Thesis (Th. M.)--Dallas Theological Seminary, 1985. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf [41]).

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Bibliography: pages 92-95. / Various contemporary Liberation methodologies of Biblical interpretation have generally failed to find a firm enough footage amongst communities of the oppressed. This is so, in spite of the fact that these methodologies are born out of the struggles for liberation of these communities. Most of the people who have a relationship with the Bible, are quite ignorant concerning the human element in the production of the Bible. This ignorance, amongst others, results in a subservient and uncritical approach to the Bible. This is essentially the issue that this thesis wants to address. Chapter one deals with the human origins of both the Old and New Testaments. This is followed by a chapter on methodologies of biblical interpretation. Both in essence seek to highlight and celebrate our humanity by highlighting the human element in our understanding of the Bible. Chapter two also deals with the question of what constitutes a sacred text. Chapter three is a critical reflection on existing Liberation theologies and particularly looks at Liberation theology in Latin America, Black and Prophetic theology in South Africa and Feminist theology. The perception of the Bible which are influenced by these theologies are used in developing a hermeneutical starting point which does not regard the Bible as the absolute and ultimate Word of God, but as a source in the Christian tradition. Chapter four is an attempt to show how the ethos of a denomination influences the way in which people understand the Bible. It is then argued that it is impossible for anybody to follow the Bible literally because of the ways in which various factors such as socio-political, economic, psychological and tradition influence our interpretation of what is read in the Bible. Furthermore, people do not in reality accept the Bible as the absolute Word of God although most seem to claim that it is and Biblical scholars and theologians have this as their hermeneutical starting point. Given these arguments, people do have a special relationship with the Bible and it is a meaningful religious symbol to many who find solace, comfort and direction in it. The Bible must be seen in the context of the community of faith and therefore it must be studied in that context. Any hermeneutics must take the needs and limitations of these communities seriously as Biblical scholars are challenged to be sensitive about the faith of the people for whom the Bible remains a holy and inspirational source, especially if they are victims of oppression. The concluding section challenges Bible study facilitators to question their own hermeneutics in the light of the evidences of this thesis and to see the empowerment of the oppressed as a priority in the presentation of the Bible. This is the underlying issue of importance throughout the thesis, i.e., how the Bible can be appropriated by communities of the oppressed who adhere to the Christian faith, in the struggle for liberation and transformation.

This study examines the seminal thought of a leading Protestant exponent of Latin American liberation theology, Jose Miguez Bonino. It shows that, by a dialectical use of Marxist theory he is able to rediscover a basic and essential Christian understanding of history which requires that Christians be actively engaged in its shaping. Miguez Bonino's choice of the biblical category of the Kingdom of God is examined and is seen to constitute a departure from and an improvement on the conventional model of the Exodus used by most liberation theologians. The Marxist critique of idealism in traditional theology is accepted and serves as a starting point for a revised Christian interpretation of history. The unity of history is traced as originating in the prophetic teaching which linked political happenings with divine sovereignty. The crucial rediscovery of apocalyptic in contemporary European political theology is seen as an important step in the direction taken by Miguez Bonino as is the theological reflection on "thinking in two spheres" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The use which Miguez Bonino makes of the concept of the Kingdom of God to emphasize the eschatological significance of human historical action is also outlined. The Marxist emphasis on human responsibility for historical initiative is taken as the point from which to expound an understanding of the Kingdom of God in which the account of the tension between the present age and the future age in apocalyptic is important as is the contrast between continuity and discontinuity in the Pauline concepts of "body", "Resurrection" and "works". Again, Miguez Bonino's indebtedness to Bonhoeffer, this time in his polarity of the ultimate and penultimate is acknowledged. Miguez Bonino's distinctive exposition of the Kingdom as a call to effective action to articulate Christian love is also examined and compared with other models. Political engagement is seen to require mediations in the form of social analysis, theological interpretation and ideology. Sacralization and fanaticism are avoided by the application of ethical criteria and the submission of the mediations to divine judgement. In this regard Miguez Bonino's preference for Marxism is scrutinized and an alternative suggested.

This thesis arises out of the recognition that Reformed theology in South Africa needs to respond creatively to the challenges of Liberation theology. One of the more pressing areas in which this challenge and response is felt is the area of the Bible and its interpretation, and hence we take as our focus the possibility of a Reformed-Liberation hermeneutic.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Arts in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in the Department of African Languages and Culture at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2014. / This document consists of eight chapters which are as follow: Chapter One : is an introductory part where the establishment and historical background of Lamontville is discussed. It is the general introduction of the research topic where the following topics form part of the research proposal. These include: introduction, statement of research problem, purpose of the study, delimitation of the study, research methodology, beneficiaries of the research, structure of the chapters and conclusion. Chapter Two : is where the term heritage will be defined and discussed at length. The importance of heritage and preservation of history in general will be discussed and data about Lamontville will be collected. Hostels as the first form of accommodation which was available to black workers will be touched upon. Chesterville as well as Baumanville (eKwatasi) will be mentioned. Chapter Three : is where the preservation of history and heritage of Lamontville citizens will be discussed. The researcher will also identify heroes and heroines of Lamontville. These include Cothoza Junerose Nontsikelelo, Dube Msizi, Mkhize Florence, Msimang George, Sithole Dalton Jacob Skhumbuzo and Cynthia Shange. Chapter Four : is where the evolution, growth and development of life of Lamontville into a township will be discussed. The term township will be defined. The researcher will also look at the first houses of Lamontville, sports and recreation and schools. The transport system in Lamontville and administration including community structures of Lamontville as a township will be touched upon. iv Chapter Five : is where health and welfare facilities of Lamanotville will be looked at. The researcher will take a closer look at the Issy Geshen Lamontville Home for the Aged and Thembalethu Care Centre. The importance of social responsibility will be discussed. Chapter Six : is where the researcher will look at the old and new street names in the eThekwini Municipality in general and street names of Lamontville in particular. The objections to new street names will be highlighted. The researcher will also analyse data about houses and schools in Lamontville. Chapter Seven : is where the researcher will look at ways of collecting data as well as interviewees/sources. A naturalistic approach of gathering information will be used. Information will be, therefore be gathered by means of interviews, questionnaires, photographic method and recordings. Chapter Eight : is where the researcher will look at the assumption that those who were involved in the building of the new democratic South Africa should be acknowledged and that such contributions be recorded. The researcher will also recommend that Lamontville should be properly linked to the KwaZulu-Natal liberation heritage route because of the role this township played in building the new South Africa.

Some words difficult to read due to highlighting in thesis. / Abstract Not Provided / Thesis / Master of Arts (MA)

This thesis has two main goals. First, to examine Enrique Dussel’s philosophy of liberation and whether it can meaningfully contribute to intersectional analyses of race and gender. This is important due to problematic charges made against him in the past: that he only centers the voice of men in philosophies of liberation. As such, if his theories are to be taken seriously, they must be scrutinized to see if they are compatible with Black and queer liberation. Another, more pointed goal of the thesis, is to center the voices of marginalized philosophers in contemporary social and political philosophy. Essentially, I am responding to an ivory tower way of thinking about liberation. Ways of thinking about liberation are still lacking in an obvious sense: one way to explore liberation is through the works of prominent academics – however, this way of thinking about liberation is locked in the metaphorical ivory tower, away from the perspectives of folk on the ground. I intend to push social and political philosophy beyond this ivory tower gaze. This thesis is not an attempt to solve all problematics within philosophy of liberation, but it will provide a fruitful way for philosophers to think about liberation with intellectual tools from a marginalized philosopher and folk on the ground. / Thesis / Candidate in Philosophy / This thesis attempts to explain Black and queer liberation utilizing Enrique Dussel’s framework for a philosophy of liberation. By utilizing a framework for liberation created by a marginalized philosopher, I seek to contribute to political philosophy from a perspective beyond the hegemonic ivory tower. In line with Dussel’s work, I propose that if theories of liberation are to be meaningful, they ought to center the marginalized.

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The thesis offers a reappraisal of the process of 'liberation' for homosexual men in France from the events of May 1968 until the onset of the AIDS crisis in 1983. I argue that what we have come to call gay liberation was in fact a complex and contentious process of transformation in the place of homosexual men in French society, a decade marked as much by continuity as it was by change. Gay liberation has been previously understood as a political movement that brought the gay man onto the political stage in spectacular fashion, beginning in the US and sweeping across Western Europe. New political activism is said to have provoked the changes that led to legal equality, culminating in recent marriage legislation. This narrative has solidified into a liberation 'mythology', written mainly by activists themselves, replete with its founding events, language and metaphors. A re-evaluation of the 1970s as a historical moment reveals not the beginning of a triumphant march to equality led by activists, but a transformation in the place of homosexual men in society that contains its own fits and starts, successes and dead ends. The thesis is divided into three parts: Ruptures, continuities and life stories. Part one focuses on aspects of change, the emergence of radical political groups and the burgeoning market catering to gay men. The second part moves to aspects of continuity: the repression of homosexual activity and the persistent stereotyping of homosexuality as the realm of a Parisian literary elite. To close the thesis, part three uses oral history to consider the life stories of men who experienced the period.