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With one Foot in The Wilderness and the Other in Canaan : A Redaction CriticalAnalysis of Exodus 24:1-11
No full textThis thesis consists of a redaction-critical analysis of Exodus 24:1-11. It is obvious that v 1-2; 9-11 and v 3-8 are originating from different narratives and hence the different sections shall be treated separately in the thesis. The redaction critical process is made difficult by the fact that there are many different traces of several theological traditions in the passage. One explanation of this is that chapter 24 is taking place where the narrative of Exodus is turning. At first, the chapter is giving an account of the escape from Egypt and the life in the wilderness, and thereafter, it turns to tell about the preparations for the arrival in Canaan. Yet another difficulty with the understanding of the section, from the point of redaction criticism that is shown in the analysis of the thesis, are the appearances of an unique blood ritual and an unique theophany, that both are lacking parallels. The final result of the thesis is that Exodus 24:1-11 is processing both an end to the previous part of Exodus, as well as the introduction of the beginning of the next chapter. Verses 3-8 constitute the end of the life in the wilderness through the making of the covenant and are reinforcing the change of the people, who have formerly been doubting JHVH, but now are turning into a holy nation. The origin of these verses is difficult to establish, but there are traces of a deuteronomistic redaction. Verses 1-2; 9-11 are rather building up to the introduction of the religious system, later to be established in chapter 25, in which the themes of priesthood and the temple are actualized, which in turn suggests a priestly redaction
«Богословие ковида»,или «Знаменательная буря» коронавируснойпандемии
No full textThe article examines various theological aspects of the perception of the coronavirus pandemic in global Orthodoxy and the Russian Or- thodox Church. Among other aspects, it touches upon issues pertain- ing to the celebration and distribution of the Eucharist under hygien- ic restrictions. It also explores Christological arguments in support of each practice. The article proposes some specific interpretations of the phenomenology and aetiology of the so-called Covid dissidence. It ar- gues that artificial ideological polarization between so-called “liber- als” and “conservatives” is why many bishops, priests, and laypeople in the Russian Orthodox Church mistrust the quarantine measures.Translated by Olivia Bowins</p
Spirited Feelings & Affected Actions in the Age of Climate Crisis : A study of how affect theory read through a pneumatological lens can inspire action to combat climate change
No full textThe aim of this thesis is to explore how affect theory can contribute to pneumatology in a way that illuminates how it might inspire action regarding the current climate crisis. To do this, this thesis analyses and discusses how feelings could relate to (human) action to combat climate change. This is done through a discussion of how different pneumatologies that describe the Holy Spirit as acting, and as inspiring action in the world, can be further developed through affect theory. The main material used are Matters of Care: Speculative Ethics in More Than Human Worlds (2017) by philosopher of science Maria Puig de la Bellacasa and Grave Attending: A Political Theology for the Unredeemed (2020) by theologian Karen Bray. Several different pneumatological voices, representing the variety of pneumatologies present within the Christian tradition, are used to analyse the main material pneumatologically. The conclusions drawn suggest that the combining of affect theory and pneumatology not only points out the similarity of the traits with which they are commonly associated, but they also suggest that it might be possible – and even necessary – to talk of the Spirit as present also in “negative” feelings such as anger or depression. The Spirit can be understood as present in all affects (even if they appear within capitalist contexts), and also as a rewiring of our relationship to become more attuned to how others (human and non-human alike) actually feel. Care, this thesis suggests, is as a very concrete example of how the Spirit can be seen as materialising through affected actions. The Spirit understood as present through affect could also provide a way of speaking of the Spirit as present in the world, in creation, without making it what gives nature its worth and meaning.
The Centurion’s Faith in Pauline perspective : Using Gal 3:21–26 and Rom 3:21–24 to understand Matt 8:5–13
No full textThe aim of this paper is to investigate how two Pauline pericopes (Gal 3:21–26 and Rom3:21–24) can help us to understand Matt 8:5–13. The paper has four research questions: Whatdid the role of πίστις (“faith” or “trust”) played in Roman culture in general? What role did itplay in the centurions’ relationship to both superiors and subordinates in the Roman’s army?Which principle of faith does Paul establish in Gal 3:21–26 and Rom 3:21–24? How canPaul’s principle be used as a key to understand the faith of the centurion in Matt 5:8–13? Tofind the results of the four research questions, the paper used qualitative method throughsocial-rhetorical Criticism and narrative method. The results of this paper show that theGreco-Roman society was immersed in the ideology of patronage where there was always abeneficiary and a client. Πίστις means two sorts of relationship, one that was vertical and theother that was horizontal. Paul presents πίστις as the one who has divided the time in twoperiods. the old period that was under the power of sin and the new period that is under thepower of faith. The purpose of God was to save the whole creation through πίστις Χριστοῦ.Believers in πίστις Χριστοῦ are the coheirs of Abraham as “spiritual” descendants. Finally,Πίστις Χριστοῦ unites people of different social and ethnical status as one family. Thus,according to the Matthean point of view, the people who do not believe in πίστις Χριστοῦwill be judged by God
Praktisk och pastoral teologi i Svenska kyrkans prästutbildning
No full textIn this article, we discuss practical and pastoral theology in relation to Swedish theological education for future ordained clergy in the Church of Sweden. We look at how pastoral theology is understood in the Church of Sweden today and its relation to Practical Theology as an academic subject. We problematize the split between "academic" and "pastoral" theology and argue that pastoral theology should be understood as a part of the academic discipline Practical Theology. Practical Theology today is heavily theoretical and methodological, not least in the United States, the origin of much literature used in the Swedish context. Interesting as this may be from a research perspective, the discipline runs the risk of losing some of its relevance for undergraduate theological education. Here we discuss different aspects of pastoral and practical theology, and how they may feed into each other. We highlight the potential problems with a practical theology distancing itself from what has been called "the clerical paradigm" (in Sweden: pastoral theology), but also point to the importance of Practical Theology as an academic field in relation to ordination training. In Sweden, academic theology is still understood as supposedly "neutral", which complicates the relationship between "academic" and "pastoral" theology, as this obscures the influences from explicit normative and constructive practical theology on Swedish theological education. Drawing on practical theologians such as Bonnie J. Miller-McLemore and Mary McClintock Fulkerson, we discuss the normative and constructive ambitions in some practical theological schools of thought today. A changing understanding of Practical Theology may contribute to pastoral theology as a part of the ordination training in the Church of Sweden, but the normative assumptions need to be made explicit
The normative effects of the Consent Act : A qualitative interview study with voluntary organizations
No full textThe purpose of this study was to examine voluntary organizations' perceptions of the newsexual offenses legislation, the so-called consent law, as well as their experiences andperceptions of attitudes and norms linked to women's sexual integrity and self-determination.The study aims to highlight the effectiveness of the consent law to have a normative effect andchange harmful attitudes and norms in society around women's bodies. To investigate this, aqualitative study was used where semi-structured interviews were conducted with participantsfrom various voluntary organizations. The study concluded that the consent law to some extenthad the normative effect that was hoped for, at least as far as can be seen at present. The studyalso showed that the preventive work and dissemination of knowledge is an important part oftrying to change the harmful attitudes and norms in the society, partly because the legislationshould work to the maximum and partly because the legislation itself cannot eliminate sexualabuse. However, legislation is necessary and an important step towards a society without sexualabuse and where women's bodies are not objectified.
Laws of Honor
No full textIn 2020, it has been confirmed that approximately 240,000 people in Sweden are exposed to some kind of honor-related violence that can, in the worst case, lead to another persons death. The report claims that the dark figure is much higher than what the existing figures show. In this essay there will be a couple of cases that will be presented. The cases has a huge part of the Swedish legal system and attitude change towards honor-related violence and honor killing. The reasoning around the cases will be presented in order for the reader to gain knowledge and concretization of the Swedish state's approach to these cases
Kurdistan and Kurds : Independence and the right to self-determination in international law
No full textPrincipen om självbestämmanderätt har utvecklats från att vara ett politiskt krav till en åberopbar juridisk rättighet i och med antagandet av Förenta Nationernas stadga 1945. Sedan dess har principen blivit sedvanerätt. Självbestämmanderätten har spelat en avgörande roll i att tiotals kolonier har blivit självständiga länder och suveräna stater under 1960 och 1970 talen i enlighet med FN:s avkolonialiserings resolutionen 1514 från 1960 (Avkoloniseringsdeklarationen-1960). Principen har ytterligare förstärkts genom FN:s resolution 2625 Friendly Relations Deklarationen (FRD-1970). FRD:s innehåll anses vara sedvanerätt (ICJ-Nicaragua Case). Genom FRD har för första gången självbestämmanderätten fått företräde före statssuveräniteten när en minoritet utsätts för ett omfattande förtyck eller förvägras rätten till intern självbestämmande inom moderstatens gränser och när moderstatens regering inte representerar hela befolkningen. Koloniala makter, Storbritannien och Frankrike, ritade Mellanösterns karta 1916 genom att dra gränserna för fyra av de nya staterna genom Kurdistan vilket gjorde att Mellanösterns fjärde största folkgrupp, kurderna, hamnade som minoritet i de nybildade staterna (Turkiet, Iran, Syrien och Irak) efter första världskriget. Avkoloniserings resolutionen har inte tillämpats i kurder och Kurdistans fall trots att kurderna situation var en följd av de koloniala gränsdragningar. Resolutionen 1514 tolkades på ett sådant sätt att den kunde omfatta bara kolonialiserade territorier som inte hängde fysiskt ihop med moderstatens och territoriets folk skilde sig etniskt, språkligt och kulturellt från moderstatens befolkning. Kurder och Kurdistans fall har varken prövats i enlighet med FRD som under vissa omständigheter ger minoriteter extern självbestämmanderätt eller enligt avkoloniserings- deklaration av Internationella domstolen, ICJ. Denna uppsats studerar förutsättningarna för kurdernas rätt till självbestämmande och Kurdistans självständighet med utgångspunkten i dagens folkrätt uttryckt annorlunda hur ser det ut relationen kurdernas anspråk på självbestämmande och självständighet och folkrätten.
To make oneself credible as a LGBTQI person in Swedish asylum law : A queer theoretical analysis of the credibility assessments of the Swedish Migration Agency and the Swedish Migration Court
No full textThe aim of this study is to analyze and derive a more profound understanding on how the Swedish Migration Agency and the Swedish Migration Court of Stockholm determine the credibility of LGBTQI-persons applying for asylum in Sweden. Through a qualitative content analysis of nine cases where decisions from both the Swedish Migration Agency and the Swedish Migration Court of Stockholm are used, this study aims to determine what is required from LGBTQI asylum seekers to prove their reliability and credibility. Furthermore a theoretical perspective on queer theory written by Fanny Ambjörnsson is applied to the assessment methodologies of both government departments, this as a way of assessing the credibility. The study shows that the Migration Agency and the Migration Court of Stockholm have a number of recurring reasons for rejecting LGBTQI persons residence; the applicant cannot account for an inner emotional process, the applicant lacks deep thoughts regarding his/hers sexual orientation, the applicant mainly describes sexual experiences rather than feelings, the applicant gives contradictory information and lastly the applicant has not considered the risks of their actions. In accordance with Ambjörnssons theory these reasons presented by both the Agency and Court are shown in the study to be based on stereotypical assumptions and heteronormative social structures
What does it mean to fear God according to the Old Testament?
No full textThe idea of fearing God is a basic and fundamental concept in the Old Testament theology. However, the idea is often misunderstood or associated with mixed thoughts and emotions. There are two main reasons for this. First, the concept of fear has different meanings depending on the object. Second, as time goes by, languages develop and the translation of fear gets different associations, influenced by that process and the surrounding culture. In the light of these perspectives, this essay seeks a thorough analysis of the basic hebrew understanding of the idea of fearing God in the Old Testament. To get an answer, or deeper understanding, of what the idea of fearing God means according to the Old Testament theology, an exegetical analysis is performed based on literary criticism and a comparative analysis based on four theological traditions in the Old Testament. The traditions that are examined are deuteronomistic, priestly, poetic and prophetic with focus on Isaiah. Since the understanding of the idea of fearing God affects the understanding of God, God’s will, God’s acts and the human vocation, the subject is important. To not understand who God really is, or what intentions he has, and to be confused by the different significations of the meaning of fear when relating to other persons or things except from God, risks leading to insecurity, confusion, struggle and a lack of trust in God. If God’s intentions seems to be unpredictable, evil and powerful in a bad way, the message of God is being disturbed and misunderstood. To come closer the biblical texts can help us understand the idea of fearing God better and consequently get a more true picture and understanding of God, God’s will, God’s intentions and the human vocation