Christology Research Articles

Ascension of Jesus: Drawing from the thoughts of Andries van Aarde

This article stems from the author’s dialogue with New Testament scholar Andries van Aarde about the divinity of Jesus, during which the topic of Jesus’ ascension also arose. The author aims to focus on Van Aarde’s thinking about the ascension of Jesus. The article does not intend to provide a reflection on the exegetical and hermeneutical analysis of the biblical texts alluding to the ascension of Jesus Christ. Instead, it argues that these texts existentially emphasise a believer’s new life, theologically expressed as ‘personal ascension’, implying participation with God. In the New Testament, language expressing Jesus’ ascension was borrowed particularly from royal psalms in the Old Testament. The concept of ‘ascent to heaven’ to access the divine presence is central not only to Jewish Christian apocalyptic symbolism but it also became part of the church’s liturgy. Van Aarde contends that the modern church should preserve the reference to Jesus’ ascension in ecclesial confessional language, despite no longer affirming a three-tiered universe or adhering to the mythical language of ‘descended into hell’ and ‘ascended to heaven’.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This article makes the case that Jesus Christ’s ascension serves as a liturgical celebration of victory over trauma. It demonstrates the need for a metaphorical interpretation of the ancient references to ascension. These mythological descriptions become anachronistic in our time if they are interpreted in a realistic, historical and literal sense. However, rich and meaningful victory poetry can still be communicated if the ‘ascension’ is interpreted metaphorically.

Verbundenheit

The focus of this article is on Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s grounding in personal value and a personal and incarnational grounding of resistance to both individual and systemic evil in the personal paradigm of God in Christ but also in steadfast connection to those with whom we are bound in love and righteous action. In addition to Bonhoeffer’s own context, including in particular his deep and unbroken personal bond with his fiancée, Maria von Wedemeyer. Sources for the study are Bonhoeffer’s Life Together, Letters and Papers from Prison, and Love Letters from Cell 92, his correspondence with Maria von Wedemeyer largely not found in LPP.

Love’s Limits in Paul of Tarsus and Seneca the Younger

This paper argues that we can get a better grip on the divergences and convergences between Paul and Seneca on the ethics of love than those on offer in the large and growing literature comparing the two by distinguishing their attitudes to two broad and conceptually distinct families of love, which Tyler VanderWeele has described as “contributory love” (which desires that the good of the beloved be promoted for its own sake) and “unitive love” (which regards the beloved as a good to be enjoyed in one’s own life). I argue that debates over whether Seneca and Paul had the more universal ethic of neighbor love are largely a distraction; the two are fundamentally in agreement about the scope of love, although Paul’s thinking in this area is shaped in fundamental ways by his conviction that the whole cosmos is defined to be eventually and finally united and so conformed to the resurrected and glorified Christ. Rather, Paul’s true difference from Seneca on the ethics of love lies instead in the importance he affords to unitive love; for Paul, the flourishing life does not consist simply in virtuous activity but also requires appropriate union with one’s beloveds, paradigmatically with God in Christ and with Christ’s body, the church. Seneca and Paul would each have accepted Sigmund Freud’s observation that “we are never so defenseless against suffering as when we love”. Seneca, however, would have taken it as a caution against attachments to anything whose loss might cause us to suffer, while Paul, by contrast, would have taken it as a statement of our condemnation to suffering “in this present evil age” (Gal. 1:4), in which we must love what we will inevitably lose.

Christian personalism and “carnal race” in the philosophy of H. S. Skovoroda

The purpose of the article is to analyze H. Skovoroda’s criticism of mass society, called the “carnal race”, based on the position of Christian personalism, which the Ukrainian philosopher adhered to. Its implementation will allow us to expand our view of H. Skovoroda’s personology, taking into account the ascetic component and critical orientation of the content of his creative heritage. The main methodological tool for the stage of the mentioned problem includes a philosophical-anthropological, axiological and philosophical-religious analysis of H. Skovoroda’s texts in their dialectical unity and interaction. The result of the research presented in the article. The undertaken analysis of the teachings of H. Skovoroda revealed his critical attitude towards mass society, the environment of which is the “carnal man” as an anthropological type. An alternative to the named society has been identified, which is contrasted with the Kingdom of God as a community of spiritually renewed people. It is shown that condemnation and the desire to oust the community of “slaves of the flesh” is complemented by the desire for its spiritual transformation towards unity with God in the inner world of the individual — the heart. The view of the philosophy of the heart as an essential feature of personalistic thought is substantiated, and the achievement of identity with God and Christ in the spiritual space of the heart organically correlates personalism with Christian thought. The condemnation of the “carnal race” together with the “carnal man” in the horizon of Christian thought is recognized as one of the aspects of the personalization of man and society, a concern aimed at their spiritual transformation. The scientific novelty. The interpretation of Christian personalism as the foundation of H. Skovoroda’s philosophy has been expanded and deepened due to its correlation with the ascetic criticism of mass society. This circumstance allows us to pay serious attention to the role of criticism in constituting the Christian-personalistic foundation of the work of the Ukrainian philosopher. To develop an understanding of Christian thought, the organic connection between its personalistic and ascetic values is demonstrated, which makes it possible to evaluate their unity and interconnection in their focus on the spiritual development of man and society. The practical significance. The results of this study can be used in the educational process for teaching general and special courses on the history of philosophy, the history of Ukrainian culture, and Christian ethics.

Kierkegaard's Spirituality of Mortality: Beyond God as an Ultimate Rescuer

Abstract: This essay explores the criticism that belief in the God of Christianity is an escape from facing death. Irvin Yalom claims that the faithful use God as an "ultimate rescuer" from death to avoid facing their mortality. This essay argues that Søren Kierkegaard's God is not an ultimate rescuer because the Kierkegaardian individual faces death head-on with earnestness. Kierkegaard's account of mortality actually lends more urgency to finite life because it provides a pressing task to be completed this very day.

Santé et maladie dans la Prière de Pascal : la guérison du cœur

In the Prayer to ask of God the proper use of sickness, Pascal distances himself from a profane and worldly use of health and illness, to appropriate them according to a theological, christo-soteriological, pharmacological and anthropological use. Pascalian illness is then a religious épochè according to the “reason of the effects‿. The Pascalian pharmakon is twofold: on the one hand, poison is a remedy, because illness can be the occasion of spiritual health and salvation; and on the other hand, the remedy is poison, because health is an open door to illness. This inversion occurs through grace in the heart, according to an anthropology of disproportion. The heart is the place of conflict where health and illness are both worldly indices of finitude and divine indices of infinity. Despite the rhetorical trap of guilt and moralization, and despite the lack of distancing from the Christian God, Pascal invites a disposition of openness of the heart that heals the heart itself.

Agent of Sovereignty: Neo-Confucian Response to Christian God in Early 20th Century Korea

Agent of Sovereignty: Neo-Confucian Response to Christian God in Early 20th Century Korea

The Divergent Pathways to the Divine, God: A Comprehensible Research Article on the Convergences and Divergences of the Divine Pathways in the Three Major Religions within the Framework of Religious Diversity

The current research article seeks to explore the convergences and divergences in the approaches to reaching God across the three major world religions within the context of religious diversity. The current article implements a review of the existing literature as a research method in order to gather conclusive and evidence-based data with the aim of systematically evaluating these approaches in order to address the research objectives effectively. Throughout history, religions have focused on the concept of God or a divine being, yet the approaches to understanding or reaching this concept have varied dramatically among these three different religions. By comparing the understandings of God or divine reality in Islam, Christianity, and Judaism along with the methods of reaching this understanding, the study reveals the fact that the theological and ritual structures of each religion are uniquely established. Furthermore, the common themes and fundamental differences among the approaches to reaching God in these religions are scrutinized. The findings of the study reveal both similar and different aspects of the roadmaps among the three major religions, and in this context, it is concluded that the cultural, historical and theological backgrounds of each religion shape their respective approaches to the Divine, that is, the ultimate absolute being, God.

“Not my God”–Challenging the Usage of ‘Te Atua’ as Māori Terminology for the God of Christianity

The usage of the term ‘Te Atua’ for God within Māori contexts has been largely accepted and unchallenged, yet its appropriateness is questioned due to its colonial origins and misalignment with Māori epistemologies. This paper explores the disqualification of ‘Te Atua’ as a Māori term for God through historical analysis and Māori scholarly perspectives. By applying a Kaupapa Māori research rubric which aligns to four statements—1. The source is related to being Māori; 2. Is connected to Māori philosophy and principles; 3. Takes for granted the validity and legitimacy of Māori, the importance of Māori language and culture; and 4. Is concerned with the struggle for autonomy over our own cultural well-being—this paper argues that the term ‘Te Atua’ fails to meet these criteria. I propose that in accordance with Māori epistemologies, we can discern alternative terms for the blanket term ‘God’ that resonates with whakaaro Māori. This paper is a response to the recent Māori language translations of scripture, advocating for the re-indigenizing of the reo Māori bible to make it relevant to an increasingly non-Christian Māori audience and calls for a reimagining of Christianity that is authentically Māori.

O koncepcie mądrości u św. Faustyny. Jakościowa analiza przypadku w świetle badań interdyscyplinarnych

The present paper has an interdisciplinary character and is placed at the crossroads of a few disciplines, namely philosophy, theology and linguistics. Philosophy and theology, namely Christian personalism, constitutes the theoretical background for a qualitative linguistics case study of the original source text The Diary by a contemporary female Polish Catholic mystic and prophetess, Faustina Kowalska. The direct goal is to describe the concept of “wisdom” embedded in her mystical and prophetic written record. The methods and tools have a mixed-character and come from social sciences and humanities (SSH). Both well-established mainstream perspectives and less obvious, complementary approaches coming from the newly emerging sub-disciplines in linguistics, were used. The original, experimental focus is laid upon the qualitative linguistic analysis of the semantic field of a single lexical unit “wisdom” extracted from the original authentic text under the analysis. The results showed the concept of “wisdom” in the spiritual text explored is more extended with comparison with the concepts described by other sciences and that mystical and prophetic spiritual literature, i.e. original source texts are a great source of knowledge of human minds and thinking, in general.

COMPARATIVE STUDY ON MORAL VALUES AND LOCUS OF CONTROL BETWEEN ATHEISTS AND THEISTS

The degree to which individuals feel they have control over the events and circumstances that impact their lives is known as their locus of control, a psychological concept. Guidelines that help a person distinguish between good and wrong are known as moral values. The study aims to compare the relationship between Locus of Control and Moral Identity among Atheists and Theists, determining the influence of religious belief on these factors. Atheism believes in the absence of deities, using scientific data and logical justifications to explain human life. Theism is the belief in a superior reality, often called God in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Understanding religious beliefs can help us understand human nature and religion's impact on values and behaviors. A sample of 211 individuals was included, including male and female participants from various geographical areas. The study used socio-demographic data collection tools, such as the Moral Identity Questionnaire and Rotter's Locus of Control Scale, and collected data for statistical analysis. The study maintains confidentiality and uses T-tests to examine significant relationships and gender differences. The research found that no significant difference exists between theists and atheists on their locus of control and moral values, and higher morality levels lower an individual's locus of control. KEYWORDS: Locus of control, Atheism, Theism, Moral values, Religio

Proclaiming the Unborn Child’s Humanity: A Feminist Rhetorical Analysis of the National Sanctity of Human Life Day Proclamations

The National Sanctity of Human Life Day (NSHL) was declared 22 times between 1984 and 2021. The proclamations were a strategy to strengthen electoral support for Republican presidents by validating the humanity of the unborn child. The presidents crafted a narrative of American exceptionalism supported by a beneficent Christian God, with the president serving as a moral leader. Collectively, the themes justified paternalistic authority over women’s reproductive autonomy. This feminist rhetorical analysis reveals the evolving power of the unborn child ideology from 1984 to the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022. The study demonstrates the rhetorical power of presidential ceremonial speech for building coalitions and advancing the president’s policy agenda.

Does Embodying a Divine Avatar Influence Moral Decisions? An Immersive Virtual Reality Study.

The term Proteus effect refers to the changes in attitudes and behavior induced by the characteristics of an embodied virtual agent. Whether the effect can extend to the moral sphere is currently unknown. To deal with this issue, we investigated if embodying virtual agents (i.e., avatars) with different characteristics modulate people's moral standards differentially. Participants were requested to embody an avatar resembling the Christian God in His anthropomorphic appearance or a control human avatar and to perform a text-based version of incidental and instrumental dilemmas in a virtual environment. For each participant, we recorded (1) chosen options (deontological vs. utilitarian), (2) decision times, (3) postdecision feelings, and (4) physiological reactions (skin conductance response and heart rate). We found that embodying God vs. a control avatar did not change the performance in the moral dilemma task, indicating that no strong Proteus effect was at play in our experimental conditions. We interpreted this result by examining the constraints and limitations of our task, reasoning about the necessary conditions for eliciting the Proteus effect, and discussing future developments and advances in the field. Moreover, we presented compelling effects concerning dilemma type, chosen option, personality traits, and religion affiliation, thus supporting and extending literature on decision making in moral dilemmas.

Self-Preservation and Salvation: How Democracy Functions in a Disenchanted World

The concept of "disenchantment" (Entzauberung) was first mentioned by the famous German poet Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller in his poem The Gods of Greece. In the poem, he mentioned that the gods in mythology ruled over man and all creatures, the world was full of beauty and love, and all things performed miracles. When Christ God became the only God, the miracles faded, and mankind was lost. Disenchantment theory and democratic institutions are central to Max Weber's theory. On the basis of combining the two, this paper studies how democracy functions in a disenchanted world from two perspectives: self-preservation and salvation. Findings suggest that democracy can inject some elements of quasi-charisma into an otherwise spiritually deadened situation. In a post-disenchantment world, a democratic system led by a strong leader will save people's spiritual world in a mutually empowering way through both self-preservation and salvation. Self-preservation within democracy signifies individuals' expression of free will through leader selection. Salvation in democracy entails placing trust in elected leaders to bring about happiness and national prosperity.

선교사와 ‘하나님’의 만남 - 개신교 용어가 ‘하나님’으로 귀결된 이유 -

The issue of translating the Christian god, Yahweh, into what term could greatly influenced the understanding and acceptance of Christianity by indigenous people, so missionaries argued about whether to use the term “general god” or the name of a specific god used in the mission. Therefore, we have looked at the reason why “Hananim” was chosen as the term for the God’s name of Protestantism, even though there were “Cheonju” used by the Catholic Church and the general terms “Sangje” and “god”. In order to find out the view of each missionary in a number of perspectives, we considered how they thought of the origin and attributes of “Hananim” and what emotional feeling they had about the term “Hananim”. As a result, missionaries thought the origin of “Hananim” was “Lord in heaven” or “Great One God,” and attributes were considered to be equal to Christianity's “Yahwe” as they had omnipotence, battery, absence, love, and uniqueness. The missionaries who reached this conclusion not only thanked the term “Hananim” but also even felt the atmosphere of ancient Jewish culture in Korean culture with the term “Hananim”. Missionaries had a degenerative view of religion, which turned out to be a penetrative and holistic look at the reason why they chose “hananim” as the term. From this, we could see that the choice of terms was an important basis for revealing the theology of missionaries.

’Έρχομαι as wederkomswoord en die telos van die gebruik daarvan in die boek Openbaring

’Έρχομαι as a word denoting the second coming in the New Testament and the telos of its use in the book of Revelation. The purpose of this article is to exegetically determine the meaning and use of ἒρχομαι as a word denoting the second coming, in the revelation-historical tradition. A definition of the meaning of ἒρχομαι is formulated after a word study has been done in a diachronic and synchronic way. In this article it is also established what the telos of the revelation of the second coming is, where ἒρχομαι is used in the book of Revelation. The findings of the research are summed in a definition of the meaning of ἒρχομαι as a word denoting the second coming, and which is formulated as follows: It is the physical coming of Jesus Christ with his second coming, from heaven to earth, during which He will appear publicly in power and glory, to judge and to save the faithful. The telos of the revelation of the second coming by means of ἒρχομαι, is determined as the kerugma that God in Jesus is ὁ ἐρχόμενος, coming to mankind; the manner in which He will come; and that his second coming forms an essential part of God’s counsel. A second purpose for proclaiming the second coming, is to state that it is Jesus Christ himself that is coming and to direct the focus of the believers to him. Thirdly, the second coming is proclaimed to call unbelievers to repentance and to encourage believers to stay faithful. The final telos is determined as encouragement for the believers to remain faithful, to take heart in the promise of everlasting life in God’s presence, to pray for the return of Christ and to believe and obey Scripture, the written word of God.Contribution: By means of exegesis in the revelation-historical tradition, an original theological definition of meaning of ἒρχομαι as a word, denoting the second coming of Christ, is provided and the telos for the revelation of the second coming, by means of ἒρχομαι in the book of Revelation, is determined.

Life‐giving Flesh: Deity, Humanity, and the Efficacy of the Atonement – Part One

AbstractThe life‐giving power of Christ's flesh and the unique efficacy of his atoning death are grounded in the fact that the flesh belongs to a divine person, the eternal Word. Though some theologians have argued that this should be explained by a divine sort of suffering taking place on the cross, this essay briefly critiques the idea of divine suffering in the atonement and proceeds to offer constructive discussion of other ways in which the life‐giving power of Christ's flesh and the efficacy of his atoning death are grounded in his deity. This first requires a consideration of the way in which Christ's humanity is empowered and supported by his deity in his suffering and atoning death, which will be articulated in dialogue with several patristic, medieval, and early modern theologians. A second essay will then elaborate further on the relationship between the efficacy of the atonement and the deity of Christ by discussing the way in which the ransom that Christ pays on the cross derives its infinite worth from his deity.

Transformative Repetitions

Abstract This article analyses the parallels between the pre-Qin Daoist notion of heng 恒 as a constancy that is nevertheless ceaselessly in motion, and Karl Barth’s concept of Beständigkeit as God’s constancy throughout infinite transformation. Underlying both concepts is an understanding of the ultimate origin (whether dao 道or the Christian God) as irreducibly temporal in nature. Stemming from this conviction, both systems of thought ultimately identify the continuous change of the ultimate origin with the flow of time in the universe. The commonalities found between these two traditions provide fresh resources to advance the study of both. On the one hand, Barth’s deliberate juxtaposition of contrary statements to illustrate the union of permanence and transience in Beständigkeit challenges the frequent assumption that similar juxtapositions in the pre-Qin texts comprise careless inconsistency or outright incoherence. By extension, Barth’s metaphysical underpinning of this juxtaposition offers a compelling framework to explicate the Daoist notion of heng. On the other hand, the pre-Qin texts’ confluence of permanence and freedom in the principle of ziran 自然 offers a new lens through which to read and hence redeem Barth’s oft-critiqued attempt to combine the irrevocability and ongoing freedom of God’s decision of election.

Religion Between the Parody of Faith and the Epiphany of Grace in Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian

ABSTRACT The metaphysical inquiry of Blood Meridian is structured in two moments, both involving a reflection on religion. On the one hand, the persistence of violence in the novel can be interpreted as the continuous denial of the Christian idea of “salvation through faith.” Faith, in this book, offers neither salvation for those who suffer nor punishment for evil, as it is immediately stated that “It is not to be thought that the life of darkness is sunk in misery and lost as if in sorrowing.” On the other hand, although the Christian God seemingly disappears from the phenomenal world, the search for a higher instance does not completely vanish from the novel. In fact, fleeting divine occurrences frequently appear throughout the novel in various transient epiphanies of grace. After grace vanishes, we can detect in the last chapters of Blood Meridian an abysmal melancholy—an expression of frustrated attempts to transcend human existence. Although this dark path traveled by the kid in Blood Meridian has led critics to call the book a Gnostic parable, these two possibilities of McCarthy’s metaphysical reflection seem to be closely related to Catholic motifs and ideology.

Achieving Unity amidst Diversity in Christian Doctrines Beliefs and Practices: An In-Depth Analysis

Pursuing unity within the diverse landscape of Christian doctrines, beliefs, and practices is a perpetual challenge that has marked the history of Christianity. This paper delves into the intricate dynamics of fostering unity amidst theological diversity, doctrinal traditions, and varied expressions of faith within the Christian community. By analyzing the theological underpinnings of unity in Christianity, including core doctrines like the divinity of Christ and the authority of Scripture, the paper underscores the foundational principles that bind believers together. Despite these shared tenets, divergent interpretations, emphases, and nuances have given rise to doctrinal variations across Christian denominations. Moreover, the paper delves into the historical evolution of doctrinal discrepancies in Christianity, examining the origins of significant schisms, theological disputes, and doctrinal contentions that have influenced the multifaceted tapestry of Christian beliefs and practices. These historical fractures continue to shape interdenominational relations and interactions among Christians. Practical strategies for promoting unity amid doctrinal diversity are also explored, emphasizing the significance of ecumenical dialogues, interfaith collaborations, and initiatives to foster reconciliation and mutual comprehension. Recognizing and honouring the diverse spectrum of beliefs and practices while seeking common ground is pivotal in nurturing unity within the Christian community. In conclusion, the paper underscores the importance of balancing unity and diversity in Christian traditions, celebrating the richness and complexity that diversity engenders while upholding the shared faith that unites believers across doctrinal boundaries. Through respectful dialogue, humility, and an embrace of the diverse facets of the body of Christ, Christians can endeavour towards a more profound unity that transcends doctrinal discrepancies, fostering a spirit of love and fellowship within the Church. Keywords: Divergent, Christian Doctrines, Beliefs, Practices, Unity, Coherence, Christian, Christian Faith, Implications