The subject of the present dissertation is a critique of feminist hermeneutics and exegesis with special focus on Jesus' approach to women. The dissertation commences with a discussion of the topic's relevance and a disclosure of this interpreter's presuppositions. This is followed by a survey of gender-conscious approaches to interpreting Scripture, including feminism, egalitarianism, and complementarianism. Also discussed are the nature of hermeneutics and relevant New Testament passages. The main body of the dissertation consists of a description and critique of the feminist and egalitarian interpretation of Scripture passages setting forth Jesus' approach to women. Chapter 2 starts with a description and assessment of the contributions by three major proponents of radical feminism, Mary Daly, Virginia Ramey Mollenkott, and Daphne Hampson. This is followed by a discussion of the work of reformist feminists Letty Russell, Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza (including a critique of Fiorenza's reconstruction of the place of women in early Christianity), and Rosemary Radford Ruether. Chapter 2 concludes with a treatment of literary approaches by more recent feminist writers. The discussion of egalitarian literature on Jesus and women in Chapter 3 is divided into three periods: the early years (1966-1986); the maturing movement (1987-1999); and recent contributions (2000-2004). Writers whose work is assessed include Krister Stendahl, Letha Scanzoni and Nancy Hardesty, Paul Jewett, Mary Evans, Ben Witherington, Gilbert Bilezikian, Aida Spencer, Richard Longenecker, Grant Osborne, Ruth Tucker, R. T. France, Stanley Grenz, Linda Belleville, William Webb, and others. The final chapter of the dissertation (Chapter 4) contains a discussion of select exegetical insights from a study of New Testament passages on Jesus' approach to women, a comparison of feminist and egalitarian hermeneutics and exegesis of Jesus and women, a proposal concerning a proper hermeneutic on Jesus and women, and a summary of findings as well as a brief presentation of the dissertation's overall contribution and areas for further dialogue. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / D. Th. (Systematic Theology)

There is without doubt as much criticism of Liberation Theology as there is understanding regarding the need for a theology which seeks answers to the effectiveness of the Christian witness, against a background of mounting poverty, the oppression of woman and continued discrimination by one race against another, worldwide. Many scholars struggle with the revolutionary and often hostile nature and methodology of Liberation Theology. This paper attempts to enter into a conversation between the theology of John Wesley and Liberation Theology. The theology of John Wesley had a tremendous impact on social, political and economic areas of the Eighteenth century England. It was in many ways a revolutionary theology. This paper takes as a standpoint, the need for praxis with regard to Christian witness and therefore seeks to argue that there may be common ground between Wesleyan Theology and Liberation Theology. / Systematic Theology and Theological Ethics / M.Th. (Systematic Teology)

Submitted by Johnny Rodrigues (johnnyrodrigues@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-08-03T17:58:25Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ROBERTO ALMEIDA BITTENCOURT - TESE PPGCC 2012..pdf: 33887570 bytes, checksum: 348d0986ffb03c3554fefac4ab926a5a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-03T17:58:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ROBERTO ALMEIDA BITTENCOURT - TESE PPGCC 2012..pdf: 33887570 bytes, checksum: 348d0986ffb03c3554fefac4ab926a5a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-02-29 / A técnica dos modelos de reflexão é um processo de checagem de conformidade entre visões arquiteturais modulares e implementação que permite prevenir e remediar o envelhecimento de software através do combate à deterioração arquitetural. Contudo, o esforço manual necessário para aplicar a técnica pode terminar evitando seu uso na prática, especialmente no contexto de evolução de software em processos de desenvolvimento leves. Em termos mais específicos, a técnica é custosa para: i) produzir um modelo de alto nível e o mapeamento entre as entidades do código-fonte e este modelo; ii) manter tanto o modelo como o mapeamento atualizados à medida que o software evolui; e Ui) analisar a normalmente longa lista de violações arquiteturais no código fonte. Este trabalho procura habilitar a checagem de conformidade estática de software em evolução através da automação parcial do esforço manual para aplicar a técnica de modelos de reflexão. Para fazê-lo, primeiramente é avaliado o potencial de técnicas de agrupamento para a geração e manutenção de modelos de alto nívei. Também é proposta e avaliada uma técnica de mapeamento incremental entre entidades do código-fonte e modelos de alto nível baseada na combinação da recuperação de informação de vocabulário de software com dependências estruturais. Por fim, uma técnica de priorização baseada na história do software para recomendar as violações arquiteturais no código-fonte mais provavelmente relevantes do ponto de vista dos desenvolvedores de software é relatada e avaliada. Técnicas de agrupamento são avaliadas através de medidas de acurácia e estabilidade. Os resultados para quatro diferentes algoritmos de agrupamento mostram que nenhum deles consegue o melhor desempenho para todas as medidas, e que todos eles apresentam limitações para prover a geração automática de modelos de alto nível. Por outro lado, a avaliação sugere que a etapa de mapeamento da técnica de modelos de reflexão pode ser habilitada pela técnica proposta de mapeamento incremental automático que combina estrutura e vocabulário. Em dois estudos de caso, esta técnica obteve os maiores valores de medidaF em mudanças de código-fonte unitárias, pequenas ou grandes. Finalmente, a avaliação da técnica de priorização de violações mostra que, de cinco fatores estudados, a duração da violação e a co-locação da violação correlacionam bem com a relevância das violações. Os resultados sugerem que estes fatores podem ser usados para ordenar as violações mais provavelmente relevantes, com uma melhoria de pelo menos 57% em relação a uma linhabase de violações selecionadas aleatoriamente. A análise dos resultados sugere que a produção de modelos de alto nível para checagem estática de conformidade arquitetural pode ser auxi'iada por um processo semi-automático de recuperação arquitetural, e, à medida que o software evolui, por técnicas incrementais de agrupamento/mapeamento. Por outro lado, a análise dos resultados para a técnica de priorização sugere a eficácia de uma abordagem automatizada para a recomendação de violações arquiteturais a serem analisadas pelos desenvolvedore: do software. / The refíexion model technique is a static conformance checking technique to keep architecture module views and implementation conformant. It can either prevent or remedy software aging by combating architecture deterioration. However, the amount of manual effort to apply the technique may prevent its use in practice, especially in the context of software evolution in lightweight development methods. More specifically, it can be time-consuming and costly to: i) produce a high-level model and the mapping between source code entities and this model; ii) keep both model and mapping up-to-date as software evolves; and Ui) analyze the usual large number of architectural violations in the source code reported by the technique. This work tries to enable static conformance checking of evolving software by partially automating the manual effort to apply the refíexion model technique. To do so, the potential of clustering techniques to generate high-level models and keep them up-to-date is evaluated. It is also proposed and evaluated an incremental mapping approach between source code entities and high-level models based on the combination of information retrieval of software vocabulary and structural dependencies. Last, a prioritizing technique based on software history to recommend architectural violations in the source code most likely to be relevant to software developers is reported and evaluated. Clustering techniques are evaluated by measures of accuracy and stability, and results for four different clustering algorithms show that none of them performs best for ali measures, and that they are limited to provide fully automated generation of high-level models. On the other hand, evaluation suggests that the mapping step in the refíexion model technique can be enabled by the proposed incremental automated mapping technique that combines structure and vocabulary. In two case studies, the combined technique showed the highest F-measure values for both singleton, small and large source code changes. Finally, evaluation for the prioritizing technique shows that, from five studied factors, violation duration and violation co-location correlate well with violation relevance. Results suggest that these factors can be used to rank the violations most likely to be relevant, with an improvement of at least 57% against a baseline of randomly selected violations. Analysis of the results suggests that the producton of high-level models for static conformance checking can be aided by a semi-automated architecture recovery process, and, as software evolves, by incremental clustering/mapping techniques. On the other hand, analysis of the results for the prioritizing technique suggests the effectiveness of an automated approach to recommend architectural violations to bí analyzed by software developers.

The 2014 national general elections were characterised by a cloud of scandal hanging over the ANC, and the ANC president Jacob Zuma. The biggest and darkest cloud was the Nkandla scandal. Owing to a reported R246 million spent by the state to refurbish his private home, the president stood accused of wasteful expenditure and financial irregularity. In a country reeling from the continued effects of apartheid, which include high unemployment and poverty, the scandal was a bombshell. According to a vocal and often adversarial mainstream media sphere, the ANC went into those elections with an albatross around its neck. The dominant thought was that the ruling party would suffer a heavy loss of votes. This outcome did not materialise. The ANC lost a marginal share of its previous vote. Mainstream media and civil society were confounded. What had happened? Why had poor black South Africans continued to vote for a party that was obviously in breach of the constitutional order? Against the mismatch between what was predicted or purported and the outcome, this study investigates how young people in the township of Joza, Grahamstown, interpreted one of the biggest political scandals in South Africa’s fledgling democracy. Using a combination of subaltern studies, counter public sphere and audience study, the research looks into the interpretation of a mainstream media scandal that was supposed to diminish the chances of the ANC retaining power, but, instead, barely dented its majority. Through a combination of interviews and participant observation, the study found that young people in the township of Joza demonstrated that they chose to ignore the messages about the corruption of the ANC. The data suggests that they did so, not because of overt racial solidarity, but due to the fact that in a context of high inequality, and continued limitations on economic emancipation, the party shone brightly as a vehicle for economic development. Overall, the study argues that the seemingly dubious undertaking to continue with the ANC is a calculated decision that makes sense when viewed within a given socio-economic context.

Since the publication of Dr. Johnson’s first English dictionary in 1755, there have been rapid changes in the development of dictionaries in other parts of the world. However, the advances are perceived more in other languages of the world such as the European languages while in Africa, the changes have been very slow. The majority of dictionaries utilised by most Africans are bilingual and were produced by the missionaries. These dictionaries were aimed at serving the needs of the missionaries, but more recently African scholars have been trying to create dictionaries that are intended to meet the needs of the native speakers particularly because the existing dictionaries contain many words which are archaic or going out of use. This means that the currently produced dictionaries should reflect the changes that have occurred in languages and society. The two dictionaries under scrutiny, Sesuto-English Dictionary and Sethantšo sa Sesotho, share similar content as if they were both targeting the same generation even though the former was written by missionaries in the 19th century while the latter was created by a Sesotho native speaker in the 21st century. This study aimed to establish whether the two dictionaries are the same or not, or whether Sethantšo sa Sesotho had been derived from Sesuto-English Dictionary as well as whether the two dictionaries meet the needs of the contemporary users. The study employed adaptation theory in order to discover the originality of Sethantšo sa Sesotho. User-perspective approach and communication-oriented function were utilised to judge the effectiveness of the two dictionaries in reading and writing and to analyse users’ views. The study established that Sethantšo sa Sesotho has adapted 69% lexical items from Sesuto-English Dictionary; words are arranged in a similar order in both dictionaries with slight differences here and there; most definitions and illustrative phrases/sentences are the same even though the author of Sethantšo sa Sesotho did not acknowledge using any written source of information, thus violating the principles of adaptation; use of these dictionaries during reading and writing was found to be beneficial to users; and both dictionaries lack current words which users encounter daily. / African Languages / D. Litt. et Phil.(African Languages)

Reasonableness as a concept used in determining delictual liability or liability in tort law, is either embraced or perceived by some as frustrating. It is a normative concept which is inextricably linked with the concepts of fairness, justice, equity, public policy and the values of the community. These concepts assist in providing value judgements in determining liability. It is apparent from this study that the influence of reasonableness is predominantly implicit on the French law of delict, but more explicit on the South African law of delict and Anglo-American tort law. Its influence varies with respect to each element of tort or delictual liability. In order to hold a person liable for a delict or tort, it is only reasonable that all the elements of a delict or tort are present. Common to all the jurisdictions studied in this thesis is the idea of striking a balance between the defendant’s interests promoted, the plaintiff’s interests adversely affected and the interests of society. Where liability is based on fault, the reasonableness of conduct is called into question. In respect of causation whichever test or theory is used, what must ultimately be determined is whether according to the facts of the case, it is reasonable to impute liability on the defendant for the factually caused consequences. Whether loss or harm is required, assumed or not required, the question of the appropriate remedy or compensation which is reasonable under the circumstances is called into question. In South African and Anglo-American law, the multiple uses of the standards of the reasonable person, reasonable foreseeability of harm, reasonable preventability of harm, whether it is reasonable to impose an element of liability, or whether it is reasonable to impute liability, often cause confusion and uncertainty. At times, the role of these criteria with regard to a specific element may be valid and amplified while, at other times, their role is diminished and controversial. However, there is nothing wrong with the concept of reasonableness itself; indeed, it is a necessary and useful concept in law. Rather, it is the way that it is interpreted and applied in determining liability that is problematic. / Private Law / LL. D.

The two-part Views on Chemistry Practicals (VOCP) instrument for measuring the views of grade 10 to 12 Physical Science students about the benefits and problems of Chemistry practicals was empirically developed and trialed using six schools in Gauteng. The summary part of the resultant VOCP instrument comprises 24 Likert items and the explanatory part comprises 24 multiple-choice items with 163 options, thus creating a unique current record of a wide range of students' views of chemistry practicals and providing teachers with a tool for improving chemistry practicals. The trial of the instrument with 230 students from three schools indicated that the summary part of the instrument is reliable (Cronbach alpha coefficient) and that a shortened explanatory part of the instrument is reliable (Chi squared values for 17 items with 98 options). The validity of the VOCP instrument was established through the empirical development of the instrument using triangulation of data. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Natural Science Education)

The purpose of this study was to explore and describe experiences of HIV/AIDS positive patients using Sesotho traditional medicines at Scott Hospital in Morija, Lesotho. The specific objectives were to explore and describe the experiences and views of patients using Sesotho traditional medicines. The study uded an explorative qualitative design with a sample of seventeen (17) HIV positive adults aged 18-49 years who were purposively sampled. The major findings of the study were that; Sesotho traditional medicines improved the health status of the participants; and also they were of the view that Sesotho traditional medicines work as they beneficially contributed to HIV/AIDS management. The study concludes that Sesotho traditional medicines are believed and understood to play a role in the symptomatic management of HIV/AIDS even though the actual role they play is yet to be proven scientifically. / Department of Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

The research on xenophobia in South Africa is underpinned by the relationship described by Frantz Fanon between violence and oppression present within the structures of domination. This research addresses the colonial structures that manifested themselves within the oppressive modes in societies. It employs a Fanon analysis of the xenophobic violence of May 2008 and serves to provide an understanding of the experiences of a particular condition and of how a broader invisible context plays an important role in what society sees and assimilates. The question can be asked: Is it safe to say that the xenophobic attacks were racist, or was it mere bigotry? An analysis based on the writings of Franz Fanon coupled with a psychological account of the participants, affirms that the xenophobic attacks revealed that the previously colonised or oppressed black people in South Africa reacted with regard to the assimilation of the master and its slave narrative and dialect. Theories of oppression and slavery posit that patterns of colonialism reoccur and manifest themselves both internally and externally within society. A serious debate is necessary to question whether the incidents came at a time that South Africa should have reflected on society’s interaction with foreign immigrants. / Political Sciences / M.A. (Politics)

Chapter 1 describes practical theology as a communicative operational science and stresses how important it is that a hermeneutical and narrative approach compliments it. It is shown that pastoral work must be launched from the church community. The premise is that the Enlightenment paradigm causes a reductionistic, individualistic and denominational approach to pastoral work. A holistic, comprehensive and ecologically orientated approach is proposed. Chapter 2 discusses the need for an ecosystemic approach as a metaparadigrn for practical theology in terms of the move away from the Newtonian view of science and the post-modem critiques of a technocratic society. This is supported by developments in systemic family therapy, constructionism and community psychology. Chapter 3 describes an interrelated ecclesiology as a base theory for practical theology and pastoral work with reference to the church's interrelation with society and the need to include an anthropology as part of an ecclesiology. This interrelationship implies that the serving (diakonia) and caring (koinonia) functions of the church should converge, forming a diaconal pastorate. In chapter 4 the secularised modem world-vie\v and the traditional African world-view, both functioning in South Africa, are employed to shed light upon the importance of the concept community for the church's pastoral work. The term community is broadened to include the idea of networking, emphasisingg that community is more than geographical proximity. Chapter 5 is a quantitative investigation. by means of a questionnaire, of the views (ecosystemic/non-ecosystemic) of pastoral workers regarding the church and of pastoral work. Chapter 6 discusses the implications of a community pastoral work approach. Pastoral work has a serving-caring role, but should also function prophetically, to conscientise. sensitise and empower people. The church as a healing community must become the springboard from which pastoral actions can face the challenge of AIDS (chapter 7). This will require the church to shift its paradigm from the reductionist, individualist approach, presently prevalent in society and church pastoral actions, to an all-encompassing. holistic one. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / Th.D. (Practical Theology)