Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons^™

Integrity And Passion In Teaching, Kristine Lund

Luther Faculty Publications

Issue topic: Festschrift in honour of Erwin Buck

The Good Samaritan, Allen Jorgenson

Luther Faculty Publications

Issue topic: Festschrift in honour of Erwin Buck. Sermon preached at Saint Mark's Lutheran Church, Kitchener, 15 Jl 2007. Lk 10:25-37.

Preaching As Spirit-Directed Witness, Klaus Sonnenberg

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This study seeks to address two specific areas that have been comparatively neglected in modern homiletical writings. Firstly, there has been a reticence to view preaching as witness—which has resulted in what one perceptive homiletician has called “a testimonial vacuum” in much of the preaching that is done in the mainstream churches of the west; and secondly, there has been a scarcity of emphasis on the role of the Holy Spirit in theological writing, including in the crucial area of preaching. Happily, this is beginning to change: there is more and more material being written now in the area of …

Dying And Behold We Live, Steele Lazerte

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Law and gospel are significant themes in not only the New Testament but also in the writings of foundational Christian theologians. In terms of repaching, Paul Scott Wilson is the first homiletician to develop a theological concern with law and gospel in a manner which can be considered an explicit and fully developed law/gospel homiletic. However, it is the concern of this paper to embrace Gerhard O. Forde’s theology for preaching, in particular his understanding of the gospel as a liberating offence, while utilizing the advantages of Paul Scott Wilson’s methodology for law/gospel preaching in general.

The Notion Of Healing In The Therapeutic Work Of Georeg Freemesser And Steve De Shazer: A Comparison, Mary Marrocco

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

George Freemesser and Steve de Shazer have several strong commonalities in their understandings of healing; both can be situated within the framework of pastoral counselling. Because for Freemesser the therapist’s person is an important dimension of healing, I begin with his biography, then my view of healing. To provide the pastoral counselling framework, I review the thought of Pilch, Clebsch and Jaekle, and Rovers. Steve de Shazer’s view of healing is then discussed, though he does not employ the term, by misunderstanding his notion of the goal of therapy as healing. Freemesser’s understanding of healing is described, and finally a …

Authenticating Novelty, Allen G. Jorgenson

Luther Faculty Publications

Some time ago, a pastor friend of mine was lamenting the burden of weekly preaching. His agony was largely reduced to the pointed observation that it is hard “to come up with something new each week.” This comment underscores what has become the task of our time: to verify worth by demonstrating novelty. Novelty has become, for better or worse, canonical. In this article I will explore this arrival of canonical novelty and suggest a faithful reappropriation of the category of novelty under the discipline of word and sacrament. In the latter task, I first consider novelty christologically before attending …

Moral Agency And Faith: A Construal Of Luther, Donald F. Irvine

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The purpose of this essay is to identify aspects of Martin Luther’s view of moral agency and action. The study focuses on themes originating in the Treatise on Good Works, particularly the exposition of the Third Commandment: Thou shalt hallow the holy day. Here, the author presents the paradigmatic example of the experience of a participant in the liturgy of mass. The example shows that moral reflection about agency and action is inextricably linked, first, to the consciousness of the worshipper, second, to language—the use of metaphors, images and descriptive words—and third, to the normative, that is, a knowledge of …

Factors That Contributed To The Growth Of The Kenya Assemblies Of God Church: An Analysis Of Multi-Paradigms, Florence Juma, J. M. Vorster

Luther Faculty Publications

Many churches in Africa lack recorded history for various reasons, such as scarcity of funds and/or scholars in the field of church history (cf. Kalu, 1993:166ff). This situation is more prevalent among the Pentecostal movements which, initially and for genuine reasons, were anti-intellectualist and emphasized ministry alone (Clark & Lederle et al, 1983:41; McNamee, 1974:27; and Hollenweger). Another possible explanation results from the fact that these churches are relatively young compared to their counterpart mainline churches. This lack of recorded history poses a hindrance to any efforts in evaluating the growth of such churches.

There is an immediate need to …

Evangelical Critical Discourse And The Modern World: The Sources And Implications Of The Work Of Craig Gay, Stephen L. Anderson

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Amid the voices that energize debate in the postmodern public square, voices from conservative Protestantism have traditionally been quite muted and indistinct—missing from much public debate. But in the past few years there has been a burgeoning of Evangelical writing on the subject of interaction between the conditions of postmodernity and religious life. This renaissance has been largely unstudied, though its repercussions have been substantial. Most importantly, this resurgence has produced a ground-level rethinking of issues pertaining to the continuance of effective religious life, and indeed, of authentic personhood within the context of late modernity. One Christian social critic who …

Models Of Pastoral Counselling: An Ethnographic Study, Peter William Mcintyre

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This study, which seeks a model of pastoral counselling, examines twelve interviews of clergy and lay pastoral counsellors involved in counselling in a hospital, parish or social service agency. From the interviews the counsellors appear to have identified five themes. The first is the variety of psychological therapies and diagnostic tools upon which the counsellors draw. Secondly there is circumstance that organized a client-centred and flexible approach which describes the basic pattern and attitude the counsellors adopt. The third theme is the integration of psychology and theology in counselling. The fourth theme shows the counsellors exclusive use of scripture/theology during …

Heracleon: Fragments Of Early Valentinian Exegesis. Text, Translation, And Commentary, Timothy James Pettipiece

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This thesis offers an in-depth study of Heracleon, an early Christian writer from the second century CE, who wrote the earliest known commentary on the Gospel of John. The text of this ancient commentary, written in Greek from the perspective of Valentinian theology, is known only from fragmentary citations made from it by Origen in his own later commentary on the same gospel. Although long-known as a representative of the Valentinian schools, Heracleon has often been neglected due to scholarly preoccupations with his teacher, Valentinus, as well as an ever-increasing emphasis on the Valentinian writings found within the Nag Hammadi …

Toward An Alternate Mode Of Discourse For The Pastoral Counselling Relationship In Light Of The Process Pastoral Theology Of Larry Kent Graham And The Narrative Therapy Of Michael White, William Lorne Mitchell

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This project develops an alternate mode of discourse for the pastoral counselling relationship informed by the process pastoral theology of Larry Kent Graham and the narrative therapy of Michael White. Using hermeneutical research methods it is shown that while Graham's research emphasizes a connective approach to personhood and human relationship, White's research emphasizes a narrative approach. The project begins by exploring the possibilities of developing a connective-narrative description of human relationship. The traditional description of the pastoral counselling relationship informed by the language of modern psychology is then reviewed and set in contrast to the language used by Graham and …

Christian Counselling: Toward A Transformation Model, Robert W. Babcock

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This paper begins my personal journey toward developing a transformation model specifically geared to my approach to Christian pastoral counselling. The model seeks to integrate Scriptures with schools of psychotherapy without compromising either. The model explores my belief as a Christian that God sustains humankind; God plays an important role in health and, by extension, in Christian counselling. The idea for this paper came from my counselling practicum in a pastoral counselling centre where Scriptures were not used in the counselling program. Rogerian philosophy dominated the program with minor interventions from other psychotherapies. This paper looks at the response of …

The Passover Of Christ: 'Do [You] This In Remembrance Of Me.' A Systematic Description Of Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Anabaptist, And Lutheran Theology And Ethics, Oscar Carvajal Romero

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

As a way of abstract, this paper presents a study of the last meal performed by Jesus with his disciples before his death and its commandment. With a systematic approach and a descriptive style, it explores the theological and ethical positions given by four Christian traditions: namely, Orthodox, Roman Catholic. Anabaptist, and Lutheran, to Jesus’ commandment: “Do [you] this in remembrance of me." The thesis in this paper has four parts, first, that the command has four aspects: subjective, objective, subjunctive, and genitive. Second, that each Christian tradition named above have emphasized one aspect over the others arriving to different …

One Chaplain's Exploration Of A Spiritual Healing Model For The Grief Experience Of Aging Women, H. Lorene Joy Schmidt

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This paper addresses the research question of "What is a spiritual healing model in the context of grief for aging women experiencing loss of self?” In order to understand the premise for this study, concepts of: feminine symbolism, grief, aging women and spirituality are explored. A review of selected grief literature describes the grief process and emphasis of Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, Erich Lindemann, John Bowlby, and Phyllis Silverman. The psychological development of women outlined by Carol Gilligan and the Stone Centre are discussed in relation to women's voice, self and relationships. The grief of aging women reveals: the need to recreate …

Kung’S Theory Of Paradigm Shifts In Church History: An Evaluation, Florence Juma, J. M. Vorster

Luther Faculty Publications

The theory of paradigms is a broad subject that has been discussed extensively from various perspectives including science, religion and history. Its strengths and weaknesses have been aptly considered. This research article seeks to investigate the extent of the theory's applicability to church history. The question that we wish to address is: To what extent, is this theory of paradigms applicable in explaining the changes that have taken place through the history of Christianity?

What Is The Unique And Direct Effect Of An Uninvolved Father On His Son's Self-Concept As An Adult Man? A Dialogue Between Samuel Osherson's 'Finding Our Fathers,' Social Scientists And Christian Theology, Christopher Stephen Beausoleil

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Though trends are slowly changing, fathers in our society continue to be considerably less involved than mothers in the care and nurturing of their children. Samuel Osherson's theory about the negative effect of father uninvolvement on the self-concept of sons once they become adult men is used as a starting point for discussion between the social sciences and Christianity. The discussion is limited to the effect on gender role identity and self-esteem, two elements of self—concept which can be isolated in Osherson's publication Finding Our Fathers. With a few exceptions, research and scholarly writing in the field of social science …

Stoical Sanctity: The Ethics Of Virtue And The Theology Of Robertson Davies, Eric Richard Griffin

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Robertson Davies is, by his own definition and admission, both a religious novelist and a moralist. His writings evince a consistent theology that, aside from one or two departures, is quite within the liberal protestant tradition, despite his own claims to unorthodoxy. His theology is a moral theology, and the ethical theory or method most in keeping with Davies‘ approach is the "virtue" or "character" model. His claims of dualism and unorthodoxy have been seen to exhibit a "contemporary gnostic spirit," but it is my assertion that they do not; the teachings of the ancient Stoics, however, are much in …

Thomas Scott's 'The Force Of Truth': A Diplomatic Edition From The First And Final Editions With Introduction And Notes, Gordon Bruce Rumford

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Among the many influential preachers and writers of the Evangelical Revival in the Church of England in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century was Thomas Scott (1747-1821). The most widely read of all his publications was his 1779 Force of Truth which went through 12 editions in his lifetime. This thesis presents a diplomatic edition of that work, based on the 1821 Edinburgh imprint and includes the major textual variants from the first 1779 London edition, with an introduction and annotations.

Purity And Power: A Rhetorical Study Of The Ideology Of Purity And Defilement In The Book Of Ezekiel, Armin Siedlecki

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

No abstract provided.

Otto Rank's Theory Of Cultural Transition, Thomas James Clearwater

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The thesis has two purposes. The first is to provide a biographical and theoretical introduction to Otto Rank. The second is to discuss a specific theme in Rank’s writings, namely his understanding of culture and cultural transition, with specific reference to what he deemed the transition from religion to psychology. The study begins with a short biography. It then proceeds to detail aspects of Rank’s theories that are important for an understanding of his theory of cultural transition. A conclusion offers speculations concerning the relevance of Rank’s theories for modern scholarship. The investigation of culture is a particularly complex and …

The Arguments Of The Apocriticus A Re-Evaluation Of The Apology Of Macarius Magnes, Benedict C. Sheehy

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Since its rediscovery in the last century, the Apocriticus of Macarius Magnes has been dismissed as a worthless apology. Scholars generally agreed that the value of the work was not in the Christian apology, but rather in the pagan point of view it preserves. This thesis is an analysis of the arguments from a historico-cultural perspective, particularly from the perspectives of rhetorical argument, allegorical interpretation, and Christian theology. The thesis then attempts to demonstrate that when understood in its proper historical context the apology is a substantial contribution to the Christian apologetic tradition and vehicle to understanding the Christian—pagan conflict …

Sumptuary Guidelines In Clement Of Alexandria's Paedagogus And Seneca's Epistulae Morales, Stephen Crump

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This thesis, Sumptuary Guidelines in Clement of Alexandria's Paedagogus and Seneca's Epistulae Morales, explores the similarities between the ethical outlooks of Clement of Alexandria and Seneca, as well as peculiar emphases of each writer. The thesis is introduced with a discussion of the Christian search for identity within the Roman world, and the influence of Stoicism in formulating this identity. The next two chapters provide the social and intellectual context within which Clement and Seneca respectively wrote. In establishing Clement's backdrop, the cultural, intellectual, and economic settings of Alexandria are examined. The argument is put forth that these various settings …

The Temporal-Eternal Continuum Of C.S. Lewis, Paul Medford Knowles

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This thesis is a discussion of C.S. Lewis’s unique eschatological concept, the temporal-eternal continuum, primarily through detailed descriptions of his geographical metaphor, the borderlands of heaven. Lewis believed that he had discovered, both in his own experience and in the shared history of humanity, evidence of such a continuum, a direct path from the temporal to the eternal; a path that is followed in the present, and not merely anticipated as appearing at the climactic moment of one’s death. Each person has already taken his place on that continuum, and will hold that position unless a choice is made to …

The Stations Of The Cross: A Calculated Trap?, Susan D. Shantz

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

A popular Catholic devotion most familiar in images, texts, and rituals, the Stations of the Cross contains the via cruces paradigm which is at the heart of Western Christian culture. In the following text an account of the historical development of the fourteen episode devotion provides a framework from which to examine in detail four visual interpretations of the Stations of the Cross by contemporary Canadian artists. The unusual serial nature and mythic content of the sequence lent a more ritualistic quality to the creative process of each artist so that, in the extended time and space spent working on …

Imagining God A Critical Review Of The Theology And Method Of Gordon D. Kaufman, H. Victor Froese

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The first four chapters constitute a historical survey of Kaufman’s works. My thesis is that the development of Kaufman’s thought can best be understood as his attempt to take a consistently historicist position vis-à-vis the issues that present themselves to him. By “historicism” I mean that way of thinking that takes the categories presupposed in history (linear time, empirical space, human freedom and other derivative notions) as its primary ones as opposed to the classical terms of essence, nature, and substance. The survey involves a discussion of Kaufman’s Ph.D. thesis (ch. 1), his systematic theological efforts (ch. 2), his search …

A Comparison Of The Theology Of Salvation In The Teachings Of Martin Luther And Joseph Smith, Jr, Gordon Frank Hodgins

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This thesis is a comparative survey on the teachings of Martin Luther and Joseph Smith, Jr. about salvation. Biographical material is also examined to understand the historic influences upon their teachings. A number of similarities in teaching are noted, including belief in Jesus Christ, the need for faith, God’s grace is unmerited, good works follow faith, and there will be a divine Judgment. Areas of disagreement include predestination vs free will, the means of confessing faith in Christ, importance of future life vs present life, personal vs social nature of salvation, and the nature of priesthood as related to salvation.

Emil Brunner's Theological Anthropology A Neo-Thomistic Critique, Arden Paul Schellert

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

1. This thesis is an examination and critique of Emil Brunner’s theological anthropology from the Neo-Thomistic perspective. Emil Brunner’s doctrine of man is examined under three thematic headings: first, man and knowledge (or theology and the philosophy of science), second, man and God (ontology), and third, man in the world (ethical implications). In the first section Brunner argues that man can only be properly understood in light of the complete revealed Christian system. This is because man is in some way separated from his origin in God and engaged in persistent rebellion against Him. Thus, the human quest for knowledge …

Mythos And Metaphor In The Apocalypse Northrop Frye's Literary Criticism Applied To The Book Of Revelation, Daniel Nightswander

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Northrop Frye’s book, The Great Code, published in 1981, drew attention to his interest in applying his own brand of literary criticism to the Bible. However, he did not comment in detail on any portion of the Bible in this book, choosing rather to make general statements about his approach and theories. The present thesis applies Frye’s theories to a single biblical book, namely the Apocalypse, after a brief review of Frye’s seminal works, Anatomy of Criticism and The Great Code. Two issues in understanding the Apocalypse are raised. They concern the structure, which is discussed in Frye’s category of …

An Examination Of Personal Salvation In The Theology Of North American Evangelicalism: On The Road To A Theology Of Social Justice, Robert F.J. Gmeindl

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The question under consideration is the effect of the belief in personal salvation on the theology of North American Evangelicalism, for the purpose of developing a theology of social justice.

This study is a preliminary investigation of the history of Evangelical individualism and the potential influence that individualism might have on Evangelical theology. Certain trends toward isolation and separation, as well as a tendency to neglect what I have called systemic evil, are examined to see how they may result from the Evangelical stress on individualism. Also presented in a skeletal outline of Marcuse’s analysis of one-dimensional society in order …