It aims at contributing to the formation of a proper theology of work for modern world, through critical reflection on the two dominant theological approaches to human work after the Reformation. Modern theology of work originated from Luther and Calvin' s interpretation towards ℓvocation', an idea which had a long history in Christian theological tradition. However, this theological understanding of human work became inadequate when facing the structural alienation of work in modern capitalist society. Against this background, a paradigm shift in the area of theology of work happened in the 20th century's Christian theology. The new approach that views human work as cooperatio Dei stresses one-sidely the theological significance of human work and at the same time fails to highlight the distinctively Christian virtues which are required in the human work. / This research is intended to emphasize another dimension of work, that is, work as "gift", a concept inherent to the Reformers' ethics of work. This approach affirms both accepting work as a gift from God and practicing it as the "gift giving" towards other people. It also emphasizes the virtues and the proper mode of work as such. This approach does not mean to totally negate the understanding of human work as cooperatio Dei, but it maintains that the approach of cooperatio Dei should be supplemented and balanced by the understanding of work as gift. / This thesis offers a theological inquiry into the meaning of human work, especially the one in the domain of economy. / 高喆. / Adviser: Pan-chin Lai. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 72-01, Section: A, page: . / Thesis (doctoral)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 190-201). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in Chinese and English. / Gao Zhe.

Bible college personnel face a unique challenge in providing career counseling to their students. Bible college students hold a deeply religious world view which can bear directly upon their career decision-making. The purpose of this study was to develop a career decision making workbook for Bible college freshmen. The development of such a workbook required the identification of relevant spiritual determinants, appropriate career development resources, and the integration of career decision-making theory with a theology of work and leisure. Research and development methods used in the study included (1) initial document design, incorporating the use of instructional design principles; (2) review of readability experts; (3) preliminary field testing with students; and, (4) main field testing with students. The field tests were conducted as two-day workshops, involving a total of 38 subjects. The subjects were Bible college freshmen who volunteered to participate. The preliminary field test was conducted at a Bible college in southern West Virginia. The main field test involved three Bible colleges in the southeastern United States. Student interviews and a pretest-posttest design were utilized to obtain data on the workbook’s effectiveness. Field test results indicated that the workbook helped subjects to (1) crystallize their current career thinking, (2) increase their appreciation for a spiritual-rational model, (3) understand the importance of leisure as part of the concept of career, and (4) seriously think about the future consequences of decisions. Subjects performed poorly on the terminal objective, i.e., the making of a tentative career decision. However, low scores were thought to be an indicator of the limited nature of the workshop format rather than a reflection of the effectiveness of the workbook. Major conclusions were that (1) the workbook has the potential to encourage improved career decision-making skills for students and, (2) the workbook is adaptable to a variety of Bible college settings. Recommendations for document revision, operational field testing, and summative evaluation are presented. / Ed. D.

This dissertation demonstrates that the Pauline corpus is sufficient to discern a distinction between self-interest and greed. The review of literature in chapter 1 reveals that definitions of greed often rely on such terms as “excessive” and “inordinate,” without defining the terms. Chapter 2 shows Paul’s expectation that believers work usefully in the church, home, and marketplace. Paul exhorted believers to work profitably to bring glory to God, serve others in love, and be self-supporting. Serving others is aided in the marketplace by the information conveyed by prices and profits. This chapter defines “sanctified self-interest” and highlights Paul’s encouragement to generosity. Chapter 3 employs interdisciplinary tools from accounting (income statement and balance sheet) to show greed is manifested as an insatiable desire for more and an unwillingness to give away possessions. The Pauline income statement indicates that greed causes sin at work, such as fraud or neglect. The love of money makes profit the ultimate goal rather than subduing creation and serving others. The Pauline balance sheet represents reasons for holding assets: sustenance, utility, security, and enjoyment. Beyond these assets, maintaining possessions devolves into greedy indulgence and signaling riches. Chapter 4 extends the distinction into standardized categories across cultures and through time by valuing goods in terms of the unchanging standard of hours of human life. Chapter 5 compares the Pauline categories to representative Second Temple Jewish literature to show that Paul’s views of avarice and economics were consistent with, but not identical to, this literature Chapter 6 compares the Pauline categories to representative Greco-Roman philosophical schools to show the fundamental differences with Epicurus, Seneca, and Aristotle. Even when all four superficially agree, the supporting rationale diverges radically. An important conclusion is that the methodology utilized in this dissertation imposes neither modern economic categories nor Pauline categories into every historical text. Chapter 7 summarizes the argument and underscores that the changes facing the church over the next two centuries will be even more rapid than the economic developments of the two centuries since the Industrial Revolution.

The rapid changes in the world of work today have resulted in the paradigm shift from standard to non-standard types of employment. These changes are intimately connected with the world of the economy that has brought extreme inequalities between rich and poor in the world. First, the primary objective of this thesis is to discuss the concept of work in the context of the paradigm shift using Karl Marx's concept of alienation manifested within a capitalist society driven by the institutions of economic globalization. This paradigm shift has seen an increase in casualization of work across the globe. The thesis provides an analysis of the contemporary changes in countries like Brazil, Argentina, Japan and South Africa. These changes have influenced the International Labour Organization (ILO) to reflect on the alternative types of work that are dignified hence its call for the adoption of decent work by affiliated countries. Second, the thesis explores the concept of decent work as proposed by the ILO. The thesis deals comprehensively with the four components of decent work analysing its relevance to the world of work today. In addition, the thesis critically analyses South Africa‟s New Growth Path as a policy framework designed to ensure the realization of decent work. Third, the thesis proposes a theology of decent work as an alternative to a paradigm shift from standard to non-standard type employment. Using the Contextual Bible Study (CBS) as a tool for liberation theology the thesis argues vehemently for an alternative type of employment. It provides the tools for churches and ecumenical organizations to speak theologically and prophetically about work today. Economic Globalization Casualization Decent Work Contextual Bible Study (CBS) and Theology. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.