Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Thesis titles... help me choose.

Now, I am not writing a best-selling novel here!

1) Martyrdom and Identity: A Theological Account of Christian Martyrdom with Special Reference to Personal Identity

2) 'An Eternal Patience': Christian Martyrdom and the Self in Theological Perspective

3) Martyrdom and Identity: An Ethics of Christian Martyrdom (or just, 'an ethics of...)

4) 'The Instrument of God': The Christian Martyr and Identity

5) A Theological Account of Christian Martydom and its Implications for Self-Identity

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Better ideas for your thesis title:

"What followed Stoned Steven" by Michael P Jensen

"15 reasons not to make sure you REALLY believe your religion"

"People who failed to get a mention in the Darwin Awards"

"Horrible Histories guide to good reasons to die"

"101 things NOT to do with wood, rope and axes"

"everyone hates a martyr - it's no wonder so many of them were burned at the stake" Discuss

Laura Springer said...

Being a bit of a theo-nerd (who happens to be in the midst of a thesis herself), I'm liking #2 and #5.

The Librarian said...

Hi Michael, I'm a friend of Craig and Ruth B - Hi.

Sounds really interesting, so you are dealing with self-identity and martyrdom?

I think 2 is the best so far in terms of readability. However I really like the concept of # 3.

but just a few throw away suggestions...

"Taking the very nature of a servant: Martyrdom and identity, a theological exploration/perspective/study"


"Poured out like a drink offering: Martyrdom and the self in theological perspective".
Just some ideas

Ben Myers said...

I like #2.

Anonymous said...

How about something like, "The Question of Self, a martyr's last temptation."

Anonymous said...

3 is impossible as ethics (ta ethika) be plural. Pax et gaudium.

Matheson said...

I'll take number two, please.

byron smith said...

I assume the opening phrase in #2 is a quote. From Eliot? If so, then go with #2.

Anonymous said...

[Jeremy Halcrow said]

All the theo experts seem to like #2 but it would be a bit of a turn-off for most people.

It really depends who the audience is. If the audience is just your marker and future theology students, does the title really matter?

Paul said...

I like 4, catchy, provocative, reflects the zeitgeist. Make me want to start reading.

Paul said...

PS: and of all its the most pithily paradoxical: to be an instrument with an identity. I definitely like it best, even if the actual thesis isn't about it.

Craig Schwarze said...

It's gotta be - "Horrible Histories guide to good reasons to die". That's brilliant!

Mandy said...

#2 or #5 get my vote

michael jensen said...

Yes, the two quotations, instrument of God and eternal patience are from Eliot.

Eternal patience takes some explaining I guess, but it is cool.

Gordon Cheng said...

'Die Hard'

'Michael's Book of Martyrs'

I dunno, Mike. It's a thesis. I am sure what you have written is going to be brilliant, as always, but I am afraid I fell asleep before I got to the end of your list.

Unknown said...

2

scott said...

I'd read 2.

michael jensen said...

Thanks Grodo! Like I said, I'll sex it up for the film of the book.

'Eternal patience' is a quote from Eliot: I like it because it indicates suffering and waiting, or suffering in the perspective of eternity, or something like that perhaps. The word 'eternal' could be my stumbling block...

Anonymous said...

I like 2
maybe 'Killing Me'
how about the Da Vinci Code to Harry Potter's CSIRO Diet & Christian Martydom?

Tim Adeney said...

I'll die therefore I am