Insights and disclosures: a study of the philosophical theology of Bernard Lonergan and Ian Ramsey

The thesis compares and contrasts some aspects of the philosophical theology of Canadian Jesuit Bernard Lonergan (1904 - 1984) and Anglican Bishop Ian Ramsey (1915 - 1972). We ask whether the views of two theologians from very different backgrounds can be compatible. Lonergan and Ramsey both thought that modern science was a key resource for examining how intentional cognitive activity in humans is undertaken and hence science and scientific method give a strong indication of how we think and talk about God, theology and theological method. We therefore start with the authors’ views of science and scientific method, noting similarities alongside a crucial difference: Ramsey emphasises the scientific use of models, while Lonergan emphasises the precision of mathematics. We then argue that their descriptions of cognitive processes are similar, albeit with some differences. The differences in the views of models are emphasised in our comparison of their understandings of language and meaning. We suggest that while the views are different they are compatible and we propose a hybrid model for religious language based on an integration and synthesis of both authors’ views. The discussion draws together around theological method. Lonergan proposed several methods in his work and we discuss two. Ramsey did not describe an explicit method, but a consistent approach can be found in his theological writings. These methods are then compared with the authors’ theological writings in a case study, the atonement. We argue that Lonergan follows neither of his methods and that both he and Ramsey have a flexible approach to the process of doing theology. The discussions of theological method, supplemented by earlier considerations of models and method are used to suggest a hybrid theological method. This generalises Lonergan’s method, includes Ramsey’s process and yields a model whereby we can discuss how theology is done

Stigma Reduction Programming in Monterey County

Mental illness-related stigma is a barrier to societal inclusion and productivity. With nearly one in five individuals being impacted by mental illness in the United States (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2019), there is a greater need for understanding through education to support those affected by mental illness. Stigma impacts those with mental illness in the realms of employment, housing, and incarceration. The Success Over Stigma Program located within the OMNI Resource Center in Salinas, California addresses the lack of education by offering contact-based community education delivered by those affected by mental illness. The project addressed the need through the creation and implementation of an online training program for bureau speakers that assisted them in the continued delivery of program services. The results concluded that 100% of project participants would apply what they learned in the training when connecting with program recipients. Continued training of existing speakers for online modality is recommended in addition to continued program expansion

Studies of gastric emptying in man

Measurements of gastric emptying in man have "been made 'by scintigraphic methods "based on a rectilinear scanner or gamma camera. Xn. the initial studies with a scanner. indium-113m DTPA was evaluated as a possible radionuclide marker for a test meal and was found to be satisfactory. Tecluietium~99-1t DTPA was subsequently assessed in similar studies with a gamma camera. It also proved satisfactory, although it differed from the indium compound in being substantially adsorbed to the solid component of a mixed solid and liquid meal. To establish the reproducibility of the gamma camera method, repeated measurements were carried out and in studies with saline test meals, comparison was made with measurements based on aspiration of gastric contents. Recognition of the marked differences between gastric emptying of solids and liquids led to the development and validation of a double isotope method for simultaneous study of solid and liquid components of a test meal. This method was then applied to the study of patients who had undergone gastric surgery in an attempt to learn more about the emptying abnormalities consequent upon gastric surgery. Studies were also undertaken in diabetic patients with suspected gastric stasis due to autonomic neuropathy. The effects of metoclopramide therapy for such patients were examined. Studies of the histamine E^ receptor antagonists, inetiamide and eimetidino were undertaken to determine whether they had any effect on gastric emptying. No clinically significant effect was detected. Gastric emptying was found to be a major regulator of the rate of absorption of orally administered paracetamol. Pharmacological modification of gastric emptying, namely acceleration "by metoclopramide and inhibition by propantheline or by narcotic analgesics was associated with corresponding changes in paracetamol absorption. The absorption of orally administered paracetamol was also delayed by the gel fibres pectin and guar, which delay gastric emptying. Scintigraphic measurements of gastric emptying are not free from experimental error. Measurement of the errors due to count attenuation by tissues demonstrated the superiority of bilateral detection over unilateral detection, especially if relatively low energy gamma emitting radionuclides are being used. The errors associated with unilateral (anterior) detection of indium-113m and technetium-99m were determined in studies with a rectilinear scanner and with a gamma camera

Putting theory into practice : moving from student identity to teacher identity

As teaching is a highly skilled and complex profession, pre-service teachers&rsquo; need to develop a series of attributes for their practice in relation to pedagogy, content, student learning, classroom management and their ability to engage in reflection. Through reflective narrative, this article seeks to share how a tertiary music educator prepares her generalist primary pre-service teachers to engage, explore and experience music education within the Bachelor of Education (Primary) course at Unnamed University. It also presents one pre-service teacher&rsquo;s experience of teaching music during her school placements in 2009 in what she calls &lsquo;putting theory into practice&rsquo; moving from student identity to teacher identity. Although the &lsquo;hands-on&rsquo; approach to teaching and learning on-campus and when on school placement provide pre-service teachers with knowledge, skills and understanding, the continued support of professional learning is well recognised and will be an ongoing process as pre-service teachers create their own professional identity.<br /

Lonergan's insight and threshold concepts: students in the liminal space

Threshold concepts are a widely used idea, particularly in curriculum design and evaluation of student learning. However they can be criticised as being hard to identify, vague and teacher imposed. Using the cognitive theory of Bernard Lonergan we argue that his epistemology enables us to reframe threshold concepts by adding a learner focussed understanding. We extend this to include considerations of liminality and ‘stuckness’, as well as the multiple paths to the threshold learners may take. Adding an understanding of cognitive process to the idea of threshold concepts also enables us to understand how they can be identified in disparate subjects

Pharmacy consultation outcomes during a lung cancer awareness campaign

Copyright: © 2015 Stephanie Bancroft, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.Lung cancer remains a condition that is frequently diagnosed too late for optimum prognosis [1]. Several factors seem to contribute to this, but there is good evidence that response to potential symptoms of lung cancer and awareness of the condition varies between men and women. This is believed to contribute to delayed diagnosis in men, with reluctance to report minor symptoms to a general medical practitioner (GP) identified as one cause [2]. In response to this, audit data from a two week health improvement campaign undertaken by 29 pharmacies in North West London during Lung Cancer Awareness Month in 2013, was subjected to analysis that included gender as a variable. The results suggest that this analysis was justified.Non peer reviewedFinal Published versio

Pharmacy Consultation Outcomes During a Lung Cancer Awareness Campaign

An opportunistic lung cancer awareness campaign was undertaken by 29 pharmacies in NW London. Evaluation findings included a statistically significant difference between the in-pharmacy outcomes for men and women. Referral to a GP was more likely to be the sole outcome for women than men (p<0.01) and inclusion of an OTC product was a more likely outcome for men than women (p<0.0045). Sample size 105 (53 women; 52 men). This is consistent with lung cancer awareness findings within other areas of healthcare

Pre-Eclampsia Toxaemia of Pregnancy

The toxaemias of pregnancy form a discrete clinical syndrome which has been recognised as a disease of pregnancy almost since the practice of medicine began. Their aetiology and pathogenesis are still unknown, and despite all the resources of modern medicine, there is no treatment more effective than termination of the pregnancy — a therapy which was discovered several centuries B .C. There is no question that the nature of the condition provides one of the most fascinating problems of contemporary medical research, but the urgency of gaining an understanding of the condition, and of evolving more effective therapy, is only seen by considering the damage actually done by the disease, and the toll it still takes of maternal and infant life.Present day maternal mortality figures are approximately 0.4 deaths per 1000 births. Of these, 18% are due to pregnancy toxaemia, which is second only to abortion as the largest single cause of maternal loss of life. For the child, the risk of stillbirth or early neonatal death is more than doubled in toxaemia, compared with normal pregnancy. It is possible to calculate that the loss of infant life in United Kingdom which can be ascribed to toxaemia is about 3,000 deaths per annum. For comparison, the total number of deaths in road accidents is about 7,000 per annum. Thus pregnancy toxaemia can be taken to be responsible for nearly half as many deaths as our much publicised traffic problem