Theological Heritage Research Articles

Rules of Islamic creed ''Aqidah'' Between Theory and Practical (A Study of creed Issues According to Ash'arites)

The attention to the deductive method began with Imam Al-Ash’ari and the establishment of the rules of theorizing from the first moment of the emergence of the Ash’ari school of thought at the hands of the founder of the school of thought, Abu Al-Hasan Al-Ash’ari, and the scholars who followed after him who wrote theological works. This reflects the great care of the Ash’arism in rooting and theorizing the methods of theory, and setting the methodological rules of reasoning, so he dealt with The research examines the most important comprehensive theological rules through which the Ash’ari reasoned in the doctrinal issues on which Ash’ari theological thought was founded, taking into account the extent of stability or change that occurred in some of these rules along the path of the Ash’ari doctrine. The aim of this study was to answer an important methodological question in formulating the verbal thinking curriculum: It is: What is the impact of comprehensive verbal rules in achieving intellectual consistency and methodological consistency in the theory of verbal reasoning according to the Ash’arism between theory and application? The answer to the nature of this research required delving into the journey of exploring the idea of comprehensive verbal grammar in the theological heritage. It was appropriate for this task to adopt the historical approach in collecting the material and searching for comprehensive grammar in its context from the verbal works approved in the Ash’arite school. It was necessary to study the origins of the theory of verbal grammar. Comprehensive and anticipating the methodological features governing inference, adopting the analytical approach; The approach adopted in this study was a combined approach of the two approaches: historical and analytical, in order to reach the impact of comprehensive verbal rules in both theoretical and applied studies.

Unlocking meaning: Truth-conditional semantic and syntactic analysis in the Bible

This research focused on complex conditional sentences in the Christian bible, employing truth-conditional semantics and syntactic analysis to uncover their theological messages. A qualitative study analyzed 20 verses, categorized into four types of conditional sentences according to Ferdinand de Saussure's syntagmatic and paradigmatic relations. It involved word analysis, structural classification, context correlation, synonymous exploration, and historical and theological consideration. The findings revealed several key insights. First, conditional sentences in the Christian bible predominantly featured compound-complex structures with an active voice, highlighting subjects and actions in religious verses. Second, they adhered to declarative formats, aligning with truth-telling principles in religious contexts. Third, complex structures and subordinate clauses conveyed conditional details, reasons, and situations, elaborating on the interplay between syntax and semantics. This research enriched our understanding of the relationship among verb forms, modal verbs, and diverse meanings within English conditional sentence types in the Christian bible. Fourth, this research had a significant social impact on human development from a theological perspective by enhancing spiritual growth, critical thinking, and ethical understanding. It promoted personal transformation and reflective faith, providing religious leaders with tools to interpret scripture more accurately. Additionally, the research clarified how biblical language communicated moral imperatives, supported ethical frameworks, and facilitated interfaith dialogue. Preserving theological heritage contributed to the holistic development of individuals and communities. Ultimately, this study aimed to ensure the Bible's relevance in shaping social behavior aligned with Christian teachings.

The Holy Spirit as “the Gift” in Charles Nyamiti's Trinitarian Theology: A Pentecostal-Lutheran Dialogical Perspective

This article starts from the theology of the Tanzanian-born Charles Nyamiti (1931–2020), as one of the most creative in his generation of African theologians. Nyamiti proposed that ancestral veneration is a foundational human relationship which reflects divine realities. Thus, he proposed an understanding of the Trinity where the Father is the Ancestor, the Son is the Descendant, and the Holy Spirit is the mutual Oblation connecting the two. Because an ancestor does not exist as an ancestor without sacred ritual communication, the Holy Spirit becomes thus absolutely necessary for the Godhead. We maintain that Nyamiti's ancestral approach describes an African logic of gift-giving. Translating his theological contribution into gift-language preserves the theological insights while solving some of the logical problems with the ancestral imaginary, such as how the Father who never died is supposed to be the Ancestor. Through gift-language, Nyamiti's theological insights, which are based on African relational ontologies, become more readily applicable in World Christianity and have potential to transform ecumenism into a vibrant and inclusive embodied pneumatic action for abundant life. In other words, Nyamiti's theological heritage invites theologians to envision Christian faith beyond the confines of Hellenistic-based philosophy.

“Education as the Art of Making Oneself at Home in the World with and Through Others”: The Call to Bildung in Meister Eckhart and the Film Of Gods and Men

This paper explores the mystical structure of education as Bildung in medieval theologian and Dominican friar Meister Eckhart’s work and the 2010 French film Of Gods and Men (Des Hommes et Des Dieux). I start this paper with a short introductory sketch of the Bildung tradition, in order to situate my discussion of Eckhart within the more well-known humanist tradition. Here, I claim that Bildung (as we understand it today through the classic Bildung philosophers) points back to its theological heritage and horizon of meaning, when it is claimed as the general tekhnê (art, craft) of making oneself at home in the world with and through others. In my first step, I then explore the intellectual heritage of this mystical structure of Bildung. Drawing on a range of Meister Eckhart’s writings (esp. his German sermons), I elaborate three features pivotal to his concept of Bildung (as image-ing) of the imago Dei (image of God) in the human soul/action: (1) divine grace, (2) human cultivation and (3) the harmonisation of both in (what I shall call) ‘careful gestures'. In my concluding second step, I illustrate this mystical structure of Eckhartian Bildung—with a particular focus on the emergence of careful gestures—through the motion picture Des Hommes et Des Dieux.

Toward a Theology of Compassionate Release: Orthodox Christianity and the Dilemma of Assisted Dying. Confronting End-of-Life Realities with Faith and Compassion

This article examines the subtle interconnection between the sanctity of life and individual autonomy within the context of assisted dying, as seen through the lens of Orthodox Christianity. It seeks to unravel the complex theological, ethical, and pastoral considerations that inform the Orthodox stance on end-of-life issues, particularly the nuanced understanding of suffering, death, and the redemptive potential encapsulated within them. Orthodox theology, with its profound veneration for life as a divine gift, offers a counter-narrative to contemporary discourses that often prioritize personal autonomy and the alleviation of suffering above all. This tradition emphasizes the transformative power of suffering when united with Christ’s own redemptive suffering, proposing a vision of end-of-life care that is rooted in compassion, dignity, and hope for resurrection. The exploration begins with a historical and theological examination of the Orthodox perspective on life’s sanctity, engaging with the teachings of Church Fathers and contemporary theological and bioethical discussions. It highlights the foundational concepts of Orthodox anthropology, which perceives human beings as an indivisible unity of body and soul, reflecting the imago Dei. This anthropological understanding challenges reductionist views of human existence and informs the Orthodox approach to medical ethics, palliative care, and the spiritual accompaniment of the dying. By critically evaluating arguments for and against assisted dying, the article presents a balanced discourse that respects the depth of individual suffering while upholding the intrinsic value of life. It argues that Orthodox Christianity, through its rich theological heritage and pastoral practice, provides a compassionate and ethically nuanced framework for navigating the moral complexities of assisted dying. This framework advocates for an end-of-life care that honors the fullness of the human person, supports the spiritual journey toward eternal life, and fosters a communal embrace of life’s sacred threshold, offering a dignified passage that aligns with the faith’s deepest convictions about human destiny and divine grace.

Problems of Islamic doctrine in the works of R. Fakhreddin (Ridha’ al-Din ibn Fakhr al-Din)

This paper provides a comparative analysis of the theological views of the prominent scientist, theologian and religious figure Rizaeddin Fakhreddin (1859–1936) on Islamic doctrine, which are set out in his main theological works. The relevance of this study is due to the lack of knowledge of the scientist’s theological heritage and its analysis from the theological side. The research briefly covers the main sources on the Islamic faith, which were distributed at that time among the Muslim peoples of the Volga region. In particular, the work investigates the statements and comments of R. Fakhreddin on the definition of Islamic doctrine and creed. The authors also display his attitude to the problem of declaring a person as an infidel (who left Islam).

Verbum Interius

Thomas Aquinas, in one or another way, inherits from Augustine of Hippo a philosophical and theological patrimony that has a great impact on the doctrine of the church. The influence of Augustine on Aquinas which is in turn called Aquinas’s Augustinianism is informed by Aristotle’s thought. One of the Augustinian theological heritage that developed by Aquinas is the teaching of the Word that is the second person in the Trinity. Althought full of controversy, Aquinas stands confirmed in using Aristotle’s epistemology as lens for reading Augustine’s teaching; and, in turn, he sets up an insightful theological synthesis. This article is traying to show how far even how good Aquinas works on the concept of word both in theological and philosophical sense.

Konstantin Grigorievich Grigoriev — the last professor of fundamental theology at the Kazan Theological Academy

The article is devoted to studying the theological heritage of the professor, the last teacher of fundamental theology at the Kazan Theological Academy, Konstantin Grigorievich Grigoriev (1875–1933). The work uses previously unpublished archival materials. The program of K. G. Grigoriev’s lecture course on fundamental theology, preserved in the State Archives of the Republic of Tatarstan, as well as some of his journal publications on the same topic, are analyzed, with special attention paid to his methodology of teaching fundamental theology and the basic section of the discipline — proofs of the main religious truths (existence of God and immortality of soul). It is revealed that in teaching fundamental theology, K. G. Grigoriev largely adhered to the method and subject structure developed by bishop Mikhail (Gribanovsky). It is demonstrated that this method had also been previously supported and developed by the Kazan Theological Academy professors V. A. Snegirev and V. I. Nesmelov. The results obtained in the course of the study allow us to speak of K. G. Grigoriev’s rather high scientific and apologetic potential, which, at the same time, did not remain fully realized. The Kazan professor’s main merit is that he managed to accumulate the best achievements of his predecessors in the field of fundamental theology. K. G. Grigoriev, contrary to the liberal trends in contemporary theological science, managed to maintain the teaching of fundamental theology not only at a high scientific level, but also in accordance with the Orthodox worldview.

ПОНЯТИЕ «РЕЛИГИОЗНЫЙ ОПЫТ» В ФИЛОСОФСКО-ТЕОЛОГИЧЕСКОМ НАСЛЕДИИ В. С. СОЛОВЬЕВА

The article analyzes the genesis and transformation of the concept of «religious experience» in the philosophical and theological heritage of V. S. Solovyov. It is proposed to reconstruct the content and meaning of the concept of «religious experience», initially perceived by V. S. Solovyov, later reworked by him in the context of the general logic of the history of Russian religious studies. In the course of the study, the authors raise the question of whether the concept of «religious experience» is possible in the works of V. S. To comprehend Solovyov in the theoretical space of the revealed contradiction of two positions: as a historical and philosophical phenomenon and as a semantically organized concept of fundamental importance for Russian religious philosophy. As a result, it is shown: the influence of the existential experience of the thinker on the formation of the semantic diversity of the concept of «religious experience»; the presence of polemical potential in the genesis of this concept, since V. S. Solovyov uniquely reworks the ideas of Yu. F. Samarin and P. D. Yurkevich. The fundamental importance of the ideas of Yu. F. Samarin and P. D. is shown. To understand the origins of the spectrum of meanings of the concept of «religious experience» in the ideological heritage of V. S. Solovyov. To this end, the characteristics inherent in a purely personal principle in the form of a «personal revelation» are revealed, which is the basis for accepting religious experience as the most reliable. In the late period of his work, the philosopher uses a method of describing religious experience as an experience of feelings, the authors of the article suggest that this is an original approach to the transformation of the system and the ideological heritage of the famous thinker F. Schleiermacher, which has a theological significance. Within the framework of the proposed methodology, the thesis is expressed that the ideological content of the concept of «religious experience» is not only the basis for defining related concepts such as mystical experience, but also has a cognitive potential in its meaningful meaning in relation to individual religious experience. Thus, the fact of the transformation of F.’s ideas is uniquely presented. Schleiermacher in Russian religious studies, namely, the possibility of understanding the nature of «religious experience» is stated based on the meanings given by the author himself (in our case, Solovyov) to the experience of experience that changes a person’s worldview. This shows the value aspect of the «religious experience».

The main sacramentological provisions in the discourse of theological personalism: On the example of the heritage of Orthodox theologians of the 20th — early 21st centuries

The article examines the key provisions of the interpretation of the Orthodox sacramentology in the context of theological personalism. The author explores the specifics of the view of some representatives of theological personalism on Orthodox sacramentology. The introduction describes the research methodology, identifies the core problem of the research, and offers an introduction to the terminology adequate to the subject of the study. The main section is devoted to two components of the personalist vision of Orthodox sacramentology — the idea of the sacrament itself and specific sacramentological constructs contained in the theological heritage of a number of representatives of the discourse. Studying the texts of a number of Orthodox theologians of the 20th — early 21st centuries, developing or relying on the ideas of personalism, leads to the several conclusions. Within the heterogeneous direction of thought of theological personalism, there are a number of significant provisions of the doctrine of the sacraments: sacramentology is based on a personalistically understood soteriology; the exceptional importance of the social aspect of the sacramental life of the Church is emphasized, which is called upon to reveal the Church itself and create a space for genuine dialogue, that is, to transform human existence, elevating it to the personal dimension. Individual sacraments are understood as a means for a Christian to become a person through overcoming the individual and natural, joining the space of genuine dialogue (understood in a social or mystical key), and mastering the correct way of interacting with the world and the Other.

PHILOSOPHICAL AND THEOLOGICAL IDEAS ON THE TERRITORY OF UKRAINE IN THE XVI-XVII CENTURIES: A HISTORICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL ANALYSIS

The article examines the philosophical and theological heritage of the period of the XVI-XVII centuries on the territory of Ukraine. It was concluded that at this time there was a rethinking of philosophical thought, a shift from knowledge of God to emphasizing the importance of knowing a person and recognizing his self-worth. In particular, a school of traditionalism emerged with its roots in the Orthodox Byzantine-Ancient Russian tradition, which acted as an opposition to Latinized Catholicism. The author makes a philosophical analysis of the views of Vasyl Surazky-Malyushytskyi and Ivan Vyshenskyi. The first emphasizes the unattainability of God and emphasizes mystical knowledge, the second sees God in the inner essence of the human soul and defines the path to self-improvement through self-knowledge. Additional concepts are presented by hegumen Jov Pochaivskyi, Jov Kniagynytskyi, Isakiy Boryskovich and Vitaly of Dubno, who emphasize the importance of spiritual development through prayerful silence and an ascetic lifestyle. Stefan Zyzanii expresses rationalist views on eschatology, rejecting the existence of purgatory and other afterlife realities. Kasiyan Sakovich views the soul as an act of the physical body interacting with the divine essence through grace and godlikeness. In general, in the 16th-17th centuries Orthodoxy observed tendencies to preserve the religious-mystical tradition and distinguish the external and internal aspects of a person. The main emphasis was on the vision of the key element of the path to salvation in monastic asceticism.

Teaching a Denomination to be Wesleyan: The Quadrilateral as a Tool of Education and Ecumenism

ABSTRACT In 1972, the United Methodist Church’s Theological Study Commission for Doctrine and Doctrinal Standards received near-unanimous approval from the General Conference for its formulation of a quadrilateral framework of scripture, tradition, reason, and experience for understanding John Wesley’s norms of theology and Methodist doctrine. Despite the overwhelming support of the Conference, the quadrilateral would go on to become one of the most contentious expressions of Methodist doctrine in ensuing years. In this discussion, however, Outler’s original intent for the quadrilateral has often been obscured. This article examines the formation of the quadrilateral in the Theological Study Commission and argues that the intended function of the quadrilateral was educational and ecumenical. It was intended to help Methodists discover the “wellsprings” of their own theological heritage, as well as offer opportunities for ecumenical engagement through processes of theological reflection and discourse.

The experience of Church Apologetics in the Philosophical and Theological heritage of Priest Pavel Florensky

The experience of Church Apologetics in the Philosophical and Theological heritage of Priest Pavel Florensky

Представления о мистике и магии как выражение особенностей христианского мировоззрения священника Павла Флоренского

The article examines one of the most important features of the religious, philosophical and theological heritage of the priest Pavel Florensky. Despite the large amount of research literature, it remains not sufficiently studied. Unlike a number of other thinkers, elements of mysticism and mystical perceptions in Florensky's works are associated with his direct interest in those realities that relate to the theory and practice of magic and occultism. The article gives a brief overview of the opinions expressed by the leading researchers of Florensky's legacy, who dealt with this topic. There is a lack of serious developments on this topic after the publication of all Florensky's texts by the early 2010s. In the article, the research is carried out on three main aspects. The first one analyzes Florensky's concepts, in which his views on mysticism and mystical experience found expression. His beliefs stand out, on the basis of which he considered the mystical experience universal for all periods of human history. In the second aspect, evidence of the mystical experience of Florensky himself is revealed. Remarks are made regarding his distinction between genuine mysticism and false mysticism, respectively, as free and not free from the subjective “human factor”. The third aspect provides the main evidence of Florensky's actual attitude to the realities of “magical” relationships in the world, as well as to the theory and practice of occult teachings. It is noted that Florensky was convinced that these realities themselves are spiritually neutral, but can be used in various ways by those who have known them. The main conclusion is made that Florensky, as a Christian thinker, perceived mysticism as a “knowledge of the higher worlds” primarily in its soteriological aspect. The main danger of false mysticism, as well as the practice of “dark” magic and occultism, he saw only in the unconscious or conscious manifestation of human self-will and human subjectivity.

The legacy of Muslim theologians in the focus of historical analysis of the adaptation of the Islamic legal system to Russian realities

The article deals with historical development of the theological heritage of the Muslim peoples of Russia. Authors attempt to identify features specific to the formation of theological and legal Islamic thought. They research the activity of the important centres of Islamic scholarship in Russia, mainly the Northern Caucasus and the Ural-Volga region. The results reveal the successful adaptation of the legal system as developed for centuries within the framework of the Russian Muslim community as “the northern outpost of the Islamic world” to the realities of modern life. Modern times bring challenges to the spiritual security of the Russian Federation. Among them is global terrorism, as well as attempts to implant ideology historically and traditionally alien to the country into the religious communities of Russia as well as the Islamic Ummah. Within this context, the fatwa-making activity of the Russian muftis is of great importance. Having implemented the theological and legal heritage of Islamic thought into the modern spiritual practice of the Russia's Muslim community, spiritual leaders who stand on the position of moderate Islam have issued and continue the tradition to issue fatwas (decisions). These fatwas are aimed at preserving spiritual integrity, religious values, morality and compliance with religious prescriptions traditional for Islam in Russia. The system of Islamic education as formed in Russia based on unified methodological approaches, which should contribute to training Islamic theologians in Russia.

Mentoring as an Effective Strategy for Leadership Development in Contemporary African Pentecostalism

The formation and advancement of indigenous Pentecostal movements was a significant reason for Africa’s impact on global Christianity. Notwithstanding, a critical concern is the sustenance of such a feat for future global missions. Since leadership development is key to both organizational growth and continual relevance, the African Pentecostal movement that will continue to serve the purpose of fulfilling the Great Commission mandate must ensure adequate leadership succession to keep the vision. This paper examined mentoring as an effective approach for leadership development in contemporary African Pentecostalism. Drawing heavily from the Nigerian examples, it argued that mentoring is suitable for preserving and enhancing African Pentecostal theological heritage, core values and practices for effective global missions. By the use of various pieces of literature and observation methods, the article explains the impact of mentoring on the sustenance of the African Pentecostal phenomenon. The author identified three dynamics that had sustained African Pentecostalism and made it impactful: aggressive incorporation programmes, continuous contextualized Christian education, and extensive use of media tools. Consequently, the article argues that these dynamics, amongst other factors, must be intentionally pursued, sustained, and strengthened to form future African Pentecostal leaders who will sustain and enhance the missionary impact of the African Church on the rest of the world. Keywords: The Church, African Pentecostalism, Mentoring, Leadership Development

The position of Sunni theologians on the eternity of Hell

This article is devoted to the theological problem that has become relevant again today, namely the issue of infi nity or frailty of Hell. There have always been some theologians, stating that Hell is fi nite, that the hellish torment will end, and the inhabitants of Hell will either be pardoned and saved, or (according to another point of view) will be destroyed along with the hellish abode. Such points of view contradict the consensus (Ijma‘) of Muslim theologians of the past. The article provides an overview of some theological sources and studies, including Tatar theological heritage, entirely on this topic. The paper also discloses some theological explanations of the position of Sunni Islam on the infi nity of Hell and its punishment.

The Oxford Handbook of Ritual and Worship in the Hebrew Bible. Edited by Samuel E. Balentine

The last thirty years have seen an increasing number of studies on ritual in the Hebrew Bible inspired by the path-breaking work of scholars like Rendtorff, Douglas, Milgrom, and Levine as well as the development of ritual theory within anthropology. The field is well placed for a handbook that builds on past scholarship in order to develop pathways for new research, and a particular strength of this volume is its attentiveness to the reception of biblical texts in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. As is typical for the Oxford Handbooks, this is a substantial volume with 34 essays covering a wide range of topics. The first section has essays on the wider cultural context: Mesopotamia (Abusch), Egypt (Teeter), Hatti (Beckman), Syria-Palestine (Curtis), Greece (Kowalzig). Greece might easily have been overlooked and its inclusion is welcome. The second section examines interpretative approaches: history of religion (Grabbe), ritual theory (Gruenwald), and social and cultural anthropology (Gilders). Readers expecting an analysis of recent ritual theory will find what they seek in the incisive essay by Gilders. Gruenwald’s essay presents his distinctive views on ritual and (rather oddly for a handbook on the Hebrew Bible) a case study on baptism. The third section is the largest and considers the different components of ritual: the gods (Hartenstein), sacred space (Hundley), ritual experts and participants (Hieke), sacred time (Davis), ritual objects (Bonfiglio), practices (Gane), and the ritualizing of iconic texts in Judaism (Watts), Christianity (Parmenter), and Islam (Svensson). The fourth section has reflections on the cultural and theological perspectives: sin and expiation (Janzen), clean/unclean and holy/profane (Lawrence), sickness and healing (Rooke), death and afterlife (Schmidt), and divine presence and absence (Berlejung). The fifth section examines the history of interpretation: Qumran (Schuller), early Christianity (Bradshaw), early Judaism (Newman), and rabbinic Judaism (Reif). Since Newman’s essay deals extensively with Qumran, there is a degree of overlap with the object of Schuller’s examination. The sixth section studies the sociocultural effects of rituals in the Hebrew Bible in the realms of politics (Morrow), ethics (Davies), Israelite society (Cook), and economics (Schaper). The seventh and final section examines the theological heritage of biblical rituals in biblical theology (Klingbeil), secular Judaism (Marx), Christian rituals (Werline), and Islamic rituals (Gauvain). In the essays, notes have been kept to a minimum, but each essay has a bibliography. Balentine provides a two-page introduction to the entire volume and there is a subject index, including selected authors, but no index of scriptural or ancient texts.

A Call for a More Robust Word in Word and Sacrament

The relationship of word and sacrament rests at the very core of a Reformed theology of worship. However, the fundamental inseparability of the two has struggled to find balance within the practice of worship and preaching in congregational life. The last 50 years has seen a significant increase in sacrament practice within the Presbyterian Church. The effort has largely been sparked by the desire to establish a better theological balance of word and sacrament consistent with the ecumenical world church. During that same period, however, preaching’s engagement with the church’s sacramental life has not been well served by the discipline of homiletics. The teaching of preaching has significantly ignored the theological depth and rich imagery of baptism and communion. It is time to call for a more vibrant engagement with the word on the occasions when the sacraments are being celebrated. This essay offers an exploration of how the preacher can live into relatively recent liturgical change that elevates sacramental practice while honoring the Reformed theological heritage of word and sacrament.

From Substitution to Solidarity: Towards an Abolitionist Atonement Theology

ABSTRACT The emphasis on retribution in American penal culture derives in part from our history of white supremacy and our Christian theological heritage, particularly the doctrine of substitutionary atonement. This essay considers the mutually-reinforcing ways atonement theology has acted in service of racialized narratives of punishment and control, and asks: is it possible to construct a liberatory theology of substitutionary atonement, which can undermine the retributive basis of mass incarceration? It uses the concept of “debt” incurred by harm to read substitutionary atonement as a divine intervention in human violence in two ways: as an interruption of the “transfer” of the debt of harm which defines retribution, and as an act of “doubled divine solidarity” with both victims and perpetrators of violence in a way that respects and does not erase the debt of harm owed to victims. It considers the human response of solidarity, reparations, and abolition such divine intervention provokes.