Digital Commons Network^™

An Interfaith Paradise Lost? Religion And The Memory Of The Lebanese Civil War In Postwar Novels, Wilbert Van Saane

The Journal of Social Encounters

This essay analyzes three Lebanese postwar novels: Nathalie Abi-Ezzi’s A Girl Made of Dust, Jad El Hage’s The Myrtle Tree, and Hoda Barakat’s The Tiller of Waters. I argue that these novels narrate the memory of war with reference to religious imagery and theological structures, especially the idea of a paradise lost as described in John Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost. The paradise these novels present consists of a harmonious relation between people of different faiths. The root of violence is situated in a distortion and misrepresentation of the narratives of others. The novels also include the theme of a …

A Time For... Reckoning With Kirk's Assassination, Donald Roth

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"For Christians, engagement with culture is about a long-slow obedience in the same direction. It’s a deep investment in the communities where the Lord has placed us."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­responding to cultural crises 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.

A Time For... Reckoning with Kirk's Assassination

The Meaning Of Christian Suffering In Aquinas, Pedro Cardoso Figueiredo Santiago

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This thesis investigates the theological meaning of Christian suffering in the thought of Thomas Aquinas. While much attention has been given to Aquinas’s treatment of the problem of evil, little has been written on the positive and salvific meaning of suffering as it appears in his Christology, sacramental theology, and moral theology. This study aims to demonstrate that for Aquinas, suffering—when united to Christ—acquires a redemptive value that transforms human pain into a means of configuration to the crucified and risen Lord.

The first chapter develops the Christological foundation of Christian suffering. Drawing primarily from Summa Theologiae III, q. 69, …

Kelly's Whole Human Pedagogy: A Conversation With Eric Mortensen, Anna N. Kelly, Eric Mortensen

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

This interview with Eric Mortensen, Professor of Religious Studies at Guilford College, was conducted by Anna Kelly as a part of her study, Whole Human Pedagogy: A Novel Framework for Education Abroad Praxis (2024). In this interview, Kelly and Mortensen discuss holistic pedagogy, largely referencing Mortensen’s experience leading religious studies study abroad programs in Asia. They touch on the themes of embodiment, emotions, relationality, and the purpose of holistic teaching and learning in international education. This interview was conducted with IRB approval.

Encountering The Sublime: Early Hermit Lifeways, Visual-Spatial Worlds, And The Global Recluse, James Brown

The Ozark Historical Review

This paper will assess the degree to which reclusion in the early period can be labeled a global phenomenon and will examine three key areas, the institutional ambits of reclusion, the visual-spatial world of the eremite, and the enduring cultural canon associated with eremitisms across both geographical and temporal distances. In addition, the author will perform an epistemological and phenomenological exercise in deriving humanistic insight from the experiences of recluses, as gleaned through deep consideration of their environments and cultural products.

Images Of Sacrifice: Religion, Power, And Colonial Ambition In The Americas, Louise Hancox

The Ozark Historical Review

The article addresses images of sacrifice from Mesoamerica and the adoption of this imagery during Protestant colonization as a way to limit the Spanish power. The author posits that while initially serving the purpose of demonizing the Spanish Catholic presence in the Americas, the use of this imagery led Protestant powers to assert claims of religious and political superiority over both the Spanish and the indigenous peoples.

Wholehearted And Finite: Teaching Effectively Within A Theology Of Limits And Calling, Leah A. Zuidema

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

No abstract provided.

Healing The Sacred: The Fight To Restore Onondaga Lake And Honor Indigenous Land, Adam Dj Brett, Betty Lyons Hill

International Journal on Responsibility

The Onondaga Nation is petitioning the Organization of American States (OAS) for land rights to Onondaga Lake, a notoriously polluted body of water in Central New York State. The Onondaga Nation is one of six nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy (Iroquois), and Onondaga Lake is the sacred site where Gayanashagowa, the Great Law of Peace, was established. As Keepers of the Central Fire, the Onondaga Nation bears the responsibility of maintaining unity and peace within the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. This article examines the history of the lake, its significance to the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and the consequences of its desecration through …

The God Prompt And Deus Ex Machina: Techno-Theological Tropes And Operational Metaphors In Generative Media, James Hutson

Faculty Scholarship

This study reframes two durable tropes—the ―God Prompt‖ and the deus ex machina—as analytic lenses for understanding how contemporary generative systems stage beginnings and endings of cultural production. The ―God Prompt‖ denotes command-driven synthesis in which minimal textual instructions instantiate content on demand, crystallizing a production loop of input, model execution, and post hoc evaluation that orients anticipation toward instantaneous yield and controllable variation. The deus ex machina names an externally imposed resolution that interrupts causal development—historically a crane-borne god, functionally an algorithmic override—thereby concentrating attention on closure mechanics rather than world-building continuity. Read together, the pair offers a compact …

Christian Higher Education (Book Review), Carl P. Fictorie

Pro Rege

Reviewed Title: Christian Higher Education by Perry L. Glanzer, Theodore F. Cockle, and Jessica Martin. Abilene Christian University Press, 2023. 176 pp. ISBN: 9781684264124.

Week 1: Can I Get A Witness?, Calvin University

Campus Ministries Resources

No abstract provided.

The Mercy Seat Of The Risen Christ: Atonement And The Glory Of God In Romans 3:21-26, David Westfall

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

Scholarship on Romans 3.21–26 typically isolates the death of Jesus on the cross as the moment when Paul says the righteousness of God was disclosed, leading to the justification of all who believe the gospel. In this paper I argue that, although the death of Christ relates in important ways to Paul’s claims in the paragraph, this reading does not fully account for his metaphorical description of Christ as a ‘mercy seat’ (ἱλαστήριον), nor his assertion that those who believe are ‘justified through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus’. I show that Paul uses this language and imagery to …

Who Is The God "With Whom We Have To Do"?, Michael Williams

Pro Rege

No abstract provided.

Inyoni And The Pale Man (Book Review), James C. Schaap

Pro Rege

Reviewed Title: Inyoni and the Pale Man by John Suk. Bloomington, IN: Archway Publishing, 2025. 256 pp. ISBN: 9781665770194.

Merit Transference And The Paradox Of Merit Inflation, Matthew Hammerton

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Many religious traditions and ethical systems hold that individuals accrue merit through their good intentions, acts, and character, and demerit through their bad intentions, acts, and character. This merit and demerit, accumulated by individuals throughout their lives, gives each person a kind of ethical “score” that can determine what they deserve, and influence whether good or bad things happen to them (e.g., divine punishments and rewards, a favourable or unfavourable rebirth, etc.). In some traditions (most notably Buddhism, but also to a limited extent in Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity), “merit transference” is a feature of these merit-based ethical systems. This …

An Analysis Of Feminist Biblical Scholarship Through Case Studies In Judges, Erika Conner

Masters Theses

This thesis examines the rise and significance of feminist biblical scholarship, particularly as it engages the book of Judges. Feminist approaches to Scripture have often been criticized as politically motivated or ideologically biased, yet they also claim to offer corrective readings to centuries of male-dominated interpretation. This study situates feminist scholarship within its historical development and cultural context, beginning with the reconstruction of women’s societal, familial, religious, and agricultural roles in ancient Israel. Building on this foundation, it undertakes a comparative analysis of three key figures in Judges, Deborah, Jael, and the unnamed Woman of Thebez, first through traditional interpretations …

Means Of Evangelization In The Catholic Church Through Music, Patrice Metcalf

Masters Theses

There are numerous resources for Catholic churches today to encourage a congregation’s full involvement in musical participation, but there is little guidance or information on how these practices help with evangelization. The evangelization process is essential to the healthy growth of the church on Earth and for the salvation of believers. Musical resources give an eclectic variety of music, all of which is methodically written by its composers. After the COVID-19 pandemic, many church choirs have struggled to return, with some churches abandoning the use of large choirs and opting for a single soloist to lead the congregation. This leads …

A Chaplain-Specific Care Plan For Addressing Moral Injury And Promoting Holistic Well-Being In Nurses That Have Transitioned From Hospital Care To Hospice Care, Franklin Hicks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis project, “A Chaplain-Specific Care Plan for Addressing Moral Injury and Promoting Holistic Well-Being in Nurses That Have Transitioned from Hospital Care to Hospice Care,” addresses the lack of chaplain-led interventions for nurses suffering from moral injury. Many nurses who transitioned from hospital to hospice care reported ongoing moral residue from ethically distressing events in acute settings. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness of a spiritually grounded care plan, developed and facilitated by a board-certified chaplain, to address these moral wounds and promote holistic well-being among hospice nurses.

Twelve hospice nurses in West Tennessee participated …

The Christian Church’S Inclusion Of Children With Autism Who Experience Parental Incarceration: A Phenomenological Examination Of Christian Ministry Leaders’ Experiences, Julia Frances Vasquez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The United States has the highest incarceration rate worldwide. Parental incarceration increases children’s susceptibility to adverse childhood experiences and often results in the transmission of criminal behavior. Research on children of incarcerated parents and separate findings on the experiences of children with autism reveal that these children endure bitter societal stigma, even within the church. Stigma toward disability erects barriers to much-needed spiritual support. There is a gap in the literature concerning Christian outreach and spiritual community support for children with autism who experience parental incarceration. Understanding effective ministry support for these dually marginalized children and the barriers preventing access …

Where Is God In Times Of Order And Disorder: A Practical Approach To Life Events With God, Chinedu Festus Onuigbo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to uncover what six next-generation females in Colorado, USA, encompassing high school through post-college, have experienced as they answer the question, "Where is God in times of order and disorder." Next generation refers to persons currently 25 years and younger. Pew Research (2019) reports, next-generation demographic during the transition from adolescence to adulthood may undergo one or more of the following: fall away from faith, question the existence of God, depression, and identity crisis. This researcher using phenomenology explored his Study Concept, a practical approach to experiencing life events with God using threefold biblical …

Elementary Seeds Of The Creation-Order Theodicy In The Early Christian Apologists, Lori A. Peters

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem of evil and suffering is a significant obstacle for people to consider the truth of Christianity. One way to eliminate this barrier is to provide a theologically sound and biblically accurate theodicy. The Creation-Order Theodicy is one such attempt. The purpose of this paper is to examine if the elements of the Creation-Order Theodicy have their roots in the early teachings of the church through the writings of the early Christian apologists through AD 250. Chapter 1 includes the nature of the problem, a review of existing literature, and the research methodology. Chapter 2 will summarize various modern …

After His Likeness: The Holy Trinity And Creation Of Humanity, Chris Trevino

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation presents a comprehensive theological and interdisciplinary examination of the Holy Trinity (i.e., Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and its influence on human creativity, ethical development, and identity, as rooted in the Genesis creation narrative. Employing exegetical analysis of Genesis 1:26-27 alongside systematic theological synthesis, lexical‐theological study of צֶלֶם (ṣélem, image) and דְּמוּת (dəmûth, likeness), and historical‐doctrinal reflection on Chalcedonian definitions of the hypostatic union and kenosis, it develops a triadic framework that aligns the divine mind, heart, and will with human cognition, emotion, and volition. The study reveals that the threefold act of divine creativity (i.e., the Father’s …

Paul’S Second Missionary Journey In Acts: How Paul Was Adaptable In His Church-Centered Missiology For Fulfilling The Great Commission Among Jews And Gentiles, Terri P. Graham

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation argues that the Apostle Paul fulfilled the Great Commission by employing a church-centered missiology throughout his second missionary journey, as recorded in Acts 16–18. Through contextualized evangelism and intentional church-planting, Paul established covenant communities marked by baptism, discipleship, pastoral leadership, and theological instruction. His model demonstrates that the local church drives the agent and result of the mission, offering a biblically grounded paradigm for contemporary missions.

Spending In Islam: Nurturing And Education, Sereen Ashour, “Mohammad Adnan” Al-Aishat, Abdullah Hardan, Yousef Saadeh

Jordan Journal of Applied Science-Humanities Series

Islam urges its followers to spend on their parents, offspring, and lineage. This paper addresses spending in the way of Islam for its protection (preserving its authenticity), advocacy (Da’wah), and to support its adherents against those who manifest enmity towards it. Thus, spending aims to instill in Muslims the practice of giving for the sake of their faith and to educate them about the principles of this type of spending. Da’wah to Islam has been associated with calls to spend in the way of Allah to seek His satisfaction and pleasure. Even before the establishment of an Islamic state, or …

Fragments Of A Crusader-Period Chancel Screen From ‘Akko, The Knights’ Hotel Site, Vardit R. Shotten-Hallel

'Atiqot

The phrase ‘where [or: when] least expected’ is rarely used in archaeology. In fact, when excavating a cesspit, the opposite is often true. Cesspits are precisely where archaeologists expect to uncover hoards of household artifacts, like pottery and glass, or sometimes valuables, dislocated sculptures and even skeletons. In this regard, the excavation at the Knights’ Hotel site in ‘Akko is no exception. Four richly decorated marble fragments were found in a cesspit, integrated in the shaft’s wall as part of repair work. A stylistic analysis, and consideration of the historical context of their deposition, revealed an unexpected possibility regarding their …

The Metal Finds From ‘Akko, The Knights’ Hotel Site, Joppe Gosker

'Atiqot

The 2007 excavation at the Knights Hotel Site yielded about 170 metal finds, mostly iron or copper alloy, though silver and gilded items were also found. Some objects associated with warfare may have been linked to the final battle of ‘Akko in 1291 CE, but most of the finds relate to daily life, encompassing activities such as horse keeping, dress, foodways, medicine and construction. The dominance of Eastern-type arrowheads indicates that local traditions were sometimes adopted, certainly for the arrows if not the bows. Concerning dress accessories, the overall impression is of European traditions. It seems that the Franks preferred …

Crusader-Period Ceramics From The Knights’ Hotel Site, ‘Akko, Edna J. Stern, Nohar Shahar

'Atiqot

The Crusader-period ceramic assemblage unearthed in the Knights’ Hotel site in ‘Akko contains a large variety of daily wares. The assemblage consists of local and imported wares from various regions, some of which were identified through petrographic analysis. The imported wares indicate trade connections with Mediterranean port cities, and the petrographic analysis identified a new group of vessels from Egypt’s northern Nile region. The article outlines the pottery typology and quantification, and presents the ceramic distribution within the excavated urban area. The findings indicate changes in land use, as some residential and commercial areas were converted into dumps and cesspits. …

Daily Life And Industry In Crusader ‘Akko: The Knights’ Hotel Site, Danny Syon

'Atiqot

This report details the second season of excavations at the Knights’ Hotel site, carried out in 2007, covering three areas (A–C) not excavated in the first season (1995). The excavations revealed domestic and public(?) architecture dating from the thirteenth century CE. The architectural features are mostly similar to the ones exposed in the first season and include an abundance of water and sanitary installations: cisterns, wells and cesspits. The mixed character of this neighborhood of the capital of the Crusader kingdom of Jerusalem, and the daily life of its residents is highlighted by the wealth of pottery and glass vessels …

Remains Of Two Iron Age Iib–C(?) Updraft Pottery Kilns At The Foot Of Tel Gamma (Tell Jemma), Davida Eisenberg-Degen, Ilana Peters, Svetlana Talis, Yael Abadi-Reiss, Emily Bischoff Bruintjes, Yotam Asscher

'Atiqot

An excavation southwest of Tel Gamma exposed two Iron Age II updraft pottery kilns and a refuse pit. The eastern kiln was only partially preserved; its fill contained workshop debris and storage-jar wasters. The better-preserved western kiln retained an almost intact, elongated combustion chamber with two sets of mud-brick flues and evidence of periodic upkeep. An activity layer was identified between and around the kilns, from which a mixed Iron IIA–C ceramic assemblage and a few stone artifacts were collected. The stone artifacts likely served in fine grinding and burnishing. In the refuse pit, potsherds, vitrified bricks, animal bones and …

A Middle Bronze Iia Pottery Production Site On The Northern Bank Of NaḥAl Soreq, Near Yavne-Yam, Lily Singer-Avitz, Yossi Levy, Etan Ayalon

'Atiqot

A Middle Bronze Age IIA pottery production site was uncovered on the northern bank of Naḥal Soreq, near Yavne-Yam. Excavations revealed installations, including pits, an oven, a stone pavement and a two-story pottery kiln. The discovery of a potter’s wheel and petrographic analysis confirm local ceramic production using nearby ḥamra and kurkar materials. Stone anchors found on-site suggest the transport of vessels via small boats along the stream, connecting the site with nearby settlements such as Nabi Rubin and Yavne-Yam.