Digital Commons Network^™

Beloved Elder: The Spiritual Journey Of Aging, Elizabeth Nielsen

Doctor of Ministry

Aging has changed significantly in recent decades due to medical, economic, and social factors. The increasing length of American lives is both a blessing and a challenge for families and elders themselves, but our cultural and theological foundations are not sufficient to address this situation.

My NPO emerged from pastoral experience caring for elders: Aging Christians often struggle to know the presence and love of God finding their faith practices to be inadequate for the distinctive challenges of aging.

Key insights from my research include:

1. The most significant challenge of aging is surrender to childlikeness before God. In late life …

Whole Broken People Wholeness Of Life At All Ages, Brenda K. Lewis

Doctor of Ministry

NPO Statement

Experiences of lost independence or control overwhelm or block the spiritual coping mechanisms of some Independent Living residents at Givens Estates.

Key Research Insights

Deep cultural bias, denial, and a lack of realistic role models form blocks between us and healthy coping with the realities of aging. When we lose independence and control, we often lose our expected storyline, our sense of our identity, and our understanding of the role of our spiritual traditions. The Christian tradition offers rich resources for redefining our story and ourselves in ways that deepen our faith and our connection with the people …

Contributors

Pastoral Liturgy

No abstract provided.

Herman Bavinck's Revival In Modern Reformed Scholarship, Steve Bishop

Pro Rege

No abstract provided.

The Convergence Of World Prosperity And Afterlife Salvation: Neoliberalism And Political Islam In Turkey, Muhammad Andi Firmansyah

Jurnal Politik

This article investigates why Turkey’s middle-to-low-income earners, the segment of the population that has suffered the most from the neoliberal policies of the Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi (Justice and Development Party AKP), have continued to support the party for so long. Using a case study approach based on secondary data, this article argues that the source of the AKP’s enduring legitimacy lies in their skill in utilising political Islam to consolidate neoliberalism. They strategically framed neoliberal restructuring in an Islamic spirit, generating not only loyal cross-class support but also obedience to neoliberal political projects with all their destructive consequences. The …

Roman Catholicism And Neo-Calvinism: Ecumenical And Polemical Engagements (Book Review), Vincent Keane

Pro Rege

Reviewed Title: Roman Catholicism and Neo-Calvinism: Ecumenical and Polemical Engagements by Eduardo Echeverria. Pater Lang, Inc., International Academic Publisher, 2024. 380 pp. ISBN: 9781636673264.

Humans Are Far Dearer Than Gold, Richard Gorban

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The author of the article proves that the genocidal war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine is aimed at the total destruction of both the Ukrainian nation and its culture, based on the methodological principle of actualizing biblical texts in the current circumstances and by selecting elements from the exhaustiveness of the content of the Book of Isaiah, the Prophet, which are able to reveal the ontological foundations of this war. It is the clash between the two incompatible experiences of existence: the existence of a human community in peace and that of a community in war. Ukraine has become …

How Parents Participate In The Christian Education And Spiritual Formation Of Their Children: A Case Study Of Hybrid Schooling, Shannon O'Hearn Downing

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine how parents participate in the Christian education and spiritual formation of their children who are enrolled in a classical Christian, hybrid-model school in the DC Metro Region. The theory that guided this case study was Christopher Watkin’s biblical critical theory, as it provides the proper framework for interpreting how parents enculturate their children in the Christian belief system of the family. The central research question was, “How do parents participate in the Christian education and spiritual formation of their children who are enrolled in a classical Christian, hybrid-model school in …

Naḥal Tut (Site Viii): A Fortified Storage Depot From The Late Fourth Century Bce (Pp. 131–189), Yardenna Alexandre

'Atiqot

Excavations at the site revealed a large building complex, comprising casemate walls built on bedrock around a large central courtyard with corner towers. It was a well-planned and well-fortified complex, located at a strategic point. The complex was occupied for a brief period of time, at the very end of the Persian (Achaemenid) period and the very beginning of the Hellenistic period (c. 350–325 BCE). It was destroyed by a violent destruction, which claimed human victims. The destruction was dated by a single bronze coin of Alexander III to 336–323 BCE. The pottery finds at the site were homogenous, including …

Marginalized, Secularized, And Popularized? The Prevalence And Patterns Of Paranormal Belief In The United Kingdom, Tom Clark, Joseph O. Baker, Christoper D. Bader

Sociology Faculty Articles and Research

There is growing recognition of the prevalence of paranormal beliefs in Western countries. However, most of this interest has been focused on the United States and robust, comparative data remain limited. This study extends this literature to report findings from a national survey of the United Kingdom designed to assess the prevalence and patterns of paranormal beliefs. Although there are many similarities to previous research, the results also suggest that there are significant differences in the scope, clustering, and patterns of paranormalism across contexts. The study makes four contributions to research on the paranormal by a) reiterating the continuing popularity …

Ontological Overtones Of Participatory Soteriology In Romans 8:1-17, Derek E. Wilder

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The burgeoning scholarly interest in the concepts of deification and Paul’s “in Christ” participatory soteriology necessitates a deeper exploration of their interrelation with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Regardless of the increase in recent scholarship, the connection between participation in Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit remains underexplored. This study examines the relationship between deification, Pauline participatory soteriology, and pneumatology through an exegetical analysis of Romans 8:1–17. This exegetical framework posits that the believer’s union with Christ initiates a profound ontological metamorphosis, actualized through the Holy Spirit’s immanent indwelling and transcendent relational dynamic. The pneumatological dimension of …

Messianic Judaism And The Church, Robert C. Greer

Liberty Theological Review

One of the more curious phenomena within the Protestant Evangelical Church is Messianic Judaism. Its gospel is essentially the same as Protestant evangelicalism since Messianic Jews worship Jesus as Messiah, Savior and Lord. Yet many shun the label "Christian," preferring such titles as "fulfilled" or "completed Jews." Messianic Jews typically worship on Saturdays and observe a kosher diet. The symbol of the cross, which is ubiquitous in Protestant Evangelicalism and regarded as its most sacred symbol,, is problematic with many Messianic Jews. Messianic Judaism therefore maintains an arm's distance from Gentile Christianity. This paper is an exploration of that separation …

Public Theology And Political Polarization: Environmental Policy, Jean Golicz, Leonard S. Momeny

Liberty Theological Review

The purpose of this article is to explore the impact of public theology on potentially polarizing political views. Specifically, the historical and contemporary interpretations of the Lynn White Thesis (1966) are examined as well as the practical implications for developing environmental policies that align with a biblical worldview. The authors propose the application of multiple paradigms to the study of religiosity and environmental activism as a way of addressing the complexity and diversity of various viewpoints. Understanding the multiple ways Jesus operated in an equally contentious and polarized society creates a path forward for churches. By rejecting the supposition that …

Poured Out On Your Sons And Daughters: Pneumatologically Shaped Pedagogical Practices For Engaging Children In Congregational Worship, Angela Perigo, Jeremy Perigo

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

From young children to elders in the community, the Holy Spirit’s empowering presence is indiscriminate of age, ability, gender, culture, or status. Many communities continue to wrestle with the pastoral and practical implications of welcoming children into worship as full, distinct participants, yet within the biblical narrative, children are included as full participants in experiencing the Spirit’s gifts and empowerment and encountering God’s dynamic presence. Emerging from the discipline of practical theology and a review of New Testament pneumatology from Acts 2 and 1 Corinthians 12, this paper argues for the full inclusion of children within the church’s worship life …

The Molluscs From The French School On Yefet Street, Yafo (Jaffa) (Pp. 529–532), Inbar Ktalav

'Atiqot

An assemblage of 76 malacological remains was retrieved from the French School in Yafo. It includes 11 species of local Mediterranean seashells and land snails, one indo-pacific bivalve, one bivalve from the Nile River and two fragments of freshwater bivalves. A cross made of mother of pearl was found in a soil accumulation of the late Ottoman period. The shells were used as construction material and as objects of aesthetic or symbolic value, possibly amulets.

Remains From The Crusader And Late Ottoman Periods At The French School On Yefet Street, Yafo (Jaffa) (With Contributions By Edna J. Stern, Brigitte Ouahnouna, Alexander Glick And Polina Spivak) (Pp. 469–496), Yoav Arbel, Limor Talmi

'Atiqot

The French School excavation encompassed three areas (A, B, C): Area A yielded a substantial volume of Crusader-period pottery, perhaps alluding to the existence of a Crusader-period moat, and late Ottoman-period building remains and a water reservoir; in Area B, a Crusader-period pedestal, as well as a late Ottoman-period well, channels and wall foundations, were exposed; and in Area C were found the remains of Crusader-period pedestals, late Ottoman-period wall remains and two pit graves of uncertain date. The remains from the late Ottoman period point to Yafo’s orderly spatial organization during the nineteenth century.

Molluscs From The Magen Avraham Compound, Yafo (Jaffa) (Pp. 385–388), Inbar Ktalav

'Atiqot

A total of 209 malacological remains were retrieved from the Magen Avraham Compound. The assemblage includes mostly local Mediterranean shells, as well as Indo-Pacific bivalves. Some imported specimens were brought from Europe as raw material for local crafts manufacture; one worked gastropod shell may have been used as an ornament.

Human Skeletal Remains From The Magen Avraham Compound, Yafo (Jaffa) (Pp. 375–378), Yossi Nagar

'Atiqot

Human skeletal remains of at least ten adult individuals were found in the Magen Avraham Compound. Some of the bones were found scattered, while others were anatomically articulated, indicating primary burials, possibly in simple pit graves. The graves’ layout could not be traced, and no burial goods were retrieved; therefore, the dating of the finds is problematic.

The Persian-Period Necropolis In The French Hospital Compound, Yafo (Jaffa): Case Study And Overview (Pp. 225–242), Yossi Nagar

'Atiqot

The human skeletal remains retrieved from the Persian-period (fifth–fourth centuries BCE) burial caves in the French Hospital Compound represent at least 37 individuals. The anthropological examination yielded important data concerning the demographic profile of the interred, comprising infants, children and adults of a wide age range and of both sexes, which is typical of a civilian population. Some of the tombs were used for a single burial, while others housed 2–8 individuals. All the individuals were placed on their backs, in an east–west orientation, as customary in other Persian-period cemeteries along the Israeli coastline and northern valleys. These burial practices …

The Molluscs From Rabbi Yehuda Me-Raguza Street, Yafo (Jaffa) (Pp. 153–155), Inbar Ktalav

'Atiqot

This report discusses the 232 malacological remains from the excavations on Me-Raguza Street, including Mediterranean shells, land snails and a fragment of Chambardia rubens from the Nile River, as well as three mother-of-pearl buttons.

An Introduction To 'Atiqot 100: Excavations On The Outskirts Of Tel Yafo (Pp. 1–2), Zvi Greenhut

'Atiqot

Excavations on the Outskirts of Tel Yafo

A Late Bronze Age Ii Cist Grave At Tel Qana In The Sharon Coastal Plain (With Contributions By Sariel Shalev And Sana Shilstein; Alexander Tsatskin) (Pp. 67–84), Edwin C.M. Van Den Brink

'Atiqot

Excavations at Tel Qana, situated in the Naḥal Ha-Yarqon basin, revealed a Middle Bronze Age II occupation horizon, a cist grave dating to Late Bronze Age II and two winepresses dating from Iron Age II. The present report focuses on the large LB II cist grave, which contained the remains of a primary burial of a single individual, probably male, who was interred with several ceramic vessels and three metal weapons. The cist’s walls and floor were uniquely plastered with thick layers of high quality, waterproof white lime plaster. This burial seems to indicate a shift from multiple cave burials …

Remains From The Chalcolithic To The Ottoman Periods On The Western Fringes Of Tel Yehud (With Contributions By Jacob Vardi; Vered Eshed) (Hebrew, Pp. 1*–24*; English Summary, Pp. 179–180), Eriola Jakoel

'Atiqot

Seventeen squares were opened on the western fringes of Tel Yehud, revealing finds from six periods. From the Chalcolithic period, three refuse pits were exposed, containing typical household waste: pottery vessels, flint items and animal bones. Two tombs dating from the Intermediate Bronze Age were discovered; they were probably part of a nearby, contemporary cemetery, whose boundaries are yet unknown. Also discovered were seven tombs dating from the Persian period--these are the only Persian-period remains unearthed in the city to date. During the Late Roman period, a unique tomb (mausoleum?) was unearthed, comprising three troughs with primary burials, and an …

Glass Vessels, Metal Artifacts And Beads From The Burial Cave At ‘En Lavan, Naḥal Refa’Im (Pp. 123–133), Tamar Winter

'Atiqot

The sealed burial cave at ‘En Lavan yielded about 50 glass fragments, metal objects and beads of various materials. The glass vessels are typical of the Syria-Palestine region, and are dated to the Byzantine and Umayyad periods (sixth–eighth centuries CE); the metal artifacts and the beads are characteristic of the Late Roman and Byzantine periods.

A Burial Cave From The Byzantine–Early Islamic Periods At ‘En Lavan, Naḥal Refa’Im (With A Contribution By Yossi Nagar) (Hebrew, Pp. 1*–8*; English Summary, Pp. 171–172), Gideon Solimany

'Atiqot

A rock-hewn burial cave was exposed below ‘En Lavan in Naḥal Refa’im. It comprised a burial chamber with three arcosolia, in which burial troughs were carved; some of them had raised rock-hewn headrests. The cave was found sealed. In situ finds included pottery, glassware, metal artifacts and beads. The bone remains represent at least ten individuals—probably local residents. The cave was in use from the Byzantine period to the beginning of the Early Islamic period.

A Late Iron Age Rock-Cut Tomb On The Western Slope Of Mount Zion, Jerusalem (Pp. 1–24), Amos Kloner, Irit Yezerski

'Atiqot

On the western slope of Mount Zion, Jerusalem, below the southwestern corner of the Old City walls, a First Temple period burial ground was revealed. Five rock-cut tombs (A–E) were exposed, one of which (Tomb A) was found sealed with its original blocking stone, and hence its great importance for reconstructing First Temple period burial practices. Tomb A is of the prevalent “bench-tomb” type and it served for multiple and simultaneous burials. The tomb yielded finds that are of special importance, illuminating the burial practices of the people of Jerusalem and Judah in the seventh century BCE until the Babylonian …

Anthropological Remains From The Middle Bronze Age Burial Pits In Ashqelon (Pp. 97–99), Yossi Nagar, Lilly Gershuny

'Atiqot

The anthropological finds retrieved from the burial pits exposed at Ashqelon were poorly preserved, mainly due to the brittle kurkar sandstone and the high salt content in the area. The human remains included bones of adult individuals, men and women, as well as children. Distribution of individuals varied: some pits contained a single individual and some, multiple interments. Human skulls were generally associated with platter or carinated bowls.

Middle Bronze Age Burial Pits In Ashqelon (Pp. 1–83), Lilly Gershuny

'Atiqot

The excavations at Ashqelon unearthed 76 Middle Bronze Age burial pits, cut in the kurkar sandstone ridge. The burial pits are irregular in shape and vary in size. They contained skeletal remains of one individual or more, and a burial kit comprising pottery vessels: a store jar, a dipper juglet and a platter or carinated bowl. Additions to the burial kit included other pottery vessels and various artifacts such as a scarab, toggle pins, daggers, an alabaster pommel, a bone comb and beads. This cemetery is an important addition to the study of Middle Bronze Age burial customs and sites.

Front Matter, Editorial Board

'Atiqot

No abstract provided.

The Faunal Remains From Kefar Gabirol, El-Qubeibe (Pp. 209–223), Nimrod Marom

'Atiqot

The salvage excavation in Kefar Gvirol, el-Qubeibe, yielded a small faunal assemblage from late Ottoman-period domestic contexts. The faunal remains from the site were studied in terms of taxonomic composition, livestock demography and butchery practices, with reference to assemblage formation processes. The bones from the site provide a rare glimpse into livestock economy and consumption practices at a rural site of the period.