The English Romantic poet William Wordsworth (1770-1850) – considered by many to be one of the foremost poets of the English language alongside Chaucer, Shakespeare and Milton – is an important name in the history of modern poetry. Together with Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) and Robert Southey (1774-1843) he was known during his lifetime as one of the ‘Lake Poets’, who chose to live and work not in the bustling city of London but in the ‘sublime’ countryside of the Lake District in England’s north western corner. Their poetry – and especially that of Wordsworth – sought to capture the ‘Splendour and Beauty’ (Ode.—1820) of nature and to give it fresh, luminous expression. They sought to recover ‘The vision and the faculty divine’, as Wordsworth called it (The Excursion, I. 79), which is the natural way of perceiving the world for the child but – in Milton’s elegiac words – a ‘Paradise lost’ for man. This study has had two main objectives: (I) to analyse Wordsworth’s poems My Heart Leaps Up and Ode: Intimations from a Christian theological perspective, and (II) to discuss the implications of this analysis on the understanding of the metaphor of the child in the New Testament. The theoretical starting point for the investigation has been that poetry has ‘a special ability to expose different (also contradictory) perspectives and meanings since it is (often) characterised by puzzling paradoxes, suggestive symbols, provocative voids and other stylistic figures’ (Maria Essunger) and that Wordsworth is a ‘Philosophical Poet’ – a thesis well established in the literature. The results of the study show that the metaphor of the child is theologically rich in meaning – it can be understood from an ontological, a Christological, a Trinitarian and a soteriological perspective – and philosophically complex in nature, and that it therefore requires careful consideration in order not to be deprived of its spiritual, metaphorical significance. ‘For the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life’ (2 Cor. 3.6).

La présente thèse, intitulée «L’incarnation du Verbe de Dieu comme œuvre du salut chez Athanase d’Alexandrie» met en évidence un sujet qui a une connotation très forte pour l’histoire du christianisme et des pensées religieuses en général, à savoir l’action salvatrice du Fils de Dieu en faveur de l’homme, avec toutes les conséquences qui en résultent. Athanase a une conception assez originale sur la nature de l’homme, qu’il conçoit comme un être corruptible, issu du néant, mais destiné pourtant à une vie éternelle par la participation de Dieu, celui qui possède la vraie vie et qui lui communique cette vie si celui-ci reste en communion avec Dieu. Pour qu’il puisse réaliser cette relation très personnelle, Dieu l’a créé selon son image, le Logos-même et l’a doté de l’esprit, l’esprit qui lui permettait d’élever toujours sa pensée vers le monde intelligible et de voir Dieu selon l’image duquel il a été fait. A cause de son insouciance et de la tromperie du démon l’homme n’a pas réussi à garder la pureté de son esprit, pureté qui lui garantissait la contemplation de l’Image, s’est retourné par le péché vers les choses sensibles et a commencé à se contempler lui-même. Ainsi la séparation de Dieu, sa source de vie, renvoie l’homme à sa condition initiale de créature sortie du néant. Mais Dieu, dans son amour infini, n’a pas voulu laisser l’homme dans cet état déplorable et a envoyé dans le monde son propre Verbe pour qu’en sa qualité d’Image de Dieu, il renouvelle l’homme fait selon l’image et qu’en assumant une humanité réelle, il le libère du péché et de la mort par sa mort et sa résurrection. Pourtant l’œuvre salvatrice accomplie par l’incarnation du Verbe ne se limite pas seulement à une restauration de l’homme dans son état initial, mais suppose quelque chose de plus, à savoir une union si étroite de l’humanité et de la divinité dans la personne du Christ, de telle sorte que la nature humaine-même est rendue perméable à la divinité. Cette œuvre réalisée dans la personne du Christ se prolonge dans tous les hommes, grâce à leur parenté et incorporation en Christ. C’est ainsi que l’auteur conclut par sa célèbre phrase: «Dieu s’est fait homme pour que l’homme soit fait dieu», un dieu non par nature, mais par grâce. / This thesis, entitled “The incarnation of the Word of God as work of salvation in Athanasius of Alexandria” emphasizes a topic that has very strong connotations in the history of Christianity and religious thoughts in general, namely the liberating action of the Son of God for man, with all the consequences that will result. Athanasius’ thinking of human nature is, in some degree, original. For him, the human being is a corruptible one, as originated in nothingness, but destined to an eternal life through the participation of God, who possesses the true life and who communicates it to him, if he remains in communion with God. To achieve this personal relationship, God created him after his image, the Logos himself, and endowed him with spirit, which enabled him to raise always his thought to the intelligible world and to see God in whose image he was made. Because of his recklessness and deceit of the devil, man failed to keep the purity of his spirit, purity that ensured his contemplation of the Image, he turned through sin to sensible things and began to contemplate himself. Thus, the separation from God, the source of his life, makes the man returning to his original condition as creature out of nothing. But God in his infinite love would not leave man in this deplorable state and sent into the world his own Word to renew, as Image of God, the man made after this Image and, by assuming a true humanity, deliver him from sin and death by his death and his resurrection. Yet the saving work accomplished by the incarnation of the Word is not limited only to a restoration of man to his original condition, but requires something more, namely a union so close of humanity and divinity in the person of Christ, so that the human nature itself is made permeable to the deity. This work accomplished in the Christ’ person extends to all men, through their similarity and their incorporation into Christ. Thus the author concludes by his famous phrase: “God became man so that man is made god”, a god, not by nature but by grace.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-03T12:20:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Helmut Renders.pdf: 1980026 bytes, checksum: 3af6f4875a45e2224a230620343d5cb9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-12-04 / This study investigates the elements of the soteriology of John Wesley and its dynamic aspects. Instead of favoring a specific period of the life of John Wesley, the theological biography of John Wesley is developed based on the concept of the sedimentation of experience. In this manner, the theologia viatorum of John Wesley is developed with a focus on its transverse elements and their unfolding in terms of communitarian, synergetic and public aspects. According to the thesis, the theologia viatorum of John Wesley gains depth and vitality with its growing and conscious learning from and commitment to the English people, and, in special, with the poor of England. Accompanied by a careful self-analysis, Wesley begins offers an analysis of the diverse soteriologies of his day, which are marked by a slow transition between the Medieval era and modernity. There arises a reconstruction characteristic of soteriology, currently called social soteriology. We understand this social soteriology as a pivotal point in the theology of John Wesley, which manifests itself in a typical soteriological anthropology, Christology, pneumatology, eschatology and ecclesiology. The communitarian, synergetic and public aspects of this social soteriology are seen and developed by Wesley based on his own experience and life with the people, their dynamics, their culture, their needs and their competencies. Such aspects lead, step by step, toward a praxis that begins to contemplate the interconnections between the reform of the Church, the nation and the transformation of persons. This movement is co- motivated by an utopist soteriological horizon that foresees the continuation of the theologia viatorum until the transformation of the entire cosmos. This social soteriology appears as a web that closely accompanies the socio-economic and religious topography of the its time, and seeks paths to overcome impasses, despair, and irresponsibility in relation to the poor.(AU) / Este estudo investiga os elementos da soteriologia de John Wesley e seus aspectos dinamizantes. Em vez de favorecer um determinado período da vida de Jonh Wesley, a biografia teológica de John Wesley é desenvolvida a partir do conceito da sedimentação de experiência. Dessa forma, a theologia viatorum de John Wesley é desenvolvida com foco nos seus elementos transversais e os crescentes desdobramentos dos mesmos segundo os seus aspectos comunitários, sinergéticos e públicos. Segundo esta tese, a theologia viatorum de John Wesley ganha em profundidade e vitalidade com a sua crescente e consciente aprendizagem e compromisso com o povo inglês e, em especial, com os pobres da Inglaterra. Acompanhado por uma cuidadosa auto-análise, Wesley parte para a análise do efeito de diversas soteriologias dos seus dias no cotidiano, as quais são marcadas pela demorada transição entre a época medieval e a modernidade. Surge uma re-construção característica da soteriologia, designado por nós como soteriologia social. Entendemos esta soteriologia social como o eixo principal da teologia de John Wesley que se manifesta numa típica antropologia, cristologia, pneumatologia, escatologia e eclesiologia soteriológica. Os aspectos comunitários, sinergéticos e públicos desta soteriologia social são vistos e desenvolvidos por Wesley a partir da auto-experiência e da convivência com o povo, suas dinâmicas, sua cultura, suas necessidades e suas competências. Tais aspectos levam, passo a passo, a uma práxis que começa a contemplar o entrelaçamento entre a reforma da igreja, da nação e a transformação de pessoas. Este movimento é comotivado por um horizonte soterioló gico utópico que prevê a continuação da theologia viatorum até na transformação do cosmo inteiro. A soteriologia social é parecida com a um tecido que acompanha a topografia socio-econômica e religiosa da época, procurando caminhos para a superação dos seus impasses, da sua desesperança e irresponsabilidade em relação aos pobres.(AU)

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:48:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Marcos Alberto Galdino Costa.pdf: 487953 bytes, checksum: c452ef8e956959d8e52def2f365b1ca4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-08-11 / Fundo Mackenzie de Pesquisa / The present work intends to analyze Gil Vicent s, play writer and poet, view about virtues and humans degradation considering the salvation aspect involved in it. Literature and Theology altogether can show aspects of humans life, for this reason the Trilogy of Boat: Act of the Boat of Hell, Act of the Boat of Purgatory and the Act of the Boat of Heaven were chosen to be analyzed for represent the thinking concerning salvations aspects in that important time period, that showed a religious disagreement that resulted in Protestant Reformation (1517). The life, the work and the prestige the poet had with the kings John II, Manuel and the queen Eleonor will be observed firstly. Vicent´s works is very important until today; by his work, Trilogy of Boat, the influence of his time and the mean where he lived are observed. He shows that in the Middle Age the society and the church had a lot of sins like lust, avarice, envy, robbery and pride; all Vicent s characters have one or more of these sins and they respond for that. He show us his religious believes in Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory by the destiny he gives to the sinners souls. The poet created a place where angels, the demon and personified death are responsible for who died. In his Trilogy of Boats we analyze the author s concept about salvation and we saw the ones who went to Hell, to Paradise and to Purgatory, to have their sins purified. Finally, we can observe that Gil Vincent was a man who wants to see the transformation of his society and his church. However, our intention isn t defend a point of view referent to soteriology controversy whether salvation can happen through God s grace or by the election through his prescience, we pretend show that both concepts were present before , during and after Vicente s life, as well during the Protestant Reformation. Starting from historic and culture analyses, our intention is respond some questions like: What are salvation concepts in Gil Vincent work? His soteriological thoughts are based on what? Whether, did he a significant contribution to his readers of all the times? And finally: Was he a precursor of Reformation or only discontent with Catholic Church? / Esta pesquisa pretende analisar a visão do poeta português Gil Vicente quanto às virtudes, aos vícios e à degeneração do homem, considerando os aspectos envolvidos na salvação. Tendo como ponto de partida que a Teologia e a Literatura se entrelaçam ao exporem a vida humana, a trilogia de Gil Vicente, Auto da Barca do Inferno, Auto da Barca do Purgatório e Auto da Barca da Glória, foi escolhida para ser analisada por representar o pensamento, no que diz respeito à salvação, de um período tão importante em termos de descontentamento religioso, que resultou na Reforma Protestante (1517). Em primeiro lugar, são analisados a vida, a obra e o prestígio que o poeta tinha na corte portuguesa com os reis D. João II, D. Manuel e a Rainha Eleonor. Por meio da Trilogia das Barcas, a influência do tempo de Gil Vicente e do meio em ele viveu é observada. Ele mostra que, na Idade Média, na sociedade e na igreja podiam-se observar muitos pecados como a luxúria, a avareza, a inveja, a corrupção e o orgulho; todas as personagens têm um ou mais desses vícios e respondem por isso. O poeta nos mostra sua crença no céu, no inferno e no purgatório por meio do destino que ele dá para cada alma. Ele cria um espaço no qual os anjos, o diabo e a personificação da morte são responsáveis por quem morre. Na Trilogia das Barcas, analisamos o conceito que o autor tinha sobre a salvação e observamos aqueles que são enviados para o inferno, para o paraíso e para o purgatório. Não temos intenção de defender uma posição quanto à controvérsia soteriológica: se a salvação acontece por meio da eleição unicamente pela graça de Deus ou por meio de sua presciência; mas sim de mostrar que ambos os conceitos estavam presentes antes de Gil Vicente, durante sua vida, e depois de Gil Vicente, em todo o período da Reforma Protestante. A partir da análise histórico-cultural e da análise dos Autos propostos no tema, buscamos responder às questões: qual o conceito de salvação em Gil Vicente? Em que se fundamenta o pensamento soteriológico dele? Quais contribuições o poeta deu ao seu povo e às pessoas que ainda leem suas obras? Por último, vamos tentar responder se ele foi um préreformador ou apenas um católico descontente com sua igreja.

This dissertation analyses and critically evaluates an aspect of Karl Barth's thought, the understanding of which is important to a broader understanding of Barth, his relationship to other (especially iconoclastic) thinkers, and his relevance for contemporary theology: his understanding and critique of idolatry and the idol. Chapter 2 argues that it was revelation which both drove Barth's idolatry-critique and determined his concepts of idolatry and the idol. It analyses Bath's idolatry-critique as it was levelled against natural theology, and offers an evaluation of the picture of Barth's thought which emerges. Chapter 3 analyses Barth's idolatry-critique in relation to the doctrine of God. Directives which, for Barth, had to be adhered to within the development of the doctrine of God for the avoidance of idolatry, are discussed. Finally, an evaluation and critique of Barth's critique of idolatry within the doctrine of God, and of his own adherence to these directives, is offered. Chapter 4 analyses the relationship of Barth's idolatry-critique to his discussion of religion. It is shown that Barth, in his mature thought, criticised both the essence of religion and certain theological uses of the concept of religion as idolatry. Barth's critique of religion as idolatry is itself subjected to critique, and the question of what bearing his critique of religion as idolatry ought to have for Christian, theological engagement with adherents of other world religions is taken up. Chapter 5 summarises and discusses further some of the findings and implications of this study. It is suggested that Barth's thoroughly christological critique of idolatry (which is not without its own problems), in that it stands in contrast to the less particularistic forms of idolatry-critique set forth by several other modern scholars, raises the question of whether an idolatry-critique like his own might be called for within contemporary theology.

Pentecostalism has always been regarded as a movement that does not have all the ecclesiastical qualities that qualify it to be called a fully-fledged tradition alongside other major streams of Protestantism. Contrary to popular theologies that undermine the great role that the Pentecostal tradition can play in the global church, modern Pentecostal theologies agree that most of the misconceptions and assumption are misplaced because the Pentecostal tradition is a rich tradition with vital elements and symbols necessary to advance the ecumenical goal of unity and reconciliation. Based on this perception that Pentecostal ecclesiology is ecumenical, this research critically analyses Pentecostal ecclesiology as portrayed by Kärkkäinen in order to determine its ecumenicity or relevance to the ecumenical goals of unity, tolerance and reconciliation. This research confronts the paternalistic assumptions and misconception that regard Pentecostalism as simply a superstitious and naive sect which is only relevant to the lower class by bringing out the different elements and symbols within the tradition that are vital for the success and development of the global church in a modern global context. Some of the critical elements and symbols within the Pentecostal tradition that are explored within this study include÷ unity in diversity, the mission nature of the church, experiences of the Spirit as portrayed in its Pneumatological Christology and Soteriology, its rapid adaptation to new global south contexts and critical elements of inclusivity and plurality as portrayed in the foundations of the tradition. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology

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This thesis aims to explore the basis for an enlarged understanding of ζωή αἰώνιος; eternal life, in contemporary reception of the Gospel of John. Eternal life is often seen as a promise for life after physical death, but the theologians in focus, Paolo Ricca, Marianne Meye Thompson, John Sanford and Benjamin E. Reynolds, understand eternal life in John as a partially realized eschatology. The method is a comparative reception-historical analysis of these four scholars’ interpretations, including evaluation of their exegetic claims. The theologians’ arguments are mainly based on key passages such as John 5:24 and John 17:3, which points towards a presentic understanding of eternal life. The way the Gospel of John contrasts ψυχή, in John used for physical/earthly life, and ζωή, life in fullness, is another argument by Ricca and Thompson. Eternal life is based on an intimate relationship with God through Christ, and the acceptance of dependence on God. The fact that John often put εἰς; in to, before ζωή αἰώνιος, is another indication that eternal life is something dynamic and process-oriented, as pointed out by Ricca. Reynolds compares John with Jewish apocalyptic literature from the second temple period and discloses many similarities between John and apocalyptic Jewish literature in the understanding of a parallel reality, hidden but revealed. Sanford makes a synthesis of John and Jungian terminology and points out distance from the ego and leaning towards the drawing center (God) as the path to eternal life. Thompson includes the Holy Spirit in enabling eternal life. Ricca places eternal life in relation to salvation history, and presents an understanding of time where the future comes towards us. Love is the most prominent insignia of eternal life, and forms the basis for an ethics which can also imply transformation of society. In that way the soteriology of John can also be seen as something collective, even if the individual’s encounter with God and Christ is in focus.

The upsurge of religious movements and independent churches in the Global South is bringing a new twist to world economic development not anticipated by many theologians and social scientists. With a syncretic soteriology geared toward the liberation of the whole person, religious movements and independent churches of the south are preaching to their adherents, mostly the poor and the marginalized, a message of faith in an omnipotent and compassionate God who is concerned for their weal and woes and who offers them an assured and holistic salvation. By placing their faith in God, the poor and marginalized people are discovering their true selves and are saved/liberated. This assured salvation (certitudo salutis), which is a total liberation of the physical and spiritual world, becomes, in turn, the motivational energy for capital development. The Zion Christian Church (ZCC) soteriological predicament stands at this juncture. Through processes of syncretization and purification, ZCC has managed to deconstruct the European/North American and African Traditional Religions soteriologies to construct a pure soteriology that is relevant to the socio context of its adherents. ZCC deconstructs these soteriologies by broadening, for example, the classic Christian soteriogical theory of Christus Victor in her notion of sin, death and the devil and the African traditional soteriological notion of uBuntu and spirit-power. The purity, or holistic salvation, generated out of these processes serves as grounds for identity and economic empowerment of its adherents. With a holistic salvation that centers on healing, personal integrity and spiritual power, ZCC members have been able to achieve considerable success in the labour market by becoming an army of potential employees. They have also distinguished themselves in their work ethic, where they are seen as hardworking, disciplined, obedient and sober. Empowering its adherents economically through a religious soteriology, the ZCC has become an example of a trend that is shaping the Global South and is reviving the interest of social scientists and theologians to further investigate the impact of religious and theological formulations on the economic conduct of individuals. / Theology / D. Th. (Theological Ethics)