Christianity Commons^™

A Christian Imagination For Ai: Scripture, Screens, And The Shape Of Our Souls, David J. Mulder

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

No abstract provided.

Beowulf And Théoden: Differing Teaching Methods Of Hrothgar And Gandalf, Ali Mirzabayati

Journal of Tolkien Research

Most studies on the character of Théoden in The Lord of the Rings center on Germanic heroic themes like courage and oath-keeping, often emphasizing his renewal by Gandalf at Meduseld and his death at the Battle of Pelennor Fields. This perspective overlooks Théoden's growth in wisdom and hope between these events. During this period, Théoden learns about the various forces in Middle-earth and contemplates his role in the broader world, leading to a profound sense of humility. Building on Tolkien's inspiration from Beowulf, this paper compares Théoden and Beowulf to explore their learning processes and heroic outcomes. This comparison …

Restoring Sacred Priorities: Laying Down The Idol Of Family, Leah Mouw

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"While marriage and family are good gifts, they are not the goal of the Christian life."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­prioritizing our relationship with God from In All Things, an online hub that offers insight into maintaining and faithful and orthodox Reformed Christian worldview while fearlessly engaging in every aspect of contemporary life – until all is made new.

Restoring Sacred Priorities

Making Sense Of Modernity, Donald Roth

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"We don’t like the ambivalence of being both grateful for what God has given us and yet sorrowful over the human sin or suffering that came along the way. We are prone to distortion and idolatry when we embrace either of these one-sided narratives."

Posting about the allure of our modern world from In All Things, an online hub that offers insight into maintaining and faithful and orthodox Reformed Christian worldview while fearlessly engaging in every aspect of contemporary life – until all is made new.

Making Sense of Modernity

Gen Z And Gen Alpha: Designing Theology Courses For A Digital And Ai Generation, Maurice N. Emelu

Jesuit Higher Education: A Journal

This exploratory article examines strategies for teaching theology to Generations Z and Alpha, emphasizing their digital-native traits and unique learning preferences. It argues that theology education thrives when students engage with reflective, creative, and relevant content. Drawing from experiences at a Jesuit college and education research, it introduces the OAEPA strategy—Observation, Analysis, Evaluation, Production, and Assessment—as a framework for designing theology courses. The approach encourages active participation, critical thinking, creativity, and personal relevance, aligning with Jesuit traditions of reflection and discovery. The paper uses examples such as a theme in sacramental theology to show how theological ideas can be meaningful …

Why Calvin? Naming A Seminary After A Theologian Of Consolation, Sam Ha

CTS Faculty Publications and Creative Activity

No abstract provided.

How John Calvin Shaped Modern Seminary Education, Karin Maag

CTS Faculty Publications and Creative Activity

No abstract provided.

Why Calvin? Naming A Seminary After A Theologian Of Consolation, Sam Neulsaem Ha

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Restoration Quarterly: Vol. 67, No. 3

Restoration Quarterly

No abstract provided.

Volume 11 Issue 10 (July 1912)

The Soul Winner

No abstract provided.

Evolving Ontology And The Case Against Predictive Algorithms In The U.S. Justice System, Eryn Reyes Leong

Say Something Theological: The Student Journal of Theological Studies

In the United States today, predictive algorithms, a particular form of artificial intelligence (AI), permeate all segments of society, including the criminal justice system. With the help of AI, judges are able to “plug” defendants into algorithms and generate outputs that produce a deterministic and homogenous view of defendants. Proponents of predictive algorithms cite accuracy, neutrality, fairness, and efficiency, but what is missing from their calculus is the human person, the central figure who shapes and is shaped by algorithms. Using the story of defendant Darnell Gates as a case study, this article seeks to contribute to the development of …

Serving Others Using Generative Ai, Kenneth C. Arnold

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Ken Arnold, computer science professor at Calvin University, explores the idea of use Generative AI as a tool to help us serve others.

Dry Bones Can Live Again : Best Practices For Replanting Independent Christian Churches, R. Steve Bolin

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Issues That Ministers Identify As Factors Contributing To Anxiety And Depression, Heather Sawtelle

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

Although mental health is an emerging topic within the church community, the stigmatization of mental illness within ministers’ lives can create a myriad of personal beliefs that can lead to shame and discontent in ministers’ lives. Many ministers have daily stressors that compromise their mental health, and these stressors can contribute to depression or anxiety. This study defined mental health issues and described mental illness’ influence on ministers’ lives and the factors that contribute to mental health issues. This health condition, described as mental illness, involves significant changes in thinking, emotion, behavior, distress, and problems functioning in social, work, or …

In Vivo Pulse-Chase In Caenorhabditis Elegans Reveals Intestinal Histone Turnover Changes Upon Starvation, Christopher Borchers, Kara Osburn, Hyun Cheol Roh, Scott T. Aoki

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

The ability to study protein dynamics and function in the authentic context of a multicellular organism is paramount to better understand biological phenomena in animal health and disease. Pulse-chase of self-labeling fusion protein tags provides the opportunity to label proteins of interest and track those proteins over time. There are currently several challenges associated with performing in vivo protein pulse-chase in animals, such as cost, reproducibility, and accurate detection methods. The Caenorhabditis elegans model organism has attributes that alleviate many of these challenges. This work tests the feasibility of applying the Halo modified enzyme (HaloTag) for in vivo protein pulse-chase …

Faith On The Frontlines: Exploring The Religiosity Of Ukrainian Soldiers During War, Alexander Karlsson

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Wartime religiosity among Ukrainian Christian soldiers reveals a spectrum of spiritual responses shaped by personal experience, cultural identity, and institutional dynamics. Interview-based evidence indicates that war influences religious engagement in diverse and often contradictory ways. For many, religiosity intensifies during moments of danger, functioning more as a coping mechanism than a transformation of belief. Institutional realignment may also reflect broader socio-political changes, as soldiers gravitate toward religious communities that resonate with their evolving values. For some, the adoption of Norse mythology illustrates the fluidity and adaptability of religious identity in wartime. Simultaneously, confrontations with theodicy may give rise to both …

The Paradoxical Effect: How Destruction Of Religious Buildings In Ukraine Undermined Russian Propaganda Narratives (2022-2024), Oleksandr Kostiuk, Fedir Vlasenko, Vitalii Turenko

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This research examines the paradoxical relationship between the destruction of religious buildings in Ukraine during the Russian invasion and the effectiveness of Russian propaganda narratives. Using a mixed-methods approach combining statistical data, sociological surveys, and document analysis, we investigate how the systematic targeting of Ukrainian religious sites by Russian forces has produced effects contrary to those likely intended. The research reveals that instead of undermining Ukrainian national identity, the destruction of churches and other religious buildings has catalyzed profound transformations in Ukraine's religious landscape, accelerated the transition of parishes from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) to the Orthodox Church …

The Canonical Status Of The Serbian Patriarch In The Statute Of The Macedonian Orthodox Church From 1960 And Its Differing Interpretations By The Two Churches, Ivan Yovchev

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

After lengthy negotiations that began in the 1940s between the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) and the Macedonian Orthodox Church (MOC) regarding the latter’s autocephaly, the Holy Synod of the SOC initially rejected the decisions of the Initiative Council for the formation of the Macedonian Church. However, at a later stage, the SOC revised its stance, and by 1959, it not only recognized the existence of the Macedonian Church but also granted it the right to independent organization and governance in the form of autonomy. The recognized autonomy of the MOC was met with mixed reactions among Macedonian church leaders. The …

Religious Faith In The Context Of The Russian-Ukrainian War: Challenges And Risks, Olena Predko, Mykola Ptytsia

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article examines the role of religious faith in the context of the russian-Ukrainian war, its impact on society, and the challenges and risks faced by religious communities and believers. The study analyzes how the war brings the issue of religious faith-seeking to the forefront, its semantic nuances, and how it transforms religious identity and the level of religiosity among the population. Special attention is given to the use of religious faith in hybrid warfare, the issue of spiritual support for both military personnel and civilians, as well as the risks associated with the politicization of religious life. The article …

Ties That Bind: A Study Of Relational Networks And Spiritual Formation, Joshua Michael Leborious

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In His earthly ministry, Christ tasked the church with the responsibility of making disciples. Today, God calls leaders into professional ministry to discern specific means of doing so. The calling does not make that task easy and the methods for making disciple vary greatly, leaving Christian leaders overwhelmed by trying to figure out how to disciple the people in their care. A mountain of sources suggest that a relational approach has remarkable potential for making disciples. The purpose of this quantitative research study was to explore the potential relationship between relational networks and quantifiable habits of spiritual formation for adult, …