Spiritus 11, No. 1 (2026),
2026
Oral Roberts University
Spiritus 11, No. 1 (2026), Spiritus Editors
Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology
This is the full Spring issue of Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology 11, no. 1 (2026).
Get Busy Living: Leaping Out Of Confinement With Kierkegaard In The Shawshank Redemption,
2026
Heinrich-Heine-Universitat Dusseldorf
Get Busy Living: Leaping Out Of Confinement With Kierkegaard In The Shawshank Redemption, Christian Wilken
Journal of Religion & Film
This article offers a Kierkegaardian reading of The Shawshank Redemption (1994), arguing that the film functions not as a miracle narrative but as a cinematic enactment of existential theology. While existing scholarship frequently interprets Shawshank through biblical typology or Foucauldian notions of incarceration, few consider how the film dramatizes Kierkegaard’s categories of anxiety, despair, and the leap of faith. Shawshank presents prison as more than a space of punishment—it becomes a refuge from the “dizziness of freedom,” a structured escape from the terrifying burden of possibility. Brooks’s suicide tragically embodies what Kierkegaard calls the “despair of weakness,” the inability to …
The Inscrutability Of Providence In Tarkovsky's Stalker,
2026
Westminster University
The Inscrutability Of Providence In Tarkovsky's Stalker, Peter G. Goldman
Journal of Religion & Film
Andrei Tarkovsky’s Stalker (1979) follows a spiritual journey that is at once literal and allegorical. The Zone, created by an alien visitation, is a place with conscious agency, and it reacts to those who enter its space. The Stalker says, rather obscurely, "it's as if we construct it according to our state of mind." How exactly the Zone responds to those who visit it is arguably the central question of the film. The Zone's agency is analogous to Providence in some sense, and the film is filled with Christian references on several levels. While most critics see Stalker as an …
Theology And The Films Of Christopher Nolan: Cinematic Transcendence,
2026
University of Indianapolis
Theology And The Films Of Christopher Nolan: Cinematic Transcendence, Travis W. Cooper
Journal of Religion & Film
This is a book review of Joel Mayward, Theology and the Films of Christopher Nolan: Cinematic Transcendence (Bloomsbury Academic/Fortress Academic, 2025).
Deportation And Death: Examining The Second Trump Administration’S Immigration Policy Through The Lens Of Just War Theory,
2026
Augustana College, Rock Island Illinois
Deportation And Death: Examining The Second Trump Administration’S Immigration Policy Through The Lens Of Just War Theory, Finley W. Snyder
Augustana Center for the Study of Ethics Essay Contest
From day one of the second Trump administration, the White House has treated illegal immigration as an invasion, both rhetorically and, to a lesser extent, legally. The administration has not shied away from the use of force in this campaign, leading to the notable killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti along with countless acts of violence across the nation. This essay seeks to evaluate the ethics of the second Trump administration's immigration policy from within this "war" framing through the lens of just war theory. While there has been considerable attention to just war theory in the context of …
Long Live The Good King: A Niebuhrian Analysis Of Arthur’S Ethical Kingship In The Once And Future King,
2026
Harding University
Long Live The Good King: A Niebuhrian Analysis Of Arthur’S Ethical Kingship In The Once And Future King, Camille Bewley
Tenor of Our Times
The classic The Once and Future King, written by T.H. White, is a selection of four fantasy novels with one, linear plot: the story of Arthur, the mythological King of England. Reinhold Niebuhr’s book Moral Man and Immoral Society details the Christian realism of a world in need of justice without the ability to achieve perfect application. Through good education, Arthur is well endowed with Niebuhr’s requirements for a functional society: knowledge, honor, wisdom, and compassion. Such king-like qualities make him one of the most influential mythological characters in history, and a grand exemplar for maintaining ethical goals and personal …
Book Review: The Unwavering Pastor: Leading The Church With Grace In Divisive Times By Jonathan Dodson,
2026
Grace College
Book Review: The Unwavering Pastor: Leading The Church With Grace In Divisive Times By Jonathan Dodson, Jordan Ickes
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Ethics In Church-Based Research,
2026
Azusa Pacific University
Ethics In Church-Based Research, David R. Dunaetz
Great Commission Research Journal
Both biblical principles and the standards used in the social sciences help researchers understand how to ensure their research is ethical and how to avoid the temptations associated with conducting research. Using a framework derived from Ephesians 4:25-28, these principles include truthfulness, avoidance of harm, and integrity through hard work. Ethical violations include data fabrication and falsification, questionable research practices, inaccurate references, duplicate publication, coercion of participants, and plagiarism. Special care must be taken to prevent harm to participants, either directly or indirectly. Researchers studying church-based phenomena also need to be aware of the heuristics and biases that can weaken …
Book Review: Churches, Cultures And Leadership: A Practical Theology Of Congregations & Ethnicities, 2nd Ed. By Mark Branson And Juan Martinez,
2026
California Baptist University
Book Review: Churches, Cultures And Leadership: A Practical Theology Of Congregations & Ethnicities, 2nd Ed. By Mark Branson And Juan Martinez, Kenneth Nehrbass
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Clergy Prayer Life And Vocational Satisfaction,
2026
Concordia University
Clergy Prayer Life And Vocational Satisfaction, Zoraida C. Kelly
Great Commission Research Journal
This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experience of clergy concerning their prayer life as part of their spiritual renewal and vocational satisfaction. The central research question is “How do clergy describe the relationship between their prayer life, vocational satisfaction, and spiritual renewal?” This study used Michael Gemignani’s (2002) Spiritual Renewal Theory and Super’s (1953) Theory of Vocational Development as lenses. The research design consisted of semi-formal interviews with open-ended questions. The investigation shed light on the lived experience of prayer as part of spiritual renewal and its potential positive effect on vocational satisfaction. This study included five participants who …
Cultural Landscaping Of North Korea: Preparing For Mission Engagement Through Large-Scale Defector Insights On Economy And Society,
2026
Western Seminary
Cultural Landscaping Of North Korea: Preparing For Mission Engagement Through Large-Scale Defector Insights On Economy And Society, Soo Min James Park
Great Commission Research Journal
North Korea is one of the world’s most closed societies, yet history shows that closed systems can shift rapidly. A sudden opening through political change, humanitarian crisis, or expanded cross-border engagement could expose millions to unprecedented cultural, social, and spiritual influences. While earlier mission research relied primarily on anecdotal testimonies or small-sample studies, this study draws on the most comprehensive resource available to date, in-depth surveys of 6,351 North Korean defectors released in 2025 by South Korea’s Ministry of Unification. Through thematic analysis, the study conducts cultural deductions across nine categories, including five of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, cultural tightness/looseness, communication …
Book Review: Remissioning Church: A Field Guide To Bringing A Congregation Back To Life By Josh Hayden,
2026
Liberty University
Book Review: Remissioning Church: A Field Guide To Bringing A Congregation Back To Life By Josh Hayden, Keith A. Darlington
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Book Review: Lead: 12 Gospel Principles For Leadership In The Church, 2nd Ed. By Paul David Tripp,
2026
Liberty University
Book Review: Lead: 12 Gospel Principles For Leadership In The Church, 2nd Ed. By Paul David Tripp, Ryan Gause
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
The State Of Youth Ministry In Asian American Churches Today,
2026
Wheaton College
The State Of Youth Ministry In Asian American Churches Today, Eunice Hong, Jinna Si Lo Jin
Great Commission Research Journal
Despite growing concern about youth disengagement from Christianity and the Christian church (Pew Research Center, 2025), strategies specifically tailored to engage Asian American youth remain under-researched. Drawing from interviews with 16 senior pastors and youth leaders across North America, this paper presents key findings on current ministry practices, with implications of emerging approaches to foster deeper youth engagement in Asian American church contexts.
Who Then Can Be Saved? A Discussion Of Views Within The Christian Tradition Concerning The Salvation Of The Non-Christian,
2026
University of Mississippi
Who Then Can Be Saved? A Discussion Of Views Within The Christian Tradition Concerning The Salvation Of The Non-Christian, Logan A. Davis
Honors Theses
This thesis argues that, contrary to popular conception, the Christian Tradition is not strictly exclusivist in its understanding of salvation or in its assessment of the fate of the non-Christian but rather displays a rich diversity of views. Both the Christian Tradition and the Christian scriptures are characterized by a certain ambiguity on this issue; although a definitive answer may exist, it is not easily identifiable. Given this ambiguity, the study presents a representative spectrum of theological positions within the Christian Tradition and analyzes their respective treatments of the salvation of the non-Christian. In doing so, it seeks to provide …
Fallen Light,
2026
St. Mary's University
Fallen Light, Joshua Do
Posters - 2026
Lucifer is often portrayed in popular media as purely evil; however, this interpretation overlooks the more complex idea of gradual moral corruption through deception and pride. The purpose of Fallen Light is to explore how doubt, pride, and subtle deception can lead even a highly exalted being away from God over time.. The game emphasizes the internal struggle between obedience and self-exaltation rather than immediate rebellion, and the problems with Being overly prideful.
Book Review: Emplacing Globalisation: Contextualising Mission In Settings Of People, Places And Processes By John Cheong And Jonathan Ro,
2026
Liberty University
Book Review: Emplacing Globalisation: Contextualising Mission In Settings Of People, Places And Processes By John Cheong And Jonathan Ro, David H. Campbell
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Book Review: Game Of Pulpits: The 7 Voices Vying For The Kingdom - Who Will Win & Why By Gary Comer,
2026
Advanced Pastoral Network
Book Review: Game Of Pulpits: The 7 Voices Vying For The Kingdom - Who Will Win & Why By Gary Comer, Lavern Brown
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Book Review: The American Religious Landscape By Ryan Burge,
2026
Biola University
Book Review: The American Religious Landscape By Ryan Burge, Derek Maxson
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
The Secret Of Smerdyakov,
2026
Pepperdine University
The Secret Of Smerdyakov, Abigail M. Munzar
Global Tides
This paper analyzes the mysterious character of Pavel Smerdyakov from Dostoevsky’s novel, The Brothers Karamazov, by examining his loveless upbringing, motives for murdering Fyodor Karamazov, and his final conversations with Ivan Karamazov, to argue that Smerdyakov committed suicide out of guilt from his crime. Smerdyakov may have had a potential conversion to Christianity which would have triggered an identity crisis in which he was tormented between accepting Christ’s love and hanging on to his lifelong hatred. Thus, he would have committed suicide out of remorse from his sin like the biblical Judas and an inability to choose between conversion or …
