25,801 research outputs found
Biostratigraphy and sequence stratigraphy of the Toarcian Ludwigskanal section (Franconian Alb, Southern Germany)
No full textExtensive construction work at the canal cutting of the Ludwigskanal near Dörlbach, Franconian Alb, provided the opportunity to re-investigate a scientific-historical and biostratigraphically important reference section of the South-German Toarcian. The 16 m thick section, described bed by bed with respect to lithology and macrofossils, starts within the Upper Pliensbachian Amaltheenton Formation, covers the Toarcian Posidonienschiefer and Jurensismergel Formation, and ends in basal parts of the Opalinuston Formation. Carbonate contents are high in the Posidonienschiefer and successively decline within the Jurensismergel to basal parts of the Opalinuston. The high carbonate contents in the Posidonienschiefer are associated with comparatively low organic carbon contents. However, organic carbon contents normalized to the silicate fraction are similarily high if compared to other regions in Germany. Only the persistence of high organic carbon levels into middle parts of the Upper Toarcian differs from those of most regions in central Europe. Ammonite biostratigraphy indicates a thickness of >9 m for the Upper Pliensbachian, 1.15–1.20 m for the Lower Toarcian, 5.04 m for the Upper Toarcian, and >0.5 m for the Lower Aalenian. Despite the low sediment thickness, all Toarcian ammonite zones and almost all subzones are present, except for major parts of the Tenuicostatum Zone and the Fallaciosum Subzone. On the basis of discontinuities, condensed beds, and correlations with neighbouring sections in Southern Germany, a sequence stratigraphic interpretation is proposed for the Toarcian of this region: (i) The Posidonienschiefer Formation corresponds to one 3rd order T-R sequence, from the top of the Hawskerense Subzone to a fucoid bed at the top of the Variabilis Subzone, with a maximum flooding surface at the top of the Falciferum Zone. (ii) The Jurensismergel Formation exhibits two 3rd order T-R sequences: The first ranges from the basis of the Illustris Subzone (i.e., the Intra-Variabilis-Discontinuity) to the top of the Thouarsense Zone, with a maximum flooding surface within the Thouarsense Zone. The "belemnite battlefield" reflects a transgressive "ravinement surface" within the first Jurensismergel Sequence, not a maximum regression surface at its basis. The second sequence extents from the erosive basis of the Dispansum Zone to the top of the Aalensis Subzone, with a maximum flooding surface at the Pseudoradiosa-Aalensis Zone boundary. Finally, the Opalinuston starts with a new sequence at the basis of the Torulosum Subzone. Transgressive system tracts of these 3rd order T-R sequences are commonly phosphoritic, while some regressive system tracts show pyrite preservation of ammonites. The maximum regression surfaces at the basis of the Toarcian and within the Variabilis Zone reflect a significant submarine erosion and relief formation by seawater currents, while this effect is less pronounced at the basis of the Dispansum Zone and basis of the Torulosum Subzone (i.e., the boundary Jurensismergel-Opalinuston Formation)
Towards a Christian Philosophy
No full textAuthor did not sign the LAC Non-Exclusive License form.The relationship between philosophy and Christianity has, of course, a long history, as do the discussions of that relationship. My own position is not dissimilar to that of many of the early Church Fathers, though of course that position must be elaborated differently for various historical and personal reasons, and hopefully enriched by attention to the history of Western philosophy. As with all such relations, one's understanding of this relation has a lot to do with one's understanding of the terms involved. To promote the possibility of "Christian philosophy" is also to comment on that "and" which might be understood to relate two otherwise distinct and irreconcilable terms. In the end I claim this "and" must be understood as that "love" which defines philosophy as the "love of wisdom" (and finally, the wisdom of love), and does so in terms which (almost) merge-with the surprising assistance of such thinkers as Martin Heidegger, Jacques Derrida, and Paul Ricoeur-with those of the Church Fathers cited. On the one hand, I intend nothing but the historical, orthodox, and catholic understanding of Christianity, especially with regard to the central figure of Jesus the Christ, the Trinitarian God whom He embodies, represents, and reveals, and the Scriptures given as The Bible. On the other hand, I present the specifically philosophical pertinence of this unique Person as such emerges from the texts of the "philosophers" considered, and in a manner which I claim does not force the issue by reading into their texts what is not there. Attending to a (Christian) philosophical reflection on (Christian) philosophy also offers elaborations of inherited doctrines, both Christian and philosophical, including a way to read and think unique to the outcome. Such is the adventure of this current work
Microfacies analysis and 3D reconstruction of bioturbated sediments in the calcarenite di Gravina formation (southern Italy)
No full textThe Calcarenite di Gravina is a poorly lithified, heterogeneous bio-lithoclastic Plio-Pleistocene limestone formed in a temperate shallow-water setting. Since prehistoric times it has been used for construction, as witnessed by the “Sassi”, the old city center of Matera (southern Italy). Here, the relatively distal, fine-grained bioclastic grain- packstone is characterized by large bioturbation structures of crustaceans. The aim of this work is to understand how bioturbation controls texture, porosity, permeability, and the cementation of the calcarenite. Crustaceans such as Callianassa are known to produce vertical burrows and sort grains. A bioturbated calcarenite level, outcropping in the Parco Scultura- Cava Paradiso in La Palomba (Matera northern area), has been selected as case study. Large rock samples including fossil traces and surrounding rocks have been analysed. Optical mi- croscope and SEM observations show a close connection between sediment sorting and cementation, and 3D analyses by means of CT scans indicate that the internal structure and the connected porosity of the samples is a function of the cementation. Moreover, the porosity network is reconstructed in 3D in order to derive the real connected porosity variations and their implications for the evolution in terms of diagenesis and alteration of the rocks. Indeed, a cementation gradient from the external lining of the burrows to the internal part of the trace fossil is observed. Cementation is less pronounced outside of the trace fossil.
Cluster analysis of point-counting results allows to identify four sub-facies characterized by differences in composition, cementation and porosity. One of them is present in the interior of the burrows while the other two characterize the external lining (crust) and storage chamber of crustacean burrows. The last sub-facies occurs in the area surrounding the trace fossils and shows a weaker cementation. The presence of a cementation gradient inside the trace fossil is explained through a diagenetic model that considers the contribution of different factors. The geochemical environments allow the CaCO3 precipitation inside the burrows starting from the lining to the internal area thanks to the microbial actions, water circulation and relative oxygenation of fluids. Dissolution of aragonitic components probably represents the principal source of CaCO3. Variation in cementation and porosity are quite moderate, but capable of generating major differences in the resistance to weathering. From this study it emerges how the diagenetic processes lead to significant changes in the bioturbated fabric, making the burrows less permeable than the surrounding sediment. This is confirmed by the selective erosion that brings to light very well-preserved traces of Callianassidae even on building stones
The Christian Right and US Foreign Policy in the Twenty-first Century
No full textThe thesis discusses the role of the Christian Right in the US foreign policy decision making process. The research revealed that the Christian Right has long been fascinated with some international issues in general and US foreign policy in particular. The Christian Right’s interest in international issues increased markedly during years of the George W. Bush presidency. It successfully widened its activities from domestic social conservative issues to foreign policy issues by participating in, articulating and lobbying for its religious version of American foreign policy. In assessing the role of the Christian Right in US foreign policy making, this dissertation examines three aspects of US foreign policy, namely Israel, international religious freedom and global humanitarianism. Based on these aspects, the Christian Right is seen as skilled in framing and defining issues. The Christian Right seems effective in selecting and prioritizing international issues that have a reasonable chance of being selected by foreign policy decision makers, especially in Congress. Moreover, the Christian Right has shown its maturity in seeking engagement and cooperation with other organizations, secular and religious, in order to advance its international goals. Finally, in pursuing and conveying its international agenda, the Christian Right has adopted a more moderate and less overtly religious approach. Instead of using its traditional religious rhetoric, the Christian Right has successfully projected its foreign policy preferences into the conventional realist discourse of American foreign policy that is largely based on the objective of national interest and national security. Nevertheless, this study does not, in any way, conclude that the Christian Right was able to influence or determine the direction of US foreign policy and its outcomes; however, it does suggest that the Christian Right did contribute and have an impact on the formulation of some US foreign policy. As such, the research contends that the role of the Christian Right is similar to other interest group lobbies and that its perceived influence on US foreign policy should not be exaggerated. Finally, the research suggests that the emergence of the Christian Right as an actor in asserting its global agenda through US foreign policy can possibly provide an example of how religious beliefs and values can become a potential source of “soft power”. Together with the “climate of opinion” of the American public during the Bush administration, the “soft power” at domestic level could serve as a valuable new explanatory variable in understanding how the US foreign policy was formulated in the early 21st century
Sabbath, Psalms and Eucharist: Christopher Southgate considers Christian perspectives on the climate emergency
No full textThis is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Green Christian via the URL in this record In this brief article I want to explore what resources Christian thought might offer the
climate emergency, and those challenged by the slowness with which the generation
with the power (my own) are addressing the huge challenges that are ever more
evidently unfolding on our planet
Dare We Call it a Christian Business Division?
No full textThe author in this article explores the question: What, if anything, distinguishes a Christian business program from a secular program? The author answers the question by suggesting some areas he believes should be distinctive. His purpose is to open up a dialogue that has not occurred at the program level, not to claim all that could be said about this topic. Most discussion has focused on the macro picture of Christian colleges or the micro picture of how one’s faith might impact how one teaches a certain discipline. The article looks at themes or emphases in business programs that aspire to describe themselves as Christian
Journal of African Christian Biography: v. 6, no. 4
No full textA publication of the Dictionary of African Christian Biography with U.S. offices located at the Center for Global Christianity and Mission at Boston University. This issue focuses on: Tributes to Andrew Walls and Benedict Ssettuuma (Uganda); Samuel T. O. Akande (Nigeria).
This issue of the Journal of African Christian Biography honors the memory of "Prof." Andrew Finlay Walls and Fr. Benedict Ssettuuma, Jr. It also celebrates the contribution of Dr. Michael Adeleke Ogunewu to the work of the DACB both as an author and a mentor-teacher. One of his biographies, that of Samuel T. O. Akande, is included. The issue also includes a serialized chapter from African Christian Biography by Roger Levine and a new section, "Teaching with the DACB," featuring the reflections of a North American student on what the DACB has taught her
Transforming hearts and minds: the contribution of Christian values to the curriculum
No full textIn this article the author explores how Christian education can make a 'value-added' contribution to the curriculum. The author considers the day-to-day work of the classroom teacher by asking the questions: how can classroom teaching contribute to ensuring that schools and society does not produce 'clever devils' - such as those produced in the Holocaust? For a Christian school, how can reflection on Christian values be systematically promoted through classroom teaching? How can schools capitalise on the potential offered by 'values moments' - those time when questions of value and meaning force themselves through the academic content of the lesson to become the focal point of the pupils' attention? In order to illustrate how to develop an effective Christian value-added curriculum, the author discusses the Charis Project, which was set up in the wake of legislation in the UK that required schools to promote the spiritual and moral development of their pupils through the curriculum. He then suggests five practical actions for implementing a values-added approach to the curriculum in the Anglican school: (1) develop and capitalise on informal values moments; (2) be strategic in the values that are promoted; (3) plan the curriculum as a biblical 'fifth act' enterprise, which means being aware of the bigger story that the subject is promoting; (4) design teaching methods that promote reflection and response; (5) develop specific topics with a strong values base
The Wake of 2020: Heroes, Saviors & Problems with Power with Kristin Kobes Du Mez
No full textHow can Christians learn to acknowledge abuses of power? Kristin Kobes Du Mez joins Andrew and ICS Junior Member cohost Abbi Hofstede for the next installment in our series on some of the challenges facing philosophy and Christian faith in the wake of 2020. Kristin is the author of the provocative book Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation (Liveright, 2020). In this episode, she reflects on her experience writing the book, traces the thread of militant masculinity and racism in evangelicalism's recent history; and invites alternative visions of Christian culture, politics, and power
The Christian influence on the understanding of death among the Acholi
No full textThis was submitted as a partial fulfillment of the award of the Master of Arts in Theology Degree of the Bishop Tucker School of Divinity and Theology, Uganda Christian UniversityFocus: For the Acholi people of Northern Uganda, traditionally death is a natural phenomenon which is inevitable and unquestionable. In this dissertation, the author assesses the Christian influence on the understanding of death among the Acholi. The author confirms that for the traditional Acholi human beings have no permanent existence in the physical or spiritual world and no future life in terms of resurrection. The author affirms that their traditional understanding of death contributes to fear, beliefs and practices in handling the sick, corpse, burial arrangement, funeral rites and inheritance of widows among the Acholi people. The author asserts that the advent of Christianity in Acholi in 1904 has greatly changed this understanding through the introduction of the concept of resurrection, and as a result superstition on the origin of death, the way of caring for the sick, and the dying, burial system, mourning, funeral rites, the inheritance of widows and life after death have a new meaning for the Acholi of contemporary era. The author recommends that in order to maintain the resurrection influence on the Acholi people, the Church must continue effective evangelization of the non-Christian Acholi and effectively nurture the Christian Acholi converts
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