Religion Commons^™

Introduction To Special Topic Section: Shamanism, Adam J. Rock

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

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Sexuality As A Transformational Path: Exploring The Holistic Dimensions Of Human Vitality, Samuel A. Malkemus, Mariana T, Romero

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

This article explores a holistic vision of human sexuality by contrasting it to the prevailing

trend of “cognicentrism” in sexological studies. To this end the authors propose that a

novel understanding of sexuality as a creative force of life energy can greatly enhance such

cognicentric approaches. Such a proposal rests on a holistic approach to human nature that

has been developed over many years of educational and clinical application. Within this

holistic vision, the role of a human multidimensional cognition that is somatically rooted in

bodily nature assists the articulation of sexuality as a transformational life path of embodied

spirituality, …

My Path In Shamanism, Michael Harner

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

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Shamanism, Imagery Cultivation, And Psi-Signal Detection: A Theoretical Model, Experimental Protocol, And Preliminary Data, Adam J. Rock, Lance Storm

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

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Shamans As Healers, Counselors, And Psychotherapists, Stanley Krippner

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

Shamanic models of healing, counseling, and psychotherapy differ from Western models in that

they emphasize closeness to the natural world as well as to one’s body and life’s spiritual dimensions.

Shamanic practices reflect the ideals of harmony and knowledge. In shamanism, there is no division

between “mind” and “body,” hence what Westerners refer to as “mental illness” is seen as part of

the total client being treated by a shaman, a perspective that often includes the client’s family,

community, and the world of “spirits.”

Experiences Of “Soul Journeys” In The World’S Religions: The Journeys Of Mohammed, Saints Paul And John, Jewish Chariot Mysticism, Taoism’S Highest Clarity School, And Shamanism., Roger Walsh

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

“Soul journeys” are a central practice of shamanism. However, they have also been important

in many other religious traditions and have exerted a major impact on religions, cultures, and

history. This article surveys some important journeys in the world’s religions such as those of

Mohammed, the Christian saints Paul and John, Jewish Chariot Mysticism, Taoism’s Highest

Clarity tradition, and shamanism. The article explores the experiences of these journeys, techniques

for inducing them, culturally specific features, and the range of metaphysical interpretations of

them. It also examines some of the surprising ways in which journeys are currently impacting

Western culture, ranging …

Transforming Self And Others Through Research: Transpersonal Research Methods And Skills For The Human Sciences And Humanities, Dorit Netzer

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

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A Reply To Abramson’S Response To My “Beyond Mind” Papers And Some Reflections On Wilber V, Elias Capriles

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

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A Model To Recruit And Implement Volunteers To Serve And Create A Culture Of Biblical Servanthood In The Church, Rodney Briles

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to develop a viable and applicable model for finding and recruiting volunteers to serve the local church and create a culture of Biblical servanthood. The project focuses on: where to find potential volunteers; discerning the volunteer's giftedness; the enlisting process; interviews; and training the volunteer to serve. It also provides practical methods that allow the local church to create a culture of Biblical servanthood. The content of the project is built on the foundation of God's Word coupled with resources from experts in the field.

A Strategy To Transition A Traditional Church Educational System To A Small Group System: A Case Study Of Eternal Life Baptist Church, Kyoung Gil Cho

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this thesis is to research the avenues in which to have Eternal Life Bible Baptist Church transition to a small group system. This thesis was done through field analysis and literature research, as well as the case study of Eternal Life Bible Baptist Church (ELBBC). The case study was totally focused on the process of changing to a small group system at Eternal Life. The author was a minister at Eternal Life for 8 years, and an associate pastor for a year. In a few years the author will become the next senior pastor of Eternal life …

The Application For Church Planting Through The Intercessory Prayer Ministry Of Young Adult Ministry In Choong Hyun Presbyterian Church, Kwang Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this thesis is about researching church planting through the intercessory prayer ministry. This project describes several spiritual awakenings through this ministry. The most important result of spiritual awakenings is that skeptical believers in spiritual life have been changed into positive ones and passive believers have been transformed into active ones. Actually the author as an assistant pastor ministered in Choong hyun Presbyterian Church for almost five years. His wife and he led this ministry for one and half years. The author tried to find out the biblical background related to intercessory prayer through the New Testament, write …

The Impact Of Church Age And Size On Turnaround, Gary Mcintosh

Great Commission Research Journal

Other than a congregation’s beliefs and values, the two key aspects most helpful in understanding a local church are its age and size. While other studies have compared the growth and decline of a church to its life cycle and size barriers, this article examines the primary intervention strategies found most helpful by church consultants for different size and age categories.

Book Review: Here Today, There Tomorrow: Unleashing Your Church’S Potential By Gary L. Mcintosh, Robert Vajko

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

In Search Of The Healthy Church: A Meta-Ethnographic Study, Russell L. Huizing

Great Commission Research Journal

After a brief literature review, eight of the primary contemporary church health resources are subjected to a meta-ethnographic study. The resources’ combined twenty-six health indicators are translated through the meta-themes of organizational structure, developing community, church characteristics, and personal characteristics. A discussion and visual synthesis of the translations point to the church literature developing community through organizational structure which in turn cultivates church and personal characteristics. Future research recommendations include expanding the study of church metaphors beyond “body” and identifying metaphor-specific characteristics through exegetical study

Identifying And Reaching Ethnic Groups In The City, Anthony Casey

Great Commission Research Journal

Immigrants are arriving in the United States in large numbers. We know the statistics, but what we do not know is who these people are, where they are living, and how we reach them with the Gospel. This article presents a strategy for identifying and reaching ethnic groups in the city. The first section provides information for locating internationals through research at the national, state, and local level. The second section examines issues related to urban ethnic church planting such as meeting felt needs, understanding worldview issues, dealing with preliterates, and training and partnering with other churches.

What Makes A Multi-Site Church One Church?, John S. Hammett

Great Commission Research Journal

This article examines the phenomenon of the multi-site church movement in light of the historic belief in the oneness of the church. It discusses historic understandings of oneness, the definition of oneness used by multi-site advocates, and the single most commonly raised objection to multi-site churches—that they fail to assemble. It evaluates the validity of that objection and multi-site churches as a whole and finds that the oneness of a local church in the New Testament requires relational and geographical closeness that most multi-site churches lack.

The Minimal Facts Approach To The Resurrection Of Jesus: The Role Of Methodology As A Crucial Component In Establishing Historicity, Gary R. Habermas

Faculty Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

The Heartbeat Of The Believer, S. Joseph Kidder

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

"Just A Fool's Hope": J.R.R. Tolkien's Eucatastrophe As The Paradigm Of Christian Hope, Margaret A. Bush

Senior Honors Theses

In his essay titled “On Fairy-Stories,” J.R.R. Tolkien uses the term “eucatastrophe” to describe the unexpected, fortunate turn of events for the protagonist in a fantasy story. Tolkien applies the word beyond its literary context to signify the Christian’s experience of joy, especially resulting from the Incarnation and Resurrection. Such an explicit link between fiction and theology seems absent from his more well-known work, The Lord of the Rings. Yet both Tolkien himself and critics of his writing have labeled the novel a modern-day classic of Christian literature. This thesis will defend the Christian label of The Lord of …

For The Bible Tells Me So: An Analysis Of Religiosity, Attitudes Towards Women, And Intimate Partner Violence, Stephen Cecil Parker

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

Male dominance and intimate partner violence are issues that affect many women. This study examines the relationship between religiosity and attitudes towards women and intimate partner violence. It was hypothesized that individuals with higher levels of religiosity would be more likely to hold traditional/negative attitudes towards women. It was also hypothesized that individuals with higher levels of religiosity would be more likely to be involved in a violent intimate relationship. The study used a sample of 427 students from a large urban university who were surveyed about religiosity, attitudes towards women, and intimate partner violence. The mean age of the …

A Comparison Of The Kenotic Trinitarian Theology Of Hans Urs Von Balthasar And Sergei Bulgakov, Katy Leamy

Dissertations (1934 -)

Vital to Balthasar’s own articulation of the dogmas of the Incarnation and the Trinity is the kenotic Trinitarian theology of Sergei Bulgakov. The ways in which Balthasar both incorporates and modifies Bulgakov's Trinitarian theology provide an insight into his overarching theological agenda. My dissertation argues that Sergei Bulgakov, a 20th century Russian Orthodox theologian, is an important resource for Balthasar, directly and indirectly influencing key doctrinal points as well as the overall shape and direction of his theological project. This dissertation explores how Balthasar employs and adapts the thought of Sergei Bulgakov, with the Trinitarian theology of Thomas Aquinas to …

Business Management And Ethics: An Islamic Approach, M. M. Maishanu, Ahmad Maigari Dutsin-Ma

Business Review

This paper explores the relationships between business management and ethics in Islam. The paper’s central theme is that business management is not separate from ethics; the latter reinforces the former. In Islam, mundane and spiritual pursuits are complementary as such mundane activities are not left to chance but guided by sharia to enhance the chances of spiritual salvation. To establish this, the paper largely relies on the Holy Quran and Hadith and other complementary sources of data. Istikhlaf (vicegerency), Tauhid (Oneness and Uniqueness of Allah) and ukhuwah (Brotherhood) are regarded as the main guiding concepts or precepts behind activities which …

When Black Meets White In The Heart Of Worship: A Case-Study Of Musical Changes In A Multiracial Church, Serge Volpe

Masters Theses

The Worldwide Church of God began as a denomination relying on certain Jewish practices and other Euro-centric distinctions to define its' identity. In the New York City area, African-American churchgoers exceeded that of whites; yet church liturgy retained its European-American flavor. When the denomination underwent transformation in the 1990s, many congregants were unable to accept changes, including new musical styles, and reacted in a manner inconsistent with what church leaders had hoped for. This thesis examines what some African-Americans experienced during this period when liturgy changed to include music representative of their culture. Interviews were conducted with African-American churchgoers from …

Sideways Leadership: Perceptions Of The Senior Pastor’S Transformational Leadership Style And Its Relationship To Church Effectiveness, Donald D. Rumley

Great Commission Research Journal

What if research could demonstrate how a more collaborative or transformational approach to church leadership had a positive impact on the overall effectiveness of the church? Would pastors adjust their leadership style, and would seminaries expand their pastoral training curriculum? Research continues to affirm the importance of leadership in the health and effectiveness of organizations from multiple contexts. Everything from schools to politics shows the need for leadership. Yet, little quantitative research has been done to see the impact of leadership within the church arena. Is it possible that leadership style correlates to the effectiveness of corporate America but has …

Closing Our Doors: Ten Reasons To Consider Why Your Church May Be In Trouble . . . And What To Do, Danny R. Von Kanel

Great Commission Research Journal

1) Motivation/problem statement: Churches across America are in decline. This article points out ten possible reasons a person’s church may be soon closing its doors and offers possible solutions. 2) Methods/procedure/approach: I used my experience and several recent research surveys by Barna Research, Faith Communities Today 2005 Survey, and the Leavell Church Growth Center to present a variety of church door slammers. 3) Results/Findings/product: If churches will take note of these door slammers and use the suggested solutions listed, they can address each and turn their church around. 4) Conclusion/implications: If churches want to be healthy in the truest sense …

Building Self-Replicating Core Teams For Church Planting, J. R. Miller

Great Commission Research Journal

“Building Self-Replicating Core Teams for Church Planting” will assist church planters in building more effective teams that can reproduce themselves in the second-generation leadership of the church. The article begins with a summary of the problem in building self-replicating core teams and continues with a look at the example of the apostle Paul’s church planting ministry. The article goes on to share the results from a survey of highly experienced church planters in the United States. It concludes by presenting a list of key components necessary for building core teams for church planting. The principles were shown through research to …

Book Review: Understanding Your Mormon Neighbor By Ross Anderson, Travis S. Kerns

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

The Engagement Of Newcomers In Church Attendance: Theological And Case Study Research From Australia, Ian Hussey

Great Commission Research Journal

Church attendance, as a percentage of population, is declining in Australia. However, the Australian National Church Life Survey (NCLS) has identified a number of churches that have large percentages of what the NCLS calls “newcomers”—those who have joined their church in the previous five years and had not previously attended a church. This article reports on theological and sociological case study research into newcomers, the process of engagement, and the churches with which they engage. A model of church engagement in the first century churches is identified and its effectiveness in twenty-first century Australia confirmed.

Book Review: The Ethics Of Evangelism: A Philosophical Defense Of Proselytizing And Persuasion By Elmer John Theissen, Thomas P. Johnston

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Book Review: Leading Small Groups With Purpose: Everything You Need To Lead A Healthy Group By Steve Gladen, Robert L. Turner

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.