Theological Aspects Research Articles

Neopatristics for the twenty-first century: neglected and new perspectives

AbstractThis article is an editorial introduction to a special issue of Studies in East European Thought devoted to neopatristics. The circumstances of the creation of the neopatristic synthesis announced by Georges Florovsky during the First Orthodox Congress in Athens are considered. The main philosophical and theological aspects that are currently discussed in the context of patristic renewal are also addressed. In particular, it is shown that the sophiology of Sergius Bulgakov also fits into the patristic paradigm. Finally, the topics of the articles included in this special issue are presented.

Men Shall Be Lovers of Self, Money and Pleasure (II Timothy 3:2, 4): A Contemporary Discourse on the Apostle Paul's Prophecy of the End Times

<p><em>The present time in Nigeria and globally has been more perilous than ever, characterized with bizarre occurrences within the church and the larger society. This study explores the Pauline eschatological prediction of the perilous times when men will become lovers of self, lovers of money, and lovers of pleasure more than God (II Timothy 3:1, 2 & 5). Experiential and theological methodologies were adopted for generating qualitative primary and secondary data. The theological aspect of the research employed the tools of biblical exegesis, textual analysis, and literatures. The experiential aspect involved in-depth interviews (IDIs), observations, social media contents and Focused Group Discussions (FGDs) to access current events and personalized experiences of respondents who were purposively selected from within and outside the church. The results were discussed in the light of Christian theology, social ethics and Pastoral ministry. The Nigerian society is evidently witnessing the perilous times when love of self, money and pleasure will become the untoward defining features of human society and sadly too, of men that profess the faith. Transactional gospel, gimmickry, merchandize of holy things, and self-indulgent love of money are rife in the contemporary church. Ostentatious lifestyles, lack of support for the minister at the local church, and false messages on material blessings are what trap church ministers and laypersons in this end-time evil. The context and practice of ‘full time’ ministry when the local assembly is not able to support its minister is a challenge that predisposes some to ‘Simoniacal’ presentations, offering the gifts of God for monetary gain. Sound biblical teachings to protect the people of God and expose the mercenary spirit in sacred function is the local church most potent weaponry.</em></p><strong> </strong>

Theological aspects regarding D. cantemir’s panegyric dedicated to the holy great martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica

In the present article, it begins by providing some insights into the meaning and etymology of the word “panegyric” and its acceptance in Christianity. Subsequently, it presents information about the emergence of Dimitrie Cantemir’s panegyric dedicated to Saint Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessaloniki and describes the manuscript. The author then delves into the manuscript’s structure, including the introductory text, the mode of address, the introduction, the announcement of the theme, and the treatment of the theme. Simultaneously, an attempt is made to offer a theological approach to the content of the Panegyric and to restore and explain some of the terms used in the work. In conclusion, the author asserts that the panegyric was composed by an individual well-versed in the Bible and the writings of the Holy Fathers, and this person can be none other than Dimitrie Cantemir.

Contesting Power as Political Theology: Traditionalist Islamic Preaching and Post-Secularism in the West

Traditionalist Islamic preaching in the West is not limited to the normative aspects of theology, law, and ethics. In addition, it addresses the most pressing social and political issues that Muslims are currently confronting in the West; it also challenges Western modernity in general and secularism in particular. Two critical sermons of secularism delivered by two of the most well-known traditionalist Muslim preachers in their respective countries—Hamza Yusuf in the USA and Hani Ramadan in Switzerland—are analyzed in this study. First, I shall examine the arguments put up by these preachers against secularism and in support of post-secular society. Next, I will study the rhetorical strategies used in these two sermons. Finally, I will discuss the relevance of these two sermons to the contemporary debates in the West on contesting secularism and multiple secularisms. It is argued here that traditionalist Muslim preachers see secularism as an encroaching power that poses a danger to the figures of authority and norms that control gender, knowledge, and education within Muslim communities and societies.

The Shepherd-King Metaphor in the Light of Interdisciplinary Research

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: The aim of the article is to analyze the sources of the shepherd-king metaphor, mainly from the perspective of social-political ideas, within a broad cultural and intellectual context. THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: The article focuses on identifying the intellectual sources of the shepherd-king metaphor in antiquity, their anthropological and cosmological context, and the metaphor’s fundamental message. Particular emphasis is placed on the socio-political aspect; thus, analyses of strictly theological significance are left aside. To achieve the research objective, the author makes use of interdisciplinary instruments, referring to archaeological, biological, and historical knowledge and especially to analyses from the field of the history of ideas. THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: The article’s line of argument reflects the fundamental problems that need to be solved in order to determine the essence and shape of the shepherd-king metaphor. Therefore, the issues analyzed include animal domestication; ancient anthropology understood as the divine domestication of humans; and the distinctions drawn in ancient thought between the essence of the nature of animals, humans, rulers, and gods. RESEARCH RESULTS: As a result of the analyses indicated above, it was possible to capture the main components of the shepherd-king metaphor, their structure and essence, as well as their direct reference to, and significance for both anthropology and socio-political thought. CONCLUSIONS, INNOVATIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The article highlights the importance of the shepherd-king metaphor to the history of political ideas, outlining the impact of both its explicit theses and its more implicit, but no less important, elements. Attention was also drawn to the need for further research, which would enable the metaphor’s socio-political aspects analyzed in this article to be combined into one coherent interpretation with the religious and theological aspects.

Theological Values in Inter-religious Relation Verses : A Study on Tafsir Marah Labid

<p class="06IsiAbstrak"><span lang="EN-GB">Building interreligious relations was often viewed merely from social perspectives. It actually contains theological values. This research attempts to analyze the theological values in the tolerance and interreligious relation verses of the Qur’an that are interpreted by Syaikh Nawawi Al-Bantani. This descriptive-analytical study employs thematic methods by Al-Farmawi. The collected data are then analyzed in terms of its theological aspect. Marah Al-Labid is chosen for it’s written by an Indonesian scholar connecting classic and modern era. In addition, Marah Al-Labid is of Sufistic tafsir. Therefore, it is interesting to know how an Indonesian scholar viewed interreligious relation and its spiritual and theological values in the context of Indonesia. It can be concluded that having interreligious relation is lawful. Muslims are allowed to have social relation with Ahlul kitab or the people of books such as to get marry with them, to eat the meat of the animals they (Jews and Christians) slaughtered, and to have debate and discussion with them in the best way.</span></p><p class="07KatakunciKeywords"> </p>

Интеграция исламских философско-правовых аспектов в парадигму социально-экономического развития России

Introduction. The article examines the social transformation of state-confessional relations, its historical aspect, positive and negative trends of their evolution in the conditions of the formation of modern Russian society. The object of the study was the socio-philosophical aspects of some provisions of the economic model based on the principles of Islam as one of the traditional denominations of the Russian Federation. Theoretical analysis. The theoretical foundations of this issue in the paradigm of classical Muslim thought are given, as well as examples of their application in the modern socio-economic field of Russian regions. The philosophical justifications of the considered models of social relationships are analyzed from the standpoint of Islamic theology. Conclusion. The result of this work is the conclusion that the use of the potential and developments based on the socio-philosophical aspect of Islamic theology can serve as a positive experience of the inclusion of Islamic models in the all-Russian socio-economic field. This vector of development is designed to make progress in the spheres of life of the Russian society. And at the same time, the integration of the denominational aspect into the paradigm of socio-economic development of Russia has a special role to play.

Aliran Ilmu Kalam dan Pokok-Pokok Pikirannya Masing-Masing

The school of Kalam science and its respective main points of thought. Kalam science, or Islamic theology, is a scientific discipline that discusses Islamic beliefs using rational methods and logical argumentation. This article discusses various schools in Kalam Science and their respective main points of thought. Some of the main schools in Kalam Science include:• Mu'tazilah: Mu'tazilah believed that the human mind is capable of understanding Islamic teachings rationally and that human actions are free. • Asy'ariyah: Asy'ariyah believes that human reason needs to be assisted by revelation to understand Islamic teachings and that human actions are not completely free. • Maturidiyah: Maturidiyah believes that human reason has an important role in understanding Islamic teachings, but revelation remains the main source knowledge.• Salafiyah: Salafiyah believes that the main source of Islamic knowledge is the Koran and Hadith, and that the use of reason in understanding religion must be limited. This article explains the differences in views between these schools in various theological aspects, such as the nature of God, free will, and destiny.

ANALYSIS OF THE MATERIALS OF ISLAMIC RELIGION EDUCATION THROUGH THEOLOGICAL APPROACHES: STUDY OF THE ISLAMIC RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND CHARACTER TEXTBOOK FOR GRADE 1 OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

This research is qualitative research with a literature review approach by examining PAI content in PAI textbooks and Class 1 Elementary School Characters in a theological context. The objectives include: 1) carrying out theological categorization of the content of Islamic Religious Education in the textbook Islamic Religious Education and Character Class 1, 2) classifying the material in the book based on a theological approach, and 3) exploring its relevance. PAI content in the book is aimed at contemporary Islamic education. The primary data source for this research is the PAI and Character Class 1 Elementary School Textbook written by Nurzakun & Santoso (2021). The analysis technique used is content analysis. The findings of this research indicate that: 1) the content of PAI in the PAI and Character textbooks for Grade 1 Elementary School can be considered comprehensive and presented in simple language to facilitate students' understanding; 2) The contents of the book cover theological themes, with the main focus on theocentric themes; 3) Holistically, the PAI content in this book can be seen as relevant and significantly contributing in a theological context. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of PAI content about theological aspects, thereby increasing understanding in this academic domain. The implications of this research are: 1) Relevance of learning, 2) Development of character textbooks, 3) Development of professional teachers, 4) Curriculum development, 5) Increasing understanding of Islam, 6) Involvement of parents and the community in the implementation of education.

Democracy as Secular Theodicy

Scholars across political philosophy, theology, economics, sociology, sociobiology, and history presently acknowledge that theistic and secular religions are similar in form and function. This essay goes further by establishing that all religions are congruent and otherwise complementary rather than being merely similar. All religions, regardless of their basis, are institutionalized behavioral responses to the “evil” represented by the scarcity of economic resources. All religions serve to unify populations for defense, cooperation, and production and proffer apologias for evil’s persistence in the presence of presumptively omnipotent, omniscient, and benevolent sovereigns (gods, kings, elected officials, etc.). All religions comprise a mix of metaphysical constructs and all religious “truths” are pragmatic in the sense of reflecting “what works,” to what end it works, and for whom it works. Leibnizian theodicy, an aspect of theology and precursor of radical utilitarianism and welfare economics, argues that creating “the best of all possible worlds” entails divine trade-offs that purportedly minimize evil. Today’s political economics and philosophy similarly entail faith-based approaches to creating “the greatest good for the greatest number,” often implying the backing of divine wisdom. The upshot is the panoply of man-made evils, often intentional, that are characteristic of illiberal democratic majorities and theocratic states.

The Linguistic Worldview of Joy in the "Canticle of the Sun" of St. Francis of Assisi

In this paper, the author seeks to reconstruct the linguistic worldview of ‘joy’ appearing in the Canticle of the Sun written by St. Francis of Assisi. During the reconstruction, it caused a special difficulty that the word ‘joy’ did not occur explicitly in the work under investigation, so the contents referring and related to it could only be examined indirectly. The need to place the Canticle in a broader context made it inevitable to outline the era and include certain biographical elements, and the complexity of the analysis required the application of linguistic-historical, textological, translational and theological aspects in addition to the literary ones during the investigation. The analysis of the work was carried out by including the original Italian version of the text and its English translation together, by exploring the psychological and theological deep layers of the poetic images used by St. Francis and by presenting the mythological content associated with them. During the investigation, the author of this paper came to the conclusion that the primary source of joy that fills St. Francis as he sings about creatures in his Canticle is actually not of this world, but transcendent.

Daemones Boni et Mali: The Locus of Evil in Renaissance Hermetic Neoplatonism

Abstract This article deals with the ways evil was conceptualized in the works of Cornelius Agrippa, the most important German representative of the Renaissance humanist current often labelled as Hermetic Neoplatonism. In a heterodox fashion of blending various Christian and non-Christian concepts developed by Marsilio Ficino, Agrippa attempted to further Christianize some aspects of Hermetic and Neoplatonic theology, cosmology and anthropology. This entailed a new interpretation of pagan deities and demons, which Renaissance Neoplatonists in general sought to disconnect from the exclusive domain of evil. A significant aspect of Agrippa’s syncretistic attempt was his interpretation of the origin and locus of evil, which, as I argue, reveals a tense coexistence of the classical Thomist concept of privatio boni and anthropological dualism of possibly Gnostic provenance.

Orthodox Estonians in St Petersburg Province: The Fate of the Diaspora in an Autochthonous Environment

During the pre-revolutionary decades, the Estonian diaspora was one of the most active in St Petersburg, however, it remains little-studied to this day. An intensive study of the history of Estonian churches in St Petersburg province and the Estonian deanery of the St Petersburg diocese make it possible to raise the question of an organised Orthodox Estonian diaspora that did not merge with the Lutheran one. This article formulates the reasons for introducing this phenomenon into scholarly circulation and characterises its distinctive features. The author refers to documents from the Central State Historical Archive of St Petersburg (primarily, reports from the dean of Estonian district), as well as articles and materials from the first All-Russian population census. The active development of the issue studied by some historians in recent years speaks of its relevance. The article provides an overview of the historical situation, identifies the problems that characterised the life of Estonian migrants in St Petersburg and the province, and describes the contribution to the solution of the problem by Archpriest Pavel Kuhlbusch, senior priest of the Estonian church in the capital and dean of the Estonian parishes of the diocese. Additionally, the author carries out a detailed analysis of the theological aspect of the diaspora’s existence and missionary and educational work inside it. The threat of nationalism caused by the language barrier with the locals, the linguistic community with a Lutheran majority, and the incomprehensibility of the Church Slavonic language for foreigners was the breeding ground of the Estonian diaspora as a whole and led the Orthodox Estonian diaspora to a crisis at the time of the collapse of the Russian Empire. The atheism of Bolshevik ideology finally terminated its life in the 1930s. However, the panhellenism of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, which replaced the multiculturalism of the Russian Empire, also failed to contribute to the development of Orthodoxy among Estonians. The efforts Pavel Kuhlbusch made for many years led to an increase in the number of Orthodox Estonians, whose literacy and enlightenment also increased significantly, but his departure to Estonia for episcopal service and death in 1919 had a disastrous effect on the future fate of the Estonian Orthodox diaspora.

Politization of Islam in Modern Iran: Autopoiesis of Shiite Tradition?

The article examines the development of politicized Shiite Islam in Iran as a type of autopoiesis (N. Luhmann) of this religious tradition. The topic arises from the actualization of the influence of religion on the life of a number of societies that have relied on technological modernization, as well as the importance that the topic of the optimal combination of modernization and traditional values is acquiring today. The purpose of the study is, based on an analysis of the activities of the Shiite clergy, to characterize the uniqueness of the revaluation of the values of Iranian society in the course of the development of modern philosophy and ideology of Shiism. The objectives of the study were: 1) to systematize the existing scientific approaches to the process of politicization of Shiism in the second half of the 20th – early 21st centuries; 2) consider the connection between political processes and the specific theology of Shiism; 3) reveal the dynamics of the relationship between the values of tradition and modernization in the teachings of Shiite religious figures; 4) clarify the specificities of the stages of influence of Imami Islam on the religious and political life of modern Iran. The research was based on theological and scientific writings of Islamic spiritual leaders, their opponents and followers. The key method used was historical-genetic, which made it possible to analyze the formation of Shiism in Iran in the historical and cultural context; and comparative, with the help of which the specifics of the various stages of the autopoietic formation of Iranian Shiism against the background of other denominations of Shiism and Islam in general were clarified. It has been proven that consideration of the path of development of the philosophical and ideological aspects of Shiism theology from the perspective of N. Luhmann's theory makes it possible to trace not only the external, but also the autochthonous foundations of the complex reverses of this religious model of self-awareness of society; as well as identify and characterize the functional specificity and dynamic characteristics of the process of politicization of Shiism in Iran. In modern Iran, theology influences the consciousness of believers, and, as a consequence, social and political processes, and not vice versa, as is commonly believed in relation to modern societies. The role of Imami Islam (Shiites) in the formation of values and behavioral attitudes during the actual structuring of relations in society turns out to be key for Iran. At the same time, however, this theology contains the potential for historical change: the very theological system changes, starting from its own concepts and transforming them. This constructivist approach turns out to be compatible with the emphasis on traditionalism. The logical possibility of such collaboration in building a new type of society is justified within the framework of the development of the theory of legal guardianship.

Penafsiran Ayat-ayat tentang Tempat yang Diberkahi dalam Al Qur’an (Analisis Tafsir Maqasidi)

The purpose of this research is to find out the places that are blessed in the Quran by using the principles of the maqasidi interpretation methodology constructed by Abdul Mustaqim. This research uses library research that focuses on aspects of theology, history, and several other influential figures. The problem to be researched is how the theologian interpret the verses about the blessed place in the Quran, and their reading uses the maqasidi Abdul Mustaqim interpretation methodology. The results of the research show that blessings do not always have a material meaning, but also in the sense of immaterial virtues uhrawi. One of them is the blessing of places that have been informed in the Quran, including: blessings on the earth, Mecca, and Syria. Through the maqasidi Abdul Mustaqim interpretation methodology, verses about blessed places have aspects of protecting the environment (hifz al-bi'ah), and aspects of protecting the state (hifz ad-daulah) are not only protective (min haits al-'adam) but also productive/development (min haits al-wujud).

The Influence of Korean Presbyterian Church Architecture on Worship and Faith Formation

According to statistics, there are more than 35,000 Presbyterian churches in Korea. Due to this high number, people can surmise that there are various types of church architecture. However, surprisingly, it is easy to find commonalities. The majority of the churches were built for practical purposes and are more like educational spaces or performance venues than religious venues. The Korean Presbyterian Church architecture emphasizes both the practical aspect and public aspect rather than the aesthetic and theological aspect. The worship space filled with pews in the shape of a rectangle has an impact on this style of worship which centers around sitting, listening and appreciating rather than diversifying worship ceremonies. These influences led to the false notion that worship was successfully achieved by listening to a sermon similar to lectures in an educational institution. Under these circumstances, members were unable to experience holistic faith formation through various worship ceremonies, and experienced a worship pattern of listening, taking notes, and studying every week. This repeated passivity was engraved in the body and mind of the saints, leading to the failure of the church to actively participate in its role in society. In this article, I will insist that the spatial arrangement and the creation of the worship environment from an aesthetic point of view can enrich worship and eventually add integrity to the Christian faith formation.

Place and Land in Anglican Theology: Intercultural Theology in a Global World

Aspects of Anglican theology have in the recent past emphasized the importance of place. Indigenous knowledge and worldviews speak of the centrality of land. Tessayshis places place-based thinking alongside land-based thinking to argue that these distinct ways of thinking can be mutually enriching and challenging. The essay limits itself primarily to Anglican-related authors while also contextualizing this theology within a broader scope of thinking about place. The paper concludes with suggestions for ways in which place- and land-based thinking can enrich Anglican approaches to ministry and mission, particularly in relation to the Doctrine of Discovery and ownership of property.

Penghapusan Batas Usia Perkawinan Di Indonesia Dalam Perspektif Hak Asasi Manusia

This research discusses the analysis of the elimination of the age limit for marriage in Indonesia from a human rights perspective. The main problem in this research is the rise of early marriage which is marked by the increasing demand for marriage dispensations as well as the disapproval of several community groups towards limiting the age of marriage because it is considered to be contrary to the theological and cultural aspects of Indonesian society. The aim of this research is to gain a deeper understanding regarding the elimination of the age limit for marriage in Indonesia from a human rights perspective for the common good. This type of research is library research and a normative legal research approach which focuses on the use of secondary data sources such as the Koran, hadith, books, journals, statutory regulations, court decisions, and so on. The results of this research indicate that the marriage age limit regulations in Indonesia are not in line with human rights values because they marginalize citizens' rights to carry out the religious teachings they believe in in determining their lives. The implementation of the marriage age limit regulations also creates problems in the juridical, sociological (cultural) and theological aspects in Indonesia.

Revisiting the Murder of the Jew Priscus in Sixth-Century Paris

The murder of Priscus the Jew seems to be one of the earliest documented episodes of murder involving Jews in the European Middle Ages. The incident, described by Gregory of Tours (Gregorius Turonensis) in his great work, Decem Libri Historiarum (Ten Books of Histories) involves the murder of the Jew Priscus at the hands of Phatir, his former coreligionist and new convert to Christianity, which occurred in the Frankish Kingdom of Neustria in 581 or 582, during the reign of King Chilperic I. In this study, based on a close reading of the relevant texts I attempt to illuminate what this incident may teach us about Jewish social and political life in the Merovingian kingdoms. I suggest, contrary to previous scholarship that saw the theological aspects of the conversion as paramount, that the murder was the result of a competition among the elite in the court of the king and highlight what we may learn from this case about the sources of Jewish religious law and what Jews and Christians living in this time knew about them. Thus, after a careful reading of the primary source, I propose an interpretation of the circumstances that precipitated the violent act, as well as the manner in which it was recorded in the writings of Gregory of Tours.

Interpretation of Quranic words through the prism of the theory of «al-Ishtiqaq al-Akbar» by Ibn Jinni

The article discusses the application of the Theory of Larger Etymology «al-Ishtiqaq al-Akbar» (الاشتقاق الأكبر) of an outstanding Arabic linguist of the X century Abu al-Fath ‘Uthman Ibn Jinni in the methodology of interpretation of the Quranic text. The paper also reveals the works of modern researchers of this theory. The research also analyses the works of Ibn Jinni «al-Khasais» and «al-Khatiriyat», as well as unveils the theological aspect of these works on Arabic linguistics. In the practical part of the paper the authors observe the examples of applying the methodology of permutation of root harfs of the consonant basis in order to identify the general meaning of the obtained constructions for a deeper understanding of a particular Quranic fragment. The conclusion of this study proves the need to analyze the Muslim scientific heritage in order to identify its theological aspect. And a particularly important component in this direction is the question of interpreting the Holy Quran as the basis of Islamic theological knowledge.