AFRIKAANS: Die nuwe biotegnologiese konteks waarin in vitro bevrugting, die kartering van die menslike genoom, stamselnavorsing en –terapie, realiteite geword het, rig unieke uitdagings aan die samelewing en ook die teologie. Hierdie realiteite vereis dat ons weer sal besin oor die etiese vrae rondom menslike lewe. Die ontdekking van stamselle het nuwe insigte op die fisiologie van die mens gebring en daarmee saam beloftes van hoop vir die potensiële genesing van verskeie siektes. Die praktyk van stamselnavorsing veral ten opsigte van navorsing op embrionale stamselle, konfronteer ook die samelewing met ernstige en komplekse etiese dilemmas. Iewers tussen die uiterstes van oordrewe optimisme oor stamselnavorsing en radikale verwerping daarvan, moet daar gesoek word na gebalanseerde perspektief op hierdie praktyk. Die debat binne die politieke sfeer maak dit ook duidelik dat daar nog geen algemene konsensus in verband met wetgewing bestaan nie. Christelik-etiese perspektiewe kan vanuit ‘n Eko-teologiese benadering ook sinvol bydrae tot die politieke debat en etiese vrae na riglyne vir besluitneming. Die huidige teologiese debat getuig van uiteenlopende standpunte. Vanaf strenge konserwatisme wat stamselnavorsing en terapie ongekwalifiseerd veroordeel as sonde, tot by totale liberale en pragmatiese argumente wat stamselnavorsing en terapie ongekwalifiseerd aanvaar en voorhou as wonderkuur. Tussen hierdie uiterstes is daar ook stemme wat versigtiger dink en praat oor die kompleksiteit van hierdie fenomeen. Die eis na antropologiese herbesinning sal vanuit ‘n eko-teologiese benadering ook die kosmologiese dimensies van relasionele eksistensie moet verdiskonteer. Binne eko-etiese refleksie behoort die natuurlike en kosmiese aard van menslike eksistensie in terme van ruimte en tyd ‘n inklusiewe waardering van die kompleksiteit rondom menslike denke, emosies en gedrag teweeg te bring. Die bedoeling van hierdie studie is om vanuit ‘n Post-fondamentalistiese vertrekpunt ‘n bydrae te lewer binne die transversale ruimte van Christelike etiek, natuurwetenskap en biotegnologiese ontwikkeling. Die navorsings-resultate van hierdie studie poog nie om bloot etiese reëls as absolute waarhede daar te stel nie, maar eerder om te reflekteer oor verskillende benaderingsmoontlikhede, waardes, karaktereienskappe, deugde, morele narratiewe en perspektiewe op hierdie komplekse etiese vraagstukke. Die hermeneutiese proses van krities-realistiese nadenking en refleksie word op sistematiese wyse weergegee. Daar word beweeg vanaf die feitlike aspekte in verband met bio-tegnologiese ontwikkeling na die ontwikkeling van begrip oor die kompleksiteit van die etiese problematiek wat hierdie ontwikkeling meebring binne die sosiale, godsdienstige en politieke sfeer van die huidige etiese debat. Daarna word perspektief op refleksie-moontlikhede vanuit die Christelike-etiek gebied met besinning oor die verskillende benaderingsmoontlikhede tot die komplekse etiese vraagstelling en gefokus op ‘n eko-teologiese benadering asook die waardes wat daaruit ontwikkel. Laastens word krities gereflekteer oor die toepassing van etiese waardes vanuit ‘n eko-teologiese perspektief ten einde teologies-antropologiese perspektiewe wat uit die stamseldebat voortvloei te herwaardeer en basiese riglyne vir etiese besluitneming vanuit ‘n eko-teologiese perspektief te bied. Die verbreding van morele narratiewe en waardering van relasionele Christelik-antropologiese perspektiewe word aangebied as alternatief teenoor streng monolitiese begrippe van waarheid, objektiwiteit en rede. ENGLISH: The new biotechnological context wherein in vitro fertilization, the human genome project and stem cell research have become realities, confronts society and also theology with unique challenges. These realities compel us to revisit ethical questions considering human life. The main aim of this study is to make a contribution in the transversal debate among Christian ethics, natural sciences and biotechnological development, from a post-foundationalistic perspective. The research results do not aim to set ethical rules as absolute truths, but rather to reflect on different viewpoints, values, characteristics, virtues, moral narratives and perspectives on these complex ethical dilemmas. The hermeneutical process of critical-realistic reflection is being presented systematically. Starting from the factual aspects in relation to bio-technological development we move towards constructing an idea of the complexity of the ethical dilemma this development brings to social, religious and political spheres as well as the ethical debate. Perspectives on different reflection possibilities are then given form a Christian-ethical viewpoint with evaluation of different viewpoints on this complex ethical question. I then focus on an eco-theological perspective and the values it presents. Lastly, a critical reflection on the implementing of these values is presented, from an eco-theological viewpoint, revaluing theological-anthropological perspectives and providing basic guidelines for ethical decision-making from an eco-theological perspective. The broadening of moral narratives and revaluing of relational Christian-anthropological perspectives are being presented as an alternative against the strict monolithically orientated ideas of truth, objectivity and reason. / Thesis (DD)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Dogmatics and Christian Ethics / unrestricted

This study begins with the question: "Is there a place for a Christian ethical code of conduct in the diverse and complex business world of today?" In chapter 2 I explain the context wherein one should understand this question. If you look at the history of South Africa you will see that there was discrimination that took place over a long period of time on the basis of race, religion and gender and that makes this issue a very sensitive one. The reason why it is so sensitive is if there were to be a Christian ethical code of conduct in the workplace could it lead to discrimination again? That is not allowed to happen under the current Constitution of South Africa. But the other side is also true, if you don?t have a Christian ethical code won?t you loose the beautiful things Scripture gives us on how to treat all people equally and fairly within the workplace? This study will show that according to the Constitution of South Africa it is possible to have a Christian ethical code of conduct as long it does not exclude any employee. In chapter 3 we have a look at Scripture that gives us guidelines on how to treat all people and also people in the workplace. Here are some examples: * the way employees should be handled; * the number of working hours the employees should be working; * the remuneration of the employees – is it fair; * how the Shareholders? / Stakeholders? interests are looked after; * the manner in which the business is being managed; * the Constitutional business environment; * the international law that transcends borders where macrobusinesses do business. In chapter 4 we look at the Christian ethical perspective in the business. We look at the role of the economy and the core values to manage a business. In chapter 5 we end with an example of a workable Christian ethical code of conduct and we compare two large business codes of conduct. / Thesis (Th.M. (Ethics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

This study begins with the question: "Is there a place for a Christian ethical code of conduct in the diverse and complex business world of today?" In chapter 2 I explain the context wherein one should understand this question. If you look at the history of South Africa you will see that there was discrimination that took place over a long period of time on the basis of race, religion and gender and that makes this issue a very sensitive one. The reason why it is so sensitive is if there were to be a Christian ethical code of conduct in the workplace could it lead to discrimination again? That is not allowed to happen under the current Constitution of South Africa. But the other side is also true, if you don?t have a Christian ethical code won?t you loose the beautiful things Scripture gives us on how to treat all people equally and fairly within the workplace? This study will show that according to the Constitution of South Africa it is possible to have a Christian ethical code of conduct as long it does not exclude any employee. In chapter 3 we have a look at Scripture that gives us guidelines on how to treat all people and also people in the workplace. Here are some examples: * the way employees should be handled; * the number of working hours the employees should be working; * the remuneration of the employees – is it fair; * how the Shareholders? / Stakeholders? interests are looked after; * the manner in which the business is being managed; * the Constitutional business environment; * the international law that transcends borders where macrobusinesses do business. In chapter 4 we look at the Christian ethical perspective in the business. We look at the role of the economy and the core values to manage a business. In chapter 5 we end with an example of a workable Christian ethical code of conduct and we compare two large business codes of conduct. / Thesis (Th.M. (Ethics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.