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Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion

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Articles 271 - 300 of 18514

Full-Text Articles in Religion

Front Matter, Spiritus Editors Apr 2026

Front Matter, Spiritus Editors

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

No abstract provided.


Spiritus 11, No. 1 (2026), Spiritus Editors Apr 2026

Spiritus 11, No. 1 (2026), Spiritus Editors

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

This is the full Spring issue of Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology 11, no. 1 (2026).


Get Busy Living: Leaping Out Of Confinement With Kierkegaard In The Shawshank Redemption, Christian Wilken Apr 2026

Get Busy Living: Leaping Out Of Confinement With Kierkegaard In The Shawshank Redemption, Christian Wilken

Journal of Religion & Film

This article offers a Kierkegaardian reading of The Shawshank Redemption (1994), arguing that the film functions not as a miracle narrative but as a cinematic enactment of existential theology. While existing scholarship frequently interprets Shawshank through biblical typology or Foucauldian notions of incarceration, few consider how the film dramatizes Kierkegaard’s categories of anxiety, despair, and the leap of faith. Shawshank presents prison as more than a space of punishment—it becomes a refuge from the “dizziness of freedom,” a structured escape from the terrifying burden of possibility. Brooks’s suicide tragically embodies what Kierkegaard calls the “despair of weakness,” the inability to …


The Inscrutability Of Providence In Tarkovsky's Stalker, Peter G. Goldman Apr 2026

The Inscrutability Of Providence In Tarkovsky's Stalker, Peter G. Goldman

Journal of Religion & Film

Andrei Tarkovsky’s Stalker (1979) follows a spiritual journey that is at once literal and allegorical. The Zone, created by an alien visitation, is a place with conscious agency, and it reacts to those who enter its space. The Stalker says, rather obscurely, "it's as if we construct it according to our state of mind." How exactly the Zone responds to those who visit it is arguably the central question of the film. The Zone's agency is analogous to Providence in some sense, and the film is filled with Christian references on several levels. While most critics see Stalker as an …


Theology And The Films Of Christopher Nolan: Cinematic Transcendence, Travis W. Cooper Apr 2026

Theology And The Films Of Christopher Nolan: Cinematic Transcendence, Travis W. Cooper

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a book review of Joel Mayward, Theology and the Films of Christopher Nolan: Cinematic Transcendence (Bloomsbury Academic/Fortress Academic, 2025).


Book Review: Emplacing Globalisation: Contextualising Mission In Settings Of People, Places And Processes By John Cheong And Jonathan Ro, David H. Campbell Apr 2026

Book Review: Emplacing Globalisation: Contextualising Mission In Settings Of People, Places And Processes By John Cheong And Jonathan Ro, David H. Campbell

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Book Review: The American Religious Landscape By Ryan Burge, Derek Maxson Apr 2026

Book Review: The American Religious Landscape By Ryan Burge, Derek Maxson

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Deportation And Death: Examining The Second Trump Administration’S Immigration Policy Through The Lens Of Just War Theory, Finley W. Snyder Apr 2026

Deportation And Death: Examining The Second Trump Administration’S Immigration Policy Through The Lens Of Just War Theory, Finley W. Snyder

Augustana Center for the Study of Ethics Essay Contest

From day one of the second Trump administration, the White House has treated illegal immigration as an invasion, both rhetorically and, to a lesser extent, legally. The administration has not shied away from the use of force in this campaign, leading to the notable killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti along with countless acts of violence across the nation. This essay seeks to evaluate the ethics of the second Trump administration's immigration policy from within this "war" framing through the lens of just war theory. While there has been considerable attention to just war theory in the context of …


Book Review: Game Of Pulpits: The 7 Voices Vying For The Kingdom - Who Will Win & Why By Gary Comer, Lavern Brown Apr 2026

Book Review: Game Of Pulpits: The 7 Voices Vying For The Kingdom - Who Will Win & Why By Gary Comer, Lavern Brown

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Long Live The Good King: A Niebuhrian Analysis Of Arthur’S Ethical Kingship In The Once And Future King, Camille Bewley Apr 2026

Long Live The Good King: A Niebuhrian Analysis Of Arthur’S Ethical Kingship In The Once And Future King, Camille Bewley

Tenor of Our Times

The classic The Once and Future King, written by T.H. White, is a selection of four fantasy novels with one, linear plot: the story of Arthur, the mythological King of England. Reinhold Niebuhr’s book Moral Man and Immoral Society details the Christian realism of a world in need of justice without the ability to achieve perfect application. Through good education, Arthur is well endowed with Niebuhr’s requirements for a functional society: knowledge, honor, wisdom, and compassion. Such king-like qualities make him one of the most influential mythological characters in history, and a grand exemplar for maintaining ethical goals and personal …


Book Review: The Unwavering Pastor: Leading The Church With Grace In Divisive Times By Jonathan Dodson, Jordan Ickes Apr 2026

Book Review: The Unwavering Pastor: Leading The Church With Grace In Divisive Times By Jonathan Dodson, Jordan Ickes

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Ethics In Church-Based Research, David R. Dunaetz Apr 2026

Ethics In Church-Based Research, David R. Dunaetz

Great Commission Research Journal

Both biblical principles and the standards used in the social sciences help researchers understand how to ensure their research is ethical and how to avoid the temptations associated with conducting research. Using a framework derived from Ephesians 4:25-28, these principles include truthfulness, avoidance of harm, and integrity through hard work. Ethical violations include data fabrication and falsification, questionable research practices, inaccurate references, duplicate publication, coercion of participants, and plagiarism. Special care must be taken to prevent harm to participants, either directly or indirectly. Researchers studying church-based phenomena also need to be aware of the heuristics and biases that can weaken …


Book Review: Churches, Cultures And Leadership: A Practical Theology Of Congregations & Ethnicities, 2nd Ed. By Mark Branson And Juan Martinez, Kenneth Nehrbass Apr 2026

Book Review: Churches, Cultures And Leadership: A Practical Theology Of Congregations & Ethnicities, 2nd Ed. By Mark Branson And Juan Martinez, Kenneth Nehrbass

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Clergy Prayer Life And Vocational Satisfaction, Zoraida C. Kelly Apr 2026

Clergy Prayer Life And Vocational Satisfaction, Zoraida C. Kelly

Great Commission Research Journal

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experience of clergy concerning their prayer life as part of their spiritual renewal and vocational satisfaction. The central research question is “How do clergy describe the relationship between their prayer life, vocational satisfaction, and spiritual renewal?” This study used Michael Gemignani’s (2002) Spiritual Renewal Theory and Super’s (1953) Theory of Vocational Development as lenses. The research design consisted of semi-formal interviews with open-ended questions. The investigation shed light on the lived experience of prayer as part of spiritual renewal and its potential positive effect on vocational satisfaction. This study included five participants who …


Cultural Landscaping Of North Korea: Preparing For Mission Engagement Through Large-Scale Defector Insights On Economy And Society, Soo Min James Park Apr 2026

Cultural Landscaping Of North Korea: Preparing For Mission Engagement Through Large-Scale Defector Insights On Economy And Society, Soo Min James Park

Great Commission Research Journal

North Korea is one of the world’s most closed societies, yet history shows that closed systems can shift rapidly. A sudden opening through political change, humanitarian crisis, or expanded cross-border engagement could expose millions to unprecedented cultural, social, and spiritual influences. While earlier mission research relied primarily on anecdotal testimonies or small-sample studies, this study draws on the most comprehensive resource available to date, in-depth surveys of 6,351 North Korean defectors released in 2025 by South Korea’s Ministry of Unification. Through thematic analysis, the study conducts cultural deductions across nine categories, including five of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, cultural tightness/looseness, communication …


Book Review: Remissioning Church: A Field Guide To Bringing A Congregation Back To Life By Josh Hayden, Keith A. Darlington Apr 2026

Book Review: Remissioning Church: A Field Guide To Bringing A Congregation Back To Life By Josh Hayden, Keith A. Darlington

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Book Review: Lead: 12 Gospel Principles For Leadership In The Church, 2nd Ed. By Paul David Tripp, Ryan Gause Apr 2026

Book Review: Lead: 12 Gospel Principles For Leadership In The Church, 2nd Ed. By Paul David Tripp, Ryan Gause

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


The State Of Youth Ministry In Asian American Churches Today, Eunice Hong, Jinna Si Lo Jin Apr 2026

The State Of Youth Ministry In Asian American Churches Today, Eunice Hong, Jinna Si Lo Jin

Great Commission Research Journal

Despite growing concern about youth disengagement from Christianity and the Christian church (Pew Research Center, 2025), strategies specifically tailored to engage Asian American youth remain under-researched. Drawing from interviews with 16 senior pastors and youth leaders across North America, this paper presents key findings on current ministry practices, with implications of emerging approaches to foster deeper youth engagement in Asian American church contexts.


Who Then Can Be Saved? A Discussion Of Views Within The Christian Tradition Concerning The Salvation Of The Non-Christian, Logan A. Davis Apr 2026

Who Then Can Be Saved? A Discussion Of Views Within The Christian Tradition Concerning The Salvation Of The Non-Christian, Logan A. Davis

Honors Theses

This thesis argues that, contrary to popular conception, the Christian Tradition is not strictly exclusivist in its understanding of salvation or in its assessment of the fate of the non-Christian but rather displays a rich diversity of views. Both the Christian Tradition and the Christian scriptures are characterized by a certain ambiguity on this issue; although a definitive answer may exist, it is not easily identifiable. Given this ambiguity, the study presents a representative spectrum of theological positions within the Christian Tradition and analyzes their respective treatments of the salvation of the non-Christian. In doing so, it seeks to provide …


Fallen Light, Joshua Do Apr 2026

Fallen Light, Joshua Do

Posters - 2026

Lucifer is often portrayed in popular media as purely evil; however, this interpretation overlooks the more complex idea of gradual moral corruption through deception and pride. The purpose of Fallen Light is to explore how doubt, pride, and subtle deception can lead even a highly exalted being away from God over time.. The game emphasizes the internal struggle between obedience and self-exaltation rather than immediate rebellion, and the problems with Being overly prideful.


The Secret Of Smerdyakov, Abigail M. Munzar Mar 2026

The Secret Of Smerdyakov, Abigail M. Munzar

Global Tides

This paper analyzes the mysterious character of Pavel Smerdyakov from Dostoevsky’s novel, The Brothers Karamazov, by examining his loveless upbringing, motives for murdering Fyodor Karamazov, and his final conversations with Ivan Karamazov, to argue that Smerdyakov committed suicide out of guilt from his crime. Smerdyakov may have had a potential conversion to Christianity which would have triggered an identity crisis in which he was tormented between accepting Christ’s love and hanging on to his lifelong hatred. Thus, he would have committed suicide out of remorse from his sin like the biblical Judas and an inability to choose between conversion or …


The Royal And Divine Garden: Cherubim And Vegetation Imagery In Solomon’S Temple And The Ancient Near East, Jack W. Sulewski Mar 2026

The Royal And Divine Garden: Cherubim And Vegetation Imagery In Solomon’S Temple And The Ancient Near East, Jack W. Sulewski

Global Tides

Solomon’s Temple is described in significant detail in 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles. It may surprise the reader to know that virtually all iconography included in the Temple’s design were standard forms of communicating religious concepts in the Ancient Near East. This can present some theological problems. Is Israel’s “use" of other pagan nations' religious symbolism an issue when communicating the holiness of God? To understand further the relationship between culture, politics, and Ancient Near Eastern religion, I spent one month doing archival research in England’s multiple museums analyzing ANE object collections. Through a report of my work, this essay …


Constraint, Necessity, And God Beyond Structure: A Structural Account Of Suffering Under Three-Layer Cognitive Architecture, Griselda Poe Mar 2026

Constraint, Necessity, And God Beyond Structure: A Structural Account Of Suffering Under Three-Layer Cognitive Architecture, Griselda Poe

Publications and Research

The question of why humans suffer, if God exists, has persisted across philosophical and theological traditions without resolution. This paper does not approach the problem as one of justification. Instead, it specifies the structural conditions under which suffering arises. The analysis adopts a three-layer model of cognition consisting of a Prior layer, a Core processing layer, and a Modulation layer. The Prior layer supplies constraints that initiate processing but remain inaccessible to it. Under these constraints, cognition begins in a non-neutral state in which one layer is initially foregrounded. When Modulation-layer processing is foregrounded, the condition of translation demands continuation. …


Inclusive Education Of Indigenous Belief Communities In Indonesia: Perspective Of Independent Learning, Muhammad Ghafar, Nunu Ahmad An Nahidl, Muhammad Thoyib, Rihab Wit Daryono Jr., Edi Junaedi, Neneng Habibah Mar 2026

Inclusive Education Of Indigenous Belief Communities In Indonesia: Perspective Of Independent Learning, Muhammad Ghafar, Nunu Ahmad An Nahidl, Muhammad Thoyib, Rihab Wit Daryono Jr., Edi Junaedi, Neneng Habibah

The Qualitative Report

Indigenous belief communities in Indonesia continue to face marginalization in the national education system, limiting their access to education that aligns with their spiritual and cultural values. Our study investigates how the Sapta Darma community members perceive inclusive education and how their socio-cultural traditions can support educational practices rooted in independent learning. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach and a multi-site design, data were collected from 30 participants, including community leaders, parents, and youth in Banyuwangi, Kediri, and Yogyakarta through in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation. The results show that inclusive education in the Sapta Darma community, grounded in the spirit of …


Tolkien's Joyful Sorrow, The "Gift Of Tears" Of Medieval Mysticism, And John Donne's Sermon "Jesus Wept", Giovanni Carmine Costabile Mar 2026

Tolkien's Joyful Sorrow, The "Gift Of Tears" Of Medieval Mysticism, And John Donne's Sermon "Jesus Wept", Giovanni Carmine Costabile

Journal of Tolkien Research

At the field of Cormallen, the emotion of joy felt by the victorious Hobbits is so great that Sam wonders whether everything sad will come untrue. At the same time, their joy is so great that it is described as "poignant as grief". Dimitra Fimi in 2017 pointed out Tolkien's probable indebtedness to Christian Orthodox tradition of "charmolype", or joyful sorrow. Another relevant parallel of the intermingling of joy and sorrow is the eleventh century Norman monk and abbot John of Fécamp's notion of the "Gift of Tears" (Gratia lacrymarum) from God, which brings true happiness. …


Review Of Christian De Chergé: Spiritual Writings, William Skudlarek Mar 2026

Review Of Christian De Chergé: Spiritual Writings, William Skudlarek

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.


Review Of Falling Into God: My Lay Catholic Journey In Spirituality And Ministry From Family And Home To Vatican Ii And The Holy Spirit To Prophetic Work For Justice And Peace, Rosemarie Pace Mar 2026

Review Of Falling Into God: My Lay Catholic Journey In Spirituality And Ministry From Family And Home To Vatican Ii And The Holy Spirit To Prophetic Work For Justice And Peace, Rosemarie Pace

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.


Review Of The Black Practice Of Disbelief, Walter W. Hill Jr. Mar 2026

Review Of The Black Practice Of Disbelief, Walter W. Hill Jr.

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.


Review Of Engaging Thomas Merton: Spirituality, Justice, And Racism, Paul Pynkoski Mar 2026

Review Of Engaging Thomas Merton: Spirituality, Justice, And Racism, Paul Pynkoski

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.


Review Of Ella Baker & The Black Freedom Movement: A Radical Vision, Danny Duncan Collum Mar 2026

Review Of Ella Baker & The Black Freedom Movement: A Radical Vision, Danny Duncan Collum

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.