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Articles 31 - 60 of 336
Full-Text Articles in Ethics in Religion
Morality And The Personhood Of God: A Moral Argument For The Existence Of A Personal God, Stephen Scott Jordan
Morality And The Personhood Of God: A Moral Argument For The Existence Of A Personal God, Stephen Scott Jordan
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The concept that God is personal is an important part of religious belief. If God were not personal, it would be odd to think of him as moral or loving; it would also seem counterintuitive to speak of him as One with whom humans can have a personal relationship, One who can be trusted, cares for the people he created, listens to their prayers, acts on their behalf, has their best interests at heart, and so on. In short, to talk of such matters in a sensible manner and to experience them in everyday life seemingly requires that God is …
What In Hell Conflicts With God? The Divine Promulgation View Of Hell Confirms The Reality Of Hell Does Not Make God A Moral Monster, Kara Y. Harris
What In Hell Conflicts With God? The Divine Promulgation View Of Hell Confirms The Reality Of Hell Does Not Make God A Moral Monster, Kara Y. Harris
Masters Theses
The aim of this thesis is to demonstrate that God is not morally at fault for humans consigned to eternal punishment in hell. In this work, I contribute to the ongoing conversation of hell in the following ways: (1) I provide an exposition on the words translated as hell in the Bible; (2) I uncover the progressive nature of the doctrine of hell as sin increases and God advances His plan of salvation to rescue humans from such an eternal fate; (3) I argue that Christianity and the biblical doctrine of hell are bound principally as Christ’s work on the …
Loving The Unloveable: A Biblical Approach For The Local Church To Homosexuality In A Morally Declining Society, Robert Jonathan Archer
Loving The Unloveable: A Biblical Approach For The Local Church To Homosexuality In A Morally Declining Society, Robert Jonathan Archer
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This thesis will strive to prove that local churches worldwide have been highly ineffective at providing true recovery for parishioners that struggle with homosexuality often ostracizing them as a diseased product rather than a creation of the Father. The goal is to help the church discover, assess, and address the sin, healing, and recovery for homosexuals in their ministry in a healthy biblical manner that promotes freedom in Christ and true recovery. This will allow the local church to partake in the healing process of broken parishioners promoting evangelism and discipleship that will in turn extend into the communities of …
Capitalism And Biblical Ethics, Sarah D. Stewart
Capitalism And Biblical Ethics, Sarah D. Stewart
Liberty University Journal of Statesmanship & Public Policy
There has been a growing trend in some expressions of Christianity to view Capitalism as fundamentally incompatible with the Christian faith. This article looked to a variety of sources to argue that Christianity and Capitalism are not fundamentally incompatible. Rather, Capitalism developed alongside developments in Christian theology during the Middle Ages. This traditional form of Capitalism is defined and argued for in this article. The article attempts to demonstrate that the elements that allow Capitalism to thrive are compatible with Christian ethics. The case is made by first examining the historical development of Capitalism and its relationship to Christianity. From …
De Libero Conscientia: Martin Luther’S Rediscovery Of Liberty Of Conscience And Its Synthesis Of The Ancients And The Influence Of The Moderns, Bessie S. Blackburn
De Libero Conscientia: Martin Luther’S Rediscovery Of Liberty Of Conscience And Its Synthesis Of The Ancients And The Influence Of The Moderns, Bessie S. Blackburn
Liberty University Journal of Statesmanship & Public Policy
One fateful day on March 26, 1521, a lowly Augustinian monk was cited to appear before the Diet of Worms.[1] His habit trailed behind him as he braced for the questioning. He was firm, yet troubled. He boldly proclaimed: “If I am not convinced by proofs from Scripture, or clear theological reasons, I remain convinced by the passages which I have quoted from Scripture, and my conscience is held captive by the Word of God. I cannot and will not retract, for it is neither prudent nor right to go against one’s conscience. So help me God, …
An Examination And Critique Of The Compatibility And Coherence Of Brian Leiter’S Naturalized Jurisprudence With The American Legal Framework, Michael L. Keck
An Examination And Critique Of The Compatibility And Coherence Of Brian Leiter’S Naturalized Jurisprudence With The American Legal Framework, Michael L. Keck
Masters Theses
In this thesis I argue Brian Leiter’s vision for a naturalized jurisprudence stands in problematic tension with critical facets of objective morality presupposed by the American legal system. Leiter makes the case for the naturalization of jurisprudence through adherence to his version of a naturalistic epistemology. Though Leiter explicitly rejects moral realism—and embraces elements of legal positivism—he acquiesces to the notion that judges sometimes utilize non-legal, “moral reasons,” when deciding cases. Leiter suggests that any moral “knowledge” that may influence the process of adjudication should be delivered by the hard sciences. I suggest Leiter’s epistemological naturalism is incapable of providing …
Inconceivable: An Analysis Of Assisted Reproductive Technology For The Church, Mary Elizabeth Gresham
Inconceivable: An Analysis Of Assisted Reproductive Technology For The Church, Mary Elizabeth Gresham
Senior Honors Theses
Infertility pushes the boundaries of emotional and physical health, which is why many couples inside and outside the church turn to Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) for a solution. Despite what has seemed like silence from the Church, some individuals have braved the biological confusion and ethical dilemmas to evaluate the technology. Three major ethical viewpoints have emerged that each prioritize something over medical technology, namely community, order, or human dignity. This paper serves to educate pastors and church leaders on the ever-changing biology of ART as well as give voice to Christians that have spoken out on this issue. At …
Begin With Worship Pastor Longevity In Mind: A Biblical Guide For The Evangelical Worship Pastor Search Committee, Thomas Christopher Gonzales
Begin With Worship Pastor Longevity In Mind: A Biblical Guide For The Evangelical Worship Pastor Search Committee, Thomas Christopher Gonzales
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Within contemporary Western Protestant evangelicalism, congregations rely heavily on search committees for onboarding pastoral staff. Though this measure for pastoral acquisition is commonly practiced throughout contemporary Western Protestant evangelicalism, the ambiguity and/ or unexpressed expectations of the committee inhibit the securing of a candidate who offers greater longevity and effectiveness, thus provoking subsequent and frequent pastoral turnover. Provided the innate need for mitigating the unintentional oversight and understudied approach by the pastoral search committee, this research investigates and assesses the governable factors on the committee’s behalf that calibrate the search towards securing compatibility by way of effective leadership and longevity. …
A Study Of The Renewal Of Worship Through The Restoration Of The Public Nature Of The Gospel: A Case Study Of The Seed Church, Jubilee Together, And Cris, Kang Hyeok Lee
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The Korean church which advocated evangelicalism is now in crisis. It is because the actual meaning of the Kingdom of God and the public and social significance of the gospel have been lost while the aspect of the individual salvation or the church itself has been its primary concern. As a result of losing the social meaning of sin and salvation, Christianity as a holistic truth has been excluded from the public sphere and is merely regarded as a personal religion. The gospel and the church, which have been reduced to religion and institutions and have acquiesced in the divided …
The Moral Argument, Existential Problems Of Evil, And A Non-Existential Alternative, Jonathan Smith
The Moral Argument, Existential Problems Of Evil, And A Non-Existential Alternative, Jonathan Smith
Senior Honors Theses
Within this paper, it is shown that certain ethical assumptions are implicit within the claim that certain kinds of evil exist. When taken in tandem with the moral argument for the existence of God, these assumptions can be arranged in such a way as to provide a contradiction. To avoid this contradiction, I posit a non-existential alternative to direct inductive arguments from evil, but the non-existential alternative gives rise to novel objections. When considering their respective ethical implications, both the existential and non-existential variations of direct inductive arguments fail. Since any direct inductive problem of evil must be either existential …
The Transformational Power Of Forgiveness Within The Church, Mary Mckenzie
The Transformational Power Of Forgiveness Within The Church, Mary Mckenzie
Masters Theses
This thesis seeks to explore and describe the concepts and effects of forgiveness within the church. It shows that the roots of violence, suffering, and pain are in the unhealed wounds of the past. It examines biblical, theological, and psychological materials on forgiveness, unforgiveness, and health benefits. Learning about forgiveness and how to use the skills can conceivably enhance mental and physical health through an optimistic and hopeful outlook on life. It highlights the differences of the definition and understanding of forgiveness and forgiveness from an intercultural perspective. Results from participants’ from five ethnic groups (African, African American, Asian, Caribbean, …
Sensibility And Self-Denial: A Christian Evaluation Of Journalistic Care Ethics And Traditional Ethics, Valerie Pors
Sensibility And Self-Denial: A Christian Evaluation Of Journalistic Care Ethics And Traditional Ethics, Valerie Pors
Senior Honors Theses
Traditional ethical models within journalism have upheld truth and objectivity as the highest standard, based on a conglomeration of Western ethical traditions. However, as the age of subjective moral reasoning ushered in skepticism and independently subjective philosophies, ethicists have examined the application of care ethics to the field of journalism. Scholars have viewed care ethics and traditional ethics as conflicting theories, but both contain elements of God’s nature as revealed in the Bible. Both models also harbor secularized elements. In a biblical analysis of the two systems and their underlying assumptions, this thesis identifies crucial biblical differences in their views …
The Plausibility Of Animal Sacrifices In Ezekiel 40-48 Literally Operating In The Millennial Kingdom Under The New Covenant, Ian Bacon
Masters Theses
This thesis delves into the controversy surrounding the presence of animal sacrifices in Ezekiel 40-48. In these chapters Ezekiel depicts a temple that dispensationalists believe to be literally fulfilled in the Millennial Kingdom.Yet, some claim that a literal understanding of these sacrifices in the future negates the work of Jesus on the cross. The response by many dispensationlists is to argue that these sacrifices will be performed to memorialize the death of Jesus. This thesis proves that the sacrifices in Ezekiel 40-48 are for purification purposes to atone for the contamination of sin so that the glory of Christ may …
Connecting The Church Beyond Prison Ministry: Transitioning The Discipled Prisoner Into A Discipleship Community, Joyce Weathers
Connecting The Church Beyond Prison Ministry: Transitioning The Discipled Prisoner Into A Discipleship Community, Joyce Weathers
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The prison population in the United States surpasses all other countries on a per capita basis. The number of released inmates, who return to prison (recidivism) is staggering. In-prison Christian discipleship programs have successfully transitioned parolees into the free world, but little research has been done to confirm a standard practice for the transition process. Theories abound from clergy and laity alike; yet apathy and fear remain persistent deterrents. The church is confronted with a biblical mandate to assist the incarcerated (Matt. 25:36) and to make disciples (Matt. 28:19). By addressing the current concerns of church and prison ministry leaders, …
A Study Of Fatherlessness In The African-American Community In Relationship To The Positive Role Of Christianity, Kevin Smith
A Study Of Fatherlessness In The African-American Community In Relationship To The Positive Role Of Christianity, Kevin Smith
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The following study is a qualitative investigation into the issue of fatherlessness among African Americans and its relation to the positive role of Christianity. The primary objective of the study is to determine, understand, and describe the circumstances that brought about fatherlessness and what role Christians may play to help address the problem. Also, the study focuses on developing a deep understanding of the consequences of fatherlessness and what role Christians may play to help mitigate these consequences. The results of this research will reconnect, revitalize, recover trust, ease the pain, and implement healing for fathers, children, and all involved. …
The Black Church And Community: A Model For Church Community Engagement And Development, Brye Mcmillon
The Black Church And Community: A Model For Church Community Engagement And Development, Brye Mcmillon
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This project examines the role of the Black Church in the development of the African American Community and seeks to encourage churches to embrace this role. Support for communities by churches in rural North Alabama is key to improving living conditions and achieving biblically based outreach. This project investigates the church’s theological duties for community outreach and provides a biblical mandate as a part of a larger community development model, while preparing ministry teams for outreach. This paper will consider the equipping methodology that leads to a trained ministry team able to reach, identify, and fulfill the needs of the …
Five Steps For Developing Biblical Pastoral Leadership Teams Within South Korean Presbyterian Churches, Yeongkwang Yoon
Five Steps For Developing Biblical Pastoral Leadership Teams Within South Korean Presbyterian Churches, Yeongkwang Yoon
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this project is to suggest five steps for developing biblical pastoral leadership teams within South Korean Presbyterian churches, which are presently stagnating and declining under their non-biblical leadership. Growth of a church is directly dependent upon a healthy body of leaders who reflect sound biblical leadership, and the senior pastors of South Korean Presbyterian churches must intentionally conform all non-biblical leadership styles within their churches to biblical pastoral leadership. This project will attempt to provide the pastors of South Korean Presbyterian churches five steps for developing a biblical pastoral leadership team by identifying the relationship between church …
Corporatization Of The Church Compromises Christian’S Priorities, Purpose, And Practices, Edwin Alston
Corporatization Of The Church Compromises Christian’S Priorities, Purpose, And Practices, Edwin Alston
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
In effort to mainstream its exposure, income, agenda, and influence among the people all over the world, some churches have embraced a corporate model in operating and ministering to the masses. Corporatization advocates business mindset, which leads to less sensitivity to building a relationship with God. This trend focuses on revenue and the bottom line. By seeking a self-gratifying importance in society, a growing number of churches are no longer the institution that houses individuals who serve as the salt of the earth and light of the world. This strategy minimizes spiritual formation and discipleship in order to promote a …
Christ And The Cradle: The Explanatory Power Of Christian Theism For Basic Moral Sensibilities On The Ontology Of Children, Jeffrey Robinson
Christ And The Cradle: The Explanatory Power Of Christian Theism For Basic Moral Sensibilities On The Ontology Of Children, Jeffrey Robinson
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
We have excellent reasons to take moral intuitions about the moral treatment of children seriously. In fact, this gives us excellent prima facie reason to believe in God as the best explanation of, say, the inherent dignity of people, including children. But when we look to the past, we see that often children have been horribly treated and not accorded worth. And today, still, there are lots of disturbing trends as to how they’re treated, which invariably reflect deficient worldviews. Ultimately, it’s not just theism we need, but something more, arguably Christian theology, which makes great sense of our best …
A Church Based Curriculum Providing Marriage And Family Education For Stepfamilies And Ministries, Richard Helein
A Church Based Curriculum Providing Marriage And Family Education For Stepfamilies And Ministries, Richard Helein
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Within the American population, the Stepfamily now outnumbers that of the traditional nuclear family; a trend mirrored in the local church. Stepfamilies within the church culture struggle in navigating the relational complexities, emotional and spiritual strain, and biblical confusion inherent to the formation of a stepfamily, while church leaders lack both understanding and the training necessary to minister to this growing population. Often step-families choose anonymity or leave the local church for fear of being shunned. In synthesizing, existing research with data garnered from stepfamilies via their participation in an anonymous online survey and participatory learning activity (PLA), challenges unique …
Ten Essential Lessons Learned When Transitioning From A Long-Term Tenured Pastor In The African American Baptist Church, Marcus Allen
Ten Essential Lessons Learned When Transitioning From A Long-Term Tenured Pastor In The African American Baptist Church, Marcus Allen
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
When a pastor has a served long tenure at one church, the members hold this individual in high regard. He has conducted many marriages and countless burial ceremonies, baptized most of the membership, and have been there for the members and their families during their most difficult moments in life. When pastors are called to these churches, they are faced with several challenges. The church is unsure of the leadership ability of the new pastor, their expectations are high, congregants are hesitant to change things, and refuse to be challenged with new methods of doing ministry. This research is based …
Evaluating Missionary-Care Responsibilities: A Guide For Sending And Supporting Churches, Donald Hall
Evaluating Missionary-Care Responsibilities: A Guide For Sending And Supporting Churches, Donald Hall
Masters Theses
A thoughtful approach to global missions requires a team of support personnel. This team, composed of the sending church, the supporting churches, the missions agency and other supporters, is effective when it works together to recruit, train, and maintain a healthy missionary workforce, but a sub-standard support structure jeopardizes the mission. Sadly, many sending churches do not properly understand or fulfill their missionary-care roles and responsibilities. This project provides a biblical, philosophical, and practical methodology by which churches can properly evaluate their responsibilities and address gaps in their missionary-care ministry. In the model presented in this paper, the sending church …
Divine Utilitarianism, Jimmy Lewis
Divine Utilitarianism, Jimmy Lewis
Masters Theses
This work addresses the subject of God and ethics and aims to answer questions concerning why God does what he does and whether God is a utilitarian in his ethics. In order to answer these questions, God’s nature is explored through the lens of classical theists such as Anselm, Thomas of Aquin, and Augustine. Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill’s conceptions of utilitarianism are also explicated so that there is no confusion regarding the definition of utility which is used in Divine Utilitarianism. Finally, Divine Utilitarianism is juxtaposed to Divine Command Theory and the explanatory power of each is considered. …
A Church Planting Church In South Korea: A Case Study On Missional Outreach, Deokjong Bang
A Church Planting Church In South Korea: A Case Study On Missional Outreach, Deokjong Bang
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Gallup Korea, in 2015, reported that 30% of people under 30 years old had stopped attending churches in South Korea during last ten years. The primary reasons that young people leave a church is secularization of growth-oriented churches represented by huge buildings, power-oriented pastors and lack of morality of Christians. Therefore, a new church model that will engage young people is required for Korean Christianity. The missional church movement can be an alternative model for churches in South Korea. That is because the movement pursues a small church, a non-power-oriented pastor, and real life as a disciple of Jesus. Based …
Developing An Effective Biblical Method For The Rediscovery Of Accountability In Christian Discipleship, Jamie Archer
Developing An Effective Biblical Method For The Rediscovery Of Accountability In Christian Discipleship, Jamie Archer
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The emphasis on individualism in Western society has undermined the importance of accountability in human relationships. Many individuals see themselves as their own moral authority and are accountable to no one else. This idea has infiltrated the Western evangelical church. Western church members demonstrate a low level of accountability to their local church by failing to remain committed and involved, and by living lifestyles incompatible with church teachings. In response, few churches practice any form of church discipline, or even communicate expectations to church members. The result is a culture of self-centered and uncommitted church members. This project will argue …
Embracing Uncertainty: Evaluating The Traditional Christian Approach To Transgenderism, Samuel C. Myers
Embracing Uncertainty: Evaluating The Traditional Christian Approach To Transgenderism, Samuel C. Myers
Senior Honors Theses
The transgender movement has posed an ethical problem for societies around the world, and has forced Christian communities to reconsider traditional conceptions of gender, sex, and what makes someone a man or woman. The conventional approach that most evangelical Christian communities have adopted towards individuals who experience incongruence between their gender identity and physical sex characteristics has been to condemn cross-gender living. To equip Christians to consider the morality of transgenderism most effectively, this study begins by defining key terms, and provides a brief survey of some of the scientific and medical background issues surrounding this discussion. We then examine …
"Mistris Hutchinsons Double Weekly-Lecture": Puritan Assemblies And The Antinomian Controversy Of 1636-38, Courtney H. Forster
"Mistris Hutchinsons Double Weekly-Lecture": Puritan Assemblies And The Antinomian Controversy Of 1636-38, Courtney H. Forster
Senior Honors Theses
The Antinomian Controversy of 1636-38 was a complex religious conflict concerning politics and disruption of Puritan society. It began when the Massachusetts Bay colony split into religious factions within the Church at Boston. At the height of the controversy it seemed a majority of the congregation favored a grace-only means of salvation. Most in authoritative positions believed religious works were important to the societal foundation of a holy Puritan community. With the feared breakdown of society looming over them, they would prosecute and convict Anne Hutchinson for violating the cohesion of the colony. Hutchinson was a prominent woman in the …
Starving Marriage: Seven Recipes For Nourishing Intimacy, Richard Daniel
Starving Marriage: Seven Recipes For Nourishing Intimacy, Richard Daniel
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Connecting with your spouse has become a demanding undertaking in a world full of commotion. Marriage relationships are bleeding to death because of the lack of time that couples spend together. Husbands and wives are starving themselves of the much-needed social, psychological, physical, and spiritual provisions that nourish a vigorous bond. The marriage relationship is difficult and often described as the most important earthly relationship that one can have. In this flawed world, the objective of marriage should be to strive to perfect the imperfection of two souls who have been joined by God to fulfill their mission of glorifying …
A Study On The Comparison Of Pastoral Succession Cases In Korean Churches, Chang Choi
A Study On The Comparison Of Pastoral Succession Cases In Korean Churches, Chang Choi
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this thesis is to study invitation and succession cases of senior pastors in Korean churches. This thesis is written as Korean churches are currently facing major issues concerning the succession of senior pastors from the first generation to the second generation. The study deals with the biblical backgrounds and theological foundations of the Old and New Testament in relation to pastoral succession. It also compares and analyzes various pieces of data. The investigation of the invitation types is designed to contribute toward discovering what may be the most desirable invitation system for senior pastors. Surveys were distributed …
Deconstructing Theodicy: A Fresher Reading Of The Book Of Job, Anthony Maynard
Deconstructing Theodicy: A Fresher Reading Of The Book Of Job, Anthony Maynard
Masters Theses
The Book of Job displays well the reality of the human predicament. However, does the Book of Job provide an answer to the problem it so vividly displays: the existence of God and the reality of suffering? This paper is a quest for an answer, which, if correct, is no. The purpose of the book has less to do with an answer for why good people suffer and more to do with exactly what God has done, and continues to do, to rectify suffering, culminating in the Christ event. Stated simply, the Book of Job exists as a harbinger, to …