Thesis (Th. M.)--Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, 1989. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 104-108).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Trinity Lutheran Seminary, 1986. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 84-86).

No description available.

Modern evolutionary science has brought a sharp focus to bear on the problem of evil, and especially of natural evil and suffering in the natural world. Moreover, I believe that contemporary theodicy may benefit from engagement with the East Asian religion, Daoism. Therefore, I will comparatively examine the work of the evolutionary theodicy of Haught and the Daoist philosophy of Zhuangzi. I will not cover all of the thought of Haught and Zhuangzi, but instead I will focus on their ideas concerning the problem of evil, and develop them in harmony with evolutionary science. In order to do this comparative study, I will suggest the necessity of a new methodology, and propose five steps for the comparative work between religion and science and between Christianity and Daoism: description, comparison, generalisation, differentiation and supplementation. Based on this methodology, I will generalise the ideas of Haught and Zhuangzi on evil into seven different theodicies (the natural state defence, the free action defence, the suffering God defence, the hidden God defence, the harmony defence, the progress defence, and the final fulfilment defence). I will then supplement the evolutionary theodicy of Haught with the Daoist ideas of Zhuangzi on the basis of their differences. The main aim of this study is to develop Christian theodicies to inform both the West and the East in a scientific age by comparing the evolutionary theology of Haught and the Daoist philosophy of Zhuangzi. I will suggest that Western evolutionary theodicies would benefit from engagement with the Daoist philosophy of Zhuangzi, and that the evolutionary theodicy of John Haught might be of benefit in an Asian Christian context. I also expect that the Daoist philosophy of Zhuangzi can be seen in a new light through conversation with the evolutionary theology of Haught and evolutionary science generally. I hope that this thesis can be a catalyst for comparative study between religion and science and between Christianity and Daoism.

[B]ut when He became incarnate, and was made man, He recapitulated in Himself the long history of human beings, and furnished us, in brief, with salvation (Irenaeus of Lyons. Against Heresies [= AH] III.xviii.1).This thesis attempts to clarify the mystery of evil through an analysis and contemporary restatement of Irenaeus of Lyons' theology interpreted as a 'Christocentric theodicy.' 'Theodicy' is here defined as God's response in the Gospel of Jesus Christ to suffering and the theological interpretation of that response. The response begins and ends with the cross as proclaimed in the Eucharist, that is, with God's own self-offering. It is argued that God allows suffering because He knows that only by the thankful union of our fallen knowledge of sin and death with the offering of Christ can we attain to a knowledge of eternal life: our adoption by the Father. Put otherwise, God's love for creation, and, therefore, His nature as a good and just Being, can be seen in the economy of salvation where evil is allowed to exist so that it might be transformed into good. The Introduction states the primary assumptions and limitations of the thesis' argument. Part I examines Irenaeus' Christocentric theology with particular emphasis on his understanding of the economy of salvation. Part II, building upon Part I, argues for a contemporary 'economic' or 'Christocentric' theodicy. The Conclusion recapitulates the whole thesis.

Thesis (M.A.)--Catholic Theological Union of Chicago, 1989. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 127-139).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Western Conservative Baptist Seminary, 1992. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 204-213).

Thesis (Th. M.)--Dallas Theological Seminary, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 53-55).

Thesis (M.A.)--Trinity International University, 2004. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 139-148).

Thesis (Th. M.)--Dallas Theological Seminary, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 53-55).