Earthly & Heavenly Adoption: Exploring Adoption Research, Policies, & Trends through the Lens of God's Adoption of Humanity

Abstract

"Pure and faultless religion is this: to look after orphans" (James 1:27). The Bible explicitly references the call for Christians to look after and care for orphans. Some take this command as a call from the Lord to adopt orphans into their own family. There is a plethora of research available concerning the many aspects of adoption, the domestic and international policies of adoption, and the current and past trends in adoption. However, there is little research available that parallels this research to adoption theology. This thesis will conjoin both the area of adoption research, including adoption policy, with the area of adoption theology in a way that can be beneficial to Christian adoptive parents.