<p>This dissertation provides a clear understanding of the Buddhist conception of human omniscience. The Buddhist philosouhers, Ṡāṅtaraksi and Kamalaśila hold that religion and philosophy should be based on the teachings of an omniscient person who in turn becomes a religious teacher.</p> <p>The Mīmāṁsakas raise many objections against the concept of human omniscience and establish the omniscience of the Vedas. (revealed literature).</p> <p>The Buddhists disprove the omniscience of the Vedas and God and hold that only a human being can become omniscient. They go further and dialectically establish on the basis of his teachings that only the Buddha, not the other religious teachers, is omniscient, because of his perfect enlightenment (Bodhi). Therefore, only the teachings of the Buddha are authority for religion.</p> / Master of Arts (MA)

<p>This dissertation presents the analytical discussion on the formation of the early Buddhist institute of nuns (Bhikkhuni Sangha) and various arguments arising there from, including the examination on the accusation against Ananda in the First Council. The main inquiry, however lies in the comparative study of the monastic rules of the nuns (Bhikkhuni Pātimokkha). The materials are from various available sources which enable one to proceed more fruitfully in obtaining new information and findings. The monastic rules for Buddhist nuns of different schools are substantially the same, reaffirming the belief that different Buddhistic schools are in unity, the differences lie mainly in philosophical and metaphysical expositions. The study on the internal aspects of the early Buddhist institute of nuns shows the importance of the co-existence of the doctrine and the monastic rules. One who aims at the spiritual attainment must keep in mind the balance of these two principles, i.e., wisdom and practice.</p> / Master of Arts (MA)

<p>The purpose of this paper is to examine the Late Jewish Literature on the subject of Evil and its Causes. The Literature under consideration consists in the Rabinical and Non-canonical writings which, for the greater part, were composed between the years 200 B.C. and A.D. 100.</p> / Master of Arts (MA)

<p>The emergence of historical consciousness and refined forms of historical criticism have created a special problem for religions, especially those such as Christianity for whom claims about particular historical events play a crucial role. The issue is how faith and doctrine can rest upon a contingent foundation whose very existence is subject to the radical and ever-shifting results of historical-research. The author studies Paul Tillich as a man who has met this problem head-on. While the study focuses on Tillich's Systematic Theology, he describes the wider context in which Tillich's work is conceived. The study concludes with a statement and criticism of Tillich's way of resolving the tension between historiography and theology.</p> / Master of Arts (MA)

<p>The thesis seeks to show how Tillich, in laying the foundation for a new structure of religious thought, was developing his basic theological position in a new direction in dialogue with the different spiritual insights of the world religions. It attempts to examine Tll1ich's dynamic-typological approach to the history of religions and to show the significance of the quasi-religions for the encounter of world religions. It seeks to indicate how the dynamic-typological approach to religions is applied to the dialogue between Christianity and Buddhism and it examines the consequences of this type of encounter for Christianity itself. It concludes With an evaluation of Tillich's approach to religions.</p> / Master of Arts (MA)

<p>A recurrent theme throughout the writings of Professor Jacques Ellul, a prominent Protestant theologian and social thinker, has been the need for revolutionary action in the modern world. This thesis will first explicate what he means by calling Christianity a revolutionary faith. Then it will outline his social thought concerning the theory and practice of revolution. Finally, it will show how the two accounts fit together within his total plan. The main argument will be-that his social analysis concerning revolution is directly dependent on his revolutionary theology.</p> / Master of Arts (MA)

Master of Arts (MA)

<p>The thesis attempts to establish a link between the Parables of Jesus and that portion of Jewish Sacred literature that is included in the Old Testament in the area of images, figures and plots presented in the parables. As such it includes a definition of parable and allegory as well as a review of the principle way in which the details in the parables have been interpreted at selected points in history.</p> / Master of Arts (MA)

<p>A chunk of time during which the Mahābhārata was compiled (4 B.C. to 4 A.D.) saw many changes in the Indian vision of what-Is. A vastness of these changes is awesome enough to predicate a kind of dizzying confusion -- a vertigo of understanding.</p> <p>This study attempts to understand some of these vision-changes without the usual nauseating side effects. The Nārāyaṇīya section of the Śāntiparvan provides this study with firm ground from which to perceive the hugeness of change. By comparing the strand of religious vision revealed in the Nārāyaṇīya with strands of visions gone before, and strands of visions later seen, a feeling for the changing colours of the weave within the fabric of the larger Indian religious vision may be obtained. This feeling speaks of differences in myth and ritual between the various strands, and these differences point to greater shifts in meaning which this study attempts to link to a shift in the Indian understanding of world and World. Thus by centering on what seems to be a stationary point, and then by setting it in swirling context, this study allows a perception of the bubblings in Worldview of the Indian tradition, circa the compilation period of the Mahābhārata, to arise.</p> / Master of Arts (MA)

<p>An examination of the Ugaritic texts which contain references to the Canaanite god El, and an analysis of the attributes accorded him in this literature, to demonstrate that there is not sufficient evidence to substantiate the theory that El was conceptualized, in early Canaanite thought, as a moral and rational deity.</p> / Master of Arts (MA)