Religion Commons^™

Unsettling: On Palestinian Quaker Theology, Sa’Ed Atshan

Quaker Religious Thought

In this essay, I will reflect on the remarks I shared in January 2022 on the “Decolonizing the Quaker Peace Testimony” panel of the Quaker Theological Discussion Group and in July 2022 on the “Invoking Unsettling” plenary of the Friends General Conference.

Unsettling has many different meanings and layers, whether it is thinking about unsettling settler colonialism or in unsettling some of our assumptions that we may not be comfortable grappling with. Settler colonialism has unfolded all over the world and unfortunately it continues in the present, not just in the United States.

For me, the context of Palestine/Israel hits …

Decolonizing The Quaker Peace Testimony In The Global South, Cristina J. Montiel

Quaker Religious Thought

I was born in the Philippines, and except for several international academic and research fellowships, I have been living in MetroManila for my whole life. I am a peace and political psychologist in the Psychology Department of Ateneo de Manila University, a Jesuit-owned academic institution. I identify my religious orientation more as a Jesuit Quaker rather than a Catholic Quaker. In the first half of my adult life, I was in a political movement against the Marcos dictatorship. I founded and led Lingap Bilanggo (Care for Prisoners), a national movement for the freedom of all political detainees. Many of my …

Radical Hospitality And Peace, Trayce Peterson

Quaker Religious Thought

The roots of the Quaker peace testimony lie in a genuine and liberatory understanding that all people have that of God within them. However, for the testimony to live up to the promise of liberation for all, we must question who has space to speak, under which terms, and more importantly, who will listen. After all, there is no peace without justice, and justice cannot be achieved without acknowledgment, accountability, and reconciliation.

I’d like to offer a few thoughts on each and on the ways that we as Friends might move forward to create radical hospitality in our meetings and …

Review Of Stuart Masters, The Rule Of Christ: Themes In The Theology Of James Nayler (Brill, 2021)., Mark Bredin

Quaker Religious Thought

Who did James Nayler think Jesus was? What did Jesus achieve in his life? How did Jesus inspire Nayler? How did Nayler understand himself? If you are interested in Jesus, and curious about James Nayler, a shadowy Quaker great from the past, then this book is for you. Stuart Masters skilfully harnesses Nayler’s religious, political and economic contexts to allow for greater comprehension of Nayler’s writings. This book invigorates under- standing of an early expression of Quakerism. More importantly, Masters’ Nayler defies the elite depiction of Jesus “sweet” and “meek.” Masters allows for Nayler’s radical and uncompromising Jesus to emerge …

The Challenge Of Alienation, William E. Pannell

The Asbury Journal

No abstract provided.

The “Black Experience” As Preparation For Participation In Global Partnerships, Cynthia A. Talley

The Asbury Journal

The lived experiences of African Americans, along with their reliance on God, serve as preparation for participation in global mission partnerships. The “Black Experience,” characterized by suffering, dehumanization, violence, and survival has provided the African American community with a toolkit that can be used to teach others how to survive their own suffering as they too rely on God. Long-term African American missionaries have sent out a clarion call requesting that the African American church step up to the plate and join them in spreading the Gospel message “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends …

Sbms: A Visual Exploration Of Liberian Identity, Gabriel B. Tait

The Asbury Journal

This article explores the use of visuals by missionaries and social scientists to communicate their encounters in sub-Saharan Africa. It offers an alternative perspective by incorporating the Sight Beyond My Sight (SBMS) visual research methodology created by Gabriel Tait. SBMS is a participant research method that employs photography as a way to understand culture and identity. The implications of this body of work, and the method it provides, presents a much-needed contextual lens for missionaries, visual ethnographers, and general persons who are interested in communicating their contexts in partnership with the cultures they are encountering and impacting. The implication of …

Don’T Touch My Hair: Examining The Natural Hair Movement Among Black Women, Mercy Langat

The Asbury Journal

The natural hair movement among Black women has shown that aesthetic practices and rituals related to hair often serve as embodied methods of resistance for many Black women. These practices also reflect a dimension of their spirituality that is often unrecognized. This paper historically examines political, cultural, and religious meanings of hair within the Black community. The Nazarite vow and the Imago Dei concepts are utilized to understand the biblical and spiritual significance of hair Engaging scripture and theology with daily concerns, such as hair, rituals. Engaging scripture and theology with daily concerns, such as hair, is an important part …

The Integration Of Black Students At Asbury Theological Seminary, Thomas Hampton

The Asbury Journal

This article explores the process of racial integration at Asbury Theological Seminary, especially through the lens of its African American students, who began taking classes in 1958. Of particular importance is the response of the local community in Wilmore and Jessamine County, Kentucky, which was strongly opposed to the move and led to a shooting incident at the Seminary’s administration building which made national news at the time. With material drawn from an interview with Rev. Douglass Fitch, one of the first two students to a tuned the seminary, it notes how the support of some administrators, Free Methodist students, …

The Missional Colonization Of Phoebe And Walter Palmer: Poetry, Letters, And The Young Men’S Missionary Society, Philip F. Hardt

The Asbury Journal

Recent studies of Phoebe and Walter Palmer have focused on their efforts to spread “holiness” while criticizing their apparent disdain of abolitionism. The Palmers, however, believed that colonization was the better approach to both assist free African-Americans and recently emancipated slaves and also to help evangelize the continent of Africa. This article will show their support for both colonization and evangelization through Phoebe’s poems, correspondence from Methodist missionaries to Liberia (some of whom were from Manhattan), and Dr. Palmer’s active role in the Young Men’s Missionary Society.

From The Archives: Gilbert James And The Fight For Interracial Justice- The Papers Of Gilbert James And The Shelhamer Family Papers, Robert Danielson

The Asbury Journal

No abstract provided.

Books Received

The Asbury Journal

No abstract provided.

Guest Co-Editors Preface, Jason A. Myers, David B. Schreiner

The Asbury Journal

No abstract provided.

From The Guest Co-Editor, David B. Schreiner

The Asbury Journal

No abstract provided.

Journal In Entirety

The Asbury Journal

No abstract provided.

Social Identity In Crisis: Toward A Theology Of The Psalms Of Asaph, Ryan J. Cook

The Asbury Journal

The twelve Psalms attributed to Asaph reflect both elements of theological unity and diversity. Both their unified elements and divergent emphases have been explained in various ways. This paper argues that the Asaph psalms grew out of two contexts of crisis: the Assyrian invasion and Babylonian exile. With these contexts in mind, this paper utilizes a Social Identity Approach to analyze the function of the Asaphite psalms in shaping group identity in light of traumatic events.

Echoes Of Jesus’ Cross In Second Corinthians 12:7–10, Kei Hiramatsu

The Asbury Journal

One of the thorniest exegetical questions in Pauline literature involves the apostle's story of a thorn in the flesh. Interpreters have often attempted to fathom the meaning of the passage by gleaning insights from historical backdrops. However, in doing so, they have overlooked clues that lie much closer at hand, namely, Jesus’ Passion tradition. Therefore, in this article, I attempt to show that Paul crafted the story of his thorn in light of Jesus’ Passion. Based on analyses of linguistics, intertextuality, and literary context, I explore three significant echoes of Jesus' cross in 2 Cor 12:7–10: thorn of the flesh, …

Why Bother With Historical Criticism?: Lessons For Biblical Studies From The Philosophy Of History, Drew S. Holland

The Asbury Journal

This article seeks to integrate insights from the philosophy of history to support the continued use of the historical-critical method in biblical studies. Though the historical-critical method has been muchmaligned within biblical criticism over the past seventy years, this essay attempts to demonstrate the value of investigating ancient Israel’s past as part of a full fledged biblical criticism

Creating Community: Rhetorical Vision And Symbolic Convergence In The Book Of Hebrews, Judith Odor

The Asbury Journal

Since the introduction of social identity theory to the field of biblical studies, the Epistle to the Hebrews has become something of a proving ground for depicting the intergroup relations that are key to understanding relationally-oriented identity dynamics and community identification. However, while social identity theory is a valuable tool for describing how communities self-perceive as unique social entities through the use of in-group and out-group language, social identity theory does not describe the rhetorical process by which such language and communication develops or why this development is so key to creating a distinct community. Symbolic convergence theory, with its …

By What Law: A Rhetorical Analysis Of Romans 8:1–4, Jason A. Myers

The Asbury Journal

Traditional interpretation of Rom 8:1-4 has failed to adequately understand Rom 8:1-4. This paper proposes a unifying reading of "law" and supports an unfolding theme within Romans, that of obedience. The rhetorical features of amplification present in 8:1-4 highlight the need for a consistent use of the term νομος. This allows a proper understanding of δικαιωμα in v. 4 that refers to the realm of moral behavior as described in the law and shows how Paul sees the Spirit guiding his communities to fulfill the "just requirement" of Mosaic law.

Breaking The Siege: Examining The נַעֲרֵי֙ שָׂרֵ֣י הַמְּדִינֹ֔ות In 1 Kgs 20, David B. Schreiner

The Asbury Journal

This article examines the identity of the נַעֲרֵי֙ שָׂרֵ֣י הַמְּדִינֹ֔ות who dramatically break the siege of Samaria in 1 Kgs 20. Beginning with a grammatical and semantic analysis of the extended construct chain, this essay also considers ancient translations and evidence from Neo–Assyrian administrative texts. I consider how the Neo–Assyrian administrative apparatus, which included The King’s Magnates, may offer a conceptual model for understanding the identity and function of theנַעֲרֵי֙ שָׂרֵ֣י הַמְּדִינֹ֔ות. I propose that this group is best understood as “junior governors of the provinces,” and their presence in the narrative appears linked to a larger historiographic agenda.

The Shema As Total Meaning Of Reality: Tradition, Freedom, And Verification In The Pedagogy Of Deuteronomy, Paavo Tucker

The Asbury Journal

This paper will analyze the pedagogy of Deuteronomy in conversation with the educational theory of the Catholic scholar Luigi Giussani. Giussani argues that tradition – as the total meaning of reality, which from a Christian perspective is rooted in the living presence of Christ- should be taught by a process of verification that guides the student, through the exercise of freedom and inquiry, into personal conviction that the tradition coherently accounts for reality. Reading the pedagogy of Deuteronomy through the lens of Giussani’s theory of education will highlight ways in which the instruction of Moses in Deuteronomy initiates the next …

Bringing Evidence To The “Anti-Magic” View: A Socio-Rhetorical Interpretation Of Acts 19:11-20, Joy Vaughan

The Asbury Journal

In Acts 19:11-20 two main events are set beside one another. The first event tells of the miracles performed by God through the hands of Paul. The second event is the story of the failed exorcism attempt by the sons of Sceva. This article argues that Luke’s purpose in the juxtaposition of the two events is to clarify for the audience the difference between magic and miracle. Key evidence for this interpretation is found in the intertextual relationship between Luke’s terminology and ancient magical literature. Additionally, the rhetorical feature of synkrisis (encomium/invective) further supports the thesis. Luke does not just …

Book Reviews

The Asbury Journal

No abstract provided.

Books Received

The Asbury Journal

No abstract provided.

Restoration Quarterly: Vol. 64, No. 1

Restoration Quarterly

PDF of the cover of Restoration Quarterly: Vol. 64, No. 1.

This repository hosts selected Restoration Quarterly articles in downloadable PDF format. For the benefit of users who would like to browse the contents of RQ, we have included all issue covers even when full-text articles from that issue are unavailable. All Restoration Quarterly articles are available in full text in the ATLA Religion Database, available through most university and theological libraries or through your local library’s inter-library loan service.

"Demand Prsioners Be Given Liberty," N.D., Charles F. Parham

Parham News Paper Clippings

A news paper article by Charles Parham criticizing the arbitrary incarceration of people on vagrancy charges. Parham offers to support unemployed people as a Christian duty.

"Faith Apostles Busy" N.D., Charles F. Parham

Parham News Paper Clippings

Article from unknown source and unknown date about Parham preaching in "red light district" of Houston.

From the Pauline Parham Archive at the Holy Spirit Research Center, Oral Roberts University.

"The Best Man That Ever Trod Shoe Leather" And His "Crown Of Rejoicing" : The Personal Relationship Of James And Ellen White, 1845-1881, Gerson Cardoso Rodrigues

Dissertations

James White (1821-1881) and Ellen G. White (1827-1915), co-founders (with Joseph Bates) of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination, were united in marriage on August 30, 1846, and lived together for thirty-five years until James died. As leaders (though Ellen White never assumed any administrative post) of the emerging denomination and putting all effort for the growth and mission of the Adventist cause, the Whites lived an intense life of writing, publishing, preaching, and traveling. Though their marriage was a blessing for both of them, the intensity of their lives, health issues, and their humanity, caused marital difficulties in some periods of …

The Political Implications Of The Evangelical Right’S Anti-Critical Race Theory Rhetoric, Elizabeth Howell-Egan

Scripps Senior Theses

Critical Race Theory (CRT), once an abstract principle used in academic circles, has exploded onto the national stage as parents fight against their children supposedly being taught its tenets. Through an analysis of key political and religious leaders, I discuss the right’s obsession with CRT in schools, where it came from, and its political implications.