https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/334 2026-04-13T03:00:09Z 2026-04-13T03:00:09Z Berry, John Anthony https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145451 2026-04-10T06:27:29Z 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Traditional roots, modern shoots. Maltese family dynamics in a changing world Authors: Berry, John Anthony Abstract: Examining the situation in Malta concerning the family reveals two un deniable facts. Firstly, the family is the most fundamental institution of society. Secondly, families play a vital role in the country’s well-being and growth. A nation’s health is directly linked to the strength of its families, which are the foundation of society. Numerous indicators from various sources demonstrate that individuals with strong family bonds experience greater happiness and improved physical and mental health. In Maltese society, respect (24.5%), communication (17.8%), trust (16.3%), love (15.2%), and understanding (6.6%) are the most highly valued traits in a relationship. In essence, the adage “unity is strength” applies to the concept of family closeness. Strong families and societal prosperity are inherently intertwined, with education and upbringing playing vital roles along with values, tradition, and adaptability to changing times.

2023-01-01T00:00:00Z Berry, John Anthony https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145450 2026-04-10T06:24:58Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Of harlots and holiness : the Church as the 'Casta Meretrix’ in Hans Urs von Balthasar Authors: Berry, John Anthony Abstract: Casta Meretrix articulates the Church’s paradoxical identity as simultaneously holy and sinful, a motif profoundly reconfigured by Hans Urs von Balthasar. Drawing on biblical typology, patristic interpretation, and historical allegory—from Rahab and Hosea to Tamar and the Shulamite—Balthasar constructs a nuanced ecclesiology that honors divine grace while acknowledging human frailty. This essay examines his method, showing how Casta Meretrix offers a critical framework for engaging ecclesial sin, historical failings, and the Church’s redemptive vocation, emphasizing vigilance, penitential self-awareness, and the transformative power of divine love within a flawed yet elect community.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Berry, John Anthony https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145449 2026-04-10T06:20:16Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: The soul of the polis : reclaiming civic virtue through faith Authors: Berry, John Anthony Abstract: The 'bystander effect,' a phenomenon wherein individuals are less likely to offer help to a victim when other people are present, gained significant public and academic attention following the 1964 Kitty Genovese case in New York City. This and subsequent research in social psychology highlighted a troubling aspect of modern civic life: the reluctance to intervene in emergencies, often due to personal safety concerns or perceived lack of responsibility. Understanding and addressing civic disengagement requires examining the complex relationship between religion and society, particularly how religious traditions can shape, sustain, or sometimes undermine civic responsibility in contemporary democratic contexts.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Berry, John Anthony https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145448 2026-04-10T06:15:31Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Faith in exile : re-articulating the rationality of Christian faith in secular contexts Authors: Berry, John Anthony Abstract: In societies often described as post-Christian, where secularization has profoundly reshaped the cultural and intellectual landscape, the question of what it means to live as a Christian has acquired renewed urgency. This situation cannot be adequately explained by narratives of religious decline alone. Rather, it reflects a transformation in the conditions under which faith is believed, expressed, and transmitted. Christianity now exists within contexts marked by pluralism, contestation, and a widespread indifference toward religious truth. The challenge facing believers today concerns not merely survival, but the intelligibility, credibility, and rational articulation of faith within a secular cultural horizon.

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