Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons^™

Just In Time: The Definitive Reconstruction Of Biblical Chronology From Adam To The Apostolic Age, James Allen Moseley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

By embedding a relational database of chronology within Scripture, the inspired authors handed down a framework so precise that it surpasses archaeology, carbon dating, and every other ancient record as the most reliable means of reconstructing history—shedding light on the why and how of biblical events by specifying their when.

This study defends that thesis, demonstrating that the Bible presents a continuous timeline from Adam to Christ—a mathematically coherent whole often overlooked or misunderstood by modern scholarship. Many modern chronologists assign speculative dates to Abraham, Moses, or David without grounding them in the Genesis genealogies. Few construct a defensible framework …

Enhancing Spiritual Care In Medical Missions Through A Contextual Apologetic Workshop, Jacob G. Caraotta

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There is a lack of resources and a gap in the literature for training prayer teams for medical mission endeavors. The Contextual Apologetic Workshop, an intervention project, was designed to fill the gap in the literature by training participants in prayer, evangelism, and apologetics. It utilized the Contextual Apologetic System, a framework built around the Contextual Triad, which includes the cultural context, setting, and endemic religions that inform outreach dynamics and preparation. The cultural context identifies if the population is high- or low-context, and includes the subcultures. The setting refers to outreach types, such as medical missions or construction projects. …

Atonement As The Path To Holiness: The Suffering Servant Of The Fourth Servant Song As The Missing Sacrifice Of Isaiah 6, William Anthony Whitfield

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study argues that the Suffering Servant of the Fourth Servant Song (SS4, Isaiah 52:13-53:12) is the missing sacrifice of Isaiah 6. This conclusion is supported by the multitude of intertextual links between these two hallmark texts of Isaiah, including language of exaltation, messianic imagery, and, most notably to the current study, atonement imagery, specifically as it relates to being an avenue to holiness. This study addresses the necessity for a sacrifice in Isaiah 6, although no sacrifice is explicitly mentioned. Atonement is the central theme of SS4, where the Suffering Servant is depicted as being given as a guilt …

Fire, Covenant, Redemption: Biblical Fire Imagery And Covenant In The Bible, Tony O'Neal Hinton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Understanding biblical signs and symbolism is essential for recognizing how God communicated and interacted with both the original people of the Bible and the modern church. A lack of this knowledge can often lead to misinterpretation of Scripture or the adoption of a false perception when the original context is neglected. From Genesis to Revelation, signs and symbols typically convey either literal or metaphorical meanings. Numerous passages throughout the Bible demonstrate that God used fire as a tool for various purposes. In fact, the King James Version records the term “fire” over 500 times, underscoring its prominence throughout Scripture. Fire …

Look To Him And Be Radiant With Joy: The Necessity Of The Body For Man's Ultimate Beatitude And The Role Of Ecstatic Joy In The Extensive Growth Of The Beatitude Of The Soul, Sister Maximilian Marie Garretson, O.P.

Theology Graduate Theses

Saint Thomas Aquinas states that our “final and perfect happiness consists in nothing other than the vision of the Divine Essence.”¹ Yet, he distinguishes between the essence and perfection of beatitude and argues that the perfect beatitude of man is fulfilled at the resurrection of the body, after which beatitude grows extensively in the soul of the blessed.²

Based on Thomas Aquinas’ philosophy of the body, his metaphysics of beatitude, and his treatment of charity, it is clear that the glorified body is necessary for the human person’s experience of the fullness of beatitude. How then, does the …

Investigating The Relationship Between Noun Classes And Plant Folk Taxonomy In Chasu Language Of Kilimanjaro Region In Tanzania, Peter Rabson Mziray

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

The current study investigates the relationship between noun classes and plant folk taxonomy in Chasu (G 22). The study focuses on two objectives: the first objective is to describe the plant folk taxonomy in Chasu and the second objective is to determine the relationship between noun classes and plant folk taxonomy in Chasu. Data were collected from rural villages in Same and Mwanga districts by using free listing, field interviews (jungle-walk-and-identify), and written texts containing Chasu plant names. The findings reveal that Chasu folk taxonomy reflects different ethnobotanical categories; including a unique beginner which is mmea/mimea ‘plant(s)’, and three life …

Witnessing A Wounded World: A Theology Of Ecological Trauma, Timothy A. Middleton

Theology

A crucial intervention at the intersection of ecotheology and trauma theology

We are in the midst of a global ecological crisis. At times, the scale of the suffering involved can be hard to fully comprehend. The whole planetary ecosystem feels out of kilter. Meanwhile, trauma theorists, and society at large, have become increasingly aware of the incidence of trauma in a growing variety of contexts. In Witnessing a Wounded World, Timothy Middleton asks what might be gained by viewing ecological suffering through the lens of trauma.

By bringing concepts and methodologies from trauma theology to bear on questions that …

A Buddhist Critique Of Harmony, James Mark Shields

Faculty Contributions to Books

No abstract provided.

Editorial, Lina Iskandar Hawat

Horizons et Conjonctures

In a context marked by identity tensions, immediacy, and polarized discourse, this issue affirms the role of academic research as critical interpretation. Its bilingual structure creates a dialogue across languages, positioning critical rereading as a condition for renewed meaning.

Résumé
Face aux convulsions qui traversent nos sociétés – crispations identitaires, dictature de l’instantané et polarisation des discours –, la recherche universitaire est convoquée à une tâche exigeante : celle de l’interprétation critique. Ce numéro, par sa structure bilingue, ne se contente pas de juxtaposer des articles ; il propose un itinéraire intellectuel où se répondent, d’une langue à l’autre, les …

Reading And Re-Readings, Sr Yara Matta, Rami Wakim, Guy Sarkis

Horizons et Conjonctures

Preface
As part of the Book Expo – 150 Years of USJ, organized jointly by USJ Editions and Opération 7e Jour under the title “USJ Book Expo: A University That Reads”, the religious and theological sciences certainly have their contribution to make. Three professors reflect on the theme of reading and rereadings from a biblical approach, a patristic approach, and a dogmatic approach. In the tone of oral discussion and open dialogue with the public, the three presentations establish the foundations of rereading, both within the biblical text itself and in the subsequent interpretations of the Church Fathers or in …

الرجاء، فضيلةٌ مَسيحيّةٌ مَكروهةٌ ؟, الأب غي سركيس

Horizons et Conjonctures

Hope: A despised Christian Virtue?
Christian theologians and some philosophers disagree on the status of “Hope.” The first group sees it as a great theological virtue that points to God’s victory over the trials of existence and to the joy of eternal life, where “death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Rev 21:4). The second group, however, views it as a deceptive illusion, a clinging to baseless dreams, or a form of surrender and acceptance of injustice under the pretext of awaiting the fulfillment of …

كلمة التحرير, لينا إسكندر حوّاط

Horizons et Conjonctures

آفاق وسياقات هي مجلّة أكاديميّة محكّمة تصدر عن كلّيّة العلوم الدينيّة في جامعة القدّيس يوسف في بيروت، وتُعنى بدراسة العلوم الدينيّة بأبعادها المختلفة. تستند المجلّة إلى محاور خمسة رئيسة: اللاهوت البيبليّ والنظاميّ، تراث الشرق المسيحيّ، الأدب العربيّ المسيحيّ المخطوط، الدراسات الإسلاميّة المسيحيّة، الظاهرة الدينيّة، من أجل خلق منبرٍ علميٍّ لنشر أبحاثٍ أصيلة تمتاز بالدقّة المنهجيّة والعمق التحليليّ‏

La Modernité Dans La Pensée D’Abdessalam Yassine : Entre Refus Systémique Et Absence D’Alternative Fondée, Salah Aboujoudé, S.J.

Horizons et Conjonctures

This article critically examines Abdessalam Yassine’s thought regarding Western modernity. Abdessalam Yassine develops a radical critique of Western modernity, which he associates with secularism, materialism, and the exclusion of spirituality. Rooted in Islamic tradition, his thought opposes “believing reason” to “autonomous reason” and seeks to restore the primacy of Revelation as the foundation of all reform. However, his critique essentializes the West as a homogeneous and destructive entity, reducing Western experiences to their imperialist dimension without distinguishing between universal values and strategies of domination. Despite the coherence of his traditional spiritual vision, his project for an Islamic alternative remains abstract …

Entre Religion Et Médias : Méfiance Et Alliance, Betsa Estephano

Horizons et Conjonctures

In a context of continuous information flow, the relationship between religions and the media appears both conflictual and complementary. The media play a decisive role in shaping public perceptions of religions and in determining their visibility, while religious traditions, aware of this influence, seek to use these channels to communicate their message and engage in dialogue with society. This interaction raises crucial issues such as freedom of expression, respect for religious pluralism, and the ethical responsibility of media professionals. The article examines how Judaism, Christianity, and Islam maintain diverse and sometimes ambivalent relations with the media, marked by fear of …

Harmonie Sacrée : De La Famille Maronite Et De La Foi Dans La Tradition Maronite, Joseph Salim Al-Khoury

Horizons et Conjonctures

The study of Syriac liturgy and the families of Lebanese saints highlights the profound spiritual influence of the Maronite Church on family life, calling for a renewed pastoral vision aimed at building “parishes of sacred families.” It shows how the close bond between the Maronite Church and village families, shaped by the ascetic spirituality of hermits, fostered a domestic life grounded in prayer, fasting, sacrifice, Scripture reading, and Christian virtues. This heritage, rooted in the early Christians of Antioch, enabled the sustained transmission of Christian values through an asceticism shared by both clergy and laity. The flourishing of saintly vocations …

Le Terrorisme Islamiste : Une Analyse À Travers Les Perspectives De L’Islam Politique Et De L’Idéologie Littéraliste. Étude De Cas De Boko Haram Au Nigeria, Ghada Saouli

Horizons et Conjonctures

Cette thèse cherche à explorer le paradoxe du terrorisme contemporain, notamment celui mené par les groupes extrémistes islamistes, qui se distingue par des caractéristiques uniques nécessitant une analyse spécifique. Ce phénomène complexe, attribué à l’islam, frappe les musulmans eux-mêmes et la religion islamique dont il prétend défendre les valeurs ; il touche également des groupes de différentes confessions, et en particulier ceux qui sont supposés être les premiers défenseurs de la religion.
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بين الهويّة والانتماء: مََن أنتََ يا بولس؟, الأخت ياره متّى

Horizons et Conjonctures

This study addresses the issue of identity and belonging in the thought of Saint Paul, as seen in Philippians 3:4–8, focusing on the tension between his deep Jewish roots, Roman citizenship, and openness to Greek culture, culminating in his transformative faith in Christ, which redefined his identity and sense of belonging. The approach combines biblical criticism— highlighting the influence of Jewish traditions and texts on Paul’s thought—with theological and spiritual analysis that reveals how, through Christ, his personal identity becomes a universal model that transcends historical and ethnic affiliations, establishing belonging “in Christ.” The study concludes that Paul’s identity is …

مَفهوم الأخوّة في فكر أبو حامَد الغزالي: هل هو مَفهوم إقصائيّ أم حاضن للتنوّع؟, فانيسّا بريدي

Horizons et Conjonctures

The Concept of Brotherhood in the Thought of Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali
This study examines human brotherhood in the thought of Abu Hamid al-Ghazali, exploring whether his vision extends to all humanity, within the context of interfaith dialogue and the 2019 Human Fraternity Document. The research delves into al-Ghazali's philosophical foundations, highlighting his Aristotelian influence in classifying love, where "love for the sake of God" is its highest form. It clarifies that his view on "hating for the sake of God" targets negative attributes, not individuals, allowing for non-exclusionary interpretations. The study emphasizes al-Ghazali's assertion that true knowledge of God leads …

تجاوز الثنائيّات - نحو حوار مَتعدّد الأبعاد في الثقافة العربيّة, لينا إسكندر حوّاط

Horizons et Conjonctures

Beyond Binaries – Toward a "Polylogue" in Arab Culture

This article proposes a radical critique of the traditional binary model of intercultural dialogue, suggesting an epistemological alternative: the "polylogue" or multidimensional dialogue. Starting from the crisis of contemporary dialogues, often limited to mere "discourse on dialogue" without real transformation, the text exposes the limitations of the binary model that reduces cultural complexity to a sterile confrontation between two homogeneous blocks. As an alternative, the author introduces the concept of the polylogue, developed by Austrian philosopher Franz Martin Wimmer, which rests on a plurality of centers, mutual influence, and simultaneous interaction. …

سبل إحياء دور الإسلام في العالم المعاصر بحسب مَحمّد الطالبي, الأب صلاح أبوجوده اليسوعيّ

Horizons et Conjonctures

Ways to Revive Islam's Role in the Contemporary World According to Mohammed Talbi

The study by Muhammad al-Talbi seeks to reform Islamic thought, which he argues is stagnant and declining in the face of contemporary scientific, social, and political challenges. Al-Talbi strongly criticizes intellectual stagnation and the official Islamic rejection of reconciliation between religion, reason, and science. He believes that clinging to outdated and unrenewed jurisprudential legacies creates a rift with the changing world, reinforcing the perception of Islam as backward, despite its spiritual richness.

خلّاصة

تسعى دراسة محمّد الطّالبي إلى إصلاح الفكر الإسلاميّ الذي يواجه تحدّيات العصر العلميّة والاجتماعيّة …