanding reason presuppositionally from Scripture is the only way to reason which is honoring to God. It claims any lack of acknowledgement of and submission to Jesus …
Discovering Faith In The Entertainment Industry, Leanna I. John
Discovering Faith In The Entertainment Industry, Leanna I. John
Selected Honors Theses
This thesis explores how secular entertainment can contain Christian themes and messages. Hollywood presents ideas that either agree with or contradict Christianity in the movies and shows that are produced. People need to be careful about what type of entertainment they decide to watch because they can become desensitized to graphic content. This thesis includes a selection of movies from multiple genres and the show Supernatural, and it describes the messages that are conveyed in them. Theology that comes from the Bible along with different Christian theologians, authors, and philosophers are provided to help people understand the truth of Jesus …
Uniquely Gifted: A Theology Of Mental Illness For Inclusive Ecclesiology, Asia M. Lerner
Uniquely Gifted: A Theology Of Mental Illness For Inclusive Ecclesiology, Asia M. Lerner
Selected Honors Theses
This thesis surveys the possibility of a theology of mental illness in order to create an inclusive ecclesiology for modern churches. Mental illness is greatly stigmatized in the Church as demonic or spiritual and moral failing. In combat of such stigma and prejudice to create an inclusive atmosphere in the Church, a positive theology of mental illness understood as a unique gifting is argued for. With the elusive nature of mental illness in both definition and experience taken into account, all aspects of mental illness are considered, such as biology, psychology, and philosophy of mental disorder. The thesis understands mental …
Even Though I Walk: Towards A Pentecostal Theology Of Discipleship, Jordan Reed
Even Though I Walk: Towards A Pentecostal Theology Of Discipleship, Jordan Reed
Selected Honors Theses
This purpose of this thesis is to develop a theological foundation for a Pentecostal theology of discipleship. I begin with an analysis of the early Pentecostal movement and its implications on Pentecostal theology. This is to develop a framework within which my proposed theology can be developed. Next, I assess discipleship from a broader perspective, identifying crucial aspects of it that are not specific to Pentecostalism. I appeal to the Anabaptist tradition’s understanding of discipleship specifically, recognizing key components which allowed their theology to be so effective. In light of this I summarize and assess existing Pentecostal literature on discipleship …
Evolution: A Divine Interaction Between God And Creation, Hanna V. Larracas
Evolution: A Divine Interaction Between God And Creation, Hanna V. Larracas
Selected Honors Theses
The purpose of this paper is to provide a framework through relational theology for understanding the randomness evident in genetic variation which is an element within evolution. I propose that evolution can be incorporated into a theology of creation by placing evolution in context of the interaction of love between God and creation when interpreted through a framework of relational theology. Relational theology, as engaging God as primarily self-giving and holistically hospitable (towards God’s self in the Trinity and towards creation), provides space for a theological understanding of randomness genetic variation and mutation within the evolutionary process. Chapter 1 discusses …
What Makes An Excellent Teacher?, Steven M. Fettke
What Makes An Excellent Teacher?, Steven M. Fettke
Selected Faculty Publications
Everyone who attends any place of education on any level wants an “excellent” teacher; however, is that word —“excellence”— ethereal, mystical, or just entirely subjective? In this essay I wish to propose a definition of what excellent teaching entails by referring to the spiritual and social formation of the teacher. Central to my thinking is how the work of the Holy Spirit affects “excellence.” Reflecting on my long years of experience teaching in a Pentecostal college/university and as someone in pursuit of “excellence” in my own teaching, I think I have something to say about it which involves teachers, students, …
My Philosophy Of Education And My Method Of Teaching At A Christian University, Steven M. Fettke
My Philosophy Of Education And My Method Of Teaching At A Christian University, Steven M. Fettke
Selected Faculty Publications
Self reflection and personal assessment are important aspects of any professional's life and career, not the least of which is the professional educator. I have offered my own expression of education and method of teaching in reflecting on thirty-seven years of experience teaching at the college/university level in the hopes it might stimulate other professional educators to reflect on their own educational philosophy and methods of teaching.
Scandal And Censure: A Reinvestigation Of The Socio-Political Forces Surrounding The Disappearance Of Aimee Semple Mcpherson, Margaret English De Alminana
Scandal And Censure: A Reinvestigation Of The Socio-Political Forces Surrounding The Disappearance Of Aimee Semple Mcpherson, Margaret English De Alminana
Selected Faculty Publications
This paper sets the oft-told narrative of McPherson’s disappearance and alleged sexual misconduct into important aspects of the historical context of her era. Although the accusations against the evangelist were widely embraced by the Pentecostal community—and although they continue to exhibit a shaping effect upon her legacy and legend—this paper uses primary historical research to reexamine these events through the lens of emerging, powerful cultural forces, including entrenched female biases common in the post-Victorian era, the ascendance of the American mob, the public’s rejection of prohibition and revulsion against the Women’s Temperance Union and recent Suffragist gains, and the desire …
They Shall Recover: Towards A Pneumatological And Eschatological Understanding Of The Atonement In Pentecostal Healing, Daniel J. Simmons
They Shall Recover: Towards A Pneumatological And Eschatological Understanding Of The Atonement In Pentecostal Healing, Daniel J. Simmons
Selected Honors Theses
This thesis identifies the ideologies of the Christian church surrounding divine healing with an emphasis upon the Pentecostal outbreak of the Azusa Street Revival. This study explores the “Atonement model” of divine healing, and assesses its strength in adequately capturing Pentecostal thought regarding divine healing. From this understanding, the study examines pneumatology and eschatology within the purview of divine healing in order to criticize the validity of the Atonement model.
More Than A Prophet: Jesus And Islam, Justin A. Farmer
More Than A Prophet: Jesus And Islam, Justin A. Farmer
Selected Honors Theses
No abstract provided.
Reconnecting With The Mystics: Kathryn Kuhlman And The Reshaping Of Early Pentecostalism, Margaret English De Alminana
Reconnecting With The Mystics: Kathryn Kuhlman And The Reshaping Of Early Pentecostalism, Margaret English De Alminana
Selected Faculty Publications
Kathryn Kuhlman helped to shape a generation of Pentecostal/Charismatic theology and praxis by reintroducing a depth of spirituality which harkened back to the teachings of the mystics. She introduced the concept of spiritual silence to a generation of Sawdust Trail Pentecostals known for their exuberant and lively worship services, and she popularized the experience of being ‘slain in the Spirit.’ But her most notable innovation resulted from discarding healing lines and cards together with a healing theology based upon the faith of the adherents. Instead, she invited pilgrims into a transcendent experience of the manifest presence of the Holy Spirit, …