Religion Commons^™

Questions In The Book Of Mormon, Holt Zaugg

Faculty Publications

This article examines how questions are used in the Book of Mormon to teach concepts and principles.

The Abinadi Narrative, Redemption, And The Struggle For Nephite Identity, Dan Belnap, Daniel L. Belnap

Faculty Publications

Though there is no question that the Book of Mormon’s primary purpose is to impart an understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ, this message is generally embedded by its editors and authors in very distinct historical and political settings. This is particularly true of Mormon, who often crafted his narratives so that a given prophetic ministry intersected and interacted with the sociopolitical concerns of the contemporary Nephite population. One such concern emerging again and again in Nephite history was their identity or relationship as Israel. This question lay at the heart of a number of social and religious movements …

"I Was Not Ready To Die Yet": William Stowell's Utah War Ordeal, Kenneth L. Alford Ph.D., R. Devan Jensen

Faculty Publications

In the fall of 1857, young wives Cynthia Jane Stowell and Sophronia Stowell bade fare­well to their husband, William R. R. Stowell, a lieutenant in the Utah militia working to hinder the US Army from entering Utah Territory. That winter they received word that William had been captured and was being held prisoner at Camp Scott, in present-day Wyoming. The Utah War arose from a complex web of causes and motivations: federal and Utah territorial authorities often clashed regarding Mormon authority and influence in the territorial court sys­tem, the mail service, policies regarding American-Indian relations, polygamy, and the moral character …

John E. Davis (William H. Norman) -- A Galvanized Yankee In Utah, Kenneth L. Alford Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

An interesting and intriguing story about William H. Norman, who served in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War as an infantry rifleman from Georgia, was captured by Union troops in December 1864 outside of Nashville, Tennessee, and was then incarcerated as a prisoner-of-war in Camp Douglas, Illinois. As a Confederate prisoner, the federal government gave him the option of remaining in the camp or renouncing his Confederate loyalty and enlisting in the Union Army. Like thousands of his fellow prisoners, he chose the second option and became a "galvanized Yankee." A few months later (after the end of …

Innovative Evangelism, Part 1: A New Paradigm, S. Joseph Kidder, Kristy L. Hodson

Faculty Publications

"It is challenging for a church, using the traditional evangelism model, to preach the gospel to a postmodern audience. Scripture speaks of the tribe of Issachar as having leaders who “understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take” (1 Chron. 12:32, NLT). We must adapt to the times and use all available means of witnessing. By incorporating multiple evangelistic strategies year-round, traditional as well as innovative, our churches would have a greater opportunity to help people experience the gospel.

"Knowing that we need new ideas and coming up with those new …

Portrayals Of The Pharisees And The Sadducees In The Qumran Texts And Josephus, Kenneth Atkinson

Faculty Publications

The accuracy of Josephus's portrayals of the three major schools of Jewish thought, namely the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Essenes, continues to be the subject of scholarly debate. A related issue is whether he accurately portrayed the relationships between theses haireseis and the Hasmoneans. This paper uses a variety of Qumran texts often ignored in Josephus studies to suggest that Josephus correctly described political and religious alliances between the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the members of the Hasmonean royal family.

How Martin Luther Transformed Marriage, Trevor O'Reggio

Faculty Publications

Martin Luther’s views on marriage and the family revealed a radical departure from the traditional Catholic views of his times. He elevated marriage and the family to a place of honor and respectability at a time when the single life and celibacy were celebrated as a higher state of spirituality. He denounced celibacy as a cause of lust, rather than an aid to chastity. He advocated a moderate view on divorce at a time when divorce was almost impossible. He provided counsel to couples and those contemplating marriage. He encouraged priests to marry, and followed his own advice by getting …

Justification By Faith According To The Old Testament: In The Footsteps Of The Reformers, Richard M. Davidson

Faculty Publications

Martin Luther asserted that “if we lose the doctrine of justification, we lose simply everything.” Luther believed that justification is “the article with and by which the church stands, without which it falls.” In the preface to his Forty-Five Theses drawn up in 1537, Luther makes this impassioned plea: “The article of justification is the master and prince, the lord, the ruler, and the judge over all kinds of doctrines; it preserves and governs all Church doctrine and raises up our conscience before God. Without this article the world is utter death and darkness.” John Calvin considered the doctrine of …

Bigger Better? How Church Size Is Related To Church Health (&Growth), Petr A. Činčala, Duane C. Mcbride, Rene Drumm

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Ministry Without Borders: Insights From The New Testament, Katelyn Campbell, Boubakar Sanou, Hyveth Williams

Faculty Publications

On the basis of the evidences surveyed above, although there is functional distinction among the laos of God, if we consider the body imagery given to the church and the variety of spiritual gifts (Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12–14 and Ephesians 4), there should be no status, gender, class or hierarchical distinction, because all believers and ministries are equal before God (Acts 10:34; Galatians 3:26–28). While the clergy/ laity hierarchical distinction is embedded and assumed in religious circles, it cannot be found in the New Testament. Rather than being the activity of a spiritual aristocracy or the work of a …

The Ancient Waldenses: Did The Reformation Predate Luther?, P. Gerard Damsteegt

Faculty Publications

While significant attempts to reform the Roman Catholic Church had taken place before Martin Luther, Luther with his 1517 work, the Ninety-Five Theses, is widely acknowledged to have started the Reformation. But there were others, before Luther, who preached similar reforms but did not succeed in changing the Roman Church of their time. To the names of Jan Hus, Peter Waldo, and John Wycliffe we may also add a nearly forgotten group of reformers—the ancient Waldenses.

The Book Of Revelation: Guidelines For Responsible And Meaningful Preaching, Ranko Stefanovic

Faculty Publications

"Cautious preachers will be aware that their exposition of Revelation has far-reaching effects on the listeners,whether for blessing or eternal loss.

Therefore, it is of primary importance for preachers to acquaint themselves with the principles of prophetic inter- pretation so that they may be sure that their exposition of Revelation’s messages matches the intention of the inspired author who wrote down and organized theologically what had been shown to him in vision. This article provides several prac- tical guidelines for responsible and meaningful preaching of Revelation. This is a product of my own pilgrimage and many years of personal experi- …

Ethical Dilemmas And Challenges, Annetta M. Gibson

Faculty Publications

EUD orientation for new Union and Conference officers, August 28 - September 1, 2017

Six Secrets Nature Thrives By, Petr A. Činčala

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

A Letter To Student Pastors, Willie Edward Hucks Ii

Faculty Publications

"Ministry is much more than preaching. The temptation exists to elevate preaching to the exclusion of all other disciplines. While preaching is vital, it is not paramount. Other events that bring the saints together for worship (such as Sabbath School and the midweek prayer service) should receive the same amount of attention and care as most preachers dedicate to the divine worship experience and sermons. Each event provides an opportunity for God’s people to experience a fresh encounter with the Divine."

Virtue, Positive Psychology, And Religion: Consideration Of An Overarching Virtue And An Underpinning Mechanism, Lindsey M. Root Luna, Daryl R. Van Tongeren, Charlotte Vanoyen-Witvliet

Faculty Publications

The virtues are a central focus of research at the intersection of positive psychology and the psychology of religion and spirituality. Humility, patience, and gratitude are addressed in the target articles of this special issue. Beyond examining each individual virtue, we argue here that the connections among virtues also warrant empirical attention. Specifically, we explain the unity of the virtues thesis, which suggests that individual virtues may be a part of a larger overarching construct, which we propose may be practical wisdom, or simply general virtuousness. Similarly, we propose that a common mechanism, such as automatic self-regulation, may facilitate these …

Building The Trusted Team: Governance In The Church, Annetta M. Gibson

Faculty Publications

Presentation for t he WAD Quinquennial Divsion-Wide Council Jul y 2, 2017

Ethical Dilemmas And Challenges, Annetta M. Gibson

Faculty Publications

Presentation for the WAD quinquennial division-wide council, July 2, 2017

Chrtistian Community: God's Design For Growth, S. Joseph Kidder

Faculty Publications

Community is one of God’s greatest gifts; it is the gift of a rich and challenging life together. Christian community means sharing a common life in Christ. It moves us beyond the self-interested isolation of the private lives and superficial social contacts that pass for “Christian fellowship.” Instead, the biblical ideal of community challenges us to commit ourselves to a life together as people of God.

Belief And Practice: Spiritual Imperatives For The Adventist Teacher, Joel Luc Raveloharimisy

Faculty Publications

"The apostle Paul’s advice to Timothy also provides a clear message for teachers in relation to living a spiritual life: “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you” (1 Timothy 4:16, NASB).⁶ For that purpose, I want to present two ways teachers can strengthen their walk with God so they can have confidence about their salvation and represent God effectively and efficiently to their students. This model is based on a principle found in spiritual-leadership literature. …

The Wurker-Gibson Bible Collection And The 500th Anniversary Of The Reformation, Lawrence W. Onsager, Terry Dwain Robertson

Faculty Publications

As part of the celebration of the 500^th anniversary of the Reformation, Terry Robertson and I decided to highlight the James White Library’s copy of Luther’s 1534 Bible, the role of Chester Gibson in donating the Bible to Andrews and the story of Paul Wurker, who collected this particular Bible and the other Bibles which we are calling the Wurker-Gibson Bible Collection.

All Kindreds Shall Be Blessed: Nephite, Jewish, And Christian Interpretations Of The Abrahamic Covenant, Noel B. Reynolds

Faculty Publications

A review of current and traditional scholarship regarding the covenant God made with Abraham combined with a thorough review of Book of Mormon references shows that the Nephite understanding varies in important ways from traditional Christian and Jewish interpretations. However, some of the insights of contemporary scholarship are more compatible with the Book of Mormon perspective.

Strengthening Adventist Education: Recommendations For Pastors And Officers, Jerome Thayer, Anneris Coria-Navia, Aimee Leukert, Elissa Kido, Larry Blackmer

Faculty Publications

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There are a number of issues that need to be addressed by educators, pastors, and officers in order to strengthen Adventist education. The list is daunting, and the task monumental, but the alternative—the continued decline of enrollment—is unacceptable.

The strong approval of the NADET recommendations at the NAD Year-End Meeting, as well as the administrative support given to the SAE study, provided an excellent first step in effecting change in the educational system. However, it will take a commitment and investment from all stakeholders to ensure continued progress in Adventist education.

While there are areas that can be tended …

Following Faith Commitments: Adventist Higher Educationtransitiontheory, Larry D. Burton, Josephine Katenga, Christine A. Moniyung

Faculty Publications

Christian universities are generally tuition-driven and thus enrollment dependent. This is true of the Seventh-day Adventist higher education system as well.Previous research on Seventh-day Adventist university enrollment revealed and underrepresentation of graduates from public high schools in comparison to graduates of Christian high schools. The purpose of this study was to develop a working theory to explain how graduates of public high schools successfully transition into Adventist universities. Using a pragmatic grounded theory design, we interviewed 18 participants who had experienced such a transition. Progressing in a constant-comparative manner, research team members analyzed the interviews through multiple rounds and types …

Ethical Dilemmas And Challenges, Annetta M. Gibson

Faculty Publications

Presentation for the SPD new CFO orientation program, May 15, 2017

Beyond The Exodus: Nauvoo After 1849, Rebecca A. Wiederhold, Dainan Skeem

Faculty Publications

Nauvoo, the City Beautiful, was named by Joseph Smith in 1839 when the Mormons began settling the area. After seven short years, the Saints had built a city to rival Chicago at the time. In 1844, Joseph was martyred and in 1847 the Mormons fled the city, changing the makeup of the town’s population and the direction of its growth. Emma Smith eventually returned with the remainder of her family and was beloved of the neighborhood children. Many other families not associated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continued to farm the land and raise families. As …

The Ancient Doctrine Of The Two Ways And The Book Of Mormon, Noel B. Reynolds

Faculty Publications

Scholars have long recognized that a number of ancient cultures shared a traditional doctrine of the Two Ways that could be used to instruct youth and others in the right way to live their lives. While the language of the Two Ways surfaces on occasion in both the Old and New Testaments, the doctrine is not developed or explained in any detail in the Bible. However, noncanonical texts of the Greco-Roman period display a highly developed and stylized form of the doctrine in both Jewish and Christian traditions. The earliest known version of these stylized forms of the doctrine occurs …

Faith Formation In A Secular Age, Andrew Root

Faculty Publications

Many theologians have focused on faith formation as a means of countering the trend toward disengagement from Christian belief among people today, especially among young adults. Using the insights of Charles Taylor, Andrew Root argues that many such programs are inadequate to the task, because they do not go to the heart of the matter.

Engendering The Buddhist State: Territory, Sovereignty And Sexual Difference In The Inventions Of Angkor, By Ashley Thompson, London, Routledge, 2016, Xvi + 203 Pp., Us$145.00 (Hardback), Isbn 978 0 4156 7772 1, Erik W. Davis

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

'People Are Enemies To What They Don't Know' Managing Stigma And Anti-Muslim Stereotypes In A Turkish Community Center, Crystal Paul, Sarah Anna Becker

Faculty Publications

In the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, anti-Muslim discourse and sentiment has become pervasive in the West. Using a collaborative ethnographic approach, we observe how participants at a Turkish Community Center (TCC) cultivate stigma management strategies against the cultural backdrop of post-9/11 anti-Muslim stereotypes. In our analysis, we use Goffman's work on stigma and critical race theory to explore the socially embedded nature of stigmatization processes for Turkish Muslims in a local community center. Our findings reveal how aspects of Turkish culture and Islam, together with a structural context …