No description available.

No abstract available / OLD TESTAMENT & ANCIENT NE / MA (BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY)

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between children’s grief and their perceptions of God by utilizing children’s drawings. This research was conducted by partnering with Christian counselors and teachers who interviewed two groups of children to collect data. Counselors interviewed the experimental group of children who were between the ages of 6-12 and had experienced the death of an immediate family member. Teachers interviewed the control group of children who were between the ages of 6-12 and had not experienced the death of an immediate family member. Both groups were asked specific questions in efforts to ascertain if children in the midst of grief perceived God differently. A multilevel triangulation design was used in this study with the first phase being qualitative and the second quantitative. In phase one, both the experimental group and control group of children were each interviewed and asked to respond to these questions by drawing their answers. Upon completion of the drawings, each child was asked a series of follow-up questions in efforts to provide explanations for their drawings. Select demographic information was also collected as a part of the interview process. Phase 2 utilized a quantitative approach. A panel of raters was assigned with the task of looking for specified, coded patterns or images in each child’s drawn or verbal response. Each panel member received a description of characteristics for which to look, as well as a Thurstone scale to assess the frequency of the characteristics. Upon evaluation, this data was sent back to the researcher for anecdotal analysis. The qualitative data was collected and the results were analyzed utilizing two statistical analyses methods including a Mann-Whitney test and a four-way ANOVA. While the Mann-Whitney was used to determine the correlation between death and a child’s perception of God, the ANOVA was performed to analyze the role demographics played in children’s perception of God after they experienced a parental or sibling death. Findings from the analyses are discussed in terms of implications for future research as well as possible applications for the research.

Daniel Ferris Born, Ph.D. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2016 Chair: Dr. William F. Cook The figurative use of "son(s) of" phrases in the NT represents the author employing the father-son relationship, and what this relationship represents in the ancient world, as a tool to illustrate and explain various concepts and ideas in NT thought. As a result, the father-son relationship in the ancient world must be employed in the interpretation of these figurative "son(s) of" phrases. Failing to understand the importance of genealogical identification, kinship, and the social implications of the father-son relationship in the ancient world and bring these concepts to bear in interpretation, will result in a failure to understand what the NT authors seek to communicate by using "son(s) of" phrases. Chapter 1 provides an introduction to this topic and a history of how linguists and commentators have approached these phrases in the past. There are very few scholars who have sought to employ the father-son relationship in their interpretation of these phrases and their figurative use. Chapters 2 and 3 survey the use of these phrases inside and outside the NT. Chapter 2 includes the use of בֵּן in the Hebrew Bible, "son(s) of" phrases in the LXX, as well as the use of υἱός plus the genitive in Classical Greek, the OT and NT apocrypha and pseudepigrapha, other early Jewish and Christian writings, coins and inscriptions, and the papyri and ostraca. Chapter 3 surveys the use of υἱός in the NT. Chapter 4 explores the father-son relationship in the social context of the NT in order to distill the major features of the father-son relationship into an interpretive framework which can be utilized in understanding what the NT authors seek to communicate in their figurative use of "son(s) of" phrases. Chapter 5 employs this framework in the interpretation of the figurative "son(s) of" phrases in the NT. Chapter 6 concludes the work, discusses its implications, and recognizes the need for further study in certain areas.

Ip Hon Ho. / Thesis (M.Div.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 80-82). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.3 / Chapter 2. --- Different beliefs of the free market --- p.5 / Chapter 2.1 --- Market' as invisible hand guided by self-interest --- p.6 / Chapter 2.2 --- Market as a platform to promote prosperity of life and freedom --- p.7 / Chapter 2.3 --- Market as a place of competition --- p.8 / Chapter 2.4 --- Market as a self-regulating system --- p.9 / Chapter 2.5 --- Private Property right as the necessary condition for free market economy --- p.9 / Chapter 3. --- Review of contemporary Christian critiques of market --- p.10 / Chapter 3.1 --- Michael Novak: defense of classic liberal economy --- p.11 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- The concept of liberty --- p.11 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- The 'co-creation' role of man --- p.12 / Chapter 3.1.3. --- The tripartite system and the sinful nature of man in a free market economy --- p.13 / Chapter 3.2 --- Rebecca M. Blank: Criticism on Market from an economist and a theologian --- p.14 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- The model of competitive market --- p.14 / Chapter 3.2.2. --- Conflicting values between beliefs in competitive market with Christian values --- p.15 / Chapter 3.3 --- Paul Tillich's critique on free market --- p.19 / Chapter 3.3.1. --- The religious relevance of Capitalism and Free market --- p.20 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Tillich model of criticism --- p.21 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Depending Conditions for capitalism: Technical reasons --- p.22 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Criticism of the Spirit of Capitalism and Free market --- p.23 / Chapter 3.3.5 --- Criticism of the form of capitalism --- p.26 / Chapter 3.3.6 --- The big machine --- p.27 / Chapter 3.4 --- The insufficiencies of the above Christian Critique --- p.30 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Michael Novak: --- p.31 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Rebecca Blank --- p.32 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Paul Tillich --- p.32 / Chapter 4. --- The discussion on the freedom in free market --- p.33 / Chapter 4.1 --- Economic Compulsion --- p.34 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Economic reason: Monopolistic power --- p.35 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Political Reason: Political Economy --- p.37 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- Short Summary --- p.39 / Chapter 4.2 --- Slavery Characteristics of free market --- p.40 / Chapter 4.3 --- Basic Characteristics of a slavery system --- p.40 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Backgrounds of Slavery system in Greco Roman Empire --- p.41 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Structure of the working relationship: Dehumanized structure --- p.42 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Social status: Alienation --- p.43 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Incentive system: Another form of Economic Compulsion --- p.44 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- Short summary --- p.47 / Chapter 4.4 --- Slavery characteristics of the free market --- p.47 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Working relationship: dehumanized structure --- p.48 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Social status: Alienation --- p.50 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Incentive system: Another form of Economic Compulsion --- p.51 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- Short Summary --- p.54 / Chapter 5. --- The critique of the spirituality of market by the concept of 'market spirituality' --- p.54 / Chapter 5.1 --- The ground of understanding spirituality --- p.55 / Chapter 5.2 --- Basic Characteristics of spirituality --- p.57 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- First-order and second-order experiences of Spirituality --- p.57 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- The trainable quality of Spirituality: Ascetical and Mystical aspect --- p.58 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- The unintentional ascetical aspect of spirituality --- p.59 / Chapter 5.3 --- The understanding and basic assumptions of Market Spirituality --- p.62 / Chapter 5.4 --- The Formation of spirituality in our daily routine --- p.64 / Chapter 5.4.1 --- Pathway of knowing in free market --- p.66 / Chapter 5.4.2 --- Pathway of acting in free market --- p.67 / Chapter 5.4.3 --- Pathway of relating to others in free market --- p.69 / Chapter 5.5 --- Common examples of market spirituality --- p.69 / Chapter 5.5.1 --- Believing in the self-regulatory mechanism --- p.69 / Chapter 5.5.2 --- Competitive spirituality --- p.70 / Chapter 5.5.3 --- Detachment relationship --- p.72 / Chapter 5.5.4 --- Consumerism --- p.73 / Chapter 5.5.5 --- Commodification --- p.74 / Chapter 5.5.6 --- Short summary --- p.75 / Chapter 5.6 --- Theological reflections on market spirituality --- p.76 / Chapter 5.6.1 --- The penetration of the market spirituality into our church and individual life --- p.76 / Chapter 5.6.2. --- Contrast with the Christian Spirituality --- p.77 / Chapter 6. --- Conclusion --- p.79 / Bibliography --- p.80

Lee, Ka Keung Caramon. / "December 2010." / Thesis (M.Div.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-89). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter Chapter 1: --- Identity and Metaphors --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1) --- Introduction --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2) --- Aspects of Identity --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3) --- Construction of Social Identity as Revealed on Texts --- p.6 / Chapter 1.4) --- Functions of Metaphors --- p.10 / Chapter 1.5) --- Light as an Ancient Metaphor --- p.13 / Chapter 1.6) --- Outline of the Thesis --- p.14 / Chapter Chapter 2: --- The Metaphor of Light in the Gospel of John --- p.18 / Chapter 2.1) --- Introduction --- p.18 / Chapter 2.2) --- Johannine Symbolism --- p.19 / Chapter 2.3) --- Old Testament Sources of the Johannine Light --- p.19 / Chapter 2.4) --- Anti-Language in the Gospel of John --- p.21 / Chapter 2.5) --- Exegesis of Johannine Light Passages --- p.22 / Chapter 2.6) --- Self-understanding of the Johannine Community and Unity of the Enemy --- p.29 / Chapter 2.7) --- Parting of the Ways? --- p.31 / Chapter Chapter 3: --- Metaphor of Light in the Writings of Pseudo-Dionysius --- p.33 / Chapter 3.1) --- Introduction --- p.33 / Chapter 3.2) --- Historical Context --- p.34 / Chapter 3.3) --- Opponents of Pseudo-Dionysius --- p.36 / Chapter 3.4) --- Light and Darkness . --- p.38 / Chapter 3.5) --- Unknowability of God --- p.40 / Chapter 3.6) --- The Dionysian Hierarchies --- p.42 / Chapter 3.7) --- The Celestial (Angelic) Hierarchy --- p.43 / Chapter 3.8) --- The Ecclesiastical Hierarchy --- p.44 / Chapter 3.9) --- The Relationship between the Two Hierarchies --- p.45 / Chapter Chapter 4: --- The Metaphor of Light in the Writings of Symeon the New Theologian --- p.49 / Chapter 4.1) --- Introduction : --- p.49 / Chapter 4.2) --- Introducing Symeon the New Theologian --- p.49 / Chapter 4.3) --- Conflicts Faced by Symeon --- p.53 / Chapter 4.4) --- Key Theological Elements of Symeon --- p.56 / Chapter 4.5) --- Establishment of Christian Identity as an Individual --- p.59 / Chapter 4.6) --- Establishment of Christian Identity as a Community --- p.66 / Chapter Chapter 5: --- Conclusion --- p.71 / Chapter 5.1) --- "Relationship Between John, Pseudo-Dionysius, and Symeon the New Theologian" --- p.72 / Chapter 5.2) --- Major Findings --- p.74 / Chapter 5.3) --- Future Works --- p.76 / Bibliography --- p.78

INTENTIONAL PRACTICE OF SHARED LEADERSHIP IN THE MARKETPLACE BY CHRISTIAN LEADERS: A MULTI-CASE STUDY Michael Larry Davis, Ed.D. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2014 Chair: Michael S. Wilder In light of the biblical roots of shared leadership it is difficult to understand the lack of research related to the practice of shared leadership by Christian business leaders in the marketplace. Although research of shared leadership has been robust since its emergence in the last quarter-century, little or no research of shared leadership by Christian leaders existed before this study. Designed as a qualitative multiple case study, this thesis explores the practice of shared leadership in three cases for the express purpose of discovering best practices for shared leadership in the marketplace by Christian leaders. Although the enterprises studied are not necessarily described as Christian companies, all clearly understand their existence as a tool for living out the Gospel in the world. I isolated ten established best practices of shared leadership through the literature review. Through case observation, personal interviews, and document collection, the established best practices were validated for each site. Additionally, five unique best practices for shared leadership by Christian marketplace leaders were identified. Christian marketplace leaders who practice shared leadership: 1. Seek to enrich the lives of all stakeholders as a primary purpose of the enterprise by providing good paying jobs for employees, exceptional service to customers, and a fair profit for owners and stockholders. 2. Encourage stakeholders to embrace biblical discipleship practices in leadership by honoring God in their work and by treating others as they wish to be treated. 3. Seek to support corporate as well as biblical values by articulating a biblical view of work. 4. Leverage the value of people for the common good of employees, customers, and other stakeholders. 5. Expect stakeholders to embrace and live out biblical virtues. Chapter 1 introduces the research problem, its theological foundation, and practical significance. It also defines the research question while plotting the study's limitations. Chapter 2 examines the precedent literature and recounts the history of shared leadership as it emerged from antecedent forms of leadership. Chapter 3 presents the research design, defines the population, establishes the selection criteria, and outlines the instrumentation. Chapter 4 analyzes the findings, while chapter 5 presents my conclusions. The study's ultimate aim is to enrich the literature base by acknowledging the biblical foundations of shared leadership and the natural inclination of Christian business leaders to practice shared leadership as a result of their Christian faith.

No abstract available / OLD TESTAMENT and ANCIENT NE / MA (BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY)

No description available.

 In 2011, many countries experienced great travail in the process of constituting a new order. Of different religious backgrounds, these countries have been seeking to establish a constitutional order to assure greater liberty and higher estimation of human rights. However, the idea of constitutionalism is a legal concept that has its origins in Christianity. For states of non-Christian backgrounds to embrace constitutionalism, more than simple transplantation is needed. This research looks at the Christian legal tradition that incubated the idea of constitutionalism. It aims to provide a timely reference for the non-Christian countries to communicate with their local legal traditions when constructing the constitutional order during this current period of political change. The research demonstrates an incubation process in which Christianity has played a major part in generating constitutionalism. It traces the constitutional thinking of St. Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Richard Hooker and John Locke, and presents how their legal thoughts were intertwined together with the Christian faith. The research shows the interlocking relationships among the four thinkers, with each of them establishing their constitutional ideas on those of the one before him. St. Augustine formed the embryo of the process. He introduced the idea of two cities, which established a concept of higher justice above all human authorities. He also redefined the concept of people in order to explain the relations among God, people and the state. Thomas Aquinas applied the higher justice concept to medieval order and developed a mixed constitutional polity supported by bible verses. He defined law with rationality, which is God’s command. Richard Hooker amended Aquinas’ general theory of law and grounded the popular sovereignty on reasonable men exercising their consent. John Locke finally rendered the sovereignty to independent individuals; thence, individual human rights must be guarded against any interventions from public authority. The protection of individuals is the paramount value that identifies constitutionalism. Therefore, the author argues that Christianity is one of the major dimensions that enabled the birth of constitutionalism. / published_or_final_version / Law / Master / Master of Philosophy