Christian Perspective Research Articles

The Word, the Lamb, and the World: Reflecting on Christ, Power, and Humanity with Thomas Aquinas’s Commentary on John

The Word, the Lamb, and the WorldReflecting on Christ, Power, and Humanity with Thomas Aquinas’s Commentary on John Thomas J. Hurley (bio) Key Words Thomas Aquinas, Gospel of John, Jesus Christ, Christology, Lamb of God, power, politics, humanity Charles schulz once began his Peanuts comic strip with the out-spoken Lucy holding a sign declaring “power to my kind!”1 Lucy may put things a little more bluntly here than is customary, but she portrays an attractive thought, and a relevant one in contemporary Christianity. We live in a world containing widely differing perspectives on humanity. In this context, does Lucy’s slogan make sense for Christians? Should we focus on doing what seems necessary to attain and defend power in the world, in order to defend Christian perspectives? St. Thomas Aquinas gives us a fruitful starting point for thinking about how such questions fit into a Christ-centered perspective on human beings, particularly in his reflections on Jesus Christ as the Word and Lamb in the Gospel of John. Reflecting with Thomas on these themes helps us to recognize the implications of understanding the world and humanity as created within the Word, who becomes human and relates to human beings as Jesus the Lamb, and to see how this foundation of a Christian perspective on humanity also lays the groundwork for the forms that the promotion of such a perspective can take in the community. Thomas’s reflections on the Word [End Page 33] and Lamb can thus help us shape a Christian approach to thinking about power, to considering perspectives on humanity from different sources, and to representing in the world the humanity revealed in Christ. The World in the Word Throughout Thomas’s work, creation is at the foundation of his understanding of the world and of humanity. From the beginning, the presence of God to us is a presence by way of creative love: “When his hand was opened by the key of love, creatures appeared.”2 This creating Love reveals itself as a Trinity, and the relation of the created world to God is grounded in the relations of the Trinity. “As a stream is drawn from a river,” Thomas writes, “so the temporal procession of creatures is drawn from the eternal procession of the Persons.”3 The distinctions in the Trinity underlie the distinction between Creator and creature, and the nature of the creature is linked in a particular way to the Word and Son of the Father. Thomas brings this out especially in commenting on the Gospel of John. When the Gospel says of the Word of God, “All things were made through him, and without him nothing was made” (Jn 1:3), Thomas emphasizes the depth of the relation expressed here: A quite beautiful explanation is found in a certain homily. . . . For where in the Latin we have sine [without], in the Greek it said choris. But choris is the same as beyond or outside of, as if John would say, “All things were made through him,” in such a way that “nothing was made” outside of him. . . . John says this to show that through the Word and in the Word everything is preserved. . . . That is, nothing was made outside of him, because he embraces all things in himself.4 It is not merely that nothing exists without the Word, in the sense that creation cannot be accomplished if the Word is not involved. For the creature, to exist is to be contained by the Word. Every creature [End Page 34] can only exist in the Son and Word.5 Everything in the world exists by being loved, and can be so loved only in the Word. The natural world thus does not stand as itself, by being separate from or outside of God. Moreover, this dependence applies also within the freedom of the rational creature. The freedom that comes with rationality also opens up a possibility of the creature attempting to reject this relation of dependence, although this does not imply a possibility of actually escaping the relation. Thomas continues his commentary on this line from John—“All things were made through him, and without him nothing was...

The Integration of Psychology & Christianity: A Domain-Based Approach

The Integration of Psychology & Christianity: A Domain-Based Approach

The End of College: Religion and the Transformation of Higher Education in the 20th Century by Robert Wilson-Black

Reviewed by: The End of College: Religion and the Transformation of Higher Education in the 20th Century by Robert Wilson-Black Robert Benne The End of College: Religion and the Transformation of Higher Education in the 20th Century. By Robert Wilson-Black. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2021. 281 pp. This book is an adaptation of one of the last dissertations advised by the great American historian of religion and distinguished Lutheran, Martin Marty. His student, Robert Wilson-Black, has been CEO of Sojourners since 2013 but earlier served as an administrator at the University of Chicago and then as a college and seminary vice [End Page 99] president for a decade. He has written widely and serves on the board of Lynchburg University. The book describes the great debates about if and how religion ought to be taught in the constantly changing face of American higher education from the beginning of the 20th century to its midpoint following World War II. Its scope and depth of research are truly remarkable. The author seems to have covered the thoughts on this subject of almost every elite intellectual in every elite university in America from the turn of the 20th century to its mid-point. Early on he develops a typology of thinkers who argue their vision of the nature of religion and how it ought to be presented in academia. The types are "skeptics," "pious true believers," and "those who functioned primarily as reconcilers between them for each college or discipline" (xx). After World War II, as after World War I, many educators were so shaken by the collapse of civilization in the Christian West that they thought deeply about how higher education should wrestle with the civilizational crisis illuminated by the wars. Christian and secular humanist movements existed in both periods; members of those movements wondered how young Americans should be shaped as good citizens by higher education. For them, the role of religion in education was crucial. But how to go about it? This book plumbs that question in great detail, especially among the best and brightest in the educational world. Wilson-Black traces the many debates that took place in the elite colleges. Some atheists and skeptics from outside the Christian humanist movement argued that secular humanism could supply the moral fiber needed in the new generation. Most, however, saw an important role for religion, especially Christianity, for such a task. Should religion be presented through a department of religion at the undergraduate level? Should it be spread throughout the curriculum as kind of a tutoring in natural law? Should it be limited to a graduate school of divinity? Should it be embedded in other departments? Further, should religion be taught objectively and scientifically as religious studies? Or should it have a persuasive dimension to its teaching? These questions have not gone away by any means. Indeed, it seems that "religious studies," with no privilege [End Page 100] offered to Christian studies, is increasingly dominant, even in our church-related colleges. The powerful "diversity, inclusivity, and equity" movement ensures the demotion of Christian perspectives, especially of an orthodox Christian sort. The book covers the role of religion in higher education up to the 1950s. Interestingly, that period featured many intellectuals who thought that the Christian faith was crucial in the moral development of young Americans. Such intellectuals are fairly rare now, with many instead believing that orthodox Christianity should be banished from an influential role. Other movements—ecological, sexual, anti-racial, multicultural, and "diversity"—are seen as far more promising in shaping young minds. Perhaps the author's next book will take up that great change. One limiting factor in this book is its exclusive attention to elite higher education. It does not discuss at all the role of religion in the many ethnic, evangelical, and Roman Catholic colleges of the time. In those places, Christian faith—not only in its moral dimension—played a robust role in the shaping of millions of non-elite Americans, whose important story should also be told. Robert Benne Institute of Lutheran Theology Brookings, South Dakota Copyright © 2023 Johns Hopkins University Press and Lutheran Quarterly, Inc.

Seminar Meningkatkan Cara Berfikir Kreatif dan Inovatif Generasi Muda Gereja HKBP Simalingkar B Resort Kwala Bekala, Medan

The purpose of this community service activity is to assist the Church's Young Generation in preparing everything to face competition in the future by thinking creatively and innovatively with a Christian perspective. One of the vocations of the Church is to improve welfare and solve youth delinquency problems by helping youth change their mindset to be creative and innovative with the support of one of the Tri Dharma of higher education, namely community service, which greatly assists the church's vocation to care for today's youth. The younger generation needs to be equipped with an understanding related to changing mindsets and increasing creative and innovative mindsets. This seminar is a motivational lecture to understand how to make changes and creativity for a productive and quality life from a Christian view. This seminar was held on Sunday, 15 May 2022, at the HKBP Simalingkar B Resort Kwala Bekala Church, Jalan Pintu air IV gg. HKBP Kwala Bekala, Medan Johor District, which was attended by 47 students (HKBP Simalingkar B Resort Kwala Bekala, accompanied by Resort Priests, Young Priests, Bibelvrow, and Church elders. The implementation began with the Opening of the Resort Priest by singing and praying together, then continued by the MC, and then filled in by the first resource person by providing material, question and answer session, ice breaking, then filled again by the second resource person by providing material, question and answer session, ice breaking, feedback from participants, then closed with a short service of singing and praying and taking photos together.

The Role of Religion in Transforming Ghanaian Society: A Christian Perspective

Globally, while some scholars assert that religion is anachronistic and inhibits the human rights of people and frustrates the social progress of society, others are of the opinion that religion can be a catalyst for the transformation and development of individuals and groups. In Ghana, the role of religion in society is very much ambivalent. On the one hand, religion is a force for change and transformation in the lives of individuals and society. On the other hand, religion has also been the basis of intractable violence, conflict and turbulent divisions within families and among groups. This article, which is based on archival materials, seeks to investigate the role of religion in Ghanaian society and to determine what extent it can be a force for change and transformation. The article argues that, religion has the potential to bring about change and transformation in society, but this can only happen when the different creedal persuasions, especially Christians bring their faith to bear on their actions in the practice of everyday life. The article concludes that, the power of religion to occasion change and transformation in the different sectors of society depends on how Christians surmount the challenges of everyday life and synergize faith and works in the private and public spheres of life. Keywords: Religion, Christians, Change, Transformation, Ghana

Resources for Teaching Investments from a Christian Perspective

This paper outlines ideas typically covered in an investments course from a faith-based perspective. Topics include the time value of money, bonds, markets, taxes, risk, and portfolios. We provide example resources and suggestions of faith integration accomplished through engaging multiple types of pedagogies and assignments. A sample final project enables students to demonstrate how the entire investment process discussed throughout the term comes together at the end to achieve an integrated portfolio. Biblically responsible investing, environmental-social-governance investing, and sustainable development goals are also considered as practical ways of integrating faith and investing.

Neo-Pentecostal political activism vis-a-vis good governance in Nigeria: A theological analysis

This article presented the Nigerian neo-Pentecostal political activism (NNPA) in the last two decades and its impact on good governance. A brief historical analysis shows that pulpit political activism (PPA) may have catalysed some civil actions by civil society, socio-cultural groups, adherents, and the masses; however, the resistance from the government may imply that the struggle is counterproductive. Subsequently, the situation calls for a theological examination of the activists’ praxis through the lens of three sub-theological disciplines, namely social gospel, political and public theologies. It is argued that the NNPA is neither based on any of the three theological sub-disciplines nor any other specific theology. Thus, this article upheld that where a struggle for good governance from a Christian perspective lacks a solid theological foundation, its approach may be counterproductive. The article then recommended the need for NNPA to evolve through a constructive theology with the adoption of some concepts from the three theological sub-disciplines, especially public theology.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This article aligns with the scope of Verbum et Ecclesia as it created a conversation around dogmatic and historical theologies, socio-political interaction and African neo-Pentecostalism.

Nikah Siri Perspektif Islam dan Kristen:

Marriage is a sacred and noble contract between a man and a woman as legal husband and wife with the aim of achieving a sakinah, mawaddah wa rahmah family, full of wisdom and mutual support. Islam advocates for marriage. Because it has a good influence on the perpetrators themselves, society and all mankind. Lately, the phenomenon of unregistered marriage has given an interesting impression. First, unregistered marriage seems to have really become a trend that is not only practiced by the general public, but also practiced by community figures who so far are often referred to by the terms kyai, dai, ustad, cleric, or other terms that mark a person's ability to study religion. (Islam). Second, unregistered marriage is often placed as an option when someone wants to be polygamous for a number of reasons.
 Keywords: Siri Marriage, Islamic Perspective, Christian Perspective

Paulo Freire's Educational Approach as a Model of Christian Education in Reducing Poverty in the Village of Tumbang Manyoi Gunung Mas, Central Kalimantan

Poverty is a common thing that can occur in every region, region, and even any country in this world. However, poverty is not to be enjoyed or inherited but must be fought for to be eradicated so that one gets freedom from the condition of poverty itself. Many factors cause a person to become poor, one of which is the inability of a person to regulate his mindset so that he is also unable to overcome poverty directly. The absence of proper education for the people has made them poor, and in the end, the right to welfare has become impossible. Education for the poor needs to be done because the understanding that poverty has oppressed humanity must be immediately addressed. The mindset that sees poverty as oppression and must be fought for is not born without being shaped and encouraged by the educational process. But education for the poor is not easy because the priority is the basic life needs. Paulo Freire's educational approach which emphasizes critical thinking and dialogue; is considered relevant to the condition of poverty in Indonesia. Freire supports the birth of a change in mindset to be free from poverty. From a Christian perspective, the church has a role in cultivating spirituality and caring for the poverty of the surrounding community. The church needs a model to carry out Christian Education for its citizens. Researchers see that the influence of Christian Education in the village of Tumbang Manyoi, Miri Manasa sub-district, Gunung Mas district, Central Kalimantan province is relevant for the application. This study uses a qualitative approach with ethnographic studies. The research produces a model of Christian Education based on contextual cognition which emphasizes the concept of knowledge, experience, and application so that it can be applied in the church to people who are shackled by poverty.

Reconciling the Republic of South Moluccas Movement with Indonesia Nation: A Christian perspective

The Republic of the South Moluccas Movement was responsible for some rebellious attacks a few years after Indonesia proclaimed its independence. This movement made significant impact upon Indonesia as a nation. This research aims to explore how Christian perspective can reconcile the nation with this regional movement. To answer this question, this research relied on mass media, online news, books, and journals. Qualitative method was used to analyse the data. The results show that remembering the past even if painful can enable not only a nation but also a regional movement to transform the present. Besides, forgiveness is a way to embrace past memories, so people are able to create better future together. The nation is not perceived as the oppressor, and the Moluccan regional symbols are acknowledged as part of the national identity without branding them as separatist. The outcome is the stability of the nation of Indonesia.

On the naturalistic connotation of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner from the perspective of Christianity

Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner." is his most important and complete literary work, published in the first Lyric Ballads, started the English romantic poetry "supernatural" mystery theme. As one of the representative poets of the Romantic period, Coleridge's poems have been interpreted by numerous critics in various ways. Through their analysis, readers have a deeper understanding of his aesthetic thoughts, religious beliefs and critical theories. This paper will make a deep analysis from the subject of crime and punishment in Christian meaning, and at the same time from the perspective of ecocriticism analysis of the symbolic meaning and naturalism connotation of the poem.

Benedict XVI on Education and Solidarity

American parents and school leaders are debating whether critical race and gender theories belong in public schools, with many parents turning to home school. Many of these parents will instinctively rely on John Locke’s educational theory, since he famously argued for parental control of education. This essay will summarize Locke’s educational theory and then survey some educational moments in American history to reveal that political leaders have often wavered between individual rights and communal control of education. The essay then argues that Benedict XVI provides a better educational resource for concerned parents. Benedict’s educational perspective flows from his understanding of theology and culture. Benedict argues for parental choice, but within the context of solidarity. For Benedict, teaching children a Christian perspective of human nature within private and home schools becomes an act of communal solidarity, particularly when the community embraces false views of human nature. I conclude by suggesting that although Benedict provides a deeper educational resource than John Locke does, concerned parents should keep Locke’s skepticism in mind. Lockean skepticism can protect against naivete.

The story of one acquisition: Hebrew manuscripts from Venetian Candia

This article focuses on a large group of Hebrew manuscripts that members of the Jewish community in Candia sold to an anonymous Christian in 1541–1543. Not only was selling Jewish books to Christians on such a large scale unusual in the Jewish context, but also many aspects of the acquisition remain unknown. Largely based on the owners’ entries and purchase notes found in the acquired manuscripts and other documentary sources, this study examines the circumstances of the acquisition and its details from both Jewish and Christian perspectives and scrutinizes how each of the parties involved approached the acquisition.

Teologia Moral Fundamental A questão da permanência, universalidade e aplicabilidade dos preceitos morais da Sagrada Escritura

In this article we focus on the delicate issue of the interpretation and concrete application of the moral exhortations and regulations present in Sacred Scripture. The Bible, in its moral dimension, requires special exegetical and hermeneutical care. Through biblical exegesis, texts are interpreted in the literary, cultural and religious context of the time and place in which they were written. Through hermeneutics, in turn, we seek to discover and discern what the biblical text teaches us today, what light and guidance it brings to readers/believers in the face of their current problems.When one intends to make a “moral use” of the Bible, care and discretion must be exercised. There is a moral evolution from the Old Testament to the New Testament according to a divine pedagogy. Adultery, for example, was condemned in the Old Testament with the penalty of stoning. Jesus continues to condemn adultery from a moral point of view, but the cruel punishment provided for in the Torah (“Law”) becomes unacceptable in the light of the Christian spirit. Mercy overcomes legal judgment (John 8:1-11). The more concrete biblical moral norms are, the more carefully they must be interpreted and applied. In this regard, it is very useful to keep in mind the document of the Pontifical Biblical Commission, dated April 15, 1993: “The interpretation of the Bible in the Church”. This document presents two fundamental interpretation criteria: the updating criterion and the inculturation criterion. This way, fundamentalism is avoided and the evangelical spirit is preserved. And here we come to the core message: it is essential to read and interpret the Bible with a Christian perspective. Jesus Christ is the key to reading all of Holy Scripture.

A Theological Appraisal of the Notion of Divine Aseity

There are times when a shadow could be a reflection of reality. The existence of man denotes that the Supreme Being creates humankind and from the writer's perspective, over the years, the logical questions centre on the existence of God. Verifiably, man's existence is traceable to the biological evidence at birth, and the question is who is God and how does He come into being? The thrust of the paper is to discuss the rationale behind a Christian's faith in God, attempting to answer the question of the self-existence of God from philosophical and theological perspectives as a means of authenticating the doctrine of God concerning biblical justifications on the self-existence of God. The sovereignty of God is understood to mean that He is independent. The paper argues and alludes that the Word aseity comes from the Latin phrase a se, meaning ‘from’ or ‘by himself’. Aseity is arguably the most fundamental divine characteristic of God; the Church fathers acknowledged the role of philosophy in the doing of theology; this is established by discussing the interplay of philosophy and theology, with many considering that philosophy is significant to the theological appraisal of aseity. Philosophical arguments on the existence of God revolve around four major arguments, including the ontological arguments, cosmological arguments, teleological arguments and moral arguments. Theological assessment of the notion of divine aseity from a Christian perspective in the African context is traceable to the Africans' knowledge of God and the existence of God. This paper concludes that God is the most powerful being; it is only in God's existence that all things are meaningful and explainable; the paper also admits that God is self-sufficient and self-existent because He exists from nothing but His power and wisdom are eternal. Admittedly there are notable arguments for God's existence, including cosmological and ontological arguments. The sovereignty of God is understood to mean that He is independent, meaning that He depends on no one to survive. The fact that man can conceive the idea of God is in itself a unique proof that substantiates man's conviction about the divine aseity of God, and objectively, the concept of the doctrine God depicts that God's attribute has been defined as the core of a theological system of God.

Fostering Resilience in Nursing Through R.E.S.T.

With about one-third of nurses having expressed an intention to leave the profession or change jobs in 2022, the effects of nursing job stress are evident. For nurses to continue to provide care in high stress, they must practice self-compassion and build resilience. The importance of resilience education and self-compassion for nurses and in nursing education is discussed from a Christian perspective, along with self-care strategies using the R.E.S.T. (Relationship, Exercise, Self-Compassion, Transformative Thinking) framework. Strategies for building resilience for both individuals and organizations are offered.

Religious Importance of Microfinance Bank: A Christian Perspective

In the age of globalisation and increasing global disparity between the rich and poor, the world has seen the rise of a new and celebrated poverty-fighting strategy in the past decades. Microfinance banks provide financial services to poor entrepreneurs, most commonly small loans to help poor individuals start or grow small businesses. Previous studies on microfinance banks have majorly tilted towards its economic, sociological and psychological perspectives with insignificant attention paid to its religious importance. This research work is undertaken to examine the importance of religion to microfinance bank using Christian based microfinance banks as a model for the study. The work was intended to achieve the following objectives: to ascertain the extent to which microfinance bank has impacted the lives of the people that it is targeted towards which is the active poor and to determine the significance of religion to the operations of the bank. The study adopted Max Weber’s theory of religious economy, which hinges on the role of Christianity in the management of economic organisations. The basic research instruments used in this study were oral interview, participatory observation and the use of relevant literatures. The data was properly analysed and discussed. The study observes that microfinance bank has a religious influence based on operations or services on savings, deposit, loans and asset acquisitions. The research identifies the religious importance of the bank which is evident in manifestation of charity, premised on trust, biblical context of usury; it inculcates Christian teachings and inventiveness. However, the study identified some challenges with the bank in which some of the challenges are quite peculiar to the microfinance system of operation. These challenges include; limitation in scope, Central Bank directives, abuse, difficulty in monitoring and competition. Nevertheless, these have in no way reduced the efficiency of the bank in some areas. It is therefore evident that despite the challenges, microfinance bank has contributed immensely to national economic development and this has been achievable due to its religious importance. This work proves beyond measure that religion has not lost its relevance and it’s not only a spiritual reality but a social phenomenon. It is an important tool that helps various economic institutions in the society to function well. The study recommends more of religious teachings inculcated into microfinance banks in order to have a growing and sustainable microfinance industry and also brings to limelight the religious importance of microfinance bank which can serve as a spring board for further researches.

A Christian Perspective on Self-Compassion

A Christian Perspective on Self-Compassion

THE MEANING OF LIFE

This research seeks to find an accurate explanation of the meaning of life that is widely discussed by the 'world' with its various philosophies. Of course, there will be encounters and separations when the philosophical study of the meaning of life in general is re-examined by the study of Christian theology - which in this context the researcher uses a biblical review. The Bible is a book of mystery; revealing with 'secret' sentences like an abstract painting. Yet it contains many philosophical expressions that are no less profound, accurate, and relevant than the philosophical views of the 'world'. In this way, Christian excellence will appear to 'shine' among the various human inventions in the search for the meaning of life. Through a rigorous comparative approach, the study aims to identify common themes, points of divergence, and underlying philosophical assumptions that underpin these diverse views on life's meaning. It delves into concepts such as purpose, morality, suffering, and transcendence, seeking to uncover the underlying principles that guide individuals and communities in their pursuit of a meaningful existence. By critically evaluating these non-Christian and Christian perspectives, the research contributes to a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding the question of life's meaning. It provides readers with a nuanced appreciation of the various intellectual and spiritual traditions that shape our understanding of human existence, ultimately inviting reflection and dialogue on this timeless and profound topic.

Techne and Teleios: A Christian Perspective on the Incarnation and Human Enhancement Technology

Abstract Does the idea of human enhancement presuppose a goal or an ideal to direct technological modifications? In the absence of such an agreed ideal in today’s culture, can Christian theology help clarify the goal or the meaning of “perfection” when applied to human beings? A theological perspective rooted in scripture and in the writings of theologians such as Irenaeus, Athanasius, and Gregory of Nyssa suggests that theology instead of offering its own definition of the human ideal, theology rejects the possibility of any defined human goal. An analysis of the biblical word teleios (“mature” or “perfect”), along with Gregory’s view of infinite ascent, leads to the conclusion that the human goal is found in relationship to the triune God and not in any anthropologically-definable status.