Digital Commons Network^™

The Role Of Religious Associations Of Ukraine In The Development Of Civil Society, Oleh Sokolovskyi

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

In Ukraine, over the years of independence, a diverse religious environment has formed based on the legislatively guaranteed right to freedom of conscience and religion and the principle of religious pluralism. This environment consists not only of individual religious organizations but also of interfaith institutions, which play a significant role in Ukraine's development and contribute to resolving important societal issues. Their existence is compelling evidence of the church's strengthened position, the growing social role of religion, and the increased activity of religious organizations within Ukrainian society. Interfaith councils, which engage in a broad range of interests and activities, have facilitated …

The Shaping Of Religion Through Empire In Modern Korea, 1876-1948, John Grisafi

Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Dissertations

This dissertation covers the roles of multiple empires in the discursive formation of religion in modern Korea, with emphasis on the period from 1876 through 1948. I argue that although semi-analogous terms and ideas to “religion” existed in Korea prior, the coinage of the modern Korena term for religion, chonggyo (종교, 宗敎) in 1883 and its subsequent discursive development were heavily shaped by imperialism, colonialism, and modern globalization. The pressures and influences of empires triggered a coalescence of Korean concepts of religion and related ideas. But the involvement of multiple empires as well as Korean interests, and the beliefs and …

Peak Teaching: Exploring And Fostering Sacred Experiences In University Classrooms, Charles Burack

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

Supporting the spiritual growth of college and university students with diverse backgrounds and orientations is both important and challenging. It is important not only because spirituality is a crucial dimension of human life but also because the majority of students at both private and public schools want their teachers to address spiritual issues in the classroom. A powerful way to address spirituality is to explore and foster sacred experiences in university classrooms. Sacred experiences include religious, spiritual, mystical, transcendent, numinous, and peak experiences as well as many other nonordinary experiences. The author offers guidance to educators on how to: 1) …

Sacrosanct Or Sacred: Creating A Theological Framework To Undergird Church Design, Aaron Farmer

Doctor of Ministry Projects and Theses

This paper aims to ascertain whether a Theology of Architecture—a theological framework for planning and constructing church buildings—can be identified within the Biblical narrative or through the historical practices of ecclesial design. The research begins with an examination of the biblical architecture of the Old Testament, primarily described in narratives rather than corroborated by archaeological evidence. A review of historical periods of ecclesial design follows, aiming to identify phases where ecclesial design exhibited patterns analogous to those found in the Old Testament. The study uncovers a consistent pattern in both testaments wherein architecture represents divine work within specific timeframes and …

The Idealised And The Profane Nun: The Image Of The Nun At The Fin-De-Siècle And Into The 1930s., Shannon Lewis

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

This thesis examines the representation of nuns from the Fin-de-Siècle into the 1930s, in the popular medium of postcards, in art during the Modernist period, and throughout the early development of film. The thesis demonstrates how secularisation, rapid technological development, and political discourse during the selected era impacted the image of the nun. The images selected will be reviewed in the light of Christian iconography, highlighting how the nun is represented and understood as a cultural construct, rather than the reality of the nun. Imagery of nuns from this era seems to fall into two categories of idealisation and/or profanation …

Nuclear Weapons And In-Group Moral Reasoning: The Case Of Orthodox Christianity, Christopher Ferrero

Intelligence and Security Studies

Are nuclear weapons moral? The contemporary ban movement asserts that they are not, and a common view prevails that even if possession for deterrence can be accepted, there is a taboo against the use of nuclear weapons. However, the literature of the last quarter century shows that in-group political identification supports the possession and even the first use of nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, the literature on how organized religious groups perceive nuclear ethics is underdeveloped. The Russian Orthodox Church argues that Russia’s nuclear arsenal is divine and legitimate. It posits a religiopolitical civilization as the in-group for whom nuclear armament is …

New Trends In The Study Of Haredi Culture And Society, David N. Myers, Nechumi Malovicki-Yaffe

The Jewish Role in American Life: An Annual Review

Who are Haredim? And why are they the source of both increasing attention and continuing misunderstanding? New Trends in the Study of Haredi Culture and Society draws on the innovative research of leading scholars from a variety of disciplines—including history, religious studies, demography, linguistics, and geography—to trace the growing prominence of Haredi (often called ultra-Orthodox) Jews in Jewish life. Haredi Jews are committed to preserving a measure of segregation from the rest of society consistent with the guiding principles of their forebears; yet increasingly, they are appearing more visibly and assertively in public spaces. Demographic analysis suggests that they will …

Fear Of Ai, Christianity, And The Modern Library, Brady D. Lund, Zoë A. Teel

The Christian Librarian

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape aspects of our world, fears and misunderstandings about its implications are widespread. Some of these concerns are rooted in the practices and beliefs of our religious communities. This paper aims to address worries regarding AI and its impact on religion and Christian traditions. It does so by examining the nature of AI and its limitations, stressing the importance of informed discussions within communities. Examples drawn from academic literature, scripture, and prominent figures within the Church are used to illustrate key points. Libraries and librarians are discussed as crucial facilitators of these informed discussions …

Youth Engagement In Religious Practices Within Macedonian Society, Ruzica Cacanoska, Ivan Blazevski Phd

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Official statistical data and various research studies indicate that a significant portion of the Macedonian population identifies as religious. However, these studies also reveal that many of these individuals are nominal believers, adhering to traditional practices without deep engagement. This trend has sparked an interest in exploring the religiosity of the younger generation, which, though often superficial, has gained prominence in recent years. Existing research, albeit limited, has examined young people's religiosity, their perceptions of religion, and the influence of religious values on their daily lives and practices. To gain a comprehensive understanding of young people's attitudes towards religion in …

On The Varieties Of Religious Experience In Latter-Day Saint Temples, 1836–1940, Jared Gage Bennett

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

From 1836 to the present, the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have constructed and undertaken rituals in buildings called temples. In the first temple in Kirtland, Ohio, its 1836 dedication was the scene of visions and speaking in tongues, much like those the apostles had at Pentecost in Acts 2. The second temple in Nauvoo, however, had none of these, and the third set of temples built in Utah, with the first completed in 1877, again saw a number of religious experiences but of a radically different form: mainly the appearance of the spirits of …

Review Of: The Bloomsbury Handbook Of Religion And Heritage In Contemporary Europe, Edited By Todd H. Weir And Lieke Wijnia, Maaike De Jong

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Review of: Weir, T.H. & Wijnia, L. (Eds.) (2023) The Bloomsbury Handbook of Religion and Heritage in Contemporary Europe, Bloomsbury Publishing, United Kingdom, 472 pages, £117 (Hardcover), ISBN: ‎ 978-1350251380.

New Paths In Jewish And Religious Studies: Essays In Honor Of Professor Elliot R. Wolfson, Glenn Dynner, Susannah Heschel, Shaul Magid

Purdue University Press Books

The work of Elliot R. Wolfson has profoundly influenced the fields of Jewish studies as well as philosophy and religion more broadly. His radically new approaches have created pioneering ways of analyzing texts and thinking about religion through the lens of gender, sexuality, and feminist theory. The contributors to New Paths in Jewish and Religious Studies: Essays in Honor of Professor Elliot R. Wolfson, many of whom are internationally renowned scholars, hearken from diverse fields. Each has learned from and collaborated with Wolfson as student or colleague, and each has expanded the new scholarly directions initiated by Wolfson’s groundbreaking …

Orality As Aesthetic Device: Articulating Language, Religion, And Authority In Mohamed Akounad’S Tawargit D Imik, Mohamed El Jarari, Salaheddine Belarbi

Journal of Amazigh Studies

This article explores Mohamed Akounad's novel Tawargit d imik, which focuses on protagonist Ssi Brahim who struggles to convey the essence of his religious sermons to an exclusively amazigh audience amidst societal opposition. By examining Ssi Brahim's character as the author's alter ego, the study aims to assess the novel's portrayal of religious concerns and activism for Tamazight and identity, particularly in relation to orality. Employing a sociolinguistic approach drawing from Bourdieu's Language and Symbolic Power, the analysis delves into the intersection of religion, authority, and language, placing orality at the heart of their role within the narrative. This …

The Perpetual Progression In The Schleswig-Holstein Duchy: History, Politics, And Religion, 1460-1864, Christian Anthony Ahlers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

German nationalism in the Schleswig and Holstein duchies that predates the German Unification Wars of the Nineteenth Century continuously transformed in response to Danish encroachment, civic disputes regarding treaty legitimacy, and war. The Germans in the duchies fought to retain their ancestral homelands and, in doing so, embraced a pan-Germanic consciousness that is the foundation for early modern nationalism. This consciousness dates back hundreds of years. This case study examines the Germans of Schleswig and Holstein and their experiences with the consistent and pressing Danish encroachment. Despite the encroachment, the Germans remained connected with their culture, traditions, religion, and their …

Participation In The Martyred Christ: Augustine Of Hippo On Martyrdom And Martyr Veneration, Matthew Esquivel

Religious Studies Theses and Dissertations

In Augustine’s North Africa, when the likelihood of being a martyr virtually disappeared, various practices of martyr veneration were the means by which the church communed with the martyrs, obtained their intercessory aid, and experienced miracles associated with their relics. Augustine reflected upon the meaning of martyrdom in the midst of two unique contexts: 1) the socio-political context, in which the Roman empire had ceased persecuting the church and had adopted Nicene Christianity as the official religion of the empire, and 2) the ecclesial context, which included the martyr veneration practices inherited from preceding generations and the competing claims to …

Radical Explorations Of Radical Empiricism: William James’S Transmissive Theory Of Mind In The Context Of Visionary Experience, Rita Spellman

Religious Studies Theses and Dissertations

The dominant ontology in science is a form of materialism and it filters down into the social sciences in ways I will touch on throughout this paper. The influence of the current dominant ontology is especially apparent when it comes to experiences and phenomena that challenge its underlying assumptions which is why I will primarily focus on visionary experience and psi phenomena as studied by radical empiricists throughout the ages.

The philosophical position of William James challenges materialist assumptions by championing the idea that the only world we can speak of is the world of our experience. William James affords …

The Vilification Of The Dark Feminine, Isabella Richmond, Khanh Nguyen

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Ereshkigal, the Mesopotamian goddess of the Netherworld, represents the dark feminine that the gods have snuffed and robbed. The famous story of Inanna’s descent into the underworld had a hyper-focus and bias towards Ishtar, Ereshkigal’s sister, the goddess of love and war. The descriptions of the pitiful Goddess Ishtar being stripped of her regalia and adornments passing each gate and how God Ea had cunningly come to her rescue are to distract the truth of Ereshkigal, in her loneliness and bitterness of her fate. While her sister, adorned with lapis beads across her neck and body draped in royal robes, …

"I'Ll Stay Where You Want Me To Stay": How Latter-Day Saints Navigate Conflicting Social Values While Remaining Committed To Their Faith, Venice Jardine

Theses and Dissertations

While recent efforts in religious studies have focused on why many Americans seem to be leaving religion entirely, much less is understood about why many others choose to remain committed to their faith--especially when they hold many of the same social values, doubts, or divergent opinions that others cite for leaving. Within a Latter-day Saint context especially, very little research has been done to explore the experiences of those navigating the complexities of competing ethical affordances while remaining committed to their faith. Through ethnographic research in both Salt Lake County and New York City, I document the patterns and processes …

Taylor Swift As Religion: The Deification Of An International Pop Music Superstar And The Ramifications Of Fame, With A Comparison To Vox Lux, Jessica Cotturone

Religion and Film

This paper explores the ways in which the culture surrounding pop music superstar Taylor Swift is a religion. Taylor Swift has had an indelible impact on her fans, who are known as Swifties, and this paper brings attention to the ways that she establishes a strong connection with her fans such that they come to view her as a religious figure. Definitions of religion proposed by scholars Clifford Geertz and Meghan Johnston Aelabouni are used to analyze how this popular music culture can fit into a broader conceptualization of religion. Special attention is given to the deification of celebrities in …

Autism And The Body Of Christ: Understanding, Accommodating, And Accepting Autistic Believers In The Church, Kaitlyn Cook

Senior Honors Theses

Autism is a neurotype that causes a different set of strengths and weaknesses and thus should be embraced and accommodated within the church. Not only are autistic believers able to grasp Christian concepts, but they also have different perspectives and skills that can be instrumental in building up the church. Promoting a correct view of autism and accommodating neurodiversity within the church will allow autistic believers to follow God’s command to be part of a body and build up the church. The church can employ several strategies to create an accessible environment for believers on the spectrum, including creating sensory-safe …

Bridges And Barriers: Lesbian, Gay, And Bisexual Emerging Adults' Views On Integrating Their Sexual And Religious Identities, Rémy Roe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The existing literature highlights sexual and religious identity integration as a significant mediating factor in the relationship between religion and spirituality (R/S), and the LGBTQ population. This study explores outcomes associated with the integration of sexual and religious identities in a religiously diverse sample of seven lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) emerging adults ages 18-25. The sample included participants identifying with Buddhism (2), Christianity (2), Islam (1), Judaism (1), and Hinduism (1). Semi-structured interviews with participants identified eight key themes across their experiences: identity narratives, emerging adulthood exploration, interconnectedness of identities, evolving perspectives, social and cultural barriers, personal growth and …

Catalysts For Change: The Sacralizing Impulse Of The Second Great Awakening And Its Transformative Impact On American Higher Education, Blake S. Hart

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation delves into the profound impact of the Second Great Awakening on American higher education and its enduring social consequences. Examining the period from the late eighteenth century to the mid-nineteenth century, the research uncovers the core belief that drove the Awakening—that America and its citizens were chosen for a divine purpose, endeavoring to manifest the kingdom of heaven on Earth. It explores how Protestant-led revivalism and social reform movements fueled by this core belief influenced the establishment and evolution of American higher education. Through in-depth case studies of Andover Theological Seminary, Lane Seminary, and Oberlin College, the research …

Sacramental Reason: Speculative Thought In Catholic Modernity, Jack Hanson

Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Dissertations

This dissertation is a study of the position of Catholicism in the conceptual organization of secular modernity. Inspired by the plenitude of roles the Catholic plays in formations of religious and cultural self-narration, I take up three thinkers for whom the Catholic represents above all a means of navigating the contradictory structures of modernity, avoiding both the simple negativity of critique and the delusion of nostalgic reaction. For Charles Péguy, early intimations of a modern mysticism lead him to a paradoxical appreciation of his greatest antagonists, which in turn sets the stage for his return to the Catholicism of his …

Enlivened Worship With The Divine: Evaluation And Innovative Application Of The Liturgical Arts For Worship Renewal, Nicole Sikora Gray

Doctor of Pastoral Music Projects and Theses

Liturgical arts are meaningful resources and vessels for reclaiming and renewing the storytelling abilities of dynamic worship. This thesis explores a strategic evaluation of liturgical arts through the foundational and relational subjects of theology, ritual studies, and liturgical theology. Through the Holy Spirit, liturgical arts have formative powers that lead congregations into a deeper meeting with God—sending them forth as renewed signposts of Christ’s transcendence. They provide the space where pain and brokenness meet hope and grace for the renewal of the world.

This thesis examines those powers in combination with a foundational and contextual evaluation to restore and apply …

Accounting For The Gift: Theology And Ethics In Accounting, Daniel Sebastian

Religious Studies Theses and Dissertations

Accounting is often assumed to be a neutral presentation of the facts of economic activities and actions. Its double-entry system means that it is always in balance and comports to the rigor of mathematical formulas, and it is taken to be a matter of empirical counting that lends it certainty as well. The dissertation argues that this description of accounting is inadequate. Accounting is better seen as a political tool and technology for producing trust that can help resolve social conflicts. As such, accounting is not value-neutral but carries within it a particular sociality that has moral implications. These moral …

The Impact Of Religiosity On Students’ Experience At The University Of South Dakota, Emmalee J. Bosma

Honors Thesis

College can be a shocking and exciting experience for many young people, but at times can lead to crisis or hardship when they must choose what to believe. Some students may seek out a religious belief in something greater than themselves to quell their longing for meaning while in college, and others may continue the beliefs they have known. This research surveyed students to examine how college students’ level of religiosity influences their academic performance, mental health, sense of purpose and identity, and feelings of belonging and connection at the University of South Dakota (USD). Secondly, through interviewing members of …

The Impact Of Artificial Intelligence In Online Education For Recruitment, Retention, And Sustainability Of Religious Organizations, Gordon Vaill Barrows

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation explored the applicability of AI chatbot technology in the context of a church environment where it was used to promote an accessible and engaging online learning platform for education and ministry training. The primary objective was to develop an AI-powered chatbot to increase recruitment, improve retention, as well as support organizational sustainability as it relates to church membership. The research includes a comprehensive literature review on AI chatbot technology and its relevance to online education within the context of a religious organization. The literature review establishes the fundamentals for a theoretical framework, exploring the association between educational technology, …

Psychology Of Altruism: A Phenomenological Study Of Christian Leaders, Joshua G. Belk

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Altruism is fundamentally a part of Christianity, but this phenomenon has never been researched from the perspective of Christian leaders. More than simple kindness or generosity, altruism can be defined as actions and behaviors which place a person’s own interests subordinate to another’s. This qualitative study interviews 31 Christian leaders to establish an understanding of what altruism is in the context of Christian faith. The study found that Christian leaders’ experiences with altruism redefines what was previously known about the phenomenon and its role in our lives. Examining the Christian rationale of altruism provides a richer conception of altruism and …

The Theoretical Epigenetic Relationship Between Complex-Ptsd And Adhd In Holocaust Survivors’ Descendants, Y. Sahara Brodsky

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

When comparing ADHD and Complex-PTSD, these two disorders share many overlapping features in both areas of the brain that are affected and the behavioral aspects due to deficits in certain brain regions, such as the prefrontal cortex. It is due to this similarity that I predict that c-PTSD is the precursor to the development of ADHD in later generations. Through epigenetic changes that are consistent with c-PTSD diagnosis, these changes to the brain are then passed down the generational line. When this is combined with trauma transference and generational trauma, it creates a situation where both the behaviors inform how …

Honors Seminar: "Religion And The Sermon In Appalachia", Robert Ellison

English Faculty Research

This presentation is kind of a sequel/follow-up to one I gave seven years ago in Baltimore, entitled “Four Case Studies in Teaching Sermons at a Public University.” I discussed

a gen-ed ENG class, a gen-ed class cross-listed with ENG & RST, a graduate seminar, and a class in the Honors College. The first three were one-offs, but the Honors class has lived on. I taught it again, in much the same form, the semester after that presentation, and again this past semester. The title was now “Religion and the Sermon in Appalachia” (for purposes of the online schedule, it had …