Religion Commons^™

Science Vs. Faith - Still A False Dichotomy: A Short Reply To Arnold Sikkema, Sacha Walicord

Pro Rege

No abstract provided.

Philanthropy From The Perspective Of The Holy Quran: A Case Study Among Muslim Community In Gansu Province, China, Zhan Qin Mao

Student Works (2020-2029)

It is Allah s commands being the main motivation and reason for people to seek philanthropy according to Islamic sharia. The study aims at clarifying the conceptual and jurisprudential framework of philanthropy by among the Mu Jim Community in Gansu Province in China. The theoretical par1 of this study was based on the descriptive and historical approaches, while the empirical side is based on analytical approach. This was done by using questionnaire as a research instrument through which data was collected by targeting a sample of those engaged in charitable work in the charities and centres in Gansu. The study …

Scientific Quranic Exegesis Via Internet: A Comparative Analysis Of Abdul Daem Alkaheel And Zaghloul El-Naggar Approaches In Their Websites, Afandi Lukman

Student Works (2020-2029)

With the rapid progress and development of information and communication technology (JCT), teaching and learning of the Quranic exegesis can be enhanced through the web page. Nevertheless, this does not mean a person can interpret it according to their own thinking. They are still bound by principles and rules which were suggested by well known scholars in this field. Likewise, scholars have put general guidelines of the scientific Quranic exegesis to ensure that those in this line will not go beyond their capability in understanding the Quranic texts. To relate the Quranic verses with scientific findings has its own guidelines …

Bloodied Hearts And Bawdy Planets: Greco-Roman Astrology And The Regenerative Force Of The Feminine In Shakespeare’S The Winter’S Tale, Christina E. Farella

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This thesis offers a new reading of William Shakespeare’s late play The Winter’s Tale (1623), positing that in order to understand this complex and eccentric work, we must read it with a complex and eccentric eye. In The Winter’s Tale, planets strike without warning, pulling at hearts, wombs, and blood, impacting the health and emotional experience of characters in the play. This work is renowned for its inconsistent formal structure; the first half is a tragedy set in winter, but abruptly shifts to a comedy set in spring/summer in its latter half. What’s more, is that planets, luminaries, and …

The International Rise Of Afro-Brazilian Modernism In The Age Of African Decolonization And Black Power, Abigail Lapin Dardashti

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Two competing artistic representations of Brazilian blackness emerged from 1966 to 1988. The first began in 1966 when the Brazilian government positioned itself as a leading diplomatic partner for newly independent African nations by showcasing black Brazilian art in West Africa. Through exhibitions, the Brazilian Foreign Ministry aimed to highlight the country’s presumed homogeneous identity and absence of racism. The second definition arose through the work of artists inspired by U.S. social rights activism, who founded Brazil’s civil rights movement in 1975. Brazilian artist-activists combined symbolism from U.S. Black Power, African liberation movements, and Afro-Brazilian culture to denounce racism in …

Shock And Awe, Sectarianism, And Violence In Iraq Post-2003, Sarim Al-Rawi

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The violence systematically deployed upon the prosperous nation of Iraq in 2003 was directly influenced by the Shock and Awe doctrine set forth by Harlan K. Ullman and James P. Wade in their 1996 book Shock and Awe: Achieving Rapid Dominance. The experimental methods of warfare and violence outlined in the text describe methods for the systematic destruction of every major aspect of a nation and society, militarily, economically, and socially. In the wake of the US Invasion of Iraq, we saw the direct implementation of these methods by the occupation forces, setting off a brutal cycle of violence that …

In Search Of Trojan Horses: The United Nations Culture War, Patricia Ackerman

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation examines the expanding influence of the religious Right at the UN, building on extant scholarship on the role of the culture war at the UN. This scholarship has tracked the increasing presence of the religious Right following the Beijing World Conference on Women and the Cairo Conference of Population and Development. Since that time, there has been a systematic and strategic movement against LGBT human rights and sexual and reproductive health and rights. The religious Right influence UN discourse, documents, and global policy in favor of their agenda. This conflict manifests in a frenzied media and policy battle …

(Re)Inscribing Meaning: Embodied Religious-Spiritual Practices At Croagh Patrick And Our Lady’S Island, Ireland, Richard Scriven, Eoin O'Mahony

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Responding to calls for critical interrogations of pilgrimages, our paper examines how different religious meanings are (re)inscribed in spaces through the performance of annual events in a post-secular context. This focus reveals how pilgrims’ embodied practices are fundamental to continuing definitions of these locations as sacred places. Using accounts of the Croagh Patrick and Our Lady’s Island pilgrimages in Ireland, we trace the movement of people in these spaces focusing on how meanings are forged, refracted, and challenged through the performances. These mass embodiments assert traditional understandings of Christian worship and looser spiritual interpretations, while simultaneously involving secular concerns. The …

St. Francis Borgia Deaf Center Church Bulletin, May 31, 2020

Saint Francis Borgia Deaf Center Church Bulletin

A newsletter published for Deaf Catholics in Chicago, IL

Saint Francis Brogia Deaf Center Church Bulletin Finding Aid

St. Benedict Parish For The Deaf Church Bulletin, May 31, 2020

Saint Benedict Parish for the Deaf Church Bulletin

A newsletter published for Deaf Catholics in San Francisco, CA

Saint Benedict Parish for the Deaf Church Bulletin Finding Aid

Kuasa Atas Ruang Pembebasan’: The Resilience Ofwomen In Sasak Culture, Lucky Wijayanti

International Review of Humanities Studies

The Sasak tribe on Lombok island - West Nusa Tenggara, have traditional values and are applied through the social structure of their communities in daily life. Some existing customary values place women in irreplaceable positions. Even so, the existence of financial needs makes them work abroad as laborers, which indirectly results in the occurrence of divorce and early marriage. This is a problem for Sasak women in terms of survival in the Sasak culture. An ethnographic approach derived from Malinowski, the opinion of Svasek, and the value system framework from Kluckhohn are used in this study. This research concludes that …

Bombadil And Bible Stories: A Biblical Function For Tom Bombadil Within Frodo’S Quest, Clive Shergold

Journal of Tolkien Research

This essay probes the purpose of the encounter between Tom Bombadil and Frodo and his friends, within the overall narrative of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. It asks: Why do the hobbits encounter Tom at this point in their journey? Why does Tom rescue, care for, equip and send them on? Why does Tom not accompany them further, and why does he never meet them again? Then it proposes an explanation based on comparisons with Bible stories that include theophanies and angelic appearances, and shown to provide answers to the questions, and suggestions for Tom Bombadil’s wider …

Reclaiming Lilith As A Strong Female Role Model, Kendra Levine

Senior Theses

We live in an increasingly patriarchal society, and in order for women to not only survive in our society, but thrive, they need strong female role models. Now the question is, how do we find strong female role models? The field of Religious Studies can be used to uncover said female role models by way of examining mythology and ancient texts. Perhaps one of the most unexpected role models to come out of this examination is Lilith. She is unexpected because her story is often told in a deeply negative way, and her portrayal in both mythology and rabbinical …

Biblical Friendship In Historical, Theological, And Practical Perspective: Aelred As Paradigmatic Model For Christian Friendship, Hank Voss

Essays

No abstract provided.

Homeward Bound, Kyle Peruch

LSU Master's Theses

This paper explores agency and opposition as the underlining themes in the artworks of Homeward Bound. Both doctrines are important religious teachings that I have used to explore artistic ideas such as tension, balance and perspective. Each artwork displays a point of view on how I have confronted opposition in my lifetime. The sculptures are also meant to offer a sense of encouragement and hope to the viewer as they analyze each piece of art.

"Are You For Us Or For Our Enemies?" Making Decisions Among Contested Meanings, Justin Bailey

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"Mask-wearing has become one more case study of our well-publicized polarization, one that probably anticipates a coming conflict over the details of how we reopen our churches."

Posting about the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and political ideologies from In All Things - an online journal for critical reflection on faith, culture, art, and every ordinary-yet-graced square.

https://inallthings.org/are-you-for-us-or-for-our-enemies-making-decisions-amid-contested-meanings/

Selections From & The Process Of Creating "My Blue Scarf: The Story Of Ruth, A New Play", Abigail Jane Ayulo

Honors Projects

My Blue Scarf: The Story of Ruth, A New Play, provides an adaptation of the Hebrew Book of Ruth that is focused on minority and female voices and experiences. It employs Hebrew poetic verse forms to pay homage to the story’s origins. This style contributes to diversity of voices in English-speaking theatre outside of Western poetics. My Blue Scarf shares a well- known and multicultural story to contribute to the diversity of contemporary American theatre and promote conversation about cross-cultural relationships in a time of division and prejudice. This project consists of eight selected scenes from the larger play and …

Brother John, August Turak

Obsculta

Recipient of the prestigious $100,000 Templeton Prize, Brother John is the true story of a magical Christmas encounter between the author, going through a midlife crisis, and an umbrella wielding Trappist monk. Uplifting, deeply moving, and set in the magnificent Trappist monastery of Mepkin Abbey, Brother John leads us to the redemptive power of an authentically purposeful life.

Dreamers X Doers, Courtney Horstman

Obsculta

The primary themes within Dreamers X Doers revolve around the need for social justice and the lack of collaboration between those who are doers and those who only dream of an ideal world. As a dreamer, I emphasize the desire for fellow dreamers to rise up and bring about the change they know needs to happen. I address the tendency of dreamers to live inside their own minds and to procrastinate, but I also make known the capacity for these dreamers to take part in the efforts towards social change that they feel so passionately about. All in all, dreamers …

Cistercian Order In Vietnam - Advantages And Challenges, John Toan V. Phan

Obsculta

Cistercian Order in Vietnam was found by a missionary-priest in 1918. Originally, it was a diocesan congregation with its name “Notre Dame of Annam.” In 1936 the congregation of “Notre Dame of Annam” joined Cistercian Order and became Cistercian Congregation of Holy Family. In this article, father John Phan talks about the history of Cistercian Order in Vietnam with its advantages and disadvantages but he puts it in the broader context of the monastic tradition and Vietnamese culture to indicate the continuity of monastic tradition and some distinguish factors of the Cistercian Order in Vietnam

Mitre And Sword: Fighting Norman Bishops And Clergy, Timothy R. Martin

Obsculta

This thesis examines Norman bishops and abbots, either as armed combatants, or commanders of military forces in Normandy, and later in England after 1066. Focusing primarily on the roles of bishops, other accounts of martial feats by other Norman clergy are also examined. The use of justified force and later the sanctioned use of violence by secular clergy is explored to better understand the rational perceived by the clergy when acting as ‘soldiers of God. These accounts of Norman bishops participating in combat show a natural progression of a tradition that was discouraged by reformers but embraced by secular rulers.

Lectio Of Surprises, Kathleen A. Cahalan

Obsculta

This is a short piece I wrote for Saint Paul Monastery’s Benedictine Center on lectio divina. It was posted on their blog in November 2019. I lead their School of Lectio Divina, a 6-day silent retreat, and wrote this piece about my own lectio practice. It included 3 pictures, which could not be uploaded in the document in this format. I’m happy to send them to you if you want this piece

The Shoemaker, Meghan E. Stretar

Obsculta

Storytelling has always captivated my attention and strikes me as being an incredible tool in which to deepen the understanding of the Gospel message. This piece begins “once upon a time there was a man named Herschel...”. Herschel is an imaginary character born out of the imagination of my childhood priest. He is brought back to life in this homily written for Christ the King Sunday.

Unknown, Katryna Bertucci

Obsculta

“Unknown” explores inner emotions about death and the other side, artistically representing self-discovery and faith with “unknown” aspects of the afterlife as the theme. Death is a perplexing yet imminent part of our lives and experiences. This series calls to attention the idea that the unknown can be seen with a sense of fear or with a feeling of peace; the choice is up to us. There is also no black and white answer, only stages of middle gray. Not knowing what truly comes ahead, I am working on surrendering to the mystery and faith of it all.

Ministering To Survivors Of Sexual Trauma, Leah Wakefield

Obsculta

To what extent do ministers-in-training feel equipped to serve survivors of sexual trauma? Considering sexual trauma is a sensitive and complicated topic, education is key to understanding sexual violence and the ramifications on survivors- spiritually, mentally, and physically. To understand the problem of sexual violence, we must look at the psychological theory of congruence to understand victimization. We must look at how an incarnational view of theology frames the importance of physical healing, given the significance of Christ taking on flesh and living among us. Then we can develop an educational program assisting those working with survivors of sexual violence.

Poems By Jeffrey Wilkinson, Jeffrey Wilkinson

Obsculta

This is a selection of eight of my best poems. I think they all pretty much speak for themselves. These particular works span the last five years or so, in no particular order. I have pretty much always written poems, but only in the last five years do I consider that any of them began to start revealing a good quality. I usually only write a poem if I feel a particular urge to do so, and it’s never premeditated. Once I start, it might take a while to finish, perhaps an hour, but once it’s done I usually don’t …

“What Is That To You?”: The Johannine Community’S Beloved Disciple, Molly Kluever

Obsculta

Considering his significance within the Fourth Gospel, the Beloved Disciple’s absence within the synoptic gospels is puzzling. And as modern biblical scholars continue to challenge his traditional identification as John, Son of Zebedee, the question looms ever greater: Who – or, perhaps what – is the Beloved Disciple? Though his name may be lost to history, the character’s role within the gospel narrative still informs our understanding of the Christian community that sprung up around his testimony. This paper seeks to articulate how this unnamed disciple influenced the development of the Johannine Community’s unique theological identity

The Second Vatican Council And The Culture Of Dialogue: The Role Of Christian-Muslim Dialogue In Saint John’S School Of Theology And Seminary, Janice Kristanti

Obsculta

In the light of an increased population of Muslim communities in the United States and the long history of animosity between Islam and West Christianity, the essay notes the necessity for Christian-Muslim dialogue for world peace. Using Saint John’s School of Theology and Seminary, Collegeville as the case study, the author explains the need for incorporating courses in Islam in Saint John’s School of Theology and Seminary’s curriculum. Interfaith theology would prepare the students to engage in interreligious dialogue and be agents for world peace.

Mechthild Of Magdeburg, Hadewijch Of Brabant, And Marguerite Of Porete: The Annihilation Of The Soul And The Challenge To Church Authority, Ashley Odebiyi

Medieval Feminist Forum: A Journal of Gender and Sexuality

No abstract provided.

Loops, Jessika Satori

Obsculta

Imagine God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Mother Mary and a few of the saints in modern corporate attire placed in a modern corporate setting. The protagonist is waiting for the outcome of today’s discussion by the Holy Ones.