Religion Commons^™

The Christian Church (Disciples Of Christ) In Indiana: A Study Of The Churches And Their Leadership, James P. Johnson

Graduate Thesis Collection

This research project is a study of 227 Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ) in Indiana. These 227 churches were identified by the Regional Office of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Indiana as being fully cooperative with the work within the Region. The project was conducted in two parts or phases. Phase 1 was a study of the churches based upon statistical data which the churches reported to the Yearbook. Phase 2 was a study of the attitudes of selected leaders within these 227 churches. It should be noted in the beginning that this study does not tell the …

Factors Associated With The Urban Church Participation Of Former Members Of Rural Churches, Edwin Max Case

Graduate Thesis Collection

Several factors influence the social participation of rural migrants in urban structures according to previous studies: (1) origins, (2) education, (3) occupation, (4) auspices of migration, (5) age at migration, (6) length of residence, (7) previous migrations, (8) social mobility, (9) income, (10) geographic mobility, (11) community activities. These variables will be included in the research design of this present study.

Review of previous studies indicates that there have not been any studies conducted on the factors associated with urban church participation of former members of rural churches.

A Study Of Principles And Techniques Involved In Chruch Drama, Edith D. Bruce

Graduate Thesis Collection

A study designed as a guideline for the integration of drama into church ministry.

The Syrian Church In India, A. John George

Graduate Thesis Collection

This thesis is specially concerned with the section of the Church now called Mar Thoma Syrian Church; it has therefore to leave out of consideration the various groups which live apart from that section, once the occasions of separation have been noticed. Thus we shall see that the Syrian Church has a loose-knit unity until 1653; for the last fifty years that period under Roman Control. Then about half of the Christians became Jacobite in allegiance. The work of the Christian Missionary Society, missionaries in the nineteenth century, led the coversion of a few families to the Anglican faith and …

An Inquiry Into Personality Development: A Theory Of Symbiotic Relationship, Kenneth William Chittick

Graduate Thesis Collection

This thesis presents an inquiry into personality development, that is, it advances a theory of personality formation based on the symbiotic relationship between mother and child. It will show indications from the research of Rappoport, Ottinger and Simmons, and the writings of Mahler, that in the relationship between the infant and its mother, the infant at first thinks that the mother is an actual part of its own wholeness. Therefore, the theory will attempt to explain how a normal, a neurotic or a psychotic personality structure of later years can be traced back to the symbiotic phase of the infant's …

The Concept Of History In The Thought Of Rudolf Bultmann And Reinhold Niebuhr, Joseph H. Bragg Jr.

Graduate Thesis Collection

The question of the nature and meaning of history has become increasingly important in contemporary thought. In theological circles, it has become the central theme of discussion. Thereare a number of reasons why this is so. The events of the times in which we live have brought about a definite rejection of any knowledge-equals-progress idea of history as well as a call for interpretation of the profound social crises which we confront. The widespread influence of existentialism, with its emphasis on relativism and subjectivism, has brought into question not only the nature of history, in terms of present reality, but …

A Critical Analysis Of The Church Viewed As Struggling Within The Continuum Of Matriarchal-Patriarchal Principles, Robert C. Alexander

Graduate Thesis Collection

It is the thesis of this paper the the Church possesses traits which are characteristic of the human personality; therefore, her spiritual movement can be understood and dealt with through insights of the Oedipus Complex Theory initially described by Sigmund Freud in his discussion of personality development, greatly elaborated upon by Erich Fromm in his book, The Forgotten Language.

A History Of The Reformed Presbyterian Church, Nancy Elizabeth Clark

Graduate Thesis Collection

If any one event in history were caused by any other single event, or indeed if any trend of events were caused by any other single trend, historical research would be a relatively simple matter. But history is not so simple. A history of government does not involve politics alone, nor does a history of baseball involve simply the quality of the pitcher's and batter's techniques. Likewise the history of a church includes far more than the Sunday sermons, however important these may be.

The complexity of a given historical institution can perhaps be typified by the subject of the …

The Mmpi As A Predictor Of Success Among Seminary Students, Sue Webb Cardwell

Graduate Thesis Collection

Purpose of the study. Since the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory is the psychological test that is most widely used in seminaries in the United States, it was the purpose of this study (1) to establish norms for Christian Theological Seminary that could be compared with general norms and with the norms of two other studies, those of United Presbyterian and Southern California School of Theology seminarians, to help answer the question of how clergymen differ from non-clergymen and whether special norms need to be taken into consideration in the interpretation of MMPI protocols with seminary students; and (2) to see …

A Study Of Numinous Experience, Dama C. Cofield

Graduate Thesis Collection

For the past ten years I have worked in the area of Christian education in an ecumenical context. This has afforded me the privilege of participating in many communities of faith as well as the challenge of ministry and leadership in diverse situations. These responsibilities, involving me in the lives and personalities of fellow human beings and the necessity of personal growth to meet the demands of my own life's situations have forced me to examine repeatedly the premises of my own faith and its relevance to life.

The Life And Contribution Of Robert Monroe Bell, Claire E. Berry

Graduate Thesis Collection

Since 1941, R. M. Bell has devoted his life to the training of ministers as the President of Johnson Bible College, Kimberlin Heights, Tennessee. During his tenure as president he has represented a point of view that has played both a distinctive and controversial role in the life of our Brotherhood. It is the purpose of this study to examine his life historically with emphasis on the events and influences that helped shape his life and thought. His theological positions will be surveyed and a critique given regarding the contribution his life and thought has had in the Christian church.

The Doctrine Of The Ministry Among The Disciples Of Christ, Arthur H. Bishop

Graduate Thesis Collection

The purpose of this paper is to attempt to remove some of the vagueness associated with the ministry of the Disciples and to add some depth to their theory of the ministry through some proposals for renewal and reformation. First, I propose to accomplish this purpose through an historical survey of the development of the ministry among Disciples. Then, some recommendations will be offered in the light of the Biblical ministry, the historical ministry of the Church, and the contemporary situation. It is my opinion that the Church and its ministry must be renewed constantly through continuing reformations. In order …

The Aspect Of Freedom In Paul's Theology, M. Eugene Boring

Graduate Thesis Collection

The study of the New Testament properly begins with Paul, since the earliest documents of the New Testament are from his hand. In this, my first serious attempt to make a study of one aspect of the theology of the New Testament, I have thus chosen to begin with Paul. I have tried to choose a topic which would allow me to study Paul's theology as a whole, but which would permit me to approach it from a viewpoint not already overused.

The Theme Of Salvation In Six Novels Of Graham Greene, Edward L. Shaughnessy

Graduate Thesis Collection

An examination of Graham Greene, his writing, and its relationship with Catholic teachings through an anaylsis of the Catholicity of his characters.

Apostolos In The New Testament, James Maynard Bragg

Graduate Thesis Collection

In this study we will attempt to discover the background of [apostolos] among its pagan ancestors. In addition to this area, we will also be concerned with the Jewish background which exerted a formative influence on the meaning of the word. Finally, an attempt will be made to see the result of this combination of backgrounds as it came to be reflected in the New Testament.

Characteristics Of Closed Christian Churches In Selected States, 1920-1957, Charles Beecher Barr

Graduate Thesis Collection

It is not the purpose of this study to find the answer to the question which has often been asked, "Why have so many churches closed?" Finding the answer to this question is possibly an ultimate or underlying purpose, but it is not anticipated that the study will answer the question. Very little study is given to the processes which operate to cause the demise of particular congregations. Attention is rather focused on statistical data which are easily obtainable and the attempt is made to determine which of these are significantly related to the fact of closing.

W.W. Otey: Controversialist, Cecil Willis

Graduate Thesis Collection

A biographical thesis on W.W. Otey, prominent preacher in the Churches of Christ and controversial writer.

The Problem Of Factions Versus Essential Unity In The Church Of Corinth: A Study Of Causative Factors And Paul's Answer To The Problem, Fred H. Luthy

Graduate Thesis Collection

I have long been interested in Paul's writings, his various doctrinal viewpoints, and the manner in which he dealt with problems as they developed during his ministry. Certainly, the Corinthian Churoh had its problems, and they were eerious problems. Not the least of these was the matter of a faotious spirit whioh seemed to prevail among the members and whioh was keeping the oongregation from full effectiveness in its witness and work for Jesus Christ. What were the background oonditions out of whioh this Corinthian Churoh oame forth? What types of people comprised this congregation? How and why did these …

Fellowship And The Disciples' Doctrine Of The Chruch, Evelyn Faye Hale

Graduate Thesis Collection

It is necessary for me to do three things In this thesis: (1) Spell out the meaning of fellowship in relationship to an understanding of the nature of the church In its origin and in contemporary thinking. (2) Find out what our own traditions are regarding the nature of the church. (3) Evaluate our traditional understanding of the concept of the church as Disciples of Christ.

The Early Church Reflected In The Gospel According To Matthew, Jack L. Barnes

Graduate Thesis Collection

There seems to be, among other things, a vivid reflection of church life in the Gospel According to Matthew. It is my purpose to point out the outstanding characteristics of the Gospel of Matthew and in so doing present what appears to me to be a definite portrait of an early church. As the environment seems to become clear in what we read, the church takes form and we can see many interesting aspects of it.

A Comparative Study Of Eucharistic Teachings Of The Didache With Canonical, Early Christian, And Non-Christian Literature, Joseph Richard Bennett

Graduate Thesis Collection

In this study it is not the author's aim to attempt to cover the field pertaining to the origin and development of the Eucharist. A vast number of competent works have been vrritten on the subject, but the primary purpose here is to examine the Eucharistic teachings of the Didache in the light of Canonical, early Christian, and non-Christian literature, in an effort to determine if the Didache presents the Eucharist (or Lord's Supper) in its original form as practiced in the primitive Christian Church of the first century. Further, we propose to show how the simplicity of the act …

A Study Of The Trinity In The Cappadocian Fathers, George W. Buck

Graduate Thesis Collection

The object in writing this thesis has been to pursue the theological development of the doctrine of the trinity in the Church of the early centuries through the writings of the Church fathers. It is a continuation of a former study, A New Testament Study of Trinity, a thesis submitted for the Bachelor of Divinity degree, which was received in July, 1952. This entire study has been an attempt to soak the self in the patristic writings and to arrive at a first-hand conception of the classical doctrine of the trinity, which we believe, is a creation of the fourth …

A Comparative Study Of Mormon And Disciple Histories, Leslie H. Payne

Graduate Thesis Collection

The subject of this study has been chosen because of the interesting histories and doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Disciples of Christ. Interest in this subject was aroused, not only by the interesting material, but also due to the fact that they both came out of the same historical period and that there were some Disciple leaders that joined the Latter-day Saints.

These facts could be coincidence or they could have a definite reason behind them. This is the study of this paper: to discover, through comparison, the similarities and the parallels of …

The Contribution Of A "Layman" To The Restoration Movement, Allan J. Hunter

Graduate Thesis Collection

The name of Tomas Wharton Phillips, (1835-1912), occurs quite frequently in the history of the Disciples of Christ. Probably his family name is best known by its association with Phillips University, Enid, Oklahoma. There has also been a renewed interest in him through the recent completion of the "T.W. Phillips Memorial Library" in Nashville, Tennessee, now the headquarters of the Disciples of Christ Historical Society.

This general interst generated into a special interst, when, during the lectures on the history of the Disciples of Christ, a remark was made to the effect that "there was a need for a more …

A Biography Of Z. T. Sweeney, Robert E. Reeves

Graduate Thesis Collection

Zachary Taylor Sweeney was one of the more popular and influential preachers of the Christian Church during the last quarter of the nineteenth century and first quarter of the twentieth century. He built the largest congregation of his brotherhood during his lifetime. He was one of the leading spokesmen of the conservative element of the Disciples during a very troubled period. Outside of church affairs he became prominent in political, governmental, chautauqua, and business circles.

A Semantic Study Of Ecclesia Before 100 A.D., Harold Edwin Cline

Graduate Thesis Collection

In studying the background and origin of meaning for this word [ecclesia], this paper will seek to investigate the pagan, the Jewish, and the Christian literature in this order. Of couse, as the preliminary discussion has so far indicated, the primary weight and burden of study will be upond the Septugintal influence. The three stages to be developed are reminiscent of the comment of R.C. Trench in his opening comments concerning ecclesia. He named them as heathen, Jewish, and Christian. The development of these stages will be united and brought together to make some pertinent conclusions in the final chapter …

A Survey Of Some Recent Writing On The Problem Of The New Testament Kergyma, Gene M. Carrell

Graduate Thesis Collection

Until recently, very little had been written directly on the problem of the New Testament kergyma. Works designed solely for the purpose of setting forth the nature of the message of the primitive preaching of the church, and the forms of the preaching of the primitive message of the church, were woefully lacking. However, in recent years there has been a return to a discussion of this problem. This thesis seeks to provide a survey of some of the literature of this recent investigation of the kergyma of the New Testament.

Some Problems Of First Peter, Robert E. Boyette

Graduate Thesis Collection

This study is an introduction I to some of the problems found in First Peter. The first chapter will be devoted to the presentation of the traditional view of authorship. Does the epistle come to us with the authority of the chief of the apostles? Tradition says yes. The second chapter questions the traditional view. Some scholars have questioned or rejected the verdict of tradition. In the third chapter the problem of the spirits in prison will be considered. Scholars disagree relative to this interpretation. What is meant by preaching to the spirits in prison? Who are these spirits? What …

A Study Of Ministerial Education Among The Disciples Of Christ From 1900 To 1915, Marion Lynn Hieronymus

Graduate Thesis Collection

The purpose of this thesis is to examine both the philosophy and realization of lIinisterial education of the brotherhood of Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ) during a period extending from 1900 to 1915.

John Wesley's Doctrine Of Sin And Man, Carl F. Dunker

Graduate Thesis Collection

No abstract provided.