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The Thirteenth Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) marked a pivotal moment for global Lutheranism. The assembly served as a platform for Lutherans worldwide to converge in Krakow, where they collectively discerned their shared future. While critics have claimed that the LWF has departed from its confessional identity, the Thirteenth Assembly of the LWF nevertheless demonstrated continuity with its historical and confessional roots, now underscored by a renewed focus on hope as the central theological principle. Numerous contextual and global challenges necessitate a theological agenda for a unified movement forward. Through an eschatological lens of hope, Lutherans globally are encouraged to deepen their reflection on biblical interpretation, theological contributions, and ecclesial missional practice. A realistic understanding of Christian hope shapes how one thinks and acts in the here and now in the most difficult of circumstances. This shift is already evident in the new LWF strategy and has begun to manifest regionally. This essay is an invitation to a hopeful theological agenda for the Lutheran communion and aims to make a significant contribution to world Christianity and society at large. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organised, temporary labour migration from the Global South to wealthier countries is a growing and sometimes problematic phenomenon. This article considers Timorese involvement in the Australian Seasonal Workers Program (SWP) in relation to this trend. Drawing primarily on semi‐structured interviews and participant observation undertaken among an interconnected group of 50 Timorese seasonal workers across Australia and Timor‐Leste between 2016 and 2021, we found that geographical and social isolation and limited leisure all proved challenges while working in Australia. In some cases, it appears that the workers were able to lean upon their own social networks and local churches as a way to mitigate these challenges. We argue that, in considering the welfare of workers in temporary migration programs such as the SWP, it is important to be aware of the role played by informal groups that are formally outside the scheme itself. Labour migration from Timor‐Leste to Australia has advantages for both sending and receiving countries but is also fraught with a range of challenges that are as yet unresolved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The escalation of the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast region of Nigeria since 2009 has led to the death of thousands of people and left over 4 million displaced. Internally displaced persons were resettled by the Nigerian authorities in 22 IDPs camps in Borno and other states in the Northeast region and Abuja. Many of them were resettled in host communities with relatives, friends and also in informal IDP camps. What remains to be investigated is the International Christian Centre for Missions' intervention for the resettlement of the IDPs from the Northeast region at Uhogua in Edo State. This paper argues that the church's intervention was primarily to offer adequate protection to the IDPs from the minority Christian communities in the Northeast states, whose homes were devastated by Boko Haram. This paper investigates the Church's intervention being the only faith-based organization that is offering humanitarian assistance to IDP from the Northeast region at its camp in Edo State. It investigates the following: who initiated the idea and established the connections for the Church's intervention? Who identified and moved the IDPs from the Northeast to the camp? What is the nature of ICCM's intervention and challenges faced by the church? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This phenomenological study examines lived experiences and perceptions of Christian parents of young children to investigate their approaches to faith activity and nurture and the extent to which this includes authenticity of welcome for young children in the modern-day church. Online survey data was analysed thematically through the lens of established theories regarding the nature of faith in the early years. Findings revealed that families with young children do wish to engage with their local church and wider Christian community, but often find existing approaches unsupportive and unhelpful. Significant adjustments are therefore required to church-led ethos and approaches to faith nurture to better serve the needs of young children. Recommendations are made for more flexibility and inclusivity within the church environment, enhanced partnership with parents, and greater church focus on co-constructing faith nurturing pathways within the home and church context to align more with relationships within the child’s microsystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LGBTQ + people experience protective benefits from faith community participation, although some also experience minority stress from rejection and discrimination. Social workers, counselors, psychologists, nurse practitioners, and others can assist LGBTQ + people in looking for a faith community that fits their needs and desires. This study reveals how LGBTQ + people in this sample, most of whom identify as Christians, decided to attend their current faith community through an analysis methodology called Sort and Sift Think and Shift. Four contrasting themes were identified: welcoming versus inclusive, racial/ethnic versus LGBTQ+, inward versus outward, and role modeling versus blending. The authors explore the implications of these themes for helping professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The available research suggests that the rate of involvement of people with disabilities and their families in the life of the Church is significantly lower than that of people without disabilities. The engagement of people with disabilities is largely dependent on (a) the level of religiosity; (b) intrinsic motivation; (c) the level of trust in the institutions of the Church; and (d) broadly understood accessibility factors. Barriers experienced by people with disabilities are complex in nature, and make these people dependent on the help of others. Overcoming them requires significant investment, commitment, and change in the Church institution. These issues are relatively rarely addressed in the literature. The few, usually partial studies tend to concentrate on specific disabilities, discussed with no reference to the family context. However, it is usually the case that the religiosity and church activity of a person with a disability are firmly rooted in their family reality, shaped by the level of religiosity of their parents, and sometimes dependent on their presence and involvement. The aim of this article, which is both theoretical and empirical in nature, is to answer the question of which barriers form an obstacle to participation in religious life for people with disabilities and their families in Poland. This study uses the results of a nationwide qualitative research (focus group interview method) conducted among people with physical and intellectual disabilities, the hard-of-hearing and the deaf, the visually impaired, and their carers. Data analysis enabled the identification of the following barriers: infrastructural, personal and organizational (family-related and extra-familial). These research results can provide guidance in pastoral work with people with disabilities and their families, improving not only the quality of their religious experience, but also the number of the faithful in the Church community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural-urban migration has been such a phenomenon that the migrants expect higher wage rates and more promising job opportunities in urban areas. However, it does not necessarily solve poverty problems since many people in urban areas still live in poverty. For example, some of the Pekanbaru City population - known for its abundant natural resources - are less fortunate and live as parkara-kara (scavengers). As a manifestation of God's presence in the world, the church gives attention to poverty alleviation. Diakonia, as one of the three vocations of the church, provides educational funding assistance to the poor and training to increase their knowledge. Social entrepreneurship is an alternative to solving social problems by improving the economy in demand by social and religious organizations. This study uses a qualitative method with a case study approach. In-depth interviews with informants became a source of research data, and documents became data to support interview data. This study aims to reveal the church's ministry as an effort to alleviate poverty in the congregation. The study results show that the church has become a social entrepreneur, helping the poor through educational funding. In addition, the church also provides training to increase the congregation's knowledge so they can have their own business. The church becomes a social entrepreneur and forms a congregation to become a social entrepreneur, which is an important finding in this research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subject of this article are several written sources created in the context of the conversion of Byzantine Jews to Christianity in the second half of the 9th century: the polemical treatise of Gregory of Nicaea (844-880) and the poems of the protoasekretis Christopher (850-900). The purpose of this article is to examine these works in terms of their standpoint towards policy of encouraging the conversion of Byzantine Jews to Christianity. The article consists of four parts: the introductory part briefly presents the information concerning the sources, the following two parts define the intended audiences for Gregory’s treatise and Christopher’s poems and the fourth part examines the intention of their works in the confrontation between supporters and opponents of the policy of Christianization of the Jews. Despite the differences in genre, the works of Christopher and Gregory were written for the purpose of propaganda and counterpropaganda for the Christianization of the Jews. The article shows the way the written texts were used by opposing sides to defend their own standpoint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Magazine General Union of Arab Archaeologists is the property of General Union of Arab Archaeologists and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The purpose of the article is to define the administrative and legal aspects of the activities of religious organizations of Ukraine under the legal regime of martial law. The article identifies the peculiarities of administrative and legal regulation in the field of activity of religious organizations in modern conditions. The author considers the increasing role of mechanisms of administrative prevention of the negative impact of religious worship on the formation of a child's personality. Attention is focused on the state regulation of religious rights of military personnel in the combat zone. The author highlights the peculiarities of the mechanism of prohibitions related to the activities of organizations, including religious ones, which have close ties with the aggressor state. The author establishes that the administrative and legal component is traced in some peculiarities of legal regulation of administrative and legal regimes, namely, the legal regime of martial law in systemic connection with the right of citizens to profess beliefs which deny the use of weapons. The author concludes that the legislation regulating the activities of religious organizations has numerous flaws and gaps that do not correspond to the significance of the risks to national security arising from the exercise of religious rights and freedoms of citizens. The administrative and legal status of religious organizations now requires rethinking and taking into account the following trends: a) the need to protect the rights and interests of a child whose parents profess a religion whose observance of the tenets may cause harm to the child's health or mental development; b) establishing a feedback loop between quotas for the appointment of military chaplains and the effectiveness of ensuring the religious rights of military personnel; c) strengthening the role of administrative and legal means in ensuring compliance by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (in unity with the Moscow Patriarchate) with the requirements of national legislation; d) setting out the Law of Ukraine "On Alternative (Nonmilitary) Service" in a new version that would take into account the current peculiarities of military service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is indicated that the relationship between the Church and the state went through various stages in its formation both in Ukraine and in the world as a whole. In addition, the state’s relations with religious organizations in various countries still have their own specifics. Models of these relationships are usually built depending on the political, religious, cultural and other traditions of each region. Therefore, today in Europe, despite the presence of a number of common trends, there is still no unity of approaches in building a system of state-church relations. It is quite obvious that in order to solve this problem, it is necessary to study the existing historical experience of Czechoslovakia. Regarding this, the confessional policy of the Czechoslovak state in the 20th century has a special value. Back in the interwar twentieth century (1918–1938), an attempt was made here to build such a model of the relationship between the state and religious organizations, which, on the one hand, provided for the secular nature of the state and the maximum limitation of the role of the church in public life, and on the other hand, the preservation of the main elements of the system of state -church relations that developed in Austria-Hungary. We can say that in a slightly modified form this model continued to exist in Czechoslovakia and in the second half of the 20th century. Even during the years of state atheism, the church here was not separated from the state. Thus, in the 20th century, Czechoslovakia accumulated rich experience in adapting traditional elements of the state church to new historical conditions. Based on the study of domestic and foreign sources, the article analyzes the legal regulation of state-church relations in the First Czechoslovak Republic. The study attempted to analyze the country’s relationship with the Vatican, which consisted primarily of the need to conclude a concordat agreement. The legal nature of Modus vivendi is analyzed. It was determined that the model of state-church relations in the first Czechoslovak Republic became an organic development of the model that existed in Austria-Hungary. It can be said that the process of equalizing the rights of all state-recognized denominations came to a certain logical conclusion in the first Czechoslovak Republic. At the same time, one of the fundamental principles of Austrian religious policy was preserved in the Czechoslovak Republic — the desire to limit the ties of local denominations with foreign administrative centers as much as possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research discusses the characteristics of worship music at the HKBP Simpang Limun Church in Medan, focusing on the evolution of the presentation of worship music which has now shifted to contemporary music. This transformation can be clearly seen in the use of modern musical instruments such as keyboards, acoustic guitars, bass guitars, drums and saxophones which have replaced the monotony of a single organ in the presentation of worship music. These changes not only create a richer variety in musical expression, but also enrich the worship experience for the congregation, reflecting the church's adaptability in responding to changing times. The purpose of this research is to determine the characteristics of worship music at the HKBP Simpang Limun Church, Medan. The research was conducted at the HKBP Simpang Limun Medan church, Jl. Brother No.30 Sudirejo II, Medan City District, Medan, North Sumatra. The approach used in this research is qualitative with a descriptive type where data is collected using observation, interviews, documentation and literature study methods. Based on the research results, it can be seen the characteristics of the music used in worship at the HKBP Simpang Limun church in terms of style, genres, textual, composition, transmission, movement.

Church organizations are non-profit organizations operating in the religious sector. Church financial management requires good and adequate internal control to protect and secure church assets from fraud, damage, and waste due to ineffective use of assets. Sacralization is a factor that gives rise to blind trust in financial managers and spiritual leaders in the church. This study aims to analyze the influence of trained accounting personnel, attitudes toward the importance of internal control, and separation of duties on the level of internal control of church finances. The sample used was 115 pastors at the HKBP Church in Jakarta, Indonesia. Data were obtained by distributing questionnaires to pastors as respondents. The analysis technique is carried out using multiple regression. The results of this study show that trained accounting personnel, attitudes about the importance of internal control implementation, and the existence of separation of duties in church organizations have a significant effect on the level of internal control of church finances. The results of the study strengthen support for the implementation of effective church financial internal control, which requires increasing the competency of accounting staff through accounting training, the attitude of organizational members to support the implementation of the church’s financial internal control system to make it more accountable, and the existence of a clear separation of duties within the organization to avoid fraud.

The topoekphrasis in D. du Maurier's short story «Don't Look Now» has been investigated. Under the term ‘Topoekphrasis’ we mean a description of the scene of action, which "is the hero of a literary work" (O. Kling) and has a special aesthetic significance. Such a place in the analyzed novel is Venice, which, thanks to its unique architectural appearance, has become a true work of art. The image is created by a description of the world-famous architectural monuments of Venice, as well as the use of toponyms reflecting the features of the urban landscape. Speaking about real-life art objects, the author does not strive for an accurate description of his visual image but fills it with additional meaning. The text of the novel demonstrates various types of ekphrastic descriptions. Their usage depends on the purpose, the amount of necessary visual information and the specifics of the art object described. The absence of detailed descriptions determines the use of zero and paratactic variants of topoekphrasis, the emphasis on the state of the characters, on the perception and interpretation of the visual image and the development of the action indicates its interpretive nature. The role of mortal motifs and labyrinth in the formation of topoekphrasis is noted. We have also knotted that the novel by D. du Maurier fits into the context of the world Venetian, expanding its semantic field.

In the article, mainly based on the reference to the entries in the diary of Th. Dobzhansky, a geneticist and one of the founders of the "synthetic theory of evolution", examines how Dobzhansky tried to combine science, primarily evolutionary theory, and religion. It is argued that although Dobxzhansky was a believer during whole his life, he became a peculiar believer who revised for himself and for others the former, primarily religious answers to the "ultimate questions" of existence, and posed these questions in a new, evolutionary way. Even more, he tried to substantiate and justify religion and his belief in God through the evolutionary theory, to demonstrate that science and religion are not incompatible, and to offer his believe in the usefulness of science and religion to each other. This Dobzhansky's attempt was perceived and evaluated ambiguously by both scientists and religious figures. In addition, Dobzhansky owing to his search for these answers, made a number of world outlook and general cultural conclusions for himself and presented these conclusions in articles and books written not only for colleagues in the scientific community, but also for other people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Europe has a Christian soul. The values, customs, and institutions of the social life of the European nations crystallized under the animating influence of Christ’s gospel. One can speak of the inalienability of Christianity on the Old Continent. There is an inextricable bond between Europe and Christianity. Following Joseph Ratzinger, the article presents European values and ideas growing out of the Christian heritage: the humanism of the Incarnation, the primacy of spiritual values, the subordination of law and democracy to eunomy, a rational approach to reality, the dignity of conscience and recognition of its rights, the culture of love of neighbor and social justice, the idea of fraternity, and religious-political dualism in the relationship between the state and the Church. Maintaining Europe’s Christian identity is therefore a task for Christians and all those who want its characteristic ideas and institutions to survive.

Changes in beliefs among former clergy, who have now left the ministry, may add an extra dimension to research on church decline. In fact, there are changes in belief among thirty former clergy interviewed for this study that show remarkable similarity to the beliefs of previously interviewed non-religious “spiritual but not religious” (SBNR) persons in the author’s qualitative research, as reported in Belief without Borders: Inside the Minds of the Spiritual but not Religious (Oxford University Press).

The article reveals the features of North Caucasian everyday life in the first half of the 19th century and the fate of people who suffered from the raids of the highlanders. The main attention is paid to the consequences of the destruction of families as a result of the loss of one of the spouses who was captured. The practice of entering into a new marriage and the attitudes of the Church to allowing a second wedding is shown. Based on the materials identified and first introduced into scientific circulation, the process of verifying the information presented in the petition for the conclusion of a new union, and the final result of such a procedure, is demonstrated. Participants in such proceedings included both men who had lost their wives and women who had forfeited their spouses and lost hope of their return from captivity in the mountains. The fate of children who found themselves in a foreign ethnic environment and over time left out their former national and religious identity is presented. Once acculturated, they often remained among their captors, adopting their lifestyle and mental attitudes. There were also examples of returning to one’s cultural roots, including in matters of faith. Religious affiliation was considered as the most important element of a person’s self-identification. The Church sought to preserve its flock and in this it found support from the official authorities.

En la actualidad, el patrimonio edificado enfrenta la amenaza de su deterioro, destrucción o desaparición debido a diversas causas, ya sean de origen natural o provocadas por actividades humanas. Ante este desafío surge la necesidad de utilizar herramientas tecnológicas vanguardistas que posibiliten la documentación exhaustiva de cada elemento arquitectónico histórico como medida para preservar el patrimonio tangible. Esta investigación se enfoca en el levantamiento HBIM («Historic Building Information Modeling») de la Iglesia de Balbanera (Colta, Ecuador) para su documentación. Esta iglesia fue seleccionada por su relevancia histórica y el alto nivel de detalle presente tanto en su estructura externa como en su interior. La metodología comprendió la planificación del levantamiento de información, el levantamiento «in situ» con tecnología de escáner láser 3D, el procesamiento de los datos obtenidos y la generación del modelo HBIM. Como resultado se obtuvo el modelo de la Iglesia de Balbanera, la cuantificación de materiales de obra y la documentación de planos arquitectónicos tanto en planta como en elevación, brindando a los profesionales información veraz y confiable para intervenciones futuras que garanticen la preservación del patrimonio edificado. ENGLISH: Today, built heritage faces the threat of deterioration, destruction or disappearance due to various causes, whether of natural origin or caused by human activities. Faced with this challenge, the need arises to use cutting-edge technological tools that enable the exhaustive documentation of each historical architectural element as a measure to preserve the tangible heritage. This research focuses on the HBIM (Historic Building Information Modeling) survey of the Balbanera Church (Colta, Ecuador) for its documentation. This church was selected for its historical relevance and the high level of detail present in both its external structure and its interior. The methodology included the planning of the information survey, in situ survey with 3D laser scanner technology, processing of the data obtained, and generation of the HBIM model. As a result, the model of the Balbanera Church, the quantification of work materials, and the documentation of architectural plans both in plan and elevation were achieved, providing professionals with accurate and reliable information for future interventions to ensure the preservation of the built heritage.

Abstract. Poverty is a well-known and complex issue. Poverty has a bad impact on the poor. Thus, poverty is the duty of society, including the church. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between liturgy and poverty. The homeless liturgy is the phrase selected to describe liturgical practices in the face of poverty. This essay was conducted by socio-liturgical studies and field research. This essay suggests that the homeless liturgy is a manifestation of the church's preference for the poor, which speaks hope-lament, liberation, and promotes transformation. Abstrak. Kemiskinan adalah permasalahan klasik dan kompleks. Kemiskinan berdampak pada keberlangsungan hidup orang banyak. Untuk itu, kemiskinan bukan hanya menjadi tanggung jawab negara, melainkan juga masyarakat dan termasuk gereja. Tulisan ini bertujuan untuk mengeksplorasi relasi-interaksi liturgi dan kemiskinan. Homeless liturgy merupakan istilah yang dipilih untuk merepresentasikan praktik berliturgi di tengah-tengah kemiskinan. Melalui kajian sosio-liturgis dan penelitian lapangan, artikel ini menyimpulkan bahwa homeless liturgy merupakan wujud sikap keberpihakan gereja terhadap mereka yang miskin, yang menyuarakan harapan-ratapan, yang membebaskan dan menggerakkan transformasi.

Often considered almost an afterthought in some evangelical theological works, pneumatology among Pentecostal theologians became the quintessential focus and integrative motif for doing theology. But pneumatology should be more than an exploration of tongues and giftings; more than a study of the what, when, how, and why of Spirit baptism. Books explaining preferred interpretations of the gift of tongues as an or the evidence for the baptism in the Holy Spirit abound. The purpose of this address is to establish the narrative of Acts 2 as a formative and programmatic vision for the life and mission of the church as birthed and renewed in the power of Pentecost. This talk aims to outline some of the forays of Pentecostal pneumatological ecclesiology by underscoring the liberative dimensions of the Spirit of Jubilee. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a recent article, Emmet O'Regan has argued that the First Vatican Council not only defined dogmatically that the papal Magisterium is infallible under certain conditions but also "definitively excluded the possibility of a heretical pope" by elevating St. Robert Bellarmine's "fourth proposition" to the "dignity of a dogma." This article argues that when Pastor Aeternus is read in light of the official Relatio, it is clear that the council was not intending to exclude the possibility of a heretical pope, that is, the opinion of Albert Pighius. Instead, Gasser makes it clear that the council was intending to define what Bellarmine called the "most common and certain opinion," which is "whether the pope is able to be a heretic or not, he is not able in any way to define a heretical proposition that must be believed by the whole Church." O'Regan has misidentified which view of Bellarmine the council intended to define. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contemporary interpreters of the mystical body movement in the early twentieth century often refer to works therein as mystical body "ecclesiologies" and tend to identify distinctions among them according to the author's language or nationality. In this article, I argue that the differences among mystical body theologies in that era are better understood according to theological locus—of "mystical body" as either an ecclesiological or a christological-soteriological concept. This framework best explains the paradoxical evaluations of the mystical body movement more broadly, and the encyclical Mystici Corporis Christi in particular, as simultaneously too vague and too juridical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyzes the pastoral practice and ecclesiological vision of living base ecclesial communities (CEVBs) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo through a case study in the Diocese of Tshumbe. Contextualizing this within the broader history of Global South base communities, the author argues that CEVBs exemplify Vatican II's people of God ecclesiology and Africa's image of the church as the family of God. They also embody Pope Francis's calls for a more synodal and dialogical church that empowers laity, provides opportunities for women's leadership, and integrates faith and social concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNK and the historiography of international influences of and on Dutch churches In a programmatic article in the first issue of the 'Documentation Journal for Dutch Church History of the Nineteenth Century', one of the themes mentioned to be addressed in this journal was the ecclesiastical influence of the Netherlands on foreign countries. Using the five aspects of this influence that were mentioned, contributions on this influence in the 99 issues are detected. The outcome is that attention to this influence in the journal has been developed over time. Especially in articles focusing on the late nineteenth and twentieth century, there was attention to the influence from abroad on Dutch church life. But the influence was by no means always through the church, but much more often through its members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, built heritage faces the threat of deterioration, destruction or disappearance due to various causes, whether of natural origin or caused by human activities. Faced with this challenge, the need arises to use cutting-edge technological tools that enable the exhaustive documentation of each historical architectural element as a measure to preserve the tangible heritage. This research focuses on the HBIM (Historic Building Information Modeling) survey of the Balbanera Church (Colta, Ecuador) for its documentation. This church was selected for its historical relevance and the high level of detail present in both its external structure and its interior. The methodology included the planning of the information survey, in situ survey with 3D laser scanner technology, processing of the data obtained, and generation of the HBIM model. As a result, the model of the Balbanera Church, the quantification of work materials, and the documentation of architectural plans both in plan and elevation were achieved, providing professionals with accurate and reliable information for future interventions to ensure the preservation of the built heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, Eric Santner's theory of political flesh is appreciated in its relation to philosophy of religion and Christian theology. In the first part of the paper, Santner's speculative concept is brought into conversation with the debate on embodiment, incarnation, and a hermeneutics of the flesh. Santner's conception of the flesh is shown to follow a logic of excarnation, or rather disincorporation, and thus to be at odds with contemporary harmonistic theories of embodiment that attempt to think body and spirit together without rupture. In contrast, the relevance of Santner's theory lies precisely in its antagonistic reading of the dynamics that constitute human embodied being – a dimension overlooked by most recent theories of embodiment. The second part of the article develops a reading of Protestantism as a "religion of the flesh" in line with Santner's argument. In doing so, it is shown that the Protestant narrative of self-modernization and progress (Hegel's "religion of freedom") can be subverted by the conception of the flesh brought into play by Santner, revealing a much more ambivalent history of Protestantism. In a re-reading of the theologies of Karl Barth, Friedrich Schleiermacher, and John Calvin, it is shown that the Protestant understanding of the church can be made transparent to a figure of the undead that is virulent in it, namely the undead flesh of Jesus Christ. In the end, the question is raised whether this figure of an "undead" Christ might not be interpreted as a paradoxological intervention in the sense of Eric Santner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What is truth? We have entered another period fraught with Gospel confusion—beyond postmodernism to what can be called "post-Christianity". This is not unusual—so we should not be overwhelmed. This happens periodically, as early as Gal 1:9: "If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned". It is all a question of the Gospel, or put another way, evangelism (the communication or announcing "the good news of God"). Evangelism is proclaiming and living a distinct message of Jesus Christ. Jesus is Himself the embodiment of the "good news". The Gospel has been challenged, eroded and corrupted over the centuries—yet rediscovered by those who practice exegesis of the Biblical record of the New Testament. This article moves on to look at how secular philosophy—rather than Christian philosophy—and other "forms of the truth" have influenced the current situation we find ourselves in. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reuse of construction materials has been a consistent practice throughout the history of architecture, especially prevalent during periods of transition when it was preferred for its ability to simplify installation and reduce construction costs. This practice was particularly common in late Roman urban contexts, where construction materials, especially ashlar and sculptural elements, were abundant following the abandonment of temples and public buildings. However, there are occasions when the use of spolia, or reused materials, goes beyond simple material recycling. The reuse and display of certain pieces carry complex implications involving symbology, cultural appropriation, or collective memory exercises that convey messages through new buildings. In this paper, we focus on the unique case of Hispanic Christian architectural sculptures that were "recycled" in new buildings during the first centuries of Islamic domination of the Iberian Peninsula, specifically within places of worship. Through a general analysis and review of some examples, we aim to reflect on the motivations and intentionality behind the use of certain sculptural pieces and their placement in new buildings, which is not arbitrary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excavation of a postulated early Medieval hermitage near Crowland, England, identified a site with a long and complex chronological sequence. During the Neolithic or Early Bronze Age, a monumental henge was built, among the largest so far identified in the Fens of eastern England, probably later adapted into a timber circle. After a period of apparent abandonment, the interior of the henge was reoccupied around the 7th century a.d. and, after further early Medieval phases, was transformed by the abbots of Crowland through construction of a high-status hall and chapel complex in the later 12th century a.d. While no conclusive evidence was found for an early hermitage that local tradition associates with the eremites Guthlac and Pega, Anchor Church Field offers an exceptional case study of an evolving sacred landscape in a deep-time perspective, culminating in its redevelopment by the Anglo-Norman monastery to claim legitimacy from illustrious saintly forebears. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Theological interpretation of Scripture and public theology have so far said very little to one another. To a certain extent, this is understandable, as the two are involved in separate projects with differing priorities and questions. However, a mutually beneficial dialogue is possible. Public theology has yet to devote significant attention to the role of Scripture in public engagement and theological interpretation provides a framework better suited than historical criticism for allowing the Bible to speak to current situations. In return, public theology can help theological interpretation to clarify the public nature of the ecclesial community through the development of a public ecclesiology in order to better hear the voice of God in Scripture through a more holistic theological reading, one with a thicker defense against ecclesial tendencies toward authoritarianism and privatism. In establishing the possibility of a mutually beneficial relationship, this article provides a rationale for the relationship between public theology and theological interpretation to begin outright. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Social Sciences Studies is the property of Social Sciences Studies and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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This paper contributes to the research on the symbiotic relationship between religion and the market by examining the nature and implications of the marketization of religion in a contemporary Christendom in which religion and the market are hegemonic. Based on our analysis of 3741 church advertisements in Ghana over a 6-year period, we conceptualize three symbiotic relationships that coexist between the market and religion—commensalism, mutualism, and competition. We argue that these symbiotic relationships mirror how religion hegemonizes popular imagination and members' consumption through marketization in contemporary Christendom. This study extends our understanding of the dialectical relationship between religion and the market by showing that religion can use marketization to perpetuate its hegemony within and beyond the market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Since 2007, two notable textual and pictorial groups of the Manichaeans’ heritage of China have been found which have displayed some new characteristics of Manichaeism and have increased the scope of Manichaean studies. Representing the second, viz. the southern phase of Manichaeism in China, these new findings are replete with features of Chinese folk religion, particularly signs of Buddhism and Daoism. To maintain unity and survival, the Manichaeans absorbed local aspects and combined the fundamental principles of religion with Chinese concepts. To convey the concepts and teachings of the religion, they followed Mānī’s missionary scheme; that is, endeavoring the promotion of Manichaeism by utilizing various tools. This attitude triggered a significant expansion in the Manichaean church history. Centering on Mānī, three paintings target the importance of missionary work among the new findings. The first two silk paintings were introduced in 2009, however, recently a painting has been found that has attracted attention, the Hagiography painting (3), which deals with the Manichaean church history and includes parables and references to rebirth. Method and Research: To do a textual-pictorial analysis and introduce this new painting in Persian for the first time, this article intends to briefly deal with the Manichaean missionary work, identify the components of the painting, and show the manner of representation of the Manichaean church history. Findings and Conclusions: A preliminary examination of this painting has shown that the Manichaeans in China, who were trying to spread the teachings, tied their church history to the innermost cultural layers of China and different social classes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Congregation building is one of the disciplines of practical theology. Its goal is to offer congregation models that are attractive and inspiring Christian congregations for today’s people. In this work, I review the models in the field of congregation building that I believe can meet this objective today [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]