Suffering will always remain one of the main challenges to the Christian faith since it calls into question the reality of God. Moltmann does not shy away from this challenge and although he limits his response to moral and political suffering he confronts the problem recognizing the moral force of the arguments of protest atheism. His initial reaction, however, is to offer a thorough critique of classical theism which, in his opinion, creates more problems for the Christian faith than it resolves. A revolution in our understanding of God is necessary before theology can meaningfully address the question of suffering. Taking the cross of Christ as his starting point Moltmann rebuilds his doctrine of God by asking how we are to understand the presence of God in the suffering and death of Jesus Christ. The cross is a statement about God before it is an assurance of salvation addressed to man. Only by speaking in trinitarian terms can we make any sense of the cross-event. It is an inner-trinitarian event of suffering, abandonment and death in which the being of God is opened up to the history of the suffering of the world. God is a suffering God. He is present in suffering and suffering is present in God. In communion with him suffering man finds the divine solidarity and experiences, in turn, solidarity with God in his own suffering. This mutual solidarity in suffering thrusts man into practical actions designed to overcome suffering in the world. The suffering God is the decisive Christian argument against suffering. However, Moltmann's perspective is not without problems. In replacing Greek with Hegelian metaphysics, he steps beyond the limits of scripture. At points he appears to dissolve God into history. If not guilty of patripassionism in the classical sense, he comes close to it. He has been labelled "tritheistic" and in some instances leaves the impression of an inhuman God. Moltmann's suffering God is unable to sustain an adequate soteriology. Without a christology of pre-existence the incarnation and kenosis of the Son must be reinterpreted. God cannot, therefore, be said to be a God who has taken upon himself the suffering of humanity. Despite its inadequacies Moltmann's thought has pointed the way forward for future discussion of the relation between God and suffering. He has highlighted the importance of history, the centrality of christology and the challenge of discipleship. Much remains dark to the human mind, but he who is the Light of the world beckons us forward to think and walk in that Light. / Thesis (M.Theol.)-University of Durban-Westville, 1988.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Westminster Theological Seminary (Philadelphia, Pa.), 2007. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 523-533).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Westminster Theological Seminary (Philadelphia, Pa.), 2007. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 523-533).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Catholic Theological Union at Chicago, 2004. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 128-134).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Catholic Theological Union at Chicago, 2004. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 128-134).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Catholic Theological Union at Chicago, 2004. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 128-134).

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:29:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-10-23Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:19:25Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 faria_mlvc_me_botfm.pdf: 1185934 bytes, checksum: 4bb33f2f589bd619c63c31dc300156d7 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O problema que motivou esse trabalho foi a dificuldade, por parte dos profissionais da saúde, em acolher o sofrimento psíquico nas Unidades Básicas de Saúde (UBS) e nas unidades da Estratégia de Saúde da Família (ESF). Neste trabalho investigamos se esta dificuldade se deve a inadequação epistemológica do paradigma vigente na medicina para lidar com estas questões. Usando uma metodologia baseada em revisão de literatura tradicional, analisamos a utilização do termo paradigma na produção científica brasileira dos últimos dez anos, armazenada na base de dados SciELO. Após busca pelas palavraschave paradigma e medicina e seleção prévia, 17 textos foram escolhidos. Realizamos então análises linguísticas e um levantamento da temática emergente. A análise linguística foi realizada através do levantamento da frequência de uso de termos relevantes nos textos e do grafo de co-ocorrências construído utilizando estes termos. Posteriormente os artigos foram organizados conforme seu foco principal, em três grupos: teórico, ensino médico e prática médica. Levantou-se então a temática emergente de cada grupo. Os textos discutiram algumas das ideias de Kuhn, enfatizando características do paradigma médico hegemônico, sinais de crise desse paradigma e a necessidade de um novo paradigma para lidar com as demandas da atenção primária. Vários artigos apresentaram experiências inovadoras implantadas em Unidades de Saúde e exemplos de mudanças nos currículos de cursos de medicina. O sofrimento psíquico é reconhecido como anomalia paradigmática e a integralidade é caracterizada como um problema epistemológico para o paradigma vigente. As bases teóricas do SUS podem ser consideradas como uma revolução científica, no acepção de Kuhn. A promoção da saúde é um novo e promissor paradigma pois enfatiza a integralidade do cuidado, a prevenção... / The motivation for this work was the difficulties faced by health professionals to treat patients with psychic suffering in Health Basic Units (HBU) and in Strategies for Family Health. In this work, we investigate if these difficulties were due to epistemological deficiencies of the present medicine paradigm. Using a methodology based on bibliographic review, we analyzed the use of the word paradigm in Brazilian scientific articles in SciELO database on the last ten years. Initially we browsed for the keywords: paradigm and medicine and selected 17 texts. We then performed some computational linguistic analyses: we measured the words frequency and constructed the co-occurrences graph of the 50 most commonly used words. Afterwards we organized the articles according to their focus in three classes: theoretical, medical education, and medical practice. We then determined the emerging themes for each class. The texts discussed some of Kuhn’s ideas and emphasized characteristics of the hegemonic paradigm for medicine, crisis signs for this paradigm and the need of a paradigm shift to deal with primary care. Several articles presented innovative experiences carried out on Health Units and examples of changes on the curricula of medicine courses. The psychic suffering is considered a paradigmatic anomaly and integrality is characterized as an epistemological problem to the present paradigm. The Unified Health System (UHS) theoretical basis can be considered a scientific revolution in Kuhn perspective. Health promotion is a new and promising paradigm since it emphasizes integrality in the medical care, prevention, and commitment with quality of life and stimulates the community participation. Our analysis shows that the authors are of the opinion that many of the challenges faced by Brazilian health system are originated from epistemological questions. Although UHS is a theoretical breakthro... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Chapter 1 introduces the dissertation’s thesis and highlights its methodology. This dissertation argues that the divine design for suffering in Christ-followers is to decrease self-rule through mortification, increase God’s rule through engendering spiritual maturity, with both of these functions serving the ultimate purpose of God glorifying himself in the individual lives of his covenant people. This chapter also sets the argument within the contemporary context of biblical counseling. Chapter 2 explores the first major element of the thesis, that God designs suffering to decrease self-rule in his covenant people through mortification. This theme is traced through the lamenting psalmists, the Suffering King’s attack on self-rule via the cross, and Jesus’ imperative to self-denial. Chapter 3 argues the second major element of the thesis, that God designs suffering to increase his rule in his covenant people by engendering the blessings consistent with spiritual maturity. This thought is developed by examining the spiritual maturity suffering produced in the lamenting psalmists and Jesus. Six New Testament passages are examined which indicate suffering is instrumental in engendering spiritual maturity in the Christ-follower. Chapter 4 demonstrates the third major thesis element that suffering that the ultimate purpose of suffering in Christ-followers is to glorify God. This conclusion is reached by examining the lamenting psalmists glorification of God, Jesus glorifying the Father in his sufferings, Christ-followers’ glorification of Christ through suffering, and how God glorifies himself when suffering ceases. Chapter 5 defends the dissertation thesis against the challenges forwarded by open theism. The main arguments focus on open theism’s contention that no divine design for suffering exists and suffering is purposeless. The last section critiques the implications open theistic beliefs has on trusting God, Christ and the gospel, prayer, and eternal hope. Chapter 6 proposes that the cognitions, affections, and volitions of the heart are each mortified of their unchristlikenesses, conformed to Christlikeness, both for the glory of God through suffering. The last section is directed to biblical counselors to give indicators of self-rule in sufferers and to suggest how they may minister to all the suffering heart’s functions. Chapter 7 concludes the dissertation by giving a summary of its arguments, suggestions for further research, and some concluding thoughts.

Thesis advisor: Margaret Guider / This thesis is informed by the reality of human suffering as it manifests itself globally throughout the world, regionally in Asia, particularly East Asia, and more specifically in the context of Korea. Globally speaking, the complexities of human suffering as well as the qualitative and quantitative magnitude of human suffering are beyond the understanding and control of individuals, groups and nations. Mindful of this reality, the thesis asserts that there exists an urgent need for interreligious cooperation among adherents of all religions of the world so that together they may find ways of responding to those who suffer. It argues that interreligious cooperation directed toward the alleviation and prevention of human suffering is not an option but an obligation to all adherents of all religions. The thesis takes as its particular focus the interreligious cooperation of Christians and Buddhists. It asserts that while Christians and Buddhists have distinctive and differentiated understandings of the nature and meaning of human suffering, both religions share a common concern for and commitment to those who suffer. / Thesis (STL) — Boston College, 2011. / Submitted to: Boston College. School of Theology and Ministry. / Discipline: Sacred Theology.

Thesis (Ed. D)--College of Saint Mary -- Omaha 2009. / A dissertation submitted by Barbara J. Braband to College of Saint Mary in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor in Education with an emphasis on Health Professions Education. This dissertation has been accepted for the faculty of College of Saint Mary by: Peggy L. Hawkins, PhD, RN, B.C., CNE, chair ; Connie L. Clark, PhD, RN, committee member ; Pat Morin, PhD, RN, committee member. Includes bibliographical references.