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Articles 1 - 30 of 40
Full-Text Articles in Arts and Humanities
The Gēr In Deuteronomy: Expanding Ancient Near Eastern Precedent For The Protection Of Vulnerable Classes, Josh Dunahoo
The Gēr In Deuteronomy: Expanding Ancient Near Eastern Precedent For The Protection Of Vulnerable Classes, Josh Dunahoo
Seminary Masters Theses
The gēr in the Hebrew Bible is a legal classification representing persons who reside outside their ancestral lands with people outside of their kin. The status of the gēr is not static in the Bible. Rather, historical and textual evidence in the respective law codes informs the socioeconomic and religious standing of the gēr in Israelite society. In Deuteronomic tradition, the gēr is among the most vulnerable groups in Israel and is therefore appended to the ancient Near Eastern widow-orphan dyad in Deuteronomy. The first section of the present thesis traces the law codes and wisdom literature of ancient Near …
Liminal Spirituality: Why Religion Is Changing And How Churches Can Respond, Savoy Stevens
Liminal Spirituality: Why Religion Is Changing And How Churches Can Respond, Savoy Stevens
Seminary Masters Theses
This thesis examines the dynamic factors influencing religious disengagement in the United States and identifies five best practices for churches interested in responding to the growing number of “nones” and “dones.” Placing religious disengagement within the framework of Christian history, relative to the cyclical nature of religious movements, it confirms the occasion and purpose of the ensuing “liminal spirituality” and explores what many scholars suggest is a new era of Christian history. Factors influencing religious disengagement considered include; the impact of post-modern and metamodern cultural logic, the role of doubt in personal faith formation, the ways in which the Church …
The Mystery Of The Incarnation: Towards A Reconciliation Of Cyril And Nestorius, Kyle Williams
The Mystery Of The Incarnation: Towards A Reconciliation Of Cyril And Nestorius, Kyle Williams
Seminary Masters Theses
This thesis studies the fifth-century christological controversy surrounding Cyril of Alexandria (c. 378-444) and Nestorius of Constantinople (c. 381-451) and their debate around the person and nature of Jesus Christ, sparked by the theotokos dispute. At the First Council of Ephesus (431) the christologies of these two bishops and theologians were pitted against each other, and have since been studied in contrast to one another. The goal of this study is to examine the christologies of Cyril and Nestorius with the intention to seek reconciliation between the two. In the Introduction I first orient the reader to the problem and …
Am I Good Enough? Dealing Pastorally With The Shame Of Women In The Amalgam Of Korean Confucian And Christian Culture, Sarah Ahn
Seminary Masters Theses
In this paper, the literature review of shame is examined: the definition of emotions, the relationship between shame and the self, the definition and characteristics of shame alongside with guilt, the social nature of shame, and the female quality of shame. After examining the previous attempts on shame and its relationship with culture, this paper argues how shame functions, particularly in Korean culture, employing a cultural-anthropological, a societal-anthropological, and a Korean native-psychological approach. Furthermore, the paper explores the relationship between shame and Korean women in the amalgam of Korean Confucian and Christian context. The negative and positive roles of shame …
The Ecclesiological Function Of A Critic: Exploring The Ecclesiological Contributions Of Søren Kierkegaard In His ‘Attack’ On “Christendom”, Anthony Mako
Seminary Masters Theses
Traditionally, Søren Kierkegaard has not been associated with the field of ecclesiology. Some simply do not see any ecclesiological merits to Kierkegaard’s perspective, while others, who perhaps acknowledge Kierkegaard’s connection to ecclesiology, view it as having a negating function. Additionally, growing disenfranchisement with the church has caused a renewed interest in Kierkegaard’s ‘attack’; however, this renewed interest often fails to account for the context into which Kierkegaard wrote. This paper will explore Kierkegaard’s ‘attack’ on “Christendom” in context. It also engages the perspectives of Karl Barth and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who show ecclesial implications for Kierkegaard’s ‘attack’ in both agreement and …
Tamar’S Legacy: The Early Reception Of Genesis 38, Julianna Kaye Smith
Tamar’S Legacy: The Early Reception Of Genesis 38, Julianna Kaye Smith
Seminary Masters Theses
The story of Tamar and Judah is one of the Torah’s more morally complicated narratives. As such, interpreters throughout history, but specifically early Jewish interpreters, grappled with how to relay this story in their translations of the Hebrew Bible. Using the theories and methods of reception history, this study demonstrates how the translations these early interpreters produced shed light on the dynamic relationship between a text and those who interpret it. Examining both the Greek Septuagint and Aramaic Targumim, the study identifies places in the translations where hints of the socio-historical position and theological commitments of the translators and their …
Towards A Theology Of The Single Mother, Stephanie Townes
Towards A Theology Of The Single Mother, Stephanie Townes
Seminary Masters Theses
Families are changing. The white picket fence nuclear family with a mother, father, 2.2 kids and a dog is no longer the norm for American society. Families look less and less like “traditional families.” Blended families, children born out of wedlock, cohabitation, step-families, multigenerational families, adopted children, single parent families, foster parents, and homosexual partners raising children are all part of the fabric of society. Society has changed so much that, as feminist theologian Rosemary Radford Ruether points out, “it is no longer possible to speak of one predominant “normative” model of family.”
The Tree With Good Fruit Or Bad Fruit: An Evaluation Of The House Church Movement And The Three-Self Patriotic Movement In China, Jiying Song
Seminary Masters Theses
This thesis is a research on the Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM) and the House Church Movement (HCM) in China. These two movements have produced two church systems in China: the Official Church and the Underground Church. With the method of ―China-centered,‖ I present Christianity as a world religion and explore its development in Chinese society. In chapter 1, I explain the motivation of this research and the methodology I utilize in my approach to Chinese church history. I give a general historical background in chapter 2 and divide the Chinese church history into five eras: the preparation for Christianity (before …
Lost Prophets: Tertullian, Eusebius, Epiphanius, And Early Montanism, Brice Andrew Larson
Lost Prophets: Tertullian, Eusebius, Epiphanius, And Early Montanism, Brice Andrew Larson
Seminary Masters Theses
ABSTRACT The dearth of reliable primary source material on the New Prophecy has led to a proliferation of interpretations of the character of the movement. However, a careful examination of the New Prophecy’s preserved sayings, the writings of Tertullian, and the movement’s earliest critics preserved by Eusebius and Epiphanius reveal a movement steeped in the Christian tradition that came into conflict with other Christians because of their willingness to pay ministers and their passive understanding of the charisma of prophecy.
The Dual Textual History Of The Song Of Hana In The Ethiopic Manuscript Traditions, Brian Christopher Jeanseau
The Dual Textual History Of The Song Of Hana In The Ethiopic Manuscript Traditions, Brian Christopher Jeanseau
Seminary Masters Theses
In Ethiopia, the Song of Hana has been transmitted in two types of manuscripts—biblical manuscripts and Psalters. This thesis compares the textual histories of this song within both manuscript types and shows that these are actually two separate traditions, not one tradition as previously assumed. Chapter one starts with descriptions of what these two manuscript types are and what the Song of Hana is. In chapter two, we briefly discuss some background issues—the scholarly efforts that have taken place in the Ethiopic Old Testament so far and the history of the Judeo-‐Christian religion in Ethiopia which has shaped these two …
Irenaeus Of Lyons: A Defense Of Recapitulation, Mathew Thomas Hollen
Irenaeus Of Lyons: A Defense Of Recapitulation, Mathew Thomas Hollen
Seminary Masters Theses
Abstract This work sets out to explain the atonement theory of Irenaeus of Lyons. Irenaeus’ atonement theology is often described simply as “Christus Victor” but I argue that is simply a narrow sliver of the wider atonement theory of recapitulation. In this thesis I systematically try to expound what it is Irenaeus believed and why he believed it. In the first chapter I explain the problem at hand and a short biography of the bishop. In the second chapter I seek to summarize the Gnostic school of Valentinianism, which is the key opponent against Irenaeus writes in his best-known work …
Toward An Ecotheological Anthropology, Peter Garcia
Toward An Ecotheological Anthropology, Peter Garcia
Seminary Masters Theses
The image of God has carried with it a special designation for humanity within the panoply of life on earth. This project attempts to reorient and expand theological anthropology to include the ecological dimension in Christian perspective to cultivate an understanding of the ecological self. This project will place traditional interpretations of what it means to be human into conversation with twentieth-century ecological philosophies and Native American spirituality in order to broaden the Christian imagination for understanding ourselves within creation. Vine Deloria’s analyses of Western temporal thinking and spatial thinking demonstrated by Native worldviews provides perspective for necessary theological shifts …
The Thirty Years' War: Examining The Origins And Effects Of Corpus Christianum's Defining Conflict, Justin Mcmurdie
The Thirty Years' War: Examining The Origins And Effects Of Corpus Christianum's Defining Conflict, Justin Mcmurdie
Seminary Masters Theses
The following thesis is an examination of the Thirty Years’ War. This conflict, from 1618-1648 in the “Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation,” was the culminating conflict of the Reformation era and set the stage for the modern world. Much scholarly debate in recent years has centered on whether or not the Thirty Years’ War was a “religious” conflict. A great deal of recent work has tended to minimize or discount the religious element of the conflict. This current thesis attempts to engage this debate and to argue that the war’s origins did indeed lie in religious concerns. This …
Trinitarian Theorizing And Mystery As A Way Forward: A Critical Examination Of The Forms Of Trinitarian Hypothesizing, Why They Fail, And Why Mystery Is A Way Forward, Matthew J. Conniry
Trinitarian Theorizing And Mystery As A Way Forward: A Critical Examination Of The Forms Of Trinitarian Hypothesizing, Why They Fail, And Why Mystery Is A Way Forward, Matthew J. Conniry
Seminary Masters Theses
Scholarship reveals that there are at least two primary ways of handling the issue incumbent within Trinitarian theorizing. Most theologians resolve the issue by addressing the inconsistencies, finding various ways to make important distinctions to eliminate apparent contradictions. This is no doubt the most popular route. Among these are social Trinitarians and Latin Trinitarians. A rough distinction can be made here, wherein social Trinitarians start with the Threeness of God and reason from that stance that God is one by an inexorable and eternal loving relationship. Oppositely, Latin Trinitarians start with God as one and reason how God can possibly …
The Perfect Priest: An Examination Of Leviticus 21:17-23, Jared Wilson
The Perfect Priest: An Examination Of Leviticus 21:17-23, Jared Wilson
Seminary Masters Theses
Leviticus 21:17-23 is a text that discriminates against priests who have one of the twelve blemishes listed, approaching the text with the intent to redeem the text for modern application. An exploration in the role of priests in the ancient Near East will show how the priests were human representations of the deity and many cultures and religions had physical restrictions for the priests similar to Lev 21:17-23. Examining the language of Lev 21:17-23 will show that the restrictions were not merely symbolic but intended to stop blemished priests from approaching the altar. However, they were not statements about the …
Golden Mouth, Empty Pockets: An Investigation Of The Motivations And Aims Behind John Chrysostom's Theology Of Wealth And Poverty, Matthew Ingalls
Golden Mouth, Empty Pockets: An Investigation Of The Motivations And Aims Behind John Chrysostom's Theology Of Wealth And Poverty, Matthew Ingalls
Seminary Masters Theses
This thesis seeks to master the field of scholarly discourse surrounding John Chrysostom's motivations and aims for his theology of wealth and poverty. The study takes care to situate Chrysostom in his social, political, and theological contexts. Then the paper sets out to examine ancient attitudes toward Chrysostom and his theology. Then a comprehensive description of modern Chrysostomic studies is attempted. These approaches are grouped into three broad categories. The first is the theistic factor category, which encompasses scholars who understand Chrysostom primarily from a theological standpoint. The second category is the social-scientific approach. Practitioners of this method seek to …
Co-Sustenance: An Alternative To Stewardship, Matt Addis
Co-Sustenance: An Alternative To Stewardship, Matt Addis
Seminary Masters Theses
This thesis is concerned with the current ecological realities and the inability of current stewardship construct's to adequately address these problems. This study addresses the underlying weaknesses of current articulations of stewardship theologies. It also engages with the scientific theories that form the basis for stewardship theologies, as well as those theories that might offer alternative narratives for ecological and biotic understandings. This study also addresses the underlying ethical realities of current ecological crises. Finally this thesis seeks to offer an alternative to traditional Christian understandings of the relationship of humanity to nature. Chapter one introduces the reader to the …
On Being In Relation With All Created Things (An Ecofeminist, Evangelical, Theological Anthropology), Jennifer L. Butler
On Being In Relation With All Created Things (An Ecofeminist, Evangelical, Theological Anthropology), Jennifer L. Butler
Seminary Masters Theses
No abstract provided.
A Social Literary Study Of Hebrew Esther: Characterizations As A Narrative Construct For Discussing Diasporic Identity, Sara Vulgan
Seminary Masters Theses
This study is a preliminary attempt to ascertain insights into diasporic Persian/Second-Temple period ideas concerning Jewish identity. Through the book of Esther this study utilizes the methodological tool of literary characterizations as a means for gaining insight into the narrator's conceptual framework. The first section highlights some of the important recent Esther studies, along with studies concerned with sociological questions and the Hebrew bible. Section two presents a broad discussion of the sociological and literary concerns for this study. The third section presents a study on the characterizations of the story's co-protagonists, Esther and Mordecai. Two aspects of characterization, the …
Beyond Change- Overcoming The Barriers To Small Rural Church Revitalization, Allen F. Wachter
Beyond Change- Overcoming The Barriers To Small Rural Church Revitalization, Allen F. Wachter
Seminary Masters Theses
Many of the rural churches of the Free Methodist Denomination in the Northeast region of the United States have experienced substantial stagnation and/or decline of their attendance rates over the past five years. This begs the questions, "What is preventing these churches from being revitalized so they too can be used as vessels to grow the Kingdom of God?" Though many obstructions to kingdom growth1 exist, this study focuses on the following five barriers: resistance to change, under-utilization of spiritual gifts, relational dysfunction, apathy, and lack of love. The source of these barriers was discovered through personal observation and experience …
The Logic Of Reformation: The Metaphysical Basis Of John Wyclif's Theology, David Manning
The Logic Of Reformation: The Metaphysical Basis Of John Wyclif's Theology, David Manning
Seminary Masters Theses
No abstract provided.
From Pacifism To Just War Theory : The Development Of Christian Attitudes To War And Military Service From The Late First Century To The Early Fifth Century, Luke Arnold
Seminary Masters Theses
No abstract provided.
Contextualizing The Gospel To Muslims, Maya J. Morgan
Contextualizing The Gospel To Muslims, Maya J. Morgan
Seminary Masters Theses
Muslims are considered some of the least reached peoples in the world. As "Christianity" is often associated with Colonialism, the Crusades, and Western culture, traditional models of “casting the seed” have proven ineffective. Those seeking to share the goodness with Muslims must explore new contextual ways to communicate the message of Christ to the Islamic community. This thesis begins by defining and giving a brief history of contextualization. Basic methods of contextualization are explained, and issued of syncretism are addressed in chapter one.
Contextualization must be practiced when communicating the good news. Chapter two focuses on the aspects of cross-‐cultural …
The Agency Of The Logos-Huios: Exploring The Influence Of Deut 18:15-22 On The Prologue Of The Fourth Gospel, Johndave C. Medina
The Agency Of The Logos-Huios: Exploring The Influence Of Deut 18:15-22 On The Prologue Of The Fourth Gospel, Johndave C. Medina
Seminary Masters Theses
This study explores the influence of the Jewish agency principle found in Deut 18:15–22 on the Prologue of the Fourth Gospel (John 1:1–18). Seeking to answer the question of the Prologue’s background, this study examines the scholarly treatments of agency in the Fourth Gospel, and the agency motif in both Deut 18 and the Prologue. The agency in the Fourth Gospel is similar, if not identical, to the principle of agency in Jewish law that the agent is representative of the principal in every way. This agency motif is applied to Moses as he represents YHWH to the Pharaoh and …
The Relational Soteriology Of Irenaeus Of Lyon, Brian Bews
The Relational Soteriology Of Irenaeus Of Lyon, Brian Bews
Seminary Masters Theses
No abstract provided.
World War I And Peace : The Development And Rise Of The Peace Process In Early Twentieth Century United States, Jeff Pugh
Seminary Masters Theses
No abstract provided.
Holistic Discipleship In The Shadow Of The Cross: An Interdisciplinary Investigation Of The Anthropological Foundations Of Western Theology And Praxis, Jeddediah Maclaurin
Holistic Discipleship In The Shadow Of The Cross: An Interdisciplinary Investigation Of The Anthropological Foundations Of Western Theology And Praxis, Jeddediah Maclaurin
Seminary Masters Theses
No abstract provided.
Atonement In Hosea And The Prodigal Son: Relationality As Personhood And The Being Of God, Stephen Sherwood
Atonement In Hosea And The Prodigal Son: Relationality As Personhood And The Being Of God, Stephen Sherwood
Seminary Masters Theses
My project will provide a survey of traditional atonement metaphors, with a particular emphasis upon contrasting penal substitution with a covenantal relational understanding of the atonement, and will then posit that a covenantal relational approach is ideal for resonance with a postmodem audience.
I will seek to determine whether any single biblical metaphor or cluster of metaphors provides an interpretive matrix for all discussion of the atonement in a way that is both biblically faithful and conceptually accessible to a postmodem world. I contend that atonement discussions in typical evangelical contexts may be both biblically insufficient and culturally inadequate and …
Jesus And The Breath Of Life: An Exegesis Of John 20:22 In Historical And Modern Interpretation An Obscure And Mysterious Text, Douglas W. Balzer
Jesus And The Breath Of Life: An Exegesis Of John 20:22 In Historical And Modern Interpretation An Obscure And Mysterious Text, Douglas W. Balzer
Seminary Masters Theses
John 20:22 is an obscure and mysterious text where Jesus is represented as breathing upon his disciples in a manner that appears to resemble the insufflation of humanity by God, or the breathing of the "breath of life" in Adam's nostrils in Genesis 2:7. Through an exegetical study of Johannine text and the Greek term έμφυσάω in relationship with the LXX, Apocrypha and Qumran Scrolls, a direct correlation is established between the theology of John and the theology in the LXX. The relevant historical, Nicene and post-Nicene Fathers, and modem interpretations are examined in order to discover what crucial issues …
Reading Scripture With Both Eyes Open: God's Story Could Be Hazardous To Your Status Quo, Winn Griffin
Reading Scripture With Both Eyes Open: God's Story Could Be Hazardous To Your Status Quo, Winn Griffin
Seminary Masters Theses
The real-world ministry problem addressed in this dissertation is: Scripture is often read and studied in a de-storied, fragmented way as a result of the Enlightenment Project. This problem will be addressed by: proposing a theological narrative (Stor/) as the alternative way of reading and studying Scripture.
Section 1 will discuss the problem of how readers of Scripture can be helped to understand themselves within the larger narrative of the Story presented from Genesis to Revelation. Section 2 will discuss the problem of reading the text of Scripture in a fragmented way as a result of the Enlightenment's propensity toward …