The thesis deals with the history of charity work among Seventh day Adventists in the Czech lands. It presents basic information about the origins, progress and theological emphasis of Seventh day Adventists concerning the charity work. It shortly describes the history of Adventism in the Czech lands. The second part is focused on each form of social, charitable and humanitarian care that was provided by the Seventh day Adventists in the Czech Republic. In addition, it describes poverty reduction as well as work in the Tabita social groups. Information is also provided about the medical missionary ministry, work of the summer children health camps and the Association for health care. The last part of the thesis is aimed at basic information about the Czech office of the Adventist development and relief agency and pastoral care among the Adventists.

Die doel van die verhandeling is om pluraliteit binne die Sewendedag-Adventistekerk aan te toon. Die konsep "pluraliteit" word gebruik om verskille en groepvorming aan te toon, terwyl die konsep "pluralisme" verwys na 'n ideologiese standpunt ten opsigte van pluraliteit. Verskille en groepvorming is kenmerkend van die Milleriete of Adventbeweging waaruit die Sewendedag-Adventistekerk ontwikkel het. Die oortuiging dat die Sewendedag-Adventistekerk die "oorblyfselkerk" is, lei daartoe dat Adventiste eksklusief aanspraak maak op die "waarheid". Gevolglik staan die "oorblyfselteologie" voor die uitdaging om verskille en groepvorming sinvol te verdiskonteer. Daar is tans polarisasie rondom verskillende sake. Sewendedag-Adventiste sal dit voordelig vind om dialoog te voer oor die moontlikhede wat 'n prakties-teologiese benadering bied in die hantering van pluraliteit. Teorievorming wat die empiriese werklikhede verdiskonteer sal bydra tot die ontwikkeling van 'n teologie wat kennis neem van die mens se behoeftes binne sy leefwêreld. Die benaderings van Van der Ven en Tracy word bespreek. / The aim of the dissertation is to create awareness regarding plurality within the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The concept "plurality" refers to differences and group forming, while "pluralism" refers to an ideological view regarding plurality. Differences and disputes were very much part of the Millerites or Advent movement out of which the Seventh-day Adventist Church developed. The conviction that the Seventh-day Adventist Church is God's remnant church leads to the exclusive "truth" claim of Adventists. Consequently, the remnant theology is facing the challenge to deal with differences and group forming in a constructive manner. Presently there is polarization within the church on various issues. Seventh-day Adventists will find it beneficial to dialogue about the opportunities that a practical-theological approach offers in dealing with plurality. Theory that accounts for empirical realities will contribute to the development of a theology that will be aware of the needs of people. There is a discussion of the approaches of Van der Ven and Tracy. / Practical Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology)

The mission over the last few decades, especially of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, has focused on “confessionalism”. In this specific sense of mission growth—numeric growth— has been a priority, and, unfortunately, not caring for “broken” people. The emphasis has been placed on the age-old proclamation of the “truth”, at the expense of social involvement, as it seems that “truth” transcends the needs of people, even of Christians. This has led to the restricting of the scope of pastoral care, and has limited it to an “applied theology”, where the Old Testament and New Testament studies have dictated its structure and methodology. Within Adventism its view and use of Scripture has dominated its ministry, indicating a number of different methods and approaches. These differences in both the conservative and the liberal orientations only represent their own possibilities. These approaches are the result of a basic understanding of Scripture as a body of divine teachings that needs to be accepted, believed, and obeyed. Consequently, this perception has moved the focus away from caring to the “so-called” correct doctrine of “truth” and proclamation. Postmodernism, however, is challenging the assumptions of modernism and is now confronting us with the understanding that there is no “objective truth”, and that there cannot be a completely detached observer. We observe reality, experience and Scripture not objectively, but rather discern them through the eyes of our own context, experience and history. The thesis, therefore, postulates as useful, just and proper that we experience reality in a narrative fashion within a secular postmodern world. It is through stories that we grasp and appreciate the important factors in our lives. Consequently, a narrative approach is appraised as being a more meaningful tool in approaching Scripture and pastoral care. Narratives are like rituals, they preserve the memory of past events in a way that they still have power for us in the present. As Jesus is a servant of everybody His narratives are transposed and they become accounts of our involvement in the lives of our fellow “sufferers”. / Practical Theology / D. Th. (Practical Theology)

One of the concerns of the modern Christian church and dissident groups is to ensure that the Church's fundamental doctrines, leadership, women's ministries and religious practices conform with the early apostolic church teachings. In this study the writer offers a comprehensive and detailed evaluation of the modern church in the light of the early church. The case of the modern Seventhday Adventist (SDA) Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and worldwide is examined and compared, basing its survey on numerous published and unpublished documents from a combined use of primary, secondary materials and individual statements. Setting the early history of the SDA Church within the religious context of nineteenth-century America, the writer describes how SDA doctrines, leadership, women's ministries and religious practices link with those beliefs and practices in the early apostolic church, showing whether the SDA Church has departed from the early apostolic church’s Biblical, timeless principles or not. Several pertinent issues however have stirred up as much controversy in recent years within the Adventist dissident groups as that of the women’s ministries in the church, the righteousness by faith doctrine, the monarchical leadership, and various religious practices. Nevertheless, in the light of the early apostolic teaching, some enlightenment has been achieved, and several critical accusations from dissident groups were illuminated and confirmed.The accusation regarding the deterioration of Biblical doctrines appears not to have been confirmed by the Biblical evaluation and the lifestyle of the SDA believers. Rather, concerning this issue, it is confirmed that in the DRC and worldwide, the SDA Church has not departed from the fundamental doctrines of the early Apostolic church. / Thesis (D. TH. (Church History))

The integration and evangelisation of the minority groups in Zimbabwe in general, and in the Seventh-day Adventist Church in particular poses a challenge. The situation has become more acute after independence. Evidently, the socio-political atmosphere in Zimbabwe has not ameliorated the condition. Certainly, challenges stem from issues concerning racial prejudice, finances, cultural differences, as well as worship styles. While the efforts of the current multicultural ministries are appreciated, the results of the survey indicate that a lot still needs to be done. First, the organizational structure of the ministry needs to be reviewed. Such a review is relevant in order to check and regulate the balance and distribution of power, control and authority. Second, the need for the recruitment of leaders from within the minority groups themselves especially from the white population was clearly articulated. Third, it may be necessary to approach the whole issue from a social standpoint, so as to formulate theological strategies. Apparently, the social distance is more pronounced than the theological one. In addition, integration and evangelisation specifically among the Coloured population is further compounded by the split, which occurred in the early 1990s. Most of the Sabbath-Keeping Adventists from this group anticipate challenges if they would opt to merge with the national Conference. Some of the major barriers to such a step revolve around issues of properties, finances, and positions as well as the general upkeep of the workers. Unless, these apprehensions are clarified and the fears are allayed, integration seems enigmatic. Ecclesiological unity and theological unity in diversity seem to be eclipsed by racial solidarity and socio-economic and political expediency. Similarly, the reconciliation among the black majority itself, also needs a close and deliberate attention from both the church and society in Zimbabwe. For that reason, tribalism, racism, ethnicity, nepotism and any other discrimination should not be tolerated, first and foremost by the church and second, by all peace loving Zimbabweans (Gal 3:28). The reconstruction of the cultural landscape in Zimbabwe demands an affirmation of the common destiny for all Zimbabweans. / Christian Spirituality, Church History & Missiology / D. Th. (Missiology)

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 136-148) / The name Ellen G. White as a founding member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and as an author, currently still being read, evokes a great deal of discussion. The various views that are to be found within the discussion cover a wide range of views, either promoting or criticising White’s authority. By comparing the works of Canright, Nichol, Bradford, and Knight, we gain a wide perspective on three critical views in this discussion. This dissertation will consider the issues regarding White’s authority, the historical development of her authority and consideration of her authority in comparison to Scriptural authority. The dissertation seeks to offer the development of White’s authority and the changes that contributed to the various views around her authority, and presents a critical evaluation regarding her authority for today. After the different authors were compared, and having provided my critical evaluation, I came to the conclusion that a moderate view of White as presented by Bradford and Knight presents the view that allows for the following: • Retaining the principle of Sola Scriptura. • Managing White’s authority. • Providing theological freedom. As such, White’s authority can be a positive influence in Seventh-day Adventist theology, promoting theological growth and not impeding it. The critical evaluation makes it evident that there is a lack of a paradigm to evaluate White, especially her authority. The need for a paradigm from which to evaluate White requires further study. / Die naam Ellen G. White, ’n stigterslid van die Sewende Dag Adventiste Kerk en ook ’n outeur wie se boeke tans nog gelees word, ontlok baie bespreking. Hierin vind ons ’n verskeidenheid van geleerdes wat White hetsy voorstaan of kritiseer. ’n Vergelyking van die werke van Canright, Nichol, Bradford en Knight bied ’n wye perspektief oor drie kritiese beskouings in hierdie debat. Hierdie verhandeling ondersoek die kwessies rondom White se gesag, die historiese ontwikkeling van haar gesag en ’n beoordeling van haar gesag in vergelyking met die Skrif se gesag. Die verhandeling bespreek die ontwikkeling van White se gesag, die veranderings wat bygedra het tot die verskillende sienings rondom haar gesag, asook ’n kritiese beoordeling van haar gesag vir vandag. Nadat ek die verskillende outeurs vergelyk het en my kritiese beoordeling gegee het, kom ek tot die slotsom dat die gematigde siening van Bradford en Knight oor White die volgende bevorder: • Behoud van die beginsel van Sola Scriptura. • Hantering van White se gesag. • Voorsiening vir teologiese vryheid. As sodanig kan White se gesag as ’n positiewe invloed op die Kerk se teologie dien deur teologiese groei aan te moedig in plaas daarvan om dit te strem. Die kritiese beoordeling dui op die gebrek aan ’n paradigma om White, veral haar gesag, mee te beoordeel. Die behoefte aan so ’n paradigma vereis verdere studie. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Systematic Theology)

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-25T19:20:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Enilce Barbosa Martins.pdf: 366481 bytes, checksum: fc769e1abb2f43f3f8e5256447b3ba4c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-05-16 / Secretaria da Educação do Estado de São Paulo / Education as a missionary work is a way to analyse others fields, to elaborate contents that can help us to think about ways to improve the quality as well as in education and in life. From this conception, we go through the history of Protestantism in Brazil, through the economy to politic and culture, to the influences of the new ideologies brought by the protestants in the education. In this context, we developed this study in order to seek the origin and the philosophy of the adventist education, preached by Ellen G. White, who is considered a prophet by the adventist church. This philosophy has successfully for more than a century. From this perspective we deal with the religion issue to be worked with the learning and teaching processes, regarded as an emergency in a kind of education that a person can become more human in one s relationship with others / Educação como obra missionária é um trabalho que procura por meio de analise de algumas obras, elaborar um conteúdo que possa auxiliar no pensar uma busca na qualidade da educação e também na qualidade de vida. A partir dessa concepção, passamos pela história do protestantismo no Brasil, bem como pela economia, a política e a cultura, e contribuição para a educação nas novas ideologias trazidas pelos protestantes. Nesse contexto, desenvolvemos este trabalho no sentido de buscar a origem e a filosofia educacional adventista, pregadas por Ellen G. White, considerada uma profetiza pela Igreja Adventista do Sétimo Dia, filosofia esta que atravessou mais de um século, chegando até aos nossos dias com tanto sucesso. Nessa perspectiva trabalhamos a questão da religião a ser inserida no processo de ensino e aprendizagem, vista como à emergência de uma educação que torne a pessoa mais humana em suas relações com os outros

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:48:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Mirtes Amaral Domingos Ribeiro.pdf: 1029323 bytes, checksum: 659a50ee60fe1a8324cb836f152f201b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-08-01 / Fundo Mackenzie de Pesquisa / This research intended to enable us to deepen our knowledge of the identity of the Adventist being. The general objective of this work was to organize a field of knowledge related to the Seventh-day Adventist Church, through its health standard which is a reflex of its cosmogony, aiming to the depth of the Adventist identity. To this end, it describes the rising of the church among the social reform and American religious revivals of the eighteen century. Introduces Ellen G. White, the charismatic character accept by the emerging group as having the Gift of Prophecy, co-founder of the church and defender of a peculiar health standard, based on her explicit visions. Health is discussed within the Adventist cosmogony: its therapeutic values and theological basis; compared to the holistic standard defended by Capra to the Adventist White s standard. Finally, the analysis was based on the anthropological theory of illness, by François Laplantine, answering the questions related the identity of being Adventist which is recognized by a number of health related advises, that guide not only the practical life, but also the religious life of its followers. Such guidelines form the Adventist religiosity, together with the eminent religious elements which base the daily behavior of the individuals. This work was built on bibliographic research enclosing the areas of health, religion, sociology and anthropology, through which were studied the concept of health, illness and cosmogony. / O objetivo desta pesquisa foi compreender como os estudos da saúde no Adventismo permitem aprofundamentos na identidade do ser Adventista. O objetivo geral deste trabalho foi organizar um campo de conhecimento que se refere à Igreja Adventista do Sétimo Dia, através de seu modelo de saúde que é reflexo de sua cosmovisão. Assim, o trabalho descreveu o surgimento da Igreja em meio às reformas sociais e reavivamentos religiosos americanos do século dezoito. Apresentou Ellen White, a personagem carismática aceita pelo grupo em formação e detentora do Dom da profecia, co-fundadora da Igreja e defensora de um modelo de saúde peculiar, a partir de suas declaradas visões. Discutiu, também, a saúde na cosmovisão Adventista: seus valores terapêuticos e fundamentos teológicos; comparou os modelos holístico defendido por Capra e o Adventista whiteano. Finalmente, fundamentou-se na teoria da Antropologia da Doença de François Laplantine respondendo as questões relacionadas à identidade do ser Adventista que se reconhece a partir de um conjunto de orientações relativas à saúde, que guia não só a vida prática como também religiosa dos seus seguidores. Tais orientações compõem a religiosidade Adventista, junto com os elementos eminentemente religiosos que embasam a prática cotidiana dos indivíduos. Este trabalho se constituiu por pesquisa bibliográfica, abrangendo as áreas de Saúde, Religião, História, Sociologia e Antropologia, através das quais se abordou os conceitos de saúde, doença e cosmovisão.

Die doel van die verhandeling is om pluraliteit binne die Sewendedag-Adventistekerk aan te toon. Die konsep "pluraliteit" word gebruik om verskille en groepvorming aan te toon, terwyl die konsep "pluralisme" verwys na 'n ideologiese standpunt ten opsigte van pluraliteit. Verskille en groepvorming is kenmerkend van die Milleriete of Adventbeweging waaruit die Sewendedag-Adventistekerk ontwikkel het. Die oortuiging dat die Sewendedag-Adventistekerk die "oorblyfselkerk" is, lei daartoe dat Adventiste eksklusief aanspraak maak op die "waarheid". Gevolglik staan die "oorblyfselteologie" voor die uitdaging om verskille en groepvorming sinvol te verdiskonteer. Daar is tans polarisasie rondom verskillende sake. Sewendedag-Adventiste sal dit voordelig vind om dialoog te voer oor die moontlikhede wat 'n prakties-teologiese benadering bied in die hantering van pluraliteit. Teorievorming wat die empiriese werklikhede verdiskonteer sal bydra tot die ontwikkeling van 'n teologie wat kennis neem van die mens se behoeftes binne sy leefwêreld. Die benaderings van Van der Ven en Tracy word bespreek. / The aim of the dissertation is to create awareness regarding plurality within the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The concept "plurality" refers to differences and group forming, while "pluralism" refers to an ideological view regarding plurality. Differences and disputes were very much part of the Millerites or Advent movement out of which the Seventh-day Adventist Church developed. The conviction that the Seventh-day Adventist Church is God's remnant church leads to the exclusive "truth" claim of Adventists. Consequently, the remnant theology is facing the challenge to deal with differences and group forming in a constructive manner. Presently there is polarization within the church on various issues. Seventh-day Adventists will find it beneficial to dialogue about the opportunities that a practical-theological approach offers in dealing with plurality. Theory that accounts for empirical realities will contribute to the development of a theology that will be aware of the needs of people. There is a discussion of the approaches of Van der Ven and Tracy. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology)

The mission over the last few decades, especially of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, has focused on “confessionalism”. In this specific sense of mission growth—numeric growth— has been a priority, and, unfortunately, not caring for “broken” people. The emphasis has been placed on the age-old proclamation of the “truth”, at the expense of social involvement, as it seems that “truth” transcends the needs of people, even of Christians. This has led to the restricting of the scope of pastoral care, and has limited it to an “applied theology”, where the Old Testament and New Testament studies have dictated its structure and methodology. Within Adventism its view and use of Scripture has dominated its ministry, indicating a number of different methods and approaches. These differences in both the conservative and the liberal orientations only represent their own possibilities. These approaches are the result of a basic understanding of Scripture as a body of divine teachings that needs to be accepted, believed, and obeyed. Consequently, this perception has moved the focus away from caring to the “so-called” correct doctrine of “truth” and proclamation. Postmodernism, however, is challenging the assumptions of modernism and is now confronting us with the understanding that there is no “objective truth”, and that there cannot be a completely detached observer. We observe reality, experience and Scripture not objectively, but rather discern them through the eyes of our own context, experience and history. The thesis, therefore, postulates as useful, just and proper that we experience reality in a narrative fashion within a secular postmodern world. It is through stories that we grasp and appreciate the important factors in our lives. Consequently, a narrative approach is appraised as being a more meaningful tool in approaching Scripture and pastoral care. Narratives are like rituals, they preserve the memory of past events in a way that they still have power for us in the present. As Jesus is a servant of everybody His narratives are transposed and they become accounts of our involvement in the lives of our fellow “sufferers”. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / D. Th. (Practical Theology)