Digital Commons Network^™

The Experience Of Women’S Dignity In The Angolan Synodal Church: A Pastoral Critical Re-Reading Of Mulieris Dignitatem From Angolan Cosmology, José Abílio Praia

Loyola Papers

This article critically reexamines Mulieris Dignitatem within the context of Angolan cultural cosmology. The study highlights the tension between the symbolic reverence for women and their social marginalization in Angola. Employing feminist and pastoral perspectives, it explores how indigenous relational and life-giving concepts of womanhood can enrich theological reflection. By engaging African and Asian feminist insights, the paper proposes a synodal ecclesiology grounded in lived experience, co-responsibility, and structural transformation, emphasizing women’s dignity as integral to the Church’s identity and mission.

From Refuge To Communion: A Theological Synthesis Of A Missionary Experience In Guatemala, Nollen Jed D. Mendoza

Loyola Papers

No abstract provided.

The Use Of The Church Fathers In John Henry Newman’S An Essay On The Development Of Christian Doctrine, Salvador G. Agualada, Jr.

Landas

This paper offers a systematic summary of John Henry Newman’s An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine, with particular attention to his sustained and methodical use of the Church Fathers. It traces how Newman consistently appeals to patristic testimony in articulating and illustrating his seven “notes” of authentic doctrinal development, showing that the Fathers function not merely as historical witnesses but as integral components of his theological reasoning. By following the structure of the Essay itself, the study highlights the role of patristic sources in Newman’s distinction between genuine developments and corruptions of doctrine. The paper is primarily expository …

Proposed Pathways For Renewal: Fabc Restructuring In The Light Of Synodality, Charles Bertille

Landas

Church organizations, like secular ones, face ageing, inertia, and the need for reform. Management scholars argue renewal is best pursued during an organization’s prime, when it is thriving. The Synod on Synodality offers such a pathway, continuing the vision of Vatican II. Renewal is urgent today, given shifting mission contexts and declining religious participation, with many Christians among the religiously disaffiliated. In the build-up to the FABC 50 assembly (November 2022), bishops’ conferences in Asia raised concerns about the Church’s internal life—its structures, ministries, relationships, and governance; and called for a review of the organizational framework of the FABC. For …

Prayer And Self-Communication: Revisiting Joseph Ratzinger’S Eucharistic Ecclesiology, Antonio Esquillon

Landas

This article explores the Eucharistic Ecclesiology of Joseph Ratzinger, which takes its bearings from Christology. It discusses how Ratzinger understands the Church as fundamentally originating from the prayer of Jesus, which assumes its supreme expression in His Eucharistic self-communication. The communication and communicability of the Body of Christ finally draws out the intrinsic connection between Christology, Pneumatology, and Ecclesiology, so central in Ratzinger’s Eucharistic Ecclesiology.

Airbnb And The End Of The Local, Nadia Beyersdorf

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines how second-home ownership and self-catered tourism reshape community life in Tenby, Wales. While gentrification research often focuses on permanent displacement, less attention has been given to the movement of temporary residents that erodes local culture, social ties, and transforms everyday relationships in coastal towns.

O Esqueleto De Um Romance, Lanna Leite

Theses and Dissertations

In O Esqueleto de um Romance: The Film (2025), a Berlin legal dispute between a mayor and evangelicals sparks filmmaker Lanna Leite’s reflection on faith, memory, and belief. Using archival, 16mm, and 8mm footage, the experimental film frames filmmaking as an ephemeral, performative practice resisting closure and conventional narrative finality.

The Double Gaze: Weaving Historical, Decolonial, And Indigenous Perspectives Through Maruch Sántiz Gómez’S Creencias., Elisa Gutiérrez Eriksen

Theses and Dissertations

The Double Gaze examines Maruch Sántiz Gómez’s series Creencias (1994-2000) at the intersection of sociopolitical changes in southeastern Mexico and the 1995 Johannesburg Biennial. Drawing on Rita Segato’s “capillary disobedience” and the Mayan philosophy of kab’awil, the research considers Creencias as a theoretical proposal for reading Indigenous art practices.

Upcycle Of Used Jute Sacks For Production Of Shoes And Bags As Fashion Accessories, Solomon Gausa Dr., Ruth Adumna Ahmed, Muhammad Sani Yahaya Dr., Dymphna Bakker-Edoh Dr

Jurnal Sosial Humaniora Terapan

The study aims to upcycle used jute sacks into fashion accessories for sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Nigeria. The approach employs innovative design techniques and manufacturing processes that improve both the aesthetic appeal and environmental impact of jute products. To achieve the study's objectives, a design and development research approach was used to support an iterative process. A structured interview guide collected data from fifteen respondents. The study used thematic analysis by coding both open and axial codes, which were selected and grouped according to the objective to reach the final results before interpreting and translating the findings into a developed design …

Monkeywrenching The Curriculum: Curricular Subversion As An Act Of Care, Matthew Clay Ph.D., Paul Parkison

Teacher Education Faculty Publications

This conceptual analysis suggests that the practice of monkeywrenching, borrowed from environmental activism, can serve as an action by teachers to address this challenge. Monkeywrenching consists of direct action subversion, applied to curricula for the sake of specific students, and is constituted as an act of care as described by Nel Noddings. Specific consideration of sustainability education indicates that curriculum subversion through monkeywrenching can be a powerful tool in demonstrating care for place and students.

Contributors

Pastoral Liturgy

No abstract provided.

Our Contributors

Pastoral Liturgy

No abstract provided.

From Progressive Politics To Media Censorship: Analyzing The Trajectory Of Lgbt Rights In Taiwan And China, Sabrina Malec

CISLA Senior Integrative Projects

No abstract provided.

First, But Not Alone: A Phenomenological Study Of Sibling Dynamics In First-Generation College Student Success, Alison Celaya

Theses and Dissertations

First-generation college students represent a significant and growing demographic within higher education, facing unique challenges in navigating their educational path. This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of first-generation college students (FGCS) by focusing on their relationships with siblings and their influence on academic success. Prior research has primarily focused on the disadvantages faced by FGCS compared to their counterparts in continuing-generation college students. At the same time, little attention has been given to the differences among FGCS between the first sibling to attend college and those who follow older siblings into higher education. This study aimed to address that …

Emotional Valence In Sustainable Fashion Advertising And The Cognitive And Affective Drivers Of Consumer Response As Determinants Of Digital Engagement Behavior, Cassidy Jane Cisz

Theses and Dissertations

The dominance of the linear value chain and its perpetuation of overconsumption create persistent barriers to sustainable fashion brands in their effort to articulate a value proposition that justifies the price premium associated with ethical and sustainable production. To address this challenge and remain competitive within a marketplace dominated by low-cost fast fashion, these brands must differentiate through appeals that clearly reflect their values, mission, and climate commitments. While advertisements for sustainable goods use a broad set of persuasive strategies, this study evaluates two dominant emotional appeals, Positive Environmental Appeals (PEA) and Negative Environmental Appeals (NEA), both of which are …

‘Signature Gestures’: Anchoring The Black Diasporic Feminist Praxis In English Studies, Sonia Adams

Theses and Dissertations

My dissertation study explores how the Black Diasporic Feminist Praxis (BDFP) serves as a methodology for theorizing, critiquing, and teaching literature by women writers of the Black Diaspora. In order to position the BDFP, I theorize ‘Blackness’ and ‘Indigeneity’ as modes of identity formation and the Black Diaspora (BD) as a fluid, inclusive racialized geographical space. Black Diasporic Feminism (BDF) is an epistemology that validates Black and Black Indigenous identity and life experiences across geography, race, gender, and class. I use the BDFP to examine how Black women writers from England, Australia, Canada, and the United States create a ‘Collage …

Budget For The Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2026, University Of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Budget for the Fiscal Year

No abstract provided.

Redness As Fact And Sensibility In Mindanao’S Abaca Ikat Cloth, Cherubim Quizon

Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work Publications

This paper proposes an approach to the color red as a central consideration in cloth making in the southern Philippines where thread is made from abaca (Musa textilis), a historically and economically significant plant in the banana family. It focuses on red dye derived from the root of the Morinda plant (Morinda citrifolia) and how it is utilized and theorized, both pragmatically and metaphorically, by indigenous women of Mindanao. Drawing on research that relies on ethnographic fieldwork and informed by early 20th century American museum collecting during a time of pacification, this paper frames a phenomenological query using mixed methods …

The Importance Of Mental Health Education In The Black Church: Exploring Mental Health And Trauma Through A Biblical Lens, Navita Kj Johnson-Belcher

Doctor of Ministry

The Black church has historically served as a cornerstone for African American spiritual and communal life yet faces significant challenges in addressing mental health needs rooted in generational trauma and systemic oppression. This dissertation explores the crisis of silence surrounding mental health in Black church contexts, where stigma, pastoral limitations, and historical mistrust of institutional systems create barriers to healing. Through examination of biblical perspectives on suffering, church-based mental health programs, and emerging digital ministry models, this study demonstrates that online platforms can effectively integrate trauma-informed care with theological education.

The research presents a digital, trauma-informed, biblically-based, mental health education …

Everyone's Table: Growing Polycultural Leadership Through Mutually Facilitated Peer Learning, Joel Bert Zantingh

Doctor of Leadership

Despite multiculturalism being an official policy in Canada since 1971, significant challenges remain in achieving genuine belonging among immigrant communities, particularly within leadership structures. This project responds to the marginalization of diasporic and newer-to-Canada leaders within evangelically aligned Canadian organizations, focusing specifically on leadership culture.

Grounded in biblical and theological scholarship that advocates for unity amid cultural diversity, this project articulates a normative and interpretive framework rooted in the Christian theological tradition. It also integrates insights from sociological and organizational studies that examine power, ethnocentrism, and the psychological experiences of visible minorities within dominant cultural contexts. I found how implicit …

Beyond Rugged Individualism: A Narrative Intervention For Men Languishing In Isolation, Chad Edward Warren

Doctor of Leadership

My NPO (Need, Problem, or Opportunity) addresses the problem that an exceptional number of men in Northwest Montana languish due to prolonged social and emotional isolation.

Across my research, the key insight was that isolation is sustained not only by personal circumstances but also by the cultural narratives that form men’s identities and expectations. Stories function as “maps of meaning,” shaping what men perceive as strength, weakness, and the good life. In this context, rugged individualism, understood as a self-reliance and isolation narrative that prizes toughness and minimal dependence, can foster admirable grit while also reinforcing shame around vulnerability, help-seeking, …

Rewards That Resonate- How Incentivized Online Reviews Shape Customer Loyalty And Review Outcomes, Sameeha Khizindar

Marketing Dissertations

In today’s competitive marketplace, online reviews have become a central feature of consumer decision-making and business strategy. Research consistently documents that online reviews have a positive impact on outcomes such as review volume and product sales, underscoring their critical role in shaping firm performance. However, the majority of consumers do not voluntarily write reviews, posing a challenge for companies that rely on user-generated content. To address this issue, companies often offer incentives to motivate customers to write reviews. Despite their widespread use, research on their impact remains limited. This dissertation is comprised of two essays that examine the impact of …

Corpus Meum, Mea Electio, Kara L. Coonrod

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The right to bodily autonomy and reproductive freedom is something I hold very close to my heart. Women who did not wish to embrace motherhood, or who grew beyond the walls of the hearth and home, have been far more often persecuted than praised. Over the past two years, I have created artwork borrowing the visual and material language of the Catholic church (along with personally relevant folklore) to elevate my freedom of choice and bodily autonomy in the face of religiously driven political oppression. Using a less frequently referenced organ from my reproductive system to represent my struggle against …

Lsu General Catalog 2026-2027, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College

LSU General Catalog

The LSU General Catalog describes all undergraduate and graduate departments and programs with degree requirements and courses offered for each one. The LSU General Catalog includes information on registration and financial aid as well as academic services offered to all students

Virginia Commonwealth University Courses (2026), Virginia Commonwealth University

VCU Bulletins

Listing of courses for the 2026-2027 year.

Virginia Commonwealth University Undergraduate Bulletin (2026), Virginia Commonwealth University

VCU Bulletins

Undergraduate bulletin for Virginia Commonwealth University for the academic year 2026-2027. It includes information on academic regulations, degree requirements, course offerings, faculty, academic calendar, and tuition and expenses for undergraduate programs

A Literature Review Of Cultural Resource Management (Crm) Law, Matthew Glumac

A with Honors Projects

An academic poster on CRM law.

The Disenchanted Grove: Postcolonial Modernity And The Decline Of Ri’I Bamboo Governance In Flores, Indonesia, Handoyo Handoyo, Puji Hastuti, Lukas Rumboko Wibowo, Budiyanto Dwi Prasetyo, Surati Surati, Kresno Agus Hendarto, Lila Juniyanti, Dewi Ratna Kurnia Sari, Desmiwati Desmiwati, Sanusi Sanusi, Ane Dwi Septina, Ramawati Ramawati

Forest and Society

This article explores the erosion of ri’i, a traditional ecological governance system practiced by the Ngadha people in Flores, Indonesia, in the face of modernization and postcolonial development. Based on long-term ethnographic fieldwork and interviews with cultural elders, ritual practitioners, and local authorities, the study documents how ri’i—a ritual-based regulatory system for bamboo resource management—has been progressively dismantled through the combined pressures of technocratic governance, land commodification, and shifts toward individualism. Empirically, the main drivers identified are state land certification (including Sertifikat Hak Milik, SHM) and village modernization campaigns, which reconfigure communal tenure and everyday governance practices. Once embedded …

The Path To Information Literacy: From Finding A Topic To Writing An Annotated Bibliography, Robyn Hartman, Claire Nickerson, Heather P. Vandyne

All Open Educational Resources

This book is an adaptation of Ohio State University's Choosing & Using Sources: A Guide to Academic Research. It has been revised with a new introduction and learning objectives and section summaries. It also includes sections on common research assignments such as research plans, research logs, note-taking, and annotated bibliographies. The sections on evaluating resources have been expanded to include lateral reading with SIFT (Stop, Investigate the source, Find better coverage, Trace sources) and evaluation with CRAAP (Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, Purpose), the 5Ws (Who What When Where Why), and BEAM (Background, Exhibit, Argument, Method). Sections on generative AI have …

What Do They Expect? Understanding Preservice Teachers' Views On A Social Studies Teaching Methodology Course, Jeanine A. Clark Bremer

Dissertations of Practice

This dissertation examined preservice teachers’ expectations of their social studies methods course. Methods courses serve as a transition point helping preservice teachers to take content knowledge and learn how to use it as an educator. Social studies methods was selected due to its unique position in elementary education. It is a subject area that is no longer a core subject. Despite that, teachers are still expected to provide students with the content knowledge. The expectations matter because of how they influence preservice teachers’ approaches to the course.

As a phenomenological case study, qualitative methods were employed to better understand how …