ShahidiHub International Journal of Theology & Religious Studies

Educational Management in Theological Settings: Changing Contexts and Emerging Needs

Gideon Ngi Nganyu — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Theological educational institutions are navigating a rapidly evolving landscape, marked by shifting student expectations, changing workforce demands, technological advancements, and growing concerns around student well-being. This study explores the trends and challenges facing theological institutions and proposes adaptations of their educational management practices to ensure their continued relevance and effectiveness. The analysis delves into students’ changing demographics and learning preferences seeking more flexible, personalized, and career-relevant programs. It also examines the transforming workforce, which requires a broader focus beyond traditional ministry paths and stronger connections with industry partners. The study further investigates the significant impact of technology on teaching and learning, highlighting the need for a balanced and values-driven approach to integration. In response to these evolving dynamics, the paper proposes a set of adaptations to educational management practices, including leadership approaches that prioritize flexibility and responsiveness. In addition, curriculum and instructional adaptations are needed to meet diverse student needs, adjustments to organizational structures and decision-making processes, and strategies for engaging with external stakeholders and partners. By embracing these adaptations, theological educational institutions can position themselves to provide transformative and enriching educational experiences that prepare students to navigate the complexities of the modern world while upholding the core values and principles of their religious traditions.

The Influence of Socio-Psychological Manipulation on Cultism in Public Universities in Kenya: Perceptions of Christian Union Students

James Omondi Siwa — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Cultism is prevalent and increasing among students in universities, with growing concern due to its destructive results, such as suicides, drug abuse, crimes, unrest, and homicide. Other consequences include withdrawal from family, academic malpractices, failure, attrition, and psychological and financial exploitation, among others. This study analyzed the Christian Union (CU) students’ perceptions of socio-psychological manipulation as a factor influencing cultism in public universities in Kenya. The study was carried out in six selected public universities in Kenya. The study employed a mixed-method research design guided by Bounded Choice Theory. The target population was 55,600 Christian Union students in public universities in Kenya, while the accessible population was 10,900 Christian Union students in the six public universities in Kenya. A sample of 220 Christian Union students was selected through simple random and stratified sampling methods, while 60 small group Bible Study leaders and 6 CU patrons were selected through purposive sampling. Data was collected using a questionnaire, focused group discussion, and interview schedules. The study concluded that socio-psychological manipulation significantly affects the prevalence of cultism (β=0.628; p<0.05). The study established that cult recruiters prey on new students when they are most vulnerable. Cultists take advantage of students’ psychological anguish by posing as though they can provide alternative solutions to their problems. The study recommends that during new students’ orientation, the freshers must be trained on logical and critical thinking and spiritual discernment against cultism and be informed on the dangers of cultism.

The Missional Church in a Secular World: A Response to the Rise of Secularism in Africa

Keneth Arinaitwe — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0500

This article focuses on the missional response to the rise of secularism and its manifestations in contemporary Africa. Due to globalization and urbanization, Africa has had a radical social-economic, cultural, and religious shift. Globalization has led to the spread of secularism, a set of beliefs and ways of life that disdain or denounce all forms of religious faith and worship, aiming at completely eradicating all spiritual components from society. It manifests in different dimensions such as materialism, relativism, atheism, pluralism, nominalism, and many others, also called circular humanism. Yet, the church is the people God has called from the world to Himself and sent them to the world (missional role) to reconcile it to Himself. This study examines the broader manifestations of secularism and the appropriate missional response of the church. As technology and humans advance through the capacity to accomplish huge tasks, there’s a tendency of human self-dependence, which creates a society that attributes nothing to God but to self, eventually making God irrelevant. As technology and skilled labor continue to increase, faith in God and religion seemingly become more irrelevant. Therefore, the missional response of the church involves reclaiming true reverence and worship of God.

A Historical and Theological Examination of Christ’s Nature and Work

Leonard Ndzi — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0500

The article examines historical and contemporary perspectives on Christ’s dual nature as fully divine and human, highlighting key historical and theological debates and interpretations. It discusses the implications of Christ’s role in human salvation and how Christ’s nature informs the understanding of God’s revelation and the believer’s faith experience. It also addresses the impact of Christology on ethical teachings and the lived experiences of Christians. Christ’s life and teachings are the foundation for orthodox belief, personal character, ethical system, and faithful Christian living. By synthesizing diverse theological viewpoints and contemporary discussions, the article aims to provide an understanding of Christ’s significance in historical and modern contexts, inviting readers to reflect on the profound implications of Christ’s existence for individual believers and the broader Christian community.

An Examination of the Use of Old Testament Scriptures in the Temptation Narrative in Matthew 4:1–11

Abyot S. Gashute — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0400

This study examines the Old Testament quotations in the Temptation of Jesus narrative (Matt 4:1–11). The narrative contains four direct quotations from the Old Testament: Deuteronomy 6:13, 6:16, 8:3, and Psalm 91:11–12. Scholars believe Gospel authors may have used the Masoretic or the Septuagint text for their Old Testament quotations. The sources of Old Testament quotations, their historical context, and appropriation in the temptation narrative of the Gospel according to Matthew have not been adequately explored. This study employs a six-step analysis as a methodological approach to determine the sources of Old Testament quotations and examine how and why the author of the Gospel incorporated them in the way they appear in his account. According to the Matthew account, the paper argues that the Septuagint (LXX) text was the primary source of the Old Testament quotations in the temptation narrative. In using and appropriating the Old Testament quotations, the author freely made omissions, additions, changes, and modifications of the Septuagint texts to suit his narrative purpose.

Contending for the Faith and Keeping in the Love of God: An Exegetical Study of Jude 20–23

Katie Woods — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0400

As a response to false teaching among Christians in the first century, the book of Jude provides a biblical framework for defending against the invasion of false teachers. As churches grow in identifying false teaching, they must also develop firm defenses. Through historical-grammatical study, this study examines the climactic verses of Jude (verses 20–23) and explores its application. Jude 20–23 instructs believers to defend themselves from becoming corrupted by false teachers (verses 20–21) and issues instructions for proactive mercy to the false teachers themselves (verses 22–23). The “defensive” instructions center around the imperative τηρήσατε (keep), with the three accompanying participles describing how believers are to keep themselves in God’s love. Finally, Jude’s close literary connections with Zechariah 3 support a call to show mercy to the false teachers.