Arts and Humanities Commons^™

The Efficacy Of A Culturally Sensitive Apologetic On University Campuses, Darrel Lindensmith

Journal of Adventist Youth and Young Adult Ministries

The secular shift in modern culture calls for a corresponding communication of the Gospel to university students. Many young adults have shifted from an underlining assumption of Biblical theism toward naturalistic narratives. This calls us to address the epistemology of that scientism by looking deeper at its own assumptions if we are to help students meet the reality of God in their lives. Students on college and university campuses normally do not have knowledge or ready access to professional research highlighting evidence of intelligent design in biology and cosmology, nor evidence of God in prophecy and the resurrection of Christ. …

Are You Real? An Introduction To Church Brand Authenticity, Grace Ma

Journal of Adventist Youth and Young Adult Ministries

In recent years, authenticity has become a top quality that decides customer preferences and brand loyalty. It is also an essential value in the Bible, and the church is called to stay authentic. This interdisciplinary paper introduces the areas to build brand authenticity of the church and finds current challenges within the church through the lens of brand authenticity.

The Three Angels’ Messages And The Seventh-Day Sabbath: Antidotes To The 1844 Theological Divide Of Neo-Darwinism, Karl Marx, And Frederick Nietzsche, Ron Reece

Journal of Adventist Youth and Young Adult Ministries

The “Great Disappointment” of October 22, 1844, left a group of believers wondering what did happen in 1844. This seminal time period in world history was also defined by the scientific and philosophical ideas of Charles Darwin, Karl Marx, and Frederick Nietzsche that challenged God’s grace and redemption at (1) creation; (2) Mt. Sinai; and (3) Calvary. The Three Angels’ Messages and the seventh-day Sabbath are Christ’s antidote to awaken humanity from this confused and deceived state of reality. They also address the secular philosophies of Neo-Darwinism, Marx, and Nietzsche. Seventh-day Adventists need to embrace a new understanding of 1844 …

Secular Sunset And Spiritual Sunrise: The Rise And Demise Of Secularism And The Rise Of The Spiritual, Steve Case

Journal of Adventist Youth and Young Adult Ministries

Christians too often seem worried, overwhelmed, or defeated by secularism and its influence. Because of the reality of God and his actions, secularism is destined to die. Already it has shown indications of losing its grip and sometimes being irrelevant, as evidenced by pendulum swings, life changes, and even imploding on itself. Instead of maintaining a narrow gaze on the secular, focus on the realities of the transcendent God who continues to be present and active in this world. Reaffirm God’s sovereignty, as evidenced in Scripture and more recently, including our own day. Proclaim and join Christ’s kingdom that is …

Who Cares? Ministering To (And With) Young People In A Secular World

Journal of Adventist Youth and Young Adult Ministries

No abstract provided.

Under Siege: Marriage, Family And The Great Controversy, Jasmine Fraser

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Faith Deconstruction: The Challenge Of Answering The Questions Affecting The Faith Of Young People, Rogelio Paquini

Journal of Adventist Youth and Young Adult Ministries

A significant trend, faith deconstruction, has recently been popularized among young believers affecting youth ministry. This occurrence has gained noteworthy attention as many young Christians, including Adventist and non-Adventist individuals, have begun questioning and deconstructing their faith. Pastors across various denominations have responded by preaching sermon series dedicated to faith deconstruction. As the sources of information on religious beliefs become more diverse, faith deconstruction challenges traditional conceptions of faith formation and spiritual development. Many young Christians, influenced by countless factors, including access to information, changing societal values, and exposure to diverse perspectives, are grappling with doubt and seeking to reconcile …

Faith Formation And Discipling For Metamoderns, Kenley Hall

Journal of Adventist Youth and Young Adult Ministries

What does the future of faith formation and discipling look like for “Metamoderns” with their cultural logic of toggling, which presents both a challenge and opportunity to the corporate and the local church? The unique cultural logic of Metamodernism has the potential not to weaken faith but rather create a deeper faith than that seen in previous generations and will suggest how the church can create a space for that faith to develop. Metamodernistic spirituality is still in its nascent formation. Depending on how the church, corporately and locally, responds on both levels will either lead Metamoderns into a deeper …

The Ballad Of The Wheel, John Kosch

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

The Ballad of the Wheel is a piece for voice, percussion, and electronics that examines the cyclical nature of humanity. It draws texts from existential literature that spans almost all of recorded history, from antiquity to present day. In this work, a single narrator poses the same concerns about the nature of existence in different texts, revealing that questions about the meaning of life transcend boundaries of time and space. The prevalence of the theme of reincarnation also suggests that each movement of the piece presents a different manifestation of a single being. The Ballad of the Wheel implies a …

Queered Tradition: Disidentificatory Practices Of Queer-Affirming Religious Space, Amanda R. Peterson

Department of English: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Responding to high rates of religious trauma in the United States, particularly for LGBTQ people, this study investigates the rhetorical moves made in protestant Christian spaces to consider what makes these spaces safe and affirming for queer people. Specifically, I consider the rhetorical impact these churches make through not only their space but also their liturgy and online presence, which informs the embodied experience of the space.

Through autoethnographic research, I look at three local churches—Metropolitan Community Church of Omaha, Urban Abbey, and Elevate Church–the first two queer-affirming and the third conservative. Findings show the various church elements negotiated with …

The Evolution Of The Divine Feminine: How Religious Upheaval Changed Female Devotions, Nicole M. Honeycutt

Institute for the Humanities Master's Papers, Projects, and Capstones

The transformation in the depiction of women in Christian religious art from pre-Reformation through the Counter-Reformation mirrored and molded shifting theological, cultural, and gender paradigms. While much scholarship has addressed the symbolic and doctrinal significance of female figures in sacred imagery, less attention has been paid to how such portrayals influenced women’s own devotional experiences and sense of spiritual agency. This study argues that the religious imagery was not merely a passive reflection of male-dominated ecclesiastical values, but an evolving communicative medium through which women could engage with and reshape their spiritual roles. By analyzing key artworks, patronage trends, and …

Sociological Understandings Of Entrepreneurial Action And Intention, Jeffrey Cavanaugh

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Entrepreneurship as a trend has emerged across many different disciplines, drawing on theory from psychology, economics, and sociology. Importantly, sociologic aspects of entrepreneurship remain hidden from scholarship, as existing topics are often vague or narrowly partitioned. In my dissertation, I utilize sociological understandings of human interactions which define entrepreneurial intention and action. Specifically, I explore how entrepreneurs’ religion, rurality, and social media use influences their behaviors. Throughout these three quantitative essays, I contribute to a better understanding of the social psychology of entrepreneurship, and why entrepreneurial pursuits are so intricately linked to every aspect of society. Throughout my research, which …

Creed And Variations: Tracing The Divergence Of Christian Traditions In Select Piano Works Of Arvo Pärt, Olivier Messiaen, And J. S. Bach, Rebekah E. Stiles

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Within the classical music universe, the works of J. S. Bach, Olivier Messiaen, and Arvo Pärt stand apart as particularly evocative of the divine. Much has been written on these three men’s integration of faith with musical practice, exploring how their music is not only spiritual in nature but distinctly Christian. But in comparing the three, one encounters deeply rooted distinctions between their religious worldviews, a distinction not only found in their personal testimonies but actually heard in their music. Their compositional languages reflect three traditions: Protestantism (specifically Lutheranism), represented by Bach; Roman Catholicism, represented by Messiaen; and Eastern Orthodoxy, …

Mass Of Perpetual Indulgence, Michael Joseph Willette

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Mass of Perpetual Indulgence for chamber orchestra, electronics, soprano solo, and drag performer was written to bridge the gap between queerness and spirituality, to sanctify queer people and celebrate queer lives and communities. Amalgamating musical styles ranging from disco to opera, art song to EDM, this appropriation of the traditional Mass blurs the lines between the sacred and the profane. This work features original text by librettist Caroliena Cabada that responds to the narrative of the Mass Ordinary from a distinctly queer perspective. Ultimately, this work celebrates the queer body as a holy body, queer community as a sacred communion, …

Cling To The Saints : Facilitating Spiritual Growth Through Community Spiritual Direction, Laura L. Descalzo

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

On Mission Through The Great Commission : Changing Knowledge, Attitudes, And Behaviors, John Monger

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Keeping The Faith : Spiritual Formation During The College Years, Ricardo A. Rodriguez

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Establishing Traditional Methodism : Teaching Free Methodist History, Theology, And Practices To A Former United Methodist Congregation, D. Stanley Cushing

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Personality's Role In Burnout : Examining The Impact Of Personality Traits On Burnout In Ministry Leadership, Johnny F. Ray

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Flourishing In The Field : Best Practices For Missionary Health And Effectiveness, Matthew H. Rasch

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Gospel For Generation Z : Best Practice For Missionally Proclaiming The Christian Faith To 18-27-Year Old's, Andrew Gardner

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Rude Awakening : Divine Disruption And Human Dynamics In Revival And Spiritual Renewals, Ruben Cervantes Jr.

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Change Of Knowledge, Attitude, And Behavior On Evangelism : Measuring The Changes Of Knowledge, Attitude, And Behavior On Pastors And Mission Leaders From Churches In Meru Town In Kenya, Esayas Solomon Wechefo

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

What Shapes The Political Worldview Of The Preacher?, Randy Saultz

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Discipleship Among The Everyday And Ordinary : Cultivating A Culture Of Discipleship Among Lay Leaders, Bryan D. Sallee

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Developing Spiritually Healthy Churches : Advancing Biblical Ecclesiology And Ministry Practices Among Pastoral Leaders, Julian Panga

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Transforming Pastoral Ministry : Spiritual Formation Practices For Biblical Preaching, Jeffrien Joel Joseph

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Women In Christian Leadership : Promoting Women To Lead Within A Complementarian Setting, Swarn Kaur Potter

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Breaking The Cycle : Empowering Exploited Women To Experience Transformational Change, Rowena Martineau-Pitt

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Making Of Disciples : Developing An Effective Discipleship Process For Current And Emerging Lay Leaders At Crossroads Community Cathedral, Ermias Feleke

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.