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My dissertation investigates the Ch’ŏnt’ae order 天台宗 (Ch. Tiantai zong, Jp. Tendai shū), one of the most successful new Buddhist movements that emerged after the independence of Korea in 1945, within the context of new religious movements. The unstable sociopolitical aspects of post-colonial society and the complex attitudes of the Syngman Rhee and Park Chung Hee governments toward Buddhism facilitated the emergence of various new Buddhist movements. The success of modern Ch’ŏnt’ae was not accidental; rather, it arrived at the right time with the right mix of elements to establish itself in the Buddhist landscape of Korea. To understand these developments, this dissertation situates modern Ch’ŏnt’ae within the broader context of analogous Japanese and Korean new religious movements. Through anthropological interviews, along with textual and historical studies of East Asian Buddhism and New Religious Movements, it examines why the order’s movement was successful and how it became legitimately established in the Buddhist landscape of Korea. I argue that the success of the Ch’ŏnt’ae order stems from absolute mass participation and support, coupled with a popular lay movement focused on individual cultivation. The practice of chanting the name of Guanyin provides a clear spiritual focus, particularly for middle-aged women who constitute the majority of followers. Modern urban mega-temples and large halls at local temples, operating 24 hours a day, serve as centers of religious life for this lay-centric Buddhism. Additionally, the establishment of a centralized system, represented by Kuinsa Monastery, satisfies modern Buddhists’ desire for both urban practice and access to the mystique of traditional mountain temples. The charisma of the founder, Sangwŏl, has been instrumental in propelling this centralized lay Buddhist organization. Sangwŏl has been deified, and his charisma has been transmitted to and maintained by his successors, continuing to serve as the driving force behind this lay Buddhist group. Moreover, despite the absence of a direct historical connection between Sangwŏl and the Koryŏ Ch’ŏnt’ae tradition, modern Ch’ŏnt’ae has positioned itself as the legitimate heir to the Ch’ŏnt’ae school founded by Ŭich’ŏn during the Koryŏ Dynasty, thereby endowing itself with historical authority. The order’s appeal to the transnational characteristics of the Tiantai tradition, support for government political powers, and responsiveness to members’ secular needs are key factors in its emergence and success as a successor to the Koryŏ version of the school. The Korean Ch’ŏnt’ae order represents a fascinating case of a new religious movement transforming into a mainstream Buddhist group that seems grounded in tradition through active utilization of past Ch’ŏnt’ae traditions and various innovative methods centered on the founder and successors’ charismatic leadership. This dissertation contributes significantly to the understanding of how new Buddhist orders are formulated within the religious landscape of post-colonial Korea. / Religion

<p> In Oklahoma, a young state where the built environment is not as old as in many regions of the country, there is not the long tradition of respecting historic resources often seen in areas with properties dating from the beginning of our country. This, coupled with the demands of contemporary life, makes it all too easy to destroy or compromise the integrity of historic buildings still in existence to provide services for current societal needs. However, there continue to be those who seek out historic properties for both personal and professional reasons. The purpose of this study is to gather information from property owners in nationally registered historic districts across the state about the experience of owning this type of property so that appropriate resources can be developed and supported to facilitate the survival of the state's historic resources. The exploratory nature of this study lends itself to a phenomenological approach to data collection combined with an interpretivist approach to data analysis to investigate the meaning behind the experience of owning property in Oklahoma historic districts. </p><p> A sample of 13 historic districts was selected; this sample included residential and commercial districts in both rural and urban areas. For the first phase of data collection, a short demographic survey was mailed to each property owner in the selected districts; the survey provided the opportunity for respondents to participate in a second phase of data collection&mdash;focus groups held within each district. The researcher conducted 18 focus groups with 51 participants; data analysis included line-by-line coding of each transcript, with individual comments applied within 30 identified themes. </p><p> Seven key findings resulted from analysis and interpretation, and were further organized according to the study's research questions: (a) potential return on investment, (b) place attachment to community and state, (c) appreciation of architectural features, (d) appreciation of historic character, (e) participation in community's history, (f) impact of maintenance and repair, and (g) difficulties with the preservation system. Recommendations address the resulting implications for educators, the interior design and architecture professions, preservation partners, and for community governance.</p>

One of Zimbabwe's key inheritances from the colonial economy is a strong and diversified manufacturing sector. Its development has been the result of a wide range of factors based on import substitution policies pursued since the end of the Second World War. This was backed by an active government policy to create adequate infrastructure and to encourage a strong flow of foreign capital investment. The manufacturing sector is closely linked to the colonial settlement pattern. Up to 70% of manufacturing industries are located in the two main urban centres of Harare and Bulawayo. This geographical concentration has increased polarisation of regional development especially with the peasant communal sector. However, manufacturing industries have developed close linkages with the other capitalist sectors of the economy - commercial agriculture, mining and forestry. The thesis examines several aspects of manufacturing industries in Zimbabwe. Firstly, it establishes a conceptual framework for the study of industrial location and regional development. This is also a critical appraisal of the main body of theory derived from the experiences of industrialised economies. Secondly, the historical and institutional patterns of the Zimbabwean industrial development are examined. This highlights the important role of the State, and other external factors. Thirdly, using evidence from a fieldwork sample of seventy-five manufacturing firms, in seven municipal regions - Harare, Marondera, Rusape, Kadoma, Kwe Kwe, Masvingo and Chiredzi - an analysis is made of the main industrial location factors. The sample provides a diversity of industries and geographical locations. This geographical study of location factors highlights the structural features of the colonial settlement pattern. Fourthly, a wide range of structural aspects, including employment characteristics, linkages influence and interaction with the rural economy, are examined. The emphasis is on the changes which occurred in the post-1965 period, when the economy was affected by international sanctions. Finally, the implications for regional development planning are examined. In the light of the findings, what is the role of manufacturing industries in promoting equitable regional development and especially the reduction of underdevelopment of rural areas? What is the role of industries in the growth centre policy which the government is trying to implement? The thesis argues for some of the possible alternatives.

abstract: During the early twentieth century, a caste dispute known as the Eki-Beki dispute erupted among a group of historically related Konkani-speaking Brahman castes on the western coast of India. A faction among the castes argued that the variously related Konkani-speaking Brahman castes were originally one caste called the Gauda Saraswat Brahman (GSB) caste, which got split into several sub-castes. They further argued that the time had come to unite all these castes into one unified GSB caste. This faction came to be known as the Eki-faction, which meant the unity-faction. The Eki-faction was opposed by the majority of the members of the above-mentioned castes who disagreed with the idea of unification. This opposing faction came to be known as the Beki-faction, i.e. the disunity-faction. Despite the opposition from the majority, the Eki-faction managed to unite these different castes to form the contemporary unified GSB caste. The Gaud Saraswat Brahman caste in its current form is the product of this dispute. The formation of the GSB caste was initiated by members of these castes who had migrated from different rural regions of the western coast of India to the urban center Bombay. The rise of the GSB caste, however, became a contested process. Dominant non-GSB Brahman groups in Bombay discredited the migrants as being outsiders of lower ritual status. The unification movement was also opposed by the majority of these Konkani-speaking castes residing in the rural regions of the west coast of India. The struggle of the urban migrants for unification involved publication of Hindu texts and changes of normative practices, such as dining regulations and marriage arrangements, that affected the long-standing norms of maintaining ritual purity. Despite the opposition, the urban migrants partially succeeded in unifying the variously related Konkani-speaking Brahman castes. My dissertation is a history of this process. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Religious Studies 2018

<p> In most any church, the transition to a new lead pastor presents a significant challenge to a congregation. Ethnography is the practice of listening to a particular group or culture to learn the nuanced life of that community. This ethnography of a congregation located in upstate New York examines the congregation&rsquo;s response to a particularly difficult pastoral transition. Based on interviews with more than forty members of the church, as well as interviews with pastoral staff and denominational overseers, this study presents a snapshot of the church as it faces a new transition in pastoral leadership while the wounds of a previous transition remain tender. This study advocates for leaders to provide the kind of listening that acknowledges the challenges that result from a change in lead pastors, and to be proactive and transparent in communicating with parishioners throughout the transition period.</p><p>

<p> Virginia City once exemplified the cutting edge of culture and taste in the Rocky Mountain mining frontier. Weathering economic downturns, mining booms and busts, and the loss of the territorial capital to Helena, Virginia City survives today as a heritage tourism site with a substantial building stock from its period of significance, 1863-1875. However, the poor physical condition and interpretation of the town offers tourists an inauthentic experience. Without paint analysis, the Montana Heritage Commission, state-appointed caretakers of Virginia City cannot engage in rehabilitation. As of 2017, no published architectural finishes research exists that provides comparative case studies for the Anglo-American settlement of the American West between 1840-1880, for American industrial landscapes, or for vernacular architecture in Montana. This thesis offers a case study of five buildings to add to the body of scholarly architectural finishes research, provide rehabilitation recommendations, and provide a published, baseline study for future research.</p><p>

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<p> The following work is an analysis of Martin Luther's Two Kingdoms Theory. This influential and controversial theory was introduced in his 1523 treatise, <i> Von weltlicher Obrigkeit</i>--<i>Secular Authority</i>. Although this document was written almost 500 years ago and takes its cue from the writings of St. Augustine and the Bible, it continued to have a significant effect on German society in both the political and religious realm well into the present day. Based on an analysis of the text and on the culture and literature that led Luther to write <i>Von weltlicher Obrigkeit</i>, this thesis evaluates various interpretations and applications of the Two Kingdoms Theory. The specific effects of Luther's teaching during the Nazi era are examined politically and theologically. Dietrich Bonhoeffer's <i> Religionsloses Christentum</i>--Religionless Christianity and Martin Luther's <i>Zwei-Reiche-Lehre</i>--Two Kingdoms Theory will be compared to demonstrate that they illuminate the same truth from different vantage points: neither people nor their rules are viable substitutes for God. A brief introduction explains the means of analysis used in this thesis, which is based on Dietrich Bonhoeffer's call for a new religionless language as described in letters written during his imprisonment by the Nazi regime.</p>