In contemporary literature and practice, the first principle of bioethics, autonomy, which is defined as the right of individuals to self-determination and self-government, is often idolized and regarded as a moral absolute that must, under no circumstances, be violated. For Christianity, personal free will and individual autonomy stem from our creation in the image and likeness of God; thus, should be highly respected. On the other hand, modern phrases such as “my body, my choice” and “keep your laws off my (...) body,” which are mostly aimed at supporting practices traditionally incompatible with Christian teaching, such as abortion, euthanasia, and gender reassignment, are on the rise in contemporary societies, especially in the West. This article deals with the modern “absolutization” of the principle of autonomy from the standpoint of Christian morality and attempts to comparatively examine the stance of Eastern Orthodox and Catholic ethics on the matter. So, where exactly do the two traditional Christian Churches stand between the respect and the absolutization of autonomy? This question is considered in this paper. (shrink)

The issue of the exact shape and form of the resurrected human body has been highly controversial and has concerned Christian theology throughout the ages. However, although deliberate body modification practices, such as tattooing, have been playing an important role for civilizations since ancient years, their place in heavenly life has hardly been discussed. In addition, decorative tattooing has a very interesting and also ethically controversial background through time, as one could say that it is both an act of embellishment (...) and an act of mutilation, moving between two contrasted parallels, beauty and deformity. Examining, therefore, the specific questions of whether the risen flesh of the blessed will be perfectly beautiful and freed of any earthly deformities as well as whether it will resemble the resurrected ‘wounded’ body of Christ or not, this paper deals with the issue of the preservation of decorative tattoos in the Kingdom of Heaven. (shrink)

The fundamental concern of this thesis is to articulate a vision for ministry in Irish Methodism for the twenty-first century based on the theory and practice of Servant Leadership. It will show how Servant Leadership offers the most effective framework for the development of ordained ministry in the Irish Methodist Church. Chapter One presents the research methodologies utilised in the thesis. These include historical analysis of sources, a review of literary resources and empirical methodologies. The latter includes thematic analysis of (...) qualitative data and the presentation of findings gathered from semi-structured interviews. Chapter Two identifies the unique context of the origins and development of Irish Methodism in contrast to English Methodism. This detailed historical analysis shows the radical differences in context between Ireland and England and simultaneously illustrates the symbiotic relationship between these two branches of Methodism. Chapter Three addresses the themes of ministry and leadership. It draws deeply on primary sources in the Irish Methodist historical archive, Edgehill House Belfast. The chapter outlines the evolving nature of ordained ministry and considers the challenges facing the contemporary Irish Methodist Church. Chapter Four surveys the definitions of servant leadership to unearth their unique and creative insights for an original vision of ministry. The chapter argues that the servant leadership commitment to the development of people is fundamental to the practice of ministry. Chapter Five presents the empirical data drawn from eighteen semi-structured interviews with ordained ministers. These interviews explore the participants’ ministry experience, perceptions of leadership, and understanding of servant leadership. Chapter Six discusses the findings of the research. It asserts that servant leadership provides an innovative framework for understanding the role of the contemporary Methodist minister. It claims confidently that this framework enables ministers to lead congregations and facilitate growth in the twenty-first century Irish Methodist Church. (shrink)

This dissertation is devoted to the ethical issues arising in connection to self-tracking practices and technologies. Today, various digital devices (such as Fitbit or Apple Watch) and smartphone apps (e.g.,MyFitnessPal) allow users to collect, quantify and analyse information about their behaviour and bodily parameters, typically for the purposes of behaviour change and management. Self-tracking is commonly associated with the promise of translating quantified data into greater knowledge about oneself, as well as greater control over one’s habits and body. Over the (...) course of the dissertation, I identify the normative issues surrounding selftracking by means of a systematic literature review and adapt John Dewey’s ethical theory to apply it to the analysis of the issues that have not yet been adequately analysed in the literature, namely, the impact on the individual and habit formation, the impact on interpersonal relations, and just distribution of benefits and burdens produced through self-tracking. With the help of Dewey’s ethical ideals of inclusive, continuing growing, and democracy (understood as a cooperative and participatory way of life, rather than a political system), I argue that self-tracking 1) has a negative impact on users’ identity and autonomy by manipulating them into behaviours that are not necessarily in line with their sense of self; 2) limits the quality and depth of users’ engagement with others; and 3) allows companies to exert control over users and profit from their data without adequate compensation, and benefits users from privileged groups to a much greater degree than those coming from marginalised backgrounds. The analysis is accompanied by a set of recommendations for users, developers and policymakers that would ensure that self-tracking positively contributes to individual and societal flourishing/wellbeing and operates in line with the ideal of social justice. (shrink)

Michel Foucault describes how, using technologies of the self, those practices of self on self, necessarily learned in processes of spiritual direction, an individual is enabled to self-constitute an ethical subjectivity, and then, by conducting her own conduct, enjoy a singular style of living that reflects an unmitigated relation between her freedom and truth. The history of these ancient technologies also describes the constitution of ‘ways of being’ or attitudes independent of external power and of unique styles of living in (...) ancient Greece, without reference to essential subjectivity. Foucault’s exposition of this freedom to self-constitute a unique style of existence is to answer the questions: where a concern for truth constantly calls truth into question, what is the form of existence which makes this questioning possible and what life is necessary given that an imposed truth is not necessary? By opposing concepts of self and trans-subjectivation in a new conception of ethics as a relationship of self to self, Foucault demonstrates how a subject might transform herself and refuse to renounce herself as obliged by the deployment of knowledge (connaissance). He asks whether this ethical subject might sustain a modern morality that will, no longer, need to be supported by either traditional ideology, code, or law? The Return of Morality is an exploration of these ancient Hellenistic technologies of selfsubjectivation and their possible use today as the condition of possibility, according to Foucault, for modern strategies that refuse the limits imposed by the internal ruse of freedom and the inverted image of modern forms of pastoral power that govern self-identification and individualisation. This technology might allow the re-establishment of self-government and enable a style of living that might be called a unified morality for today, one referring to all life experience, one that exists outside of imposed code and law. (shrink)

“Pleasing to the eye” (Gen 3:6) – this is how Genesis describes the forbidden fruit when Adam and Eve were trying to apologise for eating it, as, since the time of the first people, beauty, or that which is “pleasing to the eye”, has been admired. Christian Fathers, since the time of the early Church, came up against the problem of beauty, as, although the human body was unquestionably beautiful, the question of the right attitude towards it was of particular (...) concern to them. One of these Fathers was the most prolific Eastern Christian thinker and writer, St. John Chrysostom. As Chrysostom, drawing mainly from the Bible, saw, beauty, especially that of the human body, should be appreciated and even glorified. However, paradoxically one could say, physical beautification is morally disapproved. How is it possible, then, that the beauty of the body is desired, while its beautification should be condemned? That is the problem this work deals with. (shrink)

Bible Journaling is a trend of the past decade whereby readers make creative, visual interventions in their Bibles, using coloured pens and pencils, watercolours, stickers and stencils, highlighting texts of particular resonance. Journaling, in its more conventional written forms, has long been recognised as a pathway to spiritual development. Significantly, Bible journaling is almost exclusively practiced by women and has a high level of interpersonal interaction attached to it, through open and mutual sharing of these creations, through various online social (...) media fora. Gleaned from the sharing of women who journal for spiritual support, this article examines the role Bible journaling plays in aiding recovery from drug addiction. Multimodal analysis is a methodological approach that provides a structured semiotic framework in which to closely examine every feature of a creation such as a journaled page of a Bible, to examine how the journaler has made meaning of a text through their interventions on the page. Appreciating every mark, choice and placement of image, colour, typography as a motivated sign revealing the interest of the creator, the sign-maker, a detailed multimodal analysis is conducted of one page of a recovered drug-user’s journaled Bible. As shall be demonstrated, profound insights into the appropriation of sacred texts for the spiritual life of a recovering addict can be gleaned in this process. Bible journaling reveals itself to be a highly valuable spiritual practice for those in addiction recovery. This interdisciplinary paper uniquely brings a methodological approach from the field of semiotics to the field of spirituality. Both the methodological approach and the subject of sacred text journaling may be of particular interest to spiritual directors, across many religions with a foundational sacred text, as a means whereby adherents can engage with a text in a deep, contemplative and creative practice that is personally, spiritually sustaining and motivating during a difficult phase of life. (shrink)

A unique study of lectionaries and graphic design as a site of biblical reception How artists portrayed the Bible in large canvas paintings is frequently the subject of scholarly exploration, yet the presentation of biblical texts in contemporary graphic designs has been largely ignored. In this book Amanda Dillon engages multimodal analysis, a method of semiotic discourse, to explore how visual composition, texture, color, directionality, framing, angle, representations, and interactions produce potential meanings for biblical graphic designs. Dillon focuses on the (...) artworks of two American graphic designers—the woodcuts designed by Meinrad Craighead for the Roman Catholic Sunday Missal and Nicholas Markell’s illustrations for the worship books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America—to present the merits of multimodal analysis for biblical reception history. (shrink)

The Arma Christi, the instruments of the Passion of Christ, are a fascinating collection of symbols evident throughout the history of Christian art. This article considers the striking re- emergence of visual depictions of the Arma Christi in the contemporary spiritual practice of Bible Journaling. How have these symbols of the Passion made their way back into the popular Christian imaginary and creative expression of Bible readers today? The creative, devotional practice of Bible Journaling is gaining popularity in many countries, (...) notably the US. Almost exclusively practiced by women, Bible Journaling involves making artistic interventions directly in the material artefact of the printed Bible, with different creative media. In considering the value of this practice for women’s spirituality, this article employs a social semiotic approach, multimodal analysis, to survey their visual representations and to analyse in detail one specific creative intervention, “I AM THE NAIL”, as a reception of a contemporary understanding of salvation through the suffering of Jesus Christ on the cross. Also considered are intertextual readings of the Hebrew Bible (Isaiah 53: 3–5) and the NT. The semiotic influence of popular cultural products such as The Passion of the Christ movie on the visual idiom embraced by the journalers forms part of this analysis. (shrink)

This research thesis explores the concept of attention as outlined and practised in the life of Simone Weil (1909-1943), a French woman variously described as a philosopher, mystic and activist yet someone who eludes categorisation or systematisation. It outlines the background to her life in a France between two world wars, and seeks to situate her within the context of the Christianity she claimed as her cultural backdrop. It explores the concept of attention as both a spiritual exercise and a (...) practice in the life of Weil, something that then evolved into a core principle of her thinking. The central question here is the age-old one, harking back to ancient philosophy, concerning the living of a good life, particularly within the context of a lifelong acquaintanceship with Weil‘s work. As this study examines Weil‘s ideas on reading, it also interrogates how she is read, particularly by poets today, with a view to assessing her influence. Weil was a writer who loved poetry and wrote some herself. Poetry and the recitation of prayers played an important role in her mystical experiences. The role of affliction in her mysticism and in her life is important and it will be seen how her stance in the face of affliction is something that marks her thinking. The concept of attention today incorporates issues around the commodification of the attention span, as well as its deficits. This study examines some of these issues and draws forth from the life and work of Simone Weil a more expanded, practical, and reflective understanding of the idea of attention. (shrink)

The fundamental concern of this thesis is to articulate a vision for ministry in Irish Methodism for the twenty-first century based on the theory and practice of Servant Leadership. It will show how Servant Leadership offers the most effective framework for the development of ordained ministry in the Irish Methodist Church. Chapter One presents the research methodologies utilised in the thesis. These include historical analysis of sources, a review of literary resources and empirical methodologies. The latter includes thematic analysis of (...) qualitative data and the presentation of findings gathered from semi-structured interviews. Chapter Two identifies the unique context of the origins and development of Irish Methodism in contrast to English Methodism. This detailed historical analysis shows the radical differences in context between Ireland and England and simultaneously illustrates the symbiotic relationship between these two branches of Methodism. Chapter Three addresses the themes of ministry and leadership. It draws deeply on primary sources in the Irish Methodist historical archive, Edgehill House Belfast. The chapter outlines the evolving nature of ordained ministry and considers the challenges facing the contemporary Irish Methodist Church. Chapter Four surveys the definitions of servant leadership to unearth their unique and creative insights for an original vision of ministry. The chapter argues that the servant leadership commitment to the development of people is fundamental to the practice of ministry. Chapter Five presents the empirical data drawn from eighteen semi-structured interviews with ordained ministers. These interviews explore the participants’ ministry experience, perceptions of leadership, and understanding of servant leadership. Chapter Six discusses the findings of the research. It asserts that servant leadership provides an innovative framework for understanding the role of the contemporary Methodist minister. It claims confidently that this framework enables ministers to lead congregations and facilitate growth in the twenty-first century Irish Methodist Church. (shrink)

A disproportionate emphasis on the work of Western European and North American scholars has been a feature of investigations into the development of the academic study of religion. This article seeks to examine how a non-European intellectual, the Syrian Muḥammad Kurd ʿAlī (1876–1953), produced and transmitted knowledge about religions in his encyclopedic historical topography of ‘Greater Syria’—the Khiṭaṭ al-Shām (1925–1928). Kurd ʿAlī was a leading figure in the Nahḍa, an intellectual movement that sought to revivify Arab (and for some, Islamic) (...) culture through a rediscovery of its classical heritage and was a proponent of a reformist tendency within Sunnī Islam known as Salafism—often associated with the thought of Jamāl al-Dīn al-Afghānī and Muḥammad ʿAbduh. Kurd ʿAlī’s religiography in the Khiṭaṭ, though grounded in traditional Islamic discourse on the religious other, moves beyond that discourse to privilege the experiences and accounts of insiders. This move from heresiography to religiography is best seen through a close reading of Kurd ʿAlī’s writing on the ʿAlawīs (formerly known as Nuṣayrīs). Kurd ʿAlī’s writing on the ʿAlawīs is also an important witness to a vital phase in the development of that group’s articulation of its own identity in an environment that had been at best indifferent and at worst hostile to its existence. (shrink)

Although there is no consensus on how placebos actually work, their association with the concept of faith is considered to play a key role. In modern medicine, the traditional use of placebos raises bioethical concerns, despite the fact that it has shown extremely positive results over time. Orthodox Christian moral theology has not yet divulged its views on the matter, although several of its Church Fathers and secular theologians have evaluated the concepts of falsehood, autonomy, and, of course, faith. Thus, (...) by examining these notions, could we conclude the morality of the practice, from the point of view of Christian Orthodox bioethics? This is the question this paper will answer to. (shrink)

Biblical scholarship usually engages with reconstructed texts without taking into account the form and material culture of the manuscripts that transmit the texts used in reconstruction. This article examines the influence of paratexts on biblical studies and reception history, using the book of Revelation as a test case, in an effort to rediscover the significance of transmission for comprehending the ways in which past reading communities engaged their scriptural traditions. The liminal features of manuscripts that are often ignored in modern (...) editions are an integral part of the artefact that influence and control a text’s reading. This study argues that paratexts represent an underdeveloped resource for reception history, insofar as the relationship between text and paratext is rarely taken into consideration by modern interpreters. Ultimately, I argue that material culture, textual transmission, reception history, and exegesis are integrally linked processes. (shrink)

The following four research questions are analysed in this thesis: What are the ethical issues that arise in cybersecurity in the business domain? Is it ethically appropriate for organisations to employ red teams to find security vulnerabilities? What is the ethically appropriate organisational response to a ransomware attack? Is it ethically appropriate for organisations to attempt a botnet takedown in response to a DDoS attack? The first research question is answered by way of a literature review which reveals that many (...) ethical issues arise in cybersecurity in the business domain. The second, third and fourth research questions are analysed using a strategic method described by Robert A Phillips. This method, based on stakeholder theory and the political theory of John Rawls, provides a philosophical basis for stakeholder legitimacy and the prioritisation of stakeholders’ interests should conflict of interests amongst stakeholders arise. This method can be replicated by decision-makers to determine ethically appropriate courses of action to take. (shrink)

This doctoral research project reimagines Christian theological anthropology, building on the work of both ancient and modern theologians regarding the question of gender and sexuality. The project seeks to deny binary labels in favour of understanding identity to be dynamic, relational, and always in a state of growth. The objective is to develop an inclusive theological vision of the human person that affirms the equality, dignity, and uniqueness of each embodied individual. There are two central concerns: How can such notions (...) be integrated with humanity’s creation in the image of God and its eschatological perfection in the person of Jesus Christ? How might sinful human nature be recast in light of modern understandings of gender and sexuality? Through exploring these concerns, this thesis demonstrates the relevance of core theological concepts to understanding personhood in our twenty-first century context, when ethical and political decisions are based on tacit value judgements, often made in relation to gender and sexual identity. To facilitate the argument, the project brings feminists, phenomenologists, and queer theorists into a fruitful dialogue with Jewish and Christian understandings of human nature. The project also re-examines the concept of sacramentality, and points toward practical implications for building a more ethical society. (shrink)

First introduced in 2015, Contributor Role Ontologies and Taxonomies are the most recent innovation developed to address ethical issues of scholarly authorship. By providing a standard list of roles to specify individual contributions to publications, CROTs enhance transparency and consistency about the reporting of conducted tasks, and accordingly, improve the attribution of credit and responsibilities. Although various parties such as academic journals and universities are increasingly adopting CROTs, thus far no study has evaluated them from an ethical perspective. To fill (...) this gap, this study develops an assessment instrument and subsequently analyses three major CROTs including CRediT, CRO and TaDiRAH, and provides recommendations for improving them from an ethical perspective. This study uses a bottom-up approach comprised of two literature reviews, combined with a review of non-conventional sources to collate concerns about authorship and use of CROTs, and generate candidate assessment criteria. Then with a top-down approach and using David Resnik’s 12 principles of research ethics, developed candidate assessment criteria are further analysed, and an assessment instrument consisting of 25 justified criteria is compiled. This instrument is used to identify the ethical strengths and weaknesses of CRediT, CRO and TaDiRAH. Finally, using current best practices and available technology in publication processes, recommendations are provided for further development and improvement of CROTs. Results show that CRediT satisfies more criteria than other CROTs. In relation to the attribution of credit and usability, CRediT provides unique options. However, unlike TaDiRAH that is translated into languages other than English, and CRO that has revised its roles, CRediT is only available in English and has not been updated yet. Improving CROTs benefits almost all parties involved in the development, production, or use of academic publications such as researchers, journal editors, librarians, hiring and promotion committees and funders. (shrink)

This article examines a number of contested and contentious issues in the reception of Hosea 1–3, exploring how readers through the centuries have engaged with the interpretive challenges found in the initial chapters of this prophetic text. These include (1) debates concerning whether the marriage of Hosea and Gomer should be understood literally or figuratively; (2) questions concerning the identity of the woman in chp. 3 in relation to the events of chp. 1; (3) proposals on how to understand the (...) metaphorical elements related to Hosea’s marriage and Israel’s infidelity; (4) ethical, theological, and rhetorical concerns raised by these chapters, including feminist critiques; (5) the place of Gomer’s children in the opening chapter of the book; (6) the themes and rhetoric of chp. 2, including the punishment and wooing of the wife and Israel; and (7) the role of Hos 1–3 in Jewish and Christian liturgical traditions. This study offers soundings from across historical, religious, and interpretive traditions that give a sense of the wide-ranging ways in which this book has been read and understood through the centuries. In particular, it highlights that while specific questions and issues related to Hosea have persisted through the years, the underlying interpretive assumptions and approaches to these questions have shifted considerably in various historical periods, which in turn has led to considerable diversity in the reception of this prophetic text. (shrink)

Edited volume following presentations at the Sixth International Symposium on the Sociology of Music Education, held at Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, 6-9 June, 2009. Preface by John O'Flynn ; chapters by Lucy Green; Marie McCarthy; Maria Argyriou; Mairéad Berrill; Bernadette D. Colley; Geraldine Cotter; Patricia Huff Cox; Eugene Dairianathan; Heloisa Feichas and Robert Wells; Michelle Finnerty; Geir Johansen; Thomas Johnston; Panagiotis A. Kanellopoulos; Ailbhe Kenny; Edward R. McClellan; Gwen Moore; Tony Nam-Hai Leong; John O’Flynn; Nan Qi; Melinda Russell; Gareth Dylan (...) Smith; Karen Snell; Ann Marie Stanley; Terese Volk Tuohey; Ruth Wright and Hildegard Froehlich. (shrink)

Over the past several years, there has been a significant increase in the number of scientific articles with two or more authors claiming “Equal Co-First Authorship”. This study provides a critical background to ECFA designations, discusses likely causes of its increased use, and explores arguments for and against the practice. Subsequently, it presents the results of a qualitative study that sought the opinion of 19 authors listed among equal first authors of recent publications in leading scientific journals about ECFA designations. (...) Results show that circumstances leading to ECFA designations vary significantly from each other. While the development of policies for these situations would not be easy, participants suggested that the lack of clear and consistent policies regarding the attribution and evaluation of ECFA contributes to tensions amongst ECFA authors and obscures their preferred attributions of credit. (shrink)

The Second Vatican Council, also referred to as Vatican II, was the most momentous event in the life of the Roman Catholic Church during the twentieth century and it brought to a close what some commentators have described as 'the long nineteenth century', a timeline stretching from the period of the French revolution to the 1960s. The council was a call to renewal, or 'aggiornamento', whereby the church returned to its sources in order to strengthen and deepen its capacity to (...) engage with modern society. This thesis assesses the degree to which Vatican II was received in the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland under the headings of collegiality and 'communio', the modernisation of Irish society, ecumenism and liturgy. In advance of that, it will examine the historiography of church councils together with various understandings of reception. While the reception of a church council is an ongoing process, the thesis is primarily concentrated on the period from the announcement of Vatican II by Pope John XXIII in January 1959 to the death of Cardinal William Conway in April 1977. The reception of Vatican II in Ireland was, on the one hand, aided by a model of church more accustomed to loyally receiving change by directives from above. On the other hand, it was hampered by a lack of theological and intellectual preparedness among clergy and laity. This affected the capacity of the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland fully to realise the renewal which the council sought to achieve. Ireland's deep-rooted identification with an institutional-based traditional and devotional form of Catholicism, the divided nature of the communities in Northern Ireland, the homogenous nature of Irish society in the Republic of Ireland, and the beginnings economic and social change within that society, all impacted upon the capacity of the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland to receive fully the council from the beginning. (shrink)

Biblical reception history is a rapidly expanding area of biblical studies that concerns itself not only with how biblical texts have been received historically and traditionally but also with how they are received in the contemporary era and in diverse cultural contexts. My interest is in how the biblical text is received within the prevailing cultural shift towards the visual. One area of visual culture that is frequently overlooked when describing art that illustrates the Bible are those graphic designs that (...) appear in liturgical books such as Lectionaries and Missals, and the primary worship books found in the pews of different congregations. Lectionaries offer a curated selection of biblical texts, oriented around a Christocentric focus within the annual and cyclical structure of liturgical seasons. These books bring the biblical text into the liturgical domain where they perform the semantic and iconic authority of the Bible. This makes the books themselves already a very particular and interesting site of the reception of Bible. This study sets out to explore the artistic interpretation of the biblical lections found in these iconic liturgical books. Focused on graphic designs found in Christian liturgical books this study seeks to understand how religious images function semiotically in the reception of selected biblical texts. Furthermore, it considers what theoretical discourse might be used to analyse this and describe how meaning is made visually. A Social Semiotics of the Visual, an emerging methodology developed by Gunter Kress and Theo van Leeuwen shall provide the framework for this exploration of the relationship between the Bible and contemporary graphic design. (shrink)

This research explores the link between the practice of contemplation and its influence on leadership. It investigates how the interiority of the leader can shape the style and quality of leadership practice. This research has as its ultimate goal the provision of a deeper understanding of contemplative leadership, its concepts, characteristics, challenges, and opportunities; and it shows how contemplative leadership can be realistically lived and demonstrated in an organisational setting. The literature includes an overview of the historical development of leadership (...) theories, an exploration of the history and development of the Christian contemplative tradition, and a review of the principal assumptions of contemplative leadership. The qualitative research methodology used was that of narrative inquiry by way of in-depth, semi-structured interviewing. The interview participants were a purposively chosen, information rich, non-probability group. Sixteen leaders who have a contemplative orientation to their life and work participated in the in-depth interviews. The study finds that to be a more authentic and effective leader, a major task is nurturing a disciplined contemplative life through developing an intimate relationship with God. The findings also provide an insight into the multifaceted reality of contemplative leadership including its concepts, characteristics, challenges, and opportunities. Further findings are described under the following themes: contemplation is transformative; contemplation and leadership are complementary; contemplative leadership can promote a good organizational culture. A new model of contemplative leadership is also presented with the hope of providing the language and a theoretical and practical framework necessary to inform and guide prospective leaders and future leadership development. (shrink)

The book of Obadiah has long been recognized for its message of lex talionis. This is not, however, simply a theme of this short book. Rather, the present article argues that the idea that Edom’s deeds will return upon its head is embedded in the language of the book itself. This ‘poetic justice’ occurs in a series of word plays and allusions that can be traced throughout Obadiah. The word plays juxtapose the identities and futures of Edom and Judah, and (...) allude in various ways to Edom’s coming reckoning. A recognition of these dimensions of the Hebrew text may help the reader more fully appreciate the rhetorical force and literary artistry of this shortest of prophetic books. (shrink)

This article explores Edward Elgar's attempts to ascribe Christian traits to the pagan king, Caractacus, in the cantata 'Caractacus', in an attempt to portray the late-Victorian British Empire as superior to the ancient Roman Empire.

Spirit Christology has emerged as an important focus in recent theology. It offers new perspectives on christology and pneumatology. Can these new perspectives lead to advances in trinitarian theology itself? The classical theologies o f both East and West tended to express great reserve about moving too easily from the economy o f salvation to ideas about God in se. In the 20th century, Karl Rahner’s axiom that the “economic” Trinity is the “immanent” Trinity and vice versa helped lead to (...) a significant erosion of this reserve, though not without controversy. Coffey contributes significantly to reflection on this nexus of questions. He explores the relation of Spirit Christology to Logos Christology, arguing that the former need not supplant the latter. He reformulates Rahner’s axiom, suggesting ways of overcoming some o f its ambiguities. He shows that Spirit Christology offers an “ascending” basis for a “mutual love” pneumatology, in the service of a renewed trinitarian theology. This dissertation presents an analysis of Coffey’s achievement in its various contexts, historical and contemporary. It highlights his methodological balance. It argues that his theology represents an important development within the tradition, casting new light on issues of pressing contemporary interest. (shrink)

This thesis investigates how children ought to be influenced with respect to religion. To answer this question, I develop a theory of cognitive curriculum content and apply it to the teaching of religious beliefs and beliefs about religions. By ‘a theory of cognitive curriculum content,’ I mean a theory that determines which truth-claims belong on the curriculum, and whether or not teachers ought to promote students’ belief of those claims. I extend this theory to help educators to decide which attitudes (...) address on the curriculum and whether or not to promote them. I then apply this to the case of religious attitudes and attitudes about religions. I argue that where having or failing to have a certain attitude makes a significant difference to students’ lives, it ought to be addressed by curricula. Where failing to have the attitude is irrational, this failure ought to be remedied; where having the attitude is irrational, that attitude ought to be discouraged; and where neither having nor failing to have the attitude is irrational, that attitude ought to be introduced and discussed without encouragement or discouragement. In so far as is practicable, educators should aim to acquaint students with arguments for and against having these attitudes and initiate them into the practice of assessing their soundness. The implications of this theory for extra-curricular influence, such as upbringing in the home, are also explored. (shrink)

A history of the Music Association of Ireland from 1948 to the present day, employing the extensive archives of the MAI stored at the National Library of Ireland to address the changing cultural climate over the period, to delineate the debate on musical identity, national policy and music education. The thesis will focus on postcolonial, political and sociological theories and perspectives with particular emphasis on archival studies. Considering the first MAI committee comprised of established composers such as Boydell, Deale, Groocock, (...) Fleischmann and May it is unsurprising from the outset that the standing of the composer and the performance and publication of their works would always figure prominently in the activities of the newly established organisation. One of the driving forces of this Association was Olive Smith and her contribution to musical life in Ireland needs to be acknowledged. This study will particularly focus on her dynamic role in the MAI promoting a Schools’ Recitals Scheme, a series of concerts organised to promote young Irish singers and instrumentalists and her most notable achievement, the establishment of the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland. Many of the initiatives set up by the MAI, as a voluntary body, now function as separate, professional organisations, for example the Music in Great Irish Houses Festival, Music Network, National Youth Orchestra and Contemporary Music Centre. (shrink)

The aim of this thesis is to investigate the literary structure, form and unity of the letter of James, an investigation which only really began about the middle of the 19th century. This period of time marked a beginning where scholars began to suggest that James was more than a chaotic jumble of sayings and exhortations, a characterisation often describing James in earlier studies. This line of inquiry continued on throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. There still, however, remains a (...) great diversity of opinion and disagreement on the matter..This thesis offers a sustained study of the literary structure and form of James over seven chapters. Chapter I traces the present state of the question in relation to the literary structure of the letter, and how diverse the range of opinions are. Chapter II focuses specifically on the introduction and conclusion of the letter. Chapter TTI outlines the various methodologies used to decipher the letter’s structure and form, with suggestions on the methods this thesis will take. Chapter IV endeavours to delineate the introduction to the letter while Chapter V focuses on the literary structure of the rest of the letter. Chapter VI will examine the literary form of James which is an important issue that arises from the study of the letter’s literary structure. Here, the epistolary status of James will be assessed. Finally, Chapter VII will then seek to establish the unity of the letter, with a focus upon the themes of perfection and double mindedness as unifying themes. (shrink)

This study seeks to outline a theory of school chaplains as Meaning-Makers in schools in response to the research question ‘what is the rationale for school chaplaincy in Ireland’. This question is asked within a context of an increasingly pluralist and secular society. The development of publicly-funded chaplaincy in some secondary school sectors, and its validation by the Courts, is examined. Several other contexts which impact on the efficacy of chaplaincy are also considered - the social context, the educational context, (...) the ecclesial context, the social context and the international context. Grounded Theory Methodology is used to analyse the evaluations of school chaplaincy by the inspectorate of the Department of Education and Skills during whole-school inspections. This is followed by analysis of data based on the reflections and insights of key personnel in the Irish education system that were obtained through semi-structured interviews and analysed through coding and memo writing. Validation of findings is provided by a final Focus group with the executive of the School Chaplains Association. Results of the research indicate that the school chaplain adds an important MeaningMaking dimension to education through the care provided to students and through facilitating young people to explore their spiritual dimension. The chaplain also adds an important dimension to school life by facilitating reflection on school ethos. Respondents, however, raised concerns regarding the appropriateness of the current model to meet the needs of students from other faiths and none, given the relationship of chaplains with their nominating authority. The inequalities in chaplaincy provision is also highlighted. (shrink)

This thesis exam ines the work o f three philosophers - Jacques M aritain, Bernard Lonergan and Terence H. M cLaughlin - with a view to recovering from their educational w ritings important insights and approaches pertinent to the task o f giving new articulation to Catholic philosophy o f education today. Having noted the virtual disappearance o f the Thom ist-A ristotelian tradition in Catholic educational discourse over the past half-century, the thesis seeks to identify in these authors elements (...) that suggest new perspectives on the Catholic educational tradition in a postm odern age. The thesis selects aspects of the work o f these thinkers that m erit critical appraisal in any attempt to give a systematic and detailed expression to the Catholic tradition o f educational thought today, namely: M aritain’s integral Christian humanism, Lonergan’s transcendental method, and M cLauglin’s notion and practice o f pedagogic phronesis. This study concludes with a reflection on how selected aspects o f the work o f these scholars m ight complement and strengthen the Congregation for Catholic Education’s discourse in term s o f the provision of a philosophic basis and fram ew ork o f analysis. (shrink)

This thesis explores the evolution of the biblical concept of imago Dei. Written from the perspective of Christian theology, the thesis engages select Jewish and Christian voices in analysis of the shared theological premise that the human person is created in the image of God The discussion will begin with the scriptural origins of the concept, drawing upon exegetical interpretations as well as the early perspectives of the Rabbinic and Patristic period. It will then offer a comparative account of the (...) contributions of Maimonides and Aquinas, in their intellectualist conceptions of human distinctiveness. From there, the discussion will turn to the Christological appropriation of the concept in work of Karl Barth and then to the covenantal, dialogical interpretation of David Novak. In both of these thinkers, we will observe a rejection of the intellectualism of Aquinas and Maimonides in favour of relational interpretations which are, in their integrative understanding of the person as body and soul, more consistent with the biblical - and Rabbinic - view of the person. The desire for an integrated view of the person will also emerge as significant when the discussion turns to feminist engagements with the concept, which also emphasise the inclusive potential of imago Dei. The thesis will conclude with a consideration of the enduring relevance of the concept of imago Dei in the context of contemporary Jewish and Christian theology. (shrink)