Religion Commons^™

Mostly Haunted: A Socio-Spatial Analysis Of Ghost Tourism In England And Wales, Tom Clark, Joseph O. Baker, Christoper D. Bader

Sociology Faculty Articles and Research

There is now a well-established literature on ghost tourism. However, much of this work examines aspects associated with the demand side of the industry, or the motivations and experiences of consumers. There are currently no studies that have sought to explore the supply of ghost tourism and the spatial, social, and economic relationships that exist between these places. Using Lower Tier Local Authorities (LTLAs) in England and Wales as the units of analysis, this study draws on a bespoke range of local government and Census data to examine the prevalence of ghost tourism and explore how these sites are differentiated …

Bot-Theology: Inviting, Prosperous, And (In)Authentic Community, Daniel Jesse

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

The paper analyzes the theology, emotions, and community formation of the bots who post on YouTube and the people who respond to them. The paper finds that the bots’ theology is evangelical, charismatic, and prosperity-oriented. The paper also finds that the people who respond to the bots are sincere, supportive, and expressive, and that they create a virtual community of faith that is joyful, hopeful, and trusting. The paper suggests that virtual gatherings of Christians need more scholarly attention and that more research is needed on the emotional formation and theological implications of these online interactions.

The Religious Root Of Humanity: Abraham Kuyper's Concept Of The Heart, Steve Bishop

Pro Rege

No abstract provided.

Faith's Multiple Meanings: Does The Author Of Hebrews Use "Faith" In The Same Manner As It Is Used In The Rest Of The New Testament?, Wayne Brouwer

Pro Rege

No abstract provided.

(Nuevo) Charla Pre-Bautismo, Elián Pérez

Bautismo

Charla pre-Bautismo

Alfred Russel Wallace Notes 39. What About Wallace's 'Agnosticism'...?, Charles H. Smith

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

Alfred Russel Wallace (1823−1913) seems to have distinguished his earlier years of agnosticism from his later period as a spiritualist, but a closer look at the situation suggests he actually remained an agnostic all the way through to the end of his life. The confusion is occasioned by a lack of terminology that can be applied to his position, which most closely resembles a Spinozian manner of thinking.

(Nuevo) Eb-Cuaresma, Elián Pérez

Estudios Bíblicos

EB-Cuaresm

"Not A Textbook, But... ": Political Theory And The Biblical Narrative, Richard Mouw

Pro Rege

No abstract provided.

"Where Art Thou?" Virtue, Duty, And The Voice Of/In Ethics In Jennifer A. Herdt's Assuming Responsibility: Ecstatic Eudaimonism And The Call To Live Well, Geoffrey Fulkerson

Pro Rege

Reviewed Title: Assuming Responsibility: Ecstatic Eudaimonism and the Call to Live Well by Jennifer A. Herdt. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2022. 267 pp. ISBN: 9780192849205

Tempest-Tossed: 50 Years Later, Carl P. Fictorie

Pro Rege

No abstract provided.

Frontmatter (Volume 46, Issue 3), Paul B. Mojzes

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

No abstract provided.

Love And Social Justice: A Review Essay, Christopher Garbowski

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Blessed Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński, Love and Social Justice: Reflections on Society, translated by Filip Mazurczak. Waterloo, On. Canada: Arouca Press, 2021. Pp 554. ISBN: 978-1-989905-90-6. Reviewed by Christopher Garbowski, Professor Emeritus of Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Poland, OPREE Advisory Board

From Doctrine To Practice: Shūrā-Centred Islamic Ethics For Sustainable Ecological Solutions, Fatima Dhanani, Cecilee Glaus Jones

Abdou Filali-Ansary Occasional Paper Series

This paper examines how Islamic ethics, when translated into lived practice, generate both moral frameworks and scalable solutions to pressing ecological challenges. Focusing on shūrā, tawḥīd, khilāfa, and taʿaddudiyya, and drawing on case studies of Stewardship Canada and the Aga Khan University’s Carbon Management Tool, the authors show how Islamic values move beyond doctrinal abstraction to guide institutional decision-making, programme design, and community engagement. More than treating ethics as fixed theological propositions, they frame them as negotiated, context-sensitive processes that align with ecological resilience, distributive justice, and economic viability.

Grounded in shūrā …

The Soviet Template And Its Application: Bulgarian State Policy Toward The Bulgarian Orthodox Church After 1944, Ventzislav Gueorgiev Karavaltchev

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article examines the adoption and implementation of Soviet models in Bulgarian state policy toward the Bulgarian Orthodox Church following the communist takeover on September 9, 1944. Situating the Bulgarian case within a broader comparative framework, the study traces key continuities between Soviet church–state relations after the October Revolution of 1917—particularly as was institutionalized during the Stalinist period—and their subsequent application in Bulgaria. Drawing on extensive archival materials from Bulgarian and Russian repositories, the article demonstrates that all major decisions concerning the Church were closely coordinated with, and often directly approved by, Moscow. Beyond repression and legal restriction, the analysis …

Countering Wahhabism And Promoting Religious Stability In Kazakhstan: Theological Insights From Qawam Ad-Din Al-Itqani, Rizabek Battaluly, Shamshadin Kerim, Nurlan Anarbayev, Ershat Vice-Rector Ongar

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Following Kazakhstan’s independence, the expansion of religious freedoms created a societal religious vacuum, which, coupled with the low level of religious literacy among youth, facilitated the spread of radical ideologies. Historical evidence indicates that Wahhabism entered the region through broader Salafi movements, doctrinally grounded in the teachings of Ibn Taymiyya, contributing notably to inter-religious tensions among younger generations. Traditional Islamic frameworks in Central Asia – the Hanafi school of jurisprudence and the Maturidi creed – have historically played a central role in maintaining religious stability. The scholarly works of Qawam ad-Din al-Itqani, a prominent intellectual from the Turkistan region, systematically …

Sermon-Sounding Synoptic: A Literary Analysis Of The Sermon On The Mount Throughout Matthew, Garrett T. Redstone

Senior Honors Theses

Scholarship has rowed over redaction to determine how much of Matthew is in the Sermon on the Mount. This analysis evaluates the opposite: how much the of Sermon on the Mount is in Matthew. After establishing a narrative-literary method that centers on Sermon-discourse intertextuality, Matthew’s fivefold structure which the Sermon occupies and the narrative, and literary disciple-focus the discourses share, this analysis traces themes and vocabulary through Matthew and back to the Sermon, which influences much of Matthew’s sound and prepares disciples both in and abreast of the story to better learn from Jesus’ teachings in Matthew’s Gospel account.

Polygyny Between Sharia, Custom And State Law As A Persistent Dilemma In Post-Soviet Kyrgyzstan, Zharkynbai Sebetov, Mairambek Tagaev

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article presents a comprehensive study of the century-long historical and legal evolution of state-imposed prohibitions on the institution of polygyny in Kyrgyzstan. The primary objective of the research is to evaluate the outcomes of a hundred years of repressive policies – originally classified as “crimes of daily life” (bytovye prestupleniya) during the early Soviet era–and to uncover the transformed legal paradoxes of this phenomenon today. Drawing on historical archival materials, Communist Party reports, and contemporary regulatory acts, the authors investigate the fundamental reasons why polygyny persists as a resilient “shadow” institution in Kyrgyz society despite its criminalization. Within the …

Hegemonial Nationalism And The Role Of Religion: A View From The Perspective Of The Western Balkans, Semir Halilović, Tomislav Tadic

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This paper points to the problem of hegemonic nationalism, with an emphasis on the role of religion, in the context of a social understanding of the situation in the Western Balkans (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, and Croatia). The question of the “Eastern and Western models of nationalism” is articulated, and the social role of religion in their construction is examined. In relation to this framework, the possibilities for applying the thesis of the Eastern model of the nation are considered in light of the current war situation between Russia and Ukraine. The paper highlights some of the theoretical configurations …

Islamic Law Without Legal Authority: Sharia And State Governance In Kazakhstan, Duman Saifullin, Temur Amankul, Laura Toktarbekova, Erkinbek Daken

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article examines the role and status of Islamic law (Sharia) in Kazakhstan, a Muslim-majority country that has consistently maintained a strictly secular legal order. The background of the study is grounded in the apparent paradox between Kazakhstan’s Islamic historical heritage and the complete absence of Sharia from its formal legal system. The objective of the research is to explain how and why Islamic law has remained confined to private, moral, and ritual domains while being excluded from state legislation and judicial practice. Methodologically, the article employs a qualitative legal-sociological and historical approach, combining analysis of constitutional norms, legal regulations, …

Book Review: Sister Sinner By Claire Hoffman, Shawn Smith

Bound Away: The Liberty Journal of History

Claire Hoffman’s *Sister Sinner: The Miraculous Life and Mysterious Disappearance of Aimee Semple McPherson* (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2025) offers a very balanced and engaging look at one of the most influential yet controversial figures in early twentieth-century American Christianity. Blending meticulous scholarship with narrative flair, Hoffman explores McPherson’s rise from obscure evangelist to international celebrity, her pioneering use of radio, and her complex role in shaping Pentecostalism and popular culture. Avoiding sensationalism, Hoffman examines McPherson’s triumphs, contradictions, and mysterious disappearance with nuance and respect, resulting in a balanced yet compelling and well contextualized biography.

Making Sense Of And Responding To The Good And Bad Within Psychology: Common Grace And Antithesis As Tools For Psychology, Tyler Greenway, Cory B. Wilson

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

As psychologists and students of psychology make sense of and respond to the good and bad within human behavior and its study, theological tools benefit their discernment. This paper presents two Neocalvinist theological concepts — common grace and antithesis — as tools for psychologists. These concepts help psychologists recognize God’s common gifts to humanity while also identifying what must be corrected. Such applications benefit psychologists in clinical cases and as they consider theoretical frameworks. When used together, these tools encourage us to anticipate both the true, good, and beautiful things in the world and the need at times for redirection. …

Tolkien's Oriental Sources? Renunciation Of Immortality And Fairy Nature, Giovanni Carmine Costabile

Journal of Tolkien Research

Thompson motif F302.6.2.2. Fairy gives up her fairy nature and becomes mortal to be able to return to her mortal husband and its combination with H310. Suitor tests and H1010. Impossible tasks are Oriental motifs, to be found only in the Tibetan tale of The Boy with the Deformed Head in O'Connor's 1907 collection and in the 9th century CE Japanese Taketori Monogatari. In this light, it appears necessary, assuming that Tolkien had a source for his idea of Lúthien sacrificing her Elven immortality and Elven fate, that his source must be found in the aforesaid narratives, both available …

Limitations Of Genetic Testing, Tony N. Jelsma

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"Knowing about a pathogenic variant may sharpen our awareness of our mortality, but it should not fundamentally change our perspective on life."

Posting about the advantages and disadvantages of genetic screening 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.

Limitations of Genetic Testing

Shifting Focus: Youth Sports And Mental Health, Tara Boer

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"Ultimately, athletes should be encouraged to develop their identity holistically. They are athletes, but they are first and foremost children of the King."

Posting about protecting mental health while participating in sports 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.

Shifting Focus

Charity Simone, Mark Naison, Anthony Abd-Al Shafi Rosado

Oral Histories

Simone’s path to leadership was inspired by her late mentor, Charles Foster, who encouraged her to be an active voice in their community. After seeing issues with building maintenance and a lack of clear communication, Simone ran for office and was elected Treasurer of her Building Association in 2023. Through this role, she noticed that community work is complex and needs navigating different opinions, yet the experience ultimately reinforced her belief that community is a “verb.” To her, it is an intentional, ongoing action that requires showing up every day to hold the system accountable.

A significant aspect of Simone's …

Living Faithfully In An Economic Revolution, Part Ii: Ai's Impact On Productivity And Labor, Joshua E. Hollinger

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"AI is unlikely to eliminate human work entirely. But it may radically reshape which skills are valuable, how labor is compensated, and how widely the gains from productivity are shared."

Posting about the influence of AI on labor 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.

Living Faithfully in an Economic Revolution, Part II

2026 Psalms Of Lament: Lenten Devotionals, Benjamin Wagner, Stephenie Hovland, Jonathan Landrey, Christopher Genszler, Matthew Byrd, Jonathan Poppe, Amy Genszler, Joshua Camp, Lydia Grabau, Ezekiel Grabau, Henry Eising, Jonathan Lehms, Mark Squire, Wesley Clark, Stephen Christian, Kyle Bliss, Brian Schneck, Jack Engelder, Nicholas Vukalovich, Cole Carlson, Aaron Halboth, Rick Crain, Ezekiel Potts, Zachary Benkert, Natnael Kebede, Jacob Stefanec, Joshua Fields, Peter Ventimiglia, Andrew Borseth, Jesse O’Shell, Isaiah Mudge, Erik Osmundson, Stephen Moore, Nathaniel Hall, Matthew Younghouse, Corrie Steel, Nathaniel Pekari, David Gray, Jarod Vorseth, Ryan Skove, Samuel Held, Joseph Musolino, Chris Atlee, David Krueger

Other Student Publications

The Psalms of Lament comprise nearly a third of the Psalter, making them one of the most prominent prayer forms in Scripture. These psalms give voice to human suffering, doubt, and struggle before God—not as expressions of weak faith, but as honest cries from those who trust God enough to bring their deepest pain into His presence. A lament typically moves through several stages: addressing God, describing the complaint or distress, asking "how long?" or "why?", petitioning God for help, expressing trust despite circumstances, and often concluding with praise or a vow to praise. Through lament, the psalmists model a …

Parallel Concepts Found In The Thousand And One Nights And Sufi Hagiography, Walaa Kamal Emam Kamel

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis argues that The Thousand and One Nights functions as more than mere populist entertainment; rather, it constitutes a literary corpus imbued with Sufi mystical epistemologies that reflect the spiritual quests and Sufi concepts evident in hagiographical traditions. Through discourse and intertextual analysis of two Nights stories, “The City of Brass” and “The Porter and the Three Ladies of Baghdad,” alongside Farīd al-Dīn ʿAṭṭār’s Tadhkirat al-awliyāʾ, this study demonstrates how shared rhetorical strategies—specifically David Pinault’s Leitwörter analysis and L.A. Paul’s Transformative Experience concept—reveal a narrative and rhetorical emphasis on the metamorphosis of the self from worldly attachment toward …

The Role Of Forgiveness: Spirituality, Loneliness, And Depression In A Christian University, Elda Botello-Ramirez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

For university students, loneliness has harmful effects, like depression, but choosing to forgive and embracing spirituality can lead to better mental health. Yet, limited studies have examined these constructs among students enrolled in long-distance learning (LDL) courses. This is important because an increase in loneliness continues, and more students are taking LDL classes. Still, there is a paucity of work on mental health among students in Christian universities. Thus, this quantitative research study examined context-specific or transgression-specific forgiveness (state forgiveness) while considering the role of personality traits (i.e., trait forgiveness) related to forgiveness to investigate its impact on loneliness and …

Leading In The Unexpected: Adaptive Leadership And Time Management, A Phenomenological Study Of The Small Church Pastor, Simorrah J. Majors

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

One of the most challenging obstacles small church pastors face today may be managing their time. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of the use of time management within the scope of church leadership and administration, as perceived through the lens of pastors ages 35 to 80 who are either the senior or sole pastor or elder at small trinitarian Protestant churches in the United States Northeast Region. Time management is generally defined as organizing and planning how to divide time between different activities and functions. The theory guiding this study is Ronald Heifetz's (2009) Adaptive Leadership theory …