Theological Views Research Articles

Towards understanding theological positions informing migrant ministries

Christian practical ministry should be driven by a thorough theological framework. Theological theory informs ministerial practices. To understand some theology driven (theologies driving) actions, it is imperative to conduct empirical studies to discern some grassroots theologies held by church leaders on the frontline of ministry. With migration as a challenge of our times that requires churches to intervene, the question that emerges is: what are the theological views and perspectives held by church leaders that drive migrants’ ministry? In answering this question, this article presents empirical findings of a study conducted in South Africa’s province of Gauteng. To locate the study within a South African context, the article devotes a substantial section on migration in South Africa. The findings revealed diversity in theological views and perspectives as well as limitations on critical biblical and theological understanding on migrant ministry as a holistic ministry. In their reflections, some church leaders showed superficial understanding of the Biblical texts, lacked contextual understanding of texts and their theology was not well thought out and integrated into the broader biblical and theological understanding.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The study integrates systematic theology, biblical texts and practical theology in discerning emerging theological views and perspectives amongst church leaders. The study contributes to gaining insight into underlying theologies that motivate migrant ministry interventions.

Calvin and Neo-Calvinism on Public Theology

In 1974, Martin Marty first introduced the term public theology, and it has since gained popularity. However, the reality of public theology has long been a part of the church’s witness and should continue to be one of the church’s essential tasks. John Calvin’s view of public theology has impacted modern politics, both on the democratic movement and the development of Western law and human rights. Not a few have accused him of inhibiting freedom and democratic ideals. Here, I will discuss Calvin’s political thought and also identify a few themes that were later developed by his followers, especially the neo-Calvinist movement initiated by Abraham Kuyper, and which provide foundational concepts for building a pluralistic and tolerant democratic society. KEYWORDS: Public Theology, neo-Calvinism, John Calvin, Abraham Kuyper, Church-state relationship, sphere sovereignty

“The Jews love numbers”: Steven L. Anderson, Christian Conspiracists, and the Spiritual Dimensions of Holocaust Denial

From his pulpit at Faithful Word Baptist Church (Independent Fundamental Baptist) in Tempe, AZ, fundamentalist preacher Steven L. Anderson launches screeds against Catholics, LGBTQ people, evolutionary scientists, politicians, and anyone else who doesn't share his political, social, or theological views. Anderson publishes clips of his sermons on YouTube, where he has amassed a notable following. Teaming up with Paul Wittenberger of Framing the World, a small-time film company, Anderson produced a film about the connections between Christianity, Judaism, and Israel, entitled Marching to Zion (2015), which was laced with antisemitic stereotypes. Anderson followed Marching to Zion with an almost 40-minute YouTube video espousing Holocaust denial, entitled “Did the Holocaust Really Happen?” In this article, I analyze Anderson's Holocaust denial video in light of his theology, prior films, and connections to other Christian conspiracists, most notably Texe Marrs, I particularly show how Anderson frames the “Holocaust myth,” as he calls it, in light of a deeper spiritual warfare that negatively impacts the spread of Christianity.

Corrections regarding Previous Volumes of Theological Views

Corrections regarding Previous Volumes of Theological Views

BERTEOLOGI DALAM KONTEKS PANDEMI COVID 19 - UPAYA MENGEMBANGKAN ETIKA TEOLOGIS DALAM RELASI KEADILAN DAN KEHARMONISAN DENGAN ALAM

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is a global problem for humans today. There are some hypotheses and analyses regarding the cause of the pandemic, including the ecological problem (environmental damage) which is considered as one of the biggest contributing factors. The natural imbalance and the environmental damage are an undeniable reality in today’s life. The theological understanding of humans as imago Dei who have the rights to conquer and control the nature exacerbate the ecological problems and increase humans’ disharmony with nature. This paper invites the readers to understand the context of this pandemic as an effort to reflect on discriminatory theological views of nature which lead to irresponsible human attitudes and behaviors. In this regard, this paper offers a theological understanding which recognizes relational justice and harmony with nature. This paper also provides an explanation of the relation between COVID-19 and ecological issues, as well as theological views which trigger humans’ destructive attitudes and behaviors towards nature. Moreover, this paper offers solutions to transform the crisis through theological paradigms which become theological ethics, in order to establish the relation between justice and harmony with nature.

A person as becoming over time: contrasting the theological view of a person as imago Dei with the narrative therapy notion of telos

ABSTRACT This article explores one point of connection between the disciplines of theology and counselling: how a person becomes over time. Two concepts are explored: the theological anthropology of a person growing into becoming in imago Dei, and narrative therapy’s notion of a person becoming over time in the light of their life purpose or telos. While both concepts see a person as potentially changing over time, differences appear between the God – and love-directed vision of imago Dei, and a person’s self-chosen telos within narrative therapy. I explore each concept within its field, and examine it through the eyes of the other discipline. Looking at imago Dei through the eyes of therapy, I show how therapy can bring an acknowledgement of the jagged process of growing towards love. I then show how theology can critique an individualistic understanding of telos. While narrative therapy pioneer Michael White saw personhood as being socially shaped, the notion of telos in narrative therapy has been depicted as more of an individual project. A theological critique widens telos to envision a person as being embedded within more hopeful, communitarian stories. I find that both concepts mine rich seams of hope for personal change.

Bir Mezhebin Yitik Kültürü: Hanefî Mezhebi Nevâdir Literatürü

Ḥanafī jurisprudential books written until the mid-fifth/eleventh century devel¬oped four basic concepts in order to identify issues transmitted from the masters of the Iraqi schools and sources: uṣūl (al-Aṣl/al-Mabsūṭ), jāmi‘ayn ( al Jāmi‘ al-ṣaghīr and al Jāmi‘ al-kabīr), amālī and nawādir. Among them, Uṣūl and Nawādir maintained greater salience. The first of these two concepts, uṣūl, covers the issues discussed in the circle led by the head of the school, Abū Ḥanīfa, and the books on these issues. Shaybānī reorganized these Uṣūl books by adding them his own opinions and those of Abū Yūsuf and Zufar. These books, except for a few of them, have survived through the present under the title al-Aṣl/al-Mabsūṭ. The second concept, nawādir, refers to the books recorded by the students of the school masters of the opinions proposed by Abū Yūsuf and Shaybānī, espe¬cially the ones that are not included in Uṣūl books. In other words, nawādir are those books on issues recorded by the students in particular. They may include the masters’ interpretations, responses to questions and some of their theological views. Among nawādir books, only the text written by Mu‘allā b. Manṣūr remains preserved in its entirety. In addition, a book, Nawādir al-ṣiyām, attributed to Shaybānī, remains as a part of al-Aṣl. Amālīs are books that include issues on which Abū Yūsuf and Shaybānī expressed their opinions without being bound by the limits of uṣūl. They may cover issues discussed in nawādir. We have now only a small amālī that belongs to Shaybānī. The importance of amālīs comes from the fact that they also include nawādir. Almost all of the transmitters of nawādir accounts participated in the circles of amālī headed by Abū Yūsuf and Shaybānī, which shows that the issues of nawādir were discussed in the Amālī circles. The students participating in the amālī circles collected the issues they heard from Abū Yūsuf and Shaybānī, except for the ones included in the uṣūl, and created the nawādir literature based on these collections. The only person who transmitted nawādir issues from Abū Yūsuf and Shaybānī in separate books was Muḥammad ibn Samā‘a, who was also the transmitters of the content of both masters’ amālī circles. 19 books from Nawādir literature that cover the new ideas of Abū Yūsuf and Shaybānī that were not included in uṣūl have been identified. The nawādir issues in these books usually belong to Abū Ḥanīfa, Abū Yūsuf, Shaybānī and Zufar, and more particularly to Abū Yūsuf and Shaybānī. In addition, the nawādir books of Bishr ibn Ghiyāth, ‘Ῑsā ibn Abān and Muḥammad ibn Shujā‘ include the opinions of the school’s masters as well as the authors’ own opinions. The ideas of some important students of the school’s master, Abū Ḥanīfa, such as Ḥasan ibn Ziyād, did not receive space in uṣūl, nor did they have any personal nawādir books. Some books of Ziyād, like al-Mujarrad, were considered nawādir in later peri¬ods, but this was related to the different definition of nawādir at the time, so it should not be considered as fitting properly into the nawādir category. Although Muḥammad ibn Muqātil’s opinions are not recorded in uṣūl, they are kept in a separate nawādir volume. As a student of Shaybānī, Ibn Muqātil’s ideas were collected in a book under the title of nawādir. Although this book, lost now, is referred to as nawādir, according to research, the book is composed of answers to the questions posed to Ibn Muqātil. Therefore, it was the first example of a distinct literature that became called fatāwā. Once classified according to the person they belonged to, nawādir books include 10 nawādir volumes for Shaybānī’s opinions, 7 for Abū Yūsuf ’s opinions, one for Zufar and one for Ibn Muqātil. Shaybānī’s nawādir books are the following: Nawādir al-ṣalāt li-Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥasan, Nawādir al-zakāt li-Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥasan, Nawādir al-ṣiyām li-Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥasan, Nawādir Hishām ibn ‘Ubaydallāh al Rāzī (d. 221/836), Nawādir Ibrāhīm ibn Rustam (d. 211/827), Nawādir Muḥammad b. Samā‘a (d. 233/848), Nawādir Dāwūd b. Rushayd (d. 239/854), Nawādir ‘Ali ibn Yazīd (d. after 191/807), Nawādir Abū Sulaymān al Juzjānī (d. 200/816) and Nawādir ‘Ῑsā ibn Abān (d. 221/836). Abū Yūsuf ’s Nawādir books are the following: Nawādir Mu‘allā ibn Manŝūr (d. 211/826), Nawādir Abī Yūsuf rivāya Muḥammad ibn Samā‘a (d. 233/848), Nawādir Bishr ibn al Walīd (d. 238/853), Nawādir Abī Yūsuf rivāya Ali ibn al Ja‘d (d. 230/845), Nawādir Muḥammad b. Shujā‘ al-Thaljī (d. 266/880), Nawādir Bishr b. Ghiyāth (d. 218/833), Nawādir Abī Yūsuf (d. 182/798).

A theology of the parish

The parish went through a long path of historical transformations, until it took the shape we know today. It can be the subject of analyses of various scientific disciplines. The aim of this article is to present the theological view of the parish. In-depth theological reflection on the parish reality will be carried out in three points. After presenting the pre-council parish, the theology of the parish will be presented, deduced from the teaching of the Second Vatican Council on particular churches and pre-council teaching of popes. Then, the theological view will be supplemented with a canonical perspective.

Od posłuszeństwa do tyranobójstwa. Ewolucja prawa oporu w teologii politycznej Johna Knoxa

Myśl polityczna reformacji i kontrreformacji po rozpadzie Christianitas po raz kolej-ny postawiła pytania o zakres posłuszeństwa i możliwość czynnego oporu wobec tyranii. Spośród ojców doktryny uzasadniającej sprzeciw wobec władzy należy wskazać przede wszystkim Johna Knoxa, uważanego za jednego z założycieli szkockiej reformacji. Ten prominentny kaznodzieja i teolog jest także, obok George’a Buchanana i Samuela Rutherforda, jednym z klasyków anglosa-skiej koncepcji prawa oporu.W artykule autor dowodzi, że Knox, wychodząc od stanowiska nakazującego obowiązek po-słuchu wobec monarchy i dopuszczającego jedynie bierny opór, ostatecznie odchodzi od umiarko-wanego stanowiska Jana Kalwina i Heinricha Bullingera. Jego argumentacja, pod wpływem wyda-rzeń politycznych w Szkocji i Anglii oraz radykalnych koncepcji pisarzy kalwińskich, zmierza do uzasadnienia powszechnej rewolucji, a nawet królobójstwa. Ewolucja jego poglądów zdaniem au-tora spowodowana była zmianami sytuacji politycznej i religijnej w Szkocji i Anglii. Rządy katolic-kich królowych — Marii de Guise, Marii Tudor i Marii Stuart — spowodowały radykalizację jego politycznych poglądów, których sensem było bezlitosne zwalczanie herezji i bałwochwalstwa oraz obrona prawdziwej wiary. Jego koncepcje miały zdaniem autora wielki wpływ na angielskich pu-rytanów — to między innymi jemu angielski purytanizm zawdzięczał swą radykalizację. To Knox był również w dużym stopniu odpowiedzialny za postawę szkockich prezbiterian podczas rewolucji purytańskiej, a jego myśl była istotną inspiracją najbardziej radykalnych koncepcji tego okresu.W artykule autor zastosował metodę kontekstowej analizy dzieł i wypowiedzi Knoxa, stosując klucz chronologiczny. Pozwoliło mu to na wykazanie ścisłej korelacji między poglądami Knoxa na prawo oporu a zapotrzebowaniem bieżącej debaty politycznej. Autor dochodzi ostatecznie do wniosku, że to właśnie okoliczności polityczne, a nie poglądy teologiczne uczyniły z Knoxa mo-narchomachę.

Die impak van die teologie van Dirk Postma op die Gereformeerde Hermeneutiek

The impact of the theology of Dirk Postma on Reformed Hermeneutics: At the 150th commemoration of the founding of the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Churches of South-Africa, this article explores the specific historical origins and characteristics of Reformed Hermeneutics. By determining the rules of exegesis, Reformed Hermeneutics indeed has a fundamental influence on the development of Reformed Theology. The research indicates that the theological views of Dirk Postma lay at the heart of Reformed Hermeneutics. His views can further be traced to those of Aegidius Francken, a product of the Nadere Reformatie . An analysis of two recent publications outlining Reformed Hermeneutics indicates that the same hermeneutical principles that Dirk Postma upheld, still hold sway in Reformed Theology today. These principles are outlined and are put forward as standard for the future development of Reformed Theology.

The Implications of the Odwira Festival for Christianity and Christian Mission in Okuapeman

Since 1826, the Akuapem people of Ghana have annually celebrated the festival known as the Okuapehene Dwira (the Odwira of the paramount chief of Akuapem), Odwira for short. The paper examines the spiritual significance of the festival for the people. It considers what an Okuapeni (a person who comes from Akuapem) who converts to Christ may need to do to enable him/her to enjoy life in Christ, and why. The paper gives a brief description of the festival after establishing its history. It follows this by arguing that Odwira is a covenant renewing festival that places all Akuapemfo (Akuapem people) under a covenant with the Odosu (regalia). The paper then discusses two theological views on the effect of such covenants on people who convert to Christianity. The paper concludes with what Christian ministers must ensure that Akuapem converts do to give them the assurance that in Christ, they are liberated from the covenant. The paper is based on observations, recorded interviews with natives of Akuapem – chiefs, students, opinion leaders, and “ordinary” members of the society, as well as responses to questionnaires administered to natives of Akropong living in Akropong itself, Sakumono and Lashibi in the Greater Accra Region. Works of theologians like Ogbu Kalu, Opoku Onyinah, and some others have also been used. The finding of this paper is that effective Christian ministry in Akuapem must include “deliverance”. This will ensure that converts who believe that the covenant with Odosu must be verbally renounced at conversion to Christ, have the assurance of being freed from the covenant. This paper contributes to Missiology and Ministry by adding to the on-going debate on spiritual covenants and their effect on Christian conversion.

The confirmation ritual in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark: conveyance of a religious experience or play-acting?

ABSTRACT The article explores the meaning of the confirmation ritual in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark. Two cases show two different understandings. In case one the minister holds that the rite is play-acting. Everything belonging to Christian initiation is given in baptism. Case two is in accordance with generation-old tradition reflected in the expectations of confirmands and parents. Here the ritual conveys a special blessing not repeatable. But is it possible to uphold a strict theological view that Christian initiation belongs to baptism and nothing is left for confirmation? Or are the effects of the room, adornment, music, lights, and traditions of the ceremony overwhelming and contain the capacity to sweep away consequent theological thinking? Is the ritual what it expresses; a special blessing in harmony with baptism? The discussion in the article refers back to Luther and the early Reformers and represents a contribution to an ongoing critical conversation.

الخطـیبُ الشّـربینـیّ وآراؤُه الکلامیّة مـع تحقیقِ رسـالتِه (عقیـدةٌ فی التّوحـیدِ والتّصـوفِ)

الملخــــص: مما لا شک فيه أن الخطيب الشربيني من علماء أهل السنة البارزين الذين کان لهم دور بارز في شتى مجالات العلم والمعرفة. وقد حظي الخطيب الشربيني بدراسات عدة في الفقه والتفسير واللغة وغيرها، إلا أن الجانب الکلامي عنده لم يحظ بالدراسة والاهتمام على الرغم من کثرة المسائل والقضايا الکلامية الموجودة في تفسيره المسمى: (السراج المنير في الإعانة على معرفة بعض معاني کلام ربنا الحکيم الخبير). لذا أردت إلقاء الضوء على هذا الجانب عند الخطيب الشربيني؛ لمعرفة کيفية تقريره لمذهب أهل السنة، وکيفية رده على خصومهم. هذا بالإضافة إلى أنني قد وقفت على رسالة له بـعنوان (عقيدة في التوحيد والتصوف)، لم تطلها يد التحقيق، وقد لاحت رغبتي في إخراجها والاعتناء بها والإفادة منها؛ إذ اشتملت على مادة علمية مختصرة ومتميزة. Al-Khatib Al-Sherbiny and his Theological Views with Specific Reference to his Thesis )a Doctrine of Monotheism and Sufism) By: Ahmed Gamal Ahmed Ismail Assistant Professor of Islamic Creed and Philosophy Department of Osoul Al-Deen Faculty of Islamic and Arab Studies for Men in Cairo Azhar University e.mail: ahmedismail.4@azhar.edu.eg Abstract There is no doubt that Al-Khatib Al-Sherbiny is one of the most prominent scholars of the Sunnah who had a prominent role in various fields of science and knowledge. Al-Khatib Al-Sherbiny has been considered in many studies on jurisprudence, interpretation, language, etc. Even though, the theological aspect did not receive due consideration or attention despite the numerous theological matters and issues stated in his interpretation entitled: “Al-Seraj Al-Munir as guidance to know the meanings of the words of our Lord, the all- Wise, the All- Aware. Therefore, the researcher has meant to shed light on this aspect of Al-Khatib Al-Sherbiny to know how he affirmed the doctrine of the Sunnah, and how he confronted their opponents. Moreover, the researcher has searched into his thesis entitled (a Doctrine of Monotheism and Sufism), which was left untouched by any investigation. The researcher intended to take the thesis out, examine it and benefit from it. The thesis has also included a brief and distinctive content.

Theological views of Theophan the Recluse

This paper is devoted to the theological arguments of Saint Theophan the Recluse (1815– 1894). First of all, the work notes that since the beginning of the XVIII century, the Church was subordinated to the state power, which greatly hindered the development of theology in Russia and led to many contradictions in the Church environment itself. Nevertheless, even in such difficult conditions, there were people in the Church who were able to set an example of a righteous life and intensive intellectual work. Among these we noticed Theophan the Recluse. He wrote many works that reflected not only the General principles of the Church, but also his own understanding of a number of phenomena. The works of Theophan the Recluse can be in demand not only in religious studies and theological disciplines, but also in psychology and sociology.

Good Works and Their Place in the Process of Personal Salvation According to the Theological Views of St Peter Mogila, the Metropolitan of Kyiv (1596–1646)

Good Works and Their Place in the Process of Personal Salvation According to the Theological Views of St Peter Mogila, the Metropolitan of Kyiv (1596–1646)

Corrections regarding Previous Volumes of Theological Views

Corrections regarding Previous Volumes of Theological Views

Mission and Care for the Poor in Sydney Anglican Perspective

Abstract Sydney Anglican theology has a number of distinctive motifs, including its ecclesiology and theology of the gospel. These motifs inform a theology of mission as proclamation that stands in a tradition that places a priority on evangelism. Where does such a missiological construction locate a theology of care for the poor? Answers to this question were explored through semi-structured interviews with faculty at Moore Theological College. The significance of caring for the poor is affirmed. Care for the poor is located in the life of the disciple of Jesus Christ and in the community life of the local church. The implications of this theological view for an understanding of the missio Dei are explored.

The course ring of abu hanifa and the contribution of his unfamous students in formation and spread of the hanafi thought

Hanefi mezhebinin teşekkülünde kurucu İmam Ebû Hanîfe’nin fıkıh düşüncesi ve metodu çok önemli olmakla birlikte ilk kuşak öğrencilerinin de çalışmaları önemli bir rol oynamaktadır. Ebû Hanîfe, hocasının ders metodunu geliştirerek ders halkasını bir akademi gibi çalıştırmış, bununla yetinmeyerek derslerde öğrencileriyle birlikte ulaştıkları sonuçları tedvin ettirmiştir. O, kendi zamanının alışılagelmiş ders işleme metodunun dışına çıkarak, öğrencilerinin düşüncelerine değer vermiş, onların kendilerini ifade etmelerine fırsat tanımıştır. Ebû Hanîfe’nin meşhur dört öğrencisi Züfer b. Hüzeyl (ö. 158/775), Ebû Yusuf Ya‘kûb b. İbrahim (ö. 182/798), Muhammed b. el-Hasan eş-Şeybânî (ö. 189/805) ve Hasan b. Ziyâd (ö. 204/819) Hanefi mezhebinin teşekkülünde çok önemli katkılar sunmuşlardır. Bununla birlikte meşhur olmayan ve sayıca çok daha fazla olan öğrencilerin mezhebin teşekkülünde, Ebû Hanîfe’nin metot ve fıkhî düşüncesinin özellikle uzak bölgelere yayılmasında çok önemli çabaları bulunmaktadır. Özellikle Ebû Hanîfe’nin Horasan ve Mâverâünnehir’de tanınmasını bu öğrencileri sağlamıştır. Bu öğrenciler, Belh, Merv, Semerkant, Buhara, Nîsâbûr, gibi şehirlerde ders halkaları teşekkül ettirerek Ebû Hanîfe’nin fıkhî ve kelamî görüşlerini bu ders halkalarında işlemişlerdir. Ayrıca bu öğrenciler gittikleri yerlerde Cehmiyye gibi oluşumlarla mücadele etmişlerdir. Bunun yanında çeşitli eserler telif ederek literatüre katkıda bulunmuşlardır. Bu öğrencilerden bazıları içtihat seviyesine ulaşmış, müftâ bih görüşün belirlenmesinde onların içtihatlarına da başvurulmuştur. Bunun yanında kadılık görevi üstlenerek mezhebin kurumsallaşmasına katkıda bulunmuşlardır.

ETOS KERJA DALAM KAJIAN TEOLOGI ISLAM (ANALISIS PENELITIAN MAX WEBER TENTANG ETIKA PROTESTAN DI AMERIKA DAN ANALOGINYA DI ASIA)

<p><em>Max Weber's The Protestant Ethics and the Spirit of Capitalism explains the fact that in the context of modern Europe commercial leaders and capital owners, as well as those who are classified as high-skilled skilled workers, modern companies that are trained in the technical and commercial fields, most are Protestants. The author's purpose in raising this phenomenon is to compare Weber's research with theological views on work ethics. Methodologically, a comparative analysis approach was used in this study. The birth of the view that religion gave birth to an axiological-pragmatic value order that was able to change a society's condition from nothing to nothing, poor to rich, and so on, or in other words that the ethics of Protestant capitalism became a power that made Protestants more ethically superior working with Catholics or other religions is an inaccurate assessment. Theology and work ethic are very closely related because Work is a nature and is one of human identities, so work that is based on the principles of monotheistic faith, not only shows the nature of a Muslim, but at the same time elevates his dignity as a servant of Allah SWT. The findings in this study can be used by religious people in improving work ethic.</em><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Keywords:</strong><em> Work Ethic, Max Weber, Theology</em></p>

Communication Theology by Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Pope Francis)

The aim of this article is to reveal the specific features of the theological position of Pope Francis regarding the problems of modern society.Research methodology. A culturological approach is applied whereby theological views appear in the context of the development of a certain time culture and reflect its general featuresResults. The author considers the theological views of Pope Francis in the context of the further implementation of the ideas of the Second Vatican Council in the life and theological activity of the Roman Catholic Church. The main features of Francis theology are the theological justification for the need for dialogue between the Church and modern society, and the broad extension of such dialogue. Bergoglio’s views on such controversial problems of our time as bioethics, poverty, corruption, etc. are analyzed. It is revealed that Pope Francis increases the importance of social topics in the space of theological issues.Novelty. An attempt is made to analyze Pope Francis’ theological views in the context of his attitude to contemporary culture.The practical significance. The material of the article can be used to teach courses on contemporary religious thought.