This article documents the historical development of United Methodist Church-affiliated Ohio Wesleyan University during the nineteenth century. It relies significantly upon a synthesis of its 50- and 100-year histories and supporting Methodist educational literature. While the struggles and mortality rates of church colleges founded during the…

Data from the 2002 Religion and Public Activism Survey were used to examine relationships among measures of religious orientation, embeddedness in social networks and the level of trust individuals direct toward others. Results from ordered logistic regression analysis demonstrate that Catholics and members of other denominations show…

The purpose of this paper is to compare the approach to promoting positive relationships between Catholics and Protestants in two types of integrated primary school in Northern Ireland. Drawing on qualitative interviews with teachers, governors and parents in one transforming school and one grant maintained integrated school, i.e. one…

Utilizing data from two national surveys, examines attitudes of White Protestants toward women's participation in politics. Compares the relationship between affiliation and religiosity and sex prejudice to that between religiosity and ethnic prejudice. Finds that unaffiliated Whites exhibit less sex and ethnic prejudice than do Whites affiliated…

States that the topic of confessionalism has generated a prolonged debate between Brazilian Methodists through the general council of Methodist teaching institutions. Suggests that Methodist academic institutions have no obligation to evangelize but should work in the struggle toward education which is characterized by the search for meaning in…

The higher education sector in Northern Ireland has been fully involved in the public policies designed to enhance equality. Starting with measures designed to secure greater employment between Catholics and Protestants, known as fair employment, the policies are now designed to promote equality of opportunity across nine designated groups…

United States Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, writing for a plurality of the Court in "Mitchell v. Helms" in 2000, advanced the idea that state constitutional prohibitions against public funding of religious schools were manifestations of anti-Catholic bigotry in the late 19th century. Thomas's reading of history and law led him to believe…

On the whole, the experiences of clergy with funerals and funeral directors were positive, although a significant minority provided negative judgements. The general consensus of the clergy was that people did need more protection from inappropriate funeral practices than they were presently getting. (Author)

Discusses the rejection of popular racist beliefs of the nineteenth century by the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church in its missionary interactions with American Indians. Identifies the ethnocentrism at that time as distinct from racism and suggests reasons for the commonality of the former and the rejection of the latter. (AEM)

Spiritual living demands growth, and spiritual development has many parallels with human development. Ministers who are knowledgeable of the various stages are best prepared to assist and optimize spiritual growth. The primary benefit of nurturing believers through developmental stages is assured spiritual health and maturity in the context of a…

Traces 19th-century efforts of the American Methodist Episcopal Church to establish missions and employ Black missionary bishops in Liberia. Points out that the abolition of slavery in the United States contributed to a shift in the Methodist Church's position on recruiting Blacks in the mission movement in Africa. (Author/MJL)

Addresses the impact of religious affiliation on intercourse risk and contraception use among adolescent women during the 1980s when church-based groups were increasingly involved in debates over reproductive and family issues. Results show that adolescent nonmarital intercourse and birth rates were rising suggesting that religious organizations,…

Today deep theological differences threaten to divide Protestant denominations. In turn, these differences often mute church education and block mission. This article seeks to offer glimpses for addressing that theological controversy. It is an exercise in historical retrieval examining a generative period in the history of Christian religious…

This study examined the role of religiosity among adolescents' and adults' alcohol use in Trinidad. A stratified random sample design of 369 adolescents and 210 adult parents belonging to the various religious groups in Trinidad was employed. Participants were randomly selected from various educational districts across Trinidad. Adolescent…

This study combines data from three case studies of teachers moving from their university teacher education programs into their first jobs, with data collected through observations and interviews totaling six observation cycles over the 2 years of data collection. The curricula for working class students that the three teachers taught represent a…