The aim of this thesis is to arrive at an understanding of the authority of scripture that is able to accommodate both a faith perspective and the fruits of the historical-critical approach to the New Testament. Put differently, the aim of this thesis is the pursuit of a specifically christian, faith-promoting, reading of the New Testament whilst still enjoying the benefit, in an as uncompromised a form as possible, of the historical- critical approach. In a sense it may be said that this task, given that the roots of both the historical-critical approach and modern Western culture are deeply imbedded in Rationalism, is equivalent to the basic hermeneutical question of whether it is possible to interpret scripture relevantly from within a cultural web of meaning that does not readily accommodate that embodied in the New Testament. In section one of this dissertation we present a characteristic depiction, based on the historical-critical theory of literature, of the authority of the New Testament. This is followed by a brief assessment that makes explicit why the historical- critical approach is not conducive to the adoption of a faith perspective on these writings. In section two, still and inevitably based on critical foundations, we adopt a perspective that is more sympathetic to faith and that seeks to discover in the concerns evidenced in the canonical process, when traditions about Jesus gradually took on more complex and stable forms, culminating in the canon of the New Testament, guidelines in helping us to deal with the problem with which this study is concerned . In the specific example of the rather ordinary concerns underlying the unusual history of the pericope de adultera (John 7:53-8:11), examined against the background of the interests underlying the canonical process, it becomes clear that christians from the very beginning faced a dilemma not unlike that with which the historical-critical approach confronts us. They had to interpret afresh, and faithfully, the traditions in order to meet the demands of situations that had never been foreseen by earlier tradents. In this respect, therefore, the history of the pericope de adultera presents us with an ongoing struggle to hold in tension the demands of new contexts with the imperative of strict continuity with Jesus. In section three, on the basis of the foundation of the authority of scripture in strict continuity with Jesus combined with the contextual reinterpretation of the tradition, the social sciences are employed. Using the social sciences, it is discovered that the two contradictory approaches that we wish to reconcile form part of two different models for interpreting reality. It is on this basis, and made possible by the common culture underlying these opposing models and by the common contact with an unspecified common core of concrete reality, that a solution is proposed in terms of a complex 'fusion of horizons', promoted by a 'precipitative environment'. In the conclusion our solution is decisively aligned with the concerns evidenced in the canonical process

with Professor Michael E. McCarthy, Vassar College / McGuinn Hall 121

This is a study with a qualitative approach and a social psychological perspective. Our purpose is to describe and analyze authority officials descriptions of individuals with a social disability and their perception of how the interaction in the encounter with its implementation. We are interested in how they experience their power as authority representatives. The following issues are highlighted. • How do people in authority describe individuals with a social disability? • What is the authority officials view on the interaction in meetings with individuals with a social disability? • How do authority officials experiencing his or her position of power in relation to the meeting? Our results are based on semi-structured interviews with five persons in authority, which is active in Insurance and Employment Service in Örebro County. The theoretical basis is based on the labelling theory. The concepts chosen for analysis are stigma, social responsiveness, lack of social responsiveness, defense measures and power. The results of the study show that authority officials understand the concept of social disability as any type of diagnosis, with social anxiety disorder and intellectual impairment are the two most mentioned. Authority officials describe that these individuals have a range of social difficulties such as problems with finances, lack of jobs or problems in their social relationships. Authority officials meetings with individuals with a social disability is described as complex, where the need for support appears to be unlimited. Factors such as time and creativity plays a crucial role in the interaction. The power aspect of the meeting affects the sense that the authority official has the power to change and improve the living conditions of individuals, but may not be the person to act freely in the meeting when the latter is controlled by the authority's rules and regulations. Authority officials freedom of action can be influenced by his personal qualities and skills. At the same time can also lead to the individual with a social disability can have confidence and trust in authority the person. / <p>22575</p>

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The purpose of the present study was to explore Internals' and Externals' characteristic perceptions of authority figures.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, 1912. / Includes bibliographical references (p. [76]-77) Also available on the Internet. Also issued online.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, 2003. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 122-130).