In this study, I consider the possibility of extending Hannah Arendt's critiques of conformity and behavior and her insights on thinking and moral philosophy to Christian life and culture. With Arendt, I argue that the possibility to refrain from perpetrating great evils made possible by uncritical conformity resides within the activity of thinking itself, as she defines it. Furthermore, I argue, again with Arendt, that refraining from such evils is a moral decision which finds its ultimate standard in the self. Although she culls many helpful insights from religious traditions, Arendt refrains from extending her moral philosophy into any realm in which religion is considered to be the valid standard of what constitutes moral behavior. Instead, I argue, against Arendt, that Christians can, and perhaps should, develop a more mature understanding of religion and a more "covenantal" understanding of their relationship with the divine.

Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M.Th. (Christian Spirituality, Church History & Missiology)

The problem for this study was the relationship between faculty-led small groups and the development in seminary students of the character traits biblically mandated of those who occupy spiritual leadership positions in the church (1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9). This experimental study developed and assessed a program which combined involvement in a small group of peers with a faculty mentor. The discipleship groups met weekly for two semesters for either thirty or seventy-five minutes. The research instrument used was the Biblical Leadership Qualities Inventory, a revision of the Spiritual Leadership Qualities Inventory. The longer treatment length groups were not found to differ significantly from the shorter treatment length groups for change in trait score (p = .281), although means were generally lower for the longer groups. A MANOVA showed that both treatment groups differed significantly from the control group for the traits observed (p < .001) with the general direction of change being to a lower trait score. Five post-hoc hypotheses were investigated. An education effect, as measured by number of traits studied in the group, was not found to be related to outcome. A fatigue or stress effect, as measured by academic load, work load, and marital status, was not found to be related to outcome. Instrument weakness, peer effect, and mentor effect were suggested as possible explanations for the outcome. Peer and mentor relationships may have resulted in the subjects developing higher standards and thus a decrease on the posttest. Demographic factors of marital status, Christian age, academic load, work load, and absences did not prove to be effective predictors of outcome. Neither faculty trait scores nor faculty fidelity to the topics for discussion in the treatment groups proved to be an effective predictor of student outcome. Previous research by Parker showing factors for the SLQI was not replicable and thus the factors were not found to be reliable.

Conservative theology was consistent with the advance of racial justice in the Southern Baptist Convention during the second half of the twentieth century. Historians have downplayed the role of conservative theology in the advancement of racial justice within the Southern Baptist Convention. Yet rank-and-file Southern Baptists went along with efforts to abolish segregation only when those efforts did not conflict with evangelical interpretations of Scripture. Between World War II and the Supreme Court's school desegregation decision, Southern Baptists from all theological camps advocated racial equality. They did not consider, however, that a belief in equality might conflict with segregation. The changing social climate between 1955 and 1970 drove Southern Baptists to reflect on segregation and subsequently to change their views based on their theology. Even within the theologically liberal Christian Life Commission, progressive thinkers appealed to evangelical theology to move their denomination on the race issue. Southern Baptist seminaries and colleges gradually integrated and appropriated conservative theology to gain support from the denomination. African Americans felt evangelical theology logically demanded racial inclusiveness and wondered why the Southern Baptist Convention failed to live up to the theology it professed to believe. By the 1980s, evangelical views had established denominational opinion in favor of racial equality and integration. Because of the widespread agreement on race, people on both sides of a denominational controversy agreed in their approach to race despite disagreeing on a host of other issues. / This item is only available to students and faculty of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. If you are not associated with SBTS, this dissertation may be purchased from <a href="http://disexpress.umi.com/dxweb">http://disexpress.umi.com/dxweb</a> or downloaded through ProQuest's Dissertation and Theses database if your institution subscribes to that service.

λειτουργία denotes all the religious acts and activities of worship performed by Christians during the worship service and in life. The aim of this study was to determine the nature of the interactive relationship between the liturgy of the worship service and the liturgy of a Scripture driven life. The central theoretical argument of the study was that this relationship is dynamic and transforming. Basic theoretical perspectives were formulated in Section A. The comprehensive conclusion attained in this section was that the liturgy of the worship service and the liturgy of life is an undividable unit consisting of differentiate elements. Meta-theoretical perspectives were formulated in Section B. These principles were drawn from research done relating to postmodernism, the effects of the post-94 transformation in South Africa on previously advantaged South African Christians and empirical research. The perspectives indicated that the praxis of life impacted directly on the liturgy of the worship service. The conclusions reached in both Sections A and B lead to the final conclusion that the nature of the interactive relationship between the liturgy of the worship service and the liturgy of life is dynamic and transforming. It was further indicated by the research that the interactive relationship between the liturgy of the worship service and the liturgy of life reflected the broken reality of our sin-corrupted world. Hence an adjusted practical theory and accompanying practical theoretical model were developed to aid the alignment of the praxis as indicated by the meta-theoretical perspectives with the Scriptural ideal purported by the basis theoretical principles. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Liturgics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

λειτουργία denotes all the religious acts and activities of worship performed by Christians during the worship service and in life. The aim of this study was to determine the nature of the interactive relationship between the liturgy of the worship service and the liturgy of a Scripture driven life. The central theoretical argument of the study was that this relationship is dynamic and transforming. Basic theoretical perspectives were formulated in Section A. The comprehensive conclusion attained in this section was that the liturgy of the worship service and the liturgy of life is an undividable unit consisting of differentiate elements. Meta-theoretical perspectives were formulated in Section B. These principles were drawn from research done relating to postmodernism, the effects of the post-94 transformation in South Africa on previously advantaged South African Christians and empirical research. The perspectives indicated that the praxis of life impacted directly on the liturgy of the worship service. The conclusions reached in both Sections A and B lead to the final conclusion that the nature of the interactive relationship between the liturgy of the worship service and the liturgy of life is dynamic and transforming. It was further indicated by the research that the interactive relationship between the liturgy of the worship service and the liturgy of life reflected the broken reality of our sin-corrupted world. Hence an adjusted practical theory and accompanying practical theoretical model were developed to aid the alignment of the praxis as indicated by the meta-theoretical perspectives with the Scriptural ideal purported by the basis theoretical principles. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Liturgics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2006. / Added title page in Korean: Kajŏng purhwa wigi ŭi yebang kwa kŭkpok ŭl wihan yŏngsŏng hoebok pʻŭrogŭraem kaebal. 880-02 Includes bibliographical references (leaves 67-76).

Thesis (D. Ed. Min.)--New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 2007. / Includes abstract and vita. Includes final project proposal. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 173-177, 64-70).

Thesis (D. Ed. Min.)--New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 2007. / Includes abstract and vita. Includes final project proposal. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 173-177, 64-70).

Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M.Th. (Christian Spirituality, Church History & Missiology)