Thesis (M.A.E.T.)--Covenant Theological Seminary, 2003. / Abstract. Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 48-50).

Adviser: Daniel Wojcik. xiii, 299 leaves / A print copy of this title is available through the UO Libraries under the call number: KNIGHT BL37 .H69 2001 / Since the advent of the public World-Wide-Web in 1992, networked computer communication has rapidly become integral to the daily lives of many North Americans. Many researchers in the humanities and social sciences debate the potential power and nature of the effects of these new forms of communication. Some scholars see dangers in the changing forms of “media literacy,” but others see the Internet engendering new levels of democratic debate at grassroots and personal levels. However, much of this research still lacks the basic methodological rigor necessary to make reasonable claims about actual individual human communicative behavior on the Internet. By melding the behavioral ethnographic methods of folklore studies and socio-linguistics to postmodern methods of rhetorical analysis, this dissertation explores the general hypothesis that Internet media encourage the use of negotiative rhetorical strategies in the everyday expression of vernacular religious belief. By participating in the specific Christian Fundamentalist discourse known as Dispensationalism, this dissertation establishes methods for locating and classifying particular Internet expressions based on their revelatory, experiential, and/or negotiative rhetorical strategies. The hypothesis is explored through a series of five cases related to Protestant Dispensationalism: early American Puritan and Quaker autobiography, 1994 and 1995 Christian e-mail lists, the 1996 and 1997 e-mail campaign of the “Heaven's Gate” religious group, and 1999 and 2000 amateur Dispensationalist web-site builders. Based on e-mail, web-site, questionnaire, and face-to-face interview data, the results of this research have shown that the hypothesis overestimated the power of the Internet to encourage negotiative attitudes in deeply religious individuals. Although the Internet expressions of belief seem to have taken on a style of negotiation, little actual negotiation about religious beliefs or values occurred on the Internet among those documented. Instead, there was a constant exchange of similar ideas which seem to primarily function as attitudinal posturing. Though strong positions were taken and expressed to large and diverse audiences, only a very few individuals were willing to adjust their previously held beliefs as a result of their experiences with Internet communication.

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Text in Afrikaans / Weens kerke se eskatologiese verskille is daar twee hoofstrome van millennialisme: chiliasme en antichiliasme, wat tradisioneel as alternatiewe teenoor mekaar gestel word. Hierdie verhandeling behels egter 'n holistiese vergelyking van verskillende eskatologiee en hulle gepaardgaande millennialismes, ten einde die drie hoofstrome van millennialisme: pre-, post- en amillennialisme, met Konig se millennialisme te vergelyk. 'n Literatuurstudie toon dat Konig eskatologie definieer as die realisering van God se doel (die verbond) met die skepping deur die persoon van Jesus Christus. Die realisering van hierdie doel het met Christus se eerste koms in die Nuwe-Testamentiese bedeling begin. Derhalwe handhaaf Konig 'n Christosentriese eskatologie i.p.v. die tradisionele 'verdinglikte' eskatologie wat die eskatologie definieer as die allerlaaste dinge wat moet gebeur voor die einde van die wereld. Waarteoloe dus in die algemeen slegs 'n gedeelte van die N.T. as eskatologiese veld beskou (soos bv. Barth wat die eskatologie by Christus se opstanding begin, en Moltmann wat dit by Christus se kruisiging begin), sien Konig die hele N.T. as eskatologie in 'n Christologiese sin. Teenoor sommige teoloe wat weer die O.T. as eskatologie klassifiseer, betoog Konig dat hoewel die O.T. toekomsgerig is, dit nie ware eskatologie kan wees nie, want toe was God se doel/verbond/koninkryk nog nie in die mens Jesus Christus verwesenlik nie. In 'n toekomsgerigte sin kan die O.T., volgens Konig, wel 'eskatologie' genoem word, maar dan sal dit 'mislukte eskatologie' wees. Maar die werklike realisering van God se doel met die skepping deur Christus, het eers in die N.T. met die eerste koms van Jesus Christus begin. Die resultaat van ons evaluering van Konig toon duidelike teologiese verskille wat Konig met die chiliaste en met die antichiliaste het. Konig kan bv. nie saamstem met die chiliaste se idee van 'n millennium wat vir 'n bepaalde tydperk sal bestaan nie. Ook gaan hy nie akkoord met die antichiliaste se sg. millennium wat vir 'n onbepaalde tydperk sal duur nie. Dog ten spyte van verskille tussen Konig en die antichiliaste, is daar wel betekenisvolle ooreenkomste. Hier dink ons bv. aan die felt dat Konig saam met die antichiliaste betoog teen die chiliaste se siening van 'n letterlike vrederyk op die ou aarde wat presies eenduisend jaar sal duur. In ons konklusie is dit duidelik dat die verskille tussen Konig en ander millennialiste te wyte is aan veel meer as net hulle onderskeie hermeneutiese interpretasies van die eskatologie en die sg. millennium. Teenoor die tradisionele eskatologie se verengde teleskopiese tonnelvisie wat die eskatologiese veld beperk net tot 'n allerlaaste eindtydelike bedeling, staan Konig se bree makroskopiese voelvlugvisie wat die eskatologiese lyn vanaf Christus se krip tot by sy troon op die nuwe aarde laat strek. Maar aangesien dit in die lig van Konig se ekumeniese teologie tog moontlik is om eerder die punte van ooreenkoms as die van verskil tussen die millennialistiese benaderings te beklemtoon, word 'n ekumeniese toekomsblik vir die millenniumdebat voorgestel. / Because of eschatological differences amongst churches, there are two main streams of millennialism: chiliasm and antichiliasm, which is traditionally set as alternatives against each other. This dissertation, however, contains a holistic comparison of different eschatologies and their accompanying millennialisms, in order to compare the three main streams of millennialism: pre-, post- and amillennialism, with Konig's millennialism. A literary study shows that Konig defines eschatology as the realization of God's purpose i.e. the covenant) with the creation through the person of Jesus Christ. The realization of this purpose had started at the first coming of Christ in the dispensation of the N.T. Therefore Konig maintains a Christocentric eschatology in stead of the traditional 'thing-ifying' eschatology that defines eschatology as the very last things to happen before the end of the world. Whereas theologians in general would envisage only part of the N.T. as the field of eschatology (as for instance Barth who starts his eschatology at the resurrection of Christ, and Moltmann who starts it at the crucifixion of Christ), Konig would deem the whole N.T. as eschatology in a Christological sense. Over against some theologians that would also classify the O.T. as eschatology, Konig would argue that although the O.T. is oriented towards the future, it could not be true eschatology, since God's purpose/covenant/kingdom was not yet realized through the man Christ Jesus in the O.T. Because of the futurological force of the O.T., it could well be called 'eschatology' according to Konig, but then it would only be an 'unsuccessful eschatology'. But the true realization of God's purpose with the creation through Christ, had only started in the N.T. at the first coming of Jesus Christ. The result of our evaluation of Konig shows distinct theological differences that Konig has with both the chiliasts and the antichiliasts. Konig could for instance not agree with the chiliasts' idea of a millennium that will exist for a definite period of time. Neither could he agree with the antichiliasts' notion that the socalled millennium will continue for an indefinite period of time. Though despite the differences between Konig and the antichiliasts, there are also meaningful similarities. Take for instance the fact that Konig joins the antichiliasts in their argument against the chiliasts' idea of a literal kingdom of peace on the old earth, which will presumably last exactly for one thousand years. In our conclusion it is quite clear that the differences between Konig and the other millennialists are the result of much more than their respective hermeneutical interpretations of eschatology and the socalled millennium. In contrast to the narrow telescopic tunnel vision of the traditional eschatology that limits the eschatological field to an ultimate endtime dispensation, stands Konig's broad macroscopic birdflight vision that stretches the eschatological line from Chrtist's crib to his throne on the new earth. But since it is possible in the light of Konig's ecumenical theology to rather stress the points of agreement than that of disagreement amongst the various millennialistic approaches, an ecumenical vision for the future of the millennium debate is proposed / Philosophy, Practical & Systematic Theology / Th. M. (Sistematiese Teologie)

Text in Afrikaans / Weens kerke se eskatologiese verskille is daar twee hoofstrome van millennialisme: chiliasme en antichiliasme, wat tradisioneel as alternatiewe teenoor mekaar gestel word. Hierdie verhandeling behels egter 'n holistiese vergelyking van verskillende eskatologiee en hulle gepaardgaande millennialismes, ten einde die drie hoofstrome van millennialisme: pre-, post- en amillennialisme, met Konig se millennialisme te vergelyk. 'n Literatuurstudie toon dat Konig eskatologie definieer as die realisering van God se doel (die verbond) met die skepping deur die persoon van Jesus Christus. Die realisering van hierdie doel het met Christus se eerste koms in die Nuwe-Testamentiese bedeling begin. Derhalwe handhaaf Konig 'n Christosentriese eskatologie i.p.v. die tradisionele 'verdinglikte' eskatologie wat die eskatologie definieer as die allerlaaste dinge wat moet gebeur voor die einde van die wereld. Waarteoloe dus in die algemeen slegs 'n gedeelte van die N.T. as eskatologiese veld beskou (soos bv. Barth wat die eskatologie by Christus se opstanding begin, en Moltmann wat dit by Christus se kruisiging begin), sien Konig die hele N.T. as eskatologie in 'n Christologiese sin. Teenoor sommige teoloe wat weer die O.T. as eskatologie klassifiseer, betoog Konig dat hoewel die O.T. toekomsgerig is, dit nie ware eskatologie kan wees nie, want toe was God se doel/verbond/koninkryk nog nie in die mens Jesus Christus verwesenlik nie. In 'n toekomsgerigte sin kan die O.T., volgens Konig, wel 'eskatologie' genoem word, maar dan sal dit 'mislukte eskatologie' wees. Maar die werklike realisering van God se doel met die skepping deur Christus, het eers in die N.T. met die eerste koms van Jesus Christus begin. Die resultaat van ons evaluering van Konig toon duidelike teologiese verskille wat Konig met die chiliaste en met die antichiliaste het. Konig kan bv. nie saamstem met die chiliaste se idee van 'n millennium wat vir 'n bepaalde tydperk sal bestaan nie. Ook gaan hy nie akkoord met die antichiliaste se sg. millennium wat vir 'n onbepaalde tydperk sal duur nie. Dog ten spyte van verskille tussen Konig en die antichiliaste, is daar wel betekenisvolle ooreenkomste. Hier dink ons bv. aan die felt dat Konig saam met die antichiliaste betoog teen die chiliaste se siening van 'n letterlike vrederyk op die ou aarde wat presies eenduisend jaar sal duur. In ons konklusie is dit duidelik dat die verskille tussen Konig en ander millennialiste te wyte is aan veel meer as net hulle onderskeie hermeneutiese interpretasies van die eskatologie en die sg. millennium. Teenoor die tradisionele eskatologie se verengde teleskopiese tonnelvisie wat die eskatologiese veld beperk net tot 'n allerlaaste eindtydelike bedeling, staan Konig se bree makroskopiese voelvlugvisie wat die eskatologiese lyn vanaf Christus se krip tot by sy troon op die nuwe aarde laat strek. Maar aangesien dit in die lig van Konig se ekumeniese teologie tog moontlik is om eerder die punte van ooreenkoms as die van verskil tussen die millennialistiese benaderings te beklemtoon, word 'n ekumeniese toekomsblik vir die millenniumdebat voorgestel. / Because of eschatological differences amongst churches, there are two main streams of millennialism: chiliasm and antichiliasm, which is traditionally set as alternatives against each other. This dissertation, however, contains a holistic comparison of different eschatologies and their accompanying millennialisms, in order to compare the three main streams of millennialism: pre-, post- and amillennialism, with Konig's millennialism. A literary study shows that Konig defines eschatology as the realization of God's purpose i.e. the covenant) with the creation through the person of Jesus Christ. The realization of this purpose had started at the first coming of Christ in the dispensation of the N.T. Therefore Konig maintains a Christocentric eschatology in stead of the traditional 'thing-ifying' eschatology that defines eschatology as the very last things to happen before the end of the world. Whereas theologians in general would envisage only part of the N.T. as the field of eschatology (as for instance Barth who starts his eschatology at the resurrection of Christ, and Moltmann who starts it at the crucifixion of Christ), Konig would deem the whole N.T. as eschatology in a Christological sense. Over against some theologians that would also classify the O.T. as eschatology, Konig would argue that although the O.T. is oriented towards the future, it could not be true eschatology, since God's purpose/covenant/kingdom was not yet realized through the man Christ Jesus in the O.T. Because of the futurological force of the O.T., it could well be called 'eschatology' according to Konig, but then it would only be an 'unsuccessful eschatology'. But the true realization of God's purpose with the creation through Christ, had only started in the N.T. at the first coming of Jesus Christ. The result of our evaluation of Konig shows distinct theological differences that Konig has with both the chiliasts and the antichiliasts. Konig could for instance not agree with the chiliasts' idea of a millennium that will exist for a definite period of time. Neither could he agree with the antichiliasts' notion that the socalled millennium will continue for an indefinite period of time. Though despite the differences between Konig and the antichiliasts, there are also meaningful similarities. Take for instance the fact that Konig joins the antichiliasts in their argument against the chiliasts' idea of a literal kingdom of peace on the old earth, which will presumably last exactly for one thousand years. In our conclusion it is quite clear that the differences between Konig and the other millennialists are the result of much more than their respective hermeneutical interpretations of eschatology and the socalled millennium. In contrast to the narrow telescopic tunnel vision of the traditional eschatology that limits the eschatological field to an ultimate endtime dispensation, stands Konig's broad macroscopic birdflight vision that stretches the eschatological line from Chrtist's crib to his throne on the new earth. But since it is possible in the light of Konig's ecumenical theology to rather stress the points of agreement than that of disagreement amongst the various millennialistic approaches, an ecumenical vision for the future of the millennium debate is proposed / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / Th. M. (Sistematiese Teologie)

This dissertation explores the question of hope in the nuclear age by examining a movement within the North American Christian tradition known as dispensationalism. It concentrates specifically on one author, Hal Lindsey, whose books on the "end-times" are the basis for much of the current Christian apocalyptic thinking on this continent. There are two fundamental questions: (1) What does Lindsey's dispensational interpretation of God and Divine providence do to his understanding of hope?; (2) Does Lindsey's interpretation of the hope contribute anything to an articulation of hope in the nuclear age? In response to the first question, it is determined that Lindsey's Theology is governed by a providentialism which controls both his doctrine of God and his understanding of hope. History is controlled by a providential plan to which everything, even God, is bound. This plan ends with the destruction of the planet. Thus, hope, in Lindsey's terms, can only emerge after the destruction of the present order. In answer to the second question, it is explained that while Lindsey's apocalypticism gives faith a strong motivation and the sense of a limit to human pride, it undermines human responsibility for the planet and diminishes the ethical dimension of the gospel's call to discipleship.

This study deals with how E.W. Kenyon’s use of the Bible was the foundation used by Kenneth Hagin and Kenneth Copeland to build the Word of Faith Movement. Kenyon could be considered the grandfather of this movement, while Hagin can be regarded as the father and Copeland, the one on whose shoulders Hagin’s mantle has fallen since his death. It includes brief biographies of Kenyon, Hagin and Copeland and their ministries. It looks into how influential Kenyon’s use of the Bible is in developing his doctrines, which have been copied by both Hagin and Copeland and the Word of Faith's pastors throughout the world. This study is not an exhaustive examination of Kenyon’s doctrines but enough is studied to show he does not conform to traditional reformed theological hermeneutics. Kenyon’s writings date back to the early twentieth century. Hagin’s writings are from the mid- and late twentieth century, while Copeland writes from the late twentieth century to the present day. It will be shown that Hagin and Copeland copied Kenyon’s use of the Bible almost verbatim, resulting in them promoting doctrines in the Word of Faith Movement similar to his doctrines. This study deals with Kenyon’s writings in Chapter 2, while Chapter 3 deals with Hagin’s and Copeland’s teachings. Chapter 4 compares the three’s teachings from a reformed theological perspective, using literature by fairly modern-day writers on reformed theology. Chapter 5 evaluates and concludes and offers recommendations for further study. Finally, Kenyon’s and his two followers’ teachings are summarised and evaluated. The study will also examine some of the effects these teachings have on the individual who attends Word of Faith Movement churches. Future research topics that could help in understanding the attraction these teachings have for people and the danger they pose to reformed churches today are suggested. / Thesis (MA (Dogmatics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

This study deals with how E.W. Kenyon’s use of the Bible was the foundation used by Kenneth Hagin and Kenneth Copeland to build the Word of Faith Movement. Kenyon could be considered the grandfather of this movement, while Hagin can be regarded as the father and Copeland, the one on whose shoulders Hagin’s mantle has fallen since his death. It includes brief biographies of Kenyon, Hagin and Copeland and their ministries. It looks into how influential Kenyon’s use of the Bible is in developing his doctrines, which have been copied by both Hagin and Copeland and the Word of Faith's pastors throughout the world. This study is not an exhaustive examination of Kenyon’s doctrines but enough is studied to show he does not conform to traditional reformed theological hermeneutics. Kenyon’s writings date back to the early twentieth century. Hagin’s writings are from the mid- and late twentieth century, while Copeland writes from the late twentieth century to the present day. It will be shown that Hagin and Copeland copied Kenyon’s use of the Bible almost verbatim, resulting in them promoting doctrines in the Word of Faith Movement similar to his doctrines. This study deals with Kenyon’s writings in Chapter 2, while Chapter 3 deals with Hagin’s and Copeland’s teachings. Chapter 4 compares the three’s teachings from a reformed theological perspective, using literature by fairly modern-day writers on reformed theology. Chapter 5 evaluates and concludes and offers recommendations for further study. Finally, Kenyon’s and his two followers’ teachings are summarised and evaluated. The study will also examine some of the effects these teachings have on the individual who attends Word of Faith Movement churches. Future research topics that could help in understanding the attraction these teachings have for people and the danger they pose to reformed churches today are suggested. / Thesis (MA (Dogmatics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Thesis (M.A.E.T.)--Covenant Theological Seminary, 2003. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 48-50).

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The wear suffered over time, new technologies and new religious proposals are some of the challenges that evangelical, traditional, Pentecostal and neo-Pentecostal churches faces. This study aims to identify the possible reactions of the churches in the modern neo-Pentecostal, against the intervention of secularization and the role of dispensationalism in this action. After a long and rich historical process of pluralization of our religious matrix. As an instrument we made use of bibliographic research, based on proposals from authors such as Peter Berger, Ricardo Mariano and Charles C. Ryrie, and readings of Brazilian demographic data obtained from the IBGE - Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. We seek to understand how neo-Pentecostal communities have sought to overcome this process, due to the little or apparent lack of symbols that bind their identity to the sacred, contrary to Catholicism that holds a "rich" symbolic capital, though losing their numerical leadership position every decade. What would be its maintenance tool of sacred symbols? We conclude that the use of symbolic capital of the Judaism is being used for this purpose. These appropriations are manifestations in response to pressures, using the dispensationalism, even unconsciously, to legitimize them institutionally. / O desgaste sofrido com o tempo, as novas tecnologias e as novas propostas religiosas são alguns dos desafios que as igrejas evangélicas, tradicionais, pentecostais e neopentecostais enfrentam. O presente trabalho tem por objetivo identificar as possíveis reações das igrejas neopentecostais na modernidade, diante da intervenção da secularização e o papel do Dispensacionalismo nessa ação. Depois de um longo e rico processo histórico de pluralização da nossa matriz religiosa. Como instrumento nos utilizamos da pesquisa bibliográfica, pautada nas propostas de autores como Peter Berger, Ricardo Mariano e Charles C. Ryrie, além de leituras dos dados demográficos brasileiros obtidos através do IBGE - Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Buscamos compreender como comunidades neopentecostais tem procurado vencer esse processo, por conta da pouca, ou aparente ausência de símbolos, que vinculem sua identidade ao sagrado, contrárias ao catolicismo que mantem um capital simbólico “riquíssimo”, embora perdendo sua posição de liderança numérica a cada década. Qual seria a sua ferramenta de manutenção da simbologia sagrada? Concluímos que os usos de capitais simbólicos do judaísmo estão sendo utilizados para esse fim. Essas apropriações são manifestações em resposta às pressões, utilizando-se do Dispensacionalismo, mesmo que inconscientemente, para legitima-las institucionalmente. / São Cristóvão, SE