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The Prodigal Discipline

This article explores the connection between theological ideas and the realist school in international relations (IR), arguing that realism is indebted to theological thinking in its origins and application. Drawing on the tradition of Christian realism, it shows how core theological concepts have shaped classical realism and neorealism, though often in secularized forms. This process of secularization, however, has also led to the impoverishment of these IR theories. Using Reinhold Niebuhr’s concept of irony as a case in point, the article suggests that alternative forms of secularization remain possible—ones that retain theological depth without requiring confessional commitments. The article illustrates these theoretical insights by historically examining the role of theological ideas in concrete political developments, such as the onset of the Cold War and the early postwar European security situation. It concludes by arguing for renewed theological engagement given the continued and pervasive presence of religion in global politics.

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Wat als we niet alleen zijn?

*Wat als we niet alleen zijn*, een boek met twintig fictieve verhalen over een andere kijk op de kosmos. Noem het speculatieve fictie, of theologische sciencefiction. Het zijn verhalen waarin allerlei andere perspectieven worden ingenomen, waarbij elementen uit de brede christelijke traditie terugkomen, vaak in een sciencefictionomgeving, omdat je daarmee uitstekend kunt experimenteren. In de verhalen vind je echo’s van de woestijnvaders, van het Nieuwe Testament, van theologen en filosofen.

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The effectiveness of an adapted modular CBT training for youth with depressive symptoms: a study protocol for an n-of-1 trial

Background The prevalence of depressive symptoms among youth seems to be increasing. Depression among youth is associated with poorer academic performance and social relationships. Preventive interventions for youth with elevated depressive symptoms are essential. The STARr training was found to reduce depressive symptoms in youth; however, it was too linguistic and could be enhanced in terms of gender and cultural background. This study will examine whether a simplified, adapted modular CBT training (STARr 2.0) is effective in reducing depressive symptoms and co-occurring anxiety symptoms among youth with depressive symptoms. Further, this study will assess whether the module sequence preferences of adolescents, trainers, or data predict the outcome depressive symptoms. Additionally, alliance, motivation, and expectation of the treatment will be assessed as predictors. Last, we will examine moderators (age, gender) and change mechanisms (problem solving, cognitive restructuring, behavioral activation, and stress). Methods An n-of-1 study with a single-case observational design with a baseline and effect phase will be employed. The baseline phase starts three weeks before the training. We aim to include 30 adolescents between 12 and 20 years at two mental health organizations. All participants receive the adapted STARr-training in groups of six to eight participants. The training consists of 12 hourly sessions provided by a trained trainer. Participants receive in total three short questionnaires per week and six longer questionnaires (start baseline, before the start of the training, and after each module). The primary outcome is depressive symptoms and secondary outcomes are anxiety, stress, satisfaction with the training, and individual and societal functioning. Discussion The findings of this study will provide insight into whether an adapted simplified version of the STARr training is effective in reducing depressive symptoms and will also provide insight into change mechanisms and potential subgroup differences. If the adapted versio

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The Cosmic Johannine Jesus and Science-Fiction Space-Travelling Messiahs

Caroline Vander Stichele has published many articles on intertextuality. In this volume, an example of thematic intertextuality is the contribution by Ruben van Wingerden, in which science-fiction literature is examined from the perspective of Johannine cosmology.

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Facilitating a learning culture to strengthen professional autonomy among hospital nurses: a mixed methods study

**Background:**Professional autonomy is essential to nursing leadership development in Evidence-Based QualityImprovement (EBQI), yet hospital nurses may struggle to enact this autonomy. This study examined how a participatorylearning trajectory influences professional autonomy and nursing leadership development within EBQIpractice.**Methods**:A convergent mixed-methods design combined qualitative Participatory Action Research (PAR) withan appreciative approach and a prospective pre-post comparative study. Two nursing teams participated in thePAR trajectory and two served as non-PAR comparison teams. Qualitative and quantitative data were collectedand analysed separately and then brought together at the interpretation stage through triangulation, allowing thefindings from both approaches to be compared and integrated to provide a comprehensive understanding of theeffects of the PAR trajectory.**Results**:PAR enabled each team to develop a tailored learning trajectory combining reflection, knowledge development,and enactment of nursing leadership behaviours. Four key outcomes emerged: (1) increased professionalautonomy, (2) more proactive work practices, (3) enhanced psychological safety, and (4) development of a sharedteam vision. Compared with non-PAR wards, nurses in participating wards showed significant improvementsin aspects of professional leadership (Challenge the Process, p = 0.014), attitudes and skills related to EBQI(p = 0.037), and self-efficacy (p = 0.038).**Conclusions**:PAR can strengthen professional autonomy and nursing leadership development within EBQI. Wardbasedlearning, guided reflection, and collective practice appear to be key mechanisms. Sustaining improvementsrequires ongoing support for practice consolidation and innovation. Transferability may be limited by the Dutchnursing context, where vocationally and bachelor-educated nurses work together in teams with a different skillmix than in other countries.**Implications**:Nursing leadership development should be embedded in everyday clinical practice through structuredaction-reflection cycles. PAR can foster trust, engagement, and team development, while organizationalsupport is essential for meaningful participation and sustainable impact.

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Waarom 'eeuwig' geen verboden woord is. De vertaling van aiōnios in het Nieuwe Testament

Moet het Griekse woord aiōnios – het sleutelwoord in teksten over eeuwig leven en eeuwige straf in het Nieuwe Testament – anders worden vertaald dan gebruikelijk? Over die vraag is er een groeiend debat, aangewakkerd door recente pleidooien vanuit universalistische hoek. Dit artikel onderzoekt de taalkundige, exegetische en theologische lagen van aiōnios en weegt de argumenten voor een alternatieve vertaling. Het laat zien dat aiōnios een semantisch breed begrip is, dat zowel kwaliteit (‘behorend bij de komende eeuw’) als duur (‘blijvend, onherroepelijk’) kan uitdrukken, en dat in het Nieuwe Testament deze twee betekenislagen samenkomen. Wie aiōnios uitsluitend kwalitatief leest als ‘behorend bij de komende eeuw’, miskent de betekenisontwikkeling die het woord in de apocalyptische literatuur van de tweede tempelperiode heeft doorgemaakt. Over vertalingen valt altijd te twisten, maar alternatieven als ‘blijvend’, ‘van de komende wereld’ of ‘van God’ schieten op wezenlijke punten tekort. Het Nederlandse woord ‘eeuwig’ blijkt, mede door zijn eigen semantische ontwikkeling, nog altijd de meest adequate vertaalkeuze.

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Hoe sterft Jezus?

In het kader van het sterfjaar van Franciscus van Assisi kijken we in dit artikel naar de dood van Jezus - het voorbeeld van Franciscus. Hoe wordt Jezus' dood eigenlijk geportretteerd in de vier evangelies? Wat zijn de verschillen en overeenkomsten? Welke accenten leggen de evangelisten?

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Daily Cross-Bearing Reconsidered

Does καθ’ ἡμέραν belong to the call to bear one’s cross in Luke 9:23? While many believe the case is closed, this short article proposes reconsidering it. While there is certainly a textual basis for καθ’ ἡμέραν, the evidence, except ????75, is from the fourth century or later. However, recent research by Brent Nongbri has criticized the early dating of ????75 (175–225 CE), making a case that the fourth century might also be possible. This later date coheres with all other witnesses to the phrase, including the Latin and Coptic versions. That, together with the other Greek manuscripts, seems to suggest that καθ’ ἡμέραν appeared in the late third century, provided that we follow Nongbri’s suggestion. This study demonstrates the implications of how dating papyri can influence exegesis, as the concept of “daily cross-bearing” has had a profound impact on scholarship and the beliefs of Christians throughout the ages.

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