Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons^™

A Comparative Study Of Protestant Sex Education Literature Past And Present, Donald Becker

Bachelor of Divinity

The way in which this challenge is being successfully met through the current sex education materials of various Protestant denominations compared with the way in which this challenge was not met in the sex education materials of the past is the focal point of this research project. The main purpose or intent of this thesis is not that it be a critical analysis of those materials which have been published or used for the teaching of sex within the church in the past. Instead, in view of the fact that the more recent sex education materials represent a number of …

Christ And The Newly Matured World, Carl Petering

Bachelor of Divinity

The quest of the present paper, therefore, is a dissection of the statements about Christ which are made by those for whom the world has come of age. How does one address himself to an audience which may have jettisoned the trappings of transcendentalism? Is there another means of expressing the message, or must the message itself be changed?

The investigation will begin with Bonhoeffer, for he has coined the phrase, "the world come of age," and he has raised the questions for which others are attempting to provide the answers. The theology of Bishop John A. T. Robinson has …

The Means To Proceed Beyond Nihilism, Dale Erickson

Bachelor of Divinity

This particular study seeks to answer the question: Did Camus succeed in going beyond nihilism in developing a positive, workable, and moral philosophy of life in line with the facts of man's experience in the 20th century? The answer to the question will be developed in the following steps: (1) The definition of Camus' goal; (2) A description of his means to that goal; (3) Camus’ analysis of man’s predicament; (4) His rejection of Christianity; (5) His rejection of other modern solutions; (6) The redeeming quality of nature; (7) His description of the ideal man of our century; (8) Social …

Evolutionary Theology Of Pierre Teilhard De Chardin, His Critiics And A Personal Evaluation, Robert Letalien

Bachelor of Divinity

This paper will be an attempt to evaluate the lifegoal of Teilhard, namely, his reconciliation of the theory of evolution with the Christian faith. The emphasis will be placed upon his hopes for the future of man in the light of his philosophy. The future of man he labels as the “Omega point." To see how this point is reached it will be necessary to briefly describe how Teilhard views the evolutionary process from the inception of matter until the fulfillment of all things at the Omega point.

The Problem Of Christian And Church Fellowship, Ronald Frederick Blaess

Bachelor of Divinity

The history of the Christian Church from the first to the twentieth century could be written in terms of its struggle to maintain, to demonstrate, or to realise this fundamental unity between the Lord Jesus Christ and His body, the Christian Church, besought of God the Father by Him in His great high-priestly prayer, and declared above by St. Paul. But is this oneness an earthly or a spiritual oneness? Is it a oneness to be manifest in this life and world or only hereafter? Is it a oneness which can exist despite or inspite of divisions, frictions, and refusal …

Prolegomena In Pieper And Aulen- A Comparison, Kurt E. Marquart

Bachelor of Divinity

Comparing Pieper and Aulen involves (1) an exposition of both positions, and (2) a juxtaposition of the two in a way which will actually exhibit their mutual relations. Whatever is relevant, to the understanding of either position In terms of thesis or antithesis is relevant to the thesis. Since this involves practically limitless source-material, a rigorous selectivity had to be exercised. Naturally this involves the element of judgment on the writer’s part, since he must select what seems particularly relevant and reject what does not. This thesis does not pretend to be anything like an exhaustive treatment. It attempts merely …

The Anabaptists And Their Rejection Of Infant Baptism, James T. Heinemeier

Bachelor of Divinity

Rather than being an exhaustive study of perhaps one of the reasons or the Anabaptists' rejection of infant baptism, this thesis presents a somewhat broader look at the background of the movement, and the social, political, and theologica1 attitudes of the Anabaptists, followed by a more thorough investigation of five of the particularly fundamental objections the Anabaptists raised against infant baptisrn. The writer shall attempt to be as objective as possible in presenting the material contained in the body of the thesis. His subjective evaluation and conclusions are contained in the last chapter.

John Wesley's Concept Of Santification, Robert Day Mcamis

Bachelor of Divinity

It is the purpose of this thesis to set forth clearly and objectively the concept of sanctification as it was believed and taught by John Wesley. Concept is used to indicate thought or opinion or view. Sanctification is used in the narrow sense to mean the conduct of the Christian life or holiness of living which follows justification. This concept of sanctification will be limited to its doctrinal content and characteristics with a survey of influences which affected it in one way or another. No attempt is made to trace the social and political implications of this teaching, except in …

A Study Of Hindu Eschatology, Kenneth W. Behnken

Bachelor of Divinity

The eschatological emphasis as it is found in Christianity and its implications for the believer help to make Christianity the unique religion that it is. As God's revelation of Himself. to mankind, Christianity preaches an eternity with God, an eternity of certainty and hope. In contrast with some of the religions developed by man's philosophical invention, it speaks with certainty of the fact, of eternal life with God; in contrast with others it offers a living hope of an existence the marks of which are individuality, purpose, and bliss. It is in the latter category that the Hindu religion stands …

The Relation Of The Unio Mystica To The Corpus Doctrinae, Herbert Kretzmann

Bachelor of Divinity

It is the purpose of this paper to consider the relation or the unio mystica to the body of Christian doctrine. We will note first of all how so many well-meaning people have practiced all sorts of mystical exercises which they believed would obtain and strengthen their union with God. Many have believed and taught this doctrine as the basis of man's justification, saying that "faith justifies … as the germ of renewal, or as the means or ingrafting into the new humanity. Others seem to overlook this doctrine altogether, in spite of the fact that the unio mystica has …

The Koranic Doctrine Of Sin, Roland E. Miller

Bachelor of Divinity

The problem that was the occasion for the writing of this thesis is indicated by the title - namely, what is the teaching of sin as it is set forth in the Koran, the Holy Book of Mohammedanism. The problem may be a strictly academic one; but for the writer the problem is one of more than casual importance, since he is a representative of the Christian Church. And the Christian Church in its effort to present the Gospel to Islam, must be vitally concerned with the concept of sin as it is to be found in that theological system.

The Logos Concept Of Justin Martyr-Relation To The Person, The Natures, And The States Of Existence Of The Logos, Marcus T. Lang

Bachelor of Divinity

The main purpose, or course, of' the apologies in general, and of the use or the Logos concept in these apologies in particular, was to present to the unbelieving world a justification for the worship of' Christ by the Christians. Since the Logos concept was a current and accepted one in both the pagan and Jewish world, if it could successfully be identified with the person of Jesus Christ, a great victory would be won. And, to a large degree, that attempt was eventually successful, as Dean Inge points out when he characterizes the Logos-doctrine as "the formula which converted …

The Significance Of Baptism For The Christian's Faith And Life, Bernhardt F. Meschke

Bachelor of Divinity

The very fact that Christ instituted and commanded Christian baptism is already enough to make it necessary. However, Jesus never instituted anything just for the sake of instituting, nor did the Master command for the sake of commanding. Baptism was given for the benefit of sinners. It is our purpose in the following pages to show the significance of baptism for the Christian's faith and life.

Religion And The Adolescent Personality, Robert E. Meier

Bachelor of Divinity

In an attempt to gain a clearer picture of adolescent personality, psychologists and psychoanalists, counselors and pastors have concerned themselves very much with this problem. Adolescence is a culmination of many things that have gone before, and its effects will continue in later life. Adolescence is not a life by itself, but a stage in a total life! Therefore, the events and happenings of adolescence cannot be cut off from the total life.

The Race Question In The Light Of The Una Sancta, Harry N. Huxhold

Bachelor of Divinity

Neither Scriptures nor the confessions of the Lutheran Church deal with the specific problems of racial minority groups, for the problem was absent at the time of their writing. But both indicate principles on the basis of which the question may be treated. Approaches to the problem on the basis of the various principles laid down in Scriptures and the Confessions may vary. But since the problem as it confronts the Church is most generally connected with the question of integrating racial minority groups in the local congregation, the following paper is a study of the race question and its …

A Comparison Of The Christian Doctrine Of Sin With That Of The Three Religions Of China, Leroy Hass

Bachelor of Divinity

The purpose in writing this thesis, however, is not to produce a lengthy dissertation on the Christian concept of sin; this has been done by many excellent Christian theologians. In the next few pages we shall simply reproduce the teachings of Dr. Franz Pieper and Dr. J. T. Mueller on this subject. Hence, very few proof passages or proofs of any kind are offered. It is our desire merely to review the chief points of the Christian concept of sin in order to prepare the reader for a more intelligent consideration of the topic.

Sacramentalism In The Roman Catholic Church, Jack H. Ruff

Bachelor of Divinity

In view of the current wave of Romanist propaganda, the purpose of this paper is to re-examine the sacramental system of Rome in the light of the Scriptures and history. Objective examination will show that: a) The sacraments have become the shackl.es to bind men to the Church of Rome, b) The sacramentalism or the Romanists leads to doubt or carnal security, c) The papists' system is inadequate as shown by the very practice of the Catholic Church.

The Christian Looks At Communism, Ralph Luther Moellering

Bachelor of Divinity

The present writer, as he looks at Communism from the viewpoint of a Lutheran Christian, will endeavor to demonstrate in a sober presentation of available evidence.

Luther's Social Ethics In Contrast To Rome's Asceticism, Arnold Wessler

Bachelor of Divinity

"Luther brought back the pure doctrine of justification; that, above all, made him the Reformer of the Church." By carrying out the implications of this Scriptural truth in its relation to the rest of Roman theology Luther once and for all broke the power of the Roman papacy. Other reformers had failed and Luther succeeded in his Reformation because he struck at the root of the problem and undermined the foundations upon which Rome's whole diabolical system of theology rested. Luther succeeded because he destroyed Rome's sacerdotalism and sacramentalism.

The Doctrine Of The Holy Ghost According To St Paul, Edward Saleska

Bachelor of Divinity

The doctrine or the Holy Spirit is fundamental in Christian teaching. The Holy Spirit’s ministry is intimately bound up in the doctrine of the Trinity and is an all-important factor in the life of the Christian. It makes all the difference in the world as to what a man believes regarding the Holy Ghost and whether or not he has an intelligent understanding of what the Spirit is ready to do for him in his life.

The Doctrine Of Regeneration As Seen Especially In Romans 6:1-14, Eugene Klug

Bachelor of Divinity

Regeneration in the Epistle to the Romans: that is the problem before us for our consideration. Does Paul speak of regeneration at all in this epistle? There are those who hold that he does not, while others maintain that he does. Still others, unable to decide one way or the other, attempt to adopt a middle course, thereby becoming hopelessly enmeshed in doctrinal and exegetical confusion. The problem resolves itself still further into a dispute over one passage, ch. 6, 1-14, which is only section of Paul’s well planned letter which could – and which does, if I may anticipate …

The Doctrine Of Offense, Arthur Weber

Bachelor of Divinity

The fundamental thought of this thesis revolves around the word skandalon. For that reason it will be necessary to begin with a study of its etymology in the effort to bring out the full connotation of the word as it is used in the Bible. It is apparent from the following etymological study that the word skandalon means "a stumbling block or trap which causes one to fall.”

The Concept Of Hope In The New Testament, Oswald W. Mieger

Bachelor of Divinity

We have prefixed this beautiful expression of the Christian’s Hope in full because it delineates the one point which we wish to emphasize in this thesis, namely, that the hope which is truly Christian rests solely upon Christ, and in particular upon the merits of His glorious resurrection from the dead, by virtue of which our hope is of inestimable value and worth. It is a fitting forethought for our consideration of the CONCEPT OF HOPE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.

Church And State, John F. Gaertner

Bachelor of Divinity

The problem of Church and State is one which is entirely Christian, though in its practical applications it also concerns others. The very nature of the case is one which presupposes the side by side existence of both institutions. It was only when Christ came and established the Church in the world and still said, “My kingdom is not of the world," (John 18 , 36) , that the problem of the relation the one bears to the other first arose .

The Doctrinal Contents Of Acts, Walter G. Dippold

Bachelor of Divinity

Our aim in this work shall be, to present Luke's stand on the main heads of christian doctrine and at the same time, to show that his teaching is wholly in harmony with the other New Testament writers. As was stated in the opening words of our thesis, the source on which we shall base our discussion is solely and specifically, the book of Acts. It is therefore selfevident, that when limited to one specific book of the Bible, not every detail in the field of christian doctrine can be treated. In accordance with the limitation of our theme, we …