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Lori McVay

By on August 14, 2017 in Faculty Publications

McVay. Lori.  “Rural Women Leaders: Identity Formation in Rural Northern Ireland.”  In Gender and Rural Globalization: International Perspectives on Gender and Rural Development, edited by Bettina Bock and Sally Shortfall, 170-184. Boston: CABI, 2017.

Gender and Rural Development

This chapter examines the identity of women leaders in Northern Ireland in order to understand how these women managed to become leaders, against all traditional odds, and which events and life choices shaped their identity. In doing so, it elaborates how growing up in a rural context may nurture women’s confidence and readiness to lead in the sense that taking on responsibility is considered part of a rural lifestyle.

John Hawthorne

By on February 12, 2016 in Faculty Publications

Hawthorne, John W. “Christian Scholarship in the Twenty-First Century: Prospects and Perils/The Pietist Vision of Christian Higher Education: Forming Whole and Holy Persons.” Christian Scholar’s Review 45, no. 2 (2016): 187-191.

Abstract: Christian scholarship offers both positive and negative outcomes for the Christian scholar. […]it would have been helpful if the authors had been asked to address similar themes from their various perspectives. The editors had a substantive teleological aim: [I]f there are Christian approaches to the various academic disciplines, it might be that bj’ approaching them in these ways, we can better manifest the gospel, better image the manifold wisdom and beauty of God, better serve a suffering world.

John Hawthorne

By on February 18, 2014 in Faculty Publications

Hawthorne, John W. A First Step into a Much Larger World: The Christian University and Beyond. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2014.

A First StepHow do Christian students approach their years at a Christian college or university? What are the connections between all those hours of study and the Christian life? A FIRST STEP INTO A MUCH LARGER WORLD invites students, parents, and educators into a broad conversation about faith and learning in a postmodern age. Students will explore how to respond to diversity while maintaining community, how to make learning sensible as an expression of faith, and how to move from passive recipients of education to active and engaged co-learners with others. In so doing, they can transform their undergraduate years into a springboard for engaging the culture beyond the university.

Lori Ann McVay

By on September 13, 2013 in Faculty Publications

McVay, Lori Ann. Rural women in leadership: positive factors in leadership development. Wallingford, Oxfordshire, UK: CABI, 2013.

The Making of an Ordinary Saint Rural women and leadership have, in recent years, come to be the focus of development initiatives in many countries. To date, however, much of the writing on this topic has leaned more heavily on structure than agency as influencing attainment of leadership. Citing examples from a case study in Northern Ireland, this book gives agency an equal voice to structure, and pursues both as vital, positive elements in leadership development.

Ines Jindra & Michael Jindra

By on May 3, 2009 in Faculty Publications

Jindra, Ines W. and Michael Jindra. “Alien Worlds: Social and Religious Dimensions of Extraterrestrial Contact.” Sociology of Religion 70, no. 2 (Summer, 2009): 200-201.

Here, we found Scott Scribner’s chapter to be especially interesting, since he highlights parallels between religion and these experiences, notably in the area of “interactions with supernatural beings, stmggles between good and evil, encounters with overpowering benevolent (‘light’) forces or malevolent (‘dark’) forces, conversion and reframing of interpretations (belief templates), the notion of being chosen, visions, testimonial evidence, the occasional channeling of otherworldly beings, altered states of consciousness, healing narratives, and apocalyptic pronouncements” (151-152).

Ines Jindra

By on January 16, 2009 in Faculty Publications

Jindra, Ines W. “Comparing Biographical Backgrounds of Religious Founders and Converts to those Religions: An Exploratory Study.” Pastoral Psychology 58, no. 4 (2009): 365-385. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11089-009-0193-y.

Abstract: This paper is an exploratory, preliminary investigation of the possible links between the biographical backgrounds and developmental trajectories of major religious figures such as Jesus Christ, Muhammad, Buddha, and Baha’u’llah, and the backgrounds of those who convert to these religions (or certain groups within these religions) in the West. This article ends with the hypothesis that in terms of biographical backgrounds and motivations for conversion, followers’ narratives resemble those of their religious leaders in some areas.

Ines Jindra

By on April 16, 2008 in Faculty Publications

Jindra, Ines W. “Religious Stage Development among Converts to Different Religious Groups.” International Journal for the Psychology of Religion 18, no. 3 (2008): 195-215. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10508610802115768.

Abstract: Only a few studies have dealt with the relationship between faith development theory and conversion or apostasy, though some have called for these studies. In this study, I compare religious judgment and religious stage transformations of 47 converts, focusing specifically on four case studies of conversions to Christianity, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Unitarian Universalists. The research was conducted from 2001 to 2006 in the midwestern United States and utilized religious dilemmas, narrative biographical interviews, and content analysis. It was found that there was a close affinity between a person’s conversion or apostasy narrative and their trajectory of religious judgment.

Michael Jindra

By on November 13, 2007 in Faculty Publications

Jindra, Michael. “Video game worlds.” Society 44, no. 4 (2007): 67-73.

Abstract: The article reports on the writings about the cultural phenomenon and effect of the video game industry. It focuses on the pros and cons of gaming. Debates and arguments related to the topic is also presented. Some of the writers celebrate gaming because it display the powerful combination of entertainment, competition, and technology, while the others add a cautionary note stating that our social and moral aspect are neglected. However, all of them agree that video games is a phenomenon that will have social implications. In relation, an overview of the eletronic game industry’s technological development is offered.