Arts and Humanities Commons^™

The Dynamics Of Religion At The World Bank, John Rees

John A Rees

This paper analyses the dynamics of religion at the institutional level of international development, and specifically at the World Bank Group (WBG). The phrase ‘dynamics of religion’ describes the interplay of three elements of religion at work in the international development sphere. The secular dynamics of religion are characterized by the subordination of religious actors and interests to other development structures and priorities. The sacral dynamics of religion are characterized by the primacy of religious actors and interests to shape the development agenda and/or contest development priorities. The integrated dynamics of religion are characterized by a balance of secular and …

Religion And Science Fiction, James F. Mcgrath

James F. McGrath

As announced by its title, this multidisciplinary book focuses on the intersection between religion and science fiction. Several perspectives are addressed by scholars from different disciplines: theology, literature, history, music, and anthropology. Thus, gathering a range of distinct voices and approaches, this work edited by James F. McGrath shows how multifaceted and multicultural the science's fiction treatment of religion is.

The Return Of The Christian Burial Speech Case, Phillip Johnson

Phillip Johnson

No abstract provided.

Earth Ethics, James Martin-Schramm, Daniel Spencer, Laura A. Stivers

Laura Stivers

A Hidden Life, Matthew Schmalz

Mathew Schmalz

The author recalls a former student whose traditional Catholic devotion celebrated the hidden life, a life cut short by domestic violence.

Is Public Reason Counterproductive?, Eduardo Peñalver

Eduardo M. Peñalver

The debate over the proper role of religion in public life has raged on for decades and shows little signs of slowing down. Proponents of restrictive accounts of public reason have proceeded under the assumption that religious and deep moral disagreement constitutes a threat to social stability that must be tamed. In contrast to this "scary story" linking pluralism with the threat of instability, there exists within political theory a competing, "happy story" according to which pluralism affirmatively contributes to stability by creating incentives for groups to moderate their demands. Whether the scary story or happy story is a more …

Ishmael's Doubts And Intuitions, Brian Yothers

Brian Yothers

No abstract provided.

The Dao Of Qoheleth: An Intertextual Reading Of The Daode Jing And The Book Of Ecclesiastes, R. Heard

Chris Heard

Of all the world's literary works which may appropriately be labeled religious classics, the Hebrew scriptures and the Daode Jing stand out as two of the most popular across cultural and linguistic boundaries. One might suppose that the cross-cultural popularity of these classics would have brought them into frequent contact with one another. However, not much seems to have been done to relate the Bible to the Daode Jing in a constructive way. In this article, I seek to begin redressing this lack of conversation by offering a reading of the biblical book of Ecclesiastes using the Daode Jing as …

Understanding The Haggadah: The Step-By-Step Seder Companion, Andrew Blitman

Andrew Blitman

A sleek and simple 15-step guide to understanding the celebration of Passover, "Understanding the Haggadah" is meant to be read as a companion to the traditional Pesach Haggadah. Esteemed Jewish sources (primarily the Kabbalah and Talmud) are used to succinctly explain the purpose of each step of the Passover Seder. A must-read for the Passover Seder.

What Do Buddhists And Jews Have In Common - A Lot, Andrew Blitman

Andrew Blitman

No abstract provided.

Can We Talk About Religion, Please? Medievalism’S Eschewal Of Religion, And Why It Matters, Richard Utz

Richard Utz

No abstract provided.

The Niebuhr Brothers For Armchair Theologians, Scott Paeth

Scott R. Paeth

This volume offers a compelling introduction to the life, times, and theological thought of H. Richard and Reinhold Niebuhr--the two most important American theologians of the twentieth century. Although the Niebuhr brothers shared the same heritage and experienced many of the same formative moments, their thought diverged at key points as their lives and careers developed. Scott R. Paeth's expert introduction to the Niebuhr brothers explores this history and the enduring influence of the Niebuhrs on religious and political thought. This lively introduction, which includes witty illustrations from Ron Hill, is an essential resource for understanding these enduring theological figures.

Shaping Public Theology: Selections From The Writings Of Max L. Stackhouse, Scott Paeth, E. Harold Brietenberg, Hak Joon Lee

Scott R. Paeth

Max L. Stackhouse is one of the most prolific and influential American theologians of the last half century, and he has been widely recognized for his contributions to the emerging field of public theology. This volume compiles some of Stackhouse's most significant shorter writings. These selections make clear his central role in the development of public theology as a distinct disciplinary perspective in the fields of Christian theology and theological ethics. Shaping Public Theology serves as an introduction to Stackhouse's extensive corpus; readers will see the depth and breadth of his comprehensive public theology while also gaining insight into his …

Religion And Geopolitics In The New World, Elizabeth Dillon

Elizabeth Maddock Dillon

No abstract provided.

Socially Constructed Teen Motherhood: A Review, Marc Fonda, Rachel Eni, Eric Guimond

Marc V. Fonda Ph.D.

This article reviews literature on the gradual construction of teenage pregnancy as a social issue in North America. It shows how teen motherhood emerged not as an issue unto itself, but as a microcosm of numerous, closely intertwined phenomena including: the evolution of Western views on human sexuality and gender roles; the place of religious values in society; and the emergence of various modern technologies, the social and medical sciences, and how such disciplines view childhood, motherhood, and women in society. In particular, it shows that even as teen pregnancy is today viewed primarily through public health and/or socioeconomic lenses, …

Assuring "Detached But Passionate Investigation And Decision": The Role Of Guardians Ad Litem In Saikewicz-Type Cases, Charles Baron

Charles H. Baron

The author focuses this Article upon the aspect of the Saikewicz decision which determines that the kind of "proxy consent" question involved in that case required for its decision "the process of detached but passionate investigation and decision that forms the ideal on which the judicial branch of government was created." This aspect of the decision has drawn much criticism from the medical community on the ground that it embroils what doctors believe to be a medical question in the adversarial processes of the court system. The author criticizes the decision from an entirely opposite perspective, arguing that the court's …

Review, The Spirits And The Law: Vodou And Power In Haiti, Gina Ulysse

Gina Athena Ulysse

Book review, Kate Ramsey, The Spirits and The Law: Vodou and Power in Haiti (UChicago 2011).

"The Responsibility To Lie And The Obligation To Report, Scott Paeth

Scott R. Paeth

This article is an examination of the moral complexity of the act of whistleblowing in the context of corporate corruption. Whistleblowing may be a morally admirable act underataken by morally ambiguous agents, but can only be fully understood in context. Using German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s essay “What Does It Mean to Tell the Truth?” This essay will examine how the kind of deception sometimes necessary in whistleblowing cases can be testimony to a larger and more profound truth.

Birthright 2012, Andrew Blitman

Andrew Blitman

"Birthright 2012" is a personal account of my voyage throughout Israel. The outer story incorporates humor, science, history, and my own observations as I explore the land. It should appeal to the armchair traveler who would like to experience the country but is unable to and also to anyone who would like to learn more about this bastion of democracy in the Middle East. Beneath this outer story there exists an inner story. Filled with humor, philosophy, and poetry, this underlying aspect of the book follows my own personal voyage to self-awareness. "Birthright 2012" chronicles the daily activities of my …

“Truth Systematised" : The Changing Debate Over Slavery And Abolition, 1761-1916, Robert Forbes

Robert P Forbes

No abstract provided.

The Last Shall Be First: Human Potential In Genetic And Theological Perspectives, M Lysaught

M. Therese Lysaught

The notion of “human potential” provides a fruitful window through which to explore the competing conceptual frameworks of contemporary genetics and Christianity. The contemporary cultural frame of genetics conceives of human potential in a broadly positive manner: the source of personal and societal flourishing is located within individual bodies, waiting to be identified and unleashed by genetic science and medicine for the good of persons and society. In the Judeo-Christian narrative, human individual, biological potential is far less relevant—and, in fact, may be construed as an impediment to the achievement of personal and social flourishing. Implications for the dialogue between …

Issues Of Law And Religion In The News -- Amish Beard Cutters, Hate Crimes, And The Limits Of The Commerce Clause, Lorin Geitner

Lorin C. Geitner

Amish are being tried under a Federal Hate Crimes statute in Ohio for cutting the beards of elders in another Amish community. Why such a strange form of assault? Since this is an Amish on Amish crime, does it constitute a hate crime? And is the reliance of the statute on the commerce clause over-reaching, and potentially under-reaching as well?

Social Architecture And The Law, Lorin Geitner

Lorin C. Geitner

The reputation of attorneys has steadily declined over the last 50 years. How can we determine why this has occurred? Given the relatively high reputation of British Barristers, a comparison of US and British court room arrangement and practice may provide some clues, and the heuristic of "critical spatial studies" provides a methodology.

Issues Of Law And Religion In The News -- Hutterites, Lorin Geitner

Lorin C. Geitner

The Hutterites are an Anabaptist group who live communally. This lifestyle has allowed them to compete against private construction firms in Montana. A new law requires the Hutterites to carry workers compensation for their members who work in construction. The Hutterites counter that they already have provisions in their society that provide all the coverage provided by workers compensation. The legislator who sponsored this bill says this bill is needed to provide an even playing field. What are the Hutterites history, beliefs and practices which lead them to believe this is redundant? What are the legal principles involved? Who is …

Issues Of Law And Religion In The News -- Mennonites, Lorin Geitner

Lorin C. Geitner

An ordinance in Mitchell county, Iowa, forbade the use of tractors with steel-rim tires on county roads, for the sake of road preservation. The Groffdale Old Order Mennonites, however, require their members to use just such tires, for religious reasons. When a Mennonite youth received a citation for driving such a tractor on the road, it set off a nearly prototypical Church/State conflict. What do steel-rim tires have to do with religion? And does the county's concern with preserving roads trump this religious practice, or vice versa?

Issues Of Law And Religion, In The News -- Non-Catholic Teachers Fired For Fertility Treatments, Lorin Geitner

Lorin C. Geitner

Two non-Catholic teachers had been fired from Catholic schools, for breaching Catholic doctrine when it comes to acceptable fertility treatments. Has the Catholic Church breached its employment contracts with these teachers? If so, would it still be protected under the ministerial exception?

Haiti And The Unseen World, Elizabeth Mcalister

Elizabeth McAlister

The religious imagery of Vodou points to the covert and often illegal world of deal making in the Haitian political and economic spheres.

Eruv And Establishment, Lorin Geitner

Lorin C. Geitner

An examination of how the Orthodox Jewish practice known as an "eruv", based in Jewish religious law, can help illustrate the tension between the Establishment and Free Exercise clauses of the First Amendment.

A Faith-Based Case For The Dream Act, Bradley Baurain

Bradley Baurain

No abstract provided.

Common Features In The Development Of Three World Religions, Lorin Geitner

Lorin C. Geitner

The religions of Manichaeism, Sikhism and Bahai share an unusual combination of traits: they are all inclusivist, syncretistic and universalizing. This paper compares the context of their creation to determine if there were any common social, political and historical pressures present at that time which would account for these similarities.