Digital Commons Network^™

Week 2: Wind And Flame: Equipped For Witness, Calvin University

Campus Ministries Resources

No abstract provided.

Week 4: The Witness Of Proclamation, Calvin University

Campus Ministries Resources

No abstract provided.

Week 6: The Witness Of Suffering, Calvin University

Campus Ministries Resources

No abstract provided.

Week 7: The Witness Of Transformation, Calvin University

Campus Ministries Resources

No abstract provided.

Week 8: The Witness Of Changing Our Minds, Calvin University

Campus Ministries Resources

No abstract provided.

Contextualization: Old Tool, New Reach, Rogelio Paquini

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Week 1: Can I Get A Witness?, Calvin University

Campus Ministries Resources

No abstract provided.

Week 3: The Witness Of Shalom, Calvin University

Campus Ministries Resources

No abstract provided.

Week 5: The Witness Of Engaging Conflict, Calvin University

Campus Ministries Resources

No abstract provided.

Eternality Of Jesus Of Nazareth And The Meaning Of Three Of His Key Christological Titles: “Word”, “Only Begotten”, And “First Born” From The Dead (John 1:1), Olufemi I. Adeyemi

Faculty Publications and Presentations

TBD

Merit Transference And The Paradox Of Merit Inflation, Matthew Hammerton

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Many religious traditions and ethical systems hold that individuals accrue merit through their good intentions, acts, and character, and demerit through their bad intentions, acts, and character. This merit and demerit, accumulated by individuals throughout their lives, gives each person a kind of ethical “score” that can determine what they deserve, and influence whether good or bad things happen to them (e.g., divine punishments and rewards, a favourable or unfavourable rebirth, etc.). In some traditions (most notably Buddhism, but also to a limited extent in Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity), “merit transference” is a feature of these merit-based ethical systems. This …

Walking On Burning Ground: A Neo-Calvinist Cure To Climate Apathy, Beatrice Shackleford

Pro Rege

No abstract provided.

Longing For Transcendence: Olympic Gold And Christian Virtue, Matthew Vos, John B. White

Pro Rege

No abstract provided.

Shaping Youth Ministry: Exploring Influences On Youth Pastors’ Approaches To Programme Design, Timothy A. Mullen, Trudi Cooper

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The literature on youth ministry practices is mostly anecdotal, and empirical research into the practices, goals, and meanings of youth ministry to youth pastors is rare, especially in Australia. In this study, 20 youth pastors in Perth, Western Australia, were interviewed about their goals, priorities, practices, training, and what influenced them. This study forms part of a larger doctoral research project. The interview data were analysed utilising a phenomenological approach, drawing upon Goffman’s framing analysis to examine the link between ‘meaning making’ and explicit and tacit motivations for youth ministry practice. The research found that youth pastors were most often …

Christian Character Formation In A Culture Of Anger, Rebecca Konyndyk Deyoung

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Anger is a hot topic, perhaps especially for Christians. We might concede that it’s OK to be angry sometimes—for example, when human rights are violated. It’s not right to be complacent or indifferent in the face of that kind of intentional injury! At the same time, we might be wary of justifying anger, given how many times we’ve been harmed—or seen others harmed— by people who get too angry. No one who has encountered Christians ranting on social media thinks we need more of that kind of witness.

The Female Body In Visual Narratives, Dolly Sharma

Journal of Gender, Ethnic, and Cross-Cultural Studies

When a photographer seeks to capture the culture of a particular place inhabited by a minority group in society, a pertinent question arises as to how one might capture the female body in ways that avoid eroticisation while still conveying the photographer’s intent. The way photographers approach the Himalayan and Indian regions is particularly complex when they must decide whether to ask women to pose themselves in order to frame the multiple narratives that emerge out of a female body—such as motherhood, nurturing an infant, ornamentation and adornment, and the bodily manifestations of patriarchal and prejudicial practices. Photographer Olivier Föllmi, …

Refashioning The Meanings Of Dress In Palestinian Transnational Communities, Enaya Othman

Journal of Gender, Ethnic, and Cross-Cultural Studies

This paper examines how Palestinian women in both the homeland and diaspora contexts have sustained and redefined cultural heritage through tatreez embroidery and revitalized the traditional thob since 1948. As designers, artisans, and entrepreneurs, they have transformed cultural dress into a site of socio-political agency, economic empowerment, and national identity-making. Their work not only preserves inherited forms but also recasts them as living cultural practices that resist colonial erasure and counter Orientalist and Western feminist narratives portraying Arab and Muslim women as passive. From post-Nakba efforts to safeguard thobs as tangible material testaments of Palestinian life to contemporary hybrid fashion …

The Layers Of Trauma In Gisella Perl’S I Was A Doctor In Auschwitz, Tiffany Sidders

Journal of Gender, Ethnic, and Cross-Cultural Studies

Contemporary trauma theory argues that trauma operates in a binary, linear fashion that represents healing from a crisis. As one of the foremost trauma theorists, Cathy Caruth situates trauma within a binary framework of either victim or perpetrator but does not fully account for victims who became perpetrators or those who perpetrated for survival—or for the survival of others. One example of such a figure is Gisella Perl. In her memoir I Was a Doctor in Auschwitz, Perl describes multiple layers of trauma that create a deeper connection to her emotions and her lived experience in Auschwitz. Unlike other …

The Islamic Approach To Combating Administrative Corruption, Kayed Qaroush

Jordan Journal of Applied Science-Humanities Series

Corruption is considered a global phenomenon that exists in both developing and developed countries; the latter are not immune from it. It manifests in various forms, such as political, financial, environmental, and administrative corruption. However, this research is focused on the administrative type, which is linked to the questionable conduct of certain public officials, including illegal gains through bribery and gifts, abuse of power, breach of trust (such as embezzlement, coercion, or forgery), and adherence to bureaucratic behavior characterized by closed-door policies. It also covers the imposition of unfair tax policies in an attempt to address economic imbalances. This research …

The Methodology Of The Prophetic Sunnah In Dealing With Threats To Civil Peace: The Penal System As A Model, Mohammed Tarira

Jordan Journal of Applied Science-Humanities Series

This study presents the sayings and actions of our Prophet, peace be upon him, regarding the penal system, which remains a guiding light across all times for those seeking peace, security, and stability. The study aims to answer several questions related to the general principles followed by the Prophet’s Sunnah in dealing with threats to civil peace, including how it addressed crimes before, during, and after their occurrence, as well as the precautions taken to prevent the improper application of the penal system. First, I explain the concept of search terminology, then discussed the meanings of the Sunnah, civil peace, …

Prophetic Hadiths (Traditions) Considered Defected By Ibn Kathir Under The Chapter Of The Prophet's Migration In His Work Al-Bidaya Wa Al-Nihaya And His Methodology In Addressing Them, Ghassan Hermas

Jordan Journal of Applied Science-Humanities Series

Occasions have become numerous in the Islamic world to the extent that some consider them to be festivals. One such occasion is the Prophet’s Migration, for which many Hadiths (Traditions) have been narrated. Many orators and preachers have taken it upon themselves to mention these narrations, aiming to determine whether they are authentic or fabricated. However, some well-versed scholars dedicated themselves to clarifying the status of these narrations and evaluating their authenticity. One of these scholars was Al-Hafiz Ibn Kathir, who examined them closely in his famous work Al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya (The Beginning and the End), highlighting which narrations were …

Cooperation In Arab Society, Salah Fayyad

Jordan Journal of Applied Science-Humanities Series

This study aimed to clarify the concept of cooperation in Arab society and the development that has occurred due to changes in its social structure resulting from the introduction of Islam. Values, morals, and principles differed and evolved toward progress, which significantly influenced the nature of cooperation within the society. In the pre-Islamic era, harsh environmental conditions compelled individuals to cooperate and work together to meet their needs. With the arrival of Islam in this society, cooperation became a dominant feature in all circumstances and conditions. This is rooted in the belief that cooperation is a divine obligation and a …

Corporate Governance And Risk Disclosure In Islamic Banks: Evidence From Jordan, Hasan Al-Shatnawi

Jordan Journal of Applied Science-Humanities Series

This study aimed to test the impact of corporate governance on risk disclosure levels in Jordanian Islamic banks. It analyzed the content of financial reports from Jordanian Islamic banks listed on the Amman Stock Exchange during the period from 2012 to 2017. The effects of corporate governance and various control variables on risk disclosure were measured using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression analysis. The results showed that the risk disclosure level in Jordanian Islamic banks is 66.8%. Moreover, board independence, CEO-Chairperson separation, audit committee effectiveness, ownership concentration, and institutional ownership have a significant impact on risk disclosure levels in financial …

Women And Asylum Issues In Islamic Law, Ahmad Ababneh

Jordan Journal of Applied Science-Humanities Series

This study examines one aspect of the difficult reality caused by wars and current conflicts in Islamic countries. More specifically, it focuses on the reality of refugees who are forced to flee their countries in search of safety, highlighting the largest portion and most vulnerable group among refugees: women. This is accomplished by revealing the harsh realities that women face in refugee camps and by reviewing reports from international human rights organizations, which include important statistics that inform and accurately describe the issue. The study also explores the most favorable circumstances for women, particularly as defined by their rights in …

An Analysis Of Feminist Biblical Scholarship Through Case Studies In Judges, Erika Conner

Masters Theses

This thesis examines the rise and significance of feminist biblical scholarship, particularly as it engages the book of Judges. Feminist approaches to Scripture have often been criticized as politically motivated or ideologically biased, yet they also claim to offer corrective readings to centuries of male-dominated interpretation. This study situates feminist scholarship within its historical development and cultural context, beginning with the reconstruction of women’s societal, familial, religious, and agricultural roles in ancient Israel. Building on this foundation, it undertakes a comparative analysis of three key figures in Judges, Deborah, Jael, and the unnamed Woman of Thebez, first through traditional interpretations …

Understanding The Ontological Argument Through Love: The Paradox Between Faith And Reason, Bill Goodson

Masters Theses

This thesis argues that while the ontological argument as presented by Saint Anselm of Canterbury offers a formal logical explanation for the existence of God, love is presented as the bridge that enables the skeptic and the believer to engage the argument from a relational and experiential perspective in joining faith and reason through God’s divine love. The paradox found therein is that love, being kind, generous, and caring, initially appears to be too soft for the hard truth and sheer facts of reason. The calling of the theologian is to expose the good news of his faith, and his …

Means Of Evangelization In The Catholic Church Through Music, Patrice Metcalf

Masters Theses

There are numerous resources for Catholic churches today to encourage a congregation’s full involvement in musical participation, but there is little guidance or information on how these practices help with evangelization. The evangelization process is essential to the healthy growth of the church on Earth and for the salvation of believers. Musical resources give an eclectic variety of music, all of which is methodically written by its composers. After the COVID-19 pandemic, many church choirs have struggled to return, with some churches abandoning the use of large choirs and opting for a single soloist to lead the congregation. This leads …

Identifying Aspects Of Musical Diversity That Engender Multigenerational Worship In Select Baptist Churches: A Case Study, Megan Scruggs Hollifield

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Multigenerational worship through the avenue of musical diversity in the Baptist church is the focus of this case study. This study aims to identify critical components of musical diversity, emphasizing song selection as a key element of liturgy within corporate worship. The research undertakes an observational analysis of the relationship between musical diversity through liturgy and congregational engagement of all generations. Five Baptist churches were selected to be studied to categorize the similarities and differences in the area of multigenerational worship. The case study research model provided a variety of data collection methods through research observations, online questionaries and in-person …

A Chaplain-Specific Care Plan For Addressing Moral Injury And Promoting Holistic Well-Being In Nurses That Have Transitioned From Hospital Care To Hospice Care, Franklin Hicks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis project, “A Chaplain-Specific Care Plan for Addressing Moral Injury and Promoting Holistic Well-Being in Nurses That Have Transitioned from Hospital Care to Hospice Care,” addresses the lack of chaplain-led interventions for nurses suffering from moral injury. Many nurses who transitioned from hospital to hospice care reported ongoing moral residue from ethically distressing events in acute settings. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness of a spiritually grounded care plan, developed and facilitated by a board-certified chaplain, to address these moral wounds and promote holistic well-being among hospice nurses.

Twelve hospice nurses in West Tennessee participated …

The Christian Church’S Inclusion Of Children With Autism Who Experience Parental Incarceration: A Phenomenological Examination Of Christian Ministry Leaders’ Experiences, Julia Frances Vasquez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The United States has the highest incarceration rate worldwide. Parental incarceration increases children’s susceptibility to adverse childhood experiences and often results in the transmission of criminal behavior. Research on children of incarcerated parents and separate findings on the experiences of children with autism reveal that these children endure bitter societal stigma, even within the church. Stigma toward disability erects barriers to much-needed spiritual support. There is a gap in the literature concerning Christian outreach and spiritual community support for children with autism who experience parental incarceration. Understanding effective ministry support for these dually marginalized children and the barriers preventing access …