Religion Commons^™

Derrida's Religious Secret, Dylan Joseph Scott

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Derrida rethought the metaphysics of presence by deconstructing or rereading texts as literature according to the nonpresent play of différance. I present Derrida’s absolute secret as a distinct figure of nonpresence nowhere hidden and unknowable in principle. This absolute secret is reflected in the secret of literature: literature does not mean to say anything [ne pas vouloir dire]. It is also reflected in the secret of responsibility: every other (one) is every (bit) other [tout autre est tout autre]; one is absolutely responsible, in secret, to every other wholly other in secret. As figures of the nonpresent absolute secret, these …

Ib-Adat, Anum Naseer

Masters Theses

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The Invisible Health Care Provider: Informal Caregivers Within Medical And Faith Communitie, Dr. Julie Yonker, Erin Cawley, Joseph Devries, Elianah Reynolds

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

• Training – Professional Caregivers

• Training – Faith Community

• Training – Informal Caregivers

Reconstructing Belief: Understanding The Mental Health And Faith Development Of Adolescents, Ella Bivens

Christian Ministries Student Projects (All)

This content argues that a proper understanding of James Fowler’s Theory of Faith Development can help ministry workers, specifically youth group volunteers, better minister to the emotional and spiritual needs of students within the Church who are doubting and deconstructing their faith.

To Speak Or Stay Silent: The Church's Role In A Polarized Political World, Minju Yang

Political Studies Student Projects

This paper deals with what we have to do with politics as Christians in daily life.

Aphantasia And Religion: Exploring The Impact Of Imageless Cognition On Spiritual Experience, Reagan J. Pletcher

Selected Honors Theses

This study examines the intersection of aphantasia – the inability to consciously visualize mental images – and religious experience, here Christianity. Taking a phenomenological approach, qualitative interviews were conducted with three self-described aphantasic Christians to examine how they conceptualize, practice, and experience their faith. Thematic analysis revealed that participants employ abstract thinking, propositional thinking, and moral reasoning rather than visual imagery when engaging with religious texts, prayer, and worship. They valued intellectual and moral aspects of Christianity more than imaginative visualization, demonstrating that religion is not necessarily dependent on mental imagery to participate spiritually. While participants did refer to challenges …

Aphantasia And Religion: Exploring The Impact Of Imageless Cognition On Spiritual Experience, Reagan J. Pletcher

Selected Honors Theses

This study examines the intersection of aphantasia – the inability to consciously visualize mental images – and religious experience, here Christianity. Taking a phenomenological approach, qualitative interviews were conducted with three self-described aphantasic Christians to examine how they conceptualize, practice, and experience their faith. Thematic analysis revealed that participants employ abstract thinking, propositional thinking, and moral reasoning rather than visual imagery when engaging with religious texts, prayer, and worship. They valued intellectual and moral aspects of Christianity more than imaginative visualization, demonstrating that religion is not necessarily dependent on mental imagery to participate spiritually. While participants did refer to challenges …

"Do You Hear The People Sing?", Carrie J. Groenewold

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"Above all, we sing to glorify God and enjoy Him forever—'the chief end of man.'"

Posting about ­­­­­­­­singing as worship from In All Things, an online hub that offers insight into maintaining and faithful and orthodox Reformed Christian worldview while fearlessly engaging in every aspect of contemporary life – until all is made new.

"Do You Hear the People Sing?"

Raising Worshippers: Cultivating A Life Of Praise, Angela Perigo, Jeremy Perigo

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"One of the best things we can do for children in worship is to model what it means to be a worshiping community—especially on Sunday mornings, but also in other areas of life."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­faith formation in families from In All Things, an online hub that offers insight into maintaining and faithful and orthodox Reformed Christian worldview while fearlessly engaging in every aspect of contemporary life – until all is made new.

Raising Worshippers

Empowering Christian Schools Worldwide, Tim Van Soelen

The Voice

No abstract provided.

A Warm Welcome, Sarah Moss

The Voice

No abstract provided.

Augustine Of Hippo: On Justification By Faith, John Mauger

CGU Theses & Dissertations

This study aims to retrieve Augustine of Hippo’s view of ‘justification by faith’ from his theological writings from the 390s to the end of his career. Significant sources are his early, unfinished commentaries on Paul’s letters to the Romans and his completed commentary on Galatians. In these, Augustine provides essential groundwork for his understanding of the Apostle Paul’s view of ‘justification by faith’ and other related doctrines such as the work of Christ, the law, and God’s grace. I also examine both continuity and development across other relevant early-, mid-, and later-career writings. By asserting both comprehensiveness and consistency of …

Reading Through The Eyes Of Faith: Introducing A Catholic Literary Lens To The English Language Arts Classroom, Julia French, Michael Macaluso

Journal of Catholic Education

Despite the proliferation and use of literary lenses in English Language Arts classrooms, one lens still seems to be missing from theorization, formulation, and thus practical implementation: religion. This absence is well-noted in the field, as positive depictions of Christian themes in books are rare and religion is rarely discussed as an identity marker that fosters growth and development. This article attempts to address that absence in two ways: first by conceptualizing and developing a Catholic literary lens that could be used in middle and secondary classrooms and second by offering practical suggestions for using this Catholic lens in ELA …

Finding Peace Amidst Uncertainty, J. Anette Dennis

Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel

This BYU devotional emphasizes the power of faith and trust in Jesus Christ to bring us peace during chaotic times. Through personal anecdotes and testimonies, Sister Dennis illustrates how spiritual preparation and covenant relationships with God can provide protection, strength, and profound peace, even amidst life’s uncertainties and challenges. The address encourages individuals to build a firm spiritual foundation on our Savior, Jesus Christ, and trust in divine guidance to navigate life’s trials with confidence and resilience.

Interview With Byu–Hawaii President John Kauwe Iii, Fred E. Woods

Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel

This interview with President Kauwe traces Kauwe’s path from his time as a student at BYU to his appointment as the eleventh president of BYU–Hawaii. Kauwe shares insights into his Hawaiian heritage, academic and professional accomplishments, and his aspirations for the university. He underscores the vital role of faculty inbuilding students’ confidence, the distinct intercultural setting of BYU–Hawaii, and the centrality of the gospel in education. Reflecting on the rapid progression of his career, Kauwe also speaks about the importance of following divine guidance in our lives. The interview captures his dedication to promoting intercultural harmony and his deep testimony …

The Mystery Of Faith In Dialogue With The History Of God And Human Beings, Melissa Tovar-Guerrero

Obsculta

The mysteries of God are unfathomable, and for this reason theology uses analogies to express its meanings. The purpose of this paper is to develop some reflections on how I understand theology. To begin, I would like to make an analogy to highlight the importance of dialogue, stories, and their contexts in theology: we are made of stories, we are the stories we build with words, our contexts are determined by the way we dialogue, and stories shape the cosmogony that gives meaning to our lives. In the construction of stories, dialogues and contexts are fundamental because they connect the …

Oil And Wine: A Christian Reflection On The Sacred Oath, Faith Abraham

be Still

This essay explores the intersection of medicine, faith, and the deeper calling to heal. Reflecting on experiences at the Christian Community Health Fellowship (CCHF) Conference, it examines the weight of the physician’s oath—not just as a professional obligation, but as a sacred commitment to justice, dignity, and human connection.

Living With Quadriplegia: A Journey Of Personal And Professional Development, James Arkwright

Heroism Science

In this article, I provide an autoethnographic account of the discursive and narrative changes I have experienced and the agency I have found, following an accident thirty-seven years ago that resulted in permanent spinal cord injury. Initially losing my career and identity as a farmer, my hope and survival depended on adopting new frameworks of understanding – both in terms of the physical realities of living with incomplete quadriplegia and in becoming subjectively positioned quite differently than I was as an able-bodied male with farming knowledge and skills. In more recent years, as my spinal health and mobility have deteriorated, …

Faith Formation: Spiritual Gifts For Evangelism Outreach, Jacquelin Copeland

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis project addresses the gap in the literature concerning spiritual gifts for evangelism. This Doctor of Ministry action research project at Prevailing Word Ministries hypothesizes that if Prevailing Word Ministries fulfills the spiritual gifts for evangelism Bible study and training course, the Bible study participants will grow in faith and attendance. This was achieved through eight Bible study teaching and training sessions with questionnaires, journalling, a survey, and a focus group interview; assessments were made from answers given by the fourteen participants upon completing the eight online Zoom Bible study sessions. These assessments measured how successfully the intervention project …

Through Generations, Donald Roth

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"What can I do to see that, as far as I am able, my daughter will share the same longing for God and the same fire for the next generation that my grandmother had?"

Posting about passing on a legacy of faith from In All Things, an online hub that offers insight into maintaining and faithful and orthodox Reformed Christian worldview while fearlessly engaging in every aspect of contemporary life – until all is made new.

Through Generations

On Agriculture And Faith, Jeremy Hummel, Meghan Jones, John Olthoff, Sarah Moss

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"Food is beyond just the physical nourishment for the body. It’s a provision from God for us to live and to be able to be in community."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­feeding the world Christianly from In All Things, an online hub that offers insight into maintaining and faithful and orthodox Reformed Christian worldview while fearlessly engaging in every aspect of contemporary life – until all is made new.

On Agriculture and Faith

Politics: Asking For A Friend, Michael Kearney

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"Politics is fundamentally a matter of how we live together with others."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­navigating political differences from In All Things, an online hub that offers insight into maintaining and faithful and orthodox Reformed Christian worldview while fearlessly engaging in every aspect of contemporary life – until all is made new.

Politics: Asking for a Friend

Living Christianly: Under The Lordship Of Christ, Everything Matters, Leah A. Zuidema

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"I want to proclaim that Jesus is Lord, and when I say that the Lordship of Christ matters in every area of life, I want to be ready with specific examples about what it means to live Christianly."

Posting about working towards Christ-centered renewal in all areas of life from In All Things, an online hub that offers insight into maintaining a faithful and orthodox Reformed Christian worldview while fearlessly engaging in every aspect of contemporary life—until all is made new.

Living Christianly

The Qualitative Study Of The African American Pastors' Perceptions Of Marriage And Family Therapists, De Angela Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study investigates African American pastors' perceptions regarding mental health practitioners' roles. The research aims to comprehend the perspectives and experiences of ten participants, allowing them to select the location for data collection. This study investigates the relationship between interpretive phenomenon analysis and the perceptions of African American pastors using the hermeneutic phenomenology framework established by influential thinkers such as Husserl, Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty, and Sartre (Smith et al., 2022). As a philosophical discipline, phenomenology emphasizes the importance of an individual's lived experiences and worldview. Husserl, Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty, and Sartre have contributed to this discipline by emphasizing the inseparable relationship …

لدين في اختبار المال (نموذج: أموال الكنيسة الزمنيّة والأوقاف المارونيّة), ميـلاد الدويهي

Horizons et Conjonctures

خلاصة

يتناول المقال العلاقة التكاملية بين الدين والمال، مؤكدًا عدم التعارض بينهما، بل الحاجة الماسّة إلى أغنياء يستخدمون أموالهم في خدمة الفقراء ويعتبرون البشر إخوة. للكنيسة الحق في التملّك واستخدام الأموال لتحقيق أهدافها الروحية والخيرية، وإعالة خدّامها. وعلى الرغم من تميّز النصوص الكنسيّة، كالمجمع البطريركي الماروني وقوانين الكنائس الشرقيّة، في تنظيم أموال الكنيسة والأوقاف، يأسف الكاتب للنقص في التطبيق العملي. واليوم أكثر من أيّ وقت مضى، تُدعى الكنيسة إلى المساهمة في تحرير الإنسان، والمحافظة على كرامته، ونشر السلام، وتعزيز العدالة الاجتماعية والتنمية.‏

كلمات مفتاحيّة

أموال الكنيسة الزمنيّة، الوقف، الدين، الإيمان، الفقراء، الهجرة، التضامن، التنمية، التحرير‏

Résumé

L’article aborde la complémentarité …

Marianist Holistic Education: Bridging Divides For The Common Good, Katrina Kelly Wicker

Research and Reflection on Learning and Teaching in Higher Education

Bridging Divides for the Common Good seeks to rediscover and redefine the essence of holistic education within the Marianist tradition, with a steadfast commitment to understanding what a holistic Marianist education is. Key objectives include benchmarking perspectives of both students and staff on the facets of holistic education imbued with the Marianist spirit and integrating pedagogical strategies that incorporate ongoing assessments and dialogues to uphold these principles effectively. The article explores building cultural competence to create an educational environment that is inclusive and safe. The article highlights the importance of incorporating the Five Characteristics of a Marianist education into curricula …

Avoiding Getting Lost In The Weeds: A Few Thoughts On Teaching Christianly, David J. Mulder

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

No abstract provided.

Grapho 2025, Kyle Moellenhoff

Grapho : Concordia Seminary Student Journal

The theme for this year’s journal, “With Eyes of Faith,” was selected to fit with the Seminary’s theme for the academic year, “Let us Fix our Eyes on Jesus.” As I pondered this theme it was the word “eyes” that stood out most. The Lutheran tradition, with its rich theology of the proclaimed Word, tends to focus heavily on the ears. After all, Paul says that “faith comes from hearing” (Rom 10:17). But with all this salutary emphasis on hearing, we should not neglect the role that the eyes play in the life of faith.

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 …

Letter From The Chairman, Kyle Moellenhoff

Grapho : Concordia Seminary Student Journal

The theme for this year’s journal, “With Eyes of Faith,” was selected to fit with the Seminary’s theme for the academic year, “Let us Fix our Eyes on Jesus.” As I pondered this theme it was the word “eyes” that stood out most. The Lutheran tradition, with its rich theology of the proclaimed Word, tends to focus heavily on the ears. After all, Paul says that “faith comes from hearing” (Rom 10:17). But with all this salutary emphasis on hearing, we should not neglect the role that the eyes play in the life of faith.