Emerging adulthood has been emphasized as a time of exploration generally and of religious or faith-identity specifically, and successful resolution of this aspect of identity holds important consequences related to risk behaviors. The goal of this investigation was to better understand the types of faith-identities found in college, how emerging adults' relationships with parents related to their own faith-identities and how each faith-identity was related to risk behaviors. Spiritual Modeling, a type of modeling rooted in social learning theory, (Bandura; 1977; King, 2003; Oman & Thoreson, 2003) was expected to be predictive of emerging adults' faith-identities, while parent-emerging adult relationship quality and parental conflict were thought to moderate the relationship between spiritual modeling and faith-identity. Faith-Identity was expected to differentiate across binge drinking, marijuana use and number of sexual partners, and sensation seeking was thought to moderate the relationship between faith-identity and risk behaviors. Seven hundred ninety students completed an online survey across 11 large public and private religious universities. Spiritual Modeling was strongly predictive of both religious and commitment oriented faith-identities. The relationship between Spiritual Modeling and Faith-Identity was not moderated by relationship quality or parental conflict. A more religiously oriented faith-identity was predictive of fewer sexual partners and less binge drinking, while a more commitment oriented faith-identity was predictive of less marijuana use. High levels of sensation seeking amplified the relationship between a more secular faith identity and binge drinking. Commitment and Religious faith-identities significantly moderated the relationship between faith-identity and both binge drinking and number of sexual partners. Evidence is suggestive that a religiously oriented faith-identity may be more protective in combination with high levels of commitment while a faith-identity characterized by secularism and high commitment appears least protective. The potential utility of a faith-identity construct in emerging adulthood and future research directions are discussed. / text

The thesis poses a question derived from an unlikely nexus of two prominent figures of the Renaissance and the Reformation: the artist whose creative abilities ostensibly dominate the Vatican and religious art, juxtaposed with the rebel who splintered the dominance of Roman Catholicism. Michelangelo's program of artistic and religious reform in the second quarter of the sixteenth century strikes a chord similar to Martin Luther's theological perspectives set forth in the Reformation. Through the influence of the artist's friendship with the noblewoman, Vittoria Colonna, and subsequent involvement with an elite and cultured Italian reform group called the Spirituali, his later works of art and poetry reflect a deepening spirituality with unmistakable affinities to Protestant doctrine. The thesis first discusses the revolutionary stream of religious thought by providing a brief background of the intellectual, social, political, and ecclesiastical currents conducive to religious reform in Germany and Italy. Second, it explores the pathway leading to Michelangelo's later spiritual and doctrinal formation and the manner in which it parallels Luther's in several crucial aspects. The point of divergence, however, manifests itself through the parameters of personal experience in communicating their respective visions. Whereas Luther combined piety with spiritual autonomy and freedom, directing his efforts toward proclaiming a simple, democratic gospel the masses could comprehend, Michelangelo wedded piety with beauty and mystery, communicating through a nuanced language of art and poetry shrouded in allegory, myth, and allusion. Lastly, the paper comments upon possible reasons for Michelangelo's and the Spirituali's failure of reform strategies in contrast to Luther's success. Michelangelo's ties to Luther are predicated upon an evaluation of certain of the artist's poems and The Last Judgment fresco as expounded in the thesis. However, the final determination of whether Michelangelo can be viewed as a "secret Luther" rests with the reader and his/her commitment to imagination, intellectual involvement, and a personal quest for truth. The thesis challenges the astute reader to assume the role of an authentic truth-seeker who must delve below the surface of superficiality to discern the message of the divine artist/poet who deems truth too precious to unveil to the mindless throng.

As one of the most distinctive characteristics of English insurance law, the duty of utmost good faith is essentially stated in sections 17-20 of the Marine Insurance Act 1906. According to the statutory rules, both of the insurance parties must observe utmost good faith before the conclusion of an insurance contract. After one century of its application, both the judiciary and academics expressed their concerns in terms of its legislative defects and complexity in practice. Some developments have been made in recent judicial decisions and in statutory reform, e.g. the English Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012, and Recommendations, Statutes and Explanations on the Amendments of Chinese Maritime Code of the People’s Republic of China. Therefore, debatable issues and law reform programs in both English and Chinese law are considered in the main body of this thesis. The examination is essentially based upon, (1) the materiality test of the concealed/misrepresented circumstances which can empower the injured party to rescind the insurance abinitio; (2) the duration of utmost good faith and specific issues; (3) the protective measures related to innocent misconduct; (4) the legal status of good faith and its application to fraudulent behaviour; and (5) whether the classic English utmost good faith doctrine can be extended to Chinese law. Therefore, the main objective of this thesis is to provide a comprehensive study of the current status and developments of the duty of utmost good faith in both English and Chinese law, which is of fundamental importance, not only at the negotiation stage, but also throughout the performance and at the claiming stage of an insurance contract. After identifying and analysing these crucial issues, this thesis concludes with some possible solutions.

Enacted as part of the 1996 Welfare Reform bill, the faith-based initiative was intended to ensure that small religious groups were not discriminated against in the awarding of government funding. While there has been a great deal of attention paid to changes at the federal level, little attention has been paid to how and why states are implementing the faith-based initiative. Currently, states are not required to implement any part of the initiative, other than guaranteeing that faith-based organizations (FBOs) will not be discriminated against in funding decisions. Nevertheless, states have been acting on the initiative in a variety of ways in the hope of increasing the number of faith-based organizations performing social services.Although religious groups have been receiving government funds to provide social services for much of American history, the faith-based initiative represents a new effort from both state and federal governments to encourage even greater participation. To understand the state-level faith-based implementation I focus on two research questions: Why are states creating faith-based policies and practices? What are these new policies and practices? Data collected from multiple sources reveal three key aspects of faith-based policy implementation: appointment of state actors known as Faith-Based Liaisons (FBLs), legislation, and presentation of state Faith-Based Policy conferences.While supporters argue that the faith-based initiative is about solving problems of poverty and an over-burdened welfare system, I find that these policies and practices do not respond to problems of poverty or welfare, and do not offer the substantial new help to the poor and needy that was promised by supporters. Instead, I find that state faith-based practices are more likely to be implemented in states with a strong evangelical movement presence. My data also shows that these practices are actually a series of symbolic policies that further the goals of the evangelical movement in two ways. First, state faith-based policies and practices enable the evangelical movement's greater goal of chipping away at church/state separation. Second, because these policies and practices reframe and reshape the church/state relationship in ways that appeal to deeply held ideological views by many in the United States, they have the potential to create new political allies for the evangelical movement.

This essay is about uncovered women's faith and worship in an urban setting in contemporary Turkey. It researches the possibility of any common factors for uncovered Sunni Muslims' faith and worship as well as what parts of classical Muslim faith they have found negotiable. The essay relates to current literature and research on the topic as well as provides an insider perspective based on interviews with Turkish women.

Although confirmation should be the zenith of a young person's personal attachment to God and the congregation of believers, the exact opposite of this seems to be true when one considers the large numbers of young people that leave the church directly after their confirmation. A literature study shows that attempts to solve this problem have thus far to a large extent focussed on the young people in the process of preparing for confirmation. The purpose of this study is to shift the focus to the community of believers, more specifically to the role of such a community of believers in the guidance of young people in the process of preparing for confirmation, in order to find a solution to the problem. The following research question arose as a result: What is the role of the congregation as a community of believers in the guidance of young members through the confirmation process? The method employed was as follows: Basis-theoretical principles were formulated from Scripture as a result of literature studies and exegesis of relevant passages of Scripture. Meta-theoretical perspectives came to light by utilisation of the auxiliary science, Sociology, amongst other things. The role of the community of believers as a socialising agent of the youngsters was examined. The actual situation regarding the role of the community of believers in confirmation was examined meta-theoretically by means of a literature study on the situation within the broader Reformed tradition of the three Sister Churches, together with an empirical analysis of the situation within the Reformed churches of South Africa. Practical-theoretical guidelines were given following the hermeneutical interaction between the basis-theoretical principles and the meta-theoretical perspectives. The final conclusion is that the congregation as a community of believers is one of the most important agents in the religious socialisation of young people and therefore plays a very important role in preparing them for and guiding them in confirmation. The responsibility of the community of believers lies on the following levels: The shaping of a Biblical vision of the church or congregation that the young people can commit to. The concretion of this vision by means of the persistent practice of the fourfold ministry (“Hebrew text”) while simultaneously involving the whole congregation (young and old) in order that everything the congregation is, says, prays and does, is in congruence. This approach will lend credibility to the community of believers and by doing this the young people will be drawn closer. Focused community pursuit with special attention given to the acceptance of the young people, self-sacrificing and loving service towards the youths, as well as the verbal and practical teaching and instruction of the youngsters. A change in perception and sometimes a change of attitude of heart regarding the inclusion and participation of young people in the congregation. The creation of a culture in which every member earnestly considers his personal religious commitment and is prepared to be held responsible for this commitment. Such a culture of personal religious commitment, together with accountability to that commitment will carry the youths through their own personal commitment within confirmation, while confirming the importance of such a commitment at the same time. / Thesis (M.Th. (Pastoral))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 200

This thesis outlines the guiding principles of obligations law in Quebec, more particularly its contractual component. We are trying to establish a model of analysis that will seek to define and legitimize the precepts of justice that should guide judicial intervention in contractual relationships. / As part of this study, we identify certain principles that are fundamental in the theory of contract: notably, commutative justice, contract commutability, subjective rights and legitimate interests. We establish the relationship between each of these basic concepts to conclude that to be consistent with the principles of commutative justice, contract commutability shall not be based on a monetary equivalent of benefits but on the respect of a standard based on peaceful coexistence of rights and interests. It consists therefore of a normalization of contractual relations which ceases to be purely subjective. This finding leads to several inferences: the addition of the circumstances of the execution and termination of the contract, rather than simply its creation, to the possibilities of judicial review, a better legitimization of such review and the recognition of the principle of good faith as a privileged instrument for a fairer contractual commutability. Moreover, the last part of our thesis is devoted to examining judicial practice interventions based on good faith in order to illustrate the principles expressed in the study.

Šiame magistro baigiamajame darbe nagrinėjamas asmens autonomijos įgyvendinimo sutarčių teisėje ribų klausimas. Analizuojama, kokiais pagrindais bei instrumentais sutarčių laisvės principas, kaip asmens autonomijos sutarčių teisėje esmė, ribojamas teisės doktrinoje, teisės aktuose, įvairiuose neprivalomuose, tačiau itin aktualiuose sutarčių teisei dokumentuose bei teismų praktikoje. Darbe nagrinėjamas ribojimų pagrįstumas, tinkamumas, asmens autonomijos įgyvendinimo sutarčių teisėje ribų nustatymo tendencijos. Darbe iškelta hipotezė pasitvirtino. Solidarumo politikos įgyvendinimo sutarčių teisėje atvejų daugėja, ypač srityse, kuriose siekiama apsaugoti silpnosios sutarties šalies teises bei teisėtus interesus. Vis dėlto sutarčių laisvės principas nepraranda savo reikšmės ir išlieka kertine sutarčių teisės idėja. Jis pripažįstamas teises moksle, šiuo principu vis dar paremti sutarčių teisę reglamentuojantys teisės aktai bei rekomendacinio pobūdžio dokumentai, sutarčių laisvė akcentuojama ir teismų praktikoje. Galimybė subjektui funkcionuoti rinkoje be nepagrįstų ir neproporcingų apribojimų yra esminė efektyviai veikiančios ekonomikos sąlyga. Todėl asmens autonomijos įgyvendinimas sutarčių teisėje turėtų būti ribojamas tik tuomet, kai tokie suvaržymai yra būtini nustatytam tikslui pasiekti, ir tik tokiais būdais, kurie yra tinkami bei proporcingi. Formalūs bei griežti ribojimai turėtų būti išimtimi iš taisyklės. Teismo teisė bei pareiga kiekvieną atvejį vertinti... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / This master thesis analyses restrictions of the implementation of person’s autonomy in contract law. This thesis studies the basis and tools of limitations of freedom of contract, as the essence of the implementation of person’s autonomy in contract law. It analyses the restrictions of this principle in the doctrine of law, legislation, practice, as well, in non - mandatory documents, which are held to be very important to contract law. The hypothesis raised in this master thesis has been confirmed. The number of cases when the politics of solidarity is being implemented in contract law has been increasing. This is mostly typical to the areas, where the protection of rights and legitimate interests of weaker parties of contract is needed. However the freedom of contract is not losing its importance and still is the essential idea of contract law. It is recognized in the jurisprudence, the legislation, practice. Non - mandatory documents, significant to contract law, are also based on this principle. The possibility for person to function in market without any groundless and disproportionate limitations is an essential condition for efficiently operating economics. For this reason the implementation of person’s autonomy in contract law has to be restricted only when these restrictions are necessary and only using tools, which are reasonable and proportionate. Formal and severe limitations should be exception to the general rule. The right and duty of a court to evaluate every... [to full text]

Magistro darbe autorius kelia problemą – ar įmanoma rasti Romuvos ir Katalikybės doktrinų paralelių, pateikti edukacinės-kultūrinės veiklos analogų bei pasiūlyti bendro romuvietiško ir katalikiško darbo švietimo srityje rekomendacijų. Paralelių ir analogų ieškojimas ir yra pagrindinis šio darbo tikslas. Ši problematika iki šiol katalikiškuose moksliniuose darbuose nebuvo analizuota. Dėstymas padalintas į keturias pagrindines dalis: Pirmojoje dalyje gilinamasi į Romuvos bendrijos doktriną, pateikiami Vilniaus ir Kelmės Romuvos bendruomenių kokybinio tyrimo analizės rezultatai. Antrojoje dalyje dėmesys sutelkiamas į esminius Katalikybės doktrinos principus. Trečiojoje dalyje pateikiama lyginamoji doktrinų analizė, ketvirtojoje – Romuvos įvertinimas kataliko požiūriu, probleminės įžvalgos ir pasiūlymai. Autorius nurodo, kad senovės baltų religinė Romuvos bendrija deklaruoja tęsianti senosios religijos tradiciją ir siekia tapti tradicine Lietuvos religija. Tai liudija pateikti bendrijos tikėjimo šaltiniai, pagrindiniai tikėjimo principai, apeiginių veiksmų visuma ir organizacinė struktūra. Darbe nagrinėta Romuvos kultūrinė ir edukacinė veikla leidžia konstatuoti bendriją esant daugiau etnokultūriniu judėjimu nei religine bendrija. Tyrime pateikti Vilniaus ir Kelmės Romuvų bendruomenių edukacinės veiklos siūlymai nukreipti būtent į tautos dvasinės kultūros (folkloro, krašto papročių, etnografinės tradicijos, švenčių) puoselėjimą ir išsaugojimą. Darbe akcentuoti esminiai Romuvos... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / In the master’s paper "Drawing Parallels of Faith, Culture and Education between Catholicism and the Community of Ancient Baltic Religion Romuva" the author raises a problem whether it is possible to find the parallels between the doctrines of Romuva and Catholicism, to put forward the analogues of educational-cultural activities and to make recommendations for the cooperation between Romuva and Catholicism in the sphere of education. The main aim of this paper is an attempt to find these parallels and analogues. This problem has never been examined in the field of Catholic scientific research. The body of the paper falls into four main parts: the first part of the paper examines the doctrine of Romuva community, and the results of the analysis of the quality research of Romuva communities in Vilnius and Kelmė. The second part focuses on the principles of Catholicism doctrine. The third part contains the comparative analysis of the two doctrines, and Part 4 offers the assessment of Romuva through the perspective of a Catholic, some problemic insights and suggestions. The detailed comparative analysis of the doctrines as well as the research en corpore allows us to draw the following conclusions: The ancient Baltic religious community Romuva says it is an extension of the tradition of the old religion, it, therefore, aims at becoming a traditional Lithuanian religion. The master’s paper discusses the sources of faith of the community, the main principles of Romuva faith, the... [to full text]

The Winter’s Tale (1611) and The Tempest (1611) are two of Shakespeare’s romances, written under the patronage of James I of England. While Shakespeare’s history plays have received extensive critical attention regarding their political commentaries, these have not. History raises political questions by nature; however, it is also important to look at the political dimensions of Shakespeare’s fictional rulers. The Winter’s Tale’s Leontes, and The Tempest’s Prospero, because of their invented natures, allow the playwright to explore contemporary political crises or questions with more freedom than history allows. Shakespeare’s political exploration of these men involves assessing their fitness to rule, comparing their transformations to texts concerning kingship, such James’s political treatises. These texts raise the possibility that Shakespeare is similarly investigating a model of the ideal king. Looking at the elements of power, knowledge, and patriarchy, my thesis focuses on what Shakespeare is suggesting about ideal rule and the ruler.