Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Short-Term Missions And Their Ethical Shortcomings, Breanna Watson

Scholars Day Conference

I wrote on "Short-Term Missions..." for my Christian Ethics class last semester. Short-Term Missions (STMs), while aiming to fulfill the Great Commission, often prioritize quick results over genuine relationship-building, diverting significant financial resources from sustainable solutions. They perpetuate power imbalances and fail to foster mutual understanding between "goers" and "receivers." STMs lack the long-term, selfless, culturally adaptive nature of true mission work, exemplified by early missionaries like Paul the Apostle. To mitigate their damaging effects, prospective participants should engage in informed cultural study, prioritize relational connections over task completion, and reconsider the economic impact of their involvement, seeking more ethical …

Spare The Rod, Spoil The Child?: The Christian Ethics Of Corporal Punishment, Brooke Wright

Scholars Day Conference

This paper seeks to answer the question of whether or not Christians should spank their children according to what the Bible and research says about a parent's duty to their children, the long term effects of spanking, and the efficacy of the practice.

The Religious Significance Of Ise Grand Shrine, Noah Embrey

Scholars Day Conference

This research paper will discuss the religious history of Ise, explain the beliefs of Shintoists, explore the rituals performed at the shrines, and explain why the Ise Grand Shrine is a sacred space.

Buddhist Monasteries, Bella Rushing

Scholars Day Conference

Buddhist monasteries are a foundational piece of the Buddhist tradition. These monasteries play an important role in shaping the lives of monks and laypeople alike. Purposefully designed to be both unique, as well as containing some of the same architectural and social aspects, these monasteries are the hub of cultural significance in Buddhism.

Monasteries serve as a home to monks, as well as a place of worship, education, and religious practice for Buddhists. Within each monastery is a hierarchy of monks, who collectively work to propagate the teachings of the Buddha. Because of their interdependent relationship with laypeople, the monastery …

Black Liberation Theology In The Civil Rights Movement: Contextualizing The Works Of James H. Cone, Ella Cox

Scholars Day Conference

These slides are meant to provide a visual aid for the presentation given on my thesis, "Black Liberation Theology in the Civil Rights Movement: Contextualizing the Works of James H. Cone."

Under The Sun: Songs From Ecclesiastes, Emma Kay Smith

Scholars Day Conference

Historically, artists in all spaces have gleaned inspiration from the text of the Bible in order to communicate meaningful stories. The book of Ecclesiastes is particularly rich in its images and themes, and it warrants profound creative contemplation. This project documents the process of crafting 1960s-style folk songs based on this often confounding and ever-beautiful text. This process included close, meditative listening to the works of great songwriters from the 1960s folk era such as Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen and culminated in the live recording of four folk songs, compiled in the demo-EP Under the Sun: Songs from Ecclesiastes. …

An Investigation Into The New Testament Understanding Of Israel, Ashton Hurst

Scholars Day Conference

This is an exegetical investigation into the New Testament understanding of the true, spiritual Israel.

Purim: Origins, Traditions, And Meaning, Holly Hatcher

Scholars Day Conference

An analysis of the history and purpose behind the Jewish festival of Purim and of its celebration among various Jewish cultures.

Diwali And Its Origins, Mason Campbell

Scholars Day Conference

In order to better understand Hinduism's beliefs as a whole, this essay examines the holiday of Diwali, hot it is celebrated, and the ancient stories that it is based on.

The Scribe, The Prophet, And The Monk: Three Archetypes For Pursuing God Through The Word Of God, Lucas Mccann

Scholars Day Conference

The Word of God is essential to the growth of every believer. How one receives the Word of God can look differently for different individuals. Some read it through the written word. Some hear it through the spoken word. Others see the word in the lives of Jesus's followers. But all of these different mediums for encountering the Word of God have equal weight.

An Investigation Of Prominent Christian Women In The Early Church, Lacey Pettigrew

Scholars Day Conference

This thesis only begins the exploration of women in the New Testament by investigating Junia’s role and importance to the Christian faith and church.This thesis seeks to understand exegetical, and briefly, historical, matters regarding Junia. Exegetically through examining the context and interpretation of Junia’s mention in Romans 16:7.Historically through evaluating the understanding of Junia throughout the translation process from the New Testament church to present.

The Search For Mere Purgatory, Tucker Douglass

Scholars Day Conference

Purgatory has been a contentious point of discussion since the Protestant Reformation. However, there are some versions that seem to nourish Christian ideas about sanctification rather than hinder them. In this paper, I examine two primary models of purgatory and which might be the better candidate for the title of "mere purgatory."

Minorities In Islam, Sara Patterson

Scholars Day Conference

I began my research on Islam by talking to my childhood friend, Gizman Baraso, about her Muslim faith. From listening to her describe her own personal experience, I was able to determine the direction I wanted to take with my research. Gizman is a female Ethiopian Sunni Muslim; she feels that much of her perspective on life is affected by being a triple minority, and she has noticed ways that the Muslim religious community responds to her gender and race. In this essay, I will use information from Gizman’s story and incorporate insight from additional sources to better understand and …

Spiders In A Window: How Dangerous Stories Lead To Dangerous Women, Mattie Mae Motl

Scholars Day Conference

Christian women have been marginalized, suppressed, and forgotten by Christian men for centuries. In many cases, these actions are polite when compared to the horrors which self-proclaimed Christ-followers have afflicted on women. Countless sexual abuse cases have been discovered within the walls of the Southern Baptist Church, and the headlines have not stopped printing. Articles from major news outlets such as the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News have revealed that Southern Baptist pastors, youth leaders, and deacons have assaulted hundreds of women over the past twenty years—and those numbers only include the women who are confident enough to bring …

The Sermon On The Mount: A Call To Obedience, Rylee Roberts

Scholars Day Conference

I recently went snorkeling in Hanauma Bay of the Hawaiian Island, Oahu. Coral reefs and big, brightly-colored fish fill the Bay. Without goggles, I could only float on top, unaware of the depth and beauty below. When I put them on, however, I could observe the life and beauty of the ecosystem for myself. I could dive under the surface and explore what I had not known was there. I could find firm places to plant my feet when I needed to stand. I have found studying Scripture to be a similar experience. Learning more about historical and particularly cultural …

How Hinduism Rooted Itself In Film, Emma Dennis

Scholars Day Conference

Movies are a universal language. Almost every person has seen a movie. Genres differ based on personality and interests. Romantic Comedies for the people who just want to watch happiness unfold. Horror for those who like to feel scared in their own home. Even documentaries for those who want to learn as much as they can. More than likely, your favorite movie will not be the same as the old man sitting next to you on the bus, or the student studying in the same coffee shop as you. The film industry is an integral part of human life, no …

Village Saints And A Little Black Magic: The Benefits Of A Mission Trip Opportunity For Natural Science Students In A Culturally Diverse Southern Mexico, Brooke Sanderford-Bester

Scholars Day Conference

My thesis project shares my personal experiences of a Summer 2019 medical mission trip to Oaxaca, Mexico. An Honors travel grant allowed me to walk the dirt roads and streets to learn the fascinating history of these people, to visit their shrines and churches to better understand their religious beliefs, and to travel mountainous, hand paved roads to a remote village that welcomed me with coffee sweetened with cane sugar and fresh bread baked in outdoor ovens. The groundwork has been laid for future Natural Sciences students to serve through an annual medical mission trip to Oaxaca.