<p> Many factors shape the identity of the Evangelical church, some to its benefit, and others to its detriment. This thesis examines the relationship between materialism and Christianity through the framework of Jane Jacobs' work on the existence of two incompatible systems in public and communal life, the commerce and guardian systems. The principles of materialism and Christocentric ecclesiology are shown to belong to these different systems. Joining the missional discussion, this project therefore seeks to correct the influence of materialism on the church's identity by calling the church to a more Christocentric identity. Particular attention is paid to what a materialistic identity and a Christocentric ecclesiology mean for evangelism, church growth, and leadership. Following that discussion, the importance of three theological principles-transformation, incarnation, and service of others-are outlined.</p> / Thesis / Master of Divinity (M.Div)

While many disciplines have formally recognized and explicated the significance of "need" for their areas of study, such focus on this concept has not been undertaken theologically. Given the particular work of analytic philosophers on this concept, this project seeks to rigorously define need in ways informed by both analytic philosophy and biblical studies in order to contribute to theological anthropology. At root then, this project proposes that humans were intended for incompleteness-a need without lack. On this understanding, need is dispositional and inseparable from a creature's ontology. Further, this need was intended to be discovered in a context of abundance, an abundance of what would continually meet this need: God's personal presence. The realization of this incompletion would involve dynamic growth, such that the dispositional need to be in a relation of dependence upon the personal divine presence would require ongoing fulfillment. Thus, this need was not intrinsically an imperfection, but an incompleteness integral to what it means to be human. While being incomplete is typically understood negatively, on this view such need is indicative of what it means to be human. In order to make these claims, the aims of this thesis are thus threefold: first, to highlight the exegetical significance of divine presence for understanding anthropology-providing a sort of minimalism which any anthropology must include; second, to analytically appropriate that significance through the technical concept of fundamental need; and third, to apply this technical concept to the task of constructing a pneumatologically-Christocentric anthropology.

Contemporary developments in cognitive neuroscience are having a profound impact on the philosophy of mind as philosophers work to understand the implications of these advances for appreciating what it means to be a human person. At the same time, a recent consensus has formed among contemporary theologians around the thesis that Jesus Christ is the revelation of what it means to be truly human. Unfortunately, very few thinkers have made any concerted effort to bring these two developments into dialogue with one another. This study addresses this lack by drawing on the anthropological insights of Karl Barth and bringing them to bear on certain aspects of the contemporary discussions regarding the mind/brain relationship. The thesis thus comprises two major sections. The first develops an understanding of Karl Barth’s theological anthropology focusing on three major facets: (1) the centrality of Jesus Christ for any real understanding of human persons; (2) the resources that such a christologically determined view of human nature has for engaging in interdisciplinary discourse; and (3) the ontological implications of this approach for understanding the mind/body relationship. The second part of the study then draws on this theological foundation to consider the implications that understanding human nature christologically has for analyzing and assessing several prominent ways of explaining the mind/body relationship. This study, then, is an exercise in understanding the nature of a christocentric anthropology and its implications for understanding human ontology. While it will devote significant attention to the theology of Karl Barth and various contemporary philosophers of mind, its fundamental aim is to draw together these apparently disparate fields of inquiry by engaging both theology and philosophy in a vital dialogue on the nature of the human person as revealed in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

O principal objetivo desta tese é a investigação do foco narrativo nos romances Nenhum olhar e Cemitério de pianos, de José Luís Peixoto, com vistas a defender a hipótese de que o narrador em primeira pessoa promove a assunção de duplos. Ambas as obras trazem personagens que contam a sua história e, no processo da narração, entram em contato consigo mesmas, sob uma perspectiva pautada nas deformações intrínsecas à passagem do tempo. Nesse sentido, a faculdade da memória assume um papel fundamental na relativização do passado. Trata-se, em primeiro lugar, de uma análise do plano da expressão. Concomitante à questão do narrador e seus duplos, observamos que o conteúdo de ambos os romances evoca o tema da busca da salvação. Compreendemos que a concepção de mundo que permeia as referidas obras está pautada na jornada de Cristo na Terra e, em especial, ao drama da Paixão. Concluímos, pois, que, ao desejo do narrador em primeira pessoa de contar a sua história, estão intimamente relacionados o fenômeno do duplo e a negação da morte. Desse modo, por meio da duplicação, as personagens entram em contato com uma realidade supratemporal, fundada no mito. / The main objective of this thesis is the investigation of narrative focus on novels Nenhum olhar and Cemitério de pianos, by José Luís Peixoto, in order to defend the hypothesis that the first-person narrator promotes the assumption of doubles. Both works bring characters to tell their story and in the process of narration, get in touch with themselves, a perspective based on the deformations intrinsic to the passage of time. In this sense, the faculty of memory plays a key role in the relativization of the past. It is, firstly, an analysis of the level of expression. Concomitant with the question of the narrator and his double, we observed that the contents of both novels evoke the theme of the quest for salvation. We understand that the world view that permeates these works is based on the journey of Christ on Earth and in particular the drama of the Passion. Therefore we conclude that the desire of the first-person narrator to tell his story, are closely related to the phenomenon of the double and the denial of death. Thus, by duplicating the characters come into contact with supratemporal reality, founded on myth.

Christocentric preaching in the AP Church – a practical theological study, is a dissertation wherein Christocentric preaching from the patriarchal narratives by AP Church preachers, is being investigated to determine to what extend it complies with the basic principles of Christocentric preaching. This research found that the preaching from the patriarchal narratives by participating preachers of the AP Church, does not truly answer to the basic principles of Christocentric preaching. A clearly defined Christocentric approach which set out the basic principles for responsible Christocentric preaching, would improve the Christocentricity of Old Testament preaching, more specifically the patriarchal narratives, in the AP Church. A modified version of Osmers’ practical-theological model was utilized as method of research. It entails hermeneutical and normative, empirical and interpretative, as well as strategic aspects. The following goals are set for the study: Hermeneutical and normative i) To determine perspectives from Scripture for the research concept Christocentric preaching regarding passages from Genesis 12-50. Empirical and interpretative ii) To determine to what extend sermons in the AP Church based on passages from Genesis 12-50, are truly Christocentric. iii) To determine to what extend preachers of the AP Church consciously make use of a base theory regarding Christocentric preaching when preaching on passages from Genesis 12-50. Strategically To provide effective, yet Biblical guidelines for Christocentric preaching on passages from Genesis 12-50. In order to reach the above mentioned goals, the following aspects are discussed in the course of the study: Perspectives from Scripture for the research concept Christocentric preaching are determined by, among others, illuminating the unique nature and specific characteristics of the Hebrew narrative. The focus on the hermeneutical challenge offers perspectives on decisive considerations when handling Scripture, an exegetical method conducive to Christocentric preaching, as well as perspectives on a meaningful transition to Christ from the Old Testament text. The focus on the homiletic challenge indicates expository preaching as the most appropriate vehicle for responsible Christocentric preaching. From the hermeneutical and normative perspectives, a certain criteria is derived which served as a guideline for the evaluation of sixteen sermons and devotions by AP Church preachers in order to determine their Christocentricity. Flowing from this, six themes are determined on the basis of which unstructured interviews with five preachers of the AP Church are conducted. These analyses and interviews show the absence of a clearly formulated base theory regarding Christocentric preaching at participating AP Church preachers. Christocentric preaching in the AP Church – a practical theological study offers guidelines for responsible Christocentric preaching from the patriarchal narratives by concentrating on certain points of departure in respect of the Old Testament, key hermeneutical aspects, a meaningful transition from the Old Testament to Christ as well as important homiletic aspects. / Thesis (MTh (Homiletics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Christocentric preaching in the AP Church – a practical theological study, is a dissertation wherein Christocentric preaching from the patriarchal narratives by AP Church preachers, is being investigated to determine to what extend it complies with the basic principles of Christocentric preaching. This research found that the preaching from the patriarchal narratives by participating preachers of the AP Church, does not truly answer to the basic principles of Christocentric preaching. A clearly defined Christocentric approach which set out the basic principles for responsible Christocentric preaching, would improve the Christocentricity of Old Testament preaching, more specifically the patriarchal narratives, in the AP Church. A modified version of Osmers’ practical-theological model was utilized as method of research. It entails hermeneutical and normative, empirical and interpretative, as well as strategic aspects. The following goals are set for the study: Hermeneutical and normative i) To determine perspectives from Scripture for the research concept Christocentric preaching regarding passages from Genesis 12-50. Empirical and interpretative ii) To determine to what extend sermons in the AP Church based on passages from Genesis 12-50, are truly Christocentric. iii) To determine to what extend preachers of the AP Church consciously make use of a base theory regarding Christocentric preaching when preaching on passages from Genesis 12-50. Strategically To provide effective, yet Biblical guidelines for Christocentric preaching on passages from Genesis 12-50. In order to reach the above mentioned goals, the following aspects are discussed in the course of the study: Perspectives from Scripture for the research concept Christocentric preaching are determined by, among others, illuminating the unique nature and specific characteristics of the Hebrew narrative. The focus on the hermeneutical challenge offers perspectives on decisive considerations when handling Scripture, an exegetical method conducive to Christocentric preaching, as well as perspectives on a meaningful transition to Christ from the Old Testament text. The focus on the homiletic challenge indicates expository preaching as the most appropriate vehicle for responsible Christocentric preaching. From the hermeneutical and normative perspectives, a certain criteria is derived which served as a guideline for the evaluation of sixteen sermons and devotions by AP Church preachers in order to determine their Christocentricity. Flowing from this, six themes are determined on the basis of which unstructured interviews with five preachers of the AP Church are conducted. These analyses and interviews show the absence of a clearly formulated base theory regarding Christocentric preaching at participating AP Church preachers. Christocentric preaching in the AP Church – a practical theological study offers guidelines for responsible Christocentric preaching from the patriarchal narratives by concentrating on certain points of departure in respect of the Old Testament, key hermeneutical aspects, a meaningful transition from the Old Testament to Christ as well as important homiletic aspects. / Thesis (MTh (Homiletics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

O principal objetivo desta tese é a investigação do foco narrativo nos romances Nenhum olhar e Cemitério de pianos, de José Luís Peixoto, com vistas a defender a hipótese de que o narrador em primeira pessoa promove a assunção de duplos. Ambas as obras trazem personagens que contam a sua história e, no processo da narração, entram em contato consigo mesmas, sob uma perspectiva pautada nas deformações intrínsecas à passagem do tempo. Nesse sentido, a faculdade da memória assume um papel fundamental na relativização do passado. Trata-se, em primeiro lugar, de uma análise do plano da expressão. Concomitante à questão do narrador e seus duplos, observamos que o conteúdo de ambos os romances evoca o tema da busca da salvação. Compreendemos que a concepção de mundo que permeia as referidas obras está pautada na jornada de Cristo na Terra e, em especial, ao drama da Paixão. Concluímos, pois, que, ao desejo do narrador em primeira pessoa de contar a sua história, estão intimamente relacionados o fenômeno do duplo e a negação da morte. Desse modo, por meio da duplicação, as personagens entram em contato com uma realidade supratemporal, fundada no mito. / The main objective of this thesis is the investigation of narrative focus on novels Nenhum olhar and Cemitério de pianos, by José Luís Peixoto, in order to defend the hypothesis that the first-person narrator promotes the assumption of doubles. Both works bring characters to tell their story and in the process of narration, get in touch with themselves, a perspective based on the deformations intrinsic to the passage of time. In this sense, the faculty of memory plays a key role in the relativization of the past. It is, firstly, an analysis of the level of expression. Concomitant with the question of the narrator and his double, we observed that the contents of both novels evoke the theme of the quest for salvation. We understand that the world view that permeates these works is based on the journey of Christ on Earth and in particular the drama of the Passion. Therefore we conclude that the desire of the first-person narrator to tell his story, are closely related to the phenomenon of the double and the denial of death. Thus, by duplicating the characters come into contact with supratemporal reality, founded on myth.

Des expériences pastorales en Afrique nous ont amené à constater qu’en plus du questionnement de certains prêtres sur leur identité, des plaintes récurrentes contre eux sont soulevées au sein de la société en rapport avec la mauvaise gestion des biens temporels de l’Église, l’esprit carriériste, le problème du tribalisme, la question des mœurs, l’oubli de la prière et l’abus de pouvoir. La question de l’identité sacerdotale, le problème de formation des candidats au sacerdoce ministériel et la mise en question de leur manière de collaborer aux réalités traditionnelles et de vivre leur immersion dans leurs communautés ont des répercussions sur le langage adapté pour véhiculer le message chrétien parmi les cultures et peuples africains de nos jours. Toutes ces questions mènent à un problème général : l’enjeu du modèle christologique. Le modèle proposé vient de Rome et met en valeur la culture européenne ; une fois transposé en Afrique, on constate un déphasage, ce qui justifie la problématique. Pour trouver une solution à la problématique du modèle christologique, il nous faudrait élaborer un modèle toujours christologique, mais qui soit en phase avec les réalités du contexte culturel africain. L’intérêt consiste à examiner les comportements des prêtres africains eux-mêmes et l’équilibre de leur ministère, à revoir leurs programmes et leurs structures dans les maisons de formation, dans le but de former des prêtres qui vivront leur ministère en harmonie avec les réalités culturelles africaines pour encourager la bonne collaboration entre les prêtres africains et leurs communautés. Les communautés ecclésiales de base trouveront dorénavant des prêtres africains qui sont bien intégrés dans leur culture. Dans le cadre de la discipline de la théologie, notre étude présente un nouveau concept ou modèle : la christologie du témoignage. Dans le contexte culturel d’Afrique, nous avons besoin d’une initiation christocentrique pour les prêtres africains et d’une théopraxis, en vue d’une nouvelle évangélisation en Afrique. Nous mettons en valeur des communautés africaines en présentant l’expérience d’immersion de J.-M. Ela et J.-A. Malula. L’exemplarité de leurs apprentissages auprès des peuples kirdi et kinois devient pertinente et s’avère même un modèle d’imitation du Christ en vue d’une christologie du témoignage pour les prêtres africains. / Our pastoral experiences in Africa have led us to observe that in addition to some priests questioning their identity, repeated complaints against them are raised within society regarding the mismanagement of the Church’s temporal goods, the careerist spirit, the tribalism problem, the morality issue, the forgetfulness of prayer and the abuse of power. The priestly identity question, the problem of the priesthood candidates’ formation and the way they interact with traditional realities and live their immersion in their communities affect the language adapted to convey the Christian message among African cultures and peoples today. All these questions lead to a general problem: the issue of the Christological model. The proposed model comes from Rome, and values the European culture; when transposed to Africa, it becomes apparent that there is a lack of relevance, which justifies the issue. In order to address the Christological model question, we would need to develop a model that is still Christological, but one that respects the African cultural context. The interest lies in examining how African priests themselves behave and balance their ministry, in reviewing the programs and structures offered in the houses of formation, in order to prepare priests who will live their ministry in phase with the African cultural realities and to encourage a good collaboration between African priests and their communities. The base ecclesial communities will then have well integrated African priests. Within the theological field framework, our study introduces a new concept or model: the Christology of witness. In Africa’s cultural context, we need a Christocentric initiation for African priests and a theopraxis allowing for a new evangelization of Africa. We showcase some African communities by presenting the immersion experience of J.-M. Ela and J.-A. Malula. The exemplarity of their learnings among the Kirdi and Kinshasa peoples becomes relevant, and even proves to be a model of imitation of Christ in order to develop a Christology of witness for African priests.