While the Left Behind Corpus may be commended for being an effective tool for evangelism, the question arises of whether or not its themes engender a theology of extermination, indeed a creeping crusade; “creeping” in the sense of it being a movement of stealth and not one of high visibility – “crusade” in the sense of a militaristic movement, similar to that of the medieval crusades. I span my research across three artefacts in the LB Corpus in terms of its embedded interpretation, discourse and ideology; in fact three separate entities for explanatory purposes, but in effect they form a single entity of interaction and cross-production. I am therefore extending many niches of research and critical discourse to what I envisage as the wider context of the LB Corpus: its potential for social construction, and its enigmatic connections with other apocalyptic-driven and crusade-like movements. Based as it is on “consistent literalism,” the LB Corpus can only be countered by an exegetical approach that situates the foundational text for the Left Behind phenomenon, Revelation 7, in its historical setting, while taking cognisance of the particularities of early Christianity, with its Jewish heritage lived out in a Graeco-Roman environment. In offering an alternative reading, I take some cues from Vernon Robbins‟ socio-rhetorical approach and draw from perspectives of theorists across several disciplinary fields in pointing out anomalies in a consistent literalism driven interpretation of Revelation 7. / New Testament / Thesis (D.Litt. et Phil. (Biblical Studies))

La notion de scellement de la prophétie (khatm al-nubuwwa) est une doctrine centrale en Islam. R. Blachère (m. 1973) parle d’un « dogme théologique de valeur primordial ». Cependant, comme toute doctrine, celle-ci a une histoire qui, en l’occurrence, remonte aux débats survenus à la mort de Muḥammad pour savoir si la prophétie s’arrêtait ou continuait après lui. C’est un passage coranique, le Cor 33, 40, où l’épithète khātam est appliqué à Muḥammad, qui sera au coeur de ces débats et, par la suite, alimentera, jusqu’au VIIIe/XIVe siècle, de multiples controverses autour de la question de la prophétie et de l’héritage prophétique, de l’excommunication (al-takfīr), du consensus (ijmā‘), de la sainteté (al-walāya), etc. Toutefois depuis le XIXe siècle, plusieurs auteurs musulmans se proposent de renouveler les termes du débat à ce sujet. Sous leur plume, la notion de khātam al-nabiyyīn (sceau des prophètes) ou khatm al-nubuwwa (scellement de la prophétie) devient révélateur d’un ensemble de questions qui dépassent le seul fait de savoir si la prophétie continue ou s’arrête après Muḥammad. Par le biais de cette notion, c’est le rapport de l’Islam à la raison, à l’histoire, à la modernité qu’ils interrogent. Nous nous proposons donc de dresser, dans cette recherche, un tableau précis de la réception de ce passage coranique dans les premiers siècles et de ses relectures modernes et contemporaines. Une telle approche nous permettra de suivre, de manière concrète, l’évolution de la pensée islamique sur une doctrine fondamentale. Elle permettra aussi de montrer comment, dans la pensée islamique contemporaine, des auteurs tentent de soustraire le texte coranique des problématiques remontant aux premières générations. / The concept of finality of prophethood is a central doctrine in Islam. R. Blachère (d. 1973) talks about a “theological dogma of primary value”. However, like for all doctrines, this one has a background which goes back to the debates following Muḥammad’s death. Precisely, the debates were aimed at knowing if the prophecy was sealed after him? The crucial point of those debates concerns a passage from the Qur’ān, the Q. 33, 40, in which the epithet khātam is applied to Muḥammad. Indeed, numerous polemical debates had been fed by this passage up to the 8th/14th century concerning the question of prophecy, prophetic heritage, excommunication, consensus, sainthood, etc.However, since the nineteenth century, several Muslim thinkers proposed to renew the terms of the debate. In their writing, the concept of khātam al-nabiyyīn (seal of prophethood) or khatm al-nubuwwa (finality of prophethood) becomes indicative of a set of questions going beyond knowing if prophecy stops or continues after Muḥammad. Through this concept, they examine the relationship between Islam and Reason, Religion and History, Islam and Modernity, etc. In this study we raise a precise picture of the different interpretations of this concept both those developed in the earliest centuries of Islam and those written by modern and contemporary Islamic thinkers. Such an approach will allow us to follow concretely the evolution of the Islamic thought over a fundamental doctrine. It will also allow to highlight how, in the contemporary Islamic thought, some thinkers are trying to free the Qur’ānic text from issues goes back to the first generations of Islam.

[pt] A revelação divina hoje se caracteriza por um trabalho de pesquisa sobre a concepção da revelação de Deus na história. Enfatiza um repensar contínuo da percepção de Deus como condição para a realização humana, à luz do pensamento de Andrés Torres Queiruga. Circunscreve-se a uma preocupação com a fé diante da sensibilidade do homem hodierno, com atenção à situação cultural, nascida a partir da modernidade. Metodologicamente, buscamos: compreender a concepção tradicional de revelação; discorrer sobre a teologia da revelação de Torres Queiruga, como rica alternativa para estabelecer comunicação com a sociedade hodierna; evidenciar as consequências teológicas da concepção de revelação e sua práxis. A dimensão do sofrimento e da cruz aponta que o silêncio divino é consequência da surdez e resistências humanas no processo de acolhida da revelação. Ele cria para salvar e, ao salvar, revela-se. Os resultados esperados apontam a necessidade de um árduo e dedicado trabalho de retraduzir – com as categorias da linguagem moderna – a fé revelada de modo pleno em Jesus de Nazaré. No afã de mostrar que o embate não é o melhor caminho para a percepção de Deus, sabiamente o autor busca uma zona de contato entre aquilo que existe de melhor tanto na fé quanto na modernidade. A partir dessa percepção pedagógico-metodológica da necessidade de valorizar o melhor com o melhor, isto é, aquilo que é o essencial de cada uma, a sua obra ressalta a concepção de revelação para a realização do homem. / [en] Divine revelation today is characterized by a research work on the conception of the God s revelation in history. It emphasizes a continuous rethinking of God s perception as a condition for human realization in light of Andrés Torres Queiruga s thought. It is circumscribed a preoccupation with the faith faced with the sensibility of the modern human being, taking into consideration the cultural situation which has been born of modernity. Methodologically, we seek: to understand the traditional conception of revelation; to discuss the Torres Queiruga s theology of the revelation as a wealth alternative to establish communication with current society; evidence of the theological consequences of the conception of revelation and its praxis. The suffering and cross dimension points out that divine silence is the consequence of deafness and human resistance in the process of revelation reception. He creates to save and, in saving, reveals himself. Expected results indicate the requirement for an arduous and dedicated work to retranslate - considering modern language demands - faith fully revealed in Jesus of Nazareth throughout the salvation history. In the diligence of identifying that the clash is not the best way for perception of God, author wisely seeks a zone of meeting considering the best in both faith and modernity. From this pedagogical-methodological perception of the need to value the best with the best, namely what is the essential of each one, his work emphasizes the revelation conception for the human being realization.

The Mystery of the Woman and the Beast Rhetorical-Narrative Analysis of Revelation 17:1-18 This diploma thesis called "The Mystery of the Woman and the Beast" seeks to unveil the mysterious message of Revelation 17:1-18 by applying the rhetorical-narrative analysis to the text. This analysis entails a specific methodology drawn from the synthesis of both rhetorical and narrative criticism with special regard to persuasive features. The conception of the thesis is based on understanding the message of the text in its own right communicated primarily to its own implicit audience distancing itself from premature theologizing often done especially when dealing with the book of Revelation. Due to the narrative focus of the thesis, considerable space is devoted to analyzing apocalyptic literary tradition and literary aspects of the book itself. Attention is paid to the origin of the apocalyptic tradition as well as the nature of its genre together with its specific motifs and function. The book of Revelation is seen as a part of long-developing apocalyptic tradition sharing some common traits while still being original in its own right. The unique qualities of Revelation are then fully explored in the following chapter. Of particular importance are the genre, imagery, intertextuality, and structure of the book....

Die vorliegende Arbeit setzt sich mit der Bedeutung der Nationen aus Offb 21,24.26 auseinander. Wie ist es möglich, dort Nationen als Gegenüber des Gottesvolks zu finden? Die These erhärtet sich, dass das Alte Testament in Bezug auf die Beziehung des Gottesvolks zu den Nationen eine Vorschau auf die zukünftigen, himmlischen Zustände ist und dass die Zeit des Neuen Testaments eine Zeit des Übergangs darstellt, in der das Gottesvolk neu formiert wird. Der gegenseitigen Beziehung kommt eine enorme Bedeutung zu. Das Gottesvolk ist dazu eingesetzt, zusammen mit Gott über die Nationen zu herrschen. Die Nationen ihrerseits sollen durch diese göttliche Herrschaft zur Erkenntnis und zur Anbetung Gottes geführt werden. Es ist ein fester Bestandteil der Identität des Gottesvolks, dass es zwischen Gott und den Nationen steht und vermittelt. Somit begründet sich die Präsenz der himmlischen Nationen in ihrer Notwendigkeit als Gegenüber des Gottesvolks. / The following dissertation examines the meaning of the nations mentioned in Revelation 21:24.26. How is it possible that there will be nations as counterpart to God's people? In the course of the study, the thesis is confirmed that the relationship between God's people and the nations shown in the Old Testament is a preview to the future state in heaven and that the New Testament stands for a time of transition and new formation of God's people. An outstanding meaning is attributed to this mutual relationship. God's people is appointed to rule over the nations along with God. By divine rule the nations are to be led to recognition and adoration of God. It is an inherent part of the identity of God's people to stand and to intercede between God and the nations. Thus the presence of heavenly nations is justified by its necessity as counterpart of God's people. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Systematic Theology)

While the Left Behind Corpus may be commended for being an effective tool for evangelism, the question arises of whether or not its themes engender a theology of extermination, indeed a creeping crusade; “creeping” in the sense of it being a movement of stealth and not one of high visibility – “crusade” in the sense of a militaristic movement, similar to that of the medieval crusades. I span my research across three artefacts in the LB Corpus in terms of its embedded interpretation, discourse and ideology; in fact three separate entities for explanatory purposes, but in effect they form a single entity of interaction and cross-production. I am therefore extending many niches of research and critical discourse to what I envisage as the wider context of the LB Corpus: its potential for social construction, and its enigmatic connections with other apocalyptic-driven and crusade-like movements. Based as it is on “consistent literalism,” the LB Corpus can only be countered by an exegetical approach that situates the foundational text for the Left Behind phenomenon, Revelation 7, in its historical setting, while taking cognisance of the particularities of early Christianity, with its Jewish heritage lived out in a Graeco-Roman environment. In offering an alternative reading, I take some cues from Vernon Robbins‟ socio-rhetorical approach and draw from perspectives of theorists across several disciplinary fields in pointing out anomalies in a consistent literalism driven interpretation of Revelation 7. / New Testament / Thesis (D.Litt. et Phil. (Biblical Studies))

This dissertation seeks to capture Muhammad's emergence as Prophet. It starts from the premise that he located himself as a Prophet within a fraternity of prophethood. More specifically he has seen his work as a continuation of the Biblical prophetic tradition. However he has stressed his election as correcting what has been altered in this Biblical tradition. Muhammad: A prophet of God argues that he has as prophet the same defining elements as Biblical prophets; as result we must not criticise him unnecessarily, that is, for the sake of fitting him into our categories. Muhammad must be seen terms of his experiences. In addition we must capture his contribution to humanity. / Religious Studies & Arabic / M.A. (Religious Studies)

本論文試圖從霍布斯在形上學的立場，關聯至他政治思想中的相關討論。霍布斯同時兼有決定論以及懷疑論的哲學思維，他藉此劃出理性與啟示之間的界線。本論文認為霍布斯藉由「事實存在」（de facto）主權的論證方式，消解了代表論的弔詭以及第一履約者的弔詭。再者，霍布斯藉由獨特的末世歷史觀，使人對於啟示領域的焦慮與盼望，轉為支持塵世和平的重要助力。

The focus of this study is revelation at the limits of communication. It considers the way in which (biblical) apocalyptic literature prominently figures the interconnection between liminality, revelation, and representation. The methodology asserts an indissoluble association between theology, philosophy and literature. As such it is interdisciplinary. A preliminary theory (and theology) of liminality interweaves the theological and philosophical contributions of, amongst others, Karl Barth, Graham Ward, Jürgen Moltmann and Jacques Derrida, thereby initiating a revised perspective on the constitution of literary apocalyptic text production and interpretation. Theorising the limen begins to describe the Trinitarian economy at work in Christian apocalyptic processing of scripture. I begin with the idea that revelation (apokalypsis) is the experience of the limen itself (in a coincidence of opposites). Thus the limen (as an actively divine space) incorporates that which stands on both sides, in vertical and horizontal, linear and cyclical, spatial and temporal movements. I then propose that apocalyptic literature re-presents this complex economy in which the end is rehearsed simultaneously as limit, threshold, and rupture. Theologically, this complicates inter-relational notions of ‘apocalyptic’ and eschatology, and stimulates a debate on a metaphysics of violence in communication (between God, man and Creation). I conclude that, at the extreme limit of human understanding (where words fail), those with faith in God’s love are opened out to revelation in the apocalyptic textual performance of the liminal economy, and thus to hope and forgiveness. Stressing the importance of reading apocalyptically, I begin to demonstrate the relationship between Christian-canonical narratives and the broader western literary canon, the critical process having invited an exploration of those literary characteristics (of tone, mode and genre) shared by (biblical, modern and postmodern) texts. An important principle in the literary analyses is the association between apocalyptic text production and hermeneutics. Christopher Rowland’s description of a ‘visionary mode’ explains how this process works. Thus the preliminary theory leads into a close reading of recent Russian and American works by Mikhail Bulgakov and Thomas Pynchon. These are compared to, and worked through, Mark’s and John’s gospels and the Book of Revelation. The interpretative approach widens the often self-limiting study of apocalyptic literature, and broadens theological debate on revelation. Thus it begins to show how the rhetoric of apocalyptic makes belief compelling.

La question qui traverse toute l’œuvre de Karl Rahner continue de se poser : comment rendre crédible et croyable la révélation de Dieu en Jésus aux gens d’aujourd’hui? Cette question doit être pensée sans cesse à nouveau dans la réalité concrète de la vie humaine. Au temps de Rahner, on mettait l’accent sur la transcendance de Dieu. Depuis ce temps, la culture occidentale s’est transformée : au début du 21e siècle, elle présente de façon marquée les traits du matérialisme, du consumérisme, de l’individualisme, du relativisme et du sécularisme. Conséquemment, on a aujourd’hui tendance à évacuer la transcendance divine. Notre recherche consiste en l’effectuation d’échanges entre la théologie de Karl Rahner et la philosophie de Gilles Deleuze, dans le but d’établir des conditions de possibilités d’un croire chrétiennement aujourd’hui. La philosophie de Deleuze nous introduit dans un processus créatif avec lequel nous pouvons penser radicalement Dieu comme à la fois transcendant et immanent. Notre démarche construit huit hybrides conceptuels qui aident à penser Rahner autrement et à ouvrir la possibilité d’un croire chrétiennement aujourd’hui. Notre recherche ouvre également la perspective d’une théologie de la rencontre entre des mondes théologiques, philosophiques, artistiques et scientifiques. Enfin, elle aide à éclairer la réalité de la nouvelle évangélisation en Occident chrétien. / The question which moves throughout Karl Rahner’s work continues to lay down a principle: how can one make believable and convincing the revelation of God in Jesus to the people of today? This question must be considered again unceasingly in a practical reality of human life. In Rahner’s time, emphasis was placed into the transcendence of God. Since then, occidental culture was transformed: in the beginning of the 21st century, is showed a very obvious tendency of materialism, consumerism, individualism, relativism and secularism. Consequently, there is a tendency to evacuate the divine transcendence. Our research consists in exchanges between Karl Rahner’s theology and Gilles Deleuze’s philosophy, with the purpose of establishing possible conditions of Christian belief today. Deleuze’s philosophy introduces us into a creative process through which we can think radically of God as being at the same time transcendent and immanent. Our approach is developed with eight conceptual hybrids which help understand Rahners’s theology in another perspective and leads to the possibility of a Christian belief for today. Our research opens as well onto the perspective of theology meeting between the theological, philosophical, artistic and scientific worlds. Finally, it helps to enlighten the reality of the new evangelization in Christian Occident.