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Full Issue Spiritus 10, Nos. 1-2 (2025), Spiritus Oru Journal Of Theology

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

Full issue of Spiritus 10, nos. 1-2 (2025) guest edited by Wonsuk Ma and Daniel D. Isgrigg.

Annihilation: Ecological Crisis And The Collapse Of Human Exceptionalism, Matt Williams

Best Integrated Writing

Through its portrayal of an ecosystem that actively resists human comprehension and control, Annihilation dismantles the long-standing notion of human exceptionalism, presenting nature not as a passive backdrop but as a dynamic and autonomous force.

Forming Identity In Third Spaces: An Exploration Through Literature, J. Lynn Millar

Best Integrated Writing

To address the difficulty adolescents have navigating conflicting guidance to find their own path, and provide actionable resources, I will present the concept of Third Spaces, explore the works of Firekeeper's Daughter and “My Standard Response” through the lens of Third Spaces, and present lessons utilizing these texts to focus on Third Spaces in the classroom.

The Architecture Of Annihilation: Freud’S Death Drive In King And Siddons, Aubrianna Markus

Best Integrated Writing

Sigmund Freud’s theory of the death drive, or Thanatos, indicates a deeper psychological framework for interpreting the horror in both texts. Freud argues that human beings possess an unconscious compulsion toward repetition, destruction, and a return to an inorganic state. In The Shining and The House Next Door, haunted spaces operate as an externalization of this death drive, revealing that the true source of horror lies not in external supernatural forces, but in the irresistible pull toward self-destruction inherent in the human psyche.

Nekuomanteion Or Mafia Front: Was Acheron Legit?, Wesley Green

Best Integrated Writing

Oracles of the dead, or nekuomanteia as they were often called in Ancient Greek, have come to be a more frequently discussed element of Classical Antiquity in recent years, and some scholars might go as far as to argue that they were a legitimate part of Greek and Roman society, with some believing that famous consultations of these oracles from authors such as Plutarch and Herodotus are but mythologized legends that recall real types of consultations from Antiquity. However, upon closer examination of the primary sources and archaeological evidence, one begins to doubt whether the modern interpretation of the ancient …

Best Integrated Writing Fall 2025 - Complete Edition, Wright State University School Of Humanities And Cultural Studies, Tracy Smith, Kristie Mckiernan

Best Integrated Writing

Best Integrated Writing includes excellent student writing from Integrated Writing courses taught at Wright State University.

Authentic Relationships Among The Body Of Christ: Naming The Obstacles That Hinder Authentic Relationships And Expressing A Gospel-Centered Path Toward Overcoming Them, Luke J. Anderson

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

Anderson, Luke J. “Authentic Relationships among the Body of Christ: Naming the Obstacles that Hinder Authentic Relationships and Expressing a Gospel-centered Path toward Overcoming Them.” Doctor of Ministry. Major Applied Project, Concordia Seminary, 2025. 157 pp.

St. Paul Lutheran Church in Grafton, Wisconsin, recently underwent a vision process in which they proposed five values to define their congregational living. One of these values is authentic relationships. Those who crafted this vision, as well as the entire body who adopted it, recognized this value as primarily aspirational in nature. While some relational connectedness existed, all sought to better define this value …

The Turning Of The Years, Katie L. Smith Lopez

Masters Theses

This thesis explores the exquisite interplay of moments that matter in brief human interactions. The Critical Paper focuses on the contrasting literary theories of Reader-Response Criticism and Psychoanalytic Criticism, which illustrate the varying ways readers engage with written works. The Artist Statement provides insight into the origin story of the writer and the variety of influences that led to the lyrical field of writing. The Creative Manuscript features a substantial portion of the writer’s memoir. Titled “The Turning of the Years,” this memoir-style work is anchored by significant life events that occurred near the writer’s impactful birthdays. An undercurrent of …

Tracing The "Growth Of The Poet's Mind" In The 1850 Version Of The Prelude, Karen F. King

Masters Theses

This work compares the 1805 and 1850 versions of William Wordsworth's autobiographical epic The Prelude to reveal that the revisions he made evidence his poetic growth. Critical scholarship has long discussed the poet's revisional habits, offering various rationales for his motivation and often dogmatically choosing a preferred version based on those assumptions. This paper first addresses these perspectives, then examines the structural details of Wordsworth's revisions through analysis of significant events in the poet's life that he relates in the epic, his "spots of time". Finally, I discuss the role of imagination as an influencer on the poet's growth. Although …

Examination Of Sportscasters To Understand The Key Overlapping Traits And Skills Exhibited, Jason Prill

Masters Theses

The world of sportscasting is a growing and crowded field. Due to its appeal, the field itself has become competitive with a few select broadcasters holding the most coveted positions. These broadcasters have set themselves apart in their skills, leading to their placement at the pinnacle of the industry. However, a lack of research has presented a gap in the field on what skills are most dominant for successful sportscasters. As an understudied avenue, sportscasting often goes overlooked in traditional research due to its misnomer as a “fun” profession. The following presents an in-depth look at high-level sportscasters to find …

Anvilstorm: The Dweller's Crown, Todd Gaige

Masters Theses

The thesis explores a personal vision for the original manuscript of The Dweller’s Crown, and the impact of setting in literature and world-building. The thesis also shares a variety of characters and how they represent themes of belonging, acceptance, unity, faith, and friendship. From the very beginning, the strong bonds between Araad, Thomble, Atlee, Sylvan, and Mereth distinguish the world of Thir Thodim apart. This thesis and the following chapters focus on the characters' deep desire to protect their beloved world. It is through their faith in one another and shared goals of survival and preservation that they set out …

Sustainability Without Sacrifice: Rethinking Convenient Eating For Young Professionals, Teresa E. Michael

Masters Theses

Young professionals want to eat more sustainably– but life gets in the way. Between long hours, limited budgets, and an overwhelming stream of content, sustainable choices often fall apart in favor of convenience. This research explores that gap between values and behavior, asking: How do young adults actually make food decisions, and how can we help those decisions become more sustainable without demanding perfection? To answer that, I grounded my work in a literature review focused on food literacy, convenience culture, digital media, and behavioral psychology. I also conducted three case studies of food-tech companies (Too Good To Go, Misfits …

How A Loving God Can Send People To Hell: Exploring C.S. Lewis's Arguments On Divine Justice, Free Will, And Eternal Punishment., Christina Everette Little

Masters Theses

The realization that God is all-loving when faced with the reality of hell has been a longstanding conflict in debates surrounding the doctrine of hell. This thesis will explore how Christian and skeptics both struggle with the conflict that arises between the belief in all-loving God and the existence of hell by focusing on arguments developed by C. S. Lewis. Using a collection of his literary works, such as The Problem of Pain, The Great Divorce, and Mere Christianity, the thesis will investigate Lewis’s attempts to reconcile God’s love with His justice, human free will and the reality of eternal …

Understanding Barriers To High School Teen Self-Expression, Connection & Inclusion., Susana Estes

Masters Theses

This thesis investigates the invisible barriers that prevent high school students from expressing their identities, forming meaningful connections, and experiencing a sense of belonging within school environments. Drawing on research in adolescent development, school climate, psychology of belonging, and participatory design, the study identifies structural, emotional, and social factors that contribute to student disconnection. Through a review of key theorists and three case studies, the research reveals that teens need structured opportunities for safe self-expression, visible affirmation of their identities, and accessible spaces for reflective interaction. In response, this thesis presents a research-informed interactive design solution: a two-part installation titled …

Enabling Constraints In Artmaking: Developing Creative Confidence Through Discarded Materials, Lydia Romney Stewart

Theses and Dissertations

This design-based research thesis explores the possibility of fostering creative confidence in students and examines how a project-based curriculum can help them rediscover their artistic abilities. It investigates two guiding questions: How does working with repurposed materials shape students' artmaking, creative confidence and sense of ownership in their artwork? And, in what ways do enabling constraints serve as a catalyst for student engagement? As a teacher-researcher, I designed and implemented a quarter-long curriculum in which 21 junior high students were challenged to create a collaborative public art installation using only discarded materials. The methodology blended qualitative and quantitative data, including …

Rhetorical Strategies In Legal Argument: Their Influence On Judicial Decisions And Public Perception, Olivia Deluca

Honors College Theses

The relationship between rhetoric and law has long been debated by scholars, theorists, and practitioners. This project explores how rhetorical strategies used in judicial writing and legal discourse influence both judicial decision making and public perception of the law. Drawing on classical rhetorical theory, contemporary legal scholarship, and qualitative research, this study investigates how appeals to morality, precedent, and narrative shape legal legitimacy. The research incorporates interviews with legal professionals and textual analysis of landmark U.S. Supreme Court cases to examine how rhetorical language both reflects and constructs legal authority. Findings suggest that rhetoric functions not only as a persuasive …

Resolutions, Radio, Razzle Dazzle, Resilience, And Rachamim: An American Initiative For The Jews During The Jewish Refugee Crisis And The Holocaust, Holly Ann Sproule

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Since the 1960s, historians have focused on American inaction during the Holocaust, concluding that the War Refugee Board (WRB) was the definitive involvement of the United States in aiding the Jews in Nazi occupied Europe. Consequently, American aid efforts preceding the creation of the WRB remain unfamiliar and underexplored. By examining the Foreign Relations Diplomatic collections of the Office of the Historian, the databases of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and qualitative research, this dissertation argues that there was a dynamic American initiative in Jewish aid and rescue preceding the War Refugee Board. Through analysis of government and organizational …

Jesus’S Dual Human And Divine Nature In The Gospel Of John: Transcending Maslow’S Self-Actualization With Divine Mission And Obedience, Willie Trevale Reynolds Sr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation explores how the Gospel of John presents Jesus’s dual human and divine nature as the basis for a fulfillment model that surpasses Maslow’s concept of self-actualization. The study integrates narrative, rhetorical, comparative, and theological approaches. Through these methods, it shows that John places fulfillment in divine mission and obedience rather than in human potential or psychological development. John’s Gospel also depicts Jesus addressing human needs—physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual. At the same time, it reframes fulfillment as participation in God’s redemptive work. By contrasting Maslow’s hierarchy with the Johannine narrative, the dissertation argues that Jesus embodies completeness through …

“Forward Into Light”: The Shaping Of The Suffrage Ideology Of Alice Paul And The Practical Theological Application Of The Quaker Spices In The American Women’S Suffrage Movement, Alice L. Alvarado

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution gave women the right to vote after decades of dedication and agitation by women in their monumental fight to win the franchise. Alice Paul, a second-generation suffragist, dedicated her life to the cause and became the new face of the suffrage movement in Progressive America. A birthright Hicksite Quaker, Alice Paul’s ancestry can be traced back to the Quakers of England, and her extended family connected with early practitioners such as George Fox, along with a blood relation to William Penn. Paul’s Quaker ancestry, Quaker upbringing, Quaker guarded education, and …

The Sacrificial Grammar Of Forgiveness: A Monochromatic Theology Of Restoration In Matthew 18:21–35, Elizabeth Ann Reed

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation explores forgiveness as divine restoration. I argue that biblical forgiveness is more than emotional release or social reconciliation. Forgiveness, grounded in the sacrificial system of the Old Testament and fulfilled in the teachings and person of Jesus Christ, emerges as a theological act. In this way, it restores broken relationships between God and humanity. It also restores relationships among individuals. Through interdisciplinary analysis, the study integrates theological, psychological, and historical perspectives to redefine forgiveness as a covenantal and transformative practice. The research begins with what I call the Genesis Offering. This term describes God’s sacrificial act in Genesis …

Infotainment And Youth Political Perceptions In Pakistan: A Qualitative Uses And Gratifications Study, Sara Anwar

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The research presents the problem of infotainment as a media genre and its contribution to the political perceptions, civic behavior, and cultural attitudes of youth in Pakistan. The uses and gratifications theory, situated within the sociopsychological tradition and the transmission model of communication formed the basis of the research where the integration of information and entertainment was viewed as a process that changes the political awareness among the youth. A qualitative exploratory research design was utilized. Twenty-five semi-structured interviews were conducted with students at the university who participated in the study because of purposive selection. NVivo software was used to …

The Impact Of Nextgen Ministries On Long-Term Engagement: Recruiting And Retaining Young Adults In The Church, Antonio Anshawn Taste

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation explored the decline in young adult engagement within the church community, which presents a significant challenge for faith-based religious communities. This dissertation examines the causes of disengagement and proposes the development of a Next Generations (NG) Engagement Framework. The framework includes digital platforms, diverse experiential worship, small group interaction, and mentorship programs to address young adults' spiritual, social, and cultural needs. From the integration of high schools in the city of Lexington, KY, local, State, and Federal agencies assisting in grants, and other formative organizations to support teen pregnancies, to organizations that help with rehabilitation from drugs and …

Kingdom Classrooms: A Redemptive Framework For Revitalizing Christian Schools, Chad A. Kellogg

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Rural Christian schools across the United States face critical threats to their long-term sustainability, particularly in remote communities such as Salmon, Idaho. These institutions frequently operate without public funding, endure persistent staffing shortages, and struggle within aging facilities while lacking robust community advocacy. This Dissertation-in-Praxis (DiP) addresses these systemic inequities by developing a replicable, biblically grounded framework designed to strengthen the financial viability, educational quality, and missional integrity of rural Christian schools. Calvary Chapel Heritage Center (CCHC) in Salmon, Idaho, serves as the central case study. Utilizing a mixed-methods action research approach, the study incorporates qualitative interviews with church and …

Final Master's Portfolio, Annie Seboe

Master of Arts in English Plan II Graduate Projects

This portfolio showcases scholarly research into technical and professional writing, exploring themes like binaries in the feminist writing classroom, New Rhetoric theory vs. traditional technical communication theory, and genre pedagogy as a solution for the dichotomies in technical communication.

Wales In Ww1: Soldiers, Home, And Memory, Remington J. Hill

History Theses

Much of the history of Wales during the First World War discusses the fighting Welsh soldiers endured during the war years. There is also some fairly sparse information that discusses events on the home front. Historiography of the United Kingdom and World War I is dominated by England and the English battle and home front experience, with some attention paid to Scotland and Ireland. Yet, Wales has received little academic attention despite the Welsh having fought and helped on the home front in relative equality with their English counterparts. In examining Welsh soldiers battle experience against the Central Powers forces …

A Southern Widow’S War: Sarah Landrum Devereux Garrison And The Struggles Of Survival In Nineteenth-Century Texas, Tanya Estes Austin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examines the life and legacy of Sarah Landrum Devereux Garrison (1827–1900) and her management of Monte Verdi Plantation in Rusk County, Texas, tracing its transformation before, during, and after the American Civil War. Drawing from the Devereux Family Papers at the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, along with county records, agricultural schedules, and personal correspondence, this research reconstructs the economic, social, and domestic systems that sustained plantation life under her direction. As a widow and female plantation manager, Sarah navigated the profound upheavals of war, emancipation, and Reconstruction with exceptional resilience and adaptability. Her leadership offers an …

The Influence Of A Worship And Arts Camp Experience As A Student On Future Worship Leadership: A Case Study, Rhea Marshall

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The world began with God’s act of creation, and He made humans in His image, giving them the innate ability to create. The Bible shows many examples of this creativity in people’s lives. Worship arts allow believers to reflect God’s image through artistic expression. The apostle Paul encourages the church to dedicate their bodies as living sacrifices as an act of worship. Worship arts enable individuals to offer their creativity to God through their bodies. Significant progress has been made in how the church develops worship arts ministries. The primary focus has been on how participation influences adult church members. …

Vocal Pedagogy Training For Vocal Music Education Students, Melissa N. Hinds

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative grounded theory research is to investigate choir teachers’ perceptions of their undergraduate vocal pedagogy training. The problem is that choir teachers may enter the profession with insufficient vocal pedagogy training to teach their choral ensembles adequately. The rationale for this study is to help close the gap by creating a vocal pedagogy curriculum designed for preservice vocal music educators. The foundation of the created curriculum is the participants’ perception of their undergraduate training. The research questions that guided this study are as follows: (1) How do secondary-level choral conductors’ perceptions of their undergraduate vocal pedagogy …

Christian Leadership In The Information Age: Has Unlimited Access To Information Influenced Truth, Robert J. Houk

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to understand and explore what influences and effects, if any, may be identified as church leaders interact with congregants that have been exposed to a wide array of information in pursuit of truth obtained from various sources. At this stage in the research, the Information Age is being examined to determine if it has had any influence on the pursuit of truth as people seek answers to life's fundamental questions. Previous research had identified growing changes within young people’s beliefs as they sought higher education thus leading to a decline in enrollment …

Domestic Violence Survivors And Resiliency: An Investigation Of Belief In God And Faith Factors Impacting Survivors’ Ability To Leave And Thrive Post-Violence, Sherry A. Palmer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose [KC1.1]of this phenomenological study is to describe the role of faith in the process of leaving an abusive relationship for IPV survivors who believe in God from MA. The theories guiding the study include the survival theory of DV created by Gondolf and Fisher (1988), which believes victims of DV as survivors who most times do desire and seek help and should not be viewed as passive victims. Further, resilience theory builds on survival theory, which will guide the inquiry regarding resiliency. Survival theory and resilience theory both view survivors of DV not as helpless victims but as …