Lisa Horn (M. A.) verfasste einen religionsgeschichtlichen Beitrag mit dem Titel: Jungfrau, Himmlische, Gottesgebärerin. Der Kult der antiken Göttinnen Artemis und Aphrodite als Kontext früher Marienverehrung? Konzentriert auf die fünf ersten nachchristlichen Jahrhunderte und einige signifikante religiös-kultische Transfer-Zentren in Zypern und Kleinasien (etwa Ephesus) gilt das Erkenntnisinteresse der Verfasserin den Differenzen und Kontinuitäten in den Mythologien und Kulten der zwei antiken Göttinnen Artemis und Aphrodite sowie der frühchristlichen Figurierung und Verehrung Marias. Mit Hilfe verschiedener Quellensorten wird forschungsgestützt argumentiert, dass das erstarkende Christentum ältere pagane, polytheistische (und selbst hoch hybride) Kulte und Gottheiten synchretistisch adaptierte. Deutlich wird, wie die matristischen, in den beiden griechisch-römischen Göttinnen noch erinnerten Aspekte von gleichzeitiger Jungfräulichkeit und Mütterlichkeit einerseits mit dem Vorstellungskomplex von der menschlichen Empfängnis eines ‚Gottessohnes‘ andererseits verbunden und zur Deutung der ‚jungfräulichen Gottesmutter Maria‘ genutzt wurden, um so, funktionsgeschichtlich gelesen, den androzentrischen Wegfall weiblicher Gottheiten kompensieren zu helfen.

Evangelical Protestant Christians have been one of the primary groups opposing Mormons since the beginnings of Mormonism in the 1820s. This thesis is an examination of the historical basis for Evangelical opposition to Mormonism and the impact of that opposition on Mormon identity. This study is divided into three chronological chapters representing the nineteenth, twentieth, and twenty-first centuries in America. Evangelical animosity towards Mormonism was grounded in the Christian heretical tradition begun in the second century AD. Because of this tradition, Evangelicals were inherently afraid of heresy for two main reasons: temporal treason and eternal damnation. Due to the heterodox claims of a new prophet and new scripture, Mormonism was quickly labeled as dangerous, not only to Christianity, but to America as a whole. This perceived danger only grew as Mormonism continued to differentiate itself further with the practices of polygamy, communalism, and theocracy. In the nineteenth century, Mormon assimilation of Evangelicalism primarily affected the social structures of marriage, economics, and politics. In the twentieth century, Mormon assimilation of Evangelical identity would focus more on the incorporation of Evangelical ideology and theology. As Fundamentalism and Neo-Evangelicalism protested Mormonism as a cult, Mormonism became more Fundamentalist and Evangelical by nature, especially as the Church of Jesus Christ of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recognized how such opposition negatively impacted American public perceptions. Such changes included the development of Mormon neo-orthodoxy with its emphasis on the sovereignty of God, the depravity of man, and salvation by grace. In the twenty-first century, a group of Mormon and Evangelical scholars engaged in the practice of interfaith dialogue developed by Liberal Protestants and Catholics. As part of their dialogue, Evangelicals retained the purposes of evangelism and apologetics thereby qualifying the dialogue as a new more subtle form of Evangelical opposition to Mormonism in the twenty first century. As Evangelicals continuously opposed Mormonism as a Christian heresy, such opposition effected changes within Mormonism, changes that have led to some degree of assimilation and even adoption of several elements of Evangelicalism. The most recent part of this assimilation process has been the development of Mormon progressive orthodoxy that emphasizes anti-sectarianism, anti-liberalism, and revised supernaturalism.

No Abstract Included / Thesis / Master of Arts (MA)

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[pt] A presente dissertação, a partir da análise exegética de Nm 18,1-7, estuda as funções e os serviços cultuais desempenhados pelos sacerdotes e levitas, particularmente os coatitas. Tendo em vista que, nas últimas quatro décadas, não há muitos trabalhos desenvolvidos sobre o livro de Números, em particular sobre Nm 18,1-7, acredita-se que a presente pesquisa traz uma modesta contribuição. Fazer a análise exegética do texto, foi o principal objetivo, permitindo investigar o papel de Aarão e de seus filhos (sacerdotes) no exercício de suas funções na Tenda da Reunião, sendo auxiliados pelos levitas, a fim de preservar a santidade da comunidade de Israel e assim, evitar a morte de seus membros. Com isso, percebe-se que Nm 18,1-7 confirma a importância da corrente sacerdotal na redação final do livro de Números. Apesar de conter materiais não sacerdotais, esse livro realça e atesta a atuação fundamental dos sacerdotes e dos levitas em favor de Israel. O método histórico-crítico foi utilizado como ferramenta indispensável, para se chegar a uma compreensão mais profunda e aprimorada de Nm 18,1-7. Observa-se que a seção possui uma introdução e sete subseções, que formam um quiasmo, dado corroborado pelos elementos sintáticos e semânticos que a compõem. Aarão é personagem central e destinatário direto da palavra de YHWH. Ao se classificar Nm 18,1-7 como torá sacerdotal, atesta-se a sacralidade do culto e do serviço dos sacerdotes e levitas, pelos quais Israel pode ser preservado de conflitos e de sofrer danos mortais (cf. Nm 16–17). / [en] The present dissertation, based on an exegetical analysis of Nm 18,1-7, studies the functions and cultic services performed by the priests and Levites, particularly the Kohathites. Given that, over the past four decades, there has not been much work on the book of Numbers, in particular on Nm 18,1-7, it is believed that this research makes a modest contribution. An exegetical analysis of the text was the main objective, investigating the role of Aaron and his sons (priests) in the exercise of their functions in the Tent of Meeting, being assisted by the Levites, in order to preserve the holiness of the community of Israel thereby preventing the death of its members. Hence, it is clear that Nm 18,1-7 confirms the importance of the priestly current in the final writing of the book of Numbers. Despite of containing non-priestly materials, this book highlights and attests to the fundamental role of priests and Levites in favor of Israel. The historical-critical method was used as an indispensable tool to reach a deeper and better understanding of Nm 18,1-7. It is observed that the section has an introduction and seven subsections, which form a chiasm, corroborated by the syntactic and semantic elements that compose it. Aaron is the central character and direct recipient of YHWH s word. By classifying Nm 18,1-7 as a priestly torah, one attests to the sacredness of the worship and of the service of priests and Levites, whereby Israel can be preserved from conflict and mortal damage (cf. Nm 16–17).

Denna uppsats kommer utgå i grunden från teorin om mikro- meso- och makroperspektivet. Ingångsvinkeln i uppsatsen utgår från offerfynd som påträffats under undersökningarna i Eketorp under 1900-talet. Offerfynden nivågrupperats där dem passar bäst in utifrån den valda teorin. Eketorp borg är en fornborg på Öland. Belägen på den sydöstra delen av ön på det stora alvaret. Eketorp borg har en stark koppling till många olika offerriter vilket syns i materialet. Genom det valda teoretiska perspektivet och analysen av offerfynden kan en bredare utveckling av Eketorps samhälle studeras. Detta då den rituella utvecklingen följer nära i hand med samhällets utveckling i borgen. Syftet med uppsatsen var att studera hur Eketorps samhälle utvecklades utifrån en religiös ingångsvinkel, med frågeställningar relevanta för detta. Diskussionen diskuterar de tolkningar från analysen och presenterar nya orsaker till att offerfynden offrat vid sina respektive platser. Resultatet av uppsatsen blev att genom den tydliga nivågrupperingen av offerfynden och genom den teoretiska tolkningen få nya tolkningarom hur kontexter och interaktion hängt ihop. / This thesis is based on the theory of the micro-meso- and macro perspective. The viewpoint of this text is based on sacrificial offerings found during the archaeological excavations in Eketorp during the 20th century. The offerings have been level-grouped where they fit best based on the chosen theory. Eketorp borg is an ancient castle on Öland, it’s been used in three phases and the thesis will mainly focus on the second one. Eketorp is located on the south-east part of the island on the Stora Alvaret. Eketorp borg has a strong connection to many different sacrificial rites, which can be seen in the chosen material. Through the theoretical perspective and the analysis of the victim finds, a broader development of Eketorp's society can be studied. This as the ritual development follows closely with the development of society in the fort. The aim of this thesis was to study how Eketorp's society developed from a religious viewpoint, with questions relevant to this. The first part of the text the author presents Eketorp borg and what the aim of this paper is, as mentioned before. In this part the theory and method are presented as well and how the theory has been molded to fit the different offerings and their contexts. This being referred to as the level-grouping. In the discussion the interpretations from the analysis and presents new reasons why the offerings have been sacrificed at their respective sites, the house, the bog, and the hall. The result of the thesis is the last chapter and concludes that through the level grouping and viewpoint of ritual and cult its possible to get new interpretations of how the different contexts and interactions was handled.

This dissertation examines the cult of Our Lady of Remedios, one of the oldest Marian images in Mexico and declared the first patroness of the viceregal capital of New Spain in 1574. Despite Mexico City’s city council’s (cabildo) promotion of this Madonna as a relic of the conquest and the patroness of the City of Mexico, historians have not investigated the cult of Remedios extensively since the study of devotional practices in colonial Mexico has primarily focused on the Virgin of Guadalupe. As such, academics have underestimated the importance of Our Lady of Los Remedios, leading them to view her cult as unimportant to Novohispanic society. As this dissertation demonstrates, the cult of Our Lady of Los Remedios was not just prominent in the City of Mexico, but a frequent invocation in times of great misfortune. She was believed to remedythe ills of her devotees and the catastrophes that afflicted the metropolis, such as floods, droughts, and epidemics. As important as the sacred image of Our Lady of Los Remedios is to the history that I present, the core of this dissertation is the Confraternity of Los Remedios. My work examines the political and religious interests that Mexico City’s cabildo had in establishing and sponsoring the brotherhood and the role they played in supporting the cult image of Our Lady of Los Remedios. Additionally, due to the increasing religious devotion to Our Lady of Los Remedios, the Confraternity of Los Remedios received financial support from the generous offerings given to the revered statue. This outcome was financial independence, causing the Confraternity of Los Remedios to function as lenders, administrators of wills, and maintainers of records for different financial dealings. For this reason, I argue that the confraternity ceased to be an organization solelydedicated to religious purposes and instead became an institution of social and economic importance for the City of Mexico.

The representation of new religious movements in documentaries and mainstream media affects our understanding of and attitude toward new religious movements. Scholars argue that media shapes our knowledge of new religious movements and that we most often trust this information as truthful. This study aims to investigate and analyze the representation of Heaven’s Gate in HBO’s documentary series Heaven’s Gate: The Cult of Cults and whether this representation can be useful in a classroom context. The data was retrieved by closely watching the four episodes of the documentary series while taking notes and rewatching the documentary series until relevant information and quotes were retrieved. The research method employed was a movie analysis, more specifically a qualitative content analysis. The theoretical framework used is drawn from Joseph Laycock and his three identified narratives in which media tend to portray new religious movements: medicalization, deviance amplification, and convergence. The results reveal that the documentary series uses these narrative features in various ways, but it also challenges and contrasts them. Furthermore, the conclusion of the representation is complex and nuanced. The documentary series presents a respectful, informative, and somewhat equitable representation, but also reinforces stereotypical and negative societal discourses. Additionally, this study suggests further study in the field of documentaries and new religious movements to explore the representation of other new religious movements.

This dissertation on "Archaeology and the Israelite Cult" covers a period of ca. I 000 years, dating from the time of the Hebrew patriarchs ca.l950 B.C.E. to the end of the monarchy which is given as ca. 950 B.C.E. The archaeological findings are related to five significant and major excavation sites in Palestine which have been found to embrace the time span under consideration and point in many ways to the practice of the Israelite or Canaanite cult. These five sites are:- a) The Bull Site b) Kuntillet Ajrud c) The Fortress- Sanctuary at Arad d) Shechem e) Megiddo The writings of the Israelite cult are scant and commence mainly with the patriarchs. The time of Abraham and his recognition of a monolatrous god. The beginning of the complex Y ahwistic cult introduced by Moses in the Sinai Desert, following Israelite escape from Egypt. The Israelite cultic practices, which are now considered to be syncrestic, are discussed where they relate to biblical texts and archaeological findings of confirmation. / Biblical and Ancient Studies / M.A. (Biblical Studies)