School of Graduate Research Student Theses
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Browsing School of Graduate Research Student Theses by Subject "A - World Religions"
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- PublicationBrahmabandhab Upadhyay: an Enigmatic Catholic Freedom Fighter (1861-1907)(2012-05-03) Firth-Smith, WilliamThis thesis oulines the life and thought of Indian theologian, Brahmabandhab Upadyay (1861-1907), a polymath whose important contributions have been largely overlooked in the western world. The First Part is biographical, consisting of details of Brahmabandhab Upadyay's early life; his Christian witness; his philosophy of teaching; his journalistic dynamism; his attitude to caste; a description of his milieu; his struggles with the church heirarchy; and his political acitivism, sedition trial and death. The Second Part consists of a discussion of topics central to Upadhyay's thought and contribution, including some of his theological explorations; the ashram considered as mode of Christian expression; and nationalism and liberation in an Indian context. It concludes with a critical analysis of his contributions, arguing that Upadhyay's contributions are relevant today and merit greater recognition.
- PublicationDialogue Between Christians, Jews and Muslims: The Concept of Covenant as Basis(2012-05-03) Fry, IanThis thesis examines in what manner and on what basis communities of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, the Abrahamic faiths, can engage in conversation-dialogue relating to the concept of covenant to enable a greater awareness of their relationship with God and the relationships between each of their communities. To achieve this task, this study critically examines the primary texts of each faith in the context of human history, their origins, development and interaction through a series of five epochs which has been identified and constructed as an integral part of this study.
- PublicationEarly Christian Readings of Paul on Moral Regeneration(2022) Rowse, PaulSince God judges everyone according to their deeds, Paul regards the cultivation of moral conduct as a crucial task. Responding to the scholarly deadlock on whether believers’ ethical capacities are themselves regenerated or simply overlaid with divine power and otherwise unchanged, we engage with Romans 6:1-14 and its direct citations up to the death of Origen, where direct citations are identified by an attribution signal and literality. We ask whether moral regeneration is present in the early readings of Romans 6:1-14. Irenaeus’ three citations argue for the unity of Christ, the salvageability of the flesh, and a distinction between fleshly deeds and the flesh itself. Understanding the Spirit as formative of those whom he indwells, Irenaeus cites Romans 6:4 in order to demonstrate believers’ moral regeneration if they continue in the Spirit. Clement of Alexandria’s four citations are proof-texts against the Basilideans and the Valentinians. Clement’s Apostle signals believers’ exoneration for involuntary misdeeds because he says that they are “under grace”. Tertullian adapts two extended citations to his sympathetic audience in order to argue for the salvageability of the flesh and for the exclusion of recidivist baptized adulterers from the Church. Tertullian’s Apostle expects that all wrongdoing comes to an end with baptism. Origen adopts a voluntarist hermeneutic in his Commentary on Romans against opponents who promoted moral determinism. Thus, we find his strong witness to personal responsibility for moral action. His Commentary also contains his deduction from Romans 6:12 that the desires of the Spirit overlay the desires of sin, which believers still have. Origen’s other works contain proof-texts from our passage which display symbolic readings of “sin” and moral degeneration in recidivists; these too mainly make the case for personal responsibility. Thus, Clement, Tertullian, and Origen witness to perspectival renewal, and Irenaeus and Origen also to moral regeneration.