This dissertation argues that the theodramatic understanding of trauma and relevant therapeutic practices help traumatized people reframe the reality of trauma within God’s drama of redemption and thereby enable them to embrace it in the process of Christiformity, which is the God-given way of human healing and flourishing. Along the way this inquiry explores four main areas. First, it reviews diverse naturalistic approaches to trauma and develops a Christian psychological alternative—a Christian psychopathology of trauma which takes into accounts the effects of sin, damage, and suffering. This Christian psychopathology provides a holistic perspective of the person by considering the neurobiological, psychosocial, sociocultural, and spiritual dimensions of a person and honors the primary authority of Scripture. Second, this study attempts to look beyond the symptoms and diagnoses of trauma to reframe it in terms of theodrama. Theodrama reveals that trauma is not the final reality of the believer’s life: redemption and consummation will come. This work shows that those who are living in God’s sovereign drama can actively participate in a faithful, missional life even in the midst of trauma. Third, it argues that Christiformity in theodrama is the faithful and therapeutic Christian response to trauma. Finally, this dissertation proposes a theodramatic therapy, which helps counselees embrace trauma and live a new way of life by embodying Christiformity. It also provides the theological reflections of the problem of theodicy, encouraging the practice of pastoral theodicy.

Purpose - In 2009, U.S. coupons set a new record of 367 billion coupons distributed. Yet, while coupon distribution is on the rise, redemption rates remain below 1%. This article shows how recognizing context variables, such as proximity, weather, part of town and financial incentives interplay to determine a coupon campaigns' success. Design/methodology/approach - The paper reports an empirical study conducted in cooperation with a restaurant chain: 9.880 Subway coupons were distributed under different experimental context conditions. Redemption behavior was analyzed with the help of logistic regressions. Findings - We found that even though proximity drives coupon redemption, city center campaigns seem to be much more sensitive to distance than suburban areas. The further away the distribution place from the restaurant the less does the amount of monetary incentive determine the motivation to redeem. Practical implications - When designing a coupon campaign for a company, coupon distribution should not follow a 'one-is-good-for-all-strategy' even for one marketer within one product category. Instead each coupon strategy should carefully consider contextual influence. Originality - This article is the first to our knowledge that systematically investigates the impact of context variables on coupon redemption. We focus on context variables that electronic marketing channels will be able to easily incorporate into personalized mobile marketing campaigns.

In general, the project I am going to present has two parts, the first part was finished in my first master year (2020.05) and further improved during past days, while the second part is what I have been focused on during the thesis. together, they worked as a complete circle in the project. From the reality perspective, what caught my attention was the two opposite trends during urban development – growing and shrinking.      -The cities in growth nowadays, especially megacities, are facing huge challenges on housing shortages, transportation pressures, overpopulation issues etc. for centuries, while these problems are still unsolved? Why?     -The cities in shrinkage are in a totally different scenario, there is no housing shortages, no transportation pressures, no overpopulation issues, but why people are still leaving? My answer to these questions is that some parts of our societal system have been ‘unevolved’ for too long, such as the economical system. In this sci-fi project, I imagined the world after a catastrophe will be provided with a chance to reform……

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This thesis identifies two accounts within David Novak’s Jewish natural law theory. In the earlier account, Novak locates natural law within the Noahide commandments; in the later account, he also locates it within the reasons for the commandments and rabbinic enactments. The change between these accounts is marked by a shift in his description of rationality. The norms of the Noahide code are originally described as known strictly by reference to themselves. As he begins grounding the norms in the imago Dei, that knowledge becomes dependent on a “cultural heritage,” by which Novak comes to mean an explanation based on a doctrine of creation. By comparing the original presentation of the later account with its more developed iteration and highlighting the features that are unique to the earlier and later accounts, it becomes possible to identify components of the later account that are added to his subsequent treatment of the Noahide code and facets of the earlier account that are later added to his discussion of the reasons for the commandments and rabbinic enactments. These efforts at reconciliation include the normative content incorporated into the later account, the metaphysical background added to the later treatment of the Noahide code, the mediating concept of personhood, the phenomenological retrieval of the Noahide commandments, and the argument for minimal and maximal claims. Finally, this thesis analyzes the relationship between Novak’s natural law theory and his view of redemption. Given that as Novak’s natural law theory becomes less dependent on reason and more heavily based on a doctrine of creation, his treatment of redemption changes from being associated with a period of greater human understanding to a time that is characterized by God’s accomplishments on humanity’s behalf, I argue that there is a parallel between those concepts. I then draw on that parallel to show that Novak’s natural law is compatible with, and perhaps inseparable from, his covenantal thought. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

It is psychologists, psychiatrists, neuroscientists, and philosophers who most often attempt the formal study of consciousness: it is writers who observe the impossibility of any such study. In the spirit of Joseph O'Neill, Muriel Spark, and J.K. Rowling, with reference to cross-disciplinary thinkers like Donella Meadows, Douglas Hofstadter, and Rudy Rucker, Tree of Knowledge concerns itself with the mystery of mystery and the knowledge of knowledge. This collection of short stories bespeaks the human observer's paradoxical situation in all its the diverse implications, including moral confusion, tragedy, and violence, but also comedy, beauty, and the possibility of transcendence.

This thesis attempts to construct a systematic Irenaean Pneumatology, making a contribution in the history of dogma. The aim of this thesis is to develop a theological system, based on the Irenaean writings, that demonstrates that the area of Pneumatology was one of the central constructs in Irenaeus' thought. The methods employed in this thesis are: An evaluation of the data available in the context of Irenaeus' premise in the light of Scripture's presentation; a detailed analysis of literary contributions on the subject; and a research of the patristic thought and how other Church Fathers have identified and interpreted the Spirit's involvement in its development. This thesis compares Irenaeus' pneumatological writings with biblical and patristic texts, and presents the opinions of various Ireanaean scholars, offering either positive comments or academic disagreements on these opinions. Irenaeus' pneumatological thought is presented and evaluated in five particular chapters: The creation and spiritual destiny of humanity; the fall of humanity; the spiritual redemption of humanity; the Church and the Holy Spirit; and eschatology and the Holy Spirit. The final conclusion of the thesis is that the person and the work of the Holy Spirit governed Irenaeus' understanding of most -if not all- other theological concepts. / PhD (Church and Dogma History), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, in association with Greenwich School of Theology, UK, 2011

This thesis attempts to construct a systematic Irenaean Pneumatology, making a contribution in the history of dogma. The aim of this thesis is to develop a theological system, based on the Irenaean writings, that demonstrates that the area of Pneumatology was one of the central constructs in Irenaeus' thought. The methods employed in this thesis are: An evaluation of the data available in the context of Irenaeus' premise in the light of Scripture's presentation; a detailed analysis of literary contributions on the subject; and a research of the patristic thought and how other Church Fathers have identified and interpreted the Spirit's involvement in its development. This thesis compares Irenaeus' pneumatological writings with biblical and patristic texts, and presents the opinions of various Ireanaean scholars, offering either positive comments or academic disagreements on these opinions. Irenaeus' pneumatological thought is presented and evaluated in five particular chapters: The creation and spiritual destiny of humanity; the fall of humanity; the spiritual redemption of humanity; the Church and the Holy Spirit; and eschatology and the Holy Spirit. The final conclusion of the thesis is that the person and the work of the Holy Spirit governed Irenaeus' understanding of most -if not all- other theological concepts. / PhD (Church and Dogma History), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, in association with Greenwich School of Theology, UK, 2011

Thesis (MTh (Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / This thesis endeavours to evaluate influential Reformed perspectives on the work of the Spirit and to search for a constructive framework to understand more fully the work of the Spirit in redemption and creation. For Reformed theology, the work of the Spirit has mainly been interpreted in two ways, namely, redemption-centred and creation-centred. These perspectives have each generated its own focus and consequences for both pneumatology and the Christian faith and life. The result of the different perspectives was the tension between the creative and redemptive activity of the Spirit of God. For both John Calvin and Karl Barth—because of their practical intention and the particular contextual circumstances—the work of the Spirit in redemption became priority and they, subsequently, gave more attention to this particular attribute. The Spirit quickens faith in us, enables us to have faith in the authority of the Scriptures as well as to understand and believe in the reality of God’s self-revelation. It is the primary work of the Spirit to lead us, in Christ, to unity with the Triune God and with the faith community. Abraham Kuyper and Jürgen Moltmann focus on the cosmic, universal work of the Spirit, from whom life is quickened and given, by whom the destiny of creation is perfected, and through whom the Creator inhabits the whole creation. The creation-centred perspective means to positively, yet critically, affirm the world and culture, to extend the Christian life and action to the whole of creation, and to allow us to participate in the cosmic work of the Spirit. Although Reformed theologians tried to understand the unity of the work of the Spirit in redemption and creation, the tension between Spiritus Redemptor and Spiritus Creator is still present and thus, a more satisfying pneumatological framework is needed. Contemporary theological movements hold most insightful implications towards establishing a constructive pneumatology—cosmic, trinitarian, and realistic pneumatology. According to the constructive perspective with which the work of the Spirit can be reflected in a more distinctive, relationally-personalistic, and concrete and realistic way, it is the Spirit—who is a fully divine person in the Trinity—who fulfils salvation for the glory of God, and who calls us to participate in his cosmic, godly, and unexpected work.

有感於國內投資者對於連動債券了解有限，以及投資後發現名不符實的情況普遍，故為讓大多數一般非專業投資人更清楚了解連動債券的本質，以及發行商在產品設計時是如何去挑選連結標的資產，故本論文特別選取三檔國內目前當紅的滿息提前到期連動債券(Target Redemption Structured Note)，並利用寶來證券新金融商品研究部在Matlab System中內建的多資產蒙地卡羅模擬法來評價，以了解這類型連動債券所連結標的資產的結構與特性，並進一步分析這類連動債券的報酬率與其所標榜的提前滿息到期的可能性。 本論文研究發現 一. 滿息提前到期連動債券在發行後第二年提前到期機率低於30%，第三年起更陡降至個位數，可見要在連動債券存續期間提前到期機率並不高，反而持有到連動債券期滿(本論文探討三檔皆是十年期產品)機率偏高。 二. 本論文用多資產蒙地卡羅模擬法計算發現，要在第二年滿息提前到期機率並不高，此大大有別於銀行倒流試算(simulation)結果，主要是銀行倒流測試時間與樣本數較小，甚至是經過篩選，只將較好數據納入樣本數中，以美化測試結果。 三. 所連結一籃子標的資產之相關係數愈高將會提高產品設計商發行成本與提前到期機率，而本論文所探討的三檔滿息提前到期連動債券所連結的股權標的物都是分散在各個不同產業或是不同國家，所追求的是低相關係數，相關係數最高都不超過0.7，也因此三檔產品經分析後要在前幾年累積配息而達到滿息提前到期之機率普遍不高。 四. 所連結標的資產波動度提高可降低產品設計商發行成本，但同時也減低提前到期機率；本論文所探討三檔產品的連動標的資產波動度多處於半年以來相對低檔區，未來波動度升高機率高，故有利產品設計商但不利投資人。 五. 本論文研究還發現利率上揚可降低產品設計商發行成本，故預計在全球升息趨勢下，此類型產品仍有機會設計出更具吸引力的配息與額外紅利機制，以繼續吸引投資者眼光。 六. 滿息提前到期連動債券結構愈複雜，例如提供提前到期額外紅利補償、配息只升不降等，那麼發行商成本愈高，因此在連結標的物選擇上會傾向於股票檔數多、個股波動度高且相關係數愈低的一籃子股票。