Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, Divinity School, Aug. 2005. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

This study examined the relationship between masculine and feminine God images and psychological well-being. Based on the results of past research, it was hypothesized that people with more feminine images of God would have higher psychological well-being compared to those with more masculine images of God. Participants were 232 college students. A factor analysis indicated that God images did not fall into primarily masculine or feminine factors. Rather, three factors were found, which were labeled Loving Father, Controlling God, and Mother God. Although the God image factors were not found to be significant predictors of psychological well-being when intrinsic, extrinsic, and quest religiosity were controlled, the results suggested that the relationship between God images and psychological well-being may be mediated by intrinsic religiosity. It was concluded that development of more psychometrically sound measures of God images is needed to enhance future research on this topic. / Department of Psychological Science

Thesis (S.T.M.)--Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio, 2007. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 265-270).

Thesis (S.T.M.)--Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio, 2007. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 265-270).

One especially contentious issue for Matthew's predominantly Jewish-Christian audience is how to relate to Gentiles, who are also followers of Jesus and desire to be incorporated into their community. To address this issue, Matthew appeals to Israel's wisdom tradition, and particularly to the pilgrimage of Woman Wisdom. In this journey, Woman Wisdom is commanded to dwell in Israel. She makes her home there and calls all people to come to her for wisdom and life. Ultimately, Wisdom is rejected by Israel and she returns to God. This thesis proposes that it is this pilgrimage of Woman Wisdom that is an underlying metaphor for Matthew's gospel. Like Wisdom, Jesus arrives in Israel, calls Israel to follow him, and is ultimately rejected. Woman Wisdom's cry to come to her to receive life is echoed in Jesus' call for all to enter the kingdom of God. The inclusion of the Gentiles in the community therefore demonstrates the presence of the kingdom of God.

Hildegard alleged a spiritual connection with the physical world in her claim that she, a woman, was chosen by God to incarnate His Word on earth as Christ had done in the flesh years before. Woman, the embodiment of the feminine, was connected to the physical world in the medieval era. It was with this idea in mind that Hildegard attached an important significance to nature and the Virgin, seeing each as the ultimate expressions of the feminine divine on earth. However, included in the incarnation, according to Hildegard, was the Church itself along with the clergy, both men and women. In earth, in mankind, in all of nature, she saw a dimension of God, a dimension that found its expression uniquely in the world yet paralleled the God beyond this world. Using Hildegard's letters in German translation, I will show how, in a patriarchal world of the 12th century, Hildegard emphasized the feminine as salvific as a means to establish a balance in the world, a balance that had been offset by the corrupt behavior of Church and State. I will preface this with a brief discussion of the era (p. 6). In Chapter II, I will focus first on how Hildegard saw the feminine manifested in the world and how, for various purposes, she expressed it in her letters. Secondly in Chapter II, by citing further examples in her letter, I will concentrate on how she saw a lack of feminine expression in the world and how she viewed the negative result of this lack. Finally in Chapter IV, I will show how she achieved the expression of this balance. In concluding my paper, I will consider whether she was successful in her efforts: Did she achieve, from others as well as from herself, the balance she sought or were her efforts in vain?

Thesis (M.A.)--Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, 1994. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 176-184).

Thesis (Th. M.)--Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 107-111).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1999. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 207-214).