Dissertations / Theses: 'Social networks – Religious aspects – Christianity'

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Barbosa, Davi Daniel. "A evangelização católica no Brasil e os desafios da internet." Universidade Católica de Pernambuco, 2017. http://www.unicap.br/tede//tde_busca/arquivo.php?codArquivo=1303.

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Esta dissertação reflete sobre a evangelização, apelo à liberdade para a conversão ao Evangelho e um compromisso com o próximo, razão de ser e missão central do cristianismo, seus fundamentos e seu desenvolvimento no Brasil e os principais desafios que a Igreja tem enfrentado neste processo. Entre os desafios - e oportunidades - apresenta-se a internet, rede de computadores vastamente utilizada como meio de comunicação que chega a formar um novo ambiente intermediado pela tecnologia e de fronteira porosa que invade o espaço de convivência dos seres humanos, acarretando grandes transformações e determinando um novo estilo de pensar, agir, perceber, falar, criando e mantendo novos sujeitos, transformando o modo como as pessoas se relacionam. Descreve-se essa rede social, então, apresentando as suas principais características, a partir do recorte dos espaços virtuais de maior movimento no Brasil na atualidade, e se busca detectar a abertura para a transcendência que surge nesses ambientes, bem como as exigências de novas linguagens e atitudes da Igreja para se comunicar adequadamente nesse campo. Na agenda das questões acerca da evangelização, a temática da internet já ocupa um lugar de destaque, pelos desafios que suscita ao modo de se organizar e de falar das comunidades eclesiais, mas sobretudo pela oportunidade teológica de escutar o mistério da Palavra se comunicando entre e além dos internautas em suas redes virtuais. Para circunscrever essa nova mística, através da pesquisa bibliográfica, a dissertação percorre os principais documentos emitidos pelo Magistério da Igreja e também as obras de autores renomados como: João Batista Libanio, Mário de França Miranda e Antonio Spadaro, procurando saber como a Igreja tem se posicionado em relação a esse novo ambiente e verificando as principais tensões surgidas, como a Igreja as enfrenta e quais os resultados alcançados, que sugestões pastorais e teológicas podem ser levantadas para a evangelização contemporânea.
This dissertation reflects on evangelization, the call for freedom for conversion to the Gospel and a commitment to the neighbor, the reason and central mission of Christianity, its foundations and its development in Brazil and the main challenges that the Church has faced in this process. Among the challenges - and opportunities - is the Internet, a computer network widely used as a means of communication that comes to form of a new environment mediated by technology with a porous frontier that invades the space of human beings coexisting, leading to great transformations and determining a new style of thinking, acting, perceiving, speaking, creating and keeping new subjects, transforming the way people relate. This social network is described, then, presenting its main characteristics, from the cut of the virtual spaces of greater movement in Brazil at present, and seeks to detect the openness to the transcendence that arises in these environments, as well as the requirements of new Languages and attitudes of the Church to communicate adequately in this field. In the agenda of questions about evangelization, the internets thematic already occupies a prominent place, because of the challenges it poses in organizing and speaking about ecclesial communities, but above all in the theological opportunity to listen to the mystery of the Word by communicating between and besides the internet user in their virtual networks. In order to circumscribe this new mystique, through the bibliographical research, the dissertation covers the main documents issued by the Magisterium of the Church and also the works of renowned authors such as: João Batista Libanio, Mário de França Miranda and Antonio Spadaro, seeking to know how the Church has positioned itself in relation to this new environment and checking the main tensions that have arisen, how the Church confronts them and what results have been achieved, what pastoral and theological suggestions can be made for contemporary evangelization.

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(EFSA), Ecumenical Foundation of Southern Africa. "The land is crying for justice: a discussion document on Christianity and environmental justice in South Africa." Ecumenical Foundation of Southern Africa (EFSA), 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/68865.

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South Africa is a land of extraordinary beauty, ecological diversity and abundance. However, the land that God has entrusted to us is crying for justice. During the years of struggle against apartheid several ecumenical documents addressed the issues of the day. The Letter to the People of South Africa (1968), the Kairos Document (1985), the Evangelical Witness in South Africa (1986), the Road to Damascus (1989) and the Rustenburg Declaration (1990) may be mentioned in this regard. In the same ecumenical and prophetic spirit, this document seeks to address the escalating destruction of our environment that results in immense suffering for people, for other living species and for our land as a whole. In responding to this challenge Christians in South Africa may recognise, acknowledge and learn from the many voices and contributions on environmental concerns coming from all over the world — from churches and ecumenical movements, from the Earth Charter movement, from other religious traditions and from environmental organisations. The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) - 26 August to 4 September 2002, Johannesburg - also challenges the churches in South Africa to respond to these concerns.
1st ed
Ecumenical Foundation of Southern Africa (EFSA)

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Brown, Robert Bruce. "Holy war as an instrument of theocratic and social ideology in Judaic, Christian, and Islamic history." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 1997. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/1428.

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Flynn, JoAnne Irene. "Religious social support groups: Strengthening leadership with communication competence." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2008. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/3345.

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This project involved the development of a training manual for religious small group leaders to become competent communicators of support, and to understand the nature and role of crisis groups for the purpose of supporting members in crisis.

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Jones, Elizabeth B. "Pixilated stained glass : a fantasy theme analysis of online and face-to-face Christian community." Virtual Press, 2007. http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/1371202.

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This thesis investigates how two Christian communities — differentiated primarily by their medium of communication — characterize and cast Christian community. The method of fantasy theme analysis was used to explore this thesis's central research question; namely, are content differences present in the ways in which face-to-face and digital communication systems characterize and cast the Christian sense of community? After an analysis of St. Pixels Church of the Internet (digital communication) and St. Luke's United Methodist Church (face-to-face communication) it was found that the online community demonstrated a rhetorical vision of koinonia, while the face-to-face community demonstrated a rhetorical vision of ekklesia.
Department of Telecommunications

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Brito, José Maria. "The technologies of relationship and a new sense of interior life: Making teenagers aware of their creatureliness." Thesis, Boston College, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/2345/bc-ir:106931.

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Straka, Silvia M. "Religious power, fundamentalist women and social work practice." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1997. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/ftp03/MQ37293.pdf.

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Karsten, Anja. "Knowledge and attitudes of religious leaders towards HIV/AIDS." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/50387.

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Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2005.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Religion plays a significant role in the structuring of people's identities and perceptions and also has the potential to playa fundamental role to determine how communities respond to HIV/AIDS. Faith-based organisations are respected in their communities and have existing resources, structures and systems in place. People who are diagnosed with HIV often turn to the church where they receive emotional and spiritual support. The primary objective of this study was to determine the knowledge of religious leaders about HIV/AIDS and their attitudes towards people living with it. A non-experimental quantitative research design was used in this study and the data was gathered through a structured questionnaire. The respondents were not exceptionally informed about the transmission of the HI-virus, but their knowledge around the risk of specific sexual behaviour was high and their attitudes towards PLHA generally positive.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geloof speel "n belangrike rol in die vorming van "n mens se identiteit en persepsies en het ook die potensiaal om gemeenskappe se reaksie rakende MIV/Vigs te bepaal. Geloofsorganisasies word in hul gemeenskappe gerespekteer en het bestaande hulpbronne en stelsels in plek. Mense wat MIV postitef gediagnoseer word, wend hul dikwels na hierdie organisasies waar hul emosionele en geestelike ondersteuning ontvang. Die doel van hierdie navorsing was om die kennis en houdings van geloofsleiers rondom MIV/Vigs en die mense wat daarmee leef te bepaal. "n Nie-eksperimenteel kwantitatiewe navorsingsontwerp is gebruik, en die data is deur middel van "n gestruktureerde vraelys ingesamel. Hoewel die respondente se kennis omtrent die oordrag van die MI-virus nie voldoende was nie, het hul die nodige kennis rondom die risiko van spesifieke seksuele gedrag gehad. Hul houdings rondom MIV/Vigs en mense wat daarmee leef was positief.

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Gerow, Brian Gregory. "The Pulpit at the End of the Rainbow: How Queer Clergy Enter Into and Maintain Religious Occupations." PDXScholar, 2010. https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds/39.

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This study is a description of the ways queer clergy identify with and navigate their position in a traditionally heteronormative culture. Through twelve in-depth interviews, a set of codes and categories helped to assess the major barriers to access in contemporary Protestant clergy occupations in the United States. This research was conducted in Portland, Oregon, where a thriving queer religious community made it possible to access various different Protestant faiths and compare minister's experiences as professional clergy.

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Eddleman, Libby Jean. "Protecting Patriarchy: an Historical/Critical Analysis of Promise Keepers, an All-Male Social Movement." Thesis, University of North Texas, 1998. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc278756/.

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The historical survey of social movements in the United States reveals that the movement is a rhetorical ground occupied by groups who have been marginalized by society. Today, however, the distinctions between those who are marginalized and those who are part of the establishment have become difficult to distinguish. This study considers the emergence of Promise Keepers, an all-male social movement, and the rhetorical themes that emerge from the group. This study identifies five rhetorical themes in Promise Keepers. These themes include asserting authority of men in the home and church, the creation of a new male identity, sports and war rhetoric, political rhetoric, and racial reconciliation. The implications of these themes are considered from a critical perspective and areas for future research are provided.

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Visser, Jacobie M. Helena. "Playing the system, not the man: a rhetorical investigation of masculinities in its social context in 1 Peter." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/96822.

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Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2015.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Men and masculinities have become so apparent and normative within the course of history and the social structuring of society, that they almost have become the invisible gender. Ubiquitous in positions of power everywhere, the paradox regarding men is becoming more evident by the day. This investigation aims to explore the notion of masculinity, as expressed in the text 1 Peter by means of its well-proportioned rhetorical structure and argument. The argument of the thesis will focus on 1 Peter 2: 11-4: 11 since this larger portion of the letter forms a textual unit. The investigation, Playing the system, not the man, consists of six chapters. Chapter 1 provides a brief synopsis of the basic aim, research problems and questions as well as hypothesis of this thesis, in conjunction with the clarification of methodology and basic core concepts used in the investigation. In Chapter 2 the text of 1 Peter 2:11-4:11 is exegetically analysed by means of a close reading of the text with a focus on core concepts which functions within the text but which are also deemed crucial for the ensuing discussion of masculinity in 1 Peter within the context of the 1st century social world. Chapter 3 continues the discussion by elucidating the 1st century social context, that constitutes the life setting of 1 Peter, in terms of the central ideological concepts of the Roman Empire, and the honour and shame culture, and in particular how these played out in terms of social structures such as the family or household. In Chapter 4 the emphasis shifts back to the text of 1 Peter, keeping with the aim of the investigation to both retain the focus on this letter but also to evaluate the text rhetorically, that is, to consider how the text construes and constructs masculinity. The discussion in the chapter focusses on the text’s construal of the community that is addressed as the οἶκος of God, and with attention to family language and brotherhood. Chapter 5 addresses masculinity according to a prominent theorist’s taxonomy of social masculine patterns. This interpretive model is then applied to 1 Peter, and used as lens with which to delineate varying constitutive forms of masculinity in the text. The concluding Chapter 6 ties the above discussion together and briefly elaborates on the possible value and impact of masculine patterns suggested in the text, and their possible influence and impact on Christianity today. Using an adequate and accountable hermeneutic, the text of 1 Peter can be enlisted in efforts to allow all men, the “man on the street” in all his various guises, to play within the system. Rather than blaming the system on the man, men are challenged to live in freedom not apart from the system as it is impossible, but free nevertheless and notwithstanding the system. In other words, the interpretation of 1 Peter in this thesis invite all men to assume the identity of “foreigners and exiles” regarding the system of male patriarchy!
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Mans en manlikheid het binne die verloop van die geskiedenis en die sosiale strukture van die samelewing so normatief en onsigbaar geword, dat hulle byna die onsigbare gender word. Alomteenwoordig in posisies van mag orals, is die paradoks rakende mans deurgaans vandag nog meer duidelik te word. Hierdie ondersoek het ten doel om die idee van manlikheid te verken, soos uitgedruk in die 1 Petrus-teks met die netjiese retoriese struktuur en argument. Die argument van die tesis sal fokus op 1 Petrus 2: 11-4: 11 want die groter gedeelte van die brief vorm 'n tekseenheid. Die ondersoek Playing the System not the man bestaan uit ses hoofstukke. Die 1ste hoofstuk voorsien ’n kort opsomming wat die basiese doelstelling, navorsingsprobleme en vrae sowel as die hipotese van die tesis. Dít word dan in verband met die metodologie en basiese kern konsepte wat in die ondersoek gebruik word, opgevolg. In hoofstuk 2 word die Griekse teks van 1 Petrus 2:11-4:11 eksegeties geanaliseer deur ’n retoriese noukeurige-leesmetode op die teks toe te pas. Dié retoriese noukeurige-lees metode word gevolglik gebruik om die kern konsepte rakende manlikheid binne die 1ste-eeuse sosiale konteks na vore te bring. Die kern konsepte word in hoofstuk 3 verder binne die algemene sosio-historiese konteks van die 1ste-eeuse Mediterreense wêreld, bespreek. Aangesien die Mediterreense wêreld kompleks is, word die bespreking van die temas aangaande manlikheid binne die twee sentrale ideologiese sfere naamlik die Romeinse Ryk en die eer- en skande kultuur, beperk. Die fokus van hoofstuk 3 is om die sentrale manlikheidstemas byvoorbeeld die familie en huishouding in gesprek met die sosiale strukture van die 1ste-eeuse konteks, te bring. In Hoofstuk 4 word die klem weer op 1 Petrus geplaas deur te bespreek hoe die teks retories manlikheid vorm en saamstel. Die ondersoek fokus hoofsaaklik op hoe die teks die gemeenskap as οἶκος van God, aanspreek en hoe die retoriese konstruksie van manlikheid deur familie-en broederskapstaal daargestel word. In hoofstuk 5 word manlikheid vanuit ’n prominente teoretikus se klassifikasie van sosiale manlikheidspatrone aangespreek. Die interpretasiemodel word as lens op 1 Petrus toegepas deur aan te dui hoe die teks afwyk en bydra tot die ideale hegemoniese manlikhede van die 1ste eeu. In hoofstuk 6 word die bogenoemde gesprek opgesom en word daar kortliks op die moontlike waarde en effek van die manlikheidspatrone, soos dit vanuit die teks in hoofstuk 4-5 geïdentifiseer is, uitgebrei. Daar word gevolglik ook na die moontlike invloed en effek van dié manlikheidspatrone op hedendaagse Christenskap verwys. Die ondersoek maak van ’n toepaslike en verantwoordbare hermeneutiek gebruik. Die 1 Petrus-teks kan gevolglik van hulp wees om aan alle mans, die spreekwoordelike “man-op-die-straat” in al die verskillende vorms waarin hy voorkom, die geleentheid te bied om binne die sisteem te speel. Eerder as om die sisteem te blameer, word mans eerder uitgedaag om in die vryheid te leef, alhoewel nie apart van die sisteem is nie, maar eerder om vry te leef ten spyte van die sisteem. Met ander woorde, die interpretasie van 1 Petrus in hierdie tesis wil aan mans die ruimte te gee om hulself te identifiseer as “vreemdelinge en bywoners”, met betrekking tot manlike patriargie.

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Hansen, Bruce. ""All of you are one" : the social vision of Gal 3:28, 1 Cor 12:13 and Col 3:11." Thesis, St Andrews, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10023/433.

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Shahbaz, Amy Renee. "Spiritual experience: The relationship with the grief process." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2002. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/2118.

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There were four major purposes of this study: (1) to evaluate the level of grief experience by bereaved individuals who attend either a grief support group or grief psycho-educational group in the Inland Empire, (2) to evaluate the level of spirtuality experienced by bereaved individuals who attend either a grief support or grief psycho-educational group in the Inland Empire, (3) to correlate the level of grief reactions with the level of spiritual experience within bereaved individuals, and (4) to describe demongraphic and grief/spiritual-related factors that may influence a bereaved individual's spiritual experience and grief process.

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Price, Samantha Danielle. "Effects of Religious Attendance on Suicidal Ideation: Examining Potential Mediators of Social Support, Locus of Control, and Substance Abuse." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2014. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc699865/.

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Religion has a well-documented relationship with mental health benefits and has consistently demonstrated an impact on several specific mental health concerns, including suicide, generally finding various religious facets to be inversely associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors. More specifically, religion has been found to be associated with suicide in a number of ways, including decreased acceptance of suicide, decreased likelihood of suicidal thoughts, decreased likelihood of suicidal attempts, fewer suicide attempts, lower relative risk of suicide, lower suicide rate, and increased reasons for living. Several studies have proposed potential mediators (e.g., social support, locus of control, and substance abuse) of the relationship between religion and mental health, usually in non-clinical samples. The current study sought to examine the association between religious attendance and suicidal ideation using archival data of a clinical sample collected from the University of North Texas Psychology Clinic. Results from this sample revealed no evidence of mediation, instead suggesting a direct effect of religious attendance on suicidal ideation. Two mediation models demonstrated the effects of external locus of control and social support on suicidal ideation. These models are discussed in terms of their directionality, considering the extant research on these associations. Findings of the current study have implications for welcoming the incorporation of salient religious topics throughout treatment in mental health settings, including discussion of religious attendance among those clients who have identified religion as a personal value.

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Kuecker, Aaron J. "The Spirit and the 'other' : social identity, ethnicity and intergroup reconciliation in Luke-Acts." Thesis, St Andrews, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10023/532.

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Parsons, Elizabeth C. "Provoking the Rocks: A Study of Reality and Meaning on the Zambian Copperbelt." Thesis, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/61.

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Even though the West, or Global North, initiates extensive development policymaking and project activity on the African continent, this study argues that one source of major frustration between different parties entrusted to do the work arises from cognitive differences in their worldviews. These differences affect people's actions and have theological ramifications involving how we all understand meaning and reality. The study employs a case method analyzed through the lens of Alfred Schutz's sociology of knowledge theories and augmented by insights from African scholars to look at basic perceptual differences between Zambians and expatriates working on the Copperbelt Province's mines. After exploring how participants in the study interpreted various experiences, this study concludes that Zambians and expatriates were essentially living in "parallel universes" of meaning regardless of their apparently shared activities and objectives. The study further argues that viewpoints expressed by Zambian participants can be extrapolated into powerful lessons for members of civil society who are concerned about international development and the environment. Such teaching elements could especially help reshape how Americans and other Westerners understand ourselves in relation to physical creation and the cosmos as well as to those from radically different cultures. Lessons learned from the Zambian perspective could also help reinvigorate Western theological thinking, providing much needed critiques of discourses that currently dominate international development policymaking and planning and that determine value principally according to economic strategies and fulfillment of efficient, measurable objectives.
Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2007.

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Huffman, David M. "The promise of righteousness : a fantasy theme analysis of the Promise Keepers." Scholarly Commons, 1999. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/522.

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This thesis investigates the seven promises of the Promise Keepers movement using the rhetorical criticism method of fantasy theme analysis. In order to understand this movement, four research questions guided the study: ( 1) What common themes are embedded in the rhetoric of the Promise Keepers? (2) What is the rhetorical vision promoted by the Promise Keepers movement? (3) What makes the vision of the Promise Keepers movement so persuasive to so many Christian men in America? (4) Based on an examination of the rhetoric of the Promise Keepers movement, what can be ascertained about the motives of the movement?" In order to answer these questions, a rhetorical analysis was conducted on the primary literature of the movement. The analysis indicated that the Promise Keepers are trying to transform America into a Christian nation. The Promise Keepers believe that change can be brought about if men follow the movement's seven promises for Christian living. Through these promises, the movement emphasizes a patriarchal view of men in society. In addition, the analysis of the movement's rhetoric suggests that the Promise Keepers are not interested in political change, but moral change through the lives of individual men.

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Bowes, Tanya-Ann. "Discourses around abortion in a low-income community in the Western Cape." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002448.

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Since the introduction of the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act in 1996, research concerning abortion has primarily focused on public health issues or on the personal experience of women. The cultural and social context within which women experience a termination of pregnancy and in which services are offered has received less attention. The purpose of this study was to analyse public discourses around abortion in a low-income community in the Western Cape. Focus groups were used to gather data from three women’s and three men’s groups. The findings suggest that the agenda of pro-life discourses in this community is not always to defend the life of the fetus. Rather these discourses serve to protect, preserve and maintain the power of the traditional nuclear family, headed by the husband, over women’s reproduction and sexuality. Religious and moral arguments serve to disguise the gender issues at stake. However, instances also occurred where TOP was supported if the husband participated in the decision-making process. Therefore, his presence normalised abortion. Thus, the prevailing public discourses around abortion in this community either support or negate abortion in order to further the agenda of patriarchy.

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Black, Michael Thomas. "The theology of the corporation : sources and history of the corporate relation in Christian tradition." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2010. http://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:552b2250-f462-490c-8156-29cf430431af.

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This essay presents evidence that the institution of the corporation has its origins and its main developmental 'epochs' in Judaeo-Christian theology. The notion of the nahala as the institutional symbol of the Covenant between YHWH and Israel is a primal example of the corporate relationship in its creation of an identity independent of its members, its demand for radical accountability on the part of its members, and in its provision of immunity for those who act in its name. On the basis of the same Covenant, St. Paul transforms an ancillary aspect of Roman Law, the peculium, into the central relationship of the Christian world through its implicit use as the institutional background to the concept of the Body of Christ. The exceptional nature of this relationship allows the medieval Franciscans and the papal curia to create what had been lacking in Roman Law, an institution which can own property but which cannot be owned. This relationship is subsequently theorized as the Eternal Covenant by Reformed theologians and successfully tested in one of the greatest theological/social experiments ever recorded, the 17^th century settlement of North America. The alternative 'secular' explanation of the corporation provided by 19^th century legal philosophy relies implicitly on the theological foundations of the corporation and remains incoherent without these foundations. The theological history of the corporation was recovered in the findings of 20^th century social scientists, who also identified corporate finance as the central corporate activity in line with its Levitical origins. Although the law of the corporation is secular, the way in which this law was made a central component of modern life is theological. Without a recovery of this theological context, the corporation is likely to continue as a serious social problem in need of severe constraint.

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Conference, Southern African Catholic Bishops'. "Economic justice in South Africa: a pastoral statement." Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference, 1999. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/68823.

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The Introduction to the statement explains that its aim is to contribute to the search for a more just, equitable and sustainable economic dispensation. It reminds people that, as a nation, we have overcome the horrors of apartheid and made significant progress towards peace and stability. However, we are sitting on an economic time-bomb; if we do not strive for economic justice we must expect a deepening of our social problems such as crime, lawlessness, poverty and unemployment. The second section considers the Church's Prophetic Duty to speak out and to bring Gospel values to bear on political, economic and social matters. A second transformation is needed: massive, and overwhelmingly positive, political change has occurred, but the same has not yet happened in the economy, with the result that the majority of our people still have little chance of fulfilling their reasonable hopes for a better life. Section three turns to the question of Discerning Economic Justice. It is asserted that every economy has a moral quality which makes it possible for us to pass judgements as to whether or not it is a just economy. In order to make such judgements the presence or absence of various factors must be assessed, including poverty, unemployment, discrimination, materialism and environmental degradation. Next, the statement deals briefly with Economic Structure. The fact that economies are complex, and that most people are unfamiliar with economic terminology, results in many people feeling powerless. They believe that, as individuals, they have no influence over, or responsibility for, the way an economy operates. Some of the negative consequences of such a belief are mentioned, and it is pointed out that we have a moral duty to make the correct choices, even in complex matters. Section four, Christian Economic Values, offers some guidelines for those striving to make these choices. The section summarises some of the main concepts and principles developed by the Church as ways of making concrete the commandment to 'love your neighbour as yourself'. These include the common good, solidarity, the option for the poor, the common destiny of goods, and the integrity of creation. The South African Economy is analysed in section six, according to the criteria mentioned in section three. Poverty, unemployment, materialism, greed, the lack of women's economic empowerment, debt and corruption are among the features identified as contributing to economic injustice in our country. But the gap between rich and poor is singled out as the defining characteristic of our economy, with millions of South Africans surviving, like Lazarus, on crumbs from the rich man's table. No country's economy exists in isolation, free from outside influences. Therefore, in section seven, some attention is given to The World Economy, especially to aspects which affect South Africa. The point is made that international factors can act as powerful constraints on moves towards economic justice at home, without their being, however, an excuse for a lack of effort in this direction. When statements such as the present one are published, people have a right to expect the authors to make specific and practical recommendations. This is attempted in section eight, What Can Be Done? The major role-players in the economy are identified and various steps are suggested for each of them; these range from fiscal initiatives to encourage job-creation, through changes to personal taxation and measures to improve productivity and training, to the promotion of the interests of the unemployed. However, it is conceded that even the most enlightened economic measures will not be able to withstand selfish and destructive attitudes. The question of people's attitudes to each other and to economic choices is therefore addressed, with particular emphasis being placed on the role of the religious community in this regard. By way of Conclusion the statement points out that economic justice is demanded not just by the poor and by forthcoming generations, but by God. In striving for a just economy we are carrying forward Jesus' great task of bringing fullness of life to all people.
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Washington, Vanessa Marie. "Destigmatisation within the HIV/AIDS pandemic : wowards a pastoral anthropology of embodiment." Thesis, Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/4103.

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Thesis (MTh (Practical Theology and Missiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The focus of the thesis is on the HIV and AIDS-related stigma and stigmatisation of people who try to live positively with HIV/AIDS within the pandemic. The basic assumption is that there is interplay between the HIVAIDS-related stigma as a cultural phenomenon and the negative perception of the human body. Since a human being is created corporeal and re-created due to the fact that human embodiment is a fundamental ingredient for the understanding of soul, It is argued that in a pastoral approach, a person should be understood holistically. Anthropology within the traditional kerygmatic approach focused mainly on the notion of sin (corruption totalis) within the theological understanding of God’s judgement (judgemental attitude). I have proposed that pastoral anthropology should adopt constructive paradigms and point towards the integration of embodiment (wholeness) in a realistic approach rather than emphasising the notion of sin and forms of dualism. The thesis departs from an eschatological and pneumatological view of the human being, in which the concepts of resurrection and hope are equally crucial. I further argue that a Christian spiritual perspective on embodiment is potentially destigmatising itself. In terms of a pastoral hermeneutic I have shown that in destigmatisation the transformation of the HIV and AIDS-related stigma corresponds to the transformation of the mindset and paradigm of a person (habitus). Through the process of destigmatisation people discover meaning and are enabled to live fully embodied and responsible lives. The thesis is designed as a literature study based on text analysis and hermeneutical reflection. Moreover, in order to develop a pastoral anthropological view, the Scripture is used as a reference point.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die navorsing fokus op die fenomeen van stigmatisiering binne die HIV/AIDS pandemie. Die kernargument is dat stigmatisering as 'n sosiaal-kulturele konstrukt binne die netwerk van verhoudinge direk in verband staan met 'n bepaalde destruktiewe persepsie wat die vraagstuk van liggaamlikheid onmiddellik raak. Vandaar die verdere fokus op die verband tussen liggaamlikheid en die verstaan van die menslike siel binne die raamwerk van 'n pastorale antropologie. Die teologiese invalshoek is die eskatologiese paradigma, die mens as 'n pneumatiese wese en nuwe skepping. Liggaamlikheid deel gelykoorspronklik aan hierdie nuwe wees-funksie van die mens sodat verstaan van die mens as „beliggaamde siel“ en „besielde liggaam“ alle vorme van dualisme in teologiese antropologie teëwerk. Die totale mens is as ‘n beliggaamde mens geskep sodat in pastorale antropologie die menslike persoon holisties verstaan moet word. Om menswees bloot vanuit die perspektief van sonde te benader hou nie rekening met die realisme van die Bybel wat die mens binne die raamwerk van die wysheidsliteratuur sien vanuit die perspektief van genade en vernuwing. Eensydige fokus op die paradigma van sonde dra by tot destruktiewe veroordelende houding (judgemental attitude). Volgens die aard van kruisteologie is die „smet“ en „stigma“ van sonde daar oorwin. In die lig van die opstandingsperspektief is die „dood van stigma“ totaal uitgewis. Hierdie opstandingperspektief moet verreken word in teologiese model wat gerig is op prosesse van destigmatisering binne pastorale hermeneutiek. Die implikasie hiervan is die transformasie van stigmatisernde paradigmas en die skep van pastorale houding (habitus) van begrip en medelye. Deur ‘n dergelike proses van destigmatisasie word mense in die kern van hul weesfunksie kwalitatief bemagtig ten einde vervulde lewens te kan ly. Die tesis volg kwalitatiewe benadering. Dit is voorts literêre studie gebaseer op teks-analises, kritiese reflektering en hermeneutiese metodologie.

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Ndhlovu, Japhet. "Combating HIV : a ministerial strategy for Zambian churches." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/5492.

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Thesis (DTh (Practical Theology and Missiology))--Stellenbosch University, 2008.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This work is about a missiological praxis for the creation of 'Circles of Hope' as an entry point for faith based organisations and, particularly, local churches in Zambia for an effective battle in the fight against HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). The HIV pandemic is one of the worst tragedies to have befallen humankind in the 21st century. Lost to many people is the fact that it does not affect all regions of the globe equally. Figures show that over 70% of PLWHA (people living with HIV) are in sub Saharan-Africa while most affected are young and therefore, in theory, energetic. With an overall HIV prevalence rate of 16% and a life expectancy of 34 years, HIV has severely impacted the lives of Zambians across the country. Stigma remains one of the most significant challenges in Zambia across the prevention-to-care continuum. The wider environment of these effects and statistics has provided for us the wider contextual situation. The Church in Zambia and, indeed, in the entire sub-Saharan African region cannot afford to hide its head in the sand anymore. The impact of HIV is being felt at all levels of society. This has posed a threat to economic progress and human development by attacking the most economically productive age group and reversing gains in life expectancy and child survival. The increasing burden on health budgets has stretched national and community resources to the limit, leaving no room for complacency or pretence about the magnitude of the problem. Since some members of the Church are positively infected, we can safely say of the Church: the body of Christ has HIV. HIV is a national disaster. It cannot be managed without mobilising all the sectors within a nation. The Church in Zambia needs to make HIV prevention a matter of compelling priority. The Church is an instrument for the missional praxis of the triune God. Theology in this work is not so much a scientific endeavour that begins and ends with analysing contexts and texts, rather it is an imaginative way of finding new answers to the new situation brought about by the presence of HIV (Hendriks, 2004: 30). In this work the researcher contends that measures are required to develop strong theological reflections and education which would result in the establishment of Circles of Hope in all local congregations. These Circles of Hope would act as a fountain for promoting behavioural change, support action for safer sexual behaviour, and combat stigmatisation and discrimination against people with known HIV infection. There must be appropriate theological reflections that touch on the work of the reign of God. A relevant HIV theology will necessarily involve the laity, will watch out for fundamentalist views, will be biblical in nature and will draw from Trinitarian understanding. The basis of moving from a theology of punishment to that of care, truth, freedom, justice and peace is the theology of community and companionship. This reflection is an attempt to have constructive interpretation of the present realities brought about by a time of HIV. One can only discern God‘s will for the present situation through critical and sensitive leadership in order to bring about genuine healing. The role of the local church and networking activities are essential commodities to realise a vision of a Zambia that is HIV competent. This then is the new ministerial strategy being spearheaded by the 'Circles of Hope' programme of the Council of Churches in Zambia. It is a challenge for Zambian churches.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die navorsing handel oor ŉ missiologiese begronde praksis vir die skepping van 'Kringe van Hoop' as 'n beginpunt vir geloofsgebaseerde organisasies en spesifiek die plaaslike kerk in Zambië in hulle stryd teen MIV (Menslike Immuniteits Virus). Die MIV pandemie is een van die ergste tragedies wat die mensdom in die 21ste eeu getref het. Wat baie mense nie altyd besef nie, is dat dit nie oral in die wêreld dieselfde impak het nie. Statistiek wys daarop dat meer as 70% van alle MIV positiewe mense Suid van die Sahara woon. Die meerderheid van die geïnfekteerdes is jonk met baie potensiaal. 16% van die bevolking in Zambië is MIV positief en het 'n lewensverwagting van 34 jaar. Die uitwerking hiervan raak die land en al sy mense. Naas voorkoming en versorging bly een van die grootste uitdagings wat die gemeenskap in Zambië moet aanspreek stigmatisering. Die groter konteks Suid van die Sahara vorm die agtergrond van elke land se spesifieke probleme. Ook Zambië en met name die kerk in Zambië sal die feite in die oë moet kyk. Die pandemie is 'n bedreiging vir ekonomiese vooruitgang en menslike ontwikkeling omdat dit die ekonomies mees produktiewe ouderdomsgroep afmaai, lewensverwagting verlaag en kindersterftes laat toeneem. Die toenemende las op die gesondheidsbegroting het die nasionale en gemeenskapshulpbronne grootliks uitgeput. Die omvang van die probleem kan op geen manier meer ontken en negeer word nie. Aangesien baie lidmate MIV positief is, kan 'n mens goedskiks verklaar dat die liggaam van Christus MIV het. Dit is ŉ nasionale tragedie. Die pandemie kan nie bestry word sonder dat al die sektore van die samelewing daarteen gemobiliseer is nie. Die kerk in Zambië moet die voorkoming van MIV as 'n uiters noodsaaklike prioriteit beskou. Die Kerk is 'n instrument vir die missionêre praksis van die drie-enige God. Die navorsing beskou teologie nie as 'n wetenskaplike onderneming wat bloot handel oor 'n analise van kontekste en tekste nie. Teologie is iets waarin jy handelend en verbeeldingryk toetree tot die aanspreek van 'n veelbewoë situasie en antwoorde probeer vind op die probleme (Hendriks, 2004: 30). Die navorsing werk met die hipotese dat die probleem vanuit 'n teologiese hoek benader moet word sodat teologiese beginsels die praktykteorie van Kringe van Hoop in plaaslike gemeentes sal onderskraag. Die studie voorsien dat die Kringe van Hoop die hoof dryfveer sal wees wat gedragsverandering sal bevorder, veiliger seksuele gedrag sal aanmoedig, en die stryd teen die stigmatisering en diskriminasie sal voer. Gepaste teologiese refleksie oor die heerskappy van God is noodsaaklik. 'n Revelante HIV teologie sal gewone lidmate insluit, sal bedag wees op fundamentalistiese sieninge, sal bybels wees en sal gebaseer wees op ŉ trinitariese godsbegrip. Die teologiese basis vir die wegbeweeg van 'n teologie van straf/oordeel na een van versorging, waarheid, vryheid, geregtigheid en vrede, is geleë in gemeenskap en kameraadskap. Hierdie refleksie is 'n poging om in 'n tyd van HIV 'n konstruktiewe interpretasie te gee van die huidige realiteite. Kritiese en sensitiewe leierskap behoort in die huidige situasie te poog om God se wil te soek om die gebrokenheid van 'n MIV siek gemeenskap aan te spreek. Die rol van die plaaslike kerk en netwerkingsaktiwiteite is onontbeerlik vir die realisering van die visie van ŉ Zambië sonder MIV. Die 'Kringe van Hoop'-program van die Zambiese Raad van Kerke is 'n bedieningstrategie wat die MIV pandemie wil aanspreek en wat die kerk in Zambië uitdaag om mee te doen.

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Tsakiropoulou, Ioanna Zoe. "The piety and charity of London's female elite, c.1580-1630 : the wives and widows of the aldermen of the City of London." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2016. https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:1b933cc5-905a-4be0-b10b-a20aec49997a.

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Why was an ideal of elite women's virtue promoted in London c. 1580-1630, and why was it based on their reformed piety and charity? To what extent can elite women's piety and charity reveal their religious identity, among an elite characterised as 'puritan' by contemporaries and historians? How did women practise piety and charity in a worldly City, and did they share a civic ethos? This thesis engages with historiographies of urban history, the history of charity and hospitality, and gender history. It concerns over 400 wives and widows of the 331 aldermen elected 1540-1630, and uses 78 widows' wills. Women's wills are analysed qualitatively save to consider widows' public charitable bequests. From preambles to exceptionally diffuse bequests, wills are an intimate source for studying women's religious identity through their piety and charity. They reveal women's understanding of their gender in a patriarchal society that fostered an attitude of sorority that is particularly evident in women's charity and hospitality. To study the piety and charity of aldermen's wives extra-testamentary personal evidence complements the wills. Sources written by women themselves include a household book used to reconstruct a woman's charity and hospitality, portraits, devotional works and letters. Sources of praise and abuse authored by men including Stow's Survay, funeral sermons, verse libel and verbal abuse are used to reconstruct ideals and antitypes of elite female virtue and hypocrisy, and are read critically in comparison with other sources to furnish evidence of female piety and social conduct. Chapter II-VII focus on the conforming female elite, comparing contemporary discussion of female piety, charity and religious identity to women's lives and practice in the household and the community, and Chapter VIII considers three Catholic women to ask to what extent the civic ethos shared by reformed City women could accommodate even their recusant kinswomen.

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Böttcher, Judith Lena. "Vowed to community or ordained to mission? : aspects of separation and integration in the Lutheran Deaconess Institute, Neuendettelsau, Bavaria." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2014. http://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:75ce64eb-5a38-4d36-84d7-c48071df089c.

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This study offers an overdue exploration of the early years of the deaconess community in Neuendettelsau from a gender perspective. Drawing on rich archival material, it focuses on the process of the formation of a distinctive collective identity. Central to this study is the assumption, drawn from the social sciences, that collective identity is a social construction which requires the participation of the whole group through identification and which is consolidated by developing specific rituals, symbols, codes and normative texts, which facilitate integration, and by constructing external boundaries, which separate from the world and wider church. The centrifugal forces which came into play when deaconesses were sent out in isolation were counterbalanced by a communal life which offered forms of participation and identification for the individual members and which consolidated their sense of belonging. The first chapter introduces the methodology. Chapter Two explores the social, cultural and theological context of the foundation of the Deaconess Institute, and offers a brief outline of the institution's historical development. The third chapter offers an in-depth analysis of the initiation ceremony as a rite which both admitted into the community and conferred an ecclesiastical office. Chapter Four analyses formative and normative texts that shed light on the community's norms, values, and expectations. In the fifth chapter, non-literary means of consolidating and affirming the deaconesses' collective identity are explored. This study concludes that the process of the emergence of a specific deaconess culture was pervaded by bourgeois norms, values, patterns of behaviour and notions about gender roles which measured out the women's radius of action and were at times difficult to reconcile with the deaconess profession.

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Bosman, Jan Petrus. "Social identity in Nahum : a theological-ethical enquiry." Thesis, Link to the online version, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/1406.

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Venter, Dawid. "The formation and functioning of racially-mixed congregations." Thesis, Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 1994. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/15576.

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Thesis (DPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 1994.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This is an empirical, qualitative study of racially-mixed urban churches (congregations) as social institutions, which includes a practical-theological perspective. Research was motivated by the rareness of mixed congregations, compared to the profusion of homogenous congregations. My purpose was to uncover social factors which support the formation, maintenance, and functioning of mixed congregations. A New Testament section is included because of the normative value that these texts hold for contemporary Christians and church structures. My theoretical base is informed by history, theology, biblical studies, sociology, and anthropology. The development of relevant aspects in these fields are sketched. Special attention is given to assimilation, pluralism, and multi-culturalism as forms of inter-ethnic interaction based on structure and culture. My methodological base incorporates congregational studies and social-scientific literary analysis. The historical development of both is sketched by means of an overview of relevant literature. The general qualitative analytical social and literary techniques that I apply are indicated, including participant-observation, semi-structured interviews, structured questionnaires, and document-analysis. A social history of South African congregations shows that the ideal of mixed congregations existed since the start, but was gradually repressed by several factors. Some studies of mixed congregations are discussed, and various mixed US and South African congregations are outlined. Three contemporary Johannesburg congregations are introduced, including Johweto, an independent charismatic church in the black city of Soweto; St. Francis Xavier, a Roman Catholic church on the borders of coloured and white suburbs in western Johannesburg; and Central Methodist Mission, an inner-city Protestant church. The Johannesburg congregations are idiographically and empirically analysed in terms of their context, identity, process, and programme. Social factors contributing to their ethnic mix are indicated. The insights from the contemporary research are applied to early Christian congregations in a social scientific reconstruction of the social world of appropriate New Testament texts. The purpose is to discover the role of ethnicity in their composition and functioning, and to show whether ethnically-mixed congregations were normative. I suggest a theory concerning the effects of ethno-cultural factors on the structures and functioning of Pauline congregations between AD 30 and 70. I conclude with a summary of the theoretical and practical implications of the study's results, and an evaluation of goals and methods. Practical strategies are suggested for dealing with commonly indicated difficulties in the formation of mixed congregations. A theory of the influence of social factors on formation is supplied, and a dynamic model of formation constructed. I posit three types of mixed churches according to the processes by which they are formed: contextual, inclusive, or intentional. These are evaluated as formation strategies, and a two-tiered typology in terms of internal structure is also proposed. The types are illustrated with reference to congregations from the US and South Africa. Segregated and integrated congregations are evaluated in theological, social and political terms and I indicate why mixed congregations are preferable. An overall theory of the formation and functioning of mixed congregations is put forward. Assimilation is seen as a contributive cause, but modified where counter-status quo and multi-cultural strategies are employed.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie is 'n empiriese en kwalitatiewe studie van ras- en etnies-gemengde kerke (gemeentes) as sosiale instellings, wat prakties-teologiese perspektiewe insluit. Navorsing is gemotiveer deur die skaarsheid van gemengde gemeentes, in vergelyking met die groot aantal gemeentes waartoe slegs een rasgroep behoort. My doelwit was om sosiale faktore te ontdek wat bydra tot die vorming, instandhouding, en funksionering van gemengde gemeentes. 'n Nuwe Testamentiese afdeling is ingesluit weens die normatiewe waarde van hierdie vroeg-Christelike tekste vir hedendaagse Christene en kerke-strukture. Die teoretiese begronding van die studie word toegelig deur die geskiedenis, teologie, bybelkunde, sosiologie, en antropologie. Ek skets die ontwikkeling van relevante aspekte binne hierdie velde. Spesiale aandag word geskenk aan assimilasie. pluralisme, en multikulturalisme as vorme van inter-etniese interaksie rondom struktuur en kultuur. My metodologiese grondslag word gevorm deur gemeentestudie en sosiaal-wetenskaplike letterkundige analise. Die historiese ontwikkeling van beide hierdie gebiede word geskets deur middel van 'n oorsig van relevante literatuur. Die oorkoepelende kwalitatiewe analitiese tegnieke wat ek aanwend word aangedui, insluitend deelnemende-waarneming, semi-gestruktureerde vraelyste, gestruktureerde vraelyste, en dokumentontleding. 'n Sosiale geskiedenis van Suid-Afrikaanse gemeentes dui aan dat die ideaal van gemengdheid van die begin gehuldig is, maar in die praktyk verdwyn het onder aanslag van sekere faktore. 'n Paar studies van gemengde gemeentes word bespreek, en bondige opsommings van verskeie gemengde gemeentes in die VSA en Suid-Afrika verskaf. Drie Johannesburgse gemeentes word bekendgestel, insluitend Johweto, 'n onafhanklike charismatiese kerk wat in die swart stad Soweto byeenkom; St Francis Xavier, 'n Rooms Katolieke kerk op die grens van bruin en wit voorstede in westelike Johannesburg; en Central Methodist Mission, 'n Protestantse kerk in die middestad. Die insigte van die kontemporere navorsing word aangewend in 'n sosiaal-wetenskaplike rekonstruksie van die sosiale wereld van toepaslike Nuwe Testament-tekste. Die doelwit is om die rol van etnisiteit in die ontstaan en funksionering van vroee Christelike gemeentes te ontdek, en om aan te dui of etnies gemengde gemeentes normatief was. Ek stel 'n teorie voor oor die gevolge van etnies-kulturele faktore vir Pauliniese gemeentes tussen 30 en 70 n.C. Ek sluit af met 'n opsomming van die teoretiese en praktiese implikasies van die navorsingsresultate, en 'n evaluasie van doelwitte en metodes. Praktiese antwoorde word aangedui op algemene vraagstukke rondom die vorming van gemengde gemeentes. 'n Teorie word voorgestel oor die invloede van sosiale faktore op die ontstaan van sulke kerke, en 'n dinamiese model van onstaansfaktore opgestel. Ek stel ook drie tipes gemengde kerke voor na aanleiding van die prosesse waardeur hulle gevorm word: kontekstueel, inklusief, of doelbewus. Die tipes word evalueer as ontstaans-strategiee, en 'n twee-vlak tipologie in terme van interne organisasie word voorgestel. Die tipes word bespreek met verwysing na voorbeelde van gemeentes in die VSA en Suid-Afrika. Homogene en gemengde gemeentes word evalueer in teologiese, sosiale, en politiese terme, en ek dui aan waarom gemengde gemeentes verkieslik is. 'n Oorkoepelende teorie oor die ontstaan en funksionering van gemengde gemeentes word ter tafel gebring. Assimilasie word gesien as bydraende faktor, wat aan bande gele word tot die mate waartoe anti-status quo en multikulturele strategiee aangewend word binne 'n gemengde kerk.

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Staub, David. "Soziale Trinität für soziale online Netzwerke : ein Beitrag zur Bedeutung des Glaubens an die soziale Trinität als Inspiration und Ressource für ein erfüllendes zwischenmenschliches Zusammenleben im Kontext sozialer Online-netzwerke." Diss., 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/10564.

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Diese Forschungsarbeit versucht aufzuzeigen, inwiefern der Glaube an die Trinität als Gemeinschaft von Vater, Sohn und Heiligem Geist zu einem erfüllenden zwischenmenschlichen Zusammenleben in sozialen Online-Netzwerken beitragen kann. Im Gespräch mit den drei Theologen Jürgen Moltmann, Leonardo Boff und Gisbert Greshake wird das Konzept der Sozialen Trinität mit seinen Implikationen für das zwischenmenschliche Zusammenleben erarbeitet. In einem zweiten Teil werden die neuen Möglichkeiten von sozialen Online- Netzwerken und die deutlichsten damit verbundenen Mängel für das zwischenmenschliche Zusammenleben am Beispiel von Facebook dargestellt. Schlussendlich wird danach gefragt, inwiefern die Erkenntnisse aus der theologischen Diskussion für den spezifischen Kontext sozialer Online-Netzwerke fruchtbar gemacht werden können. Es werden drei unterschiedliche Aspekte herausgearbeitet, in denen der Glaubende durch das Eingebundensein in die göttliche Gemeinschaft eine neue Sicht auf seinen sozialen Kontext erhalten und eine hilfreiche Ressource finden kann, um den Unzulänglichkeiten des zwischenmenschlichen Zusammenlebens in sozialen Online-Netzwerken entgegenzuwirken.
This thesis wishes to demonstrate in how far faith in the Trinity as community of Father, Son and Holy Spirit can contribute to a fulfilling human communal life on social networking sites. In conversation with the three theologians Jürgen Moltmann, Leonardo Boff and Gisbert Greshake, a concept of the Social Trinity and its implications on human communal life is being elaborated. In a second part, the new possibilities and the gravest shortcomings of human interactions on Facebook are depicted. Finally, it is asked, in how far the findings of the theological discussion can be fructified in the specific context of social networking sites. In three different aspects it will be elaborated, in which the believer can find, through his or her incorporation into the godly community, a new perspective for his social context and a helpful resource to counter the shortcomings of human communal life on social networking sites.
Philosophy & Systematic Theology
M. Th. (Systematic Theology)

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Chaison, Angelic Denise 1977. "Religious internalization, church-based social support, and religious copin g in adult Christians." 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/2152/18083.

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Research has shown that religious coping is one of the strongest predictors of psychological adjustment and event-related outcomes to stressful situations among religious individuals. However, little is known about what prompts a person to engage in various coping strategies during stressful situations. This dissertation project aims to increase the understanding of different facets of religious life that may contribute to and influence the coping process. To understand better how intrapersonal and interpersonal aspects of one’s faith predict the coping behaviors he or she uses, this study examined the relationships of religious internalization and church-based social support with both religious and nonreligious coping. In the first phase of the project, 206 adult Christians responded to quantitative questionnaires about religious internalization, church-based social support, and coping. In the second phase, interviews were conducted with 10 individuals who completed the quantitative questionnaires in phase 1. Generally, it was hypothesized that (1) identified vs. introjected religious internalization and (2) church-based social support would predict religious and nonreligious coping among religious individuals. As expected, identified and introjected religious internalization styles were predictive of positive and negative religious coping, respectively. Identified religious internalization also predicted restraint coping (an aspect of nonreligious problem-focused coping) as expected; however, it failed to predict planning coping (an aspect of nonreligious problem-focused coping). Spiritual support predicted positive religious coping as expected; however it failed to predict restraint and planning coping. Contrary to predictions, emotional support from members of one’s congregation and emotional support from one’s pastor did not predict focus on and venting of emotions. Implications are discussed. It is hoped that the findings will provide insights that clinicians, counselors, and religious leaders will find valuable in assessing the needs and strengths of religious individuals and in fostering their care and growth.
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Alokwu, Cyprian Obiora. "The Anglican church, environment and poverty : constructing a Nigerian indigenous oikotheology." Thesis, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/424.

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This research proposes a Nigerian indigenous oikotheology to assist the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) better meet the challenges of the “double earth crisis” of poverty and environmental degradation. The thesis begins by arguing that the crisis of poverty and the crisis of ecology are inextricably linked. It does this by examining the situation globally, in Africa and in Nigeria. It argues that for the church to be able to articulate the needed theological paradigm in response to the “double earth crisis”, it is important that it is adequately informed and equipped with environmental knowledge as well as the dynamics of the global capitalist system and its hegemonic influences. This understanding is imperative because these affect the environment and poverty nexus. The thesis then examines the response of the Anglican Church to the environment and poverty by situating this within the wider biblical, Christian and ecumenical history, and the history of the Anglican Church itself. It then looks at the Anglican Church in Nigeria by investigating the engagement of the three Anglican Dioceses in Anambra State (Nigeria) in environment and poverty issues. It also investigates the understanding of the diocesan clergy on these issues. Findings from the research field work indicate that a majority of the clergy exhibited an appreciable level of environmental awareness contrary to the hypothesis of the study. However, this knowledge is a “paper knowledge” because of its heavy reliance on the ‘traditional’ view of understanding of the environment. Thus it creates a huge gap between theoretical knowledge and practical commitment on the part of the dioceses. Collective will and practical commitment which are vital for the church’s engagement in poverty and environment issues are therefore lacking, and this leads to the church’s difficulty in significantly living up to its environmental responsibility in practical ways. In responding to the identified gap, the thesis examines ‘four generations’ of ecological motifs in theology, namely, dominion, stewardship, eco-theology and oikotheology. Oikotheology is an attempt to strengthen the weaknesses in the Christian ecological thoughts (from dominion to ecotheology) and hence provide an eco-theological framework that will engender commitment and action. However, because of the challenges with which Oikotheology grapples (strong eschatological influences and inaccessibility to African culture), it could not achieve this aim in the Nigerian setting. In a continued search for an eco-theological framework that is more African, the study articulates the synthesis of Oikotheology and African indigenous ecological ethics (a fifth generation) as a theological framework which would uniquely appeal to African Christianity in its attempt to collaborate with other disciplines in addressing the challenges of the environment and poverty in Africa and the world. Key to this synthesis is an examination of Nigerian Igbo proverbs-the egbe belu precautionary principle and onye aghana nwa nne ya in particular, and the African cosmology in general. This synthesis, considered in our opinion as Africa’s gift to humanity and Christendom, will no doubt significantly contribute to the global discussion on the current double earth crisis of environment and poverty. The thesis concludes with a series of practical suggestions including among others the formation of a National Commission on the environment by the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) as a way of fostering environmental education.
Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2009.

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Wilson, Jason Mark. "Development, shalom, and sport : a biblical perspective." Thesis, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/1748.

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This paper examines the following three concepts: development, shalom and sport. It is the findings of this paper that a holistic understanding of the Biblical concept of shalom, provides an appropriate, Christian premise for examining existing development initiatives and for informing intended development praxis. Furthermore the paper argues that sport is a morally neutral activity, which can have positive influences for society, and is a very effective tool that can be used to pursue a shalom-informed form of development. This is true, regardless of the fact that sport can often be corrupted with negative results. Finally, sport can aid the church in many ways. In particular, sport is a constructive tool for the church to use with regard to friendship-building, cross-cultural relations and church unity. Furthermore, since the church is a major player in the field of development, when the church uses sport to accomplish the above, development is enhanced. Also, the church can help be a moral voice to the areas of sport that are corrupt and it can support initiatives that provide preventative incentives to negative elements within society.
Thesis (M.Th.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005.

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Els, Melette. "Alternatiewe realiteite oor "gestremdheid": 'n pastoraal-narratiewe studie saam met ouers van meervoudig-"gestremde" kinders." Diss., 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/2394.

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Text in Afrikaans
This pastoral-narrative study pans the stories of multi disabled children's parents for story elements and account resources that lead to the development of alternative realities on the dominant reality of "disability". With a postmodern epistemology and postmodern theological background this study was performed with a qualitative narrative research approach. In this study the stories of eight multi "disabled children's parents are utilized. Story elements and account resources from social structures and existence are highlighted and discussed. Examples of this are family, circle of friends, hope and parental love. The account of this study underlines the value that alternative realities on the dominant reality of "disability" can add to the quality on how people experience life. It also services as prove of people's riches of inner power and resilience.
Practical Theology
M.Th.

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Dortzbach, Karl Gray. "Wholeness and healing in community : toward understanding effective African church interventions following community violence." Thesis, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/28999.

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Wholeness and Healing In Community is a study that seeks to understand what are the effective interventions, which the African church has made and is able to make in bringing healing to a community gripped by violent conflict. In this study it is assumed that the church is an existent and potentially effective institution with infrastructure that stretches from the smallest community to an international web. In the midst of Africa's social, political, and economic turmoil there lie both causes and consequences, which are the brokenness of body and mind, emotions and choices. This woundedness, which is both individual and collective, needs to be made whole or the next generations are likely to continue a cycle of violence, hate and mistrust. The biblical concept of shalom is developed and used as the vision toward which interventions must attempt to move. The qualitative methodology and process of this work sought to not only study church interventions but to assist in the transformation of church leader thinking about their role. This study has three primary strands: 1) the individual background and experiences of the researcher who has spent nearly thirty years in the midst of conflict on the African continent, 2) a literature review that surveys literature from several disciplines and, 3) a field research. The field research consisted in the filming (or securing already made films) of nine situations in which there was a claim made that community healing had either occurred or had been assisted through a specific set of interventions. The film from these nine situations in five countries (eight in Africa) were then edited into nine 15-30 minute film documentaries which were screened in their entirety to four different focus groups of African church leaders for their evaluation and reflection. Their evaluations are reported and evaluated in this study. In order to comprehend the study and its findings, it is strongly recommended that the films be viewed even though they are summarized here in written form. A list of effective interventions is the outcome of this study. This is perhaps the most comprehensive listing of holistic healing interventions. A potential use for this catalogue is suggested. It is recommended for church leaders as well as Non Governmental Organizations, which seek to work in situations of violence on the African continent.
Thesis (PhD (Science of Religion and Missiology))--University of Pretoria, 2006.
Science of Religion and Missiology
unrestricted

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"「醫治」和「整全」: 救恩對愛滋病患者的意義." 2005. http://library.cuhk.edu.hk/record=b5893229.

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何燕輝.
"2005年5月".
論文(神(道)學碩士)--香港中文大學, 2005.
參考文獻(leaves 65-70).
"2005 nian 5 yue".
Abstract also in English.
He Yanhui.
Lun wen (Shen (dao) xue shuo shi)--Xianggang Zhong wen da xue, 2005.
Can kao wen xian (leaves 65-70).
Chapter 第一章 --- 導論 --- p.1
Chapter 1.1 --- 硏究動機
Chapter 1.2 --- 硏究目的及方法
Chapter 1.3 --- 硏究限制
Chapter 1.4 --- 致謝
Chapter 第二章 --- 愛滋病在世界的情況和教會的迴響 --- p.5
Chapter 2.1 --- 早期愛滋病在世界肆虐的情況
Chapter 2.2 --- 英國社會對愛滋病的態度
Chapter 2.3 --- 美國社會對愛滋病的態度
Chapter 2.4 --- 普世合一教會對愛滋病的態度
Chapter 2.4.1 --- 對世界各組織的影響
Chapter 2.4.2 --- 對信仰作出神學反省
Chapter 2.4.3 --- 對世界各宗派和教會的影響
Chapter 2.4.5 --- 對各宗派和教會以愛滋病的反省
Chapter 2.5 --- 小結
Chapter 第三章 --- 愛滋病在香港社會的情況和造成的迴響 --- p.12
Chapter 3.1 --- 愛滋病患者的感受
Chapter 3.2 --- 愛滋病被標籤
Chapter 3.2.1 --- 社會禁忌的產生
Chapter 3.3 --- 愛滋病對社會意識文化造成的影響
Chapter 3.4 --- 愛滋病對社會制度造成的影響
Chapter 3.5 --- 對愛滋病患者個人造成的影響
Chapter 3.6 --- 香港教會的態度對愛滋病患者的影響
Chapter 3.7 --- 小結
Chapter 第四章 --- 社會對愛滋病及病患者的理解和影響 --- p.21
Chapter 4.1 --- 愛滋病患者的感受
Chapter 4.2 --- 愛滋病被標籤
Chapter 4.2.1 --- 社會禁忌的產生
Chapter 4.3 --- 愛滋病對社會意識文化造成的影響
Chapter 4.4 --- 愛滋病對社會制度造成的影響
Chapter 4.5 --- 對愛滋病患者個人造成的影響
Chapter 4.6 --- 香港教會的態度對愛滋病患者的影響
Chapter 4.7 --- 小結
Chapter 第五章 --- 反思救恩的意義與愛滋病患者的關係 --- p.30
Chapter 5.1 --- 從「犧牲」和「贖罪」理解「救恩」對個人層面的意義
Chapter 5.2 --- 反思「犧牲」和「贖罪」理解的「救恩」與愛滋病患者的處境
Chapter 5.3 --- 「經典」救恩觀中「勝利的基督」的意義
Chapter 5.4 --- 從「醫治」和「整全」的向度理解「經典」救恩對個人層面的意義
Chapter 5.4.1 --- 「醫治」在救恩中對個人層面的意義
Chapter 5.4.2 --- 「整全」在救恩中對個人層面的意義
Chapter 5.4.3 --- 救恩與上主國來臨的關係
Chapter 5.4.4 --- 小結
Chapter 5.5 --- 從「醫治」和「整全」理解「經典」救恩對群體層面的意義
Chapter 5.6 --- 反思救恩如何回應受訪愛滋病患者的真實需要
Chapter 第六章 --- 「醫治」和「整全」的救恩觀與愛滋病患者之關聯 --- p.42
Chapter 6.1 --- 帶有「醫治」和「整全」救恩的特性
Chapter 6.2 --- 愛滋病患者個的「疾病」
Chapter 6.3 --- 從「醫治」和「整全」的救恩去看愛滋病患者個人的「疾病」
Chapter 6.3.1 --- 「成爲上主」的意思
Chapter 6.3.2 --- 「成爲上主」對愛滋病患者個人的「醫治」
Chapter 6.4 --- 社會意識文化的「疾病」
Chapter 6.5. --- 從「醫治」和「整全」的救恩去看社會意識文化的「疾病」
Chapter 6.6 --- 社會制度的「疾病」
Chapter 6.7 --- 從「醫治」和「整全」的救恩去看社會制度的「疾病」
Chapter 6.7.1 --- 上主國來臨對更新社會制度的「醫治」
Chapter 6.8 --- 從「醫治」和「整全」的救恩看教會的使命
Chapter 第七章 --- 總結 --- p.59
附件（一）至（四） --- p.60
參考書目

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34

Owino, Kennedy Onyango. "Examining the social, religious and cultural discourses on "maleness" and its possible influence on domestic violence in South Africa: A critique of some expressions of evangelical theology." Thesis, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/68.

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My journey in writing this dissertation has been both intellectually and emotionally challenging keeping in mind firstly that I am a male scholar (an “outsider”) responding to issues related to maleness, the abuse and oppression of women. Secondly, that I have a personal “sacred story” of the effects of abuse and violence in the home where I grew up; and thirdly, that am strongly a conservative evangelical by faith. However, these three aspects interplay in contributing to my motivation of seeking for a mended world especially for professing Christian women within the evangelical context. The focus of this study is: Examining the social, religious and cultural discourses on “maleness” and its possible influence on domestic violence in South Africa: A critique of some expressions of evangelical theology. The study argues that the predominant social, religious and cultural discourses portray some expressions of evangelical theology. It maintains that our distorted perceptions of God (how we have imagined God as “male”)—hence maleness, has influenced male paradigm of domination among partners. As a result, this has possibly influenced and contributed to domestic violence (DV), abuse and oppression of women within some evangelical context in South Africa. Hence, the prevalence of abuse and oppression of women in the evangelical context, the battle for the humanity and dignity of women as human beings created in God’s image and that female and male are equal in God are motivations that made me pursue this study. Having evaluated the theology and the inherited evangelical traditions, it becomes certain that transformative praxis that counteracts abusive and oppressive ideologies against women among evangelicals is imperative. To achieve this, the study has used an already published case study on interviews conducted among Christian women in the Full Gospel Church (FGC) in Phoenix, Durban. This has been used to facilitate theological observations. In seeking to answer its research question the dissertation examines and critiques the predominant discourses portrayed as some expressions of evangelical theology in chapters four, five and six as analysed from the said case study. The study achieves this purpose by engaging a theological reflection as its methodology through applying a “feminist theology of praxis” as its theoretical framework. Hence, the study proposes alternative evangelical theological discourses and resources for transformative praxis as its focus. The findings are tentative and require future empirical research. Arguing that “Theological statements contain as much truth as they deliver practically in transforming reality” (Sölle quoted in Ackermann 1996:42), the dissertation concludes with addressing the implications of this study by proposing practical ways for transforming men, aiming at deconstructing abusive and oppressive male paradigms.
Thesis (M.Th.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2009.

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Lumwe, Sabina Kihiyo. "The plight of unwed mothers : a critical study of the social and spiritual repercussions for unwed mothers with reference to Makorora Lutheran Parish in the Tanga District of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania North-Eastern Diocese (ELCT-NED)." Thesis, 1998. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/5980.

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Premarital pregnancies resulting in unwed mothers is a problem within the church and in society. My hypothesis is that this plight of unwed mothers is not the sole responsibility of the girls but rather the result of lack of education of the church and the society. Therefore the main objectives of the research is to investigate. Firstly, to highlight the plight which unwed mothers receive from the Church and Society. Secondly, to conscientize the Church and the society as to the severity of the problem and its future implications. Thirdly, to challenge the Church not only to rethink its present stand as regards discipline, but to seek ways and means to alleviate the problem of teenage pregnancies. Fourthly, to sensitise all involved in the problem. An overview of literature and interviews was used to arrive at a broader appreciation of the root causes of being unwed mother. In depth interview with a small sample of unwed mothers were interviewed in order to document individual case studies. Church leaders, parents and other Youths were also interviewed. The research has found out that there are various factors that lead young women to bear children out of wedlock. Usually, those young Unwed mothers face severe consequences which impact negatively on themselves, their families, their children and the Church. To heal their painful experiences, unwed mother is last resort is to seek relief from the Church. The current Church practice is to put these unwed mothers under Church discipline. This research challenges the Church attitude and instead recommend several practical coping strategies to assist the unwed mothers and to alleviate the problem. These strategies include pastoral counselling and care, educational activities such as organisation of educational seminars and workshops and the publication of youth magazines in order to educate young people and society on his matter.
Thesis (M.Theol.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1998.

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Quinn, Lorna. "A narrative pastoral exploration into women's and men's experiences of patriarchy within business context." Diss., 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/1635.

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This exploration involves the influence of a system of patriarchy on both women and men in an inclusive way within business context. The work attempts to move away from dualisms that stereotypically define gender according to patriarchy. The challenge of this work is to find ways of describing women and men that is less defined by gender and more about our similarities as human beings. It has been suggested in the research that the business environment is still a male dominated environment. It is therefore the intention of this work to encourage ways of defining ourselves that one person does not hold benefit one over another in an abusive way. As the system of patriarchy has been endorsed by the church, the research considers how the pastoral therapist may be relevant to the business environment.
Practical Theology
M. Th - Specialising in Pastoral Therapy

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37

Warmback, Andrew Edward. "Constructing an oikotheology : the environment, poverty and the church in South Africa." Thesis, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/1753.

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South Africa is a country of great natural resources yet suffers from high levels of poverty. This study looks at the relationship between the environment and poverty in South Africa and the role of the church in this context. There is a focus on the Church of the Province of Southern Africa (CPSA) and on one of its dioceses, the Diocese of Umzimvubu. While the church in South Africa has been conscious of its responsibility in eradicating poverty, it has not expressed a strong concern for the environment, less still has it been conscious that this concern is closely connected to the task of eradicating poverty. The metaphor of the oikos (or household) of God is explored as a metaphor that may be usefully employed to help describe the relationship between the environment and poverty. It is proposed that an oikotheology be constructed to enable the church to engage with both the ecological and the economic aspects of the environment. This study asserts that the preservation and enhancement of the environment impacts positively on the alleviation of poverty. What is also needed, and often neglected, is to ensure that the resources of the environment are accessible to all and equitably distributed. Theological resources that articulate an oikotheology for the South African context are explored, and possible actions for the church promoted.
Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005.

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Sigaba, Avis Lumka. "A marriage enrichment programme : a study of the proposed contribution of a modern pastoral care and counselling model to urbanised Xhosa communities with special reference to the congregants at Umtata Methodist Church, Eastern Cape." Thesis, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/3359.

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This study was done to explore how modern Pastoral Care and Counselling models could be in dialogue with some valuable Xhosa traditional practices in the urbanised context around Umtata in the Eastern Cape. The intention is to provide a marriage enrichment programme to the congregants of the Methodist Church in this region. This has been offered in response to increase in the rate of divorce, separation and emotional distress experienced by many couples in the area. Chapter one offers the methodological framework for the entire theoretical and practical study. The second chapter explores various concepts of the family systems theory with particular focus on Murray Bowen's systems theory. This should bring forth a clear understanding of behavioural patterns which manifest in marriage when the system loses equilibrium. Grounded in the family systems theory is the concept of normal family processes. The third chapter looks into the understanding of normal family processes as brought across by various American authors. The chapter takes the interpretation further by looking into normal family processes in the original Xhosa cultural communities. The reason for the exercise is to bring awareness about what is normal before one can address what is abnormal. This is for widening the horizons so that what is culturally normal should not be labelled as abnormal. The fourth chapter prepares groundwork for the establishment of intervention and counselling strategies specifically within the Xhosa communities around Umtata. This chapter is field work done through interviews so as to gain an awareness about what the people of this region presently think, feel and say about marriage and family life experiences. The fifth chapter looks into the minister's uniqueness in marriage enrichment in comparison with his or her colleagues in medical, social work and family therapy or psychotherapy fields. A theological exploration is dealt with in the sixth chapter with a view to contend with biblical principles applicable to marriage. Chapter seven discusses a training model for a lay team of twelve members to promote the concept of the priesthood of all believers. The views of authors like Switzer, Clinebell, Colilns, Herbert Otto and others are consulted and opened to dialogue with Xhosa Traditional practices offered by oral sources. Chapter eight focuses on premarital education. Within this eduGative counselling, a hand-out on marriage contracts is prepared in both English and the vernacular language. Interdisciplinary work has been included through the engagement of resource personnel from the medical, financial and legal fields. Chapter nine actually presents the Marriage Enrichment Programme in a workshop form. Within the programme, theoretical and practical work is done in contextual bible study, communication and conflict resolution exercises as well as conscietisation about valuable Xhosa traditional marriage practices. The contextual model on marriage enrichment is offered to a group of forty-four congregants. The evaluation forms provide a positive result of this marriage enrichment model. The results express a need to address marital problems in our communities. This does give support to the Hypothesis that was tested. Modern pastoral care and counselling models can be adapted to traditional context with positive results. Lay involvement promotes maximum participation of the People of God in care giving. However, further results will be achieved with more workshops or retreats. More effectiveness will also come with the training of more lay teams. This demands large sampling in lay training, more interviewing and more involvement of the rural community elders for more information on traditional practices.
Thesis (M.Th.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2000

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39

Masengwe, Gift. "The church's role in social healing and reconciliation in Zimbabwe : an analysis of reconciliation in the National Vision Discussion Document of the churches of Zimbabwe." Thesis, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/207.

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The study focuses on the National Vision Discussion Document (NVDD) from Zimbabwe, and is a reflection of the need for, and the churches’ approach to, reconciliation in Zimbabwe. The analysis of the social context in which the NVDD was written sets the tone for this study, and provides the basis for discussing and constructing a deeper theology of reconciliation in Zimbabwe. Two criticisms of the NVDD are advanced, namely, the lack for a critical social analysis, and a weak theological reflection. In responding to the first criticism, the study undertakes a detailed analysis of three key areas of enmity, namely, the ethnic conflicts between the Shona and Ndebele, the racial conflicts between white and black centered on land, and the political conflicts between ZANU-PF and civil society and the MDC. In responding to the second criticisms, the theology is deepened through an examination of Miroslav Volf’s, Exclusion and Embrace, John de Gruchy’s, Reconciliation: Restoring Justice, the Kairos Document and the Belhar Confession. Reconciliation was seen to lie at the edge of two parallel truths; justice and forgiveness; truth and reconciliation. In conclusion, the study established the basis for a deeper theology of reconciliation, by focusing on three key areas: social dynamics, theological reflection, and practical and logistical steps to national reconciliation. For a deeper theology of reconciliation, seven levels for reconciliation were suggested: individual, social, cultural, institutional, political, theological and religious. From these seven levels, two strategies for the practice of reconciliation were suggested: ecumenical and strategic partnerships. It should be noted that events in Zimbabwe continue to progress at a rapid rate and the social context changes from week to week. However, these current events suggest that the study remains relevant for national reconciliation and theological praxis because of the abiding issues of conflict that cry out for reconciliation.
Thesis (M.Th.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2008.

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Chetty, Sybil. "Women, leprosy and Jesus feminist reconstruction in the context of women with HIV-AIDS in South Africa." Thesis, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/3970.

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Leprosy in biblical times was a stigmatised skin disease. It was not an easily recognisable skin disease because any skin disease was suspected of being leprosy . However leprosy as a skin disease could not be hidden , because it showed quite easily . People who had contracted leprosy were considered impure and unclean and were cast out of society. Today however, we have a cure for people with leprosy and it is not considered a terminal disease. However, we have indeed an incurable disease, namely AIDS. My question is, how do we consider people with AIDS today, especially women. Are they being treated as unclean, even though we cannot see the disease, or are they also the outcasts of our society today? My guess is that women are the victims today, as much as they were in biblical times, rather than the perpetrators. Women living with AIDS today is what motivated me to investigate the ancient biblical times to see how women at that time coped with an incurable disease in a society that treated them as outcasts. Thus , my study will focus on women with leprosy in ancient biblical times , but also will include a section on women with AIDS today for the sake of relevance.
Thesis (M.Th.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.

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Mbona, Michael. "The response of the Roman Catholic, Anglican and United Methodist churches to HIV and AIDS in Manicaland, Zimbabwe (1985-2007)." Thesis, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/9311.

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This study focuses on the history of the Roman Catholic, Anglican and United Methodist churches reaction to HIV and AIDS in Manicaland province, Zimbabwe between 1985 and 2005. It attempts to document and analyse what the three so called ‗mainline‘ churches did and failed to do in responding to a new epidemic. The findings that culminated in this work were obtained mainly from primary written and oral sources that were collected between 2009 and 2011. These comprise oral testimonies of Christians from the Roman Catholic, Anglican and United Methodist churches including bishops and lay members of the churches. In addition, information from medical personnel serving at the churches‘ healthcare as well as that from officers serving in the National AIDS Council (NAC) and the Zimbabwe Association of Church-Related Hospitals (ZACH) were incorporated. Primary written sources include statements issued by the church leaders, the synod and annual conference resolutions, the minutes of parish council meetings, the ad clerums, reports by the church HIV and AIDS structures among others. The study establishes that HIV and AIDS, which emerged in Zimbabwe in the early 1980s, definitely affected the church and also seeks to show that the churches‘ reactions in turn had an influence on the epidemic. The state came out to publicly acknowledge AIDS in Zimbabwe in 1985 and two years later the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops‘ Conference became the first ecclesiastical body to issue a statement on HIV and AIDS in 1987. In 1989 the churches issued a collective statement under the Heads of Christian Denominations (HOCD) in Zimbabwe, which publicised their views on the Christian response to AIDS. The messages were largely moralistic in nature and the churches maintained this stance throughout the period of study. However, it has also been established that the church healthcare centres were involved in accessing condoms to people living with HIV (PLHIV) and other members of the public. Throughout the twenty-two years covered by this study the church healthcare system made an impact on the epidemic through offering treatment to PLHIV. The input of the church healthcare system underwent a three phased evolutionary process: the complementary stage between 1985 and 1994, the church paralleling of the state healthcare system from 1995 to 1999, and replacement of the responsibility of the government in healthcare between 2000 and 2007. Generally, the responses have been subdivided into three phases, which were the early years: from 1985 to 1994, the middle years lasting between 1995 and 1999 and finally the later years falling between 2000 and 2007. The individual churches appear to have been involved in responding to HIV and AIDS with the same motive of serving humanity starting with their followers and moving beyond. Within the Roman Catholic Church the intervention such as care of PLHIV and orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) became a national and diocesan priority that witnessed the birth of the Mutare Community Home Care project in 1992. The new initiative grew stronger over the years and expanded from nine to nineteen stations covering the province. The Anglican Church launched its institutional AIDS care initiatives between 1999 and 2006. The main thrust was on training of Anglicans in responding to the epidemic and the establishment of AIDS care and treatment centres in selected rural areas. Within the United Methodist Church, the thrust was on care of orphans and vulnerable children and home-care at the station, circuit and annual conference levels. All the three churches received donor funding for HIV and AIDS interventions and this became important at a time when the state healthcare and welfare systems were unable to provide care and support to people infected and affected by the epidemic. The study argues that indeed HIV and AIDS like other earlier epidemics such as Black Death in Europe and influenza in Southern Africa is a historical phenomenon which received mixed responses from the community including Christians. It brought to light some of the negative reactions such as denial, stigma and discrimination and yet the epidemic also drew in Christian communities, individuals and institutions to show compassion by caring for people affected and infected by HIV and AIDS. At the institutional level bishops were in a dilemma of maintaining the moral teaching of the church on sexuality and yet they were also expected to be flexible in finding practical ways of preventing HIV. There were other dynamics such as culture, which prevented people from using condoms. The church followers made a very essential contribution in mitigating the effects of the epidemic by being the army of caregivers to people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS. Despite their unique dedication to caring for AIDS clients, women were the most affected by the epidemic because of the patriarchal nature of the churches and the cultural perceptions of gender and sexuality. It is hoped that the churches will draw on this history to shape future HIV and AIDS interventions.
Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.

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Nyakuwa, Paradzai. "An exploration of the role played by heads of interdenominations in post-colonial Zimbabwe : from 1999-2014 : liberation, reconciliation and national healing perspective." Thesis, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/25918.

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As a nation, there is need for Zimbabwe to deal with its past in order to liberate itself emotionally, socially and economically. Post-colonial Zimbabwe has seen an end to colonial rule but ironically, its over three decades into independence and Zimbabweans are not free. The country is drowning in neo-colonial home grown oppression. Although there is black rule in Zimbabwe, we are seeing emergent black elite who are a minority and the majority poor becoming poorer and poorer. Moreover, for a many years now, there have been many reported political violence cases in Zimbabwe. This study has highlighted that, there are many tragic and unfortunate circumstances of Zimbabwe’s historical experiences that need redressing. Previous studies have tried to generalise issues of justice and reconciliation in Zimbabwe probably because of political fears but this study has tried to unveil these issues. If ever authentic liberation, reconciliation and national healing are to be achieved, there must be an accountability of all criminals. Platforms must be provided for the purposes of telling the truth as what South Africans did through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRCs). In many cases, psychological healing and closure is achieved if victims of political violence are given the platform to narrate their experiences without anyone judging them. A socio-economy-political approach was used in this study in seeing the contribution made by the Heads of Christian Denominations in Zimbabwe in addressing political issues bedevilling the Zimbabwean populace. The study argued from the model that the Church has to be an eye for the blind, a voice for the marginalised and the poor, a guide for the illiterate and a shield for the morally, socially and politically coerced. The Christian community should be in a position to advocate for justice and obedience just like what Amos and other eighth century prophets did in the Old Testament. This is a vital code of social ethics that deals with life and welfare of the world.
Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology
D. Th. (Systematic Theology)

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43

McKenzie, Barbara Burkett. ""Some of the women amazed us" : discoveries through dialogue regarding women in Christian leadership." Thesis, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/12784.

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During my years in Christian education, I became fascinated by the fact that few women participated in levels of visible leadership especially in light of the women's movement in the broader society. Women had always been active in church life, perhaps, more so than men. If societal barriers were falling for women, why were women not in visible leadership positions in the church? This study uses a series of in-depth interviews based on a phenomenological approach to determine what specific factors in the lives of women who serve as Christian leaders either helped or hindered them in their pilgrimage. Eight women were interviewed to discover their life experiences and three men to discern their perspectives. As the eleven interviews were reviewed and analyzed, I read secular and Christian literature to find supportive or corroborative information related to the emerging themes. The thesis is presented in two parts: first, an academic preface articulating the process of research and analysis; and second, a study guide developed for women and men in my field of practice, Christian education. Because I am committed to Christian education, I have chosen to develop a study guide to be used for individual or group study. The method, the discoveries, and the presentation share a common theme: the importance of dialogue. Key observations in the study indicate that the factors that helped some women are the same factors that hindered others and that each individual woman's ability to lead is influenced by a complexity of factors. As the study guide develops, each of the factors is discussed as one which helped or hindered the participants. Following the presentations of themes are suggestions for changes, or transformation, with recommendations for further study and possible action by individuals or local churches. Among the participants, the Bible is considered the authoritative word of God and each looked to the Bible for principles and guidelines regarding women in leadership. Based on their respective interpretations of the Bible, some were led by hermeneutic processes to believe that women are to lead alongside men as equal partners; others, however, hold the view that women are not to assume the highest leadership positions. The cultural settings of the participants influenced their leadership. Two factors, patriarchy and feminism, are examined to identify aspects of each which help women in leadership in some cases and hinder in others. Pivotal in the discussion is that each woman's sense of personhood affects her own ability to assume leadership. A woman's identity is seen in view of her relationships to her family, herself, and her God. For many women, pain emerged as a theme growing out of frustrated efforts to pursue leadership faced with institutional opposition. Women are encouraged to lead in many venues of the church, including education and missions. For some women, leadership has been helped by existing policies; for other women, leadership opportunities have been restricted and hindered.

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44

Cunningham, Thomas Frank. "Conflict resolution strategies and the church : the church's role as an agent of social change in the political conflict in South Africa." Thesis, 1996. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/17942.

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Text in English
This dissertation investigates the problem of significance conflict resolution as a meaningful ministry of the Church in ecclesial, social and political conflict. Recognising the fact that conflict has been an experience of humankind since the beginning of time the research focuses on the Church's role in socio-political conflict during the years of the National Party rule in South Africa. A number of theological and practical questions arise from the problem of conflict and its resolution in relation to the Church. The question is raised: does conflict resolution as a concept and strategy have a credible theological content. In order to explore this problem the dissertation first develops a theology of conflict. The theology of conflict forms the basis for a theology of conflict resolution. The thesis is that conflict, inherent in all human experience, is not good or evil. Rather it has the potential for destruction and transformation. It is the transformatory possibility that needs to be promoted. The thesis examines conflict resolution strategies of leading theorists and practitioners and tests them as viable approaches to be adopted by the Church. However it finds that conflict resolution will be accepted as a role of the Church if it can be formulated in convincing theological principles. An analysis of reconciliation and conflict resolution focuses on the way reconciliation is perceived in the political context. It then probes the theological relationship between reconciliation and conflict resolution. Reconciliation is more than conflict resolution. The scope of reconciliation includes (a) the initiative of God, (b) addressing the predicament of alienation, brokenness and distress ( c) through the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus Christ the Mediator (d) who reconciles the universe to God. However, conflict resolution has an indispensable role in the reconciliation process. Through the ministry of conflict resolution the Church facilitates confrontation between individuals or groups and contributes towards transformation in relationships where there is conflict. The thesis then probes the possibilities for conflict resolution to be an integral part of of on-going pastoral ministry in the belief that pro-active conflict resolution is a source of social and ecclesial transformation.
Philosophy, Practical & Systematic Theology
D. Th. (Practical Theology)

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Mathews, Ned Lee 1934. "Toward reestablishing a Christian worldview in a postmodern age." Thesis, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/18165.

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This work is comprised of an Introduction and two Parts. Part One treats, by way of historical review and evaluation, the disestablishment of the Christian worldview in a postmodern age. Part Two proposes the means by whichthe Christian worldview might be reestablished. The reestablishment includes the use of some of the benefits of postmodernism by Christians as well as a return to the responsible reading of texts, especially the biblical text. Part One, The Disestablishment of the Christian Worldview, is composed ofthree chapters. Chapter 1chronicles the change that has occurred in Western culture because of the ascendency of postmodernism. It isbest described as a change in authorityfrom the logocentric metanarrative which has characterized Christianity to the deconstructionist rejection of worldviews by postmodern literary critics. Chapter 2 reviews the paradigm shifts that have occurred in belief systemsthat have occurred in the West as a result of this change,and Chapter 3 shows the effects of all this in the culture's principal institutions. Part Two, The Reestablishment of the Christian Worldview, is also composed of three chapters. Chapter 4 shows the impact that postmodernity has had on the efforts now being made on behalf of reestablishing the Christian worldview as a viable intellectual position in Western culture. Chapter 5 is occupied with the negative and positive responses of certain Christian scholars to the challenge of postmodernism, and Chapter 6 closes the study with an extended treatment of the factors that must be in play for a reestablishment of the Christian worldview to occur in Western civilization.
Philosophy, Practical & Systematic Theology
D. Th. (Theology)

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46

Okyere-Manu, Beatrice Dedaa. "The livelihood challenges posed by the commercial sex industry to Christian concern for poor women in Pietermaritzburg." Thesis, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/3712.

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The genocide of April 1994 left the Rwandan society completely ruined and the survivors totally disoriented with numerous problems ranging from material deprivation to bodily and psychological injuries. As in other conflicts, especially in Africa, women and children were the most affected by the Rwandan genocide; consequently Rwanda has a sizeable number of widows and orphans. After the genocide, Rwanda witnessed an influx of many non-governmental organizations, which came with the aim to help the Rwandans in general, and genocide survivors in particular, as part of a program to put the Rwandan society back on its feet. Rwanda claims to be overwhelmingly a Christian nation, which theoretically gives the Christian community in Rwanda a prominent hand in all efforts of rebuilding the Rwandan society. This work therefore, is a Case Study, which seeks to investigate the role of Christian Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in responding to the needs of genocide widows residing in Kigali-Ville province-Rwanda. The study thus aims to assess efforts of the above-cited Christian NGOs and highlights their success and shortcomings in the light of a Christian model of understanding and responding to human needs. The investigation also surveys the background to the genocide. It focuses on the interpretation of the history of the people of Rwanda, the role impact of the colonial rule and Christian missionaries, and the role of the civil war of early 1990s. The study also investigates the plight of genocide widows from fives angles: economic loss, personal and social relationships, bodily injuries, psychological damage and spiritual welfare. The assessment was carried out through the analysis of the data collected mainly from selected Christian NGOs, genocide widows, churches, and written materials. The paradigm used to critically analyze the response of Christian NGOs has stemmed out of a body of literature that focuses on Christian response to human need, with particular emphasis on the distinctiveness of the Rwandan context. The findings, conclusion, recommendations of this study are of cardinal significance not only to Christian NGOs operating in Kigali-Ville province but also to other groups involved in the ministry to the needy in other parts of Rwanda and beyond her boundaries.
Thesis (M.Th.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005.

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"社會福音與社會服務: 北京青年會個案研究(1909-1949)." 2004. http://library.cuhk.edu.hk/record=b6073870.

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左芙蓉.
論文(哲學博士)--香港中文大學, 2004.
參考文獻 (p. 313-324).
中英文摘要.
Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web.
Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web.
Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest dissertations and theses, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web.
Mode of access: World Wide Web.
Zuo Furong.
Zhong Ying wen zhai yao.
Lun wen (zhe xue bo shi)--Xianggang Zhong wen da xue, 2004.
Can kao wen xian (p. 313-324).

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48

Logan, Ryan Iffland. ""Cuando Actuamos, Actuamos Juntos": Understanding the Intersections of Religion, Activism, and Citizenship within the Latino Community in Indianapolis." Thesis, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/1805/5502.

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Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
Undocumented immigration from Latin America is a heated and divisive topic in United States' politics. Politicians in Washington, D.C. are debating new legislation which would provide a pathway to citizenship for some 11 million undocumented immigrants. While several federal immigration reform bills were debated in the early 2000s, each one failed in either the House of Representatives or in the Senate. The Indianapolis Congregation Action Network (IndyCAN), a grassroots activist group in Indianapolis, is organizing the Latino community through faith and shared political goals. Undocumented Latino immigrants are utilizing IndyCAN as a method to influence progressive policy change. However, anti-immigrant groups challenge these efforts by attempting to define who can be considered an "American" and are attempting to block legislation due to their negative perceptions of Latinos. Debates about citizenship have racial discourses and reveal the embeddedness of race and ethnicity. Despite this, many Latino immigrants are forging their own identities in the United States and are engaging in a political system that refuses to grant them a legal status. Through an enactment of activism called la fe en acción [faith in action], these immigrants ground their political organizing with IndyCAN and attempt to appeal to the religious faith of politicians. I explore issues of race, political engagement, and religion in the lives of Indianapolis’ Latino community. In this case study, I demonstrate that IndyCAN is acting as a vehicle through which undocumented Latino immigrants are engaging in the political process. This political involvement occurs through religious strategies that seem apolitical yet are implicitly an enactment of activism. Ultimately, I reveal how undocumented Latino immigrants in Indianapolis are impacting the political process regardless of their legal status.

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49

Teka, Zeferino. "From guns to dialogue : the role of the church in the democratisation and reconstruction of Angola." Thesis, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/987.

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This study set out to find a concept ual fr amework through which the church can respond to the democratisation process that I Angola has been undergoing since the y ear 2002 . In this regard , the study firstly posi ted that the democratisation process the countr y is undergoing presents an opportunit ~ that Angolans can seize to exorcise the past of war and embark on the d efinition of a new nation al future . Secondly , it posited that the church does possess potential to contribut ~ to the success of the democratisation process and positively influence the shaping of I new Angola . To achieve this aim , the study wa divided in three major parts . The first part surveys Angola's socio-political and econo ic past from the beginning of the civil war in 1975 to its end in the early 2002. This su ey is followed by an analytical discussion which attempts to ascertain the major chal ~enges the past poses to the future. The second part of the study discusses the relationship between democratisation and reconstruction. This discussion revolves around the mea ning and the relevance of democratisation for Angola , involves an evaluation of the fram ework th at is guiding the democratisation process, a I diagnosis of the current prospects of the democratisation process , and an evaluation of the I church's respon se to the process. he last p art of the study outlines the Theology of R e construction as it has been posited in Afric a. It discusses its paradigmatic v alue as well as its relevance to th e current soc io-political context in Angola. The study culminates with reflections on how a Theolo g y of Reconstruction can inform th e r esponse of the church to the democratisation process in Angola and thereby to its reconstruction . I The study found that the pursuit o ~ monopoly b y the incumbent ruling party in Angola and the former armed opposition p o v ement , with the complicity of foreign powers' interference in national affairs, is r he major factor that has fuelled Angola's politico- military conflict in the past. This conflict has brought about destruction and hindered national development. The study al to found that while the democratisation process is on course, there have nevertheless c bntinued to be socio-political chall enges from the country's past. Lastly , the study fo ilind that th e church's response to the democratisation process has been anachronistic . Wh ile it had contextual cohesion in th e era that preceded democratisation , it however proves to be r edundant in the current democratisation and reconstruction challenge that the countr y is faced with. By way of conclusion , th e study su ~gests that the democratisation process that A ngola is currently undergoing is the necess ary stepping-stone for the country to move from the destructi ve past into a process I of national reconstruction. It argues that the democratisation proc ess a vails space for th e creation of legitimate and accountable I political institutions and structures that can det er the absolutist and totalitarian politics of the past. In turn , the stud y suggests ~ prim arily proactive , yet also resistant reconstruction theological framework for a church l response to the democratisation process that Angola is undergoing. This framework is posited in v iew of the current socio-political state of affairs in the country and with a vi I w to a decisive ecclesial influence in the making of a new Angola
Thesis (M.Th.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.

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50

Breidenbach, Roy. "Vereinsamung in der postmodernen Gesellschaft als Herausforderung der Kirche." Diss., 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/1940.

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Text in German
Zusammenfassung Die vorliegende Untersuchung geht von der Beobachtung aus, dass die postmoderne Gesellschaft tendenziell isolierend auf die Menschen wirkt. Demgegenüber wohnt der Kirche ein Gemeinschaftspotential inne, das eine greifbare Alternative für vereinsamte Menschen anbieten kann. Diese Untersuchung stellt nun die zentrale Frage, wie die Kirche ihr gemeinschaftsförderndes Potential effektiver in die Gesellschaft einbringen kann. Hierzu werden zunächst die soziologischen und theologischen Voraussetzungen geklärt, denen dann, anhand einer begrenzten empirischen Studie, praktische Erfahrungen von Menschen mit kirchlicher Gemeinschaft an die Seite gestellt werden. Zuletzt wird die zeitgenössische Gemeindebauliteratur vergleichend herangezogen, um schlussendlich die zentrale Frage dieser Untersuchung mit einigen praktischen Vorgehensvorschlägen zu beantworten. Summary of Dissertation This study has its roots in the observation, that the postmodern society has a tendency to isolate the people. In contrast to this, the church has an inherent potential of community, which can offer a concrete alternative for isolated people. This study now asks the central question, how the church can be enabled to bring their community-promoting potential more effectively into the society. For this, firstly the sociological and theological conditions are clarified, to which then, on the basis of a limited empirical study, practical experiences of people with church community are placed beside. At last, the contemporary literature of church growth is consulted comparatively, in order to finally answer the central question of this study by some practical procedure suggestions.
Practical Theology
M.Th. (Practical Theology)

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Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Social networks – Religious aspects – Christianity'

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