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At the center of my thesis stands pastoral care, in the light of the transgenerational perspective, with particular attention to the context of marriage. Transgenerationality refers to legacies that span across generations, which have an unconscious impact on the individual’s life and relationships. The aim of my thesis is to point out that the effectiveness of pastoral care can be increased if we keep in mind the systemic approach and the patterns inherited across generations. The theoretical background of the thesis consists of a combination of biblical, psychological, and family therapy perspectives, with special emphasis placed on Böszörményi-Nagy Iván’s contextual therapy. I outline the key role of loyalty and transgenerational effects in detail, and—based on the issues of partner selection patterns, conflict resolution, and intergenerational responsibility—I extend the focus to marriage, as one of the most sensitive channels of transgenerational transmission.

Today, suicide has reached shocking proportions among people, but also in our churches. This paper is about how to approach the issue, to give an introduction to how to accompany bereaved people whose relatives have resorted to suicide, and to give some pointers to consider in their pastoral care. It aims to identify the factors that complicate the grieving process and the reasons that may predispose the bereaved to turn their grief into complicated bereavement. The present thesis research focuses on these factors and aims to reveal the interrelationships and significant differences by examining and analysing real cases. Eleven interviews were conducted with individuals whose immediate family members (e.g. father, spouse or child) had given up the struggle, resorting to suicide. The results indicate that bereaved people face serious problems after the fact of suicide.

The ethical discourse about euthanasia is a rather controversial topic, recent lowering of age requirements just made it more relevant. This study aims to present the reader with the contemporary legislations and practical methods about different forms of euthanasia concerning minors. As a reformed christian, it is alarming to watch, how the legislations about euthanasia are becoming more and more accepted, defined and upgraded in recent years. The latest update happened just last year, in 2024, when the Netherlands gave green light to the practice of euthanising children aged between 1 and 12 years. Even though the authorities and several physicians are involved in the process, and they claim that it is a well documented and safe practice, many feel that they have crossed a dangerous border.

The dissertation focuses on the old textiles of Unitarian churches that came into the possession of the parishes from the 1600s to the mid-1800s. Drawing on 17th to 19th-century archival sources, including bishop's and dean's visitation records and parish inventory books, this thesis reconstructs the material heritage of Unitarian congregations and traces the evolution of their collections. Furthermore, the surviving textiles offer insights into congregational customs, particularly donation practices and the piety and representational needs of church members. Despite their significance, the material heritage of Unitarian congregations, especially their textiles, has received scant scholarly attention over the centuries. This dissertation aims to address this lacuna by comprehensively surveying the textile holdings of Unitarian congregations, compiling a dedicated catalogue, and analyzing relevant archival sources.

My thesis contains a repertory of the Evangélikus Élet, an Evangelical Lutheran church journal, as well as a pre-study that introduces the Transylvanian Hungarian press of the period, the Transylvanian Hungarian church press, and the most important authors and sections of the journal. The repertory includes the table of contents, the author index, and the textarium of the issues published between 1935 and 1942. My goal was to create an accurate database to assist historians and researchers of church history. At the same time, it aims to introduce this lesser-known yet valuable publication of the Romanian Evangelical Lutheran Church to interested readers. Through my research, I hope to contribute to the promotion of Transylvanian Protestant press, especially Evangelical press, as the journal, although written almost a century ago, contains writings that are still relevant for today’s pastors and congregations.

My thesis is based on the exploration of a lesser-studied aspect of 18th-century Transylvanian protestant church history: it examines, trough an interdisciplinary approach, the inscriptions found on elements of protestant sacred space furnishings – particularly on pulpit canopies. The analysis of the selected corpus is guided by the hypothesis that these inscriptions are functional in nature, shedding light on the liturgical role of the given object while also conveying messages to the congregation. The subject of the study includes works whose iconographic program, inscriptions, or patronal background are considered distinctive. Naturally, several technical limitations – such as later overpainting and a lack of documentary sources – posed significant challenges to the research. Nevertheless, it was still possible to work with sufficiently relevant information.

Abortion is a subject of serious legal, political and ethical debate in today's society. In this debate, the value and dignity of the life that begins, the right of the mother to self-determination over her own body, the right to life of the unborn foetus, or the responsibility of the relatives and the doctor performing the abortion are all called into question. The clash of views and positions conspicuously omits any consideration of ecclesiastical or theological perspectives. It is from this situation that I formulated the main question of my research: do Christian ethics provide up-to-date answers to the abortion question today? What is the current position of Protestant and Roman Catholic ethics on the abortion issue? This question predicts that the positions of the two denominations differ on certain sub-issues. In my thesis, I juxtapose official church statements and encyclicals in search of identical and divergent views on the abortion issue.

Jelen dolgozatunkban a keresztyén tökéletességgel foglalkoztunk Pál apostolnak a Filippi levél 3. fejezete alapján. Jóllehet Pál a tökéletesség fogalmát a Filippi levélben csak egyszer használja, a levél harmadik fejezete alapján háromféle tökéletességi minta bontakozik ki előttünk. Témáját és hangvételét tekintve a Fil 3 jól elkülönül a levél egészétől, így a keresztyén tökéletesség jellegéről és lényegéről ennek a fejezetnek a tüzetes vizsgálata alapján mondhatunk valamit. Dolgozatunkban tehát mindenekelőtt a Fil 3 áll a figyelmünk középpontjában.

This thesis explores how Christian mission can maintain its credibility amid the social, cultural, and technological challenges of the 21st century. Religious pluralism, globalization, secularization, and the rise of digital communication have radically transformed the frameworks through which the Christian message is conveyed. The church can no longer assume inherent authority; it must rethink its mission, language, and forms of engagement. The study analyzes the historical and theological development of mission concepts, drawing on the paradigm shift theories of Thomas S. Kuhn and David J. Bosch. According to the Missio Dei perspective, mission is God’s sending to the world, in which the church participates. The thesis examines key stages of mission history, postmodern identity dynamics, shifts in global Christianity, forms of digital mission, and contextual and liberation theology approaches.

The aim of this thesis is to explore how the information society and digitalization are transforming church life, with a particular focus on new forms of community organization and communication. The research is situated at the intersection of the sociology of religion and media studies, examining the characteristics of network society, generational media use, and ecclesiastical responses to technological change. Special attention is given to online religious identity, the digitalization of religious practices, and the rise of virtual communities. Through literature analysis and the presentation of practical examples, the thesis investigates how churches can create an authentic, community-shaping presence in the digital space. The purpose of this work is also to lay the foundation for my own ministerial vocation in an era where offline and online communities are increasingly intertwined, and where new missional opportunities are emerging for churches.

This thesis examines the unitarian liturgical treasures displayed in the exhibition opened in 2018 at the House of Religious Freedom in Cluj-Napoca, with a particular focus on their historical background. The research analyzes sixty-five communion vessels originating from twenty-nine Unitarian congregations and is based primarily on episcopal and deanery visitation records, as well as other manuscript church sources. These documents make it possible to identify the earliest references to the objects, trace their acquisition by individual congregations, and reconstruct the circumstances under which they entered ecclesiastical use. Since the history of these vessels is intertwined with that of the communities that used them, their study also provides insight into the historical development of the congregations themselves.

In New Testament textual criticism, a broad consensus has emerged that the Markan shorter ending, the scene of Jesus' agony (Luke 22:43–44), and the story of the adulterous woman (John 7:53–8:11) did not originally belong to the text of the Gospels. Because the traditions underlying these passages are early, the most recent critical editions of the Greek New Testament print them in the main text. On the basis of an analysis of these early traditions, the present study contends that (1) the conclusio brevior was appended to the Gospel according to Mark as part of the Vorlage for the earliest known Old Latin translation; (2) the Agonia Christi was inserted into the "Western text" of Luke's Gospel as an anti-Gnostic polemic; and (3) the Pericope Adulterae was incorporated into John as an anti-Novatianist polemical discourse via the Greek exemplars underlying the Vulgate.

The Book of the Prophet Jeremiah contains four visions that are generally accepted by scholarly consensus: 1:11–12; 1:13–16; 24:1–14; and 38:21–23. This thesis examines the origin, structure, and possible interpretations of these visions, with particular attention to identifying and analyzing elements that indicate visionary experience. The book also contains several other passages that include vision-related elements, namely: 4:23–28; 11:18–23; 13:1–11; 25:15–38; 23:19–20/30:23–24; and 4:13–18. These disputed passages are also examined in the thesis. In this context, I summarize scholarly opinions regarding their literary classification and possible interpretations. This makes it possible to see which elements support the interpretation of these passages as visions and which arguments have been put forward against such an understanding. The concluding section of the thesis presents a synthesis based on the four visions accepted by scholarly consensus.

The aim of this thesis is to examine the extent to which the elusive postmodern zeitgeist influences ordinary people's faith in God, their relationship to the church, and the congregational demands of the Christian church. It also seeks to answer how far the teachings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the influential theologian who was martyred during World War II, can respond to these congregational needs. The topicality of the paper lies in its aim to provide a systematic theological framework for Reformed congregational pastors and members, with the aim of providing them with a theoretical basis for confronting postmodern problems. One such problem may be the scepticism and relativism that is characteristic of postmodernism and that is present in the life of the average church member today. A further challenge for the church may be the change in postmodern language and the isolation of individuals from one another.

Jézus Krisztus feltámadása, mint apologetikai kérdés egy igen bonyolult kérdés. A felvilágosodás kora óta viták folynak ezzel kapcslatosan, és egészen biztos vagyok abban, hogy ezután is kétségeket és kérdéseket fog ébreszteni a hívő és hitetlen emberekben egyaránt. Mégis úgy érzem, hogy van létjogosultsága annak a kérdésnek, amely a húsvéti eseményeknek a történetiségére vonatkozik, de kizárólag akkor, ha a választól nem várjuk el azt, hogy biztos alapja legyen a mi hitünknek vagy mások hitének. Le kell tisztáznunk önmagukban, hogy mit keresünk akkor, amikor ennek a rendkívüli eseménynek szeretnénk utána járni. Ha egy mértani pontosságú mérlegre szeretnénk helyezni azokat az érveket, amelyek a feltámadás valósága mellett szólnak és azokat, amelyek ellene, ezután pedig a mérleg nyelvének a helyzetéből kiindulva szeretnénk eldönteni a keresztény hit és az evangélium igazságának a mértékét, fel kell készülnünk arra, hogy csalódás ér bennünket.

The thesis examines the posthumous memory and cult of Mózsa Berde, a 19th-century Unitarian benefactor. Known for his austere frugality during his lifetime, Berde's bequest of his vast fortune to the church, primarily for educational purposes, generated profound institutional reverence. The core of the research analyzes the memorial speeches delivered with the "Berde goblet" at Chief Council dinners between 1899 and 2025. The study demonstrates how these rhetorical acts transformed Berde into a moral compass for the community, elevating him as an ideal of self-sacrifice and duty. The narratives evolved over time, particularly after the loss of the estate following the 1921 Romanian land reform. Consequently, the focus shifted from nation-building and material wealth to his spiritual and moral legacy. Ultimately, the thesis highlights how this dynamic cult has continually reinforced Transylvanian Unitarian identity amidst shifting historical and political contexts.

Addiction is one of the biggest social, health and spiritual problems of our time, and it affects a lot of teenagers. This thesis looks at how the Church can help young people avoid addiction. The research is based on reviews of the literature, along, with some practical experience. The thesis explains what addiction is, what kind of addiction exist, and how it connects to medicine, addiction studies, psychology. It also looks at the important role of the family during adolescence, and at the different forms of substance and behavioral addictions. One section deals with the theological side, showing that the Bible also speaks about addiction. The findings suggest that the Church has an important role, especially in prevention, but also in noticing supportive communities. The thesis concludes that church-based prevention works best when it is done together with professional helpers.

This thesis examines Leibniz's Theodicy and its problem: how the existence of evil can be reconciled with the perfection of God. It explores the interrelation of metaphysical, physical, and moral evil with divine goodness, omnipotence, omniscience, and providence. The thesis pays attention to the theory of possible worlds and to Leibniz's claim that God chose the best among all possible worlds. The thesis also analyzes the relationship between divine foreknowledge and freedom, focusing on the distinction between certainty and necessity, as well as determination and coercion. According to Leibniz, actions may remain free despite having determining reasons, provided that they arise from the agent's will and inner motivations. The study concludes that Leibniz's system offers a coherent attempt to preserve divine goodness, responsibility, and providence simultaneously. Nevertheless, it does not resolve the problem of suffering.

This thesis examines the confrontations between the Sadducees and Jesus. In the course of my research, I first compile and analyze data drawn from various sources, examining the relevant works of Flavius Josephus, their occurrences in the New Testament, as well as passages concerning them in rabbinic literature. I then synthesize the collected data and, on this basis, seek to develop a comprehensive picture of the Sadducee group.

Numerous textual records have preserved the father-son structure of scribal families in the ancient Near East and Egypt. This phenomenon was likely present in Israel as well, and is particularly reconstructable in the activities of the Shaphanide family, which formed the core of the Deuteronomistic circle (2Kgs 22–25; 2Chr 34–36). The chronological framework of the Book of Jeremiah coincides with the period of Josiah's reign and the final days of Judah (Jer 1,1–3). This book features names belonging to the Shaphanide family with considerably greater frequency than in the reform texts, raising the possibility that those names are Jeremiah's close relatives. I attempted to substantiate the possibility proposed in this paper on the basis of Jeremiah's Confessions (11:18–12:6; 15:10–21; 17:14–18; 18:18–23; 20:7–18). However, the analysis neither confirms nor refutes the hypothesis.

This thesis examines the representation of transcendent beings in the Jewish literature of the Second Temple period, with special attention to 1 Enoch and the Book of Jubilees. Its aim is to explore how ideas about angels, fallen beings, demons, and heavenly mediators developed in connection with the historical, religious, and cultural changes of the period. Using religio-historical, text-critical, and comparative methods, the study analyzes Babylonian, Persian, and Hellenistic influences, as well as the figures of the Watchers, Asael, and Mastema. It concludes that these traditions do not indicate a weakening of monotheism, but rather form part of theological reflection on the origin of evil, divine justice, and human responsibility. The texts under discussion played a significant role in shaping later Jewish and Christian demonological and angelological thought.

This thesis examines occultism and exorcism as contemporary challenges for Protestant pastoral care. The study employs an interdisciplinary approach, integrating theological, historical, anthropological, psychological, and pastoral-psychological perspectives. It presents the historical development of exorcism and explores the similarities and differences between Catholic and Protestant practices. Particular attention is given to the Protestant interpretation of demonology, the medical and psychological factors associated with alleged possession phenomena, and the spiritual needs underlying interest in occult practices. The thesis argues that the primary task of pastoral care is not the sensational treatment of demonic phenomena but the provision of biblically and theologically grounded guidance and support.

This thesis presents and analyzes the inventories of six congregations: Mezőmadaras, Mezősámsond, Mezőkölpény, Székelykövesd, Mezőfele, and Mezőcsávás. These inventories originate from 1687 and are preserved in the oldest matricula of the Maros Reformed Diocese. The thesis begins with an overview of the formation of the Maros Reformed Diocese, addressing the spread of the Reformation in the region as well as the ecclesiastical and social conditions of the period. This is followed by a brief presentation of the history and historical background of the congregations under examination. The analysis of the sources reveals the economic situation and property holdings of the individual congregations. The inventories provide information about real estate and land owned by the congregations, as well as objects used in ecclesiastical life, including communion vessels, textiles, and books.

In this paper examines the church-image and attitude toward the church among the 14-16 age group, focusing on the youth of the Crasna (Kraszna) Reformed Parish. The research is rendered timely by the fact that this adolescent generation constitutes both the present and the future active membership of the congregation. This life stage is also characterized by the most intense period of self-discovery and a partial distancing from the community.

The thesis consists of two main sections: a theoretical and a practical part. The theoretical section clarifies the theological concept of the church in the light of confessions and statutes and analyzes the psychological characteristics of adolescence alongside the opportunities for religious education. The practical section presents the diverse programs offered by the congregation, describing their specific characteristics and produced, as well as the responses provided by the youth.

This thesis examines the possibilities of integrating young adults aged 18-25 into the congregational life of the Reformed churches of the Somlyó Diocese from a congregational pedagogical perspective. The study explores how contemporary social, psychological, and spiritual processes influence young adults' relationship with the church and how pastoral and catechetical approaches can support their integration into church communities. The first part of the thesis presents the ecclesiological foundations of the church and the role of the congregation as a spiritual community. The second part analyzes the characteristics of young adults, with particular attention to Generation Z and Alpha, identity formation, and the challenges of emerging adulthood. The practical section offers thematic lesson plans aimed at strengthening community belonging and spiritual growth among young adults.

This thesis examines the value crisis among young men of Generation Z from a sociological, psychological, and practical theological perspective. The study explores why young men born between 1995 and 2009 are experiencing an unprecedented mental health crisis characterized by depression, anxiety, purposelessness, and withdrawal from the real world. Drawing on Krisztián Steigervald's generational research, as well as the works of Jonathan Haidt, the thesis analyzes the consequences of growing up in a digital world: smartphone addiction, sleep disorders, attention fragmentation, the harmful effects of social media and video games, the role of pornography, and the disappearance of "third spaces." It highlights the long decline of men in education, the "failure to launch" phenomenon, and the reduction in risk-taking behavior. The thesis defines the concept of value, criticizes postmodern relativism, and identifies absolute moral standards within the Christian worldview.

This thesis examines the extent to which the congregation members' image of God is influenced by the pastor's image of God. Pastors occupy a prominent position within the religious community, and many people regard them as role models in their faith and in their relationship with God. For this reason, pastors bear a heightened responsibility to ensure that their understanding and representation of God accurately reflect reality. In order to make the results measurable, the study first investigates various images of God, including the factors that may give rise to distorted God images, the effects these distortions may have on individuals and their surroundings, and the ways in which a correct understanding of God can be attained. Subsequently, the relationship and interaction between pastor and congregation are analyzed. Based on the synthesis of this information, the empirical research section is developed using a self-designed comparative questionnaire.

Congregational histories play an important role in church history, particularly within the study of Transylvanian ecclesiastical history. While they reflect broader historical developments, they also preserve unique local events that enrich our understanding of the past. This thesis examines the history of the Reformed Congregation of Margitta between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries, and I want to give special attention to the Synod of Margitta in 1681 and the life of pastor László Huszti. The first part of the study places Margitta within the Reformed community of the Érmellék region, outlining the origins of the settlement and the spread of the Reformation. The following chapters, based on archival sources and historical literature, explore the congregation's development, including the history of its church building, financial situation, clergy, educational institutions, and connections with prominent Reformed colleges.

This thesis examines the sacrament of baptism in the teachings of different Christian denominations. It focuses on the Reformed, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Seventh-day Adventist, Pentecostal, and Unitarian churches. The aim of the study is to explore the theological foundations of baptism and to compare these teachings with the doctrine of the Reformed Church. The research is based on confessional writings, theological works, and official church documents. A separate section discusses the biblical basis of infant baptism and believer's baptism. The study shows that almost all denominations teach that baptism was instituted by Christ. However, there are important differences in the understanding of baptism as a sacrament, the role of grace, and the practice of infant or adult baptism. The findings suggest that while many churches share similar biblical foundations, their interpretations differ.

This research examines organ transplantation from the perspective of unitarian ethics, focusing on questions of human life, bodily dignity, autonomy, justice, and responsible love. Its aim is to demonstrate how the medical and legal framework of organ donation intersects with moral, theological, and pastoral concerns. The analysis brings bioethical principles, unitarian moral thought, and pastoral experience into dialogue, leading toward a deeper relational theological interpretation. This study is based on the assumption that, from a unitarian perspective, organ transplantation may be regarded as ethically acceptable when it rests on free consent, fair access, and respect for the human body. At the same time, it rejects coercion, the exploitation of vulnerability, and organ trafficking. In this sense, organ donation gains fuller meaning within the responsibility human beings bear toward God, themselves, and their fellow human beings.

The aim of my thesis was to shed light on what the world of the Bible means and what images it conceals. It explored what it means to follow God with a pure heart and soul. The biblical stories, in turn, help us to get to know God better. The books by Péter Nagy and János Hübner were helpful in completing this work, particularly in understanding the significance of biblical stories. They helped me see the world of the Bible more clearly through the lessons they articulated. Péter Nagy's writings mostly demonstrated how one should and can put all of this into practice. It is true, however, that the two authors examine the common themes from different perspectives. The rest of my thesis summarizes the lives of Péter Nagy and János Hübner, as well as Péter Nagy's textbooks. I will then present the stories and, at the end, outline the similarities and differences between the two authors' works.

The Epistle of Jude is one of the most complex yet historically marginalized texts of the New Testament. This thesis aims to address the closely interrelated issues of authorship and dating by examining the letter's historical and contentual questions in unity. Utilizing a historical-critical approach, the study integrates literary, theological, and rigorous linguistic-exegetical analyses. Beginning with canon-historical data and the second temple Jewish apocryphal background, the scope is progressively narrowed to the exegesis of core Greek terms in pivotal passages (Jude 3–4; 17–21). The analysis demonstrates that the content of faith appears as an authoritative yet still open apostolic tradition. Through the synthesis of linguistic and theological data, the thesis attempts to provide a well-founded definition of the letter's early ecclesial context and circumstances of composition.

This thesis examines the theology of the intermediate state, focusing on the dogmatic and pastoral significance of the unconscious state of the dead for the contemporary church. The research interprets the state between death and the final resurrection by comparing Reformed and Seventh-day Adventist perspectives, highlighting its practical implications for comforting the bereaved. Using historical and comparative methods, the study analyzes trichotomous, dichotomous, and monistic models, concluding that these theological differences are shaped by distinct anthropological presuppositions. Adventist theology understands death as an unconscious state of the whole person until Christ's return. By contrast, Reformed theology maintains that the believer's soul remains in conscious communion with the Lord after death, awaiting bodily resurrection. Ultimately, a responsible interpretation of the intermediate state is essential for authentic Christian comfort.

This paper summarizes the life of a 20th-century Transylvanian Reformed pastor who was born under Hungarian rule and lived under Romanian rule. He grew up as a war orphan and, after choosing to study theology, embarked on a career in the ministry. He spent the longest period of his ministry in Pankota, Arad County, but also served as an assistant pastor in Szalárd and Nagyszalonta, and as a deputy pastor in Bősháza prior to his retirement. Due to his religious activities, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison and forced labor, but was eventually released early thanks to a pardon. His accounts reveal that his love for God was the driving force behind his determined effort to share the Gospel with everyone. Based on what we can see from the surviving documents, it appears that he truly loved even his enemies. One of the most unique sources in this paper is Sándor Szilágyi's autobiography, in which he described his experiences in the years following his imprisonment.

In New Testament textual criticism, a broad consensus has emerged that the Markan shorter ending, the scene of Jesus' agony (Luke 22:43–44), and the story of the adulterous woman (John 7:53–8:11) did not originally belong to the text of the Gospels. Because the traditions underlying these passages are early, the most recent critical editions of the Greek New Testament print them in the main text. On the basis of an analysis of these early traditions, the present study contends that (1) the conclusio brevior was appended to the Gospel according to Mark as part of the Vorlage for the earliest known Old Latin translation; (2) the Agonia Christi was inserted into the "Western text" of Luke's Gospel as an anti-Gnostic polemic; and (3) the Pericope Adulterae was incorporated into John as an anti-Novatianist polemical discourse via the Greek exemplars underlying the Vulgate.

The primary aim of my thesis is to examine how and in what direction the image of God held by individuals struggling with addiction changed during rehabilitation in various rehabilitation centres. I also investigated whether this change influenced their therapy, especially in relation to abstinence. To answer these questions, I conducted 21 interviews, taking into account the complexity of the image of God. The study focuses on childhood images of God, family and religious socialization, changes in the image of God during active addiction, and the new image of God formed during rehabilitation. It also examines which activities, experiences, and institutional teachings contributed to this transformation. The results show that, in Christian rehabilitation centres, the formation of the image of God is often connected to changes in self-understanding, guilt, hope, and the relationship to abstinence.

This master's thesis examines the ego concepts of the New Age and postmodernism, weighing them against the gospel and the Christian confessions. The research explores the birth of the modern self, focusing on how humanity shifted from following the divine order to creating its own identity. The thesis critiques the unstable, fluid identity of postmodernism, as well as the self-worshipping ego of the New Age movement. Based on Scripture and Reformed confessions, the work contrasts these modern secular ideas with the biblical worldview. The research concludes that true human dignity and stability are not found in absolute independence, but exclusively in a restored identity, redeemed in Christ and reconciled with the Creator.