Theological Discourse Research Articles

Exploring Christian Lutheran theological framings that shape men’s perpetration of domestic violence through pastor perspectives

ABSTRACT The inclusion of theological beliefs and practices in the analysis of domestic violence is needed, hence this paper explores how Christian theological framings shape men’s perpetration of domestic violence. Through engagement with the Lutheran Church of Australia, interviews and a survey with Pastors found that gender was dominant in the themes and provided a framework for how Pastors understood domestic violence and how they articulated their explanations for why they perceived a denial of domestic violence in their religious contexts. The interviews in this study brought out the capacity of gendered theological discourse and the truth valency of scripture to both inform domestic violence and potentially be part of the solution, while at the same time the narratives express the inherent tensions and the resistance to change in the religious culture. The paper argues for the coming together of sociological, feminist, theological and spiritual understandings of gender identity to shape responses to domestic violence in Christian contexts.

The Sublime Divinity: Erotic Affectivity in Renaissance Religious Art

In the context of the Catholic Reformation serious concerns were expressed about the affective potency of naturalistic depictions of beautiful, sensuous figures in religious art. In theological discourse similar anxieties had long been articulated about potential contiguities between elevating, licit desire for an extraordinarily beautiful divinity and base, illicit feeling. In the later fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries, in the decades preceding the Council of Trent, a handful of writers, thinkers and artists asserted a positive connection between spirituality and sexuality. Leonardo da Vinci, and a group of painters working under his aegis in Lombardy, were keenly aware of painting’s capacity to evoke feeling in a viewer. Pictures they produced for domestic devotion featured knowingly sensuous and unusually epicene beauties. This article suggests that this iconography daringly advocated the value of pleasurable sensation to religiosity. Its popularity allows us to envisage beholders who were neither mired in sin, nor seeking to divorce themselves from the physical realm, but engaging afresh with age-old dialectics of body and soul, sexuality and spirituality.

Animals as Intentional Political Agents and God’s Warriors in Sign-Themed Qurʾānic Narratives

Abstract Taking its cue from the Islamic Ecological Paradigm, deeply rooted in Islamic religious traditions, which emerged more than 1400 years ago, this paper reimagines the human-nonhuman relationship against the backdrop of the arguably assumed superiority of mankind in (Islamic) theological discourses. Using Qurʾānic narratives as a key point of divergence in the natural superiority of man within the idea of vicegerency, we argue that the Qurʾān’s egalitarian ethos presents animals as ‘intentional political agents’ (Pepper 2021: 30) independent of human intercession. This agency enables them to be key players in deciding the outcomes of political conundrums; in so doing, it also rebuts and destabilises arrogant anthropocentric presuppositions associated with the idea of vicegerency. We particularly read, in ‘signs themed’ Qurʾānic narratives, a dynamic relationship between humans and animals through the animal’s role as Allah’s warriors and agents against human oppressors and transgressors. Drawing on the Islamic Ecological Paradigm, Angie Pepper’s idea of intentional political agency and Sarra Tlili’s de-anthropocentric reading of the Qurʾān, we suggest that the Qurʾān robustly invites humans to reflect on the animal world by foregrounding animals as political agents while epitomising human accountability and responsibility towards them instead of establishing a relationship of dominance.

Paul Tillich and Photography

Paul Tillich did not consider photography to be a form of art and, therefore, rarely talked about it. In this paper, I discuss what he said publicly about photography in relationship to Tillich’s own understanding of art and in conversation with some of his contemporaries in Europe. This discussion will include reasons as to why he was reluctant to admit photography to be art and how his thoughts could have been changed. Premised upon the belief that Tillich’s theological analysis of art is still relevant for contemporary theological discussions of art, this paper will try to situate Tillich’s theology of art in the midst of the visual culture of the early 20th century. I will further make two related claims: (1) there were moments of his intellectual career when Tillich could have reflected on photography in a deeper way; (2) the examination of Tillich’s reluctance can be fruitful for future theological reflection on photography.

Theology as embodied: How tangible theology offers a new invitation to embodied people

AbstractFar from being a purely cerebral activity, meaningful theological work seeks the transformation of people; intellectual assent is necessary, but humans are embodied, and theology can be multi‐modal in its action and delivery. This essay draws on the traditions of visual and sensory theological practices to make an argument for theology as a rigorous process enacted in embodied—mind, hand, and heart—ways. The interwoven relationship between orthodoxy and orthopraxy is too often tenuous, practitioners on one side and thinkers on the other. In exploring lives of biblical characters, specifically women, and expressing these across modalities of spoken word, stitch, and poetry, the writer makes a case for the essential embodiment of a sensuous theological expression—the kind of expression that one frequently experiences in sacrament and frequently ignores in formal theological discourse. In drawing from her own research practices the writer presents a case for the importance of personal theological work moving from thinking as the sole location, arguing that embodiment is always the outcome of good theological commitment. This essay builds on a foundation of theologians who make a case for the arts and for the sensory in pointing toward the Divine, and it unapologetically draws on textile practice as “women's work” and a location of shared human experience. The essay also explores responses to theology in physical stitched form and poetry. It includes responses which take theological interactions beyond consumption into production; it considers the value of embodied, holistic theological work as a potential gift to the community.

Franz Rosenzweig’s Account of Revelation in Light of Its Protestant Background

AbstractIn the subsection “Grammar of Eros (The Language of Love)” in section 2 of book 2 of The Star of Redemption, the beating heart of the work, Franz Rosenzweig offers a peculiar portrait of the event of revelation. What is presented is a dramatization of the encounter between the loving God and the beloved human soul, a developing scene consisting of a series of utterances and experiences, many of which appear unwarranted. Why does Rosenzweig present revelation in this manner? This article seeks to explain the seemingly arbitrary twists and turns in the dramatized “plot” through which Rosenzweig depicts revelation by demonstrating that it follows in its main features the prevalent Protestant understanding of revelation as encompassing not only divine self-disclosure but also the discovery of sin, confession, forgiveness of sin, reconciliation, attainment of selfhood, and redemption, and is framed according to the directives of the Lutheran foundational principle of “at once a sinner and justified (Simul Justus et Peccator). In so doing, it exhibits Rosenzweig’s deep embeddedness in the Protestant theological discourse of his time and shows that The Star should be understood in light of the contemporary Protestant theology.

An Introduction to the Intellectual Biography of ʿAbd al-Shakūr from the Banten Sultanate

ʿAbd al-Shakūr b. ʿAbd al-Karīm al-Bantanī was a prominent disciple of the renowned scholar Burhān al-Dīn Ibrāhīm b. Ḥasan al-Kūrānī. Despite his importance as a scholar and Sufi shaykh connected to the Shāṭṭārīyah order, ʿAbd al-Shakūr has received relatively little attention compared to other Jāwī students of al-Kūrānī. The research draws on a range of primary sources, including manuscripts copied by ʿAbd al-Shakūr himself or containing references to him, as well as secondary literature. Key findings include the establishment of ʿAbd al-Shakūr’s genealogical ties to the Banten royal family, his role as a scribe and disseminator of his teacher al-Kūrānī’s works, and his participation in the theological discourse of his time, particularly on the concept of waḥdat al-wujūd (the unity of existence). Additionally, the study explores ʿAbd al-Shakūr’s contribution to the spread of the Shāṭṭārīyah Sufi order in the Malay-Indonesian Archipelago, tracing its transmission from al-Kūrānī through ʿAbd al-Shakūr to his son ʿAbd al-Muḥyī al-Dīn and other disciples. The discovery of manuscripts documenting the Shāṭṭārīyah lineage in Jasinga, Bogor, and Mindanao in the Philippines, further highlights ʿAbd al-Shakūr’s significance as a pivotal figure in the dissemination of this Sufi tradition within the region.

Muslim-Christian Dialogue from the Nigerian and Pakistani Perspective: A Theological Discussion

Muslim-Christian dialogue is one of the most common dialogues around the globe. Even though the interreligious dialogue is accepted in Muslim countries, the discussions in Nigeria and Pakistan are facing challenges. This paper, therefore, intends to examine the Nigerian and Pakistani perspectives on Muslim-Christian dialogue to analyse its legality or otherwise from the main sources of the two religions. This is qualitative research comprising the historical and contextual approach of the Qur’ān, Hadith, and the Bible as well as views of Islamic scholars and Christian clergies. The findings reveal that Islam and Christianity not only acknowledge dialogue between Muslims and Christians but encourage it among other religions for the establishment of peaceful coexistence and sustainable development of a community. This paper, therefore, recommends that Nigerian and Pakistani Muslim scholars should give extra energy to enlighten Muslims to understand that interreligious dialogue does not in any way mean to unify Islam with Christianity.

Can Quantum Contextuality Help to Understand the Contextuality of Theology?

ABSTRACT The precise formal account of the contextuality of the quantum measurement provided by the Kochen-Specker theorem allows for a unique insight into the nature of the contextuality of theological language. The conceptual analysis carried out in this paper has demonstrated that despite of the methodological difficulties in juxtaposing theoretical physics and theology, legitimate bridges can be established between them whereby quantum contextuality may serve as a model of contextuality in theology. A structural factor in the form of a richer logic proper to the Divine nature has been identified as the possible source of contextuality of theological discourse.

Символ и миф как инструменты теургического преображения действительности у о. Павла Флоренского и Вяч. Иванова

The concept of theurgy, as elucidated by Vladimir Solovyov, posits a transformative process wherein empirical reality is transfigured into the ideal through symbolic and mythic means. Pavel Florensky and Vyacheslav Ivanov, two prominent thinkers of the Russian philosophical tradition, offer distinct perspectives on the role of symbol and myth in this theurgic transformation. This article seeks to explore and compare their theories within the framework of theurgical philosophy. It is argued that both thinkers adhered to a similar concept of the symbol, yet differed in their understanding of its role in the theurgic transformation of reality. Pavel Florensky believed that transformation could be achieved through the potentiation of the natural symbol via so-called “mystical cognition”, which involves endowing a phenomenon with personal significance to evoke the awakening and activation of its latent ideal essence. In contrast, Vyacheslav Ivanov contended that the “enhancement” of the symbol to the level of idea is impossible, thus proposing the theory that the effective means of transforming reality is not the symbol as a word, but the myth as a synthetic judgment, which, although based on the symbol, does not organically arise from it, but is formed by intellectual intuition. The conclusion of the study suggests that the difference in approaches between the two philosophers is rooted in ontological premises. Pavel Florensky developed his concept of symbol potentiation based on “name theology”, asserting the identity of name and thing, whereas Vyacheslav Ivanov adopted a more restrained position regarding the power of naming, which led to the development of his predicate theory of myth. By critically examining their theories within the context of theurgical philosophy, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the complexities of symbol and myth in the quest for spiritual transformation. Further research is needed to explore the practical implications of these theories for modern philosophical and theological discourse.

Mother Tongue Biblical Hermeneutics within the Context of African Biblical Hermeneutics: It’s Origin, Trends and Challenges

This study delves into the intricate landscape of Mother Tongue Biblical Hermeneutics within the context of African Biblical Hermeneutics, aiming to unravel its origins, discern trends, and confront challenges. Employing a qualitative research methodology grounded in extensive literature review and critical analysis, this investigation explores the evolution and current state of Mother Tongue Biblical Hermeneutics in the African context.Findings underscore the significance of linguistic and cultural nuances in biblical interpretation, emphasizing the role of indigenous languages in shaping contextual understanding and relevance. Moreover, the study identifies persistent challenges including colonial legacies, linguistic imperialism, and theological biases that impede the full realization of Mother Tongue Biblical Hermeneutics.In light of these findings, recommendations are proposed to foster the integration of indigenous languages into biblical scholarship, advocate for linguistic diversity, and promote inclusivity in theological discourse. Ultimately, this study contributes to scholarship by illuminating the vital intersection of language, culture, and interpretation in African Biblical Hermeneutics, thereby enriching theological dialogue and advancing decolonial approaches to biblical studies. Keywords: Biblical Hermeneutics, African Biblical Hermeneutics, Mother-tongue Biblical studies, Origin, Trends and Challenges.

The Passing-On of F.W. de Klerk: a Trigger for a Renewed Theological Discourse on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission

Abstract After his death on 11 November 2021, social media in South Africa was immediately inundated with reactions to the mixed legacy of Frederik Willem de Klerk, the last President of South Africa during apartheid (1989–1994) and the former Vice President of Nelson Mandela (1994–1996) under the democratic dispensation. In most transitional justice processes, truth is often required in exchange for reconciliatory or peace accords. With the benefits of the literature review, this article problematises the deficiency of truth-telling or its absence thereof, by beneficiaries of apartheid, with particular stress on statements made by F.W. de Klerk during and after the TRC public hearings. It focuses on truth-telling as a neglected aspect in previous studies examining the work of the TRC. It uses the biblical understanding of the concept of truth as a foundational component of reconciliation to test the authenticity of the acclaimed reconciliation after the TRC hearings.

A Priestly Christology: A Biblical-Theological Investigation of Christ’s Priesthood

The concept of Christ’s Priesthood has been the subject of comprehensive research work in recent times. Despite several attempts to investigate the doctrine of Christ’s Priesthood waves a theological enigma. Thus, the study delved into the concept of Christology as denoted in the Scripture. This scholarly analysis focused on the qualities, which are linked to atonement and mediation. Christian theology has various viewpoints, but the primary model connects the sacrifice of Christ to His role as intercessor. The ontological model was a theological framework that stresses Christ’s priesthood on His personality and activities. The sacramental priesthood model denotes a correlation between Christ’s sacrificial act and His intercession in a heavenly realm, with distinct aspects following a predetermined sequence. The functional priesthood model is based on classical Protestant theology which portrays that the sacrifice of Christ and mediation are intrinsically interconnected with His being. The study employed a biblical-theological approach that sought to address the prevailing debates concerning Christ’s Priesthood. Thus, the study injects relevant sources to formulate and build the Christological concept. The research paper opined a holistic understanding of the nature of Christ and His transformative power to redeem humanity through the unction of the Holy Spirit. It is crystal clear that Christ sacrificed Himself to atone for all humankind’s sins. More importantly, the paper contributes to the current exploration of Priestly Christology, thus fostering a deeper understanding of Christ’s Priesthood and its significance to contemporary biblical theological discussion. It also helps to lay bare the salvific value of ecclesiology. This paper is recommended for biblical-theological historical students to advance and improve their studies. Keywords: Priestly Christology, Biblical-Theological, Evaluation, Christ’s Priesthood

<i>Fiqh al-azma:</i> Crisis Management of Theological Discourse in Syria

In the context of the ongoing civil war in Syria, the official Muslim clergy of the country, represented by the Ministry of Waqf Affairs, has developed a number of theological and legal resolutions on the most pressing issues, united by the common names Fiqh al-Azma (“crisis theology”). They pay special attention to the issues of criticism of takfirism, non-denominationalism, nationalism, explaining the meaning of jihād, the prohibition of riots and revolutions, the religious legitimacy of the national state, interreligious and interfaith dialogue and collaboration within one country, the differentiation of the concepts of Islamic politics and political Islam. This study analyzes the sources and methodology of constructing this theological concept, which, according to the developers themselves, is an example of a moderate renewal (tajdīd) of Islamic theological discourse, the main purpose of which is to confront Fiqh al-Fitnah “theology of turmoil” preached by various extremist groups. The paper also examines an example of one of the most original studies — on the principles of citizenship (muwāṭana) according to Islam, which largely incorporates the main features of the entire concept of Syrian crisis theology.

In Search of Priestly Witness: A Barthian Intervention in the Chinese Church–State Relationship in a Neoliberal Age

Abstract This article suggests a theological proposal for envisioning the relationship between the church and state in the context of the Chinese neoliberal regime. It consists of three interrelated tasks. First, I argue that the rise of a neoliberal state has shaped the Chinese political landscape over the past four decades and constrained the collective responses of the Chinese house churches in their cooperative and negotiating strategies. Then, I examine two recent theological announcements by the church leaders and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses in addressing the principles of church–state relations. This critical analysis is followed by a rediscovery of Barth’s theological politics of priestly witness, which has laid the Christological foundation for the integrity of faith communities and shed light on their primary concerns and actions towards the Chinese neoliberal state. In this way, I seek to contribute to the ongoing discussion of Chinese political theology by offering a nascent analysis of the political system encountered by the house churches and reclaiming Barth’s theological legacy for these churches in public witness.

Visiting the Prophet at His Grave: Discussions about the Religious Topography of Madina

Theological discussions about visits to the Prophet’s grave in Madina are the focus of this paper. The relevant question in this context relates to the idea of a postmortem life of the Prophet and its accessibility for believers after his death. The idea of a spiritual presence of the Prophet in this world is found in the description of religious visits to Madina, namely in the traditional Sunni books of Fiqh (describing the normative rules concerning the Prophet’s grave), as well as in some books of Tafsir. These ideas have been challenged by the Wahhabi movement, in which the idea of becoming connected to the Prophet’s presence is refused and the visit to Madina is seen to be focused on the mosque, not the grave of the Prophet. This reinterpretation is examined in this article on the basis of various textual references.

Exploring the Impact of Podcasts on Millennial Engagement with Islamic Teachings

This research explores the impact of podcasts on millennial engagement with Islamic teachings, investigating how this digital medium influences religious education, community-building, and identity formation. Through interviews, surveys, and content analysis, the study reveals that podcasts play a significant role in enhancing accessibility to Islamic knowledge, offering millennials a flexible and personalized avenue for learning and exploration. Diverse content preferences among millennials highlight the importance of tailoring podcast content to meet the varied needs of the audience, ranging from theological discussions to practical advice on applying Islamic principles. Moreover, Islamic podcasts foster online communities where millennials connect, seek guidance, and engage in religious discourse, strengthening their commitment to faith and promoting social connection. Trust in podcast hosts and content creators emerges as a key factor influencing millennials' engagement and shaping their religious beliefs. Furthermore, podcasts featuring global perspectives contribute to intercultural understanding and appreciation for the diversity within the Muslim community. While podcasts offer numerous benefits for millennial engagement with Islamic teachings, challenges such as content quality and misinformation underscore the importance of addressing these issues to maximize the educational value and impact of Islamic podcasts in the digital age.

“I Can’t Believe We’re Still Protesting This!”: How the Lesbian-Feminist Embodies Our Way Forward

The paradoxical person of the Lesbian-Feminist exists as an intersectional being, living both within the world of the feminist movement and within the queer movement. The feminist movement seeks to deconstruct patriarchy and harmful gender binaries that have perpetually disenfranchised women. When studying queer theory, it becomes clear that the main goal of the queer movement is to deconstruct binaries and gender roles in their totality. This project is unique as it attempts to identify the Lesbian-Feminist as the space in which both of these movements coexist. The Lesbian-Feminist is concerned with both bringing about the full equality of women and working for the full inclusion of LGBTQ people in politics, society, and the church. This research will be situated within the context of theological discourse as we think of the revolution in relation to the person and work of Jesus. Jesus dismantled unjust systems and harmful hierarchal power dynamics and, in doing so, showed us how to truly be the kin-dom of God on earth. Jesus exemplified justice, love, and radical equality, attributes that Christians do not always exemplify as they tend to perpetuate the dominant social structure with its leader, the white, heterosexual, Christian male. The work of the liberation theologian, specifically that of the queer or the feminist theologian, carries on the work of Jesus by continuing to dismantle and disrupt these dominant power structures and social constructions that exclude and deny the full humanity of anyone who is in the margins. Just as Jesus held full equality in divinity and humanity, the Lesbian-Feminist incarnates God’s presence in the world in both her queerness and her womanhood. It seems clear from the recent surge in misogynistic, crassly anti-woman rhetoric and behavior in our culture that there remains a significant amount of work to be done and that we do not live in a post-sexist society. The reaction and resurgence that was the 2017 Women’s March brings to light and rebels against all that seeks to keep us divided along lines of gender, race, and socio-economics. The March, as a gathering of the margins, was a chorus of voices making clear that we will not allow sexism, racism, homophobia, and xenophobia to turn this country backward. Therein lies the importance of the Lesbian-Feminist, that as an intersectional force bringing together two movements, she also brings together the entire revolution.

Testimonies of Shame and Anger in Northern Nigeria: Towards Protecting the Dignity of the Child

The theology of the Trinity is the apex of Christian revelation. This is closely followed by the theology of Incarnation, which focuses on God’s entry into human history. The incarnation of the divine word as a human person, with the experience of childhood, underscores the dignity of the child to be preserved and protected. Given the situation of a possible violation, Joseph protected the Child Jesus from the wrath of Herod by fleeing to Egypt for safety (Mt.2:13-15). Every child has pride of place in the family and community, and protecting the dignity of the child is the responsibility of both the parents and the community. The current situation of terrorism in some parts of Northern Nigeria indicates a violation of the dignity of the child. Drawing from the incarnation as a ground for theological discourse on childhood, this chapter presents testimonies of shame and anger in Northern Nigeria to show the violation of the dignity of children. This article employs a historical-analytical methodology to account for the experiences of violence towards children in Northern Nigeria. It begins with a synopsis of the rich value of the child in African culture. It then moves on to presents an overview of the impact of terrorism on children in Northern Nigeria. Finally, the essay proposes recommendations rooted in the humility and dignity of the child for the Catholic church in Nigeria. In this final section, the essay considers education as a paradigm in preserving the dignity of the child. This essay contends that a child is a divine gift that must be protected by the church irrespective of tribe and creed.

Fluid Theodicy

The term theodicy was coined by the philosopher Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716) and is inherent in the question of how evil can exist if an intrinsically good God guides everything. The publication of this oeuvre initiated intense philosophical and theological discourse in the subsequent centuries, during which many issues that bare upon human well-being were articulated. Also, Leibniz’s rational approach to the relationship between God and evil raised a number of issues related to the topic of belief. This topic has entangled discourses on theodicy with a long-lasting debate on beliefs, which goes back to Antiquity. Recently, a paradigm-shift shed new light on the understanding of belief. Science has begun to address the neurophysiological mechanisms of the processes that underpin belief formation, modulation, and change. The term credition was coined in order to capture and reflect this new and innovative understanding of the fluidity of beliefs and believing. This paper presents various features of a pattern of interrelationships between well-being, theodicy, and credition.