<p>This thesis commends an understanding of animals as creatures of inherent value, based on the care which God has for them. In support of this understanding, this thesis first examines the history of animals in the Christian tradition suggesting a minor but consistent place for them. Next the nature of animals in Scripture is examined, and in addition to support for God's care for creatures, human dominion, the image of God, and the possession of a soul by animals are also examined. Following this the use of animals in Scripture is studied including food and sacrificial uses, involving discussion on the fallen way now allowed by God, and the high value of life. Finally eschatological images involving animals found in Genesis, Isaiah, and Revelation are examined and the possibility of animal salvation is examined. Based on the idea of animals as creatures of value, an ethical examination of factory farming is undertaken, and the practice is rejected due to the excessive harm it bears upon animals.</p> / Master of Theological Studies (MTS)

<p>This thesis argues that the Body of Christ is an effective metaphor for envisioning healthy Christian community in contemporary North American culture. The Body of Christ metaphor fosters a vision of the alternative community of God that addresses the problem of (unhealthy) displacement and revitalizes the way in which Christians embrace and embody God's mission. Deeper reflection on the biblical metaphor of the Body of Christ assists the church in reflecting on its core identity as the people called by God to share in his mission in the contemporary context. The core identity of the Christian community that this thesis explores includes its nature ('being') and function ('doing'). To conclude, this thesis appraises 'intentional Christian communities' as one contextual application of biblical community that lives out the Body of Christ metaphor.</p> / Master of Divinity (M.Div)

<p>Most current research into 1 Tim 2:11-12 relates to the study of cultural context and to word and phrase studies. This work attempts to use a discourse analysis model to evaluate the epistle as a whole using a bottom-up interpretation of the epistle to determine the meaning of 1 Tim 2: 11-12 and how it relates to an egalitarian understanding of the text. My linguistic model will be based on Halliday's systemic-functional linguistic model of language. Adapted slightly to evaluate a dead language, this model will use the tripartite field -tenor-mode register method. The final sections will address the state of current research and how the discourse analysis model used in this thesis enlightens that research.</p> / Master of Arts (MA)

<p>Although David seems to be characterized differently in 1 Samuel 25 than in 1 Samuel 24 and 26, the literary cohesion of these three chapters suggests otherwise. By exploring the parallels in setting, plot, characterization, and style between each chapter this study uncovers a multidimensional characterization of David. Nabal is established as Saul's surrogate and David's men (in 1 Sam 24), Abishai (in 1 Sam 26), and Abigail (in 1 Sam 25) are demonstrated to be David's alter-egos. These paralleled characterizations suggest that as David is with Nabal so he is with Saul and that the interchange between David and his men and David and Abigail externalize polarized qualities within David's character. By exploring the interweaving of narration, setting, plot, characterization, and style in 1 Samuel 24-26 this thesis seeks to demonstrate that both David's restraint and his unrestraint are rooted in his political brilliance and moral deficiency.</p> / Master of Arts (MA)

<p>The purpose of this thesis is to discover the influence that the Patristic father's concept of deification, called "theosis", had on Evangelicalism. The writings of the Patristic Fathers on theosis were grouped into four main categories: participation in the divine nature, recapitulation, union of the soul with God and progress of the soul in eternity. These four categories create a template that was used in determining the influence of theosis on Evangelicalism. In the middle of the eighteenth century a powerful religious movement swept across the British Isles and its possessions in North America, growing into what is known today as Evangelicalism. This research will show that theosis was present inthe theology of early evangelical leaders such as John and Charles Wesley, Jonathan Edwards and in particular, George Whitefield. While many good biographies are available on Whitefield, little has been written concerning the influence of theosis of his ministry.</p> / Master of Arts (MA)

<p>The theories of Bakhtin are becoming more influential in studies. The concepts of chronotope and polyphony have proved particularly useful in exploring narrative works. This thesis applies these concepts to the Behistun inscription, Herodotus' The Histories, and Ezra-Nehemiah to bring a more nuanced understanding to the character of Darius revealed in each work. The speeches of Darius, within their respective chronotopes and double-voiced by the narrator, reveal subtle undei10nes of characterization. In the Behistun inscription, the chronotope and the use of the monologic voice of Darius reveal a character lifted above the historical world to epic levels. In Herodotus, double voicing along with chronotope reveals Darius, who is otherwise presented as a powerful and mighty king, as vulnerable and human. In Ezra-Nehemiah, chronotope is used to raise Darius above the other Persian kings, except Cyrus, while double-voicing exposes his claim to be the true king of Israel through the support of the temple.</p> / Master of Arts (MA)

Bachelor of Divinity (BD)

<p>The scholarly conversation concerning Ezra-Nehemiah has largely been focussed on diachronic methods. Tamara Eskenazi was the first to consider Ezra-Nehemiah synchronically. Her work was an exceptional as well as essential step forward. However, her focus on the unity of Ezra and Nehemiah causes her to overlook the plot structure of Ezra 1-6. In this study a plot structure is outlined for Ezra 1-6 based upon the עלה imperative and the בנה imperative which are given by Cyrus in Ezra 1 :2-4. The Judean people are able to accomplish the עלה imperative without conflict, but the בנה imperative is not completed so easily as the temple rebuilding project reaches a standstill in Ezra 4:24. The prophets Haggai and Zechariah then intervene and become the catalyst for the resolution ofthe narrative (5:1). This study highlights the narrative role of the prophets in Ezra 1-6.</p> / Master of Arts (MA)

<p>This thesis is an experiment in using Fredric Jameson's dialectical Marxist henneneutics, particularly as articulated in his The Political Unconscious, to read a specific New Testament text, the Prologue to the Gospel of John. The Prologue shall be read through three semantic horizons: the literary, the narrowly social and the broadly economic. It will be argued that the Prologue contains a co-occurrence of mythic narrative and metaphysical discourse; that this co-occurrence of mythic narrative and metaphysical discourse can be understood as a result of the co-o1ccurrence of lower and higher social strata within early Christian communities; and that this co-occurrence of lower and higher social strata can itself be understand as the: vestigial presence of formerly dominant modes of production within the mode of production that dominated the broader historical context in which these communities were located.</p> / Master of Arts (MA)

<p>This thesis is a critical examination of Eric Voegelin's historical conception of philosophy. Voegelin is of particular relevance to a student of religion in that he argues that philosophy and history can only be properly understood in terms of a "divine ground." Central to this thesis, then, is the attempt to understand in what sense philosophy and history can be spoken of in relation to a divine ground, how that ground is known, and what it is.</p> <p>Voegelin's arguement is wide-randging: it involves 1) a powerful criticism of contemporary understandings of science and philosophy; 2) a detailed argument about the proper nature of political science; 3) an extensive analysis of the main political-philosophical writings of the West, particularly those of Plato and Aristotle. The scope of his writings and so of his argument presents a problem for any analysis - but I will be selective in terms of the issues raised in the first paragraph.</p> <p>A substantial part of this thesis involves the attempt to clarify and recount Voegelin's argument as he makes it in his various writings. However, I think that certain critical questions can be raised about. his position and these will be developed as his position is clarified.</p> / Master of Arts (MA)