Religion Commons^™

Faith Doing Justice In The Context Of Postmodernism, Agbonkhianmeghe E. Orobator

Theology Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Key Ethical Issues In The Practices And Policies Of Refugee Serving Ngos And Churches, Agbonkhianmeghe E. Orobator

Theology Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Catholic Social Teaching And Peacemaking In Africa: A Tale Of Two Traditions, Agbonkhianmeghe E. Orobator

Theology Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

“Ten Decades To A More Christ-Like You!”: Liturgy As God's Workout Plan For The Church “Ten Decades To A More Christ-Like You!”: Liturgy As God's Workout Plan For The Church, M. Therese Lysaught

Theology Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Editors’ Introduction, Glenn Hartelius, Harris Friedman

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

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What Does It Mean To Live A Fully Embodied Spiritual Life?, Jorge Ferrer

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

This essay discusses the meaning of embodied spirituality—based on the integration of all

human attributes, including the body and sexuality—and contrasts it with the disembodied

spirituality—based on dissociation and/or sublimation—prevailing in human religious

history. It then describes what it means to approach the body as a living partner with which

to co-create one’s spiritual life, and outlines ten features of a fully embodied spirituality.

The article concludes with some reflections about the past, present, and potential future of

embodied spirituality.

Approaches To Transpersonal Psychotherapy: Introduction To Special Topic Section, Harris Friedman, Glenn Hartelius

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

NA

The Past And Future Of The International Transpersonal Association, Stanislav Grof, Harris Friedman, David Lukoff, Glenn Hartelius

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

The International Transpersonal Association (ITA) was formed in 1978 for the purposes

of promoting education and research in transpersonal subjects, as well as sponsoring

global conferences for the international transpersonal community. The association was

subsequently dissolved in 2004, but is now in the process of being reactivated and revitalized.

As background for this development, this paper reviews the history of ITA including its

international conferences and noteworthy presenters, the organization’s definition, strategies,

and specific goals, and details of its contemporary revival.

The Role Of Spirituality In Mental Health Interventions: A Developmental Perspective, Liora Birnbaum, Atton Birnbaum, Ofra Mayseless

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

Th is article presents a four-level developmental description of the extent to which clinicians

apply spirituality in therapy. At the fi rst level, clinicians begin to sense dissonance regarding

their traditional, positivist worldview while conducting conventional psychotherapy, especially

in cases involving life-threatening situations or loss. At the second level, clinicians

open up to the possibility of the existence of a metaphysical reality and to spiritual/transpersonal

beliefs expressed by clients. At the third level, clinicians may cautiously contact this

transcendental reality and seek ways to utilize this dimension to access information relevant

to therapy. At the fourth level, clinicians actively engage …

The Therapeutic Potentials Of A Museum Visit, Andrée Salom

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

Museums are safe spaces for the objects they hold and for the persons that visit them, providing environments that can function in therapeutic ways. Within the wide range of objects, there is enough diversity to help guests discover what similarities they have with others as well as what makes them unique as individuals. Within exhibits, individuals can explore themselves through the reactions they have to particular pieces, through the observation of what holds their attention within the environment, and through the awareness and development of their contemplative mind. Museums can introduce transpersonal information, add information to previous transpersonal experiences, and …

A Peircean Panentheist Scientific Mysticism, Søren Brier

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

Peirce’s philosophy can be interpreted as an integration of mysticism and science. In Peirce’s

philosophy mind is feeling on the inside and on the outside, spontaneity, chance and chaos

with a tendency to take habits. Peirce’s philosophy has an emptiness beyond the three worlds

of reality (his Categories), which is the source from where the categories spring. He emphasizes

that God cannot be conscious in the way humans are, because there is no content in

his “mind.” Since there is a transcendental3 nothingness behind and before the categories,

it seems that Peirce had a mystical view on reality with a …

Brief History Of Transpersonal Psychology, Stanislav Grof

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

The International Transpersonal Association (ITA) was formed in 1978 for the purposes

of promoting education and research in transpersonal subjects, as well as sponsoring

global conferences for the international transpersonal community. The association was

subsequently dissolved in 2004, but is now in the process of being reactivated and revitalized.

As background for this development, this paper reviews the history of ITA including its

international conferences and noteworthy presenters, the organization’s definition, strategies,

and specific goals, and details of its contemporary revival.

Integral Approach To Mental Suffering, Laura B. Gilot

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

Th is article further develops one section by the same name in another article published in

the International Journal of Transpersonal Studies entitled Integral Approach in Transpersonal

Psychotherapy (Boggio Gilot, 2003) by proposing a model of mental suff ering based on

uniting scientifi c psychology with meditative wisdom (e.g., derived from Yoga Vedanta). Th e

role of spiritual vision underlines a wider understanding of the origins of mental suff ering,

including damage from ontological unawareness and egoism, non-ethical factors usually

ignored in psychology. Th ese give rise to destructive poisons of the mind such as pride,

greed, fear, resentment, envy, …

The Buddhist Notion Of Emptiness And Its Potential Contribution To Psychology And Psychotherapy, José M. Tirado

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

A growing number of psychologists now have their practices and theories informed by Buddhist

meditation practices. Th ese practices, however, are themselves deeply informed by the

Buddhist notion of emptiness (śūnyatā). Th is Buddhist concept off ers a rich vein of possibilities

in informing psychology and psychotherapy. Th e present paper examines the development

and potential of this concept for infl uencing these and other areas.

Dante’S Terza Rima In Th E Divine Comedy: Th E Road Of Th Erapy, Dennis P. Slattery

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

Wisdom’s pursuit through symbols, metaphors, poetry, and therapy is a path of indirection,

less available the more one’s pursuit is direct. Wisdom may be gained through particular

processes of knowing, pilgrimages towards the truth of things. Dante’s 14th century poem

engages a new rhyme scheme to further this pursuit of knowing towards wisdom. He called

it terza rima, or third rhyme. Its structure, the essay argues, embodies two movements of the

soul: the journey towards knowing, one which is always bending back in memory, and the

movement of therapy itself, wherein one becomes more conscious by seeing in the present …

Exploring Core Values In The Middle East From A Missiological Perspective, G. P. P.

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

No abstract provided.

"Common Sense" Meets The Book Of Mormon, Terryl Givens

English Faculty Publications

Thomas O'Dea's opinion of the Book of Mormon's importance in Mormonism is evident in his choice to make it the first chapter following his introduction. He spends little more than a page summarizing the Book of Mormon before he immediately turns to the question that seems inevitably to impose itself at the forefront of so many Book of Mormon discussions: how do we explain its origin? Such a preoccupation does not self-evidently present itself; one would not expect to find, and in fact does not find, that accounts of the Qur'an, for instance, typically exhibit the felt burden of "explaining" …

After Ten Years: Tracing The 1997 Vatican Statements Regarding Ethics In Advertising In Today's Advertising Textbooks, Anca C. Micu

Presidential Seminar on the Catholic Intellectual Tradition

One responsibility of all educators, especially those in marketing and advertising, is to provide students with a proper perspective regarding professional ethics. In other words, it is to guide future managers in developing an ethical conscience as they perfect their decision-making competence. Today, the 1997 Pontifical Council’s statements on ethics in advertising are the top result of a Google search for “ethics and advertising.” The amount of scriptural reference contained in the statements is considerably less than that found in most Papal social encyclicals (i.e., social writings of the Catholic Church). This approach made the document more accessible to thoughtful …

Is Mathematics Created By Humans Or Is It Discovered By Humans? A Catholic Intellectual Perspective, Jason J. Molitierno

Presidential Seminar on the Catholic Intellectual Tradition

In this essay, Dr. Molitierno intends to show that not only is it appropriate to discuss the Catholic Intellectual Tradition in light of mathematics, the CIT can actually be exemplified in mathematics!

Kierkegaard And/Or Catholicism: A Matter Of Conjunctions, Center For Catholic Studies, Seton Hall University

Center for Catholic Studies Faculty Seminars and Core Curriculum Seminars

It is often said (accurately) that one of the distinguishing marks of a Catholic understanding of life is its both-and approach in contrast to the either-or approach more characteristic of a Protestant sensibility. For example, Catholics tend to live with and argue for both scripture and tradition, faith and works. The Danish Lutheran Søren Kierkegaard is often cited as a paradigm of Protestant either-or thinking. In this seminar we will explore what we might learn not only about Catholicism and Kierkegaard, but even more about Christianity, human life, and the logic of conjunction.

La Communauté Des Musulmans En France Et L’Eglise Catholique (The Community Of Muslims In France And The Catholic Church), Dania Lopez

Global Tides

The immigration of Muslims in France has a long and difficult history. The relationship between French society and the community of Muslim immigrants is characterized by confusion and disagreement. This is due to differences between French and Muslim perspectives on religious values, secularism, and daily life. in the context of our discussion, un Français is someone recognized by and integrated into French society. Relationships between Muslims in France and the French lack communication, understanding, and, above all, tolerance. During the last three decades there has been an increased dialogue between Muslims and representatives of French Catholicism in an attempt to …

2008 Bethsaida Field Report, Rami Arav

Field Reports

Four areas were excavated during this season at Bethsaida. Area A West, east of the city gate, Area A city gate, Area A plaza and Area C.

This area includes remains of early Roman residential area adjacent to the temple and some fragmentary walls dating from the Middle Ages.

Ecological Homelessness, Steven C. Bouma-Prediger

Faculty Presentations

No abstract provided.

Shalom And The Character Of Earthkeeping, Steven C. Bouma-Prediger

Faculty Presentations

No abstract provided.

Shall We Reinvent Our 100 Year Old Denomination? Surveying Organizational Models, Kenneth Crow, Richard Houseal, Stan Ingersol, Dale Jones

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

David Moberg has described the life cycle of religious organizations in The Church as a Social Institution. His model suggests five predictable stages. FIGURE 1 In the beginning of the ascending curve there is a phase of incipient organization characterized by a negative reaction to existing churches, emotional enthusiasm for the new church, and diffused leadership. Second, as the age and effectiveness of the organization increase, there is a phase of formal organization characterized by membership commitments, specification of goals, symbolic separation from the larger society, and a gradual move from charismatic leaders to rational or bureaucratic leaders. Third, as …

The God-Equipped Magnificent Obsession: A Christ-Centered And Values-Based Strategic Intent, Allen H. Quist

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

It was the first-century believers’ Christ-centered core values that drove their evangelism behavior. Core values still drive the behavior of present day believers. For present day followers of Christ to maximize the work of Christ’s Great Commission, Christians need Christcentered core values held at an obsessive level, plus God’s preparation and provision. Believers making up the first-century church, engaged their world through touch points of their time; the Roman political system providing relatively safe travel and quality roads, the widely-used Greek language, and scattered post-Pentecost new Christian believers. Today’s Christians need to engage our world through the touch points of …

Misperceiving The Real Reasons For Non-Attendance, Attribution Theory, Peter Burch

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

My wife Holly and I arrived at Vista Del Mar Baptist Church (VDMBC) in Pacifica, California, a suburb of San Francisco, just three weeks shy of Easter in the year 2000. VDMBC began in the garage of a tract home in the 1950s. After two decades of consistent growth, the congregation dedicated an attractive 200-seat sanctuary in 1976. Regrettably, the next two decades brought consistent decline and, when I arrived as the new pastor in 2000, the church had returned to a garage-sized congregation. Having no staff to direct, secretary to talk to, or walls to paint, I decided to …

Church Conflict/Church Growth, Thomas Hammond, Steve Wilkes

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

Sadly, conflict is a common occurrence in congregations of every denomination across America. It happens to traditional, blended, and contemporary churches for a variety of reasons, with the capacity to reach extreme levels of intensity. Its impact on a congregation can be devastating. Relationships are damaged, friendships strained, and many decide to stop attending. The church's ministry and evangelism efforts are usually brought to a standstill, leaving a divided fellowship that has taken its eyes off the harvest and has become distracted from fulfilling the Great Commission.

Book Review: Growth By Accident, Death By Planning: How Not To Kill A Growing Congregation, Darrell Lamos

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

No abstract provided.

Viewpoint: More Or Deeper? What Should Be Next In (My) Hindu-Christian Study, Francis X. Clooney

Journal of Hindu-Christian Studies

Recently I completed two books in the field of Hindu-Christian studies. The first is The Truth, the Way, the Life: Christian Commentary on the Three Holy Mantras of the Srivaisnava Hindus. This project, for Catherine Cornille's new series of Christian commentaries on the sacred texts of non-Christian traditions, is heavily indebted to Vedanta Desika's 14th century reading of the Tiru Mantra, Dvaya mantra, and Carama Sloka. The second book is Beyond Compare: St. Frances de Sales and Sri Vedanta Desika on Loving Surrender to God, an intensive doulbe reading of Desika's Essence of the Three Holy Mysteries (Srimadrahasyatrayasara) …