Digital Commons Network^™

On Protecting Internally Displaced Persons In Non-International Armed Conflicts, Specifically Regarding The Civilian Population Of The Rohingya People Of Burma, Elizabeth Tonkin

Helm's School of Government Conference - 2021-2024

No abstract provided.

The Problem With Pacifism: How Pacifism Can Lead To Genocide And Why One Should Fight To Combat Evil, Mike Consiglio

Helm's School of Government Conference - 2021-2024

No abstract provided.

Great Men Are Almost Always Bad Men: The Cultural Revolution Of The Techno-Totalitarians, Gregory S. Mckenzie

Helm's School of Government Conference - 2021-2024

No abstract provided.

The Shawnee And The Long Knives: Loyalty And Land In Lord Dunmore’S War, C. Nicole Rigney Bialko

Masters Theses

This thesis looks at Lord Dunmore’s War, the last Indian War of the colonial period, from a social history perspective. Essentially a land dispute, it was heightened by the political pressures of 1774 and ongoing conflicts between white colonists and the Shawnee, Lenape, and Haudenosaunee of the Ohio River Valley. These events were complicated by the actions of Captain John Connolly at Fort Pitt and Virginia’s Governor Dunmore. Dunmore endeavored to secure the loyalty of Virginians and American Indians through this war and instead lost both. Many historians have mistakenly portrayed this as a war with only one battle—the Battle …

Foundational Failings: A Case Study On Us Interventions Overseas, Martin Hopman

Senior Honors Theses

This thesis will seek to demonstrate how the U.S.'s attempt to export democracy by leading the NATO air campaign to overthrow Muamar el Gadafi in 2011 undermined U.S. foreign policy goals producing regional instability and power vacuums. This work will attempt to summarize the historical fragility of democracies, the cultural basis needed to establish a strong democratic system, the tradition of autocratic government in the Middle East, and how all three of these factors were largely ignored in overall U.S. planning and strategy in its intervention in the Libyan Civil War. Finally, an alternative foreign policy criterion for assessing U.S. …

An Evaluation Of The Marxist Paradigm In Comparison To A Biblical Worldview: The Case Of Venezuela, Jonathan Riddick

Senior Honors Theses

This research was conducted to address the pressing paradigmatic split in modern American society between Marxism and Christian governing principles. The prevailing concept that governed this research is that Marxism degrades governments and societies and is inherently destructive. The exposition of Marxism’s deconstructive character transpires in this research by comparing the implementation of Marxist principles in Venezuela to the application of biblical principles in the United States. A brief historical context of Marxism and Christianity is considered alongside each worldview’s values and implementation of such values. Each worldview’s foundation is then evaluated by an investigation into Venezuela’s utilization of Marxist …

Popular Culture And World War Ii Propaganda, Baillie Victoria Catherine Bryan

Masters Theses

Popular culture in relation to World War II has been explored by various scholars over the years. They have deeply examined how radio, film, and other forms of media helped the war effort along and how Hollywood became engaged in the war effort, but there has been a lack of in-depth analysis of the major themes across the mediums. This thesis will examine how film, radio, cartoons, and comic books came together to become a powerful tool of propaganda and public information for the American home front and military. It is an in-depth examination of the major themes that were …

The Death Of The Knight: The Relationship Between British Heroic Art And Literary Tradition To The First World War, Madelynn Hobson

Senior Honors Theses

Art and literature are tools that can be used to gauge the mood of a particular time. Paintings, poetry, and other works hold clues which tell popular opinions and ideals of the era. Leading up to World War I, British art and literature defined the heroic figure as one who resembled the chivalrous knight of days gone by. Warriors were to be virtuous and fight for the vulnerable, upholding peace through their God-given quests. During and after the war, however, British art and literature painted the warrior to be a bleak, even disfigured and incomplete, character. The Great War's severity …

Maritime Moves: The American Response To The South China Sea Conflict, Joshua Jachlewski

Senior Honors Theses

China is quickly becoming a world power and will soon reach parity with the United States. China has gotten far more aggressive in its expansion, which extends to the islands within the South China Sea. China claims most of this based on the Nine-Dash Line, in violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. As the current world superpower, the United States must respond to these claims given the geostrategic importance of the region. An analysis of the current Chinese and US positions, as well as those of the other littoral states with competing claims, allows …

Yahweh’S Benevolence Vs. Anat’S Malevolence: A Comparative Analysis Of Judges 4–5 And Col Ii 1–Col Iii 2, Michaela Misantone

Senior Honors Theses

The actions of ancient Near Eastern warrior gods are often depicted as acts of vengeance, greed, and brutality, serving selfish ambition and never-ending power struggles. These gods and their warfare ethic dominated the worldview of the ancient world in which the events of the Old Testament took place. The actions of the Hebrew God are often included, even emphasized, in discussions of ancient divine warfare today. There are supposed similarities between the actions of war gods like Anat from the Ugaritic pantheon and those of Yahweh from ancient Israel. Unfortunately, this has led to the present-day belief that the God …

The Female Heroine Of Action Films: A History And Exploration Of The Genre And Application To The Short Film Lois, Daniel Brunner

Senior Honors Theses

The action genre is one of the oldest forms of filmmaking, beginning with some of the earliest short films with simple chases and heists. From then it has progressed into the genre we know today but still retains certain crucial aspects. One of sub-genres within these films can be seen in post-apocalyptic and dystopian films. All of these tend to follow the hero’s journey as described by Joseph Campbell. The representation of powerful female heroines within the action genre has increased since 1980s from its traditional male centric viewpoint. The screenplay for the short film Lois shows the convergence of …

Sars-Cov-2 Reveals That Chimeric Agents Are The Bioweapons Of The Future, Rachel Craig

Senior Honors Theses

Bioweapons programs have existed since their development during the Cold War. These biowarfare programs initially utilized naturally occurring pathogens capable of infecting crops, livestock populations, and human populations. Anthrax is a widely exploited bioagent responsible for attacks ranging from the Germans’ deployment in World War I to the mailing of anthrax through the postal service in attempts on U.S. senators’ lives. With the development of genetic manipulations, the Soviet Union began modifying anthrax to resist detection and treatment. With the continued advancement of science and technology, a new bioagent has entered the scene – the man-made chimeric virus. Chimeric viruses …

The Influence Of The Thirty-Six Stratagems On Chinese Strategy In The Diaoyu Islands, Brent Schuliger

Senior Honors Theses

The Diaoyu Islands are a small, uninhabited archipelago in the East China Sea which has begun increasing in strategic significance due to its advantageous location near Taiwan and along the First Island Chain. The islands are currently under Japanese administration, but the People’s Republic of China considers them historically Chinese and contests Japan’s claim to the islands. A careful examination of China’s actions in challenging Japan’s rule over the Diaoyus reveals the influence of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, a tome of ancient Chinese military wisdom which provides a framework onto which China’s current strategy corresponds. This thesis examines the historical …

The Decline Of Youth At Ministry Under The Sky, Wanda Elaine Belvin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The decline of youth attending their services is no secret for many churches. The influences of the world, technology, wanting to fit in are just a few reasons youth find other things to do than attend their church services faithfully. Ministry Under The Sky is a small ministry with a big heart. At its birth in 2001, Ministry Under The Sky’s start was in the researcher’s home and her husband, the Overseer of the ministry. God blessed Ministry Under The Sky with its first building in 2007. The church outgrew the first two buildings less than two years each. The …

To Stay Or Step Down: Assessing The Pastoral Qualifications Of Pastors With Prodigal Children, P. Kevin Garber

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The pastor’s home life is a reflection of his ability to effectively lead Christ’s church. Two seminal New Testament passages (I Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9) address, among other qualifications, the behavior and testimony of the pastor’s children. This vital aspect of a pastor’s leadership within the home must be given important emphasis and due consideration. With an examination of the nuances of these two seminal passages, exploration of published literature relevant to this topic, and an in-depth investigation of three pastoral case studies, the writer will offer a resource for pastors and parishioners who are facing the dilemma of whether …

Church Revitalization: Strategies For Revitalization And The Importance Of Emotional Intelligence For Pastors And Church Revitalizers In The Frontier Baptist Association, Timothy F. Ireland

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The majority of Southern Baptist Churches in North America are plateaued or in decline. Without a new effective strategy for church revitalization, the largest evangelical denomination will close thousands of local churches. Knowing what to do and how to do it is critical for revitalization. The study presents a synthesis of research that reveals common factors present in plateaued and dying churches, strategies advanced for successful church revitalization, and church revitalizers’ qualifications. This project thesis included research concerning the utilization of emotional intelligence (EQ), EQ testing, and training. Pastors with high EQ are well suited for leading a church through …

Pandemic And Crisis Of Trust In Media: Case Of Lithuania, Audris Narbutas

Helm's School of Government Conference - 2021-2024

In order to manage Pandemic of Covid -19, Lithuania started unprecedented campaign of promotion of vaccination. One the main instruments which were implemented by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania were Opportunity passport. This document gave permission for those people who were vaccinated to participate in many activities, which were limited to unvaccinated people including opportunity to go to huge supermarkets. However, different approach on management of Pandemic and Opportunity passport created enormous alienation in the society of Lithuania. One of the expressions of this phenomenon was dramatic decrease of trust in Media. By using process trace method I …

Investigating The Impact Of Spiritual Gifts On Church Growth, Johnnie James Finkley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis project uses spiritual gifts found in scripture as teachable models for church growth to address a decline in church attendance at Friendly Missionary Baptist Church. The research assumes that if church members are aware of their spiritual gifts, they will use them to build a healthy church. Therefore, the question that this thesis project asks is, “Will an understanding and development of spiritual gifts grow Friendly Missionary Baptist Church?” The Bible is the primary literary resource for God’s provision in transforming believers into His image. It is the foundation for church members’ spiritual growth. The book of Acts …

The Modern Homeland Security Struggle: Divisive Disinformation, Stephen H. Dickerson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research introduces the concepts surrounding disinformation and misinformation campaigns, along with their standing as significant homeland security threats. The piece starts with a brief introduction that focuses in on current examples of how these campaigns are being utilized, to include introductory discussion of theory and strategy. This is followed by a literature review, which explores a wide variety of disinformation related topics, including pieces that help in defining the matter and others that introduce related psychological theories. In addition to the literature that discusses real world examples, current instances are discussed, allowing for a more comprehensive view of not …

Middle East Lessons For America, Will Gunzelman

Faculty Publications and Presentations

This presentation provides the talking points from a discussion on the Middle East, Russian “Siege and Starve” tactics, and the need to recognize agriculture as a U.S. national security issue. Presented to the Cattleman’s Association on February 21, 2022; two days prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Author, Will Gunzelman, retired from U.S. Army Special Forces (“Green Berets”) after 27 years of service and numerous combat deployments.

Keywords: Middle East, Russia, Ukraine, Agriculture, National Security, National Defense, Foreign Policy, Political Science, Farming, Ranching, Great Power Competition (GPC), Warfare, Economics, Egypt, Iraq, Afghanistan , NATO, Food Shortage

Great Disaster: The Impact Of Covid-19 On Yemen, Joshua Odey

Liberty University Journal of Statesmanship & Public Policy

The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected countries around the world. Travel became restricted as countries around the world tried to control the pandemic. The global economy was also negatively affected. Nonetheless, many countries around the world took measures to control the economy and have successfully reduced the number of cases and the negative impact of COVID-19. This is not so with other countries such as Yemen, who is currently facing a humanitarian crisis that has greatly weakened their ability to respond to the pandemic.

The purpose of this research paper is to show how COVID-19 has negatively affected Yemen. For more …

Premarital Counseling And Christianity: A Composition Of Couples Intuition And Understanding As It Relates To Marital Satisfaction, Sheila Delores Salley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Increasing divorce rates in the United States of America have resulted in Premarital Counseling (PMC) gaining grave popularity over the last couple of decades. There has been a proliferation of premarital counseling programs in the United States of America since the 1930s with a thrust toward building and sustaining satisfying marriages. Traditional premarital counseling programs focus on ensuring satisfaction once the couple is married; however, there is a significant gap in researching the impact of incorporating Christian values as a means of therapeutic intervention. This study involved eight Christian, African American, heterosexual couples who received Christian-based PMC (CPMC) and have …

What Can Church History Tell Us About The Debate Between Just War Theory And Pacifism And What Does This Mean For The Church Today?, Michael Payne

Liberty Theological Review

This paper, in addressing Just War Theory and Pacifism, will argue that throughout church history there are faithful Christians that can be found on both sides of the debate. With that being said, each side has an obligation to uphold peace and justice. The Just War adherent has an obligation to seek peace, be selective in what is deemed “just war,” and be conscious of the dangers of supporting his nation’s priorities over the teachings of Christ. On the other side, in the case of a just war, the pacifist cannot use his pacifism as an excuse to sit out. …

Faith After The Fight: Overcoming Doubts And Trauma From Warfare, Donald Anthony Baker Iii

Liberty Theological Review

In the aftermath of intense kinetic battlefield engagements where friendly, civilian, and enemy casualties occur, Christian combat veterans express difficulty reconciling God’s omniscience, omnipresence, and benevolence with their traumatic experience. The result has been prolonged episodes of despondence with God that presents itself as an impediment to continued faith or worse, an outright rejection of His existence. Exposure to the horrors of armed conflict can have a profoundly detrimental effect on a service member’s faith, but a person can begin the process to heal the invisible wounds of spiritual trauma by not abandoning their faith in God but instead clinging …

Editorial Board & Table Of Contents

Liberty Theological Review

Table of Contents for Volume 5, Issue 2 (Fall 2021).

China Containment In East Asia: Preventative Or Provocative?, Rachel Solsman

Senior Honors Theses

Since the end of World War II, the United States has developed and maintained its strategic alliances with Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and Taiwan, and has worked to contain China through bolstering its deterrence strategy. However, after a century of humiliation, China is modernizing its military capabilities, improving in trade, and increasing political cohesion to become a regional hegemon. In light of these changes to the international order, the United States must re-evaluate its East Asian alliances and its current military and economic deterrence strategy against China. This paper will discuss the history of these alliances, the rise of …

A Christmas Cantata, Garth Andrew Olson

Masters Theses

The purpose of this worship ministry research project was to research, prepare for, and lead a Christmas cantata presentation for two worship services at First United Methodist Church in Georgetown, Texas, on Sunday, December 12, 2021. In this thesis, I identified the worship components and the accompanying potential challenges for successfully leading a vital and converging traditional Christmas Sunday worship in a way that promotes authentic, biblically-centered, Christocentric, and participatory worship services for a church community.” The Christmas cantata was a musical composition set for soprano, alto, tenor, and bass voices (SATB) with instrumental accompaniment including solos, chorus, chamber orchestra, …

A Tale Of Two Atheists: A Historical Inquiry Into The Lives Of C.S. Lewis & Antony Flew, Zachary Sechler

Senior Honors Theses

C.S. Lewis and Antony Flew are two of the foremost philosophers of the 20th century. Lewis and Flew both left Christian backgrounds to become atheists during their early years of study. Later, both changed their minds accepted the existence of God. Lewis died a Christian whereas Flew died a deist. Lewis and Flew share many things in common including being accomplished academics, having multiple major worldview shifts, and changing parts of their worldviews as a result of the World Wars. Lewis and Flew both had a major influence in the development of 21st-century philosophy through a variety of works they …

Understanding Eschatology Leads To A More Fruitful Christian Life, John Michael Mendola

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The evangelical church cannot fulfill its mission to facilitate the return of Jesus unless its membership’s studies eschatology. Too many relegate biblical prophecies to the past without recognizing their fulfillment in the here and now. This study investigates the contemporary belief structure of church members and aims to develop an effective corrective measure in order to improve the spiritual life of its members while advancing the church’s central mission of evangelizing. This study aims to determine what members know about church viewpoints on eschatology and deliver an educational remedy. The 15-person sample received a six-week course on eschatology developed and …

Holy Spirit Filled Preaching Opens The Door For A Miracle, Alvin Alastair Burks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem is that many preachers should strive to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Not being filled with the Holy Spirit hinders the power of God in spiritual manifestation, be it healing, preaching, teaching, etc, in the lives of believers. The purpose is to teach preachers how to be filled with the Holy Spirit in their preaching and education as the adversary desires to tempt the preacher with sin, causing the quenching of the Holy Spirit in the preacher’s life. As the preacher is filled with the Holy Spirit, God's people have a chance to experience the available preaching …