Digital Commons Network^™

2021 Denominational Survey Results, Calvin University

CRCNA Denominational Survey Results

As part of the denominational ministry plan, Our Journey 2025, the CRCNA has contracted with Calvin College’s Social Research Center to administer a denominational survey every year. The results from the 2021 survey have now been compiled.

All CRC-affiliated adults and older youth are welcome to respond to this survey every year as they are led. In order to ensure a healthy number of responses to the survey every year, however, CRC leaders have randomly assigned every CRC church to one of five “cohorts.” Each cohort includes about 20 percent of all active congregations, and each congregation will be …

"I Can't Breathe": Toward A Pneumatology Of Singing And Missional Musicking For Racial Justice In Jacksonville, Florida, Thomas Shapard

Doctor of Pastoral Music Projects and Theses

This thesis develops a philosophy of musicking that intersects with missional ecclesiology and expands the role of music-making beyond the church walls. The central hypothesis assumes that predominantly white congregations in the Free Church tradition located in the southern United States incorporate ways of singing that reinforce, albeit inadvertently, attitudes toward others that buttress white ethnocentricity. Musical practices arising from a Western European heritage can promote cultural exclusivity as well as a perceived—yet false— sense of superiority. Is there an implicit theology of singing in white churches that engenders a culture of complicity and apathy in matters of racial injustice, …

Modest Dress Practices Through The Eyes Of Seven Conservative Mennonite Women, Megan L. Mong, John M. Clifton

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies

How do Conservative Mennonite and Amish-Mennonite women conceptualize their religious dress practices? Do they unthinkingly conform to church dress practices or do they exercise some agency? Using an oral history research methodology, we explore the relationship between social structures and individual agency through the stories of seven women regarding their interaction with modest dress practices. These stories touch on the transmission of dress practices, the variety of influences that shaped their experiences, and changes in the expression of dress practices. The stories consist primarily of quotations from interviews conducted by Megan Mong, a former member of a Conservative Mennonite church; …

Religious Mega-Events And Their Assemblages In Devotional Pilgrimages: The Case Of Círio De Nazaré In Belém, Pará State, Brazil, José Rogério Lopes, André Luiz Da Silva

Journal of Global Catholicism

The article presents a typological categorization of contemporary mega-events and their characteristics, in order to interpret the assemblages mobilized by sectors of the Catholic Church in traditional devotional pilgrimages in the northern region of Brazil. It uses ethnographic accounts of the Círio de Nazaré feast, in Belém, Pará state, Brazil, considered the largest Catholic procession in the West, in order to analyze how the promotion of this event is organized through institutional and market logics that overlap with the religious phenomenon, evincing a contemporary trend. These assemblages open a field of possibilities for institutional religious reproduction and generate concentric flows …

Strong Church, Weak Catholicism: Transformations In Brazilian Catholicism, Carlos Alberto Steil, Rodrigo Toniol

Journal of Global Catholicism

In this paper we explore data on Catholicism from the 2010 census in Brazil, as well as other data from the Center for Religious Statistics and Social Investigation. Using these statistics, we question those arguments that explain the reduction in the number of Catholics in Brazilian society as a problem in the institution’s adaptation in response to the challenges of evangelization, or as a lack of ministerial vocations to meet the religious demands of the people. Pursuing an alternative argument, we consider the weakening of the relationship between the Catholic institution and traditional popular Catholicism to be a fundamental aspect …

Immanent Technologies: Posthuman Digital Religion In America, John William Borchert

Dissertations - ALL

This dissertation offers a posthuman theory of the digital mediation of religion, divided between theoretical chapters on posthumanism, ritual, and new media before two case studies: one on death, one on play. First developing conceptual relationships between posthumanism and religious studies and methodological connections between new media and ritual theories, it then asks questions in the playful and experimental ritual spaces of video games and the profoundly material and ecological spaces of digital mourning objects. For example: how do digital readouts on the health of a plant fed by cremains reposition living and dead bodies? Or, how do video games …

Columbus [As A] Circle And Skä•Noñh As An Ellipsis: A Case Study On Shifting The Interpretive Center In Syracuse, New York, Grace Fritzke

Theses - ALL

The Columbus memorial in Syracuse, New York was erected in the early 1900s by Italian-American immigrants who hoped for inclusion in the American master narrative. Indigenous peoples, on the other hand, have long recognized Columbus as a slave trader and as the person who instigated European colonization in the Americas. Following George Floyd's murder in 2020, resistance to colonial and Confederate statues gained widespread support. Using Charles Long's theorization of the circle and the ellipsis, Syracuse's Columbus Circle can be understood as an interpretive center in material form, underscoring how the maintenance of monuments to colonialism and racism also perpetuate …

Immanent Technologies: Posthuman Digital Religion In America, John William Borchert

Dissertations - ALL

This dissertation offers a posthuman theory of the digital mediation of religion, divided between theoretical chapters on posthumanism, ritual, and new media before two case studies: one on death, one on play. First developing conceptual relationships between posthumanism and religious studies and methodological connections between new media and ritual theories, it then asks questions in the playful and experimental ritual spaces of video games and the profoundly material and ecological spaces of digital mourning objects. For example: how do digital readouts on the health of a plant fed by cremains reposition living and dead bodies? Or, how do video games …

The Great Awokening, Samuel C. Smith

Helm's School of Government Conference - 2021-2024

The Great “Awokening”[1]

“Were you to see him in his most violent agitations, you would be apt to think that he was a madman just broke from his chains.”—Boston Evening Post on James Davenport, Aug. 2, 1742.

“I'm actually not a fan of the word 'woke.' I think the connotation of that means being socially aware, which is a beautiful thing to be. But it does not take into account being self-aware.”—India Arie

Most of my historical research has been on The First Great Awakening, an eighteenth-century revival movement that played a major role in shaping the …

Sattha, Money And Idols: Intersections Between Capitalist Commodification Of Thai K-Pop And Buddhist Fandoms, Pornpailin Meklalit

Master's Projects and Capstones

This study investigates the cultural, economic, and spiritual meanings, as well as the goals of activities carried out by both the K-pop fandom (specifically fans of EXO and NCT) and Buddhist devotees in Thailand—and their considerable degree of overlap. While Thai Buddhism is revered, K-pop fandom is stigmatized as an extreme, problematic form of behavior. This research builds parallels between these activities as forms of faith, which are mostly shaped by the same economic structures, with money as a medium that allows spiritual connection and comfort for fans. Moreover, travel and pilgrimages are physical and spiritual journeys that exist for …

The Role Of Aesthetics In Classroom Design: Implications For Engagement And Equity, Giuliana Barraza

Master's Theses

The desire for achieving greater equity in education has been a prevalent topic of research, with many studies indicating that the current education system in this country is designed in a way that exacerbates initial inequities and has a negative impact on student motivation and engagement (EOCD, 2012). While existing scholarship mostly discusses equity and engagement through the lens of curriculum and instruction, the power of physical classroom environments and aesthetic elements present in those environments is less explored. With student populations becoming more diverse, there is a greater need for new tools for teachers to utilize in pursuit of …

Liturgy And Covid-19 In Australia: A Strange Mix, Angela Mccarthy

Pastoral Liturgy

No abstract provided.

Reviewing Reforming The Liberal Arts, Robert Thorpe

Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning for Christians in Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Reviewing Called To Teach: Excellence, Commitment, And Community In Christian Higher Education, Nathan French

Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning for Christians in Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Re-Conceptualizing Inclusive Pedagogy In Practice In Higher Education, Marcia P. Livingston-Galloway, Andree Robinson-Neal

Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning for Christians in Higher Education

Twenty-first-century classrooms are becoming increasingly culturally, ethnically, and racially diverse and are looking more and more like microcosms. Consequently, students and some educational stakeholders are demanding the inclusion of race, culture, justice, and equality in the curricula and pushing the envelope for more inclusive pedagogy. Central to the concept of inclusive pedagogy are the values of fairness and equity. Proponents of inclusive pedagogy have indicated that numerous variables influence pedagogy, particularly inclusive pedagogy. These values have elicited concerns throughout the educational system regarding how instructors and facilitators serve all learners academic needs in their academies. However, there is no consensus …

Unity In Christ: An Annotated Bibliography, Kelly E. Budd, Madison S. Schmidt

Liberty Theological Review

A review of the recent book publications related to the spring theme, "Unity in Christ." We include the following titles.

• Alma, Hans et al. Moral and Spiritual Leadership in an Age of Plural Moralities.
• Anatolios, Khaled. Deification through the Cross: An Eastern Christian Theology of Salvation.
• Barrett, Matthew. Canon, Covenant and Christology: Rethinking Jesus and the Scriptures of Israel.
• Beck, William David and Mike Licona. Raised on the Third Day: Defending the Historicity of the Resurrection of Jesus.
• Chia, Edmund Kee-Fook. Confucianism and Christianity: Interreligious Dialogue on the Theology of Mission.
• Emerson, Matthew Y. He …

News, Announcements, And Remembrances, The Editors

Liberty Theological Review

News from various organizations in related disciplines. Announcements from Eleutheria editors about internal matters. Remembrances of people and events that include in memoriams, retirements, interesting lookbacks, etc.

A Comparative Analysis Of John Walton And John Sailhamer On Gen. 1:1, Matt H. Hamilton

Liberty Theological Review

Much ink has been spilled over the interpretation of Gen. 1:1, particularly in modern times. While these interpretations are diverse, two authors that deviate away from most identifiable norms are John Sailhamer and John Walton. Sailhamer thinks Gen 1:1 is a literal event that took place over an indeterminate block of time preceding the rest of creation. Walton, on the other hand, questions the presupposition of material ontology present in many contemporary accounts of creation, arguing instead that God’s creating should be understood as assigning function. This essay will seek to compare both scholars’ views, summarizing them, finding possible convergences, …

How To Have Impossible Conversations: A Practical Review, J. T. Byrd, Brant Wenger

Liberty Theological Review

Boghossian, Peter & James Lindsay. How to Have Impossible Conversations: A Very Practical Guide. NY: Lifelong Books, 2019. Kindle. 234 pp. $16.99

The Forgotten Disciples: The Faithful Witness Of Women In Early Christianity, Jessica C. Hughes

Liberty Theological Review

At its earliest, Christianity is a religion of respect and dignity for women. This paper examines the experience and contributions of women to Christianity, beginning at the time of Christ and continuing to through to approximately 300 A.D., or shortly before the Nicene Creed was developed. This paper demonstrates the way the church, from the outset, has largely relied on the contributions and gifts of women in order to fulfill its mission. This paper then applies this historic context to the American church in issues of life and gender, concluding that it is the recognition and partnership with women, not …

Acedia And The Evagrian Antidotes To Pastoral Burnout, Thomas Daniel Irving

Doctor of Ministry Projects and Theses

At its core, pastoral burnout is a spiritual malady and only a spiritual solution will cure. By attaining a clear understanding of acedia, the spiritual condition first introduced by fourth century monk Evagrius Ponticus, pastors will gain an awareness of their condition, find relief from its symptoms, find meaning in their vocation, and joy for life-long ministry. This work will explore the manifestations of and antidotes to acedia in both the original fourth century desert monastic context and its application to modern ministry.

Mutual Aid As Spiritual Tacit Knowledge Within Doukhobor Epistemology, Rachel L. Neubuhr Torres

University Honors Theses

The relationship between Michael Polanyi’s concept of tacit knowledge and religion is a topic that is rarely explored. Applying tacit knowledge to the study of religion and spirituality allows us to think about how we connect with the world and how we address the concern of what one feels to be true of their existence, or existential intuition. In the latter half of the 1800s the Russian prince turned anarchist, Peter Kropotkin, wrote extensively on the theory of mutually beneficial cooperation, or mutual aid, as being one of the most important factors of evolution. As Kropotkin began writing his series …

Intangible Cultural Heritage: A Benefit To Climate-Displaced And Host Communities, Gül Aktürk, Martha B. Lerski

Publications and Research

Climate change is borderless, and its impacts are not shared equally by all communities. It causes an imbalance between people by creating a more desirable living environment for some societies while erasing settlements and shelters of some others. Due to floods, sea level rise, destructive storms, drought, and slow-onset factors such as salinization of water and soil, people lose their lands, homes, and natural resources. Catastrophic events force people to move voluntarily or involuntarily. The relocation of communities is a debatable climate adaptation measure which requires utmost care with human rights, ethics, and psychological well-being of individuals upon the issues …

The Application Of Islamic Business Contract In The National Law Regulations (The Comparison Between Countries With Civil Law Systems And Common Law Systems), Gemala Dewi

Journal of Islamic Law Studies

With the growth of Islamic banking and finance business in many countries nowadays, the legal aspect is very important to be understood by the parties. This is because in Islamic business law, not only the contract becomes law for the parties, but also to be compliant with Islamic teachings. Otherwise it will be null and void that could cause loss to both sides. However, in some Civil Law system countries there might not be clear rules regarding Islamic contract law. Also, in Common Law system countries, with the character of Islamic law which has specific provisions on the law of …

The Implementation Of Islamic Law: Through Islamic Law Politics And Not Through Terrorism, Tjahjo Suprajogo

Journal of Islamic Law Studies

In the context of Indonesia, empirically and historically there is no doubt that Islamic law is one important element in the formation of national law (positive law). Also, sociologically, Islam as a religious doctrine is to have religious values that have been believed by Muslims to be a system of life that is regarded as the law derived from religion by most Indonesian people. Judging from the scope of realistic politic or ideological-empiric, there is a serious debate in the formulation of the basic constitution of the country is currently taking place in the sessions Agency of Efforts Investi- gation …

Prinsip Konstitusionalisme Dalam Piagam Madinah Dan Relevansinya Bagi Konstitusi Indonesia, Himas M. I. El Hakim

Journal of Islamic Law Studies

Constitutionalism is an idea that use a constitution as an instrumen for limiting state power and pro- tect human rights. Limiting state power and protect human rights is a principles of constitution that contained at every constitution. Medina’s Charter as a constitution is the first written constitution that contain it. With unique and different implementation of constitutionalism, Medina’s Charter afford good progress either state power limitation and human right protection. Syuro’ or high forum is one of the unique implementation for limiting state power and human rights protection. The result of constitutionalism of Medina’s Charter give many principle and relevance …

Sistem Sanksi Dalam Hukum Islam, Rini Apriyani

Journal of Islamic Law Studies

Sistem hukum merupakan suatu aturan yang dapat mengatur kehidupan bermasyarakat di suatu negara. Di dunia ada tiga sistem hukum yang berlaku yaitu Eropa Kontinental, Anglo Saxon dan Hukum Islam. Demikian pula di Indonesia, terdapat tiga sistem hukum yang berlaku di Indonesia yaitu hukum Nasional, hukum adat dan Hukum Islam.

Akan tetapi selama ini ternyata hukum Islam yang diberlakukan di Indonesia ternyata bersifat limitatif. Makna limitatif adalah bahwa hukum Islam di Indonesia hanya diberlakukan bagi warga negara yang beragama Islam dan diterapkan hanya dalam bidang hukum perdata saja. Itu pun hanya dalam sembilan bagian dari hukum perdata.

Padahal ada satu sistem …

The Opportunities Of The Application Of Islamic Criminal Law According To Indonesian Constitution, Bagas Heradhyaksa, Jasri Jamal

Journal of Islamic Law Studies

Islamic Criminal Law explains criminal offence and the punishments based on Islamic Law. The aim of Islamic criminal law is to maintain peace in the societies, whether for Muslim and non-Mus- lim, and reform the offenders. Running the Islamic criminal law is the right of every Muslim. The Indonesian Constitution guarantees the citizen’s freedom to run their own religion. In this context, running Islamic criminal law is part of Islamic religion. The objective of this paper is to know the opportunities of the application of Islamic criminal law according to Indonesian Constitution. This qualitative study will analyze the library data …

Penyalahgunaan Konsep Kawin Mut’Ah Pada Prak- Tik Kawin Kontrak, Zaitun Abdullah, Kunthi Tridewiyanti

Journal of Islamic Law Studies

Marriage is an emotional and physical bond between a man and a woman to establish a perpetual family as stipulated in The Marriage Act Number 1 Year 1974 and The Islamic Law Compilation (Kompilasi Hukum Islam). However, there are facts that in Tugu Utara Village (Desa), Cisarua, Bogor, many couples conduct marriage just for temporary period. That marriage known as the con- tract marriage (perkawinan kontrak), and people who live in Tugu Utara Village call it with mut’ah marriage. Of course, that is an interesting matter to study, because it seems there is a mistake in un- derstanding the concept …

The Effect Of Food, Fun, And Fashion For Muslim, Fatma Reza Zubarita

Journal of Islamic Law Studies

In era modern, many person forget how to be a true Muslim. When modernization come, Western people use their logic for influence Muslim to follow what they want. It’s about Fun, Food, and Fash- ion. Many muslim have followed it, and sometimes make them to be a comsumtive person. Not just it. It is still many effect of it. Muslim start to leave science of Al-Qur’an and hadith. They want a happy and enjoy life. This is one of effect also, if current teenagers loss a moral and good character. So, Muslim must be resuscitated to be true Muslim by …