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The nature and identity of apologetics in light of the calls of scripture and the Second Vatican Council
NICOLSON, Stuart
Apologetics in recent times has had for many a negative value, and the term 'apologetics' did not appear in the Second Vatican Council documents. However, by returning to the sources in Scripture and the Early Church, especially Peter's call (1Peter 3:15-16) for all faithful to be ready to respond when questioned or challenged about their faith, and to do so in a Christian manner, apologetics can be understood as far more original, ordinary, and organic than how it is often defined. It was originally an integral part of Christians speaking out about their faith, participating with the Logos. Through a Petrine lens, apologetical calls and content can be identified in 10 of the 16 Vatican II documents, including two clear paraphrases of Peter's call. This indicates a problem in how apologetics is identified and understood. Part 1 provides a working definition for Petrine apologetics in order to identify its development through Christian history. Part 2 present a brief and selective history of apologetics. Petrine apologetics is observed and explored in Scripture in Part 2a, including in Jesus' ministry and the first Church generations. In Part 2b it is shown how a second century apologetical turn, particularly through Justin Martyr, reinforced by Eusebius, and concretised by several later Early Church Fathers, narrowed apologetics into becoming elite, intellectual, and clerical - not for all the faithful but the few. The Mediaeval period (Part 2c) could have seen a return to more universal Petrine apologetics, especially through the Fourth Lateran Council, but weak dissemination of its teachings meant the opportunity was lost. After the Reformation, in Part 2d, Charles Borromeo's pastoral apologetics stands out, as well as a growing movement based upon credibility in the English-speaking sphere where apologetics was becoming part of organic engagement of Catholics in Protestant societies. Part 3 focuses on Vatican II. The entrenched Justinian approach in Catholic Europe eschewed engagement with others, leaving apologetics as overly catechetical. Balthasar identified and rejected the old paradigm and the main reform ideas, calling for a new approach: Love Alone Is Credible. Many conciliar apologetics themes are congruent with his reform call, and with Petrine apologetics. In addition to apologetical calls, Vatican II shows that apologetical preparation should be embedded in Christian education (Gravissimum Educationis 2) and how apologetically prepared faithful should engage with society (Apostolicam Actuositatem 1, 2, 11, 29, 31, etc.). But the Council's apologetics calls were not developed and apologetics was mostly replaced by fundamental theology, which has problematic features from Justinian apologetics and the reform ideas Balthasar rejected, and is not related to the apologetical calls of Peter or Vatican II. However, there has been an organic development of apologetics since the 1980s. In Part 4, the problematic current state of Catholic understanding in the ordinary faithful is evident in two recent surveys. It is necessary to respond to this. By reframing apologetics according to the original Petrine call and its Vatican II confirmation, a New Apologetics (NA) can be developed that emphasises Peter's elements of preparation, response, in a Christian manner, for all the faithful. The Petrine elements are unpacked in today's context and several distinctions are explored, including objective and subjective approaches, and the spectrum of evangelisation-apologetics-catechetics. Three 'voices' are shown to have particularly contributed so far to NA: William Levada, Robert Barron, and Peter Kreeft. All intellectual and two being clerics, they have the insight and ability to guide developments. Looking forwards, the two named conciliar texts are explored in how they can be unpacked for developing an embedded apologetics of preparation, response, in a Christian manner: original, organic, ordinary apologetics.
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The Comparison of the U.S. Security Policy Measures in Relation to the DPRK's Nuclear Program Adopted by the Administrations of Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama
Vítková, Kateřina ; Sehnálková, Jana (advisor) ; Anděl, Petr (referee)
The Comparison of the U.S. Security Policy Measures in Relation to the DPRK's Nuclear Program Adopted by the Administrations of Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama monitors the responses of Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama and their Administrations to the North Korean nuclear tests carried out in 2006, 2009 and 2013. It seeks to identify similarities and differences between these Administrations and prove the thesis that the steps taken by the United States under Barack Obama were in effect just as inefficient as those taken by his predecessor. The paper concentrates on the time period beginning with the situation before the first North Korea's nuclear test until the autumn 2014. The methodology includes a qualitative approach and comparison. The reactions are divided into several groups: rhetoric, strategic documents, legislation, economic aspects etc. In conclusion it notes that while the attitude of both Presidents and their Administrations was in certain aspects similar, number of factors that distinguish them might be indentified as well. Barack Obama focused more on the region of Asia. His attitude towards the DPRK appeared to be more balanced but it still did not lead to the coveted breakthrough in the negotiations.
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High sensitivity analysis and detection of ions
Vanko, Erik ; Plašil, Radek (advisor) ; Dohnal, Petr (referee)
This paper investigates response of the MCP (MicroChannel Plate) detector and the counting efficiency of pulses produced by ions of different masses found in the used mass spectrum starting from 2 Da up to 30 Da. Tests were performed on an apparatus with a cryogenic 22- pole RF ion trap which is used to measure ion interactions. After the ions are released from the trap, they are detected by the MCP detector. Upon detection, the measured signal is processed by a discriminator which has a threshold of 10 mV. The consequence of the chosen discriminator threshold is a loss of pulses with an amplitude of less than 10 mV. From the measured data, we compared the relative losses of pulses for the chosen ions. At the same time we estimated the upper limit of the loss of pulses. The obtained results will be used to evaluate the measurements on the apparatus with the ion trap.
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Dose-response curves
Hezoučký, Martin ; Hlávka, Zdeněk (advisor) ; Maciak, Matúš (referee)
Title: Dose-response curves Author: Martin Hezoučký Department: Department of Probability and Mathematical Statistics Supervisor: doc. RNDr. Zdeněk Hlávka, Ph.D., Department of Probability and Mathematical Statistics Abstract: In this thesis, we deal with the process of research and development of new medical substances with a focus on statistical methods used to determine appropriate doses. For this purpose, we examine the dose-response relationship. First, we describe a typical procedure for the development of a new drug. Second, we focus in detail on the MCP-Mod method. Third, we propose a new method based on the theory of gradual change models. This approach tests whether the administration of the drug has a significant effect. If so, the dose with desired effect is estimated using an appropriate model. Specifically, we provide an esti- mate using linear, quadratic and Emax gradual change models. We also describe a construction of a confidence interval for the point of change and also for the dose with the desired effect. The advantage of the proposed method over the MCP-Mod is the determination of the confidence intervals. Finally, we apply the above mentioned methods to data from the U.S. Tox21 research program and compare the results based on several tested substances and clearly demonstrate the...
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Graphene as the active layer for gas detection
Zach, Pavel ; Prášek, Jan (referee) ; Gablech, Imrich (advisor)
The aim of this bachelor thesis is to sum up theoretical knowledge concerning gas detection by sensor with a graphene active layer. It is focused on principles and construction of selected sensors. Furthermore, this work describes values characterizing the measurement results. Both crystallographic and electrical properties of graphene are discussed as well. This thesis explains the methods of production of graphene and its derivatives and also gives a look into selected characterization methods for the study of graphene. Furthermore, this work describes the phenomena behind the sensor's ability to detect gas. At the end of this study, the results of gas measurements (NO2, NH3, H2 etc.) by a graphene transistor are interpreted.
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Dose-response curves
Hezoučký, Martin ; Hlávka, Zdeněk (advisor) ; Maciak, Matúš (referee)
Title: Dose-response curves Author: Martin Hezoučký Department: Department of Probability and Mathematical Statistics Supervisor: doc. RNDr. Zdeněk Hlávka, Ph.D., Department of Probability and Mathematical Statistics Abstract: In this thesis, we deal with the process of research and development of new medical substances with a focus on statistical methods used to determine appropriate doses. For this purpose, we examine the dose-response relationship. First, we describe a typical procedure for the development of a new drug. Second, we focus in detail on the MCP-Mod method. Third, we propose a new method based on the theory of gradual change models. This approach tests whether the administration of the drug has a significant effect. If so, the dose with desired effect is estimated using an appropriate model. Specifically, we provide an esti- mate using linear, quadratic and Emax gradual change models. We also describe a construction of a confidence interval for the point of change and also for the dose with the desired effect. The advantage of the proposed method over the MCP-Mod is the determination of the confidence intervals. Finally, we apply the above mentioned methods to data from the U.S. Tox21 research program and compare the results based on several tested substances and clearly demonstrate the...
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Design of tester of piezoelectric PVDF layers
Sijková, Simona ; Rubeš, Ondřej (referee) ; Hadaš, Zdeněk (advisor)
The diploma thesis deals with a design of a tester device, a selection and verification of a suitable method for comparing the piezoelectric properties of tested PVDF samples. In the introduction, a basic overview of the theory is important to understand the issue and the various branches of use of PVDF in the field of energy harvesting. The tester device includes a unimorph piezoelectric cantilever beam with tip mass, whose properties are described by three models: a model with N degrees of freedom reduced to one degree of freedom (NDOF), a single degree of freedom model (SDOF), both created in Matlab and a model for verifying results in FEM ANSYS Workbench program. The voltage time response and the voltage frequency response of the models is compared with each other. For two different PVDF samples, the voltage response to harmonic excitation is measured using a tester device, and the piezoelectric properties of one of them are determined using the NDOF and SDOF models.
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High sensitivity analysis and detection of ions
Vanko, Erik ; Plašil, Radek (advisor) ; Dohnal, Petr (referee)
This paper investigates response of the MCP (MicroChannel Plate) detector and the counting efficiency of pulses produced by ions of different masses found in the used mass spectrum starting from 2 Da up to 30 Da. Tests were performed on an apparatus with a cryogenic 22- pole RF ion trap which is used to measure ion interactions. After the ions are released from the trap, they are detected by the MCP detector. Upon detection, the measured signal is processed by a discriminator which has a threshold of 10 mV. The consequence of the chosen discriminator threshold is a loss of pulses with an amplitude of less than 10 mV. From the measured data, we compared the relative losses of pulses for the chosen ions. At the same time we estimated the upper limit of the loss of pulses. The obtained results will be used to evaluate the measurements on the apparatus with the ion trap.
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