School of Graduate Research Student Theses

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A Contemporary Understanding of the Relationship Between the Doctrine of the Incarnation and Human Healing, Particularly in Mental Illness.
(2012-05-03) Tan, Cecilia
This thesis is a practical application of Bernard Lonergan's transcendental method of theological discovery and M. Shawn Copeland's work in theological anthropology to investigate the relationship between the doctrine of the Incarnation and human healing within the specific Human context of mental illness. This research proposes that an authentic, meaningful experience of Jesus Christ with the possibility for healing and reconciliation is possible for the twenty-first beleiver.
A Pedagogy of Faith: A Narrative Critical Study of Selected Gospel Texts
(2011-05-12) Choi, Sangkyu
Abstract not currently available.
A Rereading of Tract 90
(2010) Curnow, Kelvin F.
The Oxford Movement (1833-1845) presented the most comprehensive nineteenth-century Anglican programme of systematic theology on the nature of the Church. The impetus for the formation of the Movement lay in the decision by the Whig Government to pass the Irish Church Act (1833). Its intention was to reorganise the Anglican dioceses in Ireland, effectively reducing their number to twelve. This action shattered the unity between the civil and ecclesiastical, the notion of a balanced relationship between the Church and State which had existed from Elizabethan times. That relationship was built around the central principle that to be an Englishman was to also be a member of the Church of England. Underlying this notion was that the secular and divine served each other and the nation as one. It had been assumed that one would not do harm to the other. The apologist Richard Hooker (1554-1600) enunciated this concept in his work, Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity: "… there is not any man of the Church of England but the same man is not also a member of the commonwealth; nor any man a member of the commonwealth, which is not also of the Church of England". To some, the Irish Church Act appeared to break the nexus between the Church and the State which caused a crisis in the Church of England. The Church had long enjoyed the protection of Parliament and was considered to be in a privileged position. The events of 1833 effectively caused some in the Church to question the provenance of its authority, one which had for so long been assured by Governments, both Whig and Tory. The question was addressed in a sermon preached by John Keble (1792-1866) to the Judges of the Assize at St. Maryřs, Oxford, on 14 July, 1833. Keble noted in the Advertisement to the first edition of Sermons Academical and Occasional that the government was treating the established Church "… as one sect among many…" The comfortable balance between Church and State, a doctrine espoused by Hooker, had effectively been replaced with the doctrine of Erastianism. Keble proclaimed the Church could no longer look to the State for sanction but would find its authority in 'Apostolical Authority'.
A Study of the Trinitarian Theology of Catherine Mowry LaCugna with Particular Reference to Her Understanding of God as Transcendent
(2017-02) Campbell, Margaret
Catherine LaCugna expresses concern, in her 1991 book God for Us, that the doctrine of the Trinity has become irrelevant to Christian life through undue speculation on the intra-divine relations. Her critics suggest that she strays perilously close to pantheism. In this thesis, LaCugna’s understanding of the triune God’s transcendence is evaluated adopting five approaches: a survey of her writings on theological language; an exploration of divine freedom and pantheism in dialogue with four figures discussed by or associated with LaCugna – Plotinus, Eriugena, Bonaventure and Aquinas; a study of her use of a Neo-platonic ‘model of emanation and return’ and of the ‘walking God’ metaphor; critical engagement with contemporary theologians including Colin Gunton and Thomas Weinandy; and applying to some of LaCugna’s claims Kathryn Tanner’s rule for talk about God as radically transcendent. It is argued that LaCugna’s practical approach to trinitarian doctrine upholds the Christian understanding of divine transcendence.
Analogy, Being, and Time: Hart, Jenson and the Question of Impassibility
(2016-12) Andrew, Matthew
This thesis explores whether the doctrine of impassibility is necessary to give a satisfactory account of God’s relationship to the world’s violence. Using the tools of systematic and analytic theology, I engage with David Bentley Hart, Robert Jenson, and Emmanuel Levinas to demonstrate the viability of a qualified passibility.
Anticipation in the Thought of Wolfhart Pannenberg
(2010) McClean, John A.
This thesis presents an interpretation and assessment of the thought of Wolfhart Pannenberg by studying the role of anticipation. A review of critical appraisals of Pannenberg’s work, and his own descriptions of his approach to theology lead to the identification of major questions for understanding and assessing Pannenberg’s theological project, especially the relationship between theology and philosophy. The discussion also shows that Pannenberg’s work can be examined for internal coherence and for coherence with the claims of other fields of study. In an initial exposition of Pannenberg’s use of anticipation it is shown that in the discussion of revelation the concept of anticipation enables him to understand revelation as God’s self-revelation in which the content and form of revelation are identified with God’s essence and also hold that God’s existence remains debatable. An examination of Pannenberg’s philosophical milieu concludes that the atheism associated with the “end of metaphysics” is the primary philosophical challenge for Pannenberg. He responds to this challenge in the context of the “relational turn” which means that he takes the demand for a historicist hermeneutic with full seriousness, while refusing to abandon metaphysical claims. It is shown that in order to achieve this, Pannenberg offers a metaphysical proposal in which reality can be understood in relation to the true Infinite only as the true Infinite is understood as the triune God and that this understanding requires an account of reality which appeals to Christian eschatology and views reality as developing to a completion which is granted to it from eternity. In this proposal anticipation plays a key role. The assessment of Pannenberg’s thought examines three areas of doctrine. In christology, the concept of anticipation allows Pannenberg to present an account of the unity and distinction of the Son and the Father constituted in the historical, human life of Jesus. In doing so, Pannenberg differs from classical christology by identifying Jesus’ humanity, not the Logos, as the acting subject in the incarnation. While this allows him to emphasise the humanity of Christ, it also introduces potentially problematic elements into his christology. It is argued that the affect of these problematic elements can be seen in Pannenberg’s doctrine of reconciliation in which Christ’s death is actualised as reconciling and, therefore, expiatory, in the work of the Spirit as sinners are included in that death. It appears that Pannenberg’s anticipatory christology restricts the expression he can give to God’s gracious action in the work of Christ while a Chalcedonian account of the hypostatic unity is able to present this more satisfactorily. In the doctrine of God anticipation allows Pannenberg to relate the multiplicity of temporal reality to God’s eternity so closely that he can understand the immanent Trinity as constituted by God’s actions in the economy of reconciliation. On this basis he can argue that all reality is already, in anticipation, bound in ‘unity in distinction’ in the love of God. It is argued that this position means that the theme of God’s wrath creates an ambivalence in Pannenberg’s thought. As a final step in assessing Pannenberg’s use of anticipation his presentation of the ‘now-not yet’ tension in terms of ‘anticipation–actualisation’ is contrasted to the New Testament ‘achievement-consummation’ schema. The conclusion of the thesis summarises the insights that have been gained into Pannenberg’s thought and his use of anticipation. It outlines the achievements of his project that have been highlighted and the critical questions that have been raised.
Aquinas on the Metaphysics of the Trinity
(2020-03) Chua, Reginald Mary
This thesis analyses St Thomas Aquinas’ Trinitarian theology, with reference to the objection that unity and plurality in God imply contradiction. Drawing upon recent developments in contemporary metaphysics, specifically in metaontology and truthmaker theory, it provides a new interpretation and defence of the coherence of Aquinas’ Trinitarian metaphysics.
Awakening and living the gift already received: An exploration of Rahner's theology of Grace applied to the life of faith today.
(2013-05-02) Son, Nguyen Thai
There is currently no abstract available.
Challenging history and telling herstory: an interdisciplinary exploration of the intersection of claims for equality and women’s lived experiences of officership in The Salvation Army in Australia.
(2023) Faragher, Christine
The Salvation Army began with a seemingly clear commitment to the equality of women and men in ministry, however, this narrative is contradicted by women’s lived experience of officership. A significant gap exists between the ideal and the real. This thesis explores the contours of the gap, revealing its historical, theological, cultural, and practical origins. Utilising a feminist hermeneutic of suspicion, it challenges the dominant historical narrative regarding Catherine Mumford-Booth and her written defences of women’s preaching and ministry roles. In doing so, it recovers a more grounded and life-giving image of this important historical figure. Its empirical work also allows the voices of contemporary Australian women officers to be heard, revealing the ways in which gendered inequality has been manifested and experienced in their ministry lives. It suggests theological resources for moving towards reimagined gender relations within the movement and the closure of the gap.
The Christ Who Embraces: An Orthodox Theology of Margins in India
(2020) Joseph, Jacob
This thesis develops a Christological response to Orthodox Christian mission in the context of caste dynamics among St/ Thomas/Syrian Orthodox Christians in India. In the context of Dalit social and theological concerns, it intends to offer a casteless Orthodox theology of mission that envisions a reconciling mission through a miaphysite Christological embrace or kiss of peace.
A Christological Examination of the Hymns of Martin Luther, Charles Wesley, and John Keble
(2023-12) 'Fraser, Emily V.'
This thesis explores the Christology expressed by Luther, Wesley and Keble in their hymns and poems. It demonstrates the centrality of Christ in the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter, revealing the writers’ nuanced seasonal Christology, informed by the key Biblical passages and theological concepts underlying each liturgical season. By reading hymns and devotional poetry with a Christological lens, it considers their strengths as tools of theological education and spiritual formation, their ability to communicate complex theological content, and as vehicles for the ideas of their era and ecclesiology. Through their hymns and devotional poetry, Luther, Wesley and Keble offered Christologically-based reform with a purpose: bringing Christians back to the core of the faith that they perceived lost, and strengthening their faith through sound theological education. This thesis contributes to work in hymnody, liturgical studies, and Christological research, demonstrating the value in examining hymn texts from a systematic perspective.
Constructing the theology of George Henry Morling
(2022-08) 'Benson, Roderick J.'
This thesis constructs a systematised account of G. H. Morling’s theology from primary sources. It establishes a new orthodoxy for Morling, arguing that his key contribution is his articulation of the doctrine of union with Christ, an expression of the “opulence” of divine grace and a commitment to doctrinal-experimental theology.
Coorelation, Conversation, Contrast: Applications of an Australian contextual theology
(2016-02) Turner, Christopher
This thesis proposes that effective conversation between theology and culture in the Australian context will emphasize the elements of contrast between them. This emphasis will give theology the ability to "hear" cultural voices and to seek consensus with culture in the articulation of theology grounded in the Australian context.
Dialogue Between Christians, Jews and Muslims: The Concept of Covenant as Basis
(2012-05-03) Fry, Ian
This 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.
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.
Engaging the Dance:Exploring Leadership and Understanding God as Triune
(2015-11) Francis, Cecilia
This thesis juxtaposes social Trinitarian theology, referring to four key systematicians, contemporary leadership theories and extensive interviews with Christian leaders. It interrogates the extent to which the leaders’ theology animates their leadership, maps the space between Christian doctrine and leadership style, and proposes avenues for integrative engagement and interdisciplinary dialogue.
Eschatological Living in John Wesley's Theology: a doctrinal analysis and contextual reflection
(2009-05-08) Wong, Tik-Wah
This thesis aims to establish that eschatological living in Wesley's thoughts is a lifestyle which takes peaceful relationship with the triune God as its foundational basis and ultimate End. At the same time, it receives the Kingdom of Grace and the future Kingdom of Glory as its eschatological-teleological vision. This End and vision in turn shape our eschatological pilgrimage between the Kingdom of Grace and the Kingdom of Glory. Eschatological living begins as a new creation in God's justifying grace and continues until we are perfected in God's sanctifying grace. It is a development of faith in God's grace with our responsible participation till we are made glorious in the new heaven and new earth. It is an effort to live out the beauty of the Kingdom's values through responsible stewardship, through our love for God, love for our neighbours and other God's creatures in our social context.
God so loved the cosmos: an ecotheological discussion of the Incarnation, with reference to the thought of Norman Pittenger and Arthur Peacocke
(2014-03-25) Guess, Deborah
Drawing on the thought of Norman Pittenger and Arthur Peacocke, the study argues in favour of an ecological Christology which: utilises a process-panentheist framework; pursues a closer dialogue with scientific understandings; engages with ‘deep incarnational’ theology; critiques anthropocentrism; and endorses the ecotheological model of co-creator.
God’s World. No String Puppets: Providence in the Writings of Romano Guardini
(2016-03) Barker, Jane Louise Lee
This thesis is a study of development of the notion of Providence in the work of the 20th century religious philosopher, Romano Guardini. Providence could be seen as a key to his theology. While the basic pattern of Providence was evident in his early work his account develops over time.
Healing Art and the Art of Healing
(2016-02) Byrne, Libby
This study developed and trialed an art-based method of systematic theological inquiry to explore the nature of healing in the absence of cure. The practice of making, being with and seeing art over time, enabled the researcher to identify the Presence, Vulnerability and Desire of God within the art of healing.

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Browsing School of Graduate Research Student Theses by Subject "C - Systematic Theology"

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