School of Graduate Research Student Theses

Permanent URI for this community

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13057/5

Browse

Now showing 1 - 20 of 279

Grounding a Religious Education Approach to Social Transformation
(1993) Kelly, Michael
Karl Barth's Theology of Joy
(1998) Capper, John
Joy is a recurrent theme in the Church Dogmatics of Karl Barth but it is one which is under-explored. In order to ascertain reasons for this lack, the work of six scholars is explored with regard to the theme of joy, employing the useful though limited “motifs” suggested by Hunsinger. That the revelation of God has a trinitarian framework, as demonstrated by Barth in CD I, and that God as Trinity is joyful, helps to explain Barth’s understanding of theology as a “joyful science”. By close attention to Barth’s treatment of the perfections of God (CD II.1), the link which Barth makes with glory and eternity is explored, noting the far-reaching sweep which joy is allowed by contrast with the related theme of beauty. Divine joy is discerned as the response to glory in the inner life of the Trinity, and as such is the quality of God being truly Godself. Joy is seen to be “more than a perfection” and is basic to God’s self-revelation and human response. A dialogue with Jonathan Edwards challenges Barth’s restricted use of beauty in his theology, and highlights the innovation Barth makes by including election in his doctrine of God. In the context of Barth’s anthropology, paying close attention to his treatment of “being in encounter” (CD III.2), there is an examination of the significance of gladness as the response to divine glory in the life of humanity, and as the crowning of full and free humanness. The study then culminates in a consideration of the role which joy plays in Barth’s doctrine of reconciliation (CD IV) with particular reference to the “Easter event”. A range of critical issues arises from this, and these, together with others gathered from previous chapters, suggests a brief concluding list of questions to Barth.
Participation with Christ: Past, Present and Future Aspects of the Believer’s Death and Resurrection with Christ in Romans 6:1-14
(1998-03) Weymouth, Richard John
The thesis explores the motif of death and resurrection with Christ in Romans 6:1-14, Paul’s language, its connection to the redemptive events, to Christian baptism, faith, and ethics, and the interrelationship between its past, present and future tense aspects, concluding that it is essentially participationist in nature.
Cybergnosticism? A Study of Contemporary Christian Faith Communities in Cyberspace
(2004-12-12) Hill, Graham
This dissertation explores the research question ‘What gnostic-like elements are present within contemporary Christian faith communities in cyberspace?’ The research methodology is qualitative. It involves the examination of Gnostic documents and secondary scholarly sources on Gnosticism, and the detailed analysis of primary source written texts presented at the seventeen designated online contemporary Christian faith communities. The two chapters immediately following the introduction examine the important foundational and specific issues relevant to a study of Christian Gnosticism of the 2nd and 3rd centuries. They serve not as a detailed study of these forms of Gnosticism, but rather as a distillation of its principal characteristics. These characteristics are used as benchmarks in the Content Analysis of the contemporary Cyber faith communities. The following three chapters use these benchmarks in the detailed examination of the online Christian faith communities’ particular perspectives on human personhood, community, and engagement with the world and social behaviour. This dissertation concludes that human beings need some bodily engagement and gathering with others in order to experience authentic Christianity, that God is present within Christian communities in Cyberspace demonstrating his grace and redemption, and that while the Christian communities in Cyberspace manifest some Gnostic tendencies, they also contradict the core values of early Gnosticism. It is an overstatement, then, to label them as ‘cyber-Gnostic’.
Set pools of silence in this thirsty land: Developing Retreat ministry in the Australian landscape
(2005) Pryor, Robin J
This study on the development of Retreat ministry in the Australian landscape is about the very physicality of the created and ever-evolving landscape of deserts, mountains, and lush coastal fringes, which invite exploration of their outer terrain, even while we seek our bearings for the inner journey of the Spirit. It is about the specific opportunities provided by spiritual Retreats to begin to unlock and celebrate some of the mysteries of the presence of the Incarnate Word in this land, centred on and empowered by God’s unconditional Love.
REFLECTIONS ON AUSTRALIAN CONTEXTUAL MODELS OF PASTORAL MINISTRY
(2005) Cronshaw, Darren
Australian historical images – for example, the Aborigine, convict, bushman, gold digger, Anzac ‘digger’, and migrant – are a fruitful source for theological reflection to develop models of ministry. These images and their historical contexts helped shape Australian culture and so shape context for ministry. A conversation between historical themes and Christian tradition suggests a number of complementary models for pastoral ministry in Australia. Spiritual companions, for example, help people relate faith to their journey in everyday life. This model resonates with Aboriginal listening and sensitivity to the sacred, and is at home with the Australian longing for everyday spirituality as articulated by contemporary social commentators such as Michael Leunig. Chaplains get alongside people in the midst of their lives, although colonial chaplains were seen more as distant moral policemen and their role in evangelism was limited by their government employment. As settlement spread through the bush, ministry as shepherding with clergy who cared for their flocks replaced or supplemented chaplaincy. Shepherding, an image rich in nurturing and care, was at home in the rural setting of the colonies, and continues to meaningfully express the pastoral care aspects of local church ministry. The labour movement and the Australian value of a fair go for the underdog suggest a place for ministry as prophetic advocacy; and ministry as service fits Australian humanitarianism, the Anzac spirit and servant leadership popular today even in business circles. Finally, ministers as community hosts reflect both God’s hospitality and the multicultural ethos of Australia that draws people together from different cultures and backgrounds. The pastoral ministry can be imagined and expressed by various models which describe different emphases of ministry, and the most effective models for pastoral ministry in Australia will derive from and critique Australian culture and historical images.
The Contemplative Heart: A Contemplative Spirituality for Daily Life
(2005) Morris, Christopher
The thesis explores the recent growth in interest in the contemplative dimension of Christianity. The term Contemplative Spirituality will be used to encapsulate this growing movement. The central notion of contemplative spirituality is that the living of a contemplative life is available to all Christians living in any state of life. This is a significant change from the past, when a contemplative life was considered the reserve of those living a contemplative lifestyle, usually in a monastery. The thesis examines first the contemporary context in which contemplative spirituality has emerged, a context characterised by a spiritual search emphasising personal experience and choice. It argues that the growing interest and new expression of the Christian contemplative tradition has emerged within this context and has also been influenced by it. Some dimensions of contemplative spirituality are explored, and theological foundations developed. The thesis then suggests contemplative practice as the heart of contemplative spirituality, the most central being the intention to live life with a receptive and attentive attitude to God’s presence in daily life. It then examines a number of contemplative practices before exploring meditation and the spiritual journey in detail. The thesis concludes by arguing that the living of the contemplative life in the world requires significant support to ensure it continues to grow, and it suggests a number of these supports.
The Australian Baptist Heritage Collection: Management of a Geographically Distributed Special Collection
(2007) Burn, Kerrie
This project examined the history, development and current state of Australian Baptist Heritage collections by exploring the contributions of, and relationships between, theological colleges and their libraries, Australian Baptist Historical Societies and Baptist Union Archive collections. An outcome of the project was the compilation of a bibliography of Australian Baptist publications as well as several other valuable resources for collection managers, researchers and historians. A survey was administered to gauge the interest of key individuals and/or institutions in participating in co-operative collection development projects that could advance the purposes of Australian Baptist institutions as a whole. The responses by librarians and archivists responsible for Australian Baptist collections were analysed and possibilities for collaborative collection management of Australian Baptist resources explored. These possibilities include shared collection development policies and preservation strategies, formal sharing of duplicate resources and information about collections, and potentially using digital technology to improve access to collections and to ensure the preservation of nationally significant, and rarely held materials. Australian Baptist library and archive collections are used as a case study with a view to reaching conclusions with implications for the management of similar collections (i.e. geographically distributed special collections). The wider Australian theological community, which includes many other denominational and religious collections, may also be able to participate in some of the proposed co-operative ventures. This research project thereby provides a model for possible emulation by other collections as well as making a contribution to collection management theory and practice.
Standing Up for Corporate Governance - A Practical Theology Perspective
(2008-04-03) Everett, Bruce
In the wake of recent corporate failures, the issue of corporate governance has renewed focus. There is an emerging view that governance is less about systems and processes, and more about corporate culture and morality. This view creates a natural entry point for practical theology because it poses the questions of "what ought to be" and "on what basis do I decide what is right?" This research is grounded in the interview data from a sample of people in governance roles in Australian corporations. It uses the Whitehead model of theological reflection as a critical dialogue between the personal experience of the participants and relevant social theory and Christian tradition. The interviews indicated that corporate values are an increasingly important means of guiding corporate behavior and suggested a hierarchy of compliance. The participants proposed that the ultimate guide to ethical behaviour was personal integrity and being able to live with oneself.
A model for the development of catechetical practices within the life of Camberwell Baptist Church
(2008-10) Menzies, Andrew
The goal of this project was to develop, test and benchmark through a praxis- theory-praxis model, four catechetical practices within the life of local nodes of Camberwell Baptist Church. These practices were created so that the church could develop ways of intentional formation of the whole person in order that, as a body, it would mature towards a greater and more effective missional transformation. Through an examination of Camberwell Baptist Church’s particular context, both church and local community, this project examines how adult Christian education has been attempted previously. The results of the study then lead to analysis of the effects of modernity, theological reflection, and context. Each must be considered in the development of appropriate models for catechesis. This project also specifically considers the roles of geography, pedagogy, and praxis for modern catechetical methods. This project develops a basic theological and theoretical framework for the nature of mission and the church’s participation in it. The framework centers around creation, Christology, Trinity and ecclesiology, especially in light of current understandings of the missio Dei. Most importantly, it gives place to the nature of transition within an established church through models of innovation and change. The project documents how two specific local nodes were successfully created for the purpose of catechetical formation of the participants. Formation was attempted through four catechetical practices being employed in local geographic localities within the life of the nodes. These included: regular table fellowship and breaking of bread, deep listening, hospitality to the stranger, and discernment. The participants found these practices very hard to follow because they required applied behaviour rather than abstract discussion. This research found the node that was most willing to participate initially ended up disbanding while the node that started most cautiously ended up as the sign of greatest hope for future catechesis at Camberwell Baptist Church.
Shemah as Relational Spirituality
(2009) Cheong, Geoffrey W.
There is currently no abstract available for this item.
De-Centred Ministry: A Diaconal View of Mission and Church.
(2009-04-08) McRae, Alison
This thesis, based on surveys of diaconal ministry in the Uniting Church, contends that the ministry of deacon lies at the heart of ecclesial identity. Diaconal ministry, which is a ‘ministry on the margins’, is more than humble servanthood and is instead representative of the diakonia of the whole church.
Interfaith Engagement: Interreligious Dailogue in the life and work of the World Council of Churches and the Vatican, c1960-2000
(2009-05-01) Pratt, Douglas
This thesis investigates the emergence, features and outcomes of interreligious dialogue as a Christian ecclesial endeavour within the World Council of Churches and the Roman Catholic Church. It is argued, among other things, that the term ‘interfaith engagement’ is preferable to ‘interreligious dialogue’ and better encapsulates the requirements of future interactions.
1 Corinthians 1-4: A Rhetorical and Social Analysis and its Evaluation from a Korean-Confucian Christian Context
(2009-05-08) Kwon, Oh-Young
This thesis investigates 1 Corinthians 1-4 and argues that a divisive culture of rhetorical and patronal elitism lies behind the schisms identified by Paul. Further, that this culture was influenced by Greco-Roman wisdom literature. Pauline critique of Roman wisdom traditions shapes a critical reflection on similar dynamics amongst 21st Century Korean Christians.
The Moral Status of the Human Person in Bioethics: An Orthodox perspective with special reference to human cloning
(2009-05-08) Daniel, Varghese
Advances in medicine due to the adoption of scientific and technological innovations are significant, and such applications in human beings deserve a unique ethical justification. In contrast to the Western bioethical illumination that rationality and brain function are the key criteria to personhood, the author highlights the Eastern anthropological affirmation that all human beings are the image of God, and grow towards theosis. This concept attributes personhood to all humans, irrespective of their physical and cognitive capacities. The research unveils the scenario in bioethics where the application of ethical theories such as deontology (a priori agapeic) and utilitarianism (a posterioriagapeic) leads the question about the moral status of human beings, in the particular context of cloning debate, into two extreme positions. Hence, the author launches a middle path holistic (eucharistic agapeic) approach which could be more obliging in bioethics. This theory considers the human scientific pursuit as epinoia rather than cataloguing it as “playing God”, and it could be utilised for the benefits of humanity without being over impressed or mesmerised by it. However, the author argues that it is indispensable to adopt a global perspective with a love of wisdom.
The Teaching of Values and Ethics in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) through the Professional Military Education and Training (PMET) Program.
(2009-05-08) Curtain, James C.
The project examines ethical issues pertinent to the RAAF in the context of the RAAF Values Statement, and the manner in which RAAF members are educated in these issues through the PMET program. The various PMET courses are assessed in light of their ability to address these ethical matters.
Does John Paul II Present an Anthropology Capable of Forming an Adequate Theological Basis for Evangelization in Today's World?
(2009-05-08) Herd, John
This thesis explores John Paul II's philosophical and theological anthropology and tests it against two important contemporary issues, social justice and the search for meaning. The tests for social justice are given by liberation theologian Juan Segundo, the phenomenon of homosexuality and women's liberation. The tests for the search for meaning are taken from values ascribed to the human body, sexuality and freedom. This exploration shows that while John Paul's anthropology is securely founded on the personal it is not individualistic but broadens out to encompass social issues and is capable of promoting social justice. At the same time this understanding of the human person reponds to contemporary questions about the meaning of the body and human relationships not from abstract principles and authority but from experience and revealing the path to human fulfilment. John Paul's anthropology is shown as a rich basis for contemporary evangelisation.
Fashioning a Dialogical Vision for Catholic Education through Analysis, Critique and Contemporisation of Paulo Freire's Education as the Practice of Freedom
(2009-05-08) Loughnane, Michéal
Through an exploration of Paulo Freires vision for education as the practice of freedom, this thesis articulates the conviction that Catholic educators can best express their mission as liberating educators by engaging in constructive dialogue between the secular critical tradition and the contemplative trajectory of the Catholic tradition.
Brigid: Bridge between Worlds. A Feminist Examination of the Significance of Brigid (an Irish Saint and Goddess) in Comtemporary Australian Women's Spiriuality.
(2009-05-08) Connelly, Catherine
This thesis explores the significance of Brigid as Irish Saint and pagan Goddess, examining the influence on comtemporary Australian women's spiriuality. In this context, a number of metaphors are explored, the most generative of these revealing Brigid as both a threshold figure and catalyst for liberation. The threshold analogy is further develoged, positioning Brigid as a nexus of potential dialogue between contemporary Chrisianity and neo-paganism. Using a feminist methodology, what emerges is an understanding of the depth and diversity of Brigid veneration and its role in the spiritualities of Australian women today.
Reading the Kingdom Teaching of Matthew from the Context of Myanmar
(2009-05-08) Dah, Ner
Following an analysis of the sectarian tensions within the Matthean community, and the polemics that the Gospel writer employs in response to those tensions, this thesis explores the socio-political context of Myanmar, and illustrates how Jesus’ Kingdom teaching in Matthew’s Gospel is similarly applicable to the persecuted Myanmar Christian community.

Browse

Browsing School of Graduate Research Student Theses by Issue Date

Results Per Page

Sort Options