Digital Commons Network^™

The Convergence Of World Prosperity And Afterlife Salvation: Neoliberalism And Political Islam In Turkey, Muhammad Andi Firmansyah

Jurnal Politik

This article investigates why Turkey’s middle-to-low-income earners, the segment of the population that has suffered the most from the neoliberal policies of the Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi (Justice and Development Party AKP), have continued to support the party for so long. Using a case study approach based on secondary data, this article argues that the source of the AKP’s enduring legitimacy lies in their skill in utilising political Islam to consolidate neoliberalism. They strategically framed neoliberal restructuring in an Islamic spirit, generating not only loyal cross-class support but also obedience to neoliberal political projects with all their destructive consequences. The …

Strategies Of Religious Communication Of The Seventh-Day Adventist Church In The Context Of Russia’S War Against Ukraine, Valentyna Kuryliak Dr

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Abstract. The article examines the strategies of religious communication employed by the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA) in the context of the Russia-Ukraine war. It discusses the transformation of approaches to religious activity through media platforms, particularly the “Nadiya” TV channel, which adapted its content to meet the audience's needs during the war. The article emphasizes the issue that while Adventist media typically maintain a neutral stance and refrain from commenting on military actions, they cannot remain detached from the realities of a society living in a state of war. The role of the “Nadiya” TV channel in providing psychological and …

Exchange Of Uoc-Mp Priests For Prisoners Of War In The Context Of National Security And Religious Relations, Liudmyla Shtanko, Igor Makarenko

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The exchange of UOC-MP priests for prisoners of war is a complex and multifaceted issue encompassing political, humanitarian, and religious dimensions, which have become particularly relevant in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine. On the one hand, the exchange of priests can be viewed as a humanitarian act aimed at liberating captured soldiers; on the other hand, it serves as a political maneuver that provokes conflicting sentiments among citizens and religious communities. Considering the situation with prisoners of war, Ukraine sought effective methods to secure the return of its citizens, including through the mechanism of exchanging UOC-MP priests. Although …

Analysis Of The Causes And Circumstances Of The Arrests Of Priests Of The Ukrainian Orthodox Church Of The Moscow Patriarchate, Iryna Steshyts, Volodymyr Suhoniak

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The analysis of the reasons and circumstances of the detentions of priests from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC MP) in the context of the military conflict shows that these events are a result of the interplay between the threat to Ukraine's national security, violations of religious and civil rights, and external political aspects of the war with Russia. The detentions of UOC MP priests occur due to public calls for cooperation with the occupation forces, the spread of pro-Russian propaganda, the justification of Russian aggression, illegal possession of weapons and ammunition, as well as espionage activities. …

Faith And Spiritual Renewal In Secular North Macedonia: The Pastoral Role Of The Macedonian Orthodox Church - The Archbishopric Of Ohrid In A Pluralistic Society, Borche Nikola Grambozov

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article explores the relationship between faith and social dynamics in secular North Macedonia, with a focus on the Macedonian Orthodox Church-Archbishopric of Ohrid’s role in shaping spiritual values, social ethics and individual transformation. Although Republic of North Macedonia is a secular state, the Church remains a vital institution, an essential spiritual presence, offering spiritual guidance and fostering ethical frameworks that transcend cultural or national affiliations. It highlights how religious beliefs intersect with the country’s diverse cultural landscape, with an emphasis on the Church’s pastoral mission – directed not toward national or cultural constructs, but toward the transformation of individual. …

Establishment Of The Macedonian Orthodox Church After World War Ii And The Reaction Of The Serbian Orthodox Church (Historical-Canonical Research), Ivan Yovchev

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The history of the Orthodox Church is abundant with examples of the emergence of Local Churches and their “path to the church diptychs.” Contemporary church history also provides numerous canonical cases of individual Local Churches striving for independence. Such efforts include those of the Orthodox faithful in the Republic of North Macedonia, who seek church recognition and independence in the organization and governance of their ecclesiastical diocese. The period examined in this article is marked by numerous events and dynamic developments that have significantly influenced the relationship between the Macedonian and Serbian Churches. The content of this article is primarily …

Old Victims, New Oppressors? Considering Postcolonial Social Conservatism Without Christianity In Central And Eastern Europe, Michal Opatrný

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

A significant part of societies in the states of Central and Eastern Europe openly reject the interconnection of Europe with the geopolitical, social and environmental problems of Africa, the Middle East, etc. Social conservativism without Christian belief is characteristic of this situation. Nevertheless, the churches and especially the representatives of the Catholic Church, often openly support these rejecting attitudes, i.e., by rejecting refugees, for example.

In the 20^th century, the Soviet Union and its internal supremacy of Russian nationalism heavily influenced this area. The postcolonial theory, together with the anti-oppressive theory, seems realistic to apply to this situation. In …

Humans Are Far Dearer Than Gold, Richard Gorban

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The author of the article proves that the genocidal war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine is aimed at the total destruction of both the Ukrainian nation and its culture, based on the methodological principle of actualizing biblical texts in the current circumstances and by selecting elements from the exhaustiveness of the content of the Book of Isaiah, the Prophet, which are able to reveal the ontological foundations of this war. It is the clash between the two incompatible experiences of existence: the existence of a human community in peace and that of a community in war. Ukraine has become …

How Jesus Christ Saves The Addict: A Phenomenological Study On The Perceptions Of A Christ-Centered Approach To Addiction Recovery, Olivia M. Matthews

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Reaching epidemic proportions, drug and alcohol addiction is a prevalent problem within the United States that demands urgent attention. With numbers exceeding 20 million Americans struggling with a substance use disorder (SUD) and over 111,000 individuals falling victim to illicit drug overdose fatalities in 2022, the question of effectiveness in rehabilitation outlets for this subgroup is of critical concern (Lashley, 2018; CDC, 2024). The purpose of this study is to analyze the perceptions of Christ-centered initiatives in securing sobriety among addicted individuals and/or substance use offenders. This study utilized qualitative methods with a phenomenological and narrative design to explore Christ-centered …

Missions Upside Down, Aaron Baart

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"It was a missional epiphany for me—to realize that the effectiveness and stewardship of supporting indigenous leaders would be so much more effective than anything I could accomplish."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­re-igniting the church's passion for the Great Commission from In All Things, an online hub that offers insight into maintaining and faithful and orthodox Reformed Christian worldview while fearlessly engaging in every aspect of contemporary life – until all is made new.

Missions Upside Down

A Virtual Group Counseling Study On The Effects Of Renewing The Mind, Spiritual Formation, And Engaging In Community On Women Suffering From Social Anxiety Through The Use Of The Flourish Curriculum, Jennifer L. Otero

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Social anxiety impacts individuals from every walk of life, gender, and faith background. This project addresses the need for renewing the mind tools to address social anxiety for women. In addition, spiritual formation and the power of connection in community were assessed as essential tools in addressing and overcoming social anxiety. The available research on social anxiety confirms the impact that renewing the mind can have on successfully addressing anxiety at the root by changing one’s thought patterns and beliefs. Spiritual formation is central to this transformation. Nevertheless, biblical tools and curricula that are designed to address social anxiety are …

How Parents Participate In The Christian Education And Spiritual Formation Of Their Children: A Case Study Of Hybrid Schooling, Shannon O'Hearn Downing

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine how parents participate in the Christian education and spiritual formation of their children who are enrolled in a classical Christian, hybrid-model school in the DC Metro Region. The theory that guided this case study was Christopher Watkin’s biblical critical theory, as it provides the proper framework for interpreting how parents enculturate their children in the Christian belief system of the family. The central research question was, “How do parents participate in the Christian education and spiritual formation of their children who are enrolled in a classical Christian, hybrid-model school in …

Holy Water, Chris Deacy

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a review of the short film, Holy Water (2024), directed by Claire Barnett.

Portal To Hell, William L. Blizek, Monica Blizek

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Portal to Hell (2025), directed by Woody Bess.

Carnival, Ritual, And Race-Thinking In The Bolivian Andes, Ximena Cordova, Adhemar Mercado

All Works

This paper explores the intersection of race, religion, and colonial legacies through the lens of the Oruro Carnival, examining its role in shaping Bolivian identity. Critical religion scholars argue that the entanglement of race and religion is a product of Western modernity and colonialism, which has influenced both historical and contemporary power relations. This framework is applied to analyse the Carnival, where religious practices and festive performances intersect, reflecting colonial efforts at religious conversion and racial categorisation. By focusing on the ethnography of Oruro’s embodied festive practices, this study investigates how the Carnival contributes to the construction of difference amid …

Encouraging Conversation: Sharing The Oral History Of Nepalese Refugees Through Dialogical Preaching To Inspire Intercultural Collaboration, Matthew Clark

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

Clark, Matthew J. “Encouraging Conversation: Sharing the Oral History of Nepalese Refugees through Dialogical Preaching to Inspire Intercultural Collaboration.” Doctor of Ministry. Major Applied Project, Concordia Seminary, 2025. 286 pp.

The project attends to the context of Ascension Lutheran Church in St. Louis, Missouri, where a minority group of church members are refugees from Nepal. As Ascension grows in ethnic diversity, however, much of the congregation has only a shallow multicultural level of engagement, where different cultural groups are only aware of each other as they exist parallel to one another with limited interaction.

The project seeks to answer the …

Is There Such A Thing As A Selfless Deed?, Mary Beth Pollema, Anneka Pollema

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"... we must check our motives to ensure that our service flows from a source of obedience, gratitude, gladness, humility and love for God and others."

Posting about serving others to bring glory to God from In All Things, an online hub that offers insight into maintaining and faithful and orthodox Reformed Christian worldview while fearlessly engaging in every aspect of contemporary life – until all is made new.

Is There Such a Thing as a Selfless Deed?

Sexism In African And African-American Pentecostalism: A Black Liberation Perspective, Evelyn G. Okeke

Doctor of Ministry

This dissertation explores the scourge of sexism in African and African-American Pentecostalism within the context of a critique of Black Liberation Theology, including the many challenges the intersection of race, gender, and class poses for Black clergywomen seeking leadership roles in the Pentecostal church, their courageous attempts to tackle this problem, and the extent to which sexism has permeated the Pentecostal Church and contributed to the marginalization of Black clergywomen in that community. The broad issue is whether women qua human beings can represent Christ, to which question this study answered yes.

Sexism has harmed Black clergywomen in multiple ways, …

Restoration For Pastors: Embodied Art, Prayers, And Poetry For Healing And Resilience, Bryan H. Kim

Doctor of Ministry

The Perilous Role of the Pastorate in the American Church

Top-tier leadership in any ministry organization is, by and large, a dangerous endeavor in the American Church, with the role of pastor being the most dangerous. Peter Drucker, business, and management expert, states the four most challenging jobs in America are the following: President of the United States, hospital administrator, a university president, and a local church pastor.¹

The Struggle Despite Seminary Training

Despite traditional seminary training pastors in non-denominational churches feel ill-equipped to cope with daily, seasonal and heartache stressors, leaving them wondering if they are accomplishing anything …

Black Women Healing From Gender-Based Violence: Christ-Centered Approaches For Transformative Holistic Wellbeing, Tanya Jahwar

Doctor of Ministry

The Women’s Leadership and Resource Center states, “Gender-based violence against Black women has always existed in the US. From historical accounts of chattel slavery to analyses of present-day society, Black women have endured multiple forms of violence including labor …, sexual …, medical … and … exploitation.”³² This dissertation will provide important research about gender-based violence against Black women and girls and will conclude with Christ-centered approaches for transformative holistic wellbeing. Do laws that prevent violence enable more violence? In the fact sheet published by the National Black Women’s Justice Institute, it is noted that, “Experiences of abuse do …

Antiphons Of Iron And Blood: The Inspirations Of Tolkien's Poetry, Patrick J. Lyon

Journal of Tolkien Research

The new book, The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Christina Scull and Wayne Hammond, is a fascinating new look into a trove of previously unpublished Tolkien poetry. One of these new poems, “Ferrum et Sanguis,” includes an interesting series of addenda and subtitles written by Tolkien that give insight into the origins and inspirations for the poem. Furthermore, the interpretation given by the editors in their commentary on the poem misses the specific reference and applies it to a different source. The real source for the poem is very likely found in the Advent Vespers of the …

Blue Momma, Why Are You So Blue: A Trauma-Informed Theological Approach To Systematically Oppressed Black Mothers In Memphis, Tennessee, Valerie Houston

Doctor of Ministry

This dissertation discusses the effects of systemic oppression on the well-being of Black mothers in Memphis, Tennessee. It posits that systemic oppression causes trauma that negatively affects Black motherhood and familial stability. Research shows that maternal mental illness may negatively affect child development, behavior, and cognitive and socio-emotional development.³ Black literary history has revealed the importance of Black mothers for family development.⁴ It has shown how Black mothers used religion to support themselves emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually during times of travail.⁵ This work theorizes that a trauma-informed theological approach will liberate Black mothers in Memphis, Tennessee, from …

Hoeksema, Herman. I Believe: Sermons On The Apostles’ Creed. Jenison, Mi: Reformed Free Publishing Association, 2023., Rebecca Huffman Givens

The Christian Librarian

No abstract provided.

The Persian-Period Archaeozoological Finds From Tel Ya‘Oz (Hebrew, Pp. 45*–47*), Moshe Sade

'Atiqot

The archaeozoological finds comprised the bones of domesticated sheep/goat and cattle, and mollusks.

Buildings Of The Persian, Hellenistic And Early Roman Periods At Khirbat Kabar, In The Northern Hebron Hills (Hebrew, Pp. 49*–71*; English Summary, Pp. 205–207), Yuval Baruch

'Atiqot

Two buildings were exposed. The northern building comprised rooms surrounding a central courtyard; the pottery finds from this building date from the Persian period, and chiefly, to the Hellenistic and Early Roman periods (first century BCE). Only two rooms survived of the southern building, which apparently opened to a courtyard. Many storage-jar sherds were found, seemingly in situ. On two of them, Aramaic letters were incised before firing. An Achaemenid-style conical glass seal was unearthed, depicting a hero or a ruler holding flanking lions. This building may have had an administrative or storage function. Three tombs were uncovered in proximity …

Drinking Vessels (Rytha) From Tel Ya‘Oz (Hebrew, Pp. 25*–37*; English Summary, Pp. 203–204), Irit Ziffer, Raz Kletter, Orit Segal

'Atiqot

Three drinking vessels (rytha) were found in the Persian-period building at Tel Ya‘oz: an almost complete human-headed rython and two animal heads, of a ram and a lion. The anthropomorphic rython is undoubtedly the most extraordinary of the three. It is a local adaptation of an Achaemenid vessel that was used at royal banquets. Its Egyptian appearance might suggest that is was created by an Egyptian working on the Levantine coast, or by a Levantine trained in Egyptian iconography.

Petrographic Analysis Of The Persian-Period Ceramic Assemblage From Tel Ya‘Oz (Hebrew, Pp. 39*–44*; English Summary, Pp. 204–205), Amir Gorzalczany

'Atiqot

Thirty-nine samples of Persian-period wares were selected for analysis, and five petrographic groups were identified. The overwhelming majority of the assemblage was of non-local provenance. Several ranges of import were discerned, and it seems that the import-trade-exchange patterns at the site were oriented overseas or toward the Phoenician coast.

A Persian-Period Building From Tel Ya‘Oz (Tell Ghaza) (Hebrew, Pp. 1*–24*; English Summary, P. 203), Orit Segal, Raz Kletter, Irit Ziffer

'Atiqot

Thirty-nine samples of Persian-period wares were selected for analysis, and five petrographic groups were identified. The overwhelming majority of the assemblage was of non-local provenance. Several ranges of import were discerned, and it seems that the import-trade-exchange patterns at the site were oriented overseas or toward the Phoenician coast.

Chemical Study Of Basaltic Hopper-Rubber (Olynthus) Mills From Naḥal Tut And ‘En Hofez (Pp. 197–200), Irena Segal

'Atiqot

Four basalt stones of hopper-rubber (Olynthus) mills were sampled for chemical analysis; two were found at Naḥal Tut and two, from ‘En Hofez. All were dated on the basis of stratigraphy to the second half of the fourth century BCE. The chemical examination established that the millstones from Naḥal Tut were manufactured in the area of Nisyros, in the Aegean region.

Petrographic Analysis Of The Pottery From Naḥal Tut (Pp. 191–195), Amir Gorzalczany

'Atiqot

Nine samples of Persian-period wares were selected for analysis. Five petrographic groups were identified, pointing to the presence of local wares, close-range imports from the Carmel shore and long-range imports from the Aegean area or western Cyprus. It seems that the trade or exchange patterns at Naḥal Tut Site VIII were oriented overseas