Date of Award

4-1995

Degree Type

Master's Essay - Restricted

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Theology

Abstract

James argues throughout his letter that the Christian Faith should express itself through charitable acts of hospitality. True religion, says James, consists of ministering to the needs of the disenfranchised and impoverished members of society, while refusing to allow "the world' s" hypocrisies and false doctrines to corrupt one's life (Jas 1:27). A primary way members of the believing community might avoid the latter, James would no doubt agree, is by busying themselves with the former. For James, "religion consists of nothing more than ethics." Therefore, the Christian lifestyle should be one that aims at ameliorating social pain and marginality: to be holy is to be hospitable, to be pious is to be pragmatic. James' thesis is that since an uncaring and inactive religion is not an efficacious religion, those who wish to be a part of the believing community must practice acts of kindness and charity.

Comments

AN ESSAY SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THEOLOGY IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF M.A. IN THEOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF THEOLOGY, MILWAUKEE, WI

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