Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Haanen, Jeff. Working From The Inside Out: A Brief Guide To Inner Work That Transforms Our Outer World. Downers Grove, Il: Intervarsity Press, 2023., Addison Lucchi

The Christian Librarian

No abstract provided.

Wright, N.T. The New Testament For Everyone: A Fresh Translation (3rd Ed.). Grand Rapids, Mi: Zondervan, 2023., Alec K. Ellis

The Christian Librarian

No abstract provided.

Coffman, Elesha J. Turning Points In American Church History: How Pivotal Events Shaped A Nation And A Faith. Grand Rapids, Mi: Baker Academic, 2024., Rebecca A. Halberg

The Christian Librarian

No abstract provided.

Enhancing User Experience In Small Academic Libraries: Leveraging Matomo Analytics As A Ux Design Tool., Michael D. Wells

The Christian Librarian

As changes have occurred with Google Analytics over the past two years, web design professionals have sought alternative platforms to gain valuable insight on how users are interacting with online content. Academic libraries are no different in their desire to assess user interaction and behavior within their online platforms. In 2019, the Benedictine Library at Thomas More University transitioned to using Matomo Analytics out of a desire to find a low-cost and privacy-centric alternative to Google Analytics. While serving as the Library Director at Thomas More University from 2018 to 2021 and then as the Library Director at Wilmington College …

The Structure Of The Anti-Religious Unit Of The Soviet Secret Service (1953 – 1956), Oleksandr Korotaiev

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article is devoted to the issue of reforming the Soviet Security Services and their network of agents during the period of de-Stalinization (1953-1956). The directions of this reform were studied, and how these reforms affected changes in their activities in the religious sphere was traced. Based on a study of the KGB reporting documentation, as well as the personal files of KGB employees, the structure of the anti-religious division of the KGB and its peripheral offices was revealed for the first time, the main directions of its activities were indicated, the pseudonyms of secret agents working in these areas …

Frontmatter (Volume 44, Issue 6), Paul B. Mojzes

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

No abstract provided.

Religious Motives In Ukrainian Folklore: Linguistic Analysis, Olena Svysiuk, Zoya Biloshytska

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The paper explores the profound influence of religious motifs on the national identity of Ukrainians, emphasizing their impact on cultural, social, and spiritual dimensions. The enduring significance of religion in shaping cultural and societal development is highlighted, with particular attention to the intricate interplay of religious and national themes throughout Ukrainian history. In the context of contemporary globalization, the study underscores the critical role of religious elements in folklore, art, and literature as custodians of cultural memory and transmitters of traditional values. Ukrainian folklore, especially rich in religious themes, serves as a vital means of preserving national ideals and ethical …

Review Of Rowan Williams's Passions Of The Soul. London: Bloomsbury Continuum, James R. Payton Jr.

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

A review of Rowan Williams, Passions of the Soul. London: Bloomsbury Continuum, 2024. $15.00 (paperback). ISBN: 978-1-3994-1568-2. 160 pages.

Educational And Charitable Activities Of Baptist Christians: On The Example Of The Religious Organization Of Evangelical Christians Baptists, Called 'Church Of The Nativity,' In Zhytomyr, Nataliia Kovtun, Iryna Vitiuk, Olena Polishchuk

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Over the past three decades, and especially in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war (2014-2024), Ukrainian Evangelical Christian Baptists have been actively engaged in charitable and educational activities. The article examines this activity through content analysis and statistical analysis of the statutory documents, website, and YouTube channels of the Church of the Nativity of Evangelical Christians Baptists (ECB) in Zhytomyr (Ukraine).

The study found that the church's charitable activities are carried out in several areas: the ministry of parishioners and elders of the Nativity Church of the Baptist Church of Zhytomyr within the framework of the Christian Center for Social …

Youth Engagement In Religious Practices Within Macedonian Society, Ruzica Cacanoska, Ivan Blazevski Phd

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Official statistical data and various research studies indicate that a significant portion of the Macedonian population identifies as religious. However, these studies also reveal that many of these individuals are nominal believers, adhering to traditional practices without deep engagement. This trend has sparked an interest in exploring the religiosity of the younger generation, which, though often superficial, has gained prominence in recent years. Existing research, albeit limited, has examined young people's religiosity, their perceptions of religion, and the influence of religious values on their daily lives and practices. To gain a comprehensive understanding of young people's attitudes towards religion in …

Review Of Aleksandra Djurić-Milovanović'S, “The Untold Journey Of The Nazarene Emigration From Yugoslavia To North America“, Marko Galić

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

A review of Aleksandra Djurić-Milovanović, “The Untold Journey of the Nazarene Emigration from Yugoslavia to North America“ Lexington Books, 2024, 158 pp.

ISBN: 978-1-66692-276-9

Civilians Under Siege In War-Torn Ukraine: Human Rights Ngo And Faith-Based Responses, Mark R. Elliott

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

A central tenet of international humanitarian law states that in armed conflict, “It is unlawful to target civilians.” Stressing this prohibition in the case of the Russian assault on vulnerable Ukrainian civilians is not only the United Nations but the European Union, the World Health Organization, the Office of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and the Humanitarian NGO Platform in Ukraine, representing 75 Ukrainian and international NGOs assisting Ukraine in the present war. Zaher Sahloul, president and co-founder of MedGlobal, argues in favor of a recognition of Russia’s current efforts “to erase Ukrainian identity and culture” as a genocide. …

Catholic Traditionalism In Poland: Some Current Trends, Tomasz Dekert, Oleh Sokolovskyi

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article reviews the issues related to the contemporary Catholic traditionalist movement, with a focus on its Polish branch and noticeable trends within it. Traditionalism emerged in the second half of the 20th century in reaction to the transformative processes within Catholicism associated with the Second Vatican Council. A comprehensive reform of Catholic liturgy, conducted between 1964 and 1975, played a particularly significant role in its spread. In Poland, it became noticeable only after the regime change in 1989, both in the form defined by the Apostolic See’s indults of the 1980s and in a more radical form associated with …

González, Justo. The Bible In The Early Church. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2022., Alec K. Ellis

The Christian Librarian

No abstract provided.

Wilson, Debbie W. Little Strength, Big God. Abilene, Tx: Leafwood Publishers, 2023., Katie M. Meeks

The Christian Librarian

No abstract provided.

Do We Know What The "Russian World" Is? Some Remarks On A Disputed Term, Thomas Bremer

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This draft law has many aspects. It proposes different ways of banning a religious organization which is either “affiliated” with a religious community in Russia, or which meets other conditions. Some of its phrasing and formulations have been criticized for being so unclear that applying their criteria would be tricky. Among them is the “Russian World ideology.“ In the latest draft of the law, a religious community can be banned if it is used for the “promotion of the propaganda of the ideology of ‘Russian World’.” Given that there has been a debate on the “Russian World” idea in the …

The Russian World: A Version Of Aggressive Ethnophyletism, Ioannis Kaminis Dr.

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The current paper deals with religious nationalism as a challenge in the Orthodox Church, especially following the 19th and early 20th-century formation of Balkan nation-states. This issue ties the Church closely with national identity, strengthening ethnocultural bonds and state relations, leading to national Churches that prioritize national revival over salvation in Christ. This phenomenon, called phyletism, has created heretical divisions within the Church. An aggressive version of Ethnophyletism the so-called "Russian World", which initially was focused on cultural influence after the collapse of USSR. Under Vladimir Putin, it evolved to justify protecting Russian compatriots abroad, supported by figures like Alexander …

Barna, George. Raising Spiritual Champions: Nurturing Your Child’S Heart, Mind And Soul. Glendale, Az: Arizona Christian University Press, 2023., Robert J. Oliverio

The Christian Librarian

No abstract provided.

The Conflict Of Orthodox Narratives In Ukrainian Society: Searching For A Methodology To Analyze The Religious Crisis, Hennadii Khrystokin, Vasyl Lozovytskyi

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

As a result of the study, we were able to establish that the crisis of Ukrainian Orthodoxy is a conflict that has a clear linguistic and symbolic dimension. In order to analyze the conflict between Orthodox actors, it is advisable to use a critical-reflective methodology that allows for the analysis of both theological language and the tools that form this language. We have been able to establish that the Orthodox crisis in Ukraine reflects a conflict between the religious narratives and practices of the UOC and the OCU, the root cause of which is an internal crisis between the narratives …

The Dynamics Of The Involvement Of The Georgian Orthodox Church In The Process Of European Integration: Perspectives, Transformations, And Challenges, Mariam Khakhutaishvili

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This paper explores the role of the Georgian Orthodox Church in the European integration process, considering historical, cultural, and political factors. Despite Georgia's explicit foreign policy objective of integrating into the European Union, the Church's stance exhibits a blend of both support and ambivalence. As a key symbol of national identity, the Church raises concerns regarding potential conflicts between its traditional values and contemporary Western values. Given its status as the most influential social institution in the country, the Church's position significantly shapes political discourse. This paper presents a nuanced perspective on the Georgian Orthodox Church's involvement in Georgia's foreign …

The Experience Of Religious Organizations In The Formation And Development Of The Chaplaincy Movement In Ukraine, Oleh Sokolovskyi, Vadym Sluysar, Olha Hordiichuk

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The formation and development of relations between the Armed Forces of Ukraine and religious organizations, as well as the conditions and factors that influenced the formation of the institution of military chaplaincy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, were analyzed. It was determined that Russia's military aggression against Ukraine actualized the issue of urgent reform of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The modernization of the Ukrainian army required not only structural changes in the military administration, the transition to NATO standards, but also the creation of qualitatively new conditions for meeting the religious needs of Ukrainian servicemen. With the beginning …

Response To Repressions: Lithuanian Clergy In Dramatic Post-War Turmoil, Regina Laukaityte

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

For a long time after the war, Lithuanians were convinced that the United States of America and England would demand that Stalin withdraw his troops from the occupied European countries. Predictions of imminent political change, based on all sorts of reasoning rather than evidence, continued to circulate among the people. The hopes of liberation were directly linked with the phenomenon of hiding, a self-defense against assumed or imminent Stalinist repression. The aim of this article is to highlight the causes and prevalence of the phenomenon of hiding in Lithuania in the face of Soviet repressions, and the role of the …

Frontmatter (Volume 44, Issue 3), Paul Mojzes

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

No abstract provided.

Religious Security: Its Essence And Main Factors (Ukrainian Context), Olena Predko, Denys Predko

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Religious security is the protection of the religious space from internal and external threats, which is a particularly important issue in Ukraine today. In the premodern era, the idea of security was formed, which ensured, on the one hand, the development of a certain system of practices as auxiliary factors of neutralizing fear, insecurity, etc., and on the other hand, contributed to strengthening the protective function of various gods and forces as a means of preserving human integrity. In contrast, in the Christian worldview, chain interdependence is built between the concepts of “prayer,” “religious faith,” and “religious freedom,” the totality …

The Assault On Protestants And Other Minority Faiths In Russian-Occupied Ukraine, Mark R. Elliott

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 Russian forces have been responsible for damaging or destroying at least 660 churches and other religious structures, including at least 206 belonging to Protestants.1 The largest number of Protestant churches damaged or destroyed have been Pentecostal (94), Evangelical Christian-Baptist (60), and Seventh-day Adventist (27).2 And what Russians have not destroyed or seized they have closed and banned for purposes of worship.3 For example, in the portions of the Luhansk Region under Russian and pro-Russian separatist control not a single Protestant church remains open for worship, and in Russian-occupied Donetsk Region, only …

Frontmatter (Volume 44, Issue 2), Paul B. Mojzes

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

No abstract provided.

Miscellaneous, Bruce R. Johnson

Sehnsucht: The C. S. Lewis Journal

Announcements:

Call for papers (The Abolition of Man 80 Years On)

The C. S. Lewis Correspondence Project

The Inaugural Undiscovered C.S. Lewis Conference (George Fox University, Newberg, Oregon September 5-8, 2024)

Submission guidelines, style guide, copyright notice, and order form.

Review Of Further Up And Further In, Bruce R. Johnson

Sehnsucht: The C. S. Lewis Journal

Review of Further Up and Further In. Written and performed by Max McLean. Phoenix, AZ: Herberger Theater, 18 March 2023.

Review Of Bareface, David Bates

Sehnsucht: The C. S. Lewis Journal

Review of C. S. Lewis, Bareface (Proposed title for Till We Have Faces). Produced by Ballet 5:8. Choreography and Lighting by Julianna Rubio Slager. Costumes by Lorianne Robertson. Props by Sarah L. Freeman. Chicago, United States: Harris Theatre, 22 April 2023.

Review Of The Nature Of Middle-Earth, Brenton D.G. Dickieson

Sehnsucht: The C. S. Lewis Journal

Review of J. R. R. Tolkien, The Nature of Middle-earth, ed. by Carl Hostetter (New York: Mariner Books, 2021). 464 pages, including appendices and index. $32.00. ISBN 9780358454601.