The meaning of prayer: A Christian physician's experience

Christians in health care need a habit of prayer that allows them to express to God the full range of their reactions to daily experience. All of life can become the occasion for prayer when understood as communion or conversation. After brief commentary on this view of prayer, actual prayers are shared, demonstrating one Christian physician's attempts to pray without ceasing.This paper is part of a forthcoming book to be published by Broadman. All personal references in the article are to Dr. Elkins.     

The emotional dynamics of funeral services

This paper explores how funerals are often restricted to a cognitive level and become exercises in denial based consolation. Clergy are responsible for addressing the emotional needs of the people gathered for the funeral. The issue is not whether or not we intervene buthow we intervene. Specific dynamics and opportunities in the family are examined and varied needs of other mourners are considered. The funeral is an intervention in the grief process. The funeral service has three essential functions. First, it is a proclamation of our faith. Secondly, the service speaks to the emotional needs of the grieving. Finally, the service is a recognition and celebration of the person's life.Dr. Lageman is a Fellow at the American Association of Pastoral Counselors and a Clinical Member of AAMFT.Valuable assistance in preparing this article was received from my colleague, Anne Nelson.     

儒家哲学视域下的周代丧礼“禁乐”探究

丧礼"禁乐"是周代主导性的制度规范和文化现象,不同于其他典礼中大多礼乐不离的情况。从礼乐相济的角度探讨儒家哲学已蔚为大观,而对丧礼中"有礼无乐"的哲学探讨则付诸阙如。丧礼"禁乐"彰显了儒家既生死有别,又生死一如的"既仁且智"的生死观。同时,它还显明了性情论视域下"乐者乐也"以及从形上层面为其确立根据的"乐从和"的观念。而天地阴阳的宇宙论视域下礼乐在相互对待中的性质差异,则进一步说明了这一文化现象的本质。把握丧礼"禁乐"这一文化现象背后的哲学内涵,对进一步理解儒家生死观和礼乐的差异关系,有着深刻的意义。     

The meaning of the h-index

The h-index originates from the assumption that the number of citations received by a scientist is a better indicator of the relevance of his or her work than the number of papers he or she publishes or the journals where they are published. It takes into account the number of papers published and the citations to those papers in a balanced way, and thus is useful to make comparisons between scientists. The present paper addresses the most frequent questions about the h-index. Specifically, it explains its origin, its advantages compared to other indices, the factors that can influence it (e.g. age, field of knowledge, topic of research and language of publication), its variants, and the injustices it may lead to. In short, this paper provides a clear exposition of the hoped-for role of the h-index in the evaluation of scientists: that it serves as a useful complement to other indicators that are more subjective, and that it contributes to the progress of science by aiding decision-making on allocation of research resources in a more effective way, and on rewarding researchers who contribute to scientific progress in a more fair way.     

The ABC's of the Christian family

Conclusion The ABC's of the Christian family are affection, balance, and companionship. If firmly set upon these bases, families can truly come to know the meaning of understanding love in the spirit of Jesus. This is true, for these ABC's are basic not only to our physical families, but also to our spiritual membership in the family of God.The spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God; and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that wemay be also glorified together (Romans 8:16–17).     

The funeral meal: A significant funerary ritual

Historically, a meal in association with funerary ritual has been a reality in many cultural and religious settings. Our society has experienced a gradual demise of formal funerary ritual, with an accompanying psychological and social impoverishment. Both the immediate bereaved and the larger social community can benefit from a funeral meal which functions as a group experience that focuses on the needs of the living. It can be a shared experience in a familiar structured setting which enables the living to do significant grief work. Practical implications and potential problems will need to be, taken into consideration.