Religion Commons^™

A Sapiential Maxim On Forgiveness In Proverbs 17:9, Mary Jerome Obiorah Ihm

Obsculta

Christian discussion on forgiveness often begins from its theological dimension. This essay argues that an anthropological setting of this inevitable human reality will benefit Christians and non-Christians. We are social beings and we are continually interacting with others in order to sustain our innate social character. Our social circle diminishes if we fail to forgive and avoid our offenders. Proverbs 17:9, which is studied in this paper, persuasively teaches the anthropological reason to forgive others their offences. It is discovered that Christian dialectics on forgiveness is both vertical and horizontal, and the two dimensions are inseparable.

Eye-For-An-Eye: High Compensation Awards Against States As Undue Punishment, David M. Bigge, Jonathan M. White

American University International Law Review

In observing the past several years’ debates regarding reparations under international law, we are reminded of lessons we learned as children in Sunday School. The Jewish and Christian sacred texts address the principle of retributive justice reflected in the Biblical phrase “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” During the early rabbinic period, the great sages grappled with the import of this rule. Jesus famously rejected the rule in favor of mercy: “turn the other cheek.” The rabbis were not as interested in rejecting this rule in its entirety as ensuring that it yielded justice.

The Assumption Of The Blessed Virgin Mary - 15 August 2025, Errol Lobo

Pastoral Liturgy

No abstract provided.

From The Editor, Angela Mccarthy

Pastoral Liturgy

No abstract provided.

16th Sunday In Ordinary Time - 20 July 2025, Pina Ford

Pastoral Liturgy

No abstract provided.

23rd Sunday In Ordinary Time - 7 September 2025, Michele Purcell

Pastoral Liturgy

No abstract provided.

26th Sunday In Ordinary Time - 28 September 2025, Gerard Moore

Pastoral Liturgy

No abstract provided.

The Nativity Of The Lord (Midnight Mass) - 25 December 2025, Andrew Doohan

Pastoral Liturgy

No abstract provided.

Training Small Group Leaders For Effective Discipleship At Ilive Ministries In Pacolet, South Carolina, Kadeem Antonio Ellis

Doctor of Ministry Projects

This project examined the need for discipleship training among small group leaders at iLive Ministries in Pacolet, South Carolina. A four-week workshop incorporating lectures, discussions, and interactive activities was designed and implemented. Evaluation tools included Pre- and Post-Tests, structured observation, and participant interviews. Findings demonstrated measurable growth in confidence, facilitation skills, and discipleship understanding. The project concluded that intentional training not only equips leaders with biblical grounding and practical skills but also highlights ongoing needs for mentoring, refined assessment, and sustainable support, strengthening iLive Ministries’ discipleship culture and offering a replicable model for other congregations.

Scoring A New Jazz Standard: A Collaborative Approach To Implementing Spiritual Care At Erlanger Hospital Palliative Care, Richard Fleck

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Just like a jazz combo brings together professional musicians who are instrument specialists to improvise together, Palliative Care brings together healthcare specialists for holistic, patient-centered collaboration. This ministry project, which is a phenomenological inquiry based on the theological theme of suffering, follows a collaborative approach to implementing spiritual care at Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, TN. This project describes the researcher’s collaborative work in scoring a new jazz standard for Erlanger Palliative Spiritual Care, which includes recommendations for quality improvement and recommendations for professional development.

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 …

Chatgpt And Biblical Studies, James F. Mcgrath

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

The use of computers in the study of theology has a long and positive history, yet the level of concern in response to the latest AI chatbots is understandable. This article explores how education and preaching need to adapt to this new technology and what its limitations are, as well as how it may make a positive contribution. The study concludes with a brief exploration of the kinds of sermon materials GPTs produced for the author when given prompts about the story of the Samaritan woman in John 4.

La Razón De Ser De Los Metodistas Hoy: Una Lectura Del Sermón “La Gracia Libre” De Juan Wesley Para Nuestros Tiempos, Philip Wingeier-Rayo Ph.D.

Apuntes: Reflexiones teológicas desde el margen hispano

Almost three hundred years have passed since John Wesley began the Methodist movement in England, and some may question its relevant to our current context. This article explores the role of Methodism through a contemporary re-reading of John Wesley's sermon "Free Grace." In dialogue with the current state of social, economic, and spiritual crises, the author compares the Wesleyan doctrine of universal grace and free will with the Calvinist doctrine of predestination and affirms the live-giving doctrine of free grace, which offers hope and social responsibility in the face of inequality and social injustice. By affirming these Wesleyan doctrines, Methodism …

Matthew 5:3: Blessed Are Those Who Have A Spiritual Commitment To Help The Poor, Scott Gambrill Sinclair

The Scott Sinclair Lecture Notes Collection

Lecture notes on a series of talks by Scott G. Sinclair's on his version of the Historical Jesus.

Assessment Of The Level Of Relevancy Of Theological Education In The Chinese Context, Jacky Yeung

Dissertations

Problem

The contextualization of theological education has been a topic of academic discussion for many years with scholars exploring various angles related to this subject. Despite the ongoing need for contextualized theological education, an assessment of its relevancy in the Chinese setting has not been extensively studied. This dissertation aims to fill this research gap by assessing the relevancy of Adventist theological education in China and providing recommendations for improvement.

Method

The study employs a mixed-method approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative research methods to gain a comprehensive understanding of the issue. The quantitative stage involves a survey administered to …

The Salvation Of The Unevangelized: A Comparative Analysis Of The Views Of Clark H. Pinnock And Millard J. Erickson, Christopher R. Mwashinga

Dissertations

Problem and Purpose

This dissertation addresses the problem of the ongoing disagreement among evangelical theologians, as represented by Clark H. Pinnock and Millard J. Erickson, concerning the issue of the salvation of the unevangelized. This disagreement continued even though both scholars focused on special revelation and general revelation as sources for information leading people to receive salvation. This approach failed to resolve the disagreement even after decades of heated theological debates indicating a need for a different approach to this soteriological problem. While other researchers have documented Pinnock’s and Erickson’s views on the salvation of the unevangelized, their motivations and …

The Concept Of Israel In The Old Testament And Its Divine Purpose: An Exegetical And Theological Analysis, Gregory Arutyunyan

Dissertations

The aim of this study is to undertake a fresh look into the concept of Israel in the Old Testament and its divine purpose in the context of the overarching theology of the Hebrew Bible. The working method used in this research is a theological and exegetical analysis of relevant Hebrew text along with incorporating historical and socio-archaeological background studies.

The conclusion that is reached is that Old Testament Israel was a cosmopolitan community of people connected through biological links, intermarriage relationships, and political alliances. In a spiritual sense, the term Israel served as a characterizing title granted to Jacob …

God Is On The Move In Asia: Church Multiplication Stories From Southeast Asia, Carson Daniel

Books

No abstract provided.

How To Fly: Understanding The Dynamics Of The Spiritual Life, Scott K. Stephans

Books

No abstract provided.

Eb-Nuestro Tiempo, Marcos Kempff

Estudios Bíblicos

ES-Nuestro tiempo

A Discourse On Madina Fāzila, Virtuous State, In Muslim Thought: An Overview Of Jalāl-Al-Dīn Muḥammad Davānī’S Aḵlāq-E-Jalālī, Nazim Aman-Hunzai, Muhammad Nazir, Faizeh Zehra Mirza

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

This study focuses on Jālāl-al-Dīn Muḥammad Davānī (1426–1502) as an illustrative figure in Muslim political thought, who offered a comprehensive perspective on the characteristics of an ideal Muslim state. Drawing on Davānī’s magnum opus, Akhlaq-e-Jalālī, the study explores his ethical framework for understanding the interrelationship between the individual, the state, and society. This work remained among the most influential writings on Muslim ethics, particularly in the Indian context, and continued to shape Muslim intellectual discourseand educational curricula well into the late 20th century. Its enduring presence highlights its intellectual relevance and its capacity to inspire ongoing debates on Muslim ethics.This …

Developing Cultural Intelligence Skills At Gracepoint International Church In Gastonia, North Carolina, Sumner Brichelle Rhodes

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Churches across the globe are constantly being reshaped by issues of interculturality, global migration and questions of power and belonging. As churches deal with these dynamics, in our globalized world, it is important for them to have the tools and skills necessary to lovingly reach out to people of all cultures and differences. Reaching people of diverse backgrounds is a part of the Central Commission that Christ commanded for His Church in Matthew 28:19-20. This project explores how developing a high Cultural Intelligence (CQ) is essential for the Church. CQ can help churches lovingly connect with and embrace people of …

Weeping In The Household: Equipping Pastoral Caregivers Among Grieving Families At Grace Presbyterian Church In Baltimore, Maryland, Charles Brandon Brewer

Doctor of Ministry Projects

This project sought to equip pastoral care ministry members of Grace Presbyterian Church to explore communal grief and deepen their own understanding of family systems in intergenerational grief. Participants engaged in a four-week training series aimed at reducing fear surrounding discussions of death, dying, and grief, empowering pastoral caregivers in the church to offer compassionate care to grieving individuals and families. Participants were trained to facilitate Bible studies, group discussions and were equipped with the skills necessary to guide and expand the church’s existing bereavement ministry beyond crisis intervention, strengthening pastoral care efforts, and the pastoral care ministry of the …

Front Matter

BYU Studies

No abstract provided.

The Seven Seals, The Age Of The Earth, And Ongoing Revelation, Nicholas J. Frederick

BYU Studies

One of the more intriguing elements of the book of Revelation is its mention of a book sealed with seven seals (Rev. 5:1). As John’s vision progresses over the next two chapters, each of the seven seals is broken. These have been interpreted by scholars in a variety of ways. One interpretation, typically known as the “historicist” view, saw the seals as representing periods of time in the earth’s history, whether the entirety of the earth’s history from Adam on or just parts, such as early Christian history.1

Practical Faith For The Real World Reading As If, Believing As If, Kylie Turley

BYU Studies

A few years ago, I was talking with some friends about the Book of Mormon. Actually, if you know me much at all, then you know that those last five words are unnecessary. Of course I was talking about the Book of Mormon. My children have been known to complain that the Book of Mormon is all I talk about. But let’s continue the story: One of my friends indicated that we “cannot read the Book of Mormon down to the word level.” She insisted that it was just not possible to read it “as if individual words are meaningful.”

The Heyday Of The Mia Latter-Day Saint Youth Programs In The Postwar Era, Lisa Olsen Tait, Amber C. Taylor

BYU Studies

On Saturday, June 16, 1956, a crowd of twenty thousand spectators filled the University of Utah football stadium, nestled against the foothills to the east of Salt Lake City, to witness the Mutual Improvement Association (MIA) Dance-Drama Festival of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Hopes were high that the weather would hold, since Friday night’s performance had been canceled because of rain. The weather did cooperate, and for over two hours, a massive procession of brightly costumed young women and men, representing almost every stake in the Church, presented a spectacular program of intricately choreographed dances and …

Using A Reconciliation Approach To Teach Evolution May Help Religious Students Remain Faithful, Danny Ferguson, Ethan Tolman, Spencer Shumway, Cassidy Shively

BYU Studies

Many religious people struggle to accept the theory of evolution, and about 40 percent of Americans reject the theory outright, preferring a literalist, creationist account that confirms a young earth.1 As Latter-day Saints ourselves, we understand the trepidation surrounding the idea that perhaps evolution contradicts our belief of an earth created by a loving Father and Savior. People may feel that the scientific theory of evolution implies that there is no need for a God or that our existence is simply an accident. As college-age youth, we are familiar with the struggles that students face as they confront evolution in …

Getting To 100, Vauna Davis

BYU Studies

No abstract provided.

Review: Latter-Day Saint Art: A Critical Reader Edited By Amanda K. Beardsley And Mason Kamana Allred Oxford University Press, 2024, Maddie Blonquist

BYU Studies

The Center for Latter-day Saint Arts’ impressive new volume, Latter-day Saint Art: A Critical Reader (Oxford University Press, 2024), makes an ambitious and long-awaited contribution to the fields of religious studies, art history, visual and material culture, and cultural theory. This edited collection is both intellectually and physically substantial, with over 600 pages, nearly 250 reproductions, and twenty-two authors from a myriad of disciplines. Scholars of history, art, film, and media studies share space with artists, museum directors, filmmakers, curators, theologians, and journalists who span the spectrum in their relationship to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The …