This thesis explores Wisdom Christology, the association of Jesus Christ and the mysterious and neglected biblical figure of Woman Wisdom. Because the descriptions of her bear a striking resemblance to the portrayal of Jesus Christ, I argue that they can be seen as two names for the same figure: Christ-Wisdom. This link between Jesus Christ and Woman Wisdom has some interesting repercussions in Christology. Firstly, it emphasizes the mysteriousness of Jesus Christ, preventing the illusion that Jesus Christ can be fully understood. In fact, the incarnation is a deepening of the mystery of God, meaning that theological language must rely on paradox and metaphor to describe the indescribable. I argue that the name Jesus Christ is inclusive, wide enough to hold many names, including that of Woman Wisdom, which he sanctifies so they become appropriate names for the divine. Secondly, the association of Jesus Christ with Woman Wisdom affects the gender of Jesus Christ. Throughout Christian history, there has been a gender fluidity in depictions of Jesus Christ, something legitimated by his full divinity. This does not mean his historical life as a male human being can be ignored, but although he was of the male sex, he arguably did not strictly adhere to socio-cultural gender expectations. Likewise, in Woman Wisdom, Jesus Christ provides an alternative, atypical way of being female. This relativizes the gender of Christ-Wisdom, pointing beyond it to the radical solidarity of the divine with all humanity in the incarnation. Thirdly, to view Christ as Wisdom changes the way gender is understood within the Church, the Body of Christ. If the Church is the representative of Christ-Wisdom, it is therefore a multi-gendered body in which Jesus Christ takes on male and female embodiment. In contrast to gendered ethical models, the Church thus has one ethical example in Christ-Wisdom, which all follow. Because of the various gifts of the Spirit, diversity remains, but is transformed so that differences, including gender, do not limit or determine the roles of believers in the Church, but remain part of the richness of the one Body under its one Head, Christ-Wisdom.

This thesis explores Wisdom Christology, the association of Jesus Christ and the mysterious and neglected biblical figure of Woman Wisdom. Because the descriptions of her bear a striking resemblance to the portrayal of Jesus Christ, I argue that they can be seen as two names for the same figure: Christ-Wisdom. This link between Jesus Christ and Woman Wisdom has some interesting repercussions in Christology. Firstly, it emphasizes the mysteriousness of Jesus Christ, preventing the illusion that Jesus Christ can be fully understood. In fact, the incarnation is a deepening of the mystery of God, meaning that theological language must rely on paradox and metaphor to describe the indescribable. I argue that the name Jesus Christ is inclusive, wide enough to hold many names, including that of Woman Wisdom, which he sanctifies so they become appropriate names for the divine. Secondly, the association of Jesus Christ with Woman Wisdom affects the gender of Jesus Christ. Throughout Christian history, there has been a gender fluidity in depictions of Jesus Christ, something legitimated by his full divinity. This does not mean his historical life as a male human being can be ignored, but although he was of the male sex, he arguably did not strictly adhere to socio-cultural gender expectations. Likewise, in Woman Wisdom, Jesus Christ provides an alternative, atypical way of being female. This relativizes the gender of Christ-Wisdom, pointing beyond it to the radical solidarity of the divine with all humanity in the incarnation. Thirdly, to view Christ as Wisdom changes the way gender is understood within the Church, the Body of Christ. If the Church is the representative of Christ-Wisdom, it is therefore a multi-gendered body in which Jesus Christ takes on male and female embodiment. In contrast to gendered ethical models, the Church thus has one ethical example in Christ-Wisdom, which all follow. Because of the various gifts of the Spirit, diversity remains, but is transformed so that differences, including gender, do not limit or determine the roles of believers in the Church, but remain part of the richness of the one Body under its one Head, Christ-Wisdom.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Abilene Christian University, 2008. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 63-65).

The doctrine of the mediation of Jesus Christ in the scientific theology of T.F. Torrance rests on the fundamental scientific axiom, derived from the natural sciences, that knowledge is developed in accordance with the nature (kata physin) of the object as it is revealed in the course of scientific inquiry. As a theological realist, Torrance finds real and accurate knowledge of God in Jesus Christ. To know God through the incarnate Son, who is “of one nature with the Father” (homoousios to Patri), is to know God in strict accordance with God’s nature and hence in a theologically scientific way. Scientific theology will operate on a christological basis, for the incarnation of Jesus Christ is the “controlling centre” for the Christian doctrine of God. Torrance’s holistic theology investigates its object of inquiry within the nexus of “onto-relations,” or “being-constituting” interrelations, that disclose its identity. Because the fundamental aspects of reality are relational rather than atomistic, a scientific theological approach to the doctrine of the mediation of Jesus Christ requires that he be investigated within the nexuses of interrelations that disclose his identity as incarnate Saviour of the world. An examination of Torrance’s doctrine of mediation reveals three specific nexuses of “onto-relations” that disclose the identity of Jesus Christ. These are his interrelations with 1) historical Israel, 2) God, and 3) humanity. In the present thesis, the vast and scattered array of Torrance’s thought on the mediation of Jesus Christ is reduced to a minimal number of basic concepts, or “elemental forms,” that arise from the nexuses of interrelations that constitute the identity of the incarnate Son. These basic, constitutive concepts of Torrance’s doctrine of the mediation of Christ are the Nicene homoousion and the Chalcedonian doctrine of the hypostatic union, as well as the doctrines of incarnational redemption and the “vicarious humanity” of Jesus Christ. These elemental forms provide a basic, organising framework to examine and explain the mediation of revelation and reconciliation of Jesus Christ in the scientific theology of T.F. Torrance. / Thesis (PhD (Church and Dogma History))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

The doctrine of the mediation of Jesus Christ in the scientific theology of T.F. Torrance rests on the fundamental scientific axiom, derived from the natural sciences, that knowledge is developed in accordance with the nature (kata physin) of the object as it is revealed in the course of scientific inquiry. As a theological realist, Torrance finds real and accurate knowledge of God in Jesus Christ. To know God through the incarnate Son, who is “of one nature with the Father” (homoousios to Patri), is to know God in strict accordance with God’s nature and hence in a theologically scientific way. Scientific theology will operate on a christological basis, for the incarnation of Jesus Christ is the “controlling centre” for the Christian doctrine of God. Torrance’s holistic theology investigates its object of inquiry within the nexus of “onto-relations,” or “being-constituting” interrelations, that disclose its identity. Because the fundamental aspects of reality are relational rather than atomistic, a scientific theological approach to the doctrine of the mediation of Jesus Christ requires that he be investigated within the nexuses of interrelations that disclose his identity as incarnate Saviour of the world. An examination of Torrance’s doctrine of mediation reveals three specific nexuses of “onto-relations” that disclose the identity of Jesus Christ. These are his interrelations with 1) historical Israel, 2) God, and 3) humanity. In the present thesis, the vast and scattered array of Torrance’s thought on the mediation of Jesus Christ is reduced to a minimal number of basic concepts, or “elemental forms,” that arise from the nexuses of interrelations that constitute the identity of the incarnate Son. These basic, constitutive concepts of Torrance’s doctrine of the mediation of Christ are the Nicene homoousion and the Chalcedonian doctrine of the hypostatic union, as well as the doctrines of incarnational redemption and the “vicarious humanity” of Jesus Christ. These elemental forms provide a basic, organising framework to examine and explain the mediation of revelation and reconciliation of Jesus Christ in the scientific theology of T.F. Torrance. / Thesis (PhD (Church and Dogma History))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Guarino Guarini's SS. Sindone Chapel and its relic offer the occasion to contemplate the paradox of the Incarnation in architecture--a dialectic of presence and absence. The thesis begins with a return to the Gospel accounts of the Empty Tomb, and examines the tradition of reliquary and martyria which the Chapel is inscribed in. The Incarnation theme is then traced to the late seventeenth century context of the Chapel and is considered in the Counter-Reformation context of Turin. The architectural organization of the theme of presence and absence is then explored in the Chapel. In Part II, an examination of Architettura Civile, Guarini's treatise on architecture, seeks to understand the theory of parallel projection (ortografia) with regards to the Chapel's themes. In the last stage Guarini's philosophical treatise sheds some interesting light on ortografia--Presence and absence weave an architectural idea, a geometrical theory, a theological mystery.

Thesis (M.A.)--Trinity International University, 2006. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 168-175).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Abilene Christian University, 2008. / Abstract and vita. Description based on Microfiche version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 63-65).

Thesis (M.A.)--Trinity International University, 2006. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 168-175).

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Esta tese investiga a contribuição de Michel Henry (1922-2002) para a clínica psicoterapêutica. Sua original fenomenologia da Vida aprofunda questões trazidas do diálogo entre Freud e Pfister. Parte I: Vida, obra e pensamento de Michel Henry: Sua crítica aos rumos do pensamento ocidental aponta efeitos da redução galileana que pelo monismo ontológico apenas considera verdadeiro o que é passível de ser representado ou visualizado. Esse é insuficiente para a compreensão da condição humana; Henry propõe o dualismo do aparecer e a inversão do método fenomenológico para abarcar a fenomenalização da vida que se doa como afeto na imanência. Como maior contribuição de Henry está o pioneirismo na investigação fenomenológica da condição autoafetiva do afeto. Parte II: O percurso de Henry pelo cristianismo como proposta fenomenológica de acesso à verdade da Vida: O cristianismo lega à filosofia um paradigma, ainda pouco explorado, de propor a compreensão da vida na inteligibilidade do Logos invisível que gera todo o visível. A condição humana é a de Filho, nascido na Vida absoluta; sua vida doada como um Si dado na passibilidade radical. Pela fenomenologia da encarnação se aprofunda a noção de pathos, com desdobramentos para a questão do sofrimento e da angústia. A condição humana é paradoxal na articulação entre a verdade visível e a invisível. Parte III: A leitura henryana da psicanálise: essa alberga a vida na aridez do pensamento ocidental, mas também sofre seus efeitos, inclusive nos conceitos fundamentais, especialmente na abordagem do afeto. Como contraponto à genealogia apontada por Henry se destaca o enraizamento judaico da psicanálise, que lhe permite manter o paradigma da irrepresentabilidade e da errância. Com Julia Kristeva indicamos a proximidade com as afirmações da fenomenologia do cristianismo. Ao final, volta-se à clínica e às contribuições da fenomenologia da Vida para a prática, no paradigma do duplo aparecer. / This thesis investigates Michel Henrys contribution to the psychotherapeutic clinical practice. His very original phenomenology of Life deepens questions raised in the dialogue between Freund and Pfister. Part 1: Life, Work and Thinking of Michel Henry. His criticism of the directions of Western thought points to effects of Galilean reductionism on ontological monism, which only considers true what can be represented or seen. This is insufficient to the understanding of the human condition; Henry proposes the dualism of appearance and the inversion of the phenomenological method in order to encompass the phenomenalization of the life that donates itself as affection in immanence. Henrys most important contribution is his pioneering phenomenological investigation of the self-affectional condition of affection. Part II: Henry's journey through Christianity as a phenomenological proposal of access to the truth of Life: Christianity bestows a paradigm to Philosophy, which is still little explored, proposing the understanding of life in the intelligibility of the invisible Logos that generates everything visible. The Human condition is that of Son, born in the absolute Life; his life donated as a Self given in radical passivity. Through the phenomenology of incarnation the notion of pathos is deepened, with consequences for the issues of suffering and anguish. The Human condition is paradoxical in this articulation between visible and invisible truth. Part III: The Henryan reading of Psychoanalysis: Psychoanalysis shelters life amidst the barrenness of Western thought, but is also affected by it, even in its fundamental concepts, especially its approach to affection. As a counterpoint to genealogy as described by Henry, the Jewish rooting of Psychoanalysis is highlighted, which allows him to maintain the paradigm of non-representability and of errancy. With Julia Kristeva we point to the proximity with the affirmations of the Phenomenology of Christianity. In the end, we return to the clinical setting and to the contributions of Phenomenology of Life to the praxis, in the paradigm of the double appearance.