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This dissertation focuses on the development of the Lost Cause mythology in North Carolina between the 1880s to the 1920s. The Lost Cause is a racist and inaccurate view of the Civil War years promoted by Neo-Confederate Southerners. This dissertation argues that the Lost Cause developed primarily through the efforts of Neo-Confederate organizations like the United Daughters of the Confederacy. These individuals built a compound-public space that united grassroots movements with official governmental figures to promote the Lost Cause mythology. The formation of this compound-public space and its impact on the Lost Cause provided the necessary cultural support for the development of a Democratic-backed white supremacist campaign in North Carolina in 1898 conducted to reduce the political power of Republicans and African Americans, and to re-establish Democratic hegemony. This dissertation explores the ways in which Neo-Confederates constructed the compound-public space including: the role of politics, gender, religion, education, the media, and Confederate monuments with the express goal of increasing the political power of the Democratic Party.

Luther’s theological and ethical consideration of lying is founded on protecting the reputation and welfare of the neighbor. In sermons, prayer books, catechisms, lectures, letters, and table talks, Luther addresses lies and secrecy in varying contexts and continually returns to the same conclusion: a person’s speech should protect the neighbor’s reputation rather than harm it. Luther first develops his thoughts on lying in catechetical literature on the eighth commandment, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor,” which he interprets positively as a requirement to protect the neighbor’s reputation. Diverging from an idealized Augustinian ethic which condemns all lies as sinful, Luther’s emphasis on protection of the neighbor allows him to identify truths as sinful when they harm another and lies as sinless when they protect another. Luther does draw on Augustine’s framework of three types of lies—the harmful, the playful, and the dutiful—to distinguish among sinful, harmless, and beneficial lies. Luther maintains this focus on protection and the distinction among kinds of lies in his Lectures on Genesis, where he examines lies in many different contexts, commending some and condemning others. Luther’s interpretations expand to offer application and advice to his contemporaries, including advice on how to deceive others in an appropriate way. Luther’s consistent position on deception in his catechetical and exegetical writing provides his rationale for advising lying in the case of Philipp of Hesse’s bigamy despite the disastrous consequences for both Luther and Philipp. Combined with his theology of the seal of the confessional, Luther’s view of lying provides further protection for the neighbor, whether the neighbor is a rich influential ruler or the vulnerable woman next door. As others in the Wittenberg circle wrote their own catechisms, they drew heavily on Luther’s concern for protecting the neighbor and continue to excuse lies that prevent harm. Luther’s emphasis on protection and prevention of harm thus become an enduring focus in the Lutheran ethical tradition’s treatment of lying and deception.

A lack of catechetical instruction within contemporary Protestantism in the United States has resulted in a large number of self-identifying Christians not knowing important tenets of their faith. The modern era also presents a unique dilemma in that North American culture is steeped in visual stimuli due to technology, so that even were catechistic instruction revived, many individuals might balk at a traditional, text-centric process. This thesis explores improving comprehension and retention of orthodox Protestant doctrine in the United States through integrating pictorial illustrations into the classic Christian pedagogical methodology of catechesis. Because of unceasing debates surrounding numerous, nuanced theological stances among different orthodox Christian sects, this study will focus on those elements of the faith that would be, as nearly as possible, universally accepted as comprising “‘mere’ Christianity” (to use C.S. Lewis’ phraseology, appropriated in turn from Richard Baxter). A thematic review of relevant literature was combined with a concise case study of artwork from the workshop of Lucas Cranach the Elder, visual analyses of several instances of didactic imagery since the Reformation, and an overview of several contemporary efforts within visual catechesis. The goal was first to evaluate doctrinal knowledge of present-day Protestants in the United States; second, once comprehension was determined deficient, to analyze causes; and third, to explore possible solutions from the purview of the visual arts. Upon completion of research, the literature and data decisively lend both scholarly and empirical credence to the original hypothesis: in the 21st century, many self-proclaimed United States Protestants are either ignorant or misunderstanding of foundational dogma; a major factor thereof is a lack of catechizing; and imagery emphatically enhances nearly all learners’ abilities to perceive and recollect information. These results suggest that incorporating a prominent display of pedagogical illustrations into modern catechesis would markedly increase desired religious educational outcomes as well as distinctively suit the visual predilections of U.S. culture. Because of the broad array of formats that pictorial content can assume, along with the plethora of environments in which it can be encountered, the visual solutions created for this thesis are designed to appeal to a far-reaching demographic within U.S. Protestantism, as well as being easily adaptable to multiple viewing contexts.

The recovery of the historical practice of delayed baptism for the purpose of pre-baptismal instruction will better ensure a regenerate church membership, thereby promoting more faithful church members. This study argues that reform is needed in Baptist churches in the preparation for believer’s baptism. As Baptists are “people of the Book,” it is most appropriate to survey what the Bible teaches about the meaning of baptism. The first chapter addresses the biblical texts commonly agreed upon by Baptists regarding baptism, as well as those most commonly disagreed upon. Attention is given to the texts used by opponents of delayed baptism contrasted with the passages used by those who are proponents of delayed baptism. The second chapter considers the practice of the early church fathers related to delayed baptism and pre-baptismal instruction. While there was much regression in the doctrine of baptism in these early centuries, moving away from credobaptism to pedobaptism and from baptism being an outward sign of an inward reality toward baptismal regeneration, one still finds the church practicing due diligence in preparing the catechumenate for baptism and full membership by way of catechesis. The third chapter examines the baptismal practices of the Reformation period with special emphasis on the practices of the magisterial reformers Luther, Calvin, and Zwingli, and particular attention to the theology of one radical reformer Balthasar Hubmaier. Though the magisterial reformers maintained the Catholic practice of infant baptism in their churches, they also utilized catechisms, bringing this format of religious instruction into Protestantism. Hubmaier is distinguished from the magisterial reformers and shown to be an important doctrinal link between Anabaptists and Baptists in use of catechisms and the practice of believer’s baptism. While the previous chapters of this study are foundational, the fourth chapter argues for the recovery of the Baptist practices of catechesis, delayed baptism, and insistence on a regenerate church membership. Baptists consistently published and encouraged the use of catechisms from around 1600-1900. It is only in the last century that Baptists laid these practice aside. It is proposed that perhaps Baptist leaders, while rightly focusing on preaching, reaching, and baptizing have neglected regenerate church membership by expediting baptism for the sake of growth. This negligence has hindered church purity and witness. Regardless of philosophy or motive, the discontinuation of pre-baptismal instruction has contributed to the problem of Baptist church rolls filled with names of those who professed and were baptized, but have little to no relationship with the church. The fifth chapter discusses the implications of implementing delayed baptism for pre-baptismal instruction with the aim of better ensuring a regenerate church membership in the Southern Baptist Convention. A model is proposed for implementation in Southern Baptist churches. Each Baptist church should prayerfully reconsider its responsibility to preserve the faith once for all delivered to the saints and to do all it can to ensure a regenerate church membership.

Recensión de: ABELA, Andrew Y CAPIZZI, Joseph (2014) A Catechism for Business: Tough Ethical questions and Insights from Catholic Teaching The Catholic University of America Press, Washington.

A la luz de la encíclica Lumen fidei y de la Exhortación Apostólica Evangelii gaudium, cabe presentar de nuevo el Catecismo de la Iglesia Católica en su plena actualidad, como don para la Iglesia y la humanidad, así como instrumento de la unidad de la fe y de su contextualización en la diversidad de las culturas. El presente artículo subraya el papel de referencia esencial que tanto el Catecismo como su Compendio representan respecto a la «sinfonía de la fe», fe que pide ser encarnada en el dinamismo de la vida cristiana, como semilla viva de la renovación eclesial y de la transformación de la sociedad.

The following study is an effort to determine the effectiveness of a planned program to teach the religion vocabulary presented in the first grade Catechism. It is an attempt to develop the word-meaning and recognition of fifty technical words contained in the religion vocabulary for first grade as a means for better understanding of religion, and to facilitate comprehension in second grade reading. This study is an outcome of the work done in 1950 by Sister Mary Christopher Coughlan who made an analysis of the Religion Vocabulary in Grade One. The results of her study showed conclusively that most of the children do not fully or clearly understand the words used in the Catechism.