Academic Creativity and Excellence Day
The semi-annual research colloquium at Bushnell founded by Dr. Tim Bergquist.
Reflections on Study Abroad in Israel/Palestine
This summer, Bushnell students and faculty studied abroad in Israel and Palestine. This ACE day presentation will provide reflections on sights seen and lessons learned. Topics covered include: pilgrimage, the Arab-Israeli conflict, archaeology, and spiritual engagement with the “Fifth Gospel” another name for the Holy Land.
BTM 307, Archaeology and the Bible
James Berry & Melisa Ortiz Berry
P114
2:30 – 4 PM
To be a Christian: What it Means to Have an Identity in Christ
Identity is an important topic of conversation for everyone, including Christians. A Christian’s core identity should be in Christ, and I will be explaining what this identity is. I will explore the created self which is made in the image of God, the crooked self which is our sinful nature, the resurrected self which is the new self we have in Christ, and the transfigured self which is who we are becoming through our faith.
BTM 499, Senior Capstone
Agam Iheanyi-Igwe
P103
10:30 – 11 AM
In God We Trust: Religious Trauma in the American Evangelical Church
I will begin by discussing what religious trauma is and what Conservative American Evangelical Christianity is. I will then look at causes of religious trauma in Conservative American Evangelical Christianity as seen through a literature review and personally conducted research. Then, it will be concluded with looking at how the Bible addresses the aforementioned causes, and discussing what this means for today.
BTM 499, Honors: Senior Thesis
Agam Iheanyi-Igwe
L203 (click here to view the live stream)
1:30 – 2:30 PM
From Jew to Gentile: The Transition from Judaism to Christianity
Abstract- This presentation will cover the transition from Judaism to Christianity during the Second Temple Period, the historical strife between both sides, Judaic Christianity in the book of Hebrews, and modern Messianic Judaism today.
BTM322 – Epistle to the Hebrews
Dr. AJ Swoboda
1:30pm – L203
How Can Church Based Youth Groups Address the Social Impacts of the Pandemic on Young People (6th-12th Grade)
Abstract- This essay will be exploring how church based youth groups can address the social impacts of the pandemic on young people (6th-12th grade). COVID-19 undoubtedly had lasting affects on everyone, but young people specifically suffered in major ways. Young people’s lives were drastically changed forever. With that said, there must be a way that church based youth groups can come alongside young people, and better meet them where they are at with their struggles.
BTM499- Senior Capstone
Dr. Agam Iheanyi-Igwe
2pm – L203
Rewriting History: Spiritual Beauty in the Modern Church
I will give a brief explanation of the spiritual discipline “Visio Divina” and how it was used throughout history in the church. Then I will apply this discipline to the modern church, and I will conclude with how this can benefit the health of the church.
BTM 407, Special Topics: Spiritual Formation
Joshua Little
Bucher Room (view livestream here)
1 – 1:30 PM
Risen From the Ashes: The Church Born From a Crucifixion
I will be covering the history of crucifixion and what we can learn from it in our modern era. This includes the scientific way Jesus died, the history of crucifixion in the Roman Empire, and how it continued into the early church era.
BTM 307, History of the Bible
Melisa Ortiz Berry
Bushnell History Symposium, P103
9:30 AM – Noon
Learning to Lament
The book of Psalms, containing both praises and laments, was used by Israel in worship. Western churches today, however, worship in praise more than lament, leading people to believe that their sorrow is from a lack of faith. The balance of praise and lament in the Church is important because it allows us to bring our whole self to God and acknowledge God’s response of faithful love. By looking at other cultures and understanding the language of the Psalms, churches can authentically worship God together through lament.
BTM 370, Book of Psalms
Joshua Little
L204
1 – 1:30 PM
Translating 2 Timothy
We will be covering the process of translating from Greek to English, with a focus on 2 Timothy. Looking at the methodology and reasoning behind several noteworthy decisions.
BTM 499, Senior Capstone
A. J. Swoboda
L204
2:30 – 3 PM
The Queen Who Cared
Esther, one of only two books of the Bible that never mentions the name of God, is a historical narrative that teaches us how God works behind the scenes in our lives. While there is no historical evidence of her existence, she demonstrates a spirit of courage and a faith in God that can still be applied today.
BTM 101, Old Testament
A. J. Swoboda
L204
1:30 – 2 PM
Encountering Wonder, Informing Creation
This presentation is about the biblical theme of “wonder” as it relates to the created world. This brief capstone will research both primary and secondary sources and will explore the concept of wonder as has been defined continuously as the act of “marvel” or “amaze” in the Greek and Hebrew translations found in Strong’s concordance. The following work will explore in particular the complexities pertaining to the experience of encountering wonder in creation. These complexities are more often than not measured by the qualitative and intimate experiences of modern authors and those who partook in the establishment of Holy Scripture. Moreover, this exploration of wonder will seek to beg the question—how does wonder impact us? To that end, I will utilize and describe the concept of “informing creation” as a way of speaking to our responsibility to care for God’s creation which includes all God has created, his all-encompassing workmanship, the animal kingdom, humanity, and Earth.
Keywords: Scripture, Wonder, Creation, Experience, Decay
BTM 499, Senior Capstone
A. J. Swoboda
L204
2 – 2:30 PM
The Covid Letter
My presentation will cover the main points of 1 Peter. First, who wrote 1 Peter, then where the letter was written to. This leads into an explanation of two main parts of the letter – suffering as a Christian and the Household Codes. Finally, it is wrapped up with how this actually applies to our everyday lives.
BTM 102, Engaging With the Bible: How to Read the Bible in the 21st Century
Brian Mills
Bucher Room
10:30 – 11 AM
Engaging with Skeptics: Existentialism
Evangelizing is a key part of the Christian faith. For the Christian, it is important to learn how to evangelize so that they can share their religions teachings. For the atheist though, this practice is not as common, nor is it a key part of the belief system. So, then, how does the atheist share their beliefs. Through the eyes of an atheist philosophy known as Existentialism, this paper examines the pieces of this particular philosophical tradition, how it contrasts Christian teachings, and how Christians may critique the Philosophy. The purpose of the paper is to make the Existentialist aware of how their beliefs may interact with Christianity to prepare for discourse among Christians while also showing Christians and other people of faith how the Existential tradition sees their reality and the ways that Christianity relates to it.
BTM 335, Connecting with a Skeptical World
AJ Swoboda
1 – 1:30 PM
Join the Zoom discussion afterward. The presenter and faculty advisor both have the password.
A biblical analysis of the nature of sin
An investigation of sin in the Bible. The aim of the Christian life is righteousness contrasted by the sinful nature of humans. A Christian understanding of sin is seen through language and the Bible. Sin may be understood better through the words used for sin in the Bible. There are many different types of sin, and aspects to sin. Examining the sins shown in the book of Genesis provides an overview of how sin is represented in Christianity. Temptation may be categorized as sin part of the time. A proper understanding of sin in the Bible should ease the hearts and minds of Christians as well as provide a more accurate understanding of how to live a Christian life.
BTM 499, Capstone
AJ Swoboda
1:30 – 2 PM
Join the Zoom discussion afterward. The presenter and faculty advisor both have the password.
Contemporary Parable Project
Jesus often communicated spiritual or theological truth through parables. The details of the parables were contemporary to the original hearers in 1st Century Palestine. Students have created modern-day parables that teach similar spiritual or theological truth to the parables of Jesus. The following parables will be on display: “The 10 Virgins,” “The Good Samaritan,” “The Pearl,” “The Banquet,” “The Sower,” “The Prodigal Son,” and “The Lost Sheep.”
BTM 102, Engaging with the Bible: How to Read the Bible in the 21st Century, “Into the Text, Out to Serve in the World”
Agametochukwu Iheanyi-Igwe
Banquet Room
10 AM – 3:30 PM
Genesis 15: A Single Seed
The life of a plant is produced by what we know as the germination of a seed. From the single seed of one man, Abraham, came the Son of God. Dormant as man may view it—the descendants—the covenant God made with Abraham was eventually fulfilled a near 2,000 years later. This former infertile seed went on to germinate and produce a plant, which dropped seeds, creating more plants, generating more life; just like the stars, the life produced by this single seed was and is all too much to count. But it did not stop with the birth of Jesus. It had only begun at the cross. This nearly 4,000-year-old covenant carries on today.
BTM 101, Engaging with the Bible: How to Read the Bible in the 21st Century
Joshua Little
9 AM – 3:30 PM
Banquet Room
Come to L203 at noon. If you’re one of the first to arrive, you can have free pizza. The meal’s entertainment consists of five minute talks by representatives from majors and minors across campus. Speakers will take a single idea they learned from their major or minor coursework, explain it, explain why it’s useful or beautiful, and explain why they personally love it. Scheduled speakers:
L203
Noon – 1 PM
Walt Whitman and the Bible
An in-depth analysis on Walt Whitman’s collective work “Leaves of Grass” and the influence the Bible had.
BTM 365, The History of the Bible in English
Steve Silver
Banquet Room, Poster #1
1 – 3 PM
Todah as Communion
Communion is likely one of the most important things that many churches in the world today simply view as a quick practice that is more of an afterthought than something that is central to the life of the believer and the church. However, recapturing the authentic vision that Jesus had for the Eucharist is vital in understanding more fully the life that he wants us to participate in with him. In the church today, it is difficult to pin down exactly what communion is. While most people would agree that communion is the partaking of bread and the drinking of wine to remember what Jesus has done for us on the cross, the practical way that is played out in churches across the world looks drastically different everywhere.
How can we recapture the authentic vision for communion that Jesus undoubtedly had in mind when he instituted it as a practice in the upper room with the disciples in Matthew 26? In order to answer this question, we must look at three aspects of communion. First, we must look at the history of communion, not only in the church, but also in what Hebrew traditions Jesus implemented communion around. Secondly, we must look to the theology of what happened in the upper room when Jesus instituted communion to understand what Jesus intended for communion to look like in practice for his followers. Thirdly, we must take what we learned from the history and theology of communion to know how to successfully integrate it into the practice of church today.
BTM 499, Capstone
Dennis Lindsay
2:30 – 3 PM
P114