Digital Commons Network^™

I Am Gay And Catholic: An Analysis Of Identity Integration In Lgbtq+ Members Converting To Catholicism, Maria Julian

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

This article examines the negotiation of sexual and religious identities among Catholic members of the LGBTQ+ community. I explore context-specific identity negotiation to determine how and why, in a time of “cultural warfare” within the Catholic Church surrounding the acceptance of LGBTQ+ participants, LGBTQ+ members choose to convert to Catholicism. Through semi-structured interviews conducted with members of the LGBTQ+ community, I identify and discuss several themes based on the identity integration process of these individuals: (1) Experiencing “The Call” (the initial interest in Catholicism), (2) Encountering the Religious “Other” (association with a welcoming and enduring Catholic LGBTQ+ Community), (3) Immersion …

The Calvin Forum: Summer 2024, Calvin Theological Seminary

Calvin Theological Seminary Forum (2002- )

CONTENTS - Vol. 34., SUMMER 2024

Main Features: 5 - Letter from the President

8 - Calvin Theological Seminary: A living tradition of service for the 21st Century

12- Virtuous reasoning

15 - Why on Earth look to the church for help in society?

19 - Bringing the trouble to church: the call to Christ-Centered mental health support

22 - The need for effective leaders: Competency-based education on the rise

24 - A challenging journey: Preaching through competition, wariness, and trauma

Calvin Seminary News: 28 - Calvin Theological seminary partners with Missional training center

31 - Calvin Theological …

Dna-- Do You Know Who You Are? A Curriculum For Mentors Of Emerging Adult Young Women, Cristina Joy Davis

Doctor of Ministry

The transitional phase of emerging adulthood signifies a pivotal period for young women as they embark on the journey of self-discovery, distinct from their familial roots. This developmental epoch significantly challenges their faith formation and the establishment of a Christ-centered identity, often influencing decisions to depart from their Christian faith and congregations in pursuit of acceptance and purpose elsewhere. In response, this project seeks to facilitate mentored development of Christ-centered identity in emerging adult Christian women ages 18-25, congruent with their faith, while navigating transitions and influences challenging their professed and lived out faith in Jesus Christ.

Research underscores the …

Rhythms For Reformation: Guiding Missionaries To Find Healing From The Trauma Of Spiritual Abuse, Nancy Raatz

Doctor of Ministry

The NPO statement which guided this Doctoral Project is missionaries need a safe space and attuned guidance to renew spiritually from spiritual abuse suffered in the course of vocational missions work. Key insights which emerged from research found that spiritual abuse happens among missionaries while serving overseas which causes a deformation of their spiritual life. That deformation results in doubting or dismissing the relationship they once experienced with Jesus. Spiritual healing, a reformation of their spirituality, is possible in a safe guided community. At the start of this doctoral program my ministry context was as a twenty year veteran of …

Cultural Erasure And Non-Violent Resistance In Tibet, Nikolina K. Klinkenberg

ENGS 15.11: Design and Education

This lesson uses lectures, discussions, and hands-on activities to encourage students to empathize with the Tibetan people and to think critically about responses to the Chinese Communist Party’s oppressive policies. The lesson begins with an overview of Tibetan Buddhism, Tibetan history since the Chinese invasion, and religious policy in China. Next, students actively interpret instances of self-immolation and analyze non-violent strategies for resolving conflict, connecting these subjects to their learning about Tibetan Buddhism and their prior knowledge of non-violent resistance. The lesson concludes with a reflection in which students connect the lesson’s topics to circumstances in their own lives.

Lds Perspectives On The Atonement?, Blake T. Ostler

Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship

Latter-day Saint Perspectives on Atonement promises to provide new perspectives on the atonement that reflect awareness of scriptural and theological scholarship. The essays on the scriptural background are solid. The essays providing theological perspectives are uneven, at best. Indeed, the theological essays show little awareness of the major works in philosophical theology in the last sixty years—with one notable exception. Moreover, a feminist perspective that argues against seeing Christ’s blood that he shed as an appropriate basis for atonement theory receives the greatest attention. This review elucidates, explores, assesses, and critiques these approaches.

A Model For Looking Deeply And Deeply Looking, Godfrey J. Ellis

Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship

Peter Williams, an independent biblical scholar, has written an analysis of the parable of the prodigal son in a fascinating attempt to demonstrate two truths. The first is that one of the most overlooked attributes of the Savior is his brilliant and analytical mind. In the process, Williams reveals many intricacies hidden in the parable. He also reminds readers of the role of the Old Testament in the understanding and appreciation of the teachings of Jesus. These contributions, by themselves, demonstrate the value of the book. The second truth is that Jesus, himself, and not the gospel writers or the …

The Influence Of Religion In Frantz Fanon’S Decolonial Theory And Ethics On Violence, Dorival Pimenta Do Nascimento

CGU Theses & Dissertations

How does religious language influence Frantz Fanon’s Decolonial theory and ethics onviolence in the struggle for decolonization and disalienation? This is the question I address in this dissertation carefully observing Patrick Crowley's mention of the presence of religious language in Fanon's work. Crowley’s argument is that Fanon’s thought is apocalyptical in structure and is marked by a dramatic sense of temporality prior to his arrival in Algeria. Crowley develops his article focusing on the messianic question, while the religious language in Fanon's work he ends up relegating to a second plan. In this sense, this dissertation is developed with the …

A Triage And Case Management Approach To Membership Management Prioritizing Soul Treatment, Dwayne K. Jones

Doctor of Ministry

Many individuals and families feel disillusioned by churches failing to address their emotional, physical, and spiritual needs. With limited research demonstrating how the needs of members are prioritized, the research we have done has shown triage is critical in evaluating the priority of treatment needs in life-saving matters. The question this dissertation addresses is if there is a triage and case management approach that can set a better course for prioritizing treatment and healing for an individual or family seeking restoration when joining the church. It aims to assess how this approach can target critical needs beyond regular church activities …

Luke 24:36 And 1 John 3:1-7: Different Viewpoints On Life After Death, Scott Gambrill Sinclair

The Scott Sinclair Lecture Notes Collection

Lecture notes on a series of talks by Scott G. Sinclair's on his version of the Historical Jesus.

The Next Big Thing: What's Coming Next In Youth Ministry

Journal of Adventist Youth and Young Adult Ministries

No abstract provided.

Neither Jew Nor Greek: Ethnocentrism Vs. Interculturalism And The Future Of The Adventist Church, Lyle Notice

Journal of Adventist Youth and Young Adult Ministries

The Adventist Church is one of the most ethnically diverse churches within North America, but with its continued diversity explosion, many churches are segregated by racial lines and ethnicity. With the rise of immigration, what will the future of the Adventist church in North America look like? Will new ethnic immigrants assimilate into white churches? Will Seventh-day Adventist churches eventually become ethnic enclaves that continue to create racialized silos? Is the Adventist church becoming more ethnocentric? How do we foster more intercultural churches?

The Theology Of The Book Of Judges In The Second Generation: Giving Up Is Not An Option!, Juan Bosco Vanega Flores

Journal of Adventist Youth and Young Adult Ministries

The tension between the first and second generation of immigrants in our churches is increasing. The large gap that should be closing continues to open. The Bible contains important biblical principles that leaders of the Church can use to help close the gap between the generations in immigrant churches.

The Experiences Of Religious Students In Counseling Theories Courses, Brian A. Mesimer, Matthew Lyons, Candace Park

Journal of Faith Integration Counseling (JFIC)

We explored the experiences of 10 religious counseling students in their theories course. Analysis using transcendental phenomenology showed that the theory acquisition process is multifaceted, consisting of a variety of affective and cognitive experiences which further student growth.

Rationality, Silence, And The Numinous: Exploring The Mystical Theology Of Otto, Thurman, And Panikkar, Welling Hall

Quaker Religious Thought

In her essay “Rationality, Silence, and the Numinous: Exploring the Mystical Theology of Otto, Thurman, and Panikkar,” Welling Hall traces out the thought of these three important advocates of mysticism as they struggle with the relationship between rea- son and that which transcends rational comprehension, an issue of ongoing interest and concern to Quaker theology. In light of this essay, we might ask ourselves whether our rituals or lack thereof are an impediment to a deeper connection with God, or a means thereunto?

How To Believe In Immortality, Carol Zaleski

Religion: Faculty Publications

All the cards seem to be stacked against belief in immortality. Nonetheless, the resources of particular religious traditions may avail where generic philosophical solutions fall short. With attention to the boredom and narcissism critiques, intimations of deathlessness in Śāntideva’s radical altruism, and recent Christian debates on the soul and the intermediate state, I propose two criteria for a coherent religion-specific belief in immortality: (1) the belief is supported by a fully realized religious tradition, (2) the belief satisfies the demand for self-transcendence as well as for self-preservation. Where self-transcendence and self-preservation are kept in balance, and where the whole idea …

Full Issue

BYU Studies

No abstract provided.

Understanding Perfectionism, G E. Kawika Allen, Jacelin Clayton, Emma Moore, Debra Theobald Mcclendon

BYU Studies

Perfectionism is a widely known personality characteristic, but it is not always understood. It can motivate and promote growth, or it can stifle and promote low self-worth with consuming negative thoughts and behaviors. Toxic perfectionism occurs when individuals demand perfection and become highly critical of themselves or others, turning normal mistakes into shame and self-hatred or hatred of others.1 It often includes an all-or- nothing mindset—viewing a performance as either a total success or a total failure—with no in-between. 2 And even success is fleeting for toxic perfectionists because they find flaws in their apparently perfect performances or in the …

Are Latter-Day Saints Perfectionists? Guest Editor’S Introduction, W. Justin Dyer

BYU Studies

A while back, I was sitting in a university meeting at the beginning of another school year. A therapist was facilitating a helpful discussion on the growing concern of student mental health. When toxic perfectionism came up, the facilitator mentioned in an offhanded way that we have a particular problem with this at Brigham Young University (BYU) because of “the gospel.” This statement was not much of a surprise given the seemingly common attitude that BYU students (and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in general) struggle with perfectionism.

Religion And Perfectionism, Michael A. Goodman

BYU Studies

Perfectionism has been a frequent topic of interest to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In official Church material and in other sources aimed at a Latter-day Saint audience (such as podcasts and blogs), the problems of toxic perfectionism have continued to receive attention in scholarly and clinical literature. The concept has been addressed several times in general conference addresses, including by members of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.1 The Church has produced official videos and articles for youth,2 young adults,3 and adults.4

Providing Specialized Preparation For Counselors In Catholic Schools, Timothy J. Cook, Jan J. Powers, Jiwon Kim

Journal of Catholic Education

School counselors are needed now more than ever. Providing Catholic school counselors the specialized formation they need to be effective in the Catholic school context is essential. This study addressed two research questions in this regard: (1) What competencies (e.g., understanding, incorporating) and topics do Catholic school principals and school counselors believe are important for school counselors to fully contribute to the educational and faith-based mission of Catholic schools; and (2) How might the research findings inform pre-service education and/or continuing education and formation of school counselors for the Catholic school context? Online surveys were developed using the “Defining Characteristics …

Is There A Future For The Missiological Study Of Worldview? Part 1, Paulo C. Oliveira

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

This two-part article aims to assess the missiological worldview theory critically while pointing to implications for mission studies. It argues that the concept needs serious development to be useful for research in contemporary society. The social shifts experienced in the last decades and a lack of robust missiological critical engagement have made the model theoretically unreliable as an analytical tool. This first paper introduces the genealogy of missiological worldview theory to expose its theoretical underpinnings and identifies a departure between anthropology and missiology regarding the concept. The first task in the ensuing discussion is to unearth the theoretical foundations of …

World Spirit And The Apotheosis Of Artificial Superintelligence: A Speculative Design Proposal, Ian Gonsher

Scholarly Research

This essay puts forth a speculative design proposal for a device with affordances for talking to, and receiving responses from, God. We begin with an analysis and critique of the concept of God, framing this concept within an understanding of Hegelian Spirit (Geist) and technological evolution. In this context, Spirit, or World Spirit (Weltgeist), can be characterized as the aggregate consciousness of all people - as human consciousness itself: In the simplest terms, this immanent framing of the “mind of God” is culturally and socially constituted as the communication that people engage in with each other, in all the diverse …

"Fulfil In Beauty My Imperfect Prayer": Mythologization In Santayana's Aesthetics Of Religion, India M. Johnson-Mccauley

Honors College Theses

This thesis addresses George Santayana’s theories of art and religion in the context of turn-of-the-century religious thought and introduces the concept of the mythologization of religion. Santayana, the Spanish-American turn-of-the-century philosopher, poet, and novelist, took a naturalist, pragmatist, and religious non-realist approach to understanding the world that prompted works regarding the nature of art, The Sense of Beauty (1896), and the nature of religion, Interpretations of Poetry and Religion (1900). Within these two works, Santayana proposes a theory of aesthetics and a theory of religion that seem to function in tandem with each other. According to his theories, art, particularly …

Latina Mothering As Diaspora Mission : The Role Of Latina Immigrant Mothers In The Religious Identity Formation Of The Next Generation, Rebekah R.S. Clapp

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Second Isaianic Mirroring Of The Creative Imagination Of Yahweh In Light Of The Philosophical Imagination Of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Rania N. Hendy

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Adult Learning Theory And Preaching : The Barriers To Applying Adult Learning Theory, Timothy M. Hall

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Church Planting As Evangelism : How People Are Influenced And Worldview Assumptions Impacting Church Plants And Church Multiplication, W. Bud (Walter Bud) Simon

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Resilient Faith: Lessons For The Church From Church Leavers, Carol Mclaughlin

Doctor of Ministry

This dissertation began by seeking to understand why people leave church, particularly baby boomers that no longer attend church. Section One introduces the changing perceptions and dynamics of religious identification and church attendance practices. The question I ask and endeavor to respond to is how the church might live a resilient faith in the liminal space between a church-centric faith and faith apart from church affiliation. Section Two considers three responses to church leaving and perceptions of faith. The first considers the shift taking place in faith development when authority moves from the church to the individual. The second is …

Mixed Messages: Reflections On Multiethnic Identity And Narratives In Youth Ministry Pedagogy, Joel Mayward

Faculty Publications - George Fox School of Theology

Drawing upon the work of Gloria E. Anzaldúa and Paul Ricoeur, this article presents a personal and scholarly reflection on the author’s multiethnic identity and how such identities may benefit youth ministry pedagogies and perspectives. The author explains Anzaldúa’s notion of nepantla alongside Ricoeur’s concepts of “narrative identity” and “social imaginary,” then demonstrates how these two thinkers’ perspectives can be interwoven and applied by educators and youth ministry practitioners. Ultimately, in sharing about his “mixed” heritage, the author contends that multiethnic individuals can serve as bridge-builders between cultures and generations.