Naiomi Gonzalez '12
2011 Soar Student
Major: Religious studies
Hometown: Bethlehem, PA
Project:
2010 - U.S. War-culture, Sacrifice and Salvation
2011 - Christology, Soteriology and Violence
Project advisor: Kelly Denton-Borhaug
Project details: My SOAR project for the summer of 2011 built upon my 2010 project in many ways. For 2010, I did a substantial amount of reading and research about war culture to assist Dr. Denton-Borhaug in her research for her book. In addition to this research, I interviewed members of the military about their service, military self-identity, religious understandings and beliefs and sacrifice. In preparation for the interviews, I broadened my background knowledge on qualitative field research, an area I had little exposure to prior to participating in SOAR. By the end of the summer, I wrote a 20-page research paper encompassing what I had learned during the semester, an assignment that was challenging, but allowed me to hone in on my specific strengths and weaknesses as a researcher and writer.
In 2011 I created an annotated bibliography centered around Christology, Soteriology and various theological responses to violence. I also gathered research to aid me in my own personal research on the evangelization of the U.S. military.
Why I wanted to participate in SOAR: I wanted the chance to dedicate myself full-time to investigating an issue I found fascinating, as well as work one-on-one with Dr. Denton-Borhaug.
Results: My project(s) resulted in a wealth of evidence for the effects of Christian theological beliefs and notions of sacrifice rampant in the U.S. military and in justifications for U.S. foreign policy.
Future plans: I have continued to study issues of Christian theology and its influence on the U.S. military after my project ended. After my 2010 SOAR project, I spent a semester at American University as part of the Washington Semester program, part of which required writing a 30-page research project. I studied how the religious beliefs of military chaplains influenced the support or resistance toward the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.â€
All religious studies majors are required to register for Religion 385 and write a 30-page research paper on a subject of interest. I am researching the impracticality of Just War theory and how the intertwining of religious language with state agendas are dangerous to veterans.