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This article calls for rethinking of discipleship within missio Spiritus for political formation necessary for the viable functioning of Zambian Pentecostalism in the neo-colonial context. It argues that the theme for the 2018 World Mission Conference in Arusha, Tanzania, 'Moving in the Spirit: Called to Transforming Discipleship,' calls for pneumato-discipleship in promoting human dignity. Through an empirical missiological approach, the article analyzes interviews conducted with various believers in various Pentecostal communities to demonstrate the emerging missio Spiritus praxis among Zambian Pentecostals, which seeks to promote a missional ethics of resistance to neo-colonial political culture. Pneumato-discipleship, as pedagogy for critically conscious disciples, is geared toward realization of human dignity. It is the instrument of hope in the search for dignity and struggle against pervasive inhumanities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Early Christian Munazio Ireneo cubicle in Cagliari (Sardinia) is carved into the rock and is one of the rare monuments of Sardinia belonging to Early Christian Age. It is 166 cm under the planking level and is a semi-confined chamber in which a gate allows exchange with the outside. In 1888, when it was discovered, it was completely painted, but over the years, it suffered a serious damage and all the paintings are nearly disappeared. Now the site shows a high moisture and a differential damage characterised by delamination, powdering, salt crystallisation and biological colonisation. The research offers a multidisciplinary approach to study the salt crystallisation damage, which is a phenomenon still not completely understood today. Studies and analyses highlight that different kinds of damage can be recognised. The cement mortar and the air pollution cause crystallisation of the sulphates. Constant capillary rising and the presence of water infiltration due to the rains, which travelled into the site from the vault, were detected during qualitative inspection. Although the microclimate did not change much in the site and the humidity was almost constant during the monitoring period, the variations in temperature allowed the phase transitions of sodium sulphate, especially in summer. The greatest damage of the porous stone is associated with the phase transitions and crystallisation inside the stone of sodium sulphate, one of the most harmful salts for porous materials because of its high crystallisation pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

John Wesley required detailed records to be compiled of Methodist society members. One extant list is that of the Keighley circuit for 1763–5. This article, breaking new ground in Wesley studies, argues that symbols in this and other catalogues recorded members’ spiritual condition. These symbols are used to analyse recruitment, losses and spiritual change on a quarterly basis. They reveal that although recruitment in the circuit was high during a revival at the start of a new preaching regime, it fell quickly, many members departed and there was little overall improvement in spiritual condition. Recruitment and changes were not uniform across the circuit, pointing to local rather than regional or national influences. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Patriarchy and gendered power relations have been the focus of scholars of masculinity, but fatherhood, one of the most intimate aspects of masculine identity and an essential element in men's social roles, has gained relatively little attention among medievalists. Elements of being a father, like emotional ties, caregiving and commitment to one's family, form the core of this article. The focus is on the contestants of the traditional concepts linked with masculinity and patriarchy: domination, competition and aggression. The main question is how gendered identity was constructed within lived religion, or, how fatherhood and masculinity were linked. The author argues that collaboration between spouses, commitment to one's children and devotion were important elements in constructing adult lay masculinity in the depositions of canonization processes carried out in late-medieval Sweden. The most important element in being an adult man was not the separation from women but the separation from immature boys. To invoke a saint for one's offspring, even if it required inversion of traditional modes of manifestation of manliness, was a statement of masculine identity: an assurance of respectability, responsibility and commitment. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

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This article re-examines the development of the chorepiscopoi using hagiographic sources in Syriac. These suggest that more peripheral regions of the Roman world, such as Osrhoene, with an ‘open frontier’ with local pagans, retained these subepiscopal structures into the sixth century. Furthermore, these structures fostered the independent activity of the parts of the institutional Church in defiance of their bishops in times of disagreement over doctrine. This localised emphasis explains in turn the defence of ascetic customs that had once been categorised as heteropraxy. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article presents an examination into the theological views of the Protestant Reformer Martin Luther regarding the legends of Christian saints, particularly that of St. Christopher. Introductory details are given noting Luther's aggressive controversial writings against late Medieval superstitious practices regarding saints such as St. Christopher, as he viewed them as idolatrous and distracting from a proper focus on Jesus Christ. An overview is then given of the larger view of Luther's regarding the place and purpose of the saints lives and legends in Christian life.

This article examines the relationship between the erudite hermit Peter Damian (c.1007-1072) and the abbey of Montecassino through a study of the manuscripts of his works housed in the abbey's scriptorium. Damian was a prolific writer and reformer whose ideas on spiritual perfection helped to shape the ideals of the 'Gregorian Reform' movement in the eleventh century. Through nurturing important relationships with monasteries such as Montecassino, Damian was able to articulate his ideas on monastic behaviour and how they translated into practice. Damian's correspondence with Montecassino revealed his thoughts on the connection between the eremitic and coenobitic vocations and how monks might ascend the spiritual hierarchy. A study of the manuscripts of Damian's letters reveals how the monks at Montecassino read and responded to those texts which were not only addressed to their community but also to other institutions. Whilst recent studies have informed historians about the nature of the spiritual life at Montecassino in the Middle Ages, and also of certain aspects of Damian's connection with the institution, to date there has been no study of the Damian manuscripts for what they can reveal of this complex spiritual relationship. This article therefore aims to contribute to recent scholarship on this issue whilst also seeking to shed light on the manuscript culture of eleventh-century monastic reform institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

If denominational histories were recast as accounts of practice and behavior, there would still be a place for the traditional emphasis on theological debates, but these would be examined with greater attention to their impact on religion as actually lived. Forms of worship, church architecture, the weekly offering envelopes, church potlucks, and ice cream socials would also become important topics. Denominational history written in this key is not likely to yield a single story but rather many stories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current interest in the Galilean Jesus as a historical figure has obscured the christological claims of the New Testament with regard to his person and ministry. This article seeks to build bridges between Jesus and the proclamation about him by exploring three themes arising from accounts of his ministry (messiahship, openness to Gentiles, and the role of wisdom teacher) by examining each theme within the context of Galilean life in the Herodian period, and by demonstrating how these aspects of Jesus' Galilean career are carried forward and developed into the early Christian proclamation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the "Letter on the Origin and Time of the Antichrist," written between 949 and 954 by Adso, abbot of the monastery of Montier-en-Der in the Champagne region of France. The letter was written at the request of Queen Gerberga of West Francia. The article examines why the queen would request that an obscure monk compose a treatise on the end of the world and the Antichrist. The author explains that Adso's treatise describes how the Antichrist will be born in Babylon with Jewish parents. The author states that Adso was the first writer to personify the Antichrist. Religious fear during this time is also discussed.

The article discusses the history of Christian life in Scandinavia in the 12th century, with reference to biographical literature on religious figures, the history of Christian leadership and practices in Scandinavia, and comparison between Christianity in Scandinavia with practices and leadership elsewhere in Europe, particularly those areas which practiced Christianity earlier. Topics discussed include the concept of the Christianization of Scandinavia, the historiography of Christianity in Scandinavia, and disparities between material evidence and written sources.

This article attempts to assist novice researchers of Christian history explore the Internet. It contains a helpful starting point and key Web resources for the study of Christian history, with a primary focus on English language and Protestant information. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Argues that the place of indulgences for the souls of named people in medieval spirituality and charitable activity has been underappreciated. Mechanisms and implications of records contained in the Episcopal registers for the medieval diocese of Lincoln; Role of indulgences in the assessment of English medieval religious life; Indulgences as reflection of the idea of purgatory.

Discusses how deceit is intertwined with the characteristics of Christian religious life during the middle ages. Division within the Catholic community; Creation of mythical Reformation; Moral and conscience choices among Catholics and Protestants; Explanations for conformity and nonconformity in the Reformation; Skepticism of a model of Reformation based on conscience.