Religion Commons^™

A Tender Turning Point, Debra Rienstra

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Last Sunday, my congregation voted overwhelmingly to disaffiliate from the Christian Reformed Church. We had already gone through a long process of discernment to get to this point, so there was a little tension in the room. We knew what was going to happen. We were ready.

Excavations On The Southwestern Margins Of Giv‘Ati Parking Lot, Jerusalem: Markers Of Byzantine–Early Islamic Transition (Pp. 303–338), Yana Tchekhanovets

'Atiqot

The small-scale excavation on the southwestern margins of Giv‘ati Parking Lot exposed important findings dating to the transition between the Byzantine and Early Islamic periods. A flagstone-paved street dating from the Byzantine period was exposed, representing one of the major thoroughfares of Jerusalem that served an important pilgrimage route. This street ceased to exist at the beginning of the Early Islamic period when the function of the area changed from residential to industrial. The remains of a small-scale metallurgical workshop, including numerous copper alloy fragments, metal slags, pottery crucible fragments and large amounts of ash, were dated to the Umayyad …

The Glass Finds From The Monastery At Har Ḥoma (Pp. 293–295), Tamar Winter

'Atiqot

The excavation of the monastic complex at Har Ḥoma yielded 25 glass finds, including vessel and windowpane fragments. The finds are characteristic of the sixth–seventh centuries CE, similar to assemblages of glass vessels and windowpanes discovered in contemporary monastic complexes in Jerusalem and its vicinity. The distribution of the glass finds within the complex sheds light on its architecture and operation.

A Byzantine-Period Monastery At Har Ḥoma, Between Jerusalem And Bethlehem (Pp. 257–292), Yehiel Zelinger

'Atiqot

Excavations on the northern slope of a high hill southeast of the Har Ḥoma neighborhood revealed a single-phased, sixth–seventh-century CE Byzantine coenobium monastery, and several quarries and agricultural installations. The monastery comprised a central courtyard surrounded by rooms, a chapel and a winepress. This monastery was small, probably inhabited by a community of about 20 monks. Most of the finds from the site––pottery, glass and coins––date to the Byzantine–Early Islamic periods, up to the eighth century CE. The complex resembles other contemporary monasteries located between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, the two holiest cities of Christianity.

Remains From The Late Byzantine, Early Islamic, Mamluk And Late Ottoman Periods In Ẓahal Square Tunnel, Jerusalem (Pp. 193–210), Shlomit Weksler-Bdolah

'Atiqot

An excavation conducted at Ẓahal Square, outside and west of the Old City wall of Jerusalem, uncovered remains dating from the late Byzantine–Umayyad to the late Ottoman period, revealing evidence of Jerusalem’s urban expansion in different periods and its fortifications. The earliest remains are a Greek inscription, etched in bedrock during the late Byzantine–Umayyad period. Hewn walls of a deep moat and remains of a forewall from the late Early Islamic period were uncovered, allowing for a reconstruction of Jerusalem’s fortification system along the northwestern corner of the Old City. The city walls and the moat fell into disuse after …

A Lead Pilgrimage Ampulla From ‘Akko’S Crusader Harbor, Jacob Sharvit, Bridget Buxton, William H. Krieger, Dror Planer, Ofra Barkai

'Atiqot

A medieval mold-made lead pilgrimage ampulla was retrieved in an underwater excavation in the port of ‘Akko. It exhibits molded ribbing, resembling a scallop shell or drawstring purse on one side, and an aniconic quatrefoil petal on the other. Such mass-produced, budget-friendly, lead pilgrim ampullae are well-known in medieval Christianity, probably reflecting an insatiable desire for holy relics. Certain characteristics of the ampulla may suggest that it was locally produced in ‘Akko. In the Crusader period, ‘Akko was the major maritime gateway in and out of the Holy Land for European pilgrims, and the ‘Akko ampulla may have arrived at …

Church Attendance, Gender Roles, And Human Sexuality, Derek D. Goodrich

2025 Fall Honors Capstones Projects - Archive

This research examines how the frequency of religious attendance impacts views on gender roles and sexuality in Christian subgroups in the United States. Prior research on the varying worldviews of American Christians has revealed a diverse group of opinions that cannot be explained solely by denominational affiliation. Based on social identity theory, this study explores whether the frequency of attendance at religious services influences congregants’ beliefs on six issues: legalization of gay marriage, the acceptance of homosexuality in society, the acceptance of transgender people, whether a parent should stay home with the children, which parent should stay home, and women …

The Prophetic Role Of The Church In The Associations Of Nagaland Baptist Churches Council (Nbcc) To Address The State Of Morality And Spiritual Transformation In The Land, Imti Lithrongla

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Higher Calling: How Christian Student Affairs Administrators Integrate Their Faith While Working At Public Community Colleges, Danielle J. Ward

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

The cornerstone of the student affairs field was the intentional focus on holistic student development, their mind and spirit. The problem addressed was that many student affairs professionals felt ill-equipped and uncomfortable discussing and expressing their personal faith at some institutions of higher education. As a result, some were hesitant about integrating faith at work, personally and professionally. The study sought to identify faith's role in Christian student affairs administrators who worked at public open-admission community colleges and the administrators’ perceptions of how their personal faith integration at work impacted their relationships with students and colleagues. The paradigm for …

Exploring Spiritual Leadership Theory's Beneficial Member Outcomes By Women Who Founded And Lead Nonprofit Evangelical Christian Organizations, Barrie Milton Lewis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem under investigation has two facets: the lack of testing the Spiritual Leadership Theory (SLT) in religious organizations and the lack of any study of Christian women who lead the nonprofit evangelical ministry organization or the classical Christian education (CCE) school they founded or cofounded. This qualitative phenomenological study addressed this problem by exploring the phenomenon of beneficial member outcomes from SLT’s practice by these women who lead those Christian organizations. The literature review includes SLT’s compatibility with Christian leadership and an extensive analysis of the biblical, theological, and historical literature concerning the leadership role of women in the …

Sing A New Song: Analyzing A Cappella Arrangements Of Contemporary Worship Music, Ashley S. Cox

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Music is indispensable to Christian worship services, and pop/rock-influenced contemporary worship music (CWM) serves an important role in modern worship. This thesis explores strategies for arranging CWM for a cappella settings by comparing the originals with two a cappella arrangements: one intended for group performance and the other for congregational worship. This will be accomplished through examining the following five songs: “Hymn of Heaven,” “Raise a Hallelujah,” “Build Your Kingdom Here,” “Psalm 34 (Taste and See),” and “Battle Belongs.” Analysis of elements such as form, texture, harmony, and rhythm reveals many arranging techniques. The songs are categorized by the level …

Reforming Criminal Justice: A Christian Proposal (Book Review), Benjamin Gibson

Pro Rege

Reviewed Title: Reforming Criminal Justice: A Christian Proposal by Matthew Martens. Crossway, 2023. 416 pp. ISBN: 9781433581823.

The Phenomenological Effects Of Fidel Castro’S Communist Revolution On The Christian Church In Cuba, Daniel Orama

Masters Theses

The claims that religious freedom in Cuba can coexist alongside the Communist, Marxist, Socialist regime without hindrance contradicts the Word of God and eyewitness testimonies of those who serve in the Cuban Christian church. Church pastors in Cuba often suffer imprisonment as long as twenty years before being allowed to return to their homes and communities. This study regains the views of countless pastors and those serving in churches throughout Cuba, whose opinions concerning Christians who put themselves in harm’s way against the communist authorities are expurgated. Using the qualitative research paradigm, this study utilizes qualitative artistic and creative research …

Does The Doctrine Of "Separation Of Church And State" Matter?: Examining The Experiences Of Black Christian Families In Massachusetts Public School System, Stephanie Denise Okwudi

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Students have full freedom under the law to practice religion in public schools. This is especially important for Black students, for whom religion has been shown to improve academic achievement and to mitigate many stressors they face. However, due to misinterpretations of the “separation of church and state” (or the “establishment clause” of the First Amendment), schools may inadvertently suppress the religious freedom of students instead of actively providing a safe space for religious practice. For this research, a single embedded intrinsic case study was conducted to determine how the separation of church and state doctrine manifested in the experiences …

Identity Congruence Among Christian Coaches: A Grounded Theory Approach, Sean M. Strehlow

Movement and Being: The Journal of the Christian Society for Kinesiology, Leisure and Sports Studies

Despite the tight coupling between Christianity and American sport, empirical research has found a level of tension between the Christian identity and the moral culture of athletic competition (Bennet et al., 2005; Nite et al., 2013; Stevenson, 1991). Existing research has focused on the identity of the Christian athlete; however, there is scant empirical work on coaches who also claim a Christian faith and identity. The purpose of this grounded theory study is to better understand identity congruence as a process through which Christian coaches make sense of, and find coherence among, their Christian and professional identities. Qualitative data from …

Individualism And A False Christ, Benjamin Wagner

Grapho : Concordia Seminary Student Journal

I once sat down with a well-read church historian to inquire about what makes the American Church distinct from those of the past two millennia in Christian tradition. Instead of rambling on about megachurches, televangelists, the prosperity Gospel, Christian liberalism, or anything of the sort, I received a rather blunt and uneventful answer. Immediately after my mouth closed, the historian replied, “The American Church is very individualistic.” From there, the conversation drifted into the fall of Christianity in the West, the rise of secularism, and the general spiritual deadness permeating the atmosphere of America. In the Historian’s mind, there was …

The Beginnings Of Jewish Missions In The Lcms, Jaron Melin

Grapho : Concordia Seminary Student Journal

Mission is the theological account of the relationship between the church and the world. Where are the Jews in this relationship? If the church and the Jews had a relationship status on Facebook, then it might say, “It’s complicated.” This may be true of any kind of missions, but this shows itself to be especially true in Lutheran history and in particular LCMS-history. I look at the histories as recorded by Meyer, Lieske, Cohen, Parviz, and others on the early history of Jewish Missions in the LCMS, and I reflect on the context and theology behind them using missiologists like …

The Holy Spirit As The Undiminished Giver In The Early Church, Kyle Weeks

Grapho : Concordia Seminary Student Journal

At one time or another, virtually every churchgoing Christian is bound to hear the moniker of “Sanctifier” applied to the Holy Spirit. In this role, the Spirit is often described as dwelling within believers to make them holy, so that they might produce the “fruit of the spirit” as they lead good and godly lives.2 To that end, the Spirit is said to effect a complete “regeneration and renewal” of the individual, empowering them with the strength, grace, virtues, and other “spiritual gifts” requisite for Christian life.3 In denominations such as Lutheranism, faith itself is proclaimed to be impossible without …

Equipping For Impact : Assessing Onboarding Strategies For Church Planting Success, Andrew Brown

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Burnout Prevention In Christian Public And Private Middle School Leaders: A Qualitative Study, Rhonda Grider Purchase

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There is a momentous problem in academic settings today regarding stress and burnout among academic school leaders (Francis et al., 2017). The focus of this study was to examine the prevention of professional stress in the lives of middle school academic leaders. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of what the selected participants believed was the prevention of stress and burnout in middle school leaders in Newton County, Georgia. For this study, school leaders were defined as certified principals who hold a bachelor’s level or above degree and contribute to the academic environment …

Review Of Introduction To Spirituality: Cultivating A Lifestyle Of Faithfulness, Justin R. Bamba

Liberty Theological Review

Tyra, Gary. Introduction to Spirituality: Cultivating a Lifestyle of Faithfulness. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2023. 189 pages. $24.99

Prayer’S Effect On Love And Respect In Christian Married Couples, Gabrielle Knorr Keenum

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study explored the relationship of Christian religious couples between marital prayer, either with spouse or for spouse, and the Biblical directive found in the New Testament that husbands and wives should both love and respect their spouse. Previous research is explored which finds multiple benefits religiosity and prayer have upon a couple’s relationship. The benefits of religiosity include couples view marriage as sacred and God as their moral authority which produces higher marital satisfaction and marital commitment. Benefits of relational prayer include increased trust, increased marital satisfaction, increased forgiveness, higher ability to resolve marital conflict, lower marital infidelity, higher …

Imperfect Church, Perfect God, Claire N. Barr

Honors Projects

Jesus’ death on the cross demonstrates the most radical act of love. So when the church, which is biblically supposed to reflect Jesus’ love, causes pain and disagreements, there is no doubt as to why people choose to leave, completely stay away from the church, or lose their faith altogether. Despite this, the solution remains in Jesus. Through His ministry represented in scripture, one can see the way in which the church is called to care for the world. Despite this, the church has come short of Jesus’ example, often skewing people’s perspective on Christ. When on Earth, Jesus defied …

Psychology: Religious Conflicts Amongst A Christian Campus, Cole Peterson, Alyssa Shearing, Sydney Willis, Melody Alvarez

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

The current study seeks to develop and validate a quantitative measure of religion on a Christian campus. As the influence of religion in multiple aspects of the world continues to evolve, it becomes increasingly important to gain an understanding of the experiences of college students within a Christian campus. It has been found that “exposure to new ideas that college provides were thought to lead students to question and ultimately abandon their traditional religious beliefs” (Maryl & Oeur, 2009). More research regarding the effect of religion specifically on a Christian campus is needed; therefore, a reliable and valid psychometric scale …

Servant Leadership Within The Haitian Churches In The Northeastern United States Of America, Marie M. Felix-Paul

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological study assessed potential solid abstract ways to empower Haitian Christian leaders by applying the concept of servant leadership to safeguard a productive church system in the Haitian American Christian community. A phenomenological approach is defined as “A study that attempts to understand people’s perceptions and perspectives relative to a particular situation” (Creswell & Creswell, 2018, p. 119). A phenomenological study seeks to answer the question, “What is it like to experience such and such?” (Creswell & Creswell, 2018, p. 119). Therefore, the phenomenological design was considered to better understand Haitian leaders’ awareness about servant leadership. The findings …

Ancient Christian Writings Available

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

The long-awaited first volume of Doubleday's landmark publication of the Pseudepigrapha is off the press - and the best deal anywhere for getting a copy is through FARMS.

A Christian Response To The Restrictions Of Girls' Education In Afghanistan Under The Taliban Regime: How Kuyperian Insight Requires Theological And Embodied Engagement, Jaelyn Dragt

Pro Rege

Jaelyn Dragt, a Dordt University junior, majoring in Social Work and Community Development and minoring in Theology, submitted this essay to the Lambertus Verburg Prize for Excellence in Kuyperian Scholarship competition, 2023.

Review Of A Christian-Muslim Comparative Theology Of Saints: The Community Of God’S Friends, Ian Kipngeno, Habiba Abdi Dika

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Review: Christian Intercultural Communication, Andrew J. Ondo

Liberty Theological Review

A Review: Chang, C. Tim, and Ashley E. Chang. Christian Intercultural Communication: Sharing God’s Love with People of Other Cultures. Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt Publishing Company, 2021. 277 Pages. $82.11.

A Lutheran Perspective On Righteousness In China, Futao (Gary) Liu

Grapho : Concordia Seminary Student Journal

The recent history of China cannot get away from the impact of western thoughts and industrialization, including Democracy, Marxism, Republicanism, etc. For two millienium or so, the Chinese philosopher, Confucius (551–479 BCE), had dominated Chinese society through his philosophy (commonly called Confucianism) in every respect, from the hierarchical structures of governments and states to familial relations. Confucianism met its real challenge only in the recent history of China. At the collasping edge of the last feudal society (the Qing Dynasty which fell in 1911), patriotic Confucians had tried to bring what is useful of the West into traditional values and …