Academic literature on the topic 'Namibia, religion'

The history of African Independent Churches (AICs) in Southern Africa goes back for more than a hundred years. They have proliferated geographically and demographically in Africa more than the mainline churches could ever have imagined. They have grown to be as widespread and as influential as the African mainline churches. The reason for this growth is that the AICs are the churches of African indigenous people. They are launched by Africans from a background of an African traditional and cultural frame of reference. The most significant reason is that the founders of these churches are not Westerners, but Africans. Western missionaries find it difficult to understand the AICs from their perspective. Thus the Western churches describe the AICs as sectarian, separatist, syncretist, nativitist, and so on. Nevertheless, some scholars are attempting to view the AICs in positive ways. The fact that these two different churches have never acknowledged each other as true churches is a big challenge for Christian missions in Namibia. Each group has been viewing and judging the other party through suspicious eyes from their own perspective, each driving the other to block the channel of reconciliation before the presence of God. With the aim of solving this problem, this thesis attempts to answer the following questions about the AICs in Namibia: • What are the reasons that the AICs in Namibia have been seceded from mission churches? • What are the activities in civil society in which the AICs in Namibia are currently involved? • Do the AICs engage in any activities which go against the Word of God? • What causes other churches to be suspicious of the AICs? • What level of enculturation is inherent to the AICs in Namibia? In other words, what is the relationship between the liturgies of the AIC and African traditional religion and African culture? • What makes the AICs in Namibia regard themselves as a church? Would it be possible for the AICs and the mainline churches in Namibia to cooperate in Christian missionary work? • What is a possible Korean missionary perspective on this particular situation? This will be dealt throughout this thesis from a Korean missionary missional perspective.<br>Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2014.<br>tm2015<br>Science of Religion and Missiology<br>PhD<br>Unrestricted

This study explores the relationship between Christianity and autochthonous (indigenous, pre-Christian) worldviews and practices amongst the Aandonga of Owamboland, Northern Namibia. Using participant contributions from a series of Contextual Bible Study (CBS) sessions (with groups of men, women, and children), and supplemented by ethnographic contextualisation, it challenges the oft-contended notion that Christian worldviews and practices have erased the significance of African Traditional Religion for Ndonga (or wider Owambo) communities. The enduring significance of autochthonous worldviews and practices is explored using responses to six biblical texts, each of which relates to at least one of three themes: bodies, spirits, and landscapes. The study examines feasting bodies (The Parable of the Wedding Banquet), bleeding bodies (The Haemorrhaging Woman), and possessed bodies (Legion). It considers possession spirits (Legion), natural spirits (the so-called ‘Nature Miracles’), and ancestor spirits (Resurrection appearances). Perspectives on landscapes are highlighted particularly in relation to aspects of the natural environment (the ‘Nature Miracles’) and the locations explored by an itinerant demoniac (Legion). Responses to the texts engender, inter alia, discussions of contemporary perspectives on diviner-healers (oonganga), witchcraft (uulodhi), the homestead (egumbo), burial grounds (omayendo, oompampa), spirits (iiluli, oompwidhuli), ancestors (aathithi), material agency (for example, apotropaic amulets), and the ‘traditional’ wedding (ohango). Having analysed the ways in which autochthonous worldviews informed participants’ interpretations of the particular texts considered (Matthew 22:1-14 & Luke 14:7-11; Mark 5:21-43; Luke 8:26-39; Mark 4:35-41 & 6:45-52; Luke 24), each set of interpretations is brought into conversation with professional biblical scholarship. The study therefore highlights the ways in which these grassroots, ‘contextual’ interpretations might nuance New Testament interpretations returned by the Academy, particularly by highlighting the highly contextual nature of the latter.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD<br>This research study investigated the perceptions of Religious and Moral Education (RME) teachers in Namibia with regard to the implementation of the RME syllabus, Grades 5-10 in actual teaching and learning situations. It also examined to what extent pre-service and in-service training prepare these teachers to deal with the demands of the subject in their professional classroom situations. The relevance of the study was that the continuing process of curriculum development would benefit from specific knowledge of the perceptions of teachers and learners, regarding their problems and problem-solving, shortcomings in the system, pre-service and in-service training, and support services. The study took place amidst a global debate on paradigms in the teaching of religion and moral formation. It could therefore also contribute to a growing canon of literature with specific contributions based on empirical research. The study reviewed literature in the field of religious and moral education, the official curricula and syllabi, as well as all other policy and training documents relating to the subject. A carefully sampled case study of teachers in public schools in the Ompundja Circuit of the Oshana Region was carried out. In 1990, under the new constitution, Namibia was declared a secular state, recognising all religions. This was contrary to the colonial period in which Christianity was the only recognised religion and taught under a Christian national ideology in an apartheid political setup. The new dispensation brought new challenges to the subject teachers because, in the past, most of them were only trained to teach Biblical Instruction/Biblical Studies. In the new constitution, the state neither favours nor neglects any of the religious orientations. The context of the study was, thus, the appropriate choice for a particular paradigm in which religion and morality are studied at school level, based upon the principles of a multi-religious and multi-cultural society where both teachers and learners gain knowledge and understanding of other faiths and values; a culture of tolerance is encouraged and fostered; the rights of different religions and their moral values are respected and promoted; and learners are prepared for responsible citizenship

Healing has long been considered part of the Church's pastoral and diaconal calling. For Christians the ministry of healing is grounded in the Word, sacraments and prayer. Based on this understanding some of the Pentecostal churches in Namibia proclaim that HIV and AIDS can be cured through divine healing. It was revealed through interviews with both the practitioners of healing and recipients of healing that the claims of healing HIV and AIDS are not conclusive. It has been established through this study that the implications of a failed healing for the recipients include; lost of faith, hatred towards the practitioners, church, substance abuse and attempts at suicide. A close study of the available literature substantiates the fact that healing of HIV and AIDS in Namibia remains only a claim. The logical conclusion derived was that people confuse healing of HIV and AIDS with spiritual and psychological strength and tranquility that they receive from Pentecostal churches through their healing services. This study recognises the importance of "healing" and "coping" and the need for appropriate theological and psycho-social support for the recipients of divine healing. This study also reveals that HIV and AIDS has forced some Pentecostal churches to revisit their approach of healing. Thus, some of the Pentecostal churches have embarked upon Home Based Care, feeding schemes and material support for PLWHA. The interviews could barely establish a definite case of a successful outcome of healing of someone who was HIV and AIDS positive and was healed through divine intervention. Thus, with the help of interviews, observant participation, and literature review, it was established that the implications for the ministry of healing in some Pentecostal churches in Namibia is real.<br>Thesis (M.Th.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2007.

Text in English with abstracts and keywords in English, Tswana and Afrikaans<br>Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the top-ranking causes of death in many countries, including Namibia. The purpose of this research study was to determine the knowledge and the attitudes of religious leaders and congregants regarding TB and to describe practices of TB prevention among religious leaders and congregants in Khomas Region, Namibia. The researcher developed strategies for enhancing the prevention of TB by religious leaders in Khomas Region, Namibia. The Health Belief Model and the Socio-ecological Model were adopted for the study. A mixed-method convergent design was used in this study. Phase one of the study involved the use of a quantitative descriptive design and phase two comprised a sequential mixed-method study using the Delphi technique. Explorative, descriptive and contextual designs were applied in phase two. Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires in both phase one and phase two. Phase one included 299 participants and phase two included 100 experts in TB and religion. A quantitative data analysis was done using Moon Stats 2018, version 2.0. A qualitative data analysis was done following the steps of content analysis. This study found that the participants were very knowledgeable about TB in that 241 (80.87%) participants indicated that bacteria are the cause of TB and 292 (97.99%) indicated that TB bacteria are spread through the air from one person to another. The participants had a good attitude towards TB in that 227 (76.65%) participants agreed that anyone can be infected with TB and 140 (47.78%) expressed compassion for people who have TB. Participants of the study had good practices for TB prevention, like seeking medical attention if they suspect they have TB. A total of 28 strategies for the primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of TB were developed. The recommendation made in this study is that religious leaders should be at the forefront of TB prevention activities due to their sphere of influence in society. All health sector stakeholders should support efforts by religious leaders to combat TB through sponsorships.<br>Bolwetsi jwa lehuba (TB) ke nngwe ya dibaki tsa loso tse di kwa setlhoeng mo dinageng tse dintsi, go akaretsa Namibia. Maikaelelo a thutopatlisiso eno e ne e le go sekaseka kitso le maitshwaro a baeteledipele ba sedumedi le baphuthegi mabapi le TB le go tlhalosa ditiragalo tsa thibelo ya TB magareng ga baeteledipele ba sedumedi le baphuthegi mo Kgaolong ya Khomas, Namibia. Mmatlisisi o dirile ditogamaano tsa go tokafatsa thibelo ya TB ka baeteledipele ba sedumedi mo Kgaolong ya Khomas, Namibia. Go amogetswe sekao sa Tumelo ya Boitekanelo le Sekao sa Ikholoji ya Loago mo thutopatlisisong. Go dirisitswe thadiso ya molebo o o kopantsweng mo thutopatlisisong eno. Kgato ya ntlha ya thutopatlisiso e akareditse tiriso ya molebo o o tlhalosang wa dipalopalo, mme kgato ya bobedi e nnile le thutopatlisiso ya molebo o o kopantsweng wa tatelano o o dirisang thekeniki ya Delphi. Go dirisitswe melebo ya tshekatsheko, tlhaloso le bokao mo kgatong ya bobedi. Data e ne ya kgobokanngwa go dirisiwa makwalopotsolotso a a batlileng a rulagantswe mo kgatong ya ntlha le kgato ya bobedi. Kgato ya ntlha e akareditse banni-le-seabe ba le 299, mme kgato ya bobedi e akareditse baitsenape ba le 100 ba TB le bodumedi. Tokololo ya data ya dipalopalo e ne ya dirwa go diriswa Moon Stats 2018, mofuta wa 2.0. Tokololo ya data e e lebelelang mabaka e ne ya dirwa go latelwa dikgato tsa tokololo ya diteng. Thutopatlisiso eno e fitlhetse gore banni-le-seabe ba ne ba na le kitso thata ka ga TB mo e leng gore banni-le-seabe ba ba 241 (80.87%) ba kaile gore ditwatsi ke tsona di tlholang TB, mme ba le 292 (97.99%) ba kaile gore ditwatsi tsa TB di phatlaladiwa mo moweng go tswa go motho yo mongwe go ya go yo mongwe. Banni-le-seabe ba na le megopolo e e siameng ka ga TB mo e leng gore banni-le-seabe ba ba 227 (76.65%) ba dumetse gore mongwe le mongwe a ka nna a tshwaetswa ke TB, mme ba le 140 (47.78%) ba ne ba bontsha boutlwelobotlhoko mo bathong ba ba nang le TB. Banni-le-seabe ba thutopatlisiso ba na le ditiragatso tse di siameng tsa thibelo ya TB, go tshwana le go batla thuso ya kalafi fa e le gore ba belaela gore ba na le TB. Go dirilwe palogotlhe ya ditogamaano di le 28 tsa thibelo ya ntlha, ya bobedi le ya boraro ya TB. Katlenegiso e e dirilweng mo thutopatlisisong eno ke gore baeteledipele ba sedumedi ba tshwanetse go nna kwa pele mo ditiragatsong tsa thibelo ya TB ka ntlha ya seemo sa bona sa tshusumetso mo setšhabeng. Baamegi botlhe ba lephata la boitekanelo ba tshwanetse go tshegetsa maiteko a baeteledipele ba sedumedi go lwantsha TB ka diketleetso.<br>Tuberkulose (TB) is een van die grootste doodsoorsake in Namibië en talle ander lande. Die doel van hierdie studie was om godsdiensleiers en gemeentelede in die Khomasstreek in Namibië se kennis van TB, hulle ingesteldheid jeens die siekte, en hulle voorkomingsmaatreëls te ondersoek. Die navorser het strategieë opgestel om te verhoed dat godsdiensleiers in hierdie streek TB opdoen. Die Gesondheidopvattings- en die Sosiaal-ekologiese model is met die oog op hierdie studie aangepas. ʼn Konvergente ontwerp met gemengde metodes is in hierdie studie gebruik. In fase 1 is ʼn kwantitatiewe, deskriptiewe ontwerp gevolg en in fase 2 is opeenvolgende gemengde metodes volgens die Delphitegniek toegepas. ʼn Verkennende, deskriptiewe en kontekstuele ontwerp is in fase gevolg. Data is in fase 1 en 2 aan die hand van halfgestruktureerde vraelyste ingesamel. In fase 1 het 299 respondente en in fase 2 het 100 TB- en godsdiensdeskundiges deelgeneem. ʼn Kwantitatiewe ontleding van die data is met Moon Stats 2018, weergawe 2.0 gedoen. Vervolgens is die data kwalitatief volgens die stappe van ʼn inhoudsanalise ontleed. In hierdie studie is bevind dat die deelnemers heel kundig was oor TB. Altesame 241 (80,87%) deelnemers het te kenne gegee dat bakterieë die oorsaak van TB is, en 292 (97,99%) het laat blyk dat TB-bakterieë luglangs van een persoon na ʼn ander versprei. Die deelnemers se ingesteldheid jeens TB was reg, want 227 (76,65%) deelnemers was dit eens dat enige iemand die siekte kan opdoen, en 140 (47,78%) het medelye gehad met TB-lyers. Daarby het hulle goeie voorkomingsmaatreëls gevolg soos om ʼn dokter te spreek toe hulle vermoed het dat hulle TB opgedoen het. Altesame 28 maatreëls is vir die primêre, sekondêre en tersiêre voorkoming van hierdie siekte getref. Daar word aanbeveel dat godsdiensleiers vanweë die aansien wat hulle in die samelewing geniet, die leiding in voorkomingsveldtogte moet neem. Alle belanghebbendes in die gesondheidsektor moet godsdiensleiers se pogings om TB te bestry, met borgskappe steun.<br>Health Studies<br>Ph. D. (Nursing)

This dissertation examines the contribution that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia (ELCRN) can make to poverty alleviation at local community level, through research in the Otjimbingwe rural community two hundred kilometers north-west of Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. It is clear from the historical background and current situation that the impact of poverty is severe on the lives of indigenous people. The question posed by the research is: How can the Church contribute to poverty alleviation in a rural community such as Otjimbingwe? To answer this question, this thesis analyses the real life situation that the people of Otjimbingwe experience daily. It further looks at the coping strategies of the people. The thesis identifies the capacities, skills and assets that the Church can develop and build on in its poverty alleviation process. The study argues that the Church has a vital contribution to play as both an 'insider' and an 'outsider' to the community at Otjimbingwe. It then suggests some strategies that the Church can utilize to ensure maximum participation of the local people and to mobilize and encourage co-operation of all concerned individuals and organizations in the process of development.<br>Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2001.

My thesis evaluates the current situation of sexual minorities in the Karas region of Namibia by interpreting the values of the Namibian society in the context of Christian ethics. The first part of my thesis explains the methodology I have used and defines key terms used in the thesis. The second part provides an insight into the living conditions of homosexuals in Namibian society in the context of religion, traditions and legislation applying to this issue. The third part deals with the Christian ethical perspective of homosexuality in the context of natural religions and human rights.

The contents of this dissertation is about the authoritarianism presently found in Lutheran churches in general and in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN) in particular. In contradiction to the Roman Catholic Church, Luther advocated the participation of the laity in decision-making processes. However, strong offices of authority have been established in ELCIN and excessive powers have been granted constitutionally to the clergy against the laity, with the result that lay leaders are made to believe that the decision-making procedures belong to the higher authorities at all levels of the church. There is a lack of willingness among the higher authorities to motivate lay leaders to take up leadership responsibilities in their presence. The danger of this attitude is that most of the decisions made in the church are initiated by the clergy and are therefore not representative. The leadership style of ELCIN can be described as partially democratic and partially authoritarian. The authoritarian leadership style of ELCIN was not derived from the original Lutheran heritage. This situation is due largely to a combination of the leadership patterns of the Finnish missionaries and the prevailing Owambo traditional culture. Authoritarian attitudes remain an urgent challenge to ELCIN in particular, and to Lutheran churches in general. The formulation of a new concept of leadership in the church must embrace the collective participation of all male adult members of the community in decision-making processes as observed in positive elements of Owambo traditions and Luther's concept of the priesthood of all believers. This dissertation recommends that lay leaders must be allowed to chair decision-making bodies at all levels in the church and that clergy and lay leaders participate equally in these bodies. ELCIN theologians also have to formulate concepts which contextualise church leadership and dissociate it from foreign vessels of culture.<br>Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2001.

The onset and rapid spread of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Sub-Saharan Africa has challenged and continues to challenge the church in its doctrine as well as its practical ministries. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia has been no exception. The disease challenges the theological and pastoral disciplines, especially in the area of contextuality. This thesis is developed at the very site of the struggle to care for the infected and affected individuals and families in the ten Evangelical Lutheran Church parishes in the Oshana Region, Namibia. Healing and caring for the sick is the primary mission of this church. Therefore, the quest of this study is to investigate how ELCIN through pastoral care and counselling helps HIV/AIDS infected and affected family members cope with their situation. The study concentrated mainly on ten ELCIN parishes in the Oshana Region, Namibia. Chapter one is an introduction to the whole thesis. Included is the statement of the problem, the methodology used to collect data and the literature review. Chapter two deals with pastoral care and counselling of HIV/AIDS infected and affected families. The African understanding of heath and illness is also considered as well. Chapter three is about the Church and HIV/AIDS in the Oshana Region, Namibia. This chapter investigates the responses of ELCIN's pastors towards HIV/AIDS affected families in the Oshana Region, and how they understand HIV/AIDS biblically. Chapter four deals with the impact of HIV/AIDS on affected families in Oshana Region, Namibia. This chapter discusses how HIV/AIDS affects the family members, nurses, and community ministers and how pastoral care and counselling help the widowers, widows, orphans, caregivers of orphans and nurses to take care of orphans. This is the main chapter of this thesis. Chapter five is about data analysis, recommendations and research findings using the Christian theoretical framework of Mwaura, van Dyk, Msomi, Snidle and Welsh, and Dube. Chapter six is the conclusion of the whole thesis.<br>Thesis (M.Th.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005.