Proxy End-Of-Life Decision-Making: Ethical, Religious And Existential Dimensions,
2026
Loyola Marymount University and Loyola Law School
Proxy End-Of-Life Decision-Making: Ethical, Religious And Existential Dimensions, Deborah Kaufman Giordano
Say Something Theological: The Student Journal of Theological Studies
End-of-life decision-making conducted by medical proxies on behalf of incapacitated loved ones presents profound theological, ethical, and existential challenges. In the qualitative study “Influence of Culture and Spiritual Tradition on Support for Families of Children Dying in Intensive Care Units” (Journal of Pediatric Nursing), Ju et al found that the most painful moment for parents and proxies was not the death itself, but the agonizing decision to withdraw life-sustaining treatment. As a hospital chaplain, I have witnessed these moments where faith, culture, and medical ethics collide. This paper argues that proxy decision-making cannot be understood solely through the lens of …
Brooding Upon The Waters: A Memoir Of Farming, Fishing, And Failure In America's Lost Landscape (Book Review),
2026
Dordt College
Brooding Upon The Waters: A Memoir Of Farming, Fishing, And Failure In America's Lost Landscape (Book Review), Abby De Groot
Pro Rege
Reviewed Title: Brooding Upon the Waters: A Memoir of Farming, Fishing, and Failure in America's Lost Landscape by Howard Schaap. Slant Books, 2025. 238 pp. ISBN: 9781639822096.
Undergraduate Commencement Address 2026: Let's Go Exploring,
2026
Dordt College
Undergraduate Commencement Address 2026: Let's Go Exploring, Tom J. Clark
Pro Rege
No abstract provided.
Theology As The Queen Of The Sciences? Kuyper, Bavinck, And Dooyeweerd,
2026
Dordt University
Theology As The Queen Of The Sciences? Kuyper, Bavinck, And Dooyeweerd, Steve Bishop, Renato Coletto
Pro Rege
No abstract provided.
Targum Jonathan (Tgj) On Isaiah 6, A Literary-Interpretative Translation,
2026
Pace University
Targum Jonathan (Tgj) On Isaiah 6, A Literary-Interpretative Translation, Maksim Astashinskiy
Faculty Papers and Publications
[1] The pointed text is from “Targum Jonathan on Isaiah 6,” Sefaria Library, accessed August 16, 2026, https://www.sefaria.org/Targum_Jonathan_on_Isaiah.6?lang=bi; the public domain source text on Sefaria is from The Chaldee paraphrase on the prophet Isaiah [by Jonathan b. Uzziel], Trans. Rev. C.W.H. Pauli (London: London Society’s House, 1871), 20–22, https://archive.org/details/chaldeeparaphra00uzzigoog/page/n36/mode/2up. A hyperlinked, alternative public domain version with textual variants is available as “51012: TgJ Is” in The Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon (CAL): Hebrew Union College, accessed August 16, 2026, https://cal.huc.edu/get_a_chapter.php?file=51012&sub=06&cset=H. Researchers can also view a superliner pointed text, see: “51012: TgJ Is,” CAL, accessed August …
Finding Home: How Richard Mouw And Dordt's Community Healed My Heart,
2026
Dordt University
Finding Home: How Richard Mouw And Dordt's Community Healed My Heart, Brad D. Hickey
Pro Rege
No abstract provided.
Shocking Words And Helper Spirit,
2026
Dordt University
A Kuyperian Solution To The Contemporary Problem Of Individualism Manifested In Eucharistic Practice,
2026
Dordt University
A Kuyperian Solution To The Contemporary Problem Of Individualism Manifested In Eucharistic Practice, Isaac Krommendyk
Pro Rege
Issac Krommendyk, a senior at Dordt University majoring in History and Spanish, submitted this winning paper to the Lambertus Verberg Prize for Excellence in Kuyperian Scholarship, 2026
A Model For A Christian Business,
2026
Dordt University
Resisting A Consumeristic Approach To Reading In Our Lives (And Our Classrooms),
2026
Dordt University
Resisting A Consumeristic Approach To Reading In Our Lives (And Our Classrooms), Elise Kamp
Pro Rege
Reviwed Title: Deep Reading: Practices to Subvert the Vices of Our Distracted, Hostile, and Consumeristic Age by Rachel Griffis, Julie OOms, and Rachel De Smith Roberts. Baker Academic, 2024. 230 pp. ISBN: 9781493446023.
Book Review: Damian Cyrocki, The Mariavites: Heresy, The Apocalypse, And Poland’S Female Savior,
2026
George Fox University
Book Review: Damian Cyrocki, The Mariavites: Heresy, The Apocalypse, And Poland’S Female Savior, John Grondelski
Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe
A review of Damian Cyrocki, The Mariavites: Heresy, the Apocalypse, and Poland’s Female Savior. Equinox Publishing, 2025. ISBN: 978-1800505650
Ukrainian Theology, War, And Human Transformation: Reflections On The International Conference ‘Transfiguration: Tradition And Eschatology,
2026
Volyn Orthodox Theological Academy, Lutsk, Ukraine
Ukrainian Theology, War, And Human Transformation: Reflections On The International Conference ‘Transfiguration: Tradition And Eschatology, Vladyslav Fulmes
Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe
On June 11, 2026, the Volyn Orthodox Theological Academy (Lutsk, Ukraine) hosted the international theological conference “Transfiguration: Tradition and Eschatology”, bringing together scholars, clergy, philosophers, chaplains, psychologists, and researchers from several countries. This report examines the conference’s principal theological and interdisciplinary themes, including deification, eschatology, ecclesiology, ecological responsibility, pastoral care, military and medical chaplaincy, digital technologies, and the Church’s response to war and post-war reconstruction.
Basic Trends In The Contemporary Development Of State-Church Relations In Ukraine: A Sociological Perspective,
2026
H.S. Skovoroda Institute of Philosophy, NAS of Ukraine
Basic Trends In The Contemporary Development Of State-Church Relations In Ukraine: A Sociological Perspective, Oleksandr Sagan, Galyna Sagan
Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe
Based on an analysis of research from sociological centers and institutes consistently operating in Ukraine, the authors present a comprehensive overview of the main trends occurring within the realm of state-church and inter-church relations. Specifically, the article addresses the trends in the self-identification of Orthodox believers in Ukraine, the dynamics of which sociologists have tracked since the beginning of the twenty-first century, as well as the changes unfolding in inter-Orthodox relations following the 2022 full-scale invasion. Crucial to this analysis is the highlighted inconsistency of state institutions in implementing the new law, Про захист конституційного ладу у сфері діяльності релігійних …
Preserving Identity Under Totalitarianism: The Adaptation And Resilience Of Muslim Communities In The Soviet Union,
2026
Akdeniz University
Preserving Identity Under Totalitarianism: The Adaptation And Resilience Of Muslim Communities In The Soviet Union, Meltem Akıncı
Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe
This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the methods employed by Muslim peoples in the former Soviet Union to preserve their traditional, spiritual, and religious identity under the systemic anti-religious policies, ideological pressures, and repressive measures of the Soviet totalitarian regime. Despite the Soviet authorities' efforts to rapidly secularize society and reshape public consciousness through scientific atheism, the enduring commitment of Muslim communities to their traditional values is clearly demonstrated. The study examines the closure of mosques, the restriction of religious rituals, and the severe obstacles encountered in performing daily worship. Furthermore, it thoroughly explores the role of Sufi brotherhoods …
Religion And Economics: The Economic Views Of Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia Ii Of Georgia,
2026
Gori State University
Religion And Economics: The Economic Views Of Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia Ii Of Georgia, Giuli Giguashvili
Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe
The paper examines the impact of religion on a country’s economic development, analyzing how religious values and institutions influence economic behavior. The research employs a qualitative, comparative, and historical approach based on the systematic analysis of primary and secondary sources. Religion can promote economic growth by strengthening work ethics, education, and social order. Still, it may also hinder development through inefficient resource allocation and regulatory influence. In the context of the 1700th anniversary of Christianity in Georgia, the study highlights the relationship between Orthodox teaching and economic thought. Drawing on the epistles and sermons of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, …
Practical Aspects Of Religious Social Work In Modern Ukraine,
2026
Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University
Practical Aspects Of Religious Social Work In Modern Ukraine, Inna Vladislavivna Kovalchuk
Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe
This work analyzes the current state and specifics of the activity of religious organizations in the social sphere of Ukraine. Special attention is paid to the transformation of religious social work in the conditions of a full-scale war, where religious communities have become key agents of humanitarian, psychological and spiritual assistance. The article examines the mechanisms of interaction between the church, the state and non-governmental organizations in solving social problems. The findings are based on the practical experiences of those working with internally displaced persons (IDPs), veterans, large families, and individuals facing difficult life circumstances. Unique methods of denominational assistance …
Solidarity In Action: Social Service Of Caritas Organizations In Ukraine In Wartime,
2026
Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy
Solidarity In Action: Social Service Of Caritas Organizations In Ukraine In Wartime, Andrii Marchenko
Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe
The article is devoted to the analysis of the activities of Caritas charitable organizations in Ukraine, which are affiliated with the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (Caritas Ukraine) and the Roman Catholic Church (Caritas-Spes Ukraine), in the realities of the Russian-Ukrainian war. Particular attention is focused on considering how the fundamental ideas of Christian love, mercy, common good, and solidarity are embodied in the various practices of humanitarian, spiritual, and other support that these institutions provide to different categories of the population of Ukraine, especially those who have suffered from the destructive consequences of the war. Types of such support include, …
The Orthodox Church Of Georgia In A Shifting Political Landscape: Long Traditions, The Holy Patriarchate And Geopolitics Between The European Union And Russia,
2026
University of Helsinki
The Orthodox Church Of Georgia In A Shifting Political Landscape: Long Traditions, The Holy Patriarchate And Geopolitics Between The European Union And Russia, Elina Mirjam Siekkinen
Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe
This paper examines the geopolitical and societal effects of the 2026 patriarchal succession within the Georgian Orthodox Church (GOC), by analyzing how the recent election of Catholicos-Patriarch Shio III on May 11, 2026, impacts Georgia’s European Union integration efforts. The GOC is seen as the foundation of Georgian national identity and state legitimacy, also deeply rooted in the legacy of the late Patriarch Ilia II. The enthronement of the new Patriarch Shio III may reinforce the anti-Western narratives deployed by the ruling Georgian Dream party, which has actively delayed Georgia’s EU accession through illiberal policies such as the "Foreign Agents …
Consciousness Under Dual Pressure: Colonial Diglossia, Orthodox Missionary Activity, And Islamic Cultural Resilience In Late Imperial Kazakhstan,
2026
L.N.Gumilyov Eurasian National University
Consciousness Under Dual Pressure: Colonial Diglossia, Orthodox Missionary Activity, And Islamic Cultural Resilience In Late Imperial Kazakhstan, Aigerim Aliaskar
Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe
This article examines the relationship between religious identity, language, and educational experience in the context of the Russian Empire’s educational and Orthodox missionary policies in the Kazakh Steppe during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The primary objective of the study is to analyze the spiritual-cognitive resilience of traditional Islamic educational institutions in response to the policy of Orthodoxization and Russification implemented by the tsarist administration through the system of Nikolai Ilminsky. The author examines the phenomenon of colonial diglossia which emerged during this period, wherein Russian-Christian texts were increasingly elevated as the administrative "High-variant," while the Kazakh-Turkic identity, …
When Everything Falls Apart: On Core Values, Religion, And What Holds Societies Together,
2026
Study on Religions, University of Szeged
When Everything Falls Apart: On Core Values, Religion, And What Holds Societies Together, András Máté-Tóth
Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe
Right now my region, like much of the world, is living through upheavals that reach both nature and politics at their foundations. When I look around and take the political crises seriously — the mass protests in Serbia, the long erosion of checks and balances in Hungary, the bitter fight over the courts and the rule of law in Poland — one question keeps surfacing: are we witnessing genuinely fundamental change, or only a reshuffling on the surface of power? That question is exactly what makes the problem of core values so urgent, and so current.
