Christus Cultura
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CHRISTUS CULTURA The Journal of Christianity in the Social Sciences Volume 2: Issue 1 | April 2020 Christus Cultura: The Journal of Christianity in the Social Sciences Mission Statement Christus Cultura, Staff Our mission at Christus Cultura is to Managing Editor, explore and highlight in innovative, cutting edge ways the intersection of Christian faith Charles William Carter, Ph.D. and the human experience as expressed in the study of the social sciences, including Associate Professor of History history, political science, psychology, Shorter University sociology, criminology, international studies, Christian and missionary studies, Associate Editor, and much more. Jared Adam Linebach, Ph.D. Vision Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Chair of the Department of Social Sciences To that end, contributors to this journal present original research and solicited Shorter University items–from articles and essays to book reviews and commentaries–on issues Webmaster, important to the Christian life as it is experienced now, in the past, or could be Andrew Bailey experienced in the future. Our scope is Shorter University intentionally broad, both in terms of geography and time, as well as in content, because we seek to provide readers with a rich mosaic of the ways in which the influence of a single man, a humble carpenter from Nazareth, has continued to shape the human experience, society, and culture in profound ways. It is our sincere desire that readers will find the journal rewarding and spiritually life-enriching and that the content presented will serve, whether in profound or subtle ways, as a vehicle of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20). 1 Christus Cultura: The Journal of Christianity in the Social Sciences Contents A God of New Beginnings: How the Letter From Editors Power of Relationship Brings Hope Scholarly Articles Section and Redeems Lives Author: Rob Cowles & Matt Roberts, with Dean Merrill The Curious Setting of Eden: The Publisher: Thomas Nelson, 2018 Ethical Implications of the Review by Sydney Holmes, Narrative Setting of Genesis 2–3 University of North Carolina --Cory Barnes, Shorter University Faith for Exiles: 5 Ways for a New Theology in Stone: Gothic Generation to Follow Jesus in Architecture, Scholasticism, and the Digital Babylon Medieval Incarnational View of Author: David Kinnaman & Mark Matlock Knowledge Publisher: Baker Books, 2019 Review by Jodi S. Ford, Liberty University --Brenton H. Cook, Bob Jones University The Case for Christ: Daily Moment A Christian Perspective on Police of Truth Body Worn Cameras and Related Author: Lee Strobel & Mark Mittelberg Theories: A Case Study of Houston, Publisher: Zondervan, 2018 Texas Review by Luciana Y. Philyaw, Shorter University --Daniel Augusto, Liberty University Promoting Resilience in Special Undergraduate Spotlight Essay Survivors of Suicide The Conversion of Vladimir the --Natalie Ford, Truett McConnell University Great to Orthodox Christianity Anthony Cantanzaro Scholarly Book Reviews Section History Major I Think You’re Wrong (But I’m Shorter University Listening): A Guide to Grace-Filled Political Conversations Author: Beth A. Silvers & Sarah Stewart Holland Publisher: Thomas Nelson, 2019. Review by Justin Pettegrew, Shorter University 2 Christus Cultura: The Journal of Christianity in the Social Sciences Contributors to the Acknowledgments This Edition The Editorial Staff would like to thank some individuals who contributed to the design of this journal. Mr. Andrew Bailey, the Daniel Augusto, Ph.D. Candidate in webmaster of Shorter University, who Criminal Justice, Liberty University administers the journal’s online webpage. Cory Barnes, Ph.D. (New Orleans Baptist Seminary), Dean, Journal Cover Photo Credit: Grant Whitty School of Humanities and Social on Unsplash Sciences, Shorter University Anthony Cantanzaro, History Major, Shorter University Charles W. Carter, Ph.D. (Ohio State University), Associate Professor of History, Shorter University Brenton H. Cooke, Ph.D. (Bob Jones University), Associate Professor of Bible and Church History, Bob Jones University Jodie S. Ford, Ph.D. Candidate in Criminal Justice, Liberty University Natalie Ford, Ph.D. (Liberty University), Assistant Professor of Behavioral Science, Truett McConnell University Sydney Holmes, History Graduate Student, University of North Carolina Justin Pettegrew, Ph.D. (Loyola-Chicago), Associate Professor of History, Shorter University Luciana Philyaw, Ed.D. (North Central College), Assistant Professor of Human Services, Shorter University 3 Christus Cultura: The Journal of Christianity in the Social Sciences Letter from the Editors only that, this pandemic has created opportunities for Christians to show their care for one another and others, Greetings, Dear Readers! actualizing love in ways that would not be possible otherwise. There are indeed Like the inaugural edition last unprecedented occasions to win over year, this second publication of our people to Christ even in a pandemic Christus Cultura: The Journal of such as this by manifesting solidarity Christianity in the Social Sciences with our fellow man and following marks the culmination of a year-long Jesus’ love commands, as laid out in the process of turning into reality a vision Gospel of Matthew. of an academic journal where scholars To be sure, the Christian can publish on topics that examine the worldview does not promise in this life social sciences through an Evangelical a world free of sorrows, but we can Christian lens. This year scholars from know with certainty that all things will such institutions as Liberty University, work out in the end for those who put Bob Jones University, Truett their trust in Christ Jesus. “And we McConnell University, Shorter know that in all things God works for University among others, have the good of those who love him,” the contributed to help make the journal’s Apostle Paul writes, “who have been vision possible. To each contributor, called according to his purpose” we are grateful for your scholarship, (Romans 8:28). Accordingly, we, as and hope it is read widely throughout Christians, should focus on God’s the Evangelical Christian higher providence and omnibenevolence in education community. this trying time to give us the strength With the ongoing coronavirus to love one another. pandemic, this spring has brought new challenges that the global community In Christ, has never faced before, at least not in Charlie Carter & Jared Linebach modern times. Yet as Christians we can Shorter University have confidence that God will see us Rome, GA through these times, however troubling and stressing they may be. It is precisely in times of crisis May 1, 2020 such as this that much is revealed about society. People learn who their true friends are and who cares for them. People ideally set asides differences, whether cultural or ideological, to come together for the common good. Not 4 Christus Cultura: The Journal of Christianity in the Social Sciences The Curious Setting of Eden: narrative is the primary means of ethical expression in the biblical text, understanding The Ethical Implications of the the narrative of the Bible is essential for Narrative Setting of Genesis 2–3 constructing a biblical ethic. Christian Scripture contains multiple narrative levels. Local narratives comprise the Cory Barnes, Ph.D. most basic level of narrative. Local narratives Shorter University are bound into units containing unique characters, settings, and plots.2 At times strings of local narratives form cycles of narratives within the text in which the individual narratives function as parts within a larger cycle.3 Local narratives and narrative cycles are important for understanding the ethical message of Scripture, but the most ethically fertile level of narrative is the metanarrative that encapsulates all other levels of narrative.4 The ethical message of Scripture hearkens to readers through its metanarrative and beckons readers to join in the story by conforming their ethical understanding to the 5 force of the narrative. Image Credit: Pixabay If the Bible is a story, then it must have a beginning and an end. As in all stories, A biblical ethic is naturally to understand the meaning of the narrative one predisposed toward narrative expression. The must grasp the meaning of these two terminal chief cause of the bend toward narrative points. At the beginning of the biblical story is methodology in biblical ethics is that the Bible the narrative of the creation of the world in itself takes the form of narrative. Those who Gen 1–3. The creation narrative naturally falls wish to form an ethical framework from into two sections with Gen 1:1–2:4 Scripture based on moral concepts rather than representing a holistic view of creation and on narrative expression must wrestle with the Gen 2:4–3:246 a focused view on the role of fact that narrative and not reason is the way in human agents in the creation and the fall.7 which Scripture conveys truth.1 Because 1 Johan Baptist Metz, "A Short Apology of Narrative," in Why 5 Kevin J. Vanhoozer, The Drama of Doctrine: A Canonical- Narrative?: Readings in Narrative Theology, ed. Stanley Linguistic Approach to Christian Theology (Louisville: Hauerwas and Gregory L. Jones (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, Westminster John Knox, 2005). 6 1989), 252. For the sake of brevity, Gen 2:4–3:24 will be referred to 2 Gordon D. Fee and Douglas K. Stuart, How to Read the hereafter as Gen 2–3. Bible for All Its Worth, 4th ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 7 Possible form-critical reasons for dividing Gen 1:1–2:4 are 2014), 95–96. outside the scope of this paper. For a discussion of the 3 R. Dennis Cole, “Old Testament Narrative: Telling the Story thematic and narrative continuity between Gen 1:1–2:4 and of God’s Handiwork in History,” in Biblical Hermeneutics: A Gen 2:5–3:24 see John H. Walton, The Lost World of Adam Comprehensive Introduction to Interpreting Scripture, ed. and Eve: Genesis 2-3 and the Human Origins Debate Bruce Corley, Steve Lemke, and Grant Lovejoy (Nashville: (Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2015), 63–70.