Digital Commons Network^™

Kenotic Effluent Panapotheism, Christopher E. Etter

Master of Arts in Religious Studies (M.A.R.S. Theses)

In these times of changing and evolving scientific discovery, philosophy and theology are at a critical juncture where they stand to lose all relevance if they are unable to keep up with the wealth of new knowledge and discoveries. Among the recent attempts in philosophy and theology to reconcile the relationship between science and these fields is Process Theology. Process Theology owes its origins to the 20th Century American philosopher Alfred North Whitehead. Whitehead and the philosophers and theologians he has influenced have developed a myriad of new theologies that all attempt to incorporate the new sciences, such as Quantum …

Introduction: Theorizing The Secular In Tibetan Cultural Worlds, Holly Gayley, Nicole Willock

Philosophy Faculty Publications

This special issue on ‘The Secular in Tibetan Cultural Worlds’ originated in a panel on The Secular in Tibet and Mongolia at the Thirteenth Seminar of the International Association of Tibetan Studies held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia in 2013. To contextualize the contributions to this issue, spanning diverse temporal and geographic contexts, this Introduction raises theoretical concerns and discusses contested terminology regarding ‘religion’ and the ‘secular’ in Tibetan discourse. The authors situate local articulations of the secular within broader academic discussions of the varieties of Asian secularisms and offer a key intervention to complicate the secularization thesis and prevailing views of …

Review Of Bubík And Hoffman's "Studying Religions With The Iron Curtain Closed And Opened: The Academic Study Of Religion In Eastern Europe", Branko Sekulić

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

A review of Studying Religions with the Iron Curtain Closed and Opened: The Academic Study of
Religion in Eastern Europe. Edited by Tomas Bubík and Henryk Hoffmann, Leiden-
Boston: Brill, 2015. 338 pp. Paperback, ISBN: 9789004283077

Contributors--Quaker Religious Thought, No. 126

Quaker Religious Thought

No abstract provided.

Preliminary Pages, No Author

Verbum

No abstract provided.

Saint Of Steel!!, G. Thomas Crombach

Verbum

In lieu of an abstract, below is the essay's first paragraph.

"At the conclusion of each episode of the 50s TV western 'The Lone Ranger,' one of the characters would ask: 'Who is that masked man?' The viewers, of course, knew the identity of the hero, as he raced off, with the famous cry to his faithful steed, 'HiYo Silver, Away!!!'"

The Ecological Crisis: Questioning Christianity’S Contribution, Jessica Bolak

Verbum

In lieu of an abstract, below is the essay's first paragraph.

"Introduction

Distinguished academic, Lynn White, claims that the Judeo-Christian religions are to blame for the ecological crisis and uses interpretations from the Bible to support his argument. He believes these religions have a harmful impact on the relationship between humans and nature. In this paper I will examine White’s claims specifically against Christianity, and refute them by providing multiple perspectives from varying scholars to substantiate my argument."

Global Warming And Religion, Erin Tiede

Verbum

In lieu of an abstract, below is the essay's first paragraph.

"Introduction

John A. Grim and Mary Evelyn Tucker argue that it is the responsibility for religious people and organizations to combat the environmental crises, including global warming. David C. Barker and David H. Bearce, however, describe the end-times belief that some Christians follow which leads many to disregard the current effects of the ecological crises. I will support the views of Grim and Tucker as well as discuss the current responses toward the ecological crises."

Amy And George, George Payne

Verbum

In lieu of an abstract, below is the essay's first paragraph.

"Namaste! My name is George Payne and I graduated from Fisher in 2004 with a B.A. in Philosophy. I also took several courses in the English Department, History Department and Religious Studies Department."

Jodi And Jon, Jonathan Schott, Jodi Schott

Verbum

In lieu of an abstract, below is the essay's first paragraph.

"Jonathan (’02) and Jodi (’04) Schott are putting their Fisher educations to work!"

The Hungarian Religious Leaders’ Statements From The Beginning Of The Migration, Krisztina Barcsa, András Máté-Tóth

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Since May 2015, the issue of migration to Europe has become a determinative topic in the Hungarian and international news. Almost everyone, from political leaders to non-governmental organizations, has taken a position on this matter. Leaders of different religions have expressed their opinions to the media and have tried to provide guidance to religious people on this topic. In this paper, we will present some Hungarian religious leaders’ opinions and statements based on online resources posted in the Hungarian language.

The Persistence Of Gnosticism: Credit And The Apocalypse, Molly A. Wallace

Religious Studies Honors Projects

This paper follows Hans Blumenberg’s argument that gnosticism persisted throughout the Middle Ages due to Augustine of Hippo’s accidental incorporation of gnostic eschatology into his theory of voluntas. Gnosticism is a radically dualist structure originating in Late Antiquity that splits the cosmos between corrupt matter and a divine spirit. I take issue with Blumenberg’s assertion that modernity has truly rid itself of a concern with spirit, or transcendence. By doing so, I am able to take his argument to its logical conclusion: gnosticism persists today through the capitalist descendent of spirit—value. Moreover, I argue that the …

Opium Eaters: Buddhism As Revolutionary Politics, James Mark Shields

Faculty Contributions to Books

There is no one, single answer to the question: What is or are ‘Buddhist politics’? Rather than seek general historical trends or broad tendencies, in this chapter I explore the meaning and implications of the modern, Western conception of ‘politics’ as understood in relation to key features of Buddhist doctrine. In particular, I pose the question of whether we might fruitfully conceive at least certain interpretations of Buddhism—or perhaps, of Dharma—as politics, rather than ‘religion’ or ‘philosophy.’ I argue that twentieth century progressive Buddhists Seno’o Girō (1889–1961) and B. R. Ambedkar (1891–1956) were not so much in conflict with …

Getting Involved With The Digital Humanities In Theology, Biblical Studies, And Religious Studies, Kent Gerber

Librarian Publications and Presentations

Digital humanities are growing and thriving in higher education, and, in the spirit of the pioneering work of Father Busa, it is important for theological and religious studies libraries and librarians to consider our roles and involvement in the current milieu of challenge and opportunity. The library and digital humanities communities possess many shared values and goals, including providing wide access to cultural information, enhancing teaching and learning, making a public impact, and benefiting from the invigorating, though not salvific, effect of technology to their efforts.

The Digital Watchmakers: Playing With The Sacred In Video Games, Anthony Langley

Research and Creative Activities Poster Day

With video games establishing itself as a multi-billion dollar industry, academia as a whole has been slowly looking at the medium as an object of study. The field of religious studies has also begun to take notice of it. At face value, this is a great a way to observe concepts of religiosity in a fairly new medium. In spite of this, the same questions are being asked. The first is how are the narrative of games depicting religious motifs? Secondly, what can we learn through the social interactions of people within a digital space about religion? Finally, how are …

Mary's Place In Today's Church, Thomas Buffer, Dennis M. Doyle

Marian Forum

Vatican II highlights the relation between Mary and the Church. What are the theological and more practical consequences of this new/old vision? Did it impact the place of Mary in the Church in liturgy, spirituality, theology? Is the Church more Marian? Are we more Marian? What could that mean? What should we learn from the past for the present and the future?

On April 8, 2016 we joined together, across the globe in real time, to listen and discuss two presentations on the subject of Mary's Place in Today's Church.

These presentations began via teleconference at 2:30 p.m. Eastern time. …

Divine Temporality: Bonhoeffer's Theological Appropriation Of Heidegger's Existential Analytic Of Dasein, Nicholas Byle

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation’s guiding question is: What was the impact of Martin Heidegger’s early philosophy on Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s theology? I argue that Heidegger’s analysis of Dasein, his technical term for human existence, provides Bonhoeffer with important conceptual tools for developing his Christology, from which the rest of his theology follows.

Part of recognizing Heidegger’s importance to Bonhoeffer involves understanding the latter’s critiques of previous notable philosophers such as Kant, Hegel, Husserl, and Scheler. As Bonhoeffer evaluates these philosophers, they lead to theologically unacceptable positions. Heidegger, in contrast, has come to a theologically profitable understanding of human existence and epistemology. Though there …

The Roles Of Violence In Recent Biblical Cinema: The Passion, Noah, And Exodus: Gods And Kings, Kevin M. Mcgeough

Journal of Religion & Film

When The Passion was released, its extremely graphic violence horrified critics and scholars of religion although its success at the box office indicates that this, if anything, made the story of Jesus more appealing for viewers. Now that more time has passed and expectations surrounding levels of acceptable violence in cinema have changed, it is worth reconsidering how cinematic violence is used as reception strategy in Biblical cinema. Considering The Passion with more recent Biblical films, Noah and Exodus: Gods and Kings, it becomes apparent that violence is not only used to expand laconic Biblical narratives but to invest …

Isis & Eschatology: Apocalyptic Motivations Behind The Formation And Development Of The Islamic State, Matthew Henry Musselwhite

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The goal of this thesis was to analysis the Islamic State’s apocalyptic nature by studying both classic Islamic eschatology and the Islamic State’s online magazine Dabiq. In order to conduct this research, I separated my thesis into two separate angles of approach. The first angle (chapters one & two) exclusively looked at Islamic eschatology, classic apocalyptic texts, shifts in how literature was written over time, and on examples of modern messianic revolutions occurring. In this way, I attempted to emphasize how extra-Qur’anic texts have played a large part in providing details for what Islamic eschatology entails. I also looked at …

Explore, Spring 2016, Vol. 19: Our Future On A Shared Planet, Ignatian Center For Jesuit Education

explore

• Laudato Si' in Silicon Valley - Cardinal Peter Turkson
• Climate Resilience, Social Entrepreneurship, and Silicon Valley - Thane Kreiner
• Environmental Justice, Technology, and Silicon Valley - Kirk Hanson
• Public Policy and the Environmental Teachings of Pope Francis - Sam Liccardo
• Social Action and Community in an Integral Ecology - Poncho Guevara
• Securing the Well-bEing of People and Nature: A Reflection on Laudato Si' - Gretchen Daily
• Valuing our Common Home - William Sundstrom
• Laudato Si' and Inclusive Capitalism - John Denniston
• Leadership Ethics and Laudato Si' - Ann Skeet
• Multifaith Dialogue on Climate Justice: Principles and Practices Across Traditions - …

No Sympathy For The Devil: The Significance Of Demons In John Chrysostom's Soteriology, Samantha Lynn Miller

Dissertations (1934 -)

This dissertation is a study of John Chrysostom’s demonology as it relates to his theological anthropology and soteriology. Demons run rampant in Chrysostom's thought, though few scholars have taken note of this. Studies of Chrysostom often focus on his exegetical practices, his asceticism, or his social vision and morality. Indeed, many scholars dismiss Chrysostom as unsophisticated and therefore of little value in the landscape of fourth-century theology. In analyzing Chrysostom’s demonology, we see that Chrysostom’s thought is complex and worth further consideration. One cannot treat demons in Chrysostom’s work without treating other theological topics as well. When Chrysostom discusses demons …

“My Way Or The Highway To Heaven”: The Role Of Choice In Religious Conversion, Marylynn Smitherman

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Typology, Tabernacle And Tradition: A History Of Interpretation Of Hebrews 9:11-14, Samuel A. Mullins

Honors Theses

The texts of the Bible have been used and interpreted in various ways across different time periods and different cultures, and there is much to be gained by studying these changes. Changing attitudes about and uses of Scripture tell us something about other changes taking place in society. They reflect new ideas about religion, knowledge, and authority. Most of all, they demonstrate the techniques used by pastors, theologians, and other authors to make texts written long ago relevant to contemporary problems. The purpose of my study is to use Hebrews 9:11-14 to look at the ways in which the interpretation …

From Modes Of Production To The Resurrection Of The Body: A Labor Theory Of Revolutionary Subjectivity & Religious Ideas, Benjamin Suriano

Dissertations (1934 -)

In this dissertation I attempt two needed tasks within historical materialism: first, to reestablish the standpoint of labor as the normative basis for critical theory beyond irrational bourgeois categories, and second, to show that labor’s own self-mediating rationalization, if it is to move beyond these contradictory categories, necessarily requires a certain religious-utopian consciousness. The dominant Weberian and Marxist paradigms for understanding labor and its relation to the religious variously perpetuated irrational bourgeois conceptions of labor as a bare efficient cause, with religion paternalistically positioned as an inherently idealist or mystifying external form. I argue, however, that the concrete rationality of …

Judgment, Justification, And The Faith Event In Romans, Raymond Foyer

Dissertations (1934 -)

In this study, I identify two commonly perceived incompatibilities regarding judgment and justification in Romans. The first is between judgment according to works and Paul’s negative teaching that justification does not come through “works of law” or “works.” The second concerns judgment according to works and Paul’s positive argument that justification comes graciously by faith. I attempt to resolve both of these problems. In the first chapter, I make the case that “works of law” and several similar terms in Romans do not all have the same meaning and do not pose a problem of compatibility. In order to address …

Emerging Adults And The American Church: How Brecksville United Methodist Church Can Recapture The Attention Of 18-­‐29 Year Olds, Courtney Drescher

Masters Essays

No abstract provided.

The Mystical And Political Body: Christian Identity In The Theology Of Karl Rahner, Erin Kidd

Dissertations (1934 -)

Jesuit theologian Karl Rahner (1904-1984) is well known for initiating the turn to the subject in Catholic theology. The heart of Rahner’s theological reflection is the experience of God as encouraged by Ignatius of Loyola’s Spiritual Exercises. In questioning how the subject experiences God, Rahner develops a theological anthropology that attempts to elucidate the original unity of spirit and matter. As he argues, the human being is “spirit-in-world,”—the one who actualizes her transcendence in space and over time. While Rahner’s readers have been quick to draw out the implications of the subject as spirit, they have been less attentive to …

Monarchianism And Origen's Early Trinitarian Theology, Stephen Edward Waers

Dissertations (1934 -)

This dissertation unfolds in two parts. In the first, I offer a reconstruction of the core of Monarchian theology using four main primary texts: Hippolytus’ Contra Noetum, Tertullian’s Adversus Praxean, the Refutatio omnium haeresium (often attributed to Hippolytus), and Novatian’s De Trinitate. The Monarchian controversy enters the historical record at the beginning of the third century, but we know little of its origins or motivations. The first part begins with a hypothesis about what might have prompted the rise of Monarchianism. Following that, I give an account of the core of Monarchian teaching using the sources listed above. My account …

Primeval History According To Paul: "In Adam" And "In Christ" In Romans, Timothy A. Gabrielson

Dissertations (1934 -)

Paul’s comparison of Adam and Christ in Rom 5:12–21 is among the most influential doctrines in the Bible and Christian theology. Often it has been used to summarize God’s purposes in creation and redemption, from humanity’s “fall” in Adam to its restoration in Christ. In the past several decades, however, it has increasingly been seen as provisional and functional because the Jewish writings used to support it have now been dated after the apostle’s lifetime. This study retrieves the traditional position, but does so by appeal to different corpora of Jewish texts, those that are prior or contemporary to Paul. …

Scripture In History: A Systematic Theology Of The Christian Bible, Joseph K. Gordon

Dissertations (1934 -)

This work utilizes advances in philosophical hermeneutics, the historical study of Christian Scripture, and traditional theological resources to articulate a systematic theology of the Christian Bible. Chapter one introduces the challenges of the contemporary ecclesial and academic situations of Christian Scripture and invokes and explains a functional notion of systematic theology as a resource for meeting those challenges. Chapter two examines the use of the rule of faith by Irenaeus, Origen, and Augustine to locate the emergence of Christian Scripture within the faith of early Christian churches. It shows that structured, intelligible Christian belief and thought are developing and operative …