Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
- Institution
-
- George Fox University (986)
- Asbury Theological Seminary (899)
- Brigham Young University (594)
- Andrews University (565)
- Liberty University (564)
-
- Concordia Seminary - Saint Louis (500)
- College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University (285)
- Valparaiso University (248)
- College of the Holy Cross (215)
- Abilene Christian University (142)
- University of Dayton (140)
- Denison University (131)
- Dordt University (127)
- Marquette University (121)
- Luther Seminary (119)
- Pepperdine University (116)
- Western Kentucky University (114)
- St. John's University School of Law (111)
- California Institute of Integral Studies (104)
- SIT Graduate Institute/SIT Study Abroad (101)
- Western Michigan University (100)
- Seton Hall University (99)
- Loyola Marymount University and Loyola Law School (98)
- Butler University (95)
- Oral Roberts University (94)
- Santa Clara University (87)
- DePaul University (80)
- Wilfrid Laurier University (79)
- Hope College (78)
- Singapore Management University (74)
- Keyword
-
- Religion (459)
- Christianity (311)
- Church (308)
- Theology (222)
- Christian (167)
-
- Mormon studies (154)
- Book review (149)
- Spirituality (131)
- Leadership (129)
- Missions (128)
- Islam (120)
- Faith (113)
- Mission (111)
- History (109)
- Women (97)
- Culture (96)
- Discipleship (94)
- Education (91)
- Seventh-day Adventist (91)
- Bible (88)
- Church work with the deaf -- Catholic Church (88)
- Deaf -- Periodicals (88)
- Deaf culture (88)
- Hearing impaired (88)
- Pastoral care of people with disabilities (88)
- Lutheran (87)
- Ministry (84)
- Theological (81)
- D. Min. (80)
- Western Kentucky University (78)
- Publication Year
- Publication
-
- Doctoral Dissertations and Projects (422)
- Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe (396)
- ATS Dissertations (366)
- Concordia Theological Monthly (251)
- The Asbury Journal (251)
-
- The Journal of Social Encounters (234)
- Theses and Dissertations (218)
- Doctor of Ministry (202)
- BYU Studies (194)
- The Vanguard (189)
- Faculty Publications (171)
- Dissertations (168)
- Doctor of Ministry Projects (134)
- Denison Journal of Religion (130)
- Electronic Theses and Dissertations (110)
- Journal of Global Catholicism (105)
- Leaven (100)
- Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection (96)
- The Catholic Lawyer (95)
- Great Commission Research Journal (92)
- International Journal of Transpersonal Studies (88)
- Journal of Adventist Mission Studies (79)
- Theology Faculty Research and Publications (79)
- Research Collection School of Social Sciences (66)
- Masters Theses (64)
- WKU Administration Documents (62)
- Pacific Studies (61)
- Quaker Studies (61)
- The Catholic Advocate (61)
- Pro Rege (59)
- Publication Type
- File Type
Articles 91 - 120 of 9758
Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network
Islam And Catholicism: Theology And Practice Of Inter-Spiritual Dialogue, Felix Koerner
Islam And Catholicism: Theology And Practice Of Inter-Spiritual Dialogue, Felix Koerner
Journal of Global Catholicism
This article explores foundations, preconditions, aims, persons, groups, practices, methods, texts, and criteria of Muslim–Christian inter-spiritual dialogue. In-ter-spiritual dialogue thrives within the network of other dialogical forms: dialogue of life and collaboration, of theological and practical understanding. This article argues that the spiritual dimension of dialogical encounter may itself constitute a critical site of moral reflection, enabling participants to perceive injustice more clearly and to respond to it more responsibly. Nevertheless, the integrity of in-ter-spiritual dialogue depends upon the cultivation of trust, candor, and a shared orientation toward mutual enrichment and spiritual purification. Where dialogue is subordinated to extrinsic strategic …
The Dialogue Of Spiritual Experience In Buddhist-Christian Encounter, S Mark Heim
The Dialogue Of Spiritual Experience In Buddhist-Christian Encounter, S Mark Heim
Journal of Global Catholicism
Can one learn more about one’s own religion through the practices of another? My positive answer to this question is illustrated in this paper by reflection on aspects of the Buddhist practice of emptiness, in specific connection with Christian under-standing of our lives as creatures. The Buddhist meditative practices I have in mind have several things in common. They are introspective (activated in one person’s inner consciousness) and premised on the Buddhist understanding of emptiness (specifically “no self ” teachings). Buddhist introspective practice takes at least three broad forms. One of these is a meditative analytical awareness of the contents …
Hindu Poetry And The Project Of An Inter-Spiritual Catholic Theology, Francis X. Clooney
Hindu Poetry And The Project Of An Inter-Spiritual Catholic Theology, Francis X. Clooney
Journal of Global Catholicism
This article engages the work of the Indian south Indian Tamil-language Vaiṣṇava poet saints known as the Alvārs. The article specifically focuses the First HundredHoly Linked verses of Poykai Ālvār to argue for inter-spiritual learning between Catholics and Hindus. The article concludes with personal reflections on this encounter within the context of the global Catholic Church
Overview And Acknowledgments, Mathew Schmalz
Overview And Acknowledgments, Mathew Schmalz
Journal of Global Catholicism
An overview and introduction to the present issue on Inter-Spiritual Dialogue.
The Virtue Of Hope In Sports Through Spe Salvi And Its Role In Faith, Resilience, And Character Formation In Student-Athletes, Hansson G. Labisig, Arvin D. Eballo
The Virtue Of Hope In Sports Through Spe Salvi And Its Role In Faith, Resilience, And Character Formation In Student-Athletes, Hansson G. Labisig, Arvin D. Eballo
Movement and Being: The Journal of the Christian Society for Kinesiology, Leisure and Sports Studies
Pope Benedict XVI, in Spe Salvi, presents hope as a transformative and redemptive virtue that enables believers to live and suffer differently, rooted in faith in God. He writes, “The one who has hope lives differently.” This study develops a theological-pastoral framework for integrating the virtue of hope into the faith formation of student-athletes within Catholic educational institutions, positioning sport as a genuine locus theologicus for Religious Education and evangelization. Employing the See–Judge–Act methodology, it draws from Spe Salvi, Aquinas’s Summa Theologiae, and the Vatican document Giving the Best of Yourself, in dialogue with C. R. Snyder’s psychological theory …
Review Of: Old Order Mennonite Spirituality: Analysis Of Ascetical And Mystical Parallels In Medieval Monasticism And A Contemporary Anabaptist Community—Andrew C. Martin, David Gilland, Laura Kelly, Donald Martin
Review Of: Old Order Mennonite Spirituality: Analysis Of Ascetical And Mystical Parallels In Medieval Monasticism And A Contemporary Anabaptist Community—Andrew C. Martin, David Gilland, Laura Kelly, Donald Martin
Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies
Andrew Carl Martin’s doctoral dissertation is a welcome addition to the ecclesiologically significant, yet surprisingly under-researched topic of the relationship between strands in medieval Catholicism, especially monasticism, and Anabaptism in its various manifestations. To go a step further, Martin’s research deals specifically with Benedictine spirituality as outlined by The Rule of St. Benedict and a previously underappreciated branch of its legacy as found among the Old Order Mennonites in North America. That we are dealing with an “Order” in both cases is no insignificant aspect of the argument, for Martin ably shows that, direct historical connections notwithstanding, Old Order Mennonites …
Author Biographies, Obsculta Editors
Developing Robust Human Formation For Ministerial Training, Mary L. Parks
Developing Robust Human Formation For Ministerial Training, Mary L. Parks
Obsculta
The Apostolic Exhortation Pastores Dabo Vobis recognizes that effective ministerial formation is holistic, attending to all aspects of a minister’s being. The document therefore outlines four pillars of formation: human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral. In Co-Workers In the Vineyard of the Lord, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) extends the same four pillars of formation to the development of lay ecclesial ministers. The USCCB also applies these pillars to diaconal formation in The National Directory for the Formation, Ministry, and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States of America.
Paul: A Man Called To Reform Status: The Radical Practice Of “One In Christ”, Garrett S. "Faustino" Miller
Paul: A Man Called To Reform Status: The Radical Practice Of “One In Christ”, Garrett S. "Faustino" Miller
Obsculta
This paper explores Saint Paul's ministerial pedagogy as he challenged Roman social hierarchies by calling believers to a radical unity as "one in Christ." By examining what this radical practice means, and what it is rooted in, this paper also urges readers toward the same radical and transformative vision of Christian oneness; a vision that seeks to build bridges rather than walls in the world today.
Human Freedom And God’S Image In Undocumented People, An Nguyen
Human Freedom And God’S Image In Undocumented People, An Nguyen
Obsculta
This article explores the relationship of human freedom in the theological perspective and undocumented immigrants in the United States: how immigrants embody the divine image, Imago Dei, despite legal and social constraints. I will begin with the theological foundation—freedom as a distinguishing characteristic of God’s image in humanity—and analyze the complex nature of freedom as both a divine gift and a human responsibility. Additionally, I will demonstrate that the Church has a special responsibility to recognize and affirm the inherent dignity of undocumented people by drawing from Catholic social teaching, migration studies, and theological anthropology, ultimately calling for pastoral practices …
Called From Within The Community: The Vocation Of Undocumented Hispanic Men To The Diaconate, Anisabel Palma
Called From Within The Community: The Vocation Of Undocumented Hispanic Men To The Diaconate, Anisabel Palma
Obsculta
This paper examines the discernment of undocumented Hispanic men to the diaconate within a diocese facing growing Hispanic populations and a shortage of Spanish-speaking clergy. Using ethnographic research, theological reflection, and historical analysis, it argues that this reality should be discerned not as a pastoral problem but as a response to concrete community needs. Interpreted through four theological perspectives (sacred vocation, divine initiative, unconventional divine choice, and the community-oriented nature of diaconal ministry) the study proposes that welcoming undocumented men into formal discernment and formation for the diaconate constitutes a faithful and ecclesial response to the Church’s mission.
Assessing The Needs Of A Church’S Older Adults To Promote Their Flourishing, Royston Terrell Booker Iii
Assessing The Needs Of A Church’S Older Adults To Promote Their Flourishing, Royston Terrell Booker Iii
DMin Project Theses
The purpose of this project was to lay the groundwork for creating a holistic Senior Adult Ministry to support the flourishing of older adults through the activities of God’s people, the church. This approach to help older adults’ well-being is best accomplished through holistic support to enhance well-being, but many churches have not considered a holistic approach or developed a supportive capability. To create a holistic Senior Adult Ministry, I assessed the needs of senior adults in the Brentwood Hills Church of Christ (BHCC) in Nashville, Tennessee, within the United States. The findings and conclusions of this dissertation provide a …
Shame, Guilt, Resilience, And Intimate Relationships: A Descriptive Phenomenological Study, Tiara Schnese Anderson
Shame, Guilt, Resilience, And Intimate Relationships: A Descriptive Phenomenological Study, Tiara Schnese Anderson
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This descriptive phenomenological study explored how shame and guilt among Christian CSA (Childhood Sexual Abuse) survivors influence resilience, intimate relationships, and social support in the United States. The central research questions examined how Christian CSA survivors experienced shame, guilt, and resilience over time; how these emotions affected intimate and romantic relationships; and how they shaped help-seeking behaviors in both clinical and faith-based contexts. Guided by Bowlby and Ainsworth’s attachment theory (1958), data collection involved semi-structured interviews with participants selected through purposive sampling to meet specific inclusion criteria. Data were analyzed using Giorgi’s (2012) descriptive phenomenological method, and eight essential constituents …
A Practice Of Singing Psalms: The Impact On People’S Understanding Of God, Understanding Of Themselves, And Their Worldview, Jan Frederik Ezinga
A Practice Of Singing Psalms: The Impact On People’S Understanding Of God, Understanding Of Themselves, And Their Worldview, Jan Frederik Ezinga
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Singing influences people. Song lyrics influence people’s views and behavior, both positively and negatively. Researchers indicate that influence through songs may occur subconsciously. Because songs can move people, activists and governments use songs, or the prohibition of songs, to influence the population. This is relevant for church leaders and Christian school teachers because Christian songs communicate doctrine. Within a Christian setting, songs influence people’s faith. However, when Christians sing God’s Word, the songs affect people exponentially because God’s Word does not return to him empty (Is. 55:11). God commanded the church to sing psalms (Col. 3:16). Singing God’s Word from …
The Meaning And Making Of Masculinity In Orthodox Jewry: A Transcendental Phenomenological Inquiry With Orthodox Rabbis, Elan A. Perchik
The Meaning And Making Of Masculinity In Orthodox Jewry: A Transcendental Phenomenological Inquiry With Orthodox Rabbis, Elan A. Perchik
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to describe the experiences of Los Angeles Jewish Orthodox rabbis in working with male congregants with respect to their masculine identity, development, roles and responsibilities. The textual framework guiding this study is the gamut of Jewish literature, spanning the Bible, the Prophets and Writings, the Mishnah, Talmud, Midrashic literature, and ancient, medieval and contemporary rabbinic commentaries, as understood through the worldview of the Orthodox Jewish community. Eight Orthodox rabbis in Los Angeles were interviewed toward the aim of discovering the essence of experience for participants. Across the data, four themes emerged: (a) …
Holy Hunger: A Study Of How Spiritually Formative Practices Shape A Faith Community At The Cedar Lane Church Of Christ, David W. Mitchell
Holy Hunger: A Study Of How Spiritually Formative Practices Shape A Faith Community At The Cedar Lane Church Of Christ, David W. Mitchell
DMin Project Theses
I have served in leadership as an elder/shepherd at the Cedar Lane Church of Christ in Tullahoma, Tennessee, since 2011. Before serving in this leadership position, I was in full-time ministry with churches of Christ from 1982 to 2005 (as a youth minister, education minister, and preaching minister). Since 2007, I have been a public educator, first as a High School Civics teacher and now as a Middle School Social Studies teacher. My primary work as an elder includes education, spiritual formation, and community engagement. Another role I have is to assess the spiritual health of the believers I am …
Goddess In A Trash Can: Religious Ritual Disposal In New York City Public Parks, Zoe Oro-Hahn
Goddess In A Trash Can: Religious Ritual Disposal In New York City Public Parks, Zoe Oro-Hahn
Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
Practitioners of Afro-Caribbean religions, including Santería, Vodou, Espiritismo, and Las 21 Divisiones, utilize the New York City Public Parks system to hold rituals, connect with spirits and ancestors, and dispose of religious remains leftover from trabajos (workings) and brujería (witchcraft). Utilizing photos from Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, my thesis considers the religious, political, social, and practical rationale behind this phenomenon, explores the rituals occurring, and provides policy suggestions that balance religious needs of practitioners with the safety and wellbeing of New York City’s parks.
Liturgical Renewal And Mcdonaldization, Daniel Johnson
Liturgical Renewal And Mcdonaldization, Daniel Johnson
Grapho : Concordia Seminary Student Journal
What is McDonaldization? Imagine with me that it is the 1950s, and you are going on a road trip down Route 66. You get hungry, so you decide to stop for food. You pull off the side of the road and park in front of a classic American diner to get yourself a burger and fries.
Contesting The Sacred: Ideology And Church Music Reform In Spain, 1850–1900, Francisco J. Legasa
Contesting The Sacred: Ideology And Church Music Reform In Spain, 1850–1900, Francisco J. Legasa
Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
This dissertation argues that sacred-music reform in Spain between 1850 and 1900 was not a unified movement culminating in the 1903 Motu proprio, but a contest between two distinct and contemporaneous programs. The first, associated with Hilarión Eslava, affirmed musical expression and artistic progress, embraced stylistic eclecticism, and sought to rebuild musical institutions, modernize pedagogy, and forge alliances with civic life. It drew on Romantic thought that attributed to music a distinctive capacity to mediate religious experience. The second, aligned with Roman ultramontanism, held that Gregorian chant and Renaissance polyphony were the only legitimate models for sacred music and that …
The Historical Persistence Of Working-Class Culture: How Laborers Created The Ethical Foundation Of Western Civilization, Kenneth Atkinson
The Historical Persistence Of Working-Class Culture: How Laborers Created The Ethical Foundation Of Western Civilization, Kenneth Atkinson
Faculty Publications
This article highlights four historical events that shape our present: the world’s first industrial strike in ancient Egypt to protest workers’ health and safety; working-class efforts to improve labor conditions during the Roman Republic and Middle Ages through strikes and the creation of guilds; the social justice activism of the prophets of Western religions (all working-class folks!); and the creation of the selfie and the transition from a culture of character to our present obsession with celebrities and individualism that began during the Renaissance. Each case highlights unique features of working-class culture, working class reactions to societal changes, and the …
The Fellowship Of Christ's Sufferings: Toward A Practical Philosophy Of Worship For Missions In The Latin American Church, Moriah Hope Joseph
The Fellowship Of Christ's Sufferings: Toward A Practical Philosophy Of Worship For Missions In The Latin American Church, Moriah Hope Joseph
Senior Honors Theses
Within Latin America, evil and suffering are ever-present realities that cannot be concealed, and the Hispanic society is aching for relief. Liberation Theology and the prosperity gospel – and their accompanying worship practices – have been offered as tools to help alleviate the experience of suffering. But these theological perspectives and practices have accomplished little in edifying the Church by way of truth. Thus, the call for the modern missionary is to instead preach worship that is a response to the incarnate Christ in suffering. The missionary must advocate for worship practices that provide space for biblical lament, reveal a …
A Hybrid Generation: Globalization, Migration, And Cultural-Theological Reconfiguration Among Second-Generation Ghanaian Pentecostal Immigrants In The United States--Toward A Diasporic Mission Theology, David Osei-Nimoh
College of Theology and Ministry Dissertations, Projects, & Theses
This dissertation investigates how globalization, migration, and Pentecostalism shape the cultural and theological of second-generation Ghanaian Pentecostals in the United States. Using Mark Cartledge’s four-stage empirical theological cycle, it interprets participants’ lived experience as theological data in critical dialogue with Scripture, the doctrine of The Church of Pentecost (COP), and Pentecostal theological method. The study is based on 26 weeks of multisite fieldwork in three COP U.S.A. congregations—Washington, D.C., Dallas, and Tacoma—and draws on participant observation, 55 semi-structured interviews, three focus groups, and archival materials. The analysis yielded three interrelated findings. First, participants negotiate a bicultural Ghanaian American identity within …
Bridging Mind And Body In Sports: Performance, Psychology, And Buddhist Tradition, Gavin Jones
Bridging Mind And Body In Sports: Performance, Psychology, And Buddhist Tradition, Gavin Jones
Denison Journal of Religion
No abstract provided.
A Psycho-Spiritual Transformation In Covid-19 Crisis Narratives: A Comparative Study In Indonesia And Pakistan, Heru Prakosa, Nurlaela Widyarini, Johanes Seno Aditya Utama, Juan Carlos
A Psycho-Spiritual Transformation In Covid-19 Crisis Narratives: A Comparative Study In Indonesia And Pakistan, Heru Prakosa, Nurlaela Widyarini, Johanes Seno Aditya Utama, Juan Carlos
Makara Human Behavior Studies in Asia
Although the COVID-19 pandemic ended as a global health emergency, its psychosocial legacy persists in many communities. This study examines how religion and spirituality support recovery in Indonesia and Pakistan by shaping crisis narratives. Faith-based language is treated as psychosocial data and interpreted through its functions in meaning-making, emotion regulation, social connection, value anchoring, and action commitment using Psycho-Spiritual Transformation (PST) as a guiding framework. Open-ended responses were collected from 274 participants via an online survey in July 2021 (Indonesia n = 236; Pakistan n = 38). Across both contexts, narratives typically moved from pressure and inner conflict toward spiritual …
Tuning The Neighborhood: Purifying People, Places, And Environments In Suburban Kolkata, Sourav Saha
Tuning The Neighborhood: Purifying People, Places, And Environments In Suburban Kolkata, Sourav Saha
Yale Journal of Music & Religion
In modern science, disciplines such as physics, mechanical and civil engineering, seismology, and acoustics have conceptualized vibration as a quantifiable mechanical phenomenon, measured through the metrics of frequency, amplitude, and resonance. In contrast, scholarship in anthropology, musicology, and sound studies has approached vibration as a socio-historical, cultural, and political phenomenon. This article examines how vibration (spandan) operates as a metaphysical, sensory, and ethico-affective force that mediates relations among people, places, and environments. Focusing on the practice of satsang adhibesan (devotional congregation), the article demonstrates how members of the Deoghar-Satsang community participate in sonic rituals of prayer, silent chanting, meditation, sacred …
The Procedures And Perceived Impact Of Pastoral Succession In A Family-Led Church: A Case Study, Yvonne H. Hines
The Procedures And Perceived Impact Of Pastoral Succession In A Family-Led Church: A Case Study, Yvonne H. Hines
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Leadership transitions in any viable organization are inescapable and complex. Pastoral leadership is a challenging task whether one is charged with an astronomical or miniscule calculation of individuals. Pastoral succession, one of the most significant leadership undertakings in the Christian church, encompasses the transfer of authority, an indispensable component to the effectual progression of the church. Churches in the United States are presently confronted with a contemporary dynamic in pastoral leadership, family-led churches. Pulpits traditionally filled by denominational officials or congregational elections are currently impacted by the automatic succession of family members as senior pastors in the family-led church setting. …
Winning Formula: The Life Of Colonel Edward R. Bradley, Lorraine Potter
Winning Formula: The Life Of Colonel Edward R. Bradley, Lorraine Potter
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Edward R. Bradley was a towering cultural icon of the early twentieth century. He is best known as the owner and breeder of four Kentucky Derby winning horses and as the owner and operator of the longest-running illegal casino in American history. However, Bradley's story has rarely been told, due to both his characteristic humility and the dubious nature of his profession. Bradley worked, lived, and invested in nearly every pivotal American region during the Progressive Era, plying his trade as a highly successful gambler, speculator, and horse breeder. Though his accomplishments were immense, his demeanor remained dignified, plainspoken, and …
The Perceived Effectiveness Of Kotter’S Change Leadership Model In The Knox County Association Of Baptists Churches, Luke England
The Perceived Effectiveness Of Kotter’S Change Leadership Model In The Knox County Association Of Baptists Churches, Luke England
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this phenomenological study is to understand the perceived effectiveness of Kotter’s change leadership model in Southern Baptist churches in the Knox County Association of Baptists located in East Tennessee. This phenomenological study utilizes a qualitative research methodology to uncover the perceived effectiveness of Kotter's eight-step change leadership model in Southern Baptist churches in the Knox County Association of Baptists in East Tennessee. This research seeks to understand the five major challenges Senior Pastors believe to be the greatest impairment to instituting change within the local church. Moreover, this research uncovers the perception of pastor’s agreement towards the …
From Tradition To Transformation: Cultural And Musical Inclusivity In Sda Worship Practices, Alicia Raquel Jones-Lumbuz
From Tradition To Transformation: Cultural And Musical Inclusivity In Sda Worship Practices, Alicia Raquel Jones-Lumbuz
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This dissertation examines worship inclusivity within multicultural Seventh-day Adventist congregations in the greater Houston, Texas, area, focusing on the experiences of migrants, first-generation Americans, and long-standing members. It highlights how their diverse cultural backgrounds, theological beliefs, and worship expectations shape congregational life. The study fills a gap in Adventist worship scholarship by exploring the lived experiences of worshippers in multicultural settings, particularly the perspectives of migrants whose attitudes toward worship are influenced by cultural heritage and traditional views of reverence. Data were collected through surveys, semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and ethnographic observations. Thematic analysis reveals eight interrelated themes, showing that …
God’S Design For Human Nature: Paul’S Biblical-Theological Use Of Creation Theology In Romans 1:18–32, Eunsoo (Daniel) Seo
God’S Design For Human Nature: Paul’S Biblical-Theological Use Of Creation Theology In Romans 1:18–32, Eunsoo (Daniel) Seo
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The world in which the Apostle Paul ministered was not a theological vacuum, but a sophisticated marketplace of competing worldviews and diverse moral frameworks. Within the specific milieu of first-century Rome, the cultural forces of Stoic philosophy, Roman imperial ideology, and pagan polytheism created an environment where complex expressions of human nature and sexuality emerged. Dominant Roman social stratifications often celebrated or normalized same-sex relations and blurred the distinctions of the created order. Paul found himself proclaiming a message of a Sovereign Creator in a society that had been conditioned for centuries to view the human nature through the lens …