• • • • Word in the World is a peer-reviewed journal published by graduate students in the Department of Theological Studies at Concordia University, in Montréal, Québec, Canada. All statements and views expressed herein are those of the contributors alone; neither the Journal Committee nor the Publisher may be held responsible. Illustrations and copyright permission are the responsibility of the individual contributors. JOURNAL COMMITTEE 2009-2010 Chair: Calogero Miceli Vice Chair & Fundraising: Robert Smith Treasurer: Colin Babin Chief Editor & Layout Design: Elisa Pistilli Creative Editor & Secretary: Matte Downey Faculty Liaisons: Dr. Marie-France Dion & Dr. Matthew Anderson NOTE FOR CONTRIBUTORS The purpose of this Journal is to engage theology in the issues and realities of contemporary religious life in a secular, pluralistic society undergoing fundamental institutional change. In doing this, we solicit papers not only from graduate students in theology but also from faculty members who wish to participate in our endeavours. Relevant work from other disciplines will be considered. Although our primary call is for papers, we also solicit personal reflections, stories, artwork, poetry, and any other material operative within the different modes of the theological project. Former graduates of the Theological Studies program are especially encouraged to submit material for consideration. Submissions should be made to: Word in the World, Annex D, Concordia University, 1455 de Maisonneuve West, Montréal, Québec, Canada, H3Q 1M8. We require two hard copies as well as an electronic copy of the paper. Please do not send originals. If you have an idea for a paper and wish to talk to one of our editorial staff, please visit us at www.wordintheworld.ca or email us at: [email protected] . We reserve the right to determine the suitability of each paper for the Journal. Editorial modifications may be made for language, space considerations, or for thematic unity, although we are always careful to maintain the integrity of the author‘s work. ©2010. Word in the World, Concordia University Graduate Journal of Theological Studies. All rights reserved. For more information on the Department of Theological Studies at Concordia University, please visit the department‘s web site at: http://theology.concordia.ca. ISSN: 1705-8597 Printed and bound in Canada. This journal was printed on 100% recycled post-consumer paper, EcoLogo and Process Chlorine Free certified, and manufactured using Biogas Energy. his issue of Word in the World has been respectfully dedicated to an unsung member of the previous journal committee who unfortunately lost his battle with T cancer this past year. Vaughn Thomassin’s contributions to Word in the World were invaluable, to say the least. Vaughn was involved with the editing process of the last issue of the journal and he made a few artistic contributions as well. Vaughn aided in the area of design and contributed the graphic for Jean Daou's article. He also assisted with the very tedious task of proof reading the final texts - not a glorious job but one for which he did not hesitate to generously offer his time. What is remarkable about Vaughn is that he contributed all of these things to the journal out of the goodness of his heart, which is what made him such a special person. Honour his memory by generously donating to: The Vaughn Thomassin Memorial Fund for the Segal Cancer Centre c/o JGH Foundation 3755, ch. de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, A-107 Montréal, QC H3T 1E2 Canada Tel: (514) 340-8251 Fax: (514) 340-8220 No donation is too small. Thank you. • • Word from the Chair 9 Calogero Miceli Acknowledgments 11 Editorial 13 Elisa Pistilli FOCUS UNIT: THEOLOGY UNBOUND The God of the Market Place: 15 John Stuart Mill and Maximos Confessor on Economic Virtue David K. Goodin Gnostic Biblical Interpretation: 36 How Jewish were the Gnostics? Lindsey Sandul Gnostic Origins and the Apocryphon of John 51 Robert Smith The Catacombs of Rome: 67 Typological Representations of Jesus Christ in Early Christian Art Melanie Perialis CREATIVE WRITING REFLECTIONS On a Friend who is on Display in the New York Public Library 80 Race Capet Building 82 Martha Elias Downey SHORT STORIES A Minute and a Half Turn Over Time 85 Martin Sartini Garner POETRY Ode to a Hmong Dancer 93 Race Capet Burnishing Spirit 95 Mary Gedeon Harvan Open My Eyes 97 Mary Gedeon Harvan I Asked God 98 Sam Logiudice AwaDembele-Yeno Calogero A. Miceli As Chairperson of Word in the World, it other academic journals, namely Scriptura: is my pleasure to present to you our latest Nouvelle Série, an academic journal based issue: ‗Theology Unbound‘ Volume 3, at l‘Université de Montréal and Number 1. KannenBright: Concordia University Undergraduate Journal of Theological Studies. With this issue, Word in the World enters KannenBright has recently begun to grow into a new phase of its history. Since our as a journal within the department of last issue, the reins of the journal have Theological Studies at Concordia been passed down from one committee to University. Having two academic journals an entirely new one. Along with the stemming from the same Theology transition have come great strides of department at Concordia University is a improvement and great successes. testament to the high level of academic Following in the steps of our predecessors, integrity of the students and this the 2009-2010 Journal Committee department. We wish both Scriptura and continues to build upon the legacy, KannenBright much success. history, and tradition that is Word in the World. The future of Word in the World looks bright and with each new committee the We have, in the past year, continued the journal continues to grow and blossom. I efforts of the previous committee to bring have no doubt that this academic journal the journal to a higher level of will continue to publish peer-reviewed sustainability. In order to achieve this we academic articles on a yearly basis for have printed fewer copies of the journal, many years to come. used only recyclable materials, and have brought our issues to a new eco-friendly Finally, I would like to thank the entire platform via the internet. Our new website Word in the World Executive, Robert www.wordintheworld.ca is an Smith, Elisa Pistilli, Matte Downey, Lily- extraordinary achievement for the Catherine Johnston, and Colin Babin for members of this committee and we hope their dedication and hard work. Also, I that it will ensure a more sustainable would like to thank Jean Daou and Sara journal as well as allow open access of our Terreault for their wisdom and guidance articles, making them available to a wider throughout the entire process. All of your audience. help was invaluable for this publication. Along with all of these achievements, the On behalf of the entire Word in the World new committee has also reached out to Committee, I would also like to extend a word of appreciation to all those who have contributed to this journal and made this issue possible. A special thank you to the following for their generous financial support: Concordia Council on Student Life (CCSL), Concordia University Alumni Association (CUAA), Concordia University Graduate Student’s Association (GSA), Department of Theological Studies, Theological Studies Graduate and Undergraduate Associations (TSGSA & TSUSA), and the School of Graduate Studies. The Executive Committee would like to take this opportunity to thank the people who contributed their time and expertise so that this issue would come to fruition. Special thanks go to: Sharon Austin Simon Barry Dr. Eric Bellavance Dr. Pamela Bright Jean Daou Connie Di Frusca Dr. André Gagné Lily-Catherine Johnston Janet Lamarche Don Palmarella Dr. Jean-Michel Roessli Dr. Mark Scott Sara Terreault Sabrina Tucci Dr. Lucian Turcescu Dr. Jason Zuidema Elisa Pistilli This issue of Word in the World was examines the Hellenistic, Jewish and inspired by a graduate conference Christian precursors that influenced organized by the Theological Studies Gnosticism as is especially evident in the Graduate Students Association (TSGSA) Apocryphon of John. Finally Melanie ―Theology Outside the Classroom‖ held Perialis examines the influence of pre- March 26 & 27th 2009, at Concordia. The existing art practices –pagan and Judaic– conference was conceived as a way to on early Christian art found in Roman open the discussion between students in Catacombs. theological studies and other disciplines. Next we have two reflective contributions We at Word in the World (WITW) feel showcasing the indiscriminate nature of a that the conference was the recited theological approach. R. Joseph Capet embodiment of our journal‘s role in the involves the reader in an interaction with Concordia Community; rendering it the a sculpture in the New York Public library perfect place to harvest great thoughts on and Martha Elias Downey offers a the open communication between unique and inspiring exchange with Psalm Theology and the other fields of study one 127. A short story by Martin Sartini can adopt in a University setting. The Garner follows in which the reader is team came up with the title Theology invited to observe a bible study group Unbound as a metaphor for the from an insider‘s perspective. limitlessness to the interplay between disciplines and genres that lend Capping off this issue are four poems; themselves to theological interpretation. each poet–R. Joseph Capet, Mary Gedeon Harvan and Sam Logiudice– This issue begins with an excerpt directly offers a personal perspective on scripture from that 2009 conference by David K. and spirituality that truly takes ―Theology Goodin who examines the theological Outside the Classroom.‖ groundwork for a reformulation of today‘s economic market. The next two articles The WITW team is very proud to offer deal with the origins of Gnosticism in this issue to our community, and we hope relation to biblical interpretation and one you enjoy reading and interacting with it of the Nag Hamadi discoveries–with as much as we enjoyed producing it! special attention to the Apocryphon of John.