Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Network for African Congregational Theology (NetACT) is a network of theological institutions of higher education in sub-Saharan Africa that are dogmatically Reformed by tradition. It was established that there is a need for more knowledge on the science of curriculum development and a need for an integrated value-driven curriculum framework that will have Reformed principles imbedded in it and that will be contextualised. Through questionnaires and curriculum development workshops, the situations at the different campuses of ten institutions were established. On the campuses of the NetACT institutions a positive learning environment prevails with enthusiastic lecturers and motivated students. The practical work of students in congregations is a high priority. On the other side of the coin, it was established that some key elements are missing – among them, a lack of integrated, value-driven, missional and contextualised curricula. Given the situation in sub-Saharan Africa, one should expect more emphasis on the prevailing poverty, on sensitive gender issues and on youth and children work, to mention a few. Libraries are ill stocked and research by lecturers and the publishing of articles are nearly non-existent. This dissertation addresses these needs by proposing a Reformational, missional and contextualised curriculum framework with as its main aim the development of mature students who will deliver academic work of the highest order. In Chapter 3, the need for an integrated worldview is argued for with Reformed principles such as Christ’s sovereignty in every sphere of life – no dualism between a so-called sacred and profane world should exist. In Chapter 4, an appeal is made to NetACT institutions to be missional by nature and to have a curriculum evaluation to see whether all the subjects have a missional focus. Contextualisation is the theme of Chapter 5 and, among others, a plea is made for curricula to portray true African reconciliation spirituality where worship, anti-racism and anti-tribalism should be an integral part of the official and hidden curricula. Based on these building blocks, a Reformational, African and contextual framework is presented in Chapter 6 with the help of a Transformative Circle that starts with listening to the narratives of the students and ends with a transformative action phase where educational principles are applied. The recommendations in Chapter 7 include the forming of quality control committees, the initiation of workshops on the facilitating process of curriculum design and implementation, the need to be accredited with ACTEA and the considering of the forming of institutes of Christian Higher Education. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Network for African Congregational Theology (NetACT) is 'n netwerk van hoër onderwys teologiese instellings van Gereformeerde oorsprong in sub-Sahara Afrika. Daar is vasgestel dat daar 'n behoefte bestaan by die NetACT instellings aan meer kennis oor die wetenskap van kurrikulumontwikkeling asook 'n behoefte aan 'n geïntegreerde, waardegedrewe kurrikulumraamwerk wat gebou is op Gereformeerde waardes en wat terselfdertyd ook gekontekstualiseerd is. Deur middel van vraelyste en kurrikulumontwikkeling werkswinkels, is die situasie by die verskillende kampusse van tien teologiese instellings bepaal. Op die kampusse van die NetACT instellings heers daar in die algemeen 'n positiewe leeromgewing met entoesiastiese dosente en gemotiveerde studente. Die praktiese werk van studente in gemeentes is 'n hoë prioriteit. Aan die ander kant is vasgestel dat belangrike elemente ontbreek: onder andere 'n gebrek aan geïntegreerde, waardegedrewe, missionale en gekontekstualiseerde kurrikulums. Gegewe die situasie in sub-Sahara Afrika, sou mens meer klem by die NetACT skole verwag het om sake soos die heersende armoede, sensitiewe geslagskwessies en die opvoeding van kinders en die jeug, om maar 'n paar te noem, aan te spreek. Biblioteke het baie gebrekkige voorraad en navorsing deur dosente en die publikasie van artikels bestaan bykans nie. Hierdie verhandeling fokus op hierdie behoeftes en spreek dit aan deur die stel van 'n Reformatoriese, missionale en gekontekstualiseerde kurrikulumraamwerk. Die raamwerk het as hoofdoel die ontwikkeling van geestelike volwassenheid by studente wat akademiese werk van die hoogste standaard sal lewer. In Hoofstuk 3 word die behoefte aan 'n geïntegreerde wêreldbeeld beredeneer met die Gereformeerde beginsel van Christus se soewereiniteit in elke sfeer van die lewe, as ʼn belangrike wegspringpunt. Een gevolgtrekking wat hieruit gemaak kan word, is dat daar geen dualisme behoort te bestaan tussen 'n sogenaamde “heilige” en “profane” wêreld nie. In Hoofstuk 4 word 'n beroep op NetACT instellings gedoen om missionaal van huis uit te wees en om te kontroleer of al die vakke 'n missionêre gerigtheid het. Kontekstualisering is die tema van Hoofstuk 5 en, onder andere, word 'n pleidooi gelewer vir kurrikulums met ʼn ware Afrika versoening spiritualiteit waar aanbidding, anti-rassisme en anti-stamgebondenheid 'n integrale deel van die amptelike en verborge kurrikulums behoort te vorm. Gebaseer op hierdie boustene, word 'n Reformatoriese Afrika en missionale raamwerk voorgestel met die hulp van 'n Transformerende Sirkel wat begin met die luister na die verhale van die studente en eindig met 'n transformerende aksie fase waar opvoedkundige beginsels, soos veral in Hoofstuk 6 beredeneer, prakties toegepas word. Die aanbevelings in Hoofstuk 7 sluit in die vorming van gehaltebeheerkomitees, die inisiëring van werkswinkels oor die fasilitering van kurrikulumontwerp en -implementering, akkreditasie by ACTEA en die oorweging van die vorming van inrigtings vir Christelike Hoër Onderwys.

Thesis (DTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Talking about community development is not an easy task because it is a broad term employed by academics, civic leaders, governments, concerned citizens, faith-based organisations and simply people with an interest in the well-being of others. Each of these groups may have their own interpretation of what they perceive community development to be. Currently many new voices speak out in favour of the upliftment of the marginalised, the periphery segment of the population. In government circles, we see an array of community development initiatives (of which integrated development planning is but one), aimed at empowering individuals to effect change in their own communities. The underlying principle is that within any community there is a wealth of knowledge and experience which, if used creatively, can be channelled into collective action to achieve the desired goals to benefit the community. Unfortunately, the majority of people who belong to the poorer segment of the population are still unable to access the full potential of these initiatives. Poverty and its many faces are still rampant, and the people feeling it most acutely are those living in “small towns”. The first part of this study attempts to address community development in one such small town; the Baviaans Municipal Area. It seeks to “give voice” to the people, in order for them to take charge of their own development as Chapter 4 attempts to show. The study also allows “small town” communities to break through the academic rhetoric of poverty to voice their own understanding of this social ill (Chapter 3). In this chapter ordinary people “unlearn to not speak”. The second segment of this dissertation builds on the empirical findings of the first segment by exploring how community development challenges the church to be church. It acknowledges the fact that the church has a long history as a pioneer in social involvement; and that the church, unlike any other “civil institution”, enjoys credibility and trust from the majority of people on the globe. This assumption strengthens the hypothesis that the church can be a reliable, worthy and valued catalyst for community development within the social development paradigm. This dissertation consciously avoids the naivety of ignoring the challenges that accompany this premise. Whilst Chapter 5 acknowledges the ceaseless involvement of the church in the development domain, Chapter 6 unpacks the theological impact of these challenges on the practical daily life and essence of the church. It seeks to demonstrate theologically what it means to be church in our day and age. Against the background of the preceding chapters, and mindful of the fact that no study can claim absolutism, Chapter 7 concludes this study by making some practical suggestions and recommendations that could be helpful for local government, the church and those with an interest in community development. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Dit is nie maklik om oor gemeenskapsontwikkeling te praat nie want dit is ‘n wye term wat gebruik word deur akademici, gemeenskapsleiers, besorgde landsburgers, godsdiensgroepe, en ook deur mense wat bloot belang stel in die welsyn van hul medemens. Al hierdie groepe het moontlik hul eie persepsie van wat gemeenskapsontwikkeling is of behoort te wees. Tans is daar baie nuwe stemme wat hul uitspreek ten gunste van die opheffing van die gemarginaliseerde mense op die grense van die samelewing. Uit regeringskringe kom daar ‘n rits van inisiatiewe (waarvan geïntegreerde ontwikkeling slegs een is) wat gemeenskapsontwikkeling ten doel het en inividue wil bemagtig ten einde verandering in hulle gemeenskap te bewerkstellig. Die onderliggende prinsiep is dat daar in elke gemeenskap ‘n skat van kennis en ondervinding is wat, indien dit op ‘n kreatiewe wyse aangewend word, gekanaliseer kan word in kollektiewe aksie ten einde die gewenste doel te kan bereik: om tot voordeel van die gemeenskap te wees. Ongelukkig het die meerderheid van die mense wat tot die armer segment van die bevolking behoort nog steeds nie toegang tot die volle potensiaal van hierdie inisiatiewe nie. Armoede in al sy gestaltes is nog steeds wydverspreid, en die mense wat dit die ergste ondervind, is diegene wat in “klein dorpe” woon. Die eerste deel van hierdie studie probeer om gemeenskapsontwikkeling in so ‘n dorpsomgewing, die Baviaans Munisipale Gebied aan te spreek. Dit poog om die mense se “stem” te laat hoor, ten einde dit vir hulle moontlik te maak om in beheer te wees van hulle eie ontwikkeling. Dit word in Hoofstuk 4 geïllustreer. Die studie gee ook ‘n geleentheid aan mense in klein dorpies om die akademiese retoriek rondom armoede te verbreek en hulle stemme te laat hoor betreffende hierdie sosiale euwel (Hoofstuk 3). In hierdie hoofstuk leer gewone mense om “op te hou om nie te praat nie”. Die tweede segment van hierdie verhandeling bou voort op die empiriese bevindinge van die eerste segment, deur na te speur hoe gemeenskapsontwikkeling die kerk uitgedaag het om kerk te wees. Dit gee erkenning aan die feit dat die kerk ‘n lang geskiedenis as pionier in sosiale betrokkenheid het, asook die feit dat die kerk, anders as sommige ander gemeenskaps-instellings, geloofwaardigheid en vertroue geniet in die oë van die meerderheid van mense . Hierdie aanvaarding versterk die hipotese dat die kerk ‘n betroubare, waardige en waardevolle katalis vir gemeenskapsontwikkeling binne die sosiale ontwikkelingsparadigma kan wees. Dit sou naief wees om die uitdagings wat deel van die premis (uitgangspunt) is, te ignoreer, en hierdie verhandeling vermy dit doelbewus. Hoofstuk 5 gee erkenning aan die onophoudelike betrokkenheid van die kerk in die ontwikkelingsdomein. Hoofstuk 6 verwys na die teologiese impak van hierdie uitdagings op die praktiese daaglikse lewe en essensie van die kerk. Dit poog om in teologiese terme te wys wat dit deesdae beteken om kerk te wees. Teen die agtergrond van die voorafgaande hoofstukke, en bewus van die feit dat geen studie op absolutisme aanspraak kan maak nie, word hierdie studie afgesluit deur Hoofstuk 7, met ‘n paar praktiese voorstelle en aanbevelings betreffende wat van nut mag wees vir plaaslike regering, die kerk, en almal vir wie gemeenskapsontwikkeling belangrik is.

Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Hungarian psychiatrist, Ivan Boszormenyi-Nagy developed Contextual therapy from the systems-approach in family therapy during the previous millennium. He distinguish himself in the field of psychology with his relational ethics, bringing ethics into play within his approach. When you look at someone you have to look deeper or past what is in sight. The person you see has an address. He/she comes from somewhere, is the son or daughter of a man and a woman and is linked to them with ‘n chord of loyalty that cannot be broken. They didn’t choose each other, yet it is a connectedness for life. It orientates the individual and launches him/her into life. This man and woman are then again the son and daughter of a man and a woman and so we can stretch back into past generations. Each individual on earth is somehow wove into this fabric of relations and in each relation is a dynamic process of give and take at stake – or not. Where there is reciprocity in relations concerning this balance in give and receive there is growth and a nurturing environment. The opposite is unfortunately also a reality. Then people wound and exploit each other. It is therefore true of every individual on earth that he/she brings with him/her baggage from his/her place of origin. It comes from far. Each one has a context – a context where he/she could excel in developing his/her unique identity or a background of pain, suffering and discrimination. Therefore, do not judge people from the outside. What you see and what you make out of the situation or the person is your perception. You make an object of the person, a thing, and go around him/her with all your prejudices and opinions. That is not the authentic other. It is your image of him/her. Rather allow them to introduce themselves to you. In a meeting like that, in the moment of meeting, something cataclysmic happens and opens new horizons. But this is only possible when you attend to the other in an empathic way, recognizing his/her connectedness to his/her origins and the people who played major roles in ‘shaping and molding the clay’. They also become your conversation partners. With an attitude of multi-directed partiality you become trustworthy. This is where ‘ethics’ happens in relationships (Nagy). Even in the broader community these core values can be lived because each person has an address and comes from somewhere and is on ‘n journey towards the future. When people see and recognized each other it is simultaneously an invite to a dialogue, a meeting. This is the only way to meet someone in the present because he/she can converse with words and images and thoughts and this is the only way you meet the ‘real’ other and together you can journey onwards to tomorrow. This should also be true inside the church. This is the Good News. We are created as relational beings and are being called upon to acknowledge each other, respect each other, be able to forgive each other and take hands in unity. It is all about the justice of the human order. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Hongaarse psigiater, Ivan Boszormenyi-Nagy ontwikkel sy Kontekstuele terapie vanuit die sisteem-benadering in familie-terapie in die vorige eeu. Hy onderskei hom daarin dat hy ‘n etiese dimensie inbring in die psigoterapeutiese proses met gesinne en hy noem dit – relasionele etiek Wanneer jy na iemand kyk, sê hy, moet jy nie net dit sien wat jy sien nie – die uiterlike. Die persoon voor jou het ‘n adres. Hy/sy kom van êrens. Hy/sy is immers die kind van twee mense wat hom/haar verwek het. Hy/sy is aan hulle verbonde met ‘n onbreekbare band van lojaliteit. Lojaliteit is ‘n bestaansgegewe. Jy kan nooit nie lojaal wees aan jou ouers nie. Jy is ongekies verbind aan hulle – ‘n verbondenheid vir die lewe. Dit is jou oriënteringskema. Dit is leweskenkend Maar hulle op hulle beurt is ook die seun en dogter van ‘n man en ‘n vrou en so kan teruggegaan word in generasies in. Binne hierdie netwerk van relasies is elke individu ingeweef en binne hierdie weefsel is hy/sy deel van ‘n dinamiese gebeure van gee en ontvang wat aan die een kant opbou en sorg en groei bewerk maar aan die anderkant ook destruktief kan wees daarin dat dit kwes en verwond. Van elke individu op hierdie aardmantel kan gesê word dat hy/sy onuitwisbaar bagasie dra wat hy/sy ontvang het in hul huis van afkoms. Dit kom van vêr. Elkeen het ‘n konteks – konteks waar daar paslik gegee en ontvang is of ‘n konteks waar daar te korte aan die orde van die dag was in terme van die balanse van gee en neem. Daarom moet jy geen mens bloot op die uiterlike oordeel nie. Wat jy sien en wat jy dink aangaande die persoon is ‘n persepsie. Dit is jou beeld waarmee jy die ander objektiveer. Ruimte moet eerder gegee word dat die ander hom/haar in hul outentiekheid aan jou voorstel. In daardie moment gebeur daar ‘n ontmoeting wat verreikend is met die oog op die toekoms. Dit vra egter sagte oë en empatiese luister want die persoon het ‘n adres en almal met wie hy/sy verbind is moet by wyse van spreke ook jou gespreksmaats word ten einde die persoon voor jou te verstaan en te ontvang. So gedoen met ’n houding van meersydige partydigheid word jy betroubaar voor jou naaste. Dit is waar ‘etiek’ gebeur aldus Nagy. Wanneer mense buite die gesin om in breër verband na mekaar uitreik, geld dieselfde grondbeginsels. Almal kom van êrens en is oppad na die toekoms. Wanneer hulle mekaar raaksien en erken , nooi hulle mekaar uit tot ‘n gesprek, ‘n dialoog,. ‘n ontmoeting. Só alleen ontmoet jy die werklike ander in die hede want hy/sy kan praat en ek kan hom/haar hoor sodat my beeld van hom/haar geskiedenis word en ons vanuit die hede verder aamstap na môre. Binne die kerk behoort dit wat hier geskrywe staan geensins grieks te wees nie. Dit is immers die evangelie. Menswees is saamwees met ander en die saamwees met ander vra vir ‘n houding van onvoorwaardelike aanvaarding, respek, begrip, vergifnis en oorgawe. So alleen word die reg gevoed en instand gehou in die menslike samesyn. Bo alles vra dit dat ek die ander sal raak sien.

Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The basic purpose of the current study was to provide a means by which both peri-urban and rural communities could promote sustainability in their communities. The research was, hence, undertaken with the above-mentioned social purpose in mind, which was to promote people’s well-being through applying measures that promote social justice and human empowerment. Such research was necessary in respect of the church’s involvement in terms of applying ethical and socially transformative measures, particularly within the South African context, with its increasing levels of unemployment, corruption, poverty, vandalism, and violent riots. The research attempted to provide communities, churches and development agents with measures that they could apply to sustain community development. The study took the form of reviewing literature, and then of proposing a paradigm shift affirming freedom and participation as the means by which sustainable outcomes can be achieved. Ideally, such a shift could contribute to all involved becoming accountable for their actions, due to the fact that the whole community is then likely to identify itself with the development concerned. The church’s role in the shift would involve responding to the call to be the voice and the hand that reveals the whole counsel of God, which it would be able to do by making use of the contemporary measures put in place for promoting people’s well-being. The current study affirms that the agents, the government structures and the church should work together, although they have different agendas. The agenda of the church is for the glory of God and for the well-being of the people of God, and that of the government and other agents is the provision of infrastructure, in terms of goods and services. The desire for such cooperation lies in the awareness that, if anything goes wrong, we all suffer. Therefore, it is only right that we should all be stewards of what we have as a community, as the roleplayers in a government, and as a church. However, to achieve all the above, we all need to be empowered, one by the other, so that we are able to complement one another’s efforts, by working in harmony with one another. Such mutual empowerment is to be done in the name of bringing about the well-being of all, and the promotion of a communal form of participation that encourages poverty alleviation and human dignity. This study is based on an analysis of the church, as well as of the nature of community development that has, as its essence, a reliance on the redemptive act of God, which affirms people's dignity and sense of self-worth. Such a conceptualisation agrees with the proposed paradigm shift that suggests freedom and participation as being the key principles of our development. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die hoofdoel van die onderhawige studie was om ’n metode te voorsien waarop buitestedelike en landelike gemeenskappe hul eie volhoubaarheid kan bevorder. Dus is die navorsing onderneem met die oog daarop om mense se welstand te verbeter deur maatreëls aan te wend wat maatskaplike geregtigheid en bemagtiging aanmoedig. Die navorsing was bepaald nodig wat betref die kerk se betrokkenheid by die toepassing van etiese en maatskaplike transformasiemaatreëls, veral in Suid-Afrika, wat gebuk gaan onder toenemende vlakke van werkloosheid, korrupsie, armoede, vandalisme en gewelddadige protes. Die navorsing het gemeenskappe, kerke en ontwikkelingsagente probeer toerus met maatreëls waarmee hulle gemeenskapsontwikkeling kan ondersteun. Die studie bestaan eerstens uit ’n literatuuroorsig, na aanleiding waarvan ’n paradigmaskuif voorgestel word wat vryheid en deelname voorhou as instrumente om volhoubare uitkomste te bereik. Ideaal beskou, behoort so ’n verskuiwing daartoe by te dra dat alle betrokkenes aanspreeklikheid vir hul optrede aanvaar, aangesien die hele gemeenskap hulle dan waarskynlik met die tersaaklike ontwikkeling sal kan vereenselwig. Die kerk se rol in hierdie verskuiwing sal wees om te reageer op die oproep om die stem en hand te wees wat God se volmaakte plan onthul. Dít sal die kerk bereik deur gebruik te maak van bestaande eietydse maatreëls om mense se welstand te bevorder. Die studie bevestig dat agente, staatstrukture en die kerk behoort saam te werk, selfs al verskil hul agendas. Die kerk se agenda is die verheerliking van God en die welstand van die mense van God; die regering en ander agente s’n is die voorsiening van infrastruktuur wat betref goedere en dienste. Die belang van sodanige samewerking lê in die besef dat indien enigiets sou skeefloop, almal swaarkry. Daarom is dit niks minder as reg nie dat almal rentmeesters sal wees van wat hulle as ’n gemeenskap, as rolspelers in die regering én as ’n kerk het. Om ál bogenoemde te bereik, moet almal egter bemagtig word – die een deur die ander – sodat hulle mekaar se pogings kan aanvul deur in eensgesindheid saam te werk. Sulke onderlinge bemagtiging behoort te geskied om vir almal welstand te verseker en ’n gemeenskaplike vorm van deelname aan te moedig wat armoedeverligting en menswaardigheid teweegbring. Die studie is gegrond op ’n ontleding van die kerk sowel as van gemeenskapsontwikkeling wat berus op vertroue in die verlossing van God, wat mense se waardigheid en gevoel van selfwaarde bekragtig. Sodanige konseptualisasie strook met die voorgestelde paradigmaskuif wat vryheid en deelname as die kernbeginsels van menslike ontwikkeling voorhou.

Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research began because of a concern that most Korean churches are not applying sense-appealing images in sermons. Only a number of Korean churches make use of sense-appealing images in sermons and this context promotes many problems. The applying of the sense-appealing images in sermons would be able to remedy the problem that the Korean preachers have, as it could be a solution to using a method when preaching to the younger generation. Presently, many youth group leaders of preachers have a challenging experience because of the communication difficulty between them and the youths. The younger generation finds the sermons tedious and uninteresting because of the preacher‘s monotonous pattern and traditional format of the sermons. These traditional types of sermons cause various issues between the preachers and the younger generation. / AFRIKKANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsing het begin uit die kommer dat meeste Koreaanse kerke nie beelde in preke ontplooi wat die sintuie aangryp nie. Slegs enkele Koreaanse kerke maak gebruik van sintuiglike-aanlokkende beelde in kerke en hierdie tipe konteks lei tot vele probleme. Die toepassing van sintuiglike-aanlokkende beelde in preke sal die probleem wat Koreaanse predikers het oplos, aangesien dit die oplossing kan wees met die oog op 'n metode om vir die jonger generasie te preek. Baie leiers van jeuggroepe of predikers beleef vandag die uitdagende ervaring vanweë die problematiese kommunikasie tussen hulle en die jeug. Die jonger generasie vind die preke vervelig en oninteressant as gevolg van die prediker se monotone aanbieding en die tradisionele formaat van die preke. Hierdie tradisionele tipe preke lei tot verskeie twispunte tussen die predikers en die jonger generasie.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Several disciplines and scholars in the interdisciplinary field of Missiology and Science of Religions are probing the concept of ‘mutual social trust’. This research provides an exploratory and descriptive study of 1,516 individual Christians and Muslims in Nigeria, with a focus on whether religious participation is fostering mutual social trust among the ‘religious Other’. This research engages Pew’s data to show the extent to which active religious participation in and outside Christian denominations and the Ummah (Muslim Community) in Nigeria fosters mutual social trust and the reasons for this. This is interpreted in order to find out if the results have implications and could be a catalyst for affirming and promoting the human dignity of the ‘religious other’. Statistical significance is an indicator of what respondents sometimes assume is expected of them (ideal situation), and hence, the reason why a practical significance compares statistics with praxis. The data is interpreted from a statistical and practical significance perspective. The first objective is to present similar research outputs, side by side, with how the data set used in this thesis has been investigated to address the research questions, hypotheses and research objectives. The second objective is to highlight areas of agreement, and if there are any discrepancies in the findings of this research, when compared to other studies. This study is an exploratory and descriptive research, which attempts to answer the questions such as “who, what, where, when or how and why?” A stratified random sample from all the seven geo-political regions, which are proportional to the population size and urban/rural population in Nigeria, was selected. One thousand five hundred and sixteen adults over the age of 18 years were interviewed by Pew Forum on ‘Religion and Public Life’, using English, Hausa, Yoruba and Pidgin languages. This sample was considered nationally representative of the Nigerian adult population. The findings indicate that a high level of uncertainty and tension exists among Christians and Muslims with regards to trusting one another in the Nigerian context. This kind of tension leads to violence and constant clashes, resulting in the kind of experiences between Muslim and Christians, recorded in recent times. The Muslims and Christians in Nigeria have had a long history of misunderstandings and through these collective learning processes; they have reached a point that the evolving and changing patterns of trust indicates their way of coping with the situation. Trust in this situation impacts on society as a “consensual reality,” which reflects on the group behavior. A new survival order is created, which makes the situation messy at times, and seemingly out of control. These findings support the notion that trust has an individual property and is also a social system. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Verskillende dissiplines en akedemici in die interdissiplinêre veld van Missologie en wetenskap van Godsdienste is besig om die konsep van gemeenskaplike sosiale vertroue te ondersoek. Hierdie studie voorsien ondersoekende en beskrywende navorsing van 1,516 individuele Christene en Moslems in Nigerië met ‘n fokus op die deelname in godsdiens as ‘n middel om gemeenskaplike sosiale vertroue te kweek onder die “godsdienstige ander”. Statistiese beduidenheid is ‘n indikator van hoe respondente voel hulle moet optree (ideale situasie) en dit is hoekom dit prakties belangrik is om die statistieke te vergelyk met die praktyk. Die data is geinterpreteer vanaf ‘n statistiese en praktiese beduidenheidsperspektief. Die doelwit van hierdie studie is om die studiemateriaal sy aan sy weer te gee met die data middele wat gebruik is om die studievraag, die hipotese en die studie objektiewe te beantwoord. Die tweede doelwit is om die ooreenkomste en verskille van die navorsing se bevindinge te vergelyk met ander studies. Hierdie studie wat ondersoekend en ook beskrywend is, streef daarna om die vraag na wie, wat, waar, wanneer , hoe en hoekom te beantwoord. ‘n Multidemensionele, nie-geordende voorbeeld van al sewe geo-politieke areas wat in ooreenstemming is met die grotte van die kevolking en stedelike/landelike populasie in Nigerië, was gekies. Pew Forum het onder haude gevoer met een duisend vyf handerd en sestien volwassenes over as 18 ‘jaar oor ‘Godsdiens en die publieke lewe’ met die gebruik van Engels, Hausa, Yoruba and Pidgin tale. Hierdie proefneming was gevind as die algemene siening in Nigerië onder volwasenes. Die bevindinge het aangedui dat daar ‘n groot hoeveelheid onsekerheid en spanning onder die Christene en die Moslems in die Nigeriese konteks is, omdat hulle nie mekaar vertrou nie. Hierdie tipe spanning lei tot geweld en konstante konflik, wat oorloop tot die situasies wat onlangs deur die media gedokumenteer is. Die Moslems en Christene in Nigerië het ‘n lang geskiedenis van misverstande en deur hierdie gesamentlike leerproses het hulle ‘n punt bereik waar die groei en veranderende patrone van hulle vertroue hul eie manier van die situasie hantees, aandui. Vertroue in hierdie situasie oefen die rol van “ooreengekome realiteit” uit, wat die gedrag van die groep reflekteer. ‘n Nuwe oorlewings meganisme is geskep wat die situasie by tye chaoties laat lyk. Hierdie bevindinge bied ondersteuning dat vertroue ‘n individuele aspek bevat en ‘n sosiale systeem is.

Thesis (MTh (Old and New Testament))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / The aim of this thesis is to explore the trends that are found in commentaries on the book of Exodus and their appropriateness in the African context. The study also seeks to move from a socio-political understanding of Exodus as liberation theology to the cultural understanding of Exodus as African theology. The following three trends are found in modern commentaries on Exodus as explored by this thesis: • Historical-critical approach – dealing with the world behind the text or author centred criticism. Commentaries found under this group include those of M Noth (1962), TE Fretheim (1990), N Sarna (1991), B S Childs (1977) and WHC Propp (1999). • Literary-critical approach – this deals with the text itself or it is text centred. Commentaries found in this category include: W Brueggemann (1994), J G Janzen (1997) and C Houtman (1993). • Theological-critical approach – deals with the world in front of the text. Commentaries of GV Pixley (1987), J Durham (1987) and G Ashby (1998) are good examples of the latter named approach. Exploration into the study of the above listed three trends and their corresponding modern commentaries show that the commentaries are not fully appropriate in the context of Africa (except Ashby). This is so because the above modern commentaries have not directly addressed the ongoing issues of poverty, political, economic, oppression, marginalization, HIV / AIDS, cultural and social issues, famine, racial and sex discrimination, religious crises, and other epidemics and natural disasters prominently found in Africa - particularly among the third world countries. The modern commentaries mentioned above are indirectly relevant for Africa since the topics which they address, resonate with the readers and interpreters of Exodus in Africa. This resonance is possible if readers and interpreters of Exodus in Africa find similarities between modern commentaries and their own current context. The study also shows that the three trends found in modern commentaries on Exodus are dependent on one another to bring forth a meaningful interpretation. Based on this working relationship between the three trends mentioned above, it is suggested that the three trends should be considered in close connection with one another. Biblical interpretation in Africa must do justice to the literary, historical and theological aspects of the Bible to be meaningful and appropriate in Africa.

Thesis (MPhil (Old and New Testament. Bible Interpretation))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / This study deals with discipleship as a challenge to the church in the twenty first century, with the Gospel of Mark as a starting-point. Discipleship is after all the heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It embraces the whole of the church’s existence; identity and integrity. Evans (2001:30) exclaims: “To be a true disciple, one must accept the fate of the Master; and the Master’s fate is inextricably bound up with his identity, purpose, and mission. True Discipleship cannot emerge in isolation from true Christology.”

Thesis (MPhil (Old and New Testament))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / The earliest written reference to the “Day of the Lord” is found in the book of Amos. Throughout the prophets, especially the Minor Prophets, the term becomes something of a Leitmotiv, either in those words or in abbreviations such as “that day”. The “Day of the Lord” was to be one of judgement on the enemies of Yahweh. Such judgement in Israelite thought applied to Israelite enemies. To be an enemy of Israel was to be an enemy of God since the Israelites were God’s chosen people. Shockingly, Amos included both Israel and Judah amongst his list of the nations God had declared he would punish. Judgement implied God’s wrath and punishment. This is variously depicted metaphorically as warfare, locust invasions, drought, fire and seismic events. Nations to be punished were those who warred against the Israelite kingdoms. Either they had been part of the Israelite mini-empire under David and Solomon and had broken political covenant, or, like Assyria and Babylon, they had practised cruelty against the people of God and against their other subject nations. The kingdoms of Judah and Israel were to be punished because they had broken the Sinai Covenant by becoming involved in worshipping images of the gods of the surrounding nations. Symbols of these gods were even set up in the Jerusalem Temple. They involved fertility cults which often practised temple prostitution. The Sinai laws were further disobeyed by the Israelites, who ignored ill-treatment of the poor, widows, orphans and aliens. While Amos was aware of the inevitability of judgement, others, like Hosea, were aware of God’s love. God longed for his people to repent and receive blessing. This created a tension in Israelite theology between the need for judgement, which God’s greatness and holiness required and God’s love, which desires to forgive and save. True repentance will bring forgiveness and salvation. Punishment may have to be endured, for example the Babylonian exile, but God will lead his people to salvation. An analysis of judgement and salvation being reconciled on the “Day of the Lord” is first made by looking at the Minor Prophets in a historical and literary context and then how redaction sought to form them into a nified “Book of the Twelve”. In doing so, various critical methods, especially Form Criticism and Canonical Criticism are discussed. In the “Book of the Twelve” the “Day of the Lord” proves to be the occasion when judgement and salvation occur. Judgement is necessary since it leads to acknowledgement of sin and repentance. Only the innocent and the repentant are saved. This involves a remnant of Israel and, later also applies to a gentile remnant which acknowledges YHWH. Eschatologically, the “Day of the Lord”, at first, seems imminent. Later it is seen as a future event under God’s control. At first it is believed the “Day” will usher in destruction of Israel’s enemies, the re-establishment of a united kingdom under a descendant of David and an everlasting time of peace and prosperity, free from control by enemy nations, from apostasy and social injustice. After the defeats of the Kingdom of Israel in the 8th century by Assyria and of Judah in the 6tth by the Babylonians, YHWH is understood as being the God of all nations who will use powerful (and sinful) nations to punish his people, while at the same time preparing their punishment at the hands of other nations. So Assyria is conquered by Babylon and Babylon by the Chaldeans. For many, after the return from Babylonian exile, salvation seems to have been accomplished. The failure of expectations after the return leads to the “Day of the Lord” being seen as an even more distant event. It begins to take on apocalyptic overtones and becomes a moment at the end of time when there is judgement with salvation for the faithful and repentant. God’s eternal reign is inaugurated. Belief in salvation is beginning to move from deliverance being part of earthly life to otherworldly existence with God . The seeming failure of the prophetic earthly ideal may have led to the end of prophecy as a recorded scriptural genre and to the redaction of that genre in post-prophetic times to bring the “Book of the Twelve” into line with contemporary deuteronomistic and priestly outlooks. The Israelite view of the “Day of the Lord” has become a belief that on that “Day” there will be judgement for those who have not repented and at the same time salvation for a remnant which has either remained faithful or has repented. It will usher in an eternal time of divine blessing for the saved who will be a new Israel. Sin leads to God’s earthly punishment. If there is no repentance, judgement becomes eternal.

Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Prosperity is an important theme in scripture and there is great diversity of perspectives regarding the place of wealth in the life of God’s people. This diversity is reflected in the variety of theological responses to wealth in the church, but the importance of this subject is not reflected in scholarship. Attempts to develop a positive theology of prosperity that does justice to the biblical data are surprisingly rare. There is a need for a careful biblical theology of prosperity. This study aims to lay the foundation of a fuller biblical theology, showing that conflicting biblical views of blessing, prosperity, and wealth can be unified if proper attention is given to certain roles, namely: blessing belongs within a God-man relationship defined by His grace and our dependence; the Promised Land is the exclusive environment in which blessing is promised; and blessing is not given mechanically while sin threatens, but rather the relationship must be forged through testing. This study is only the beginning of a biblical theology of prosperity, examining these roles by means of careful exegesis of four key chapters in the Old Testament from a range of bodies of literature. Firstly, the study of Genesis 12 shows that blessing is graciously offered to Abram as God’s response to the curse that accumulates through Genesis 1-11, and that blessing is intended to extend to the whole world. The blessings are based on a new God-man relationship into which Abram is called, but Abram immediately experiences the complexity of that relationship: though he acts faithfully, he meets with testing rather than prosperity, and this prompts his dependence upon God to falter. Deuteronomy 6 emphasises that covenant faithfulness is the guardian of the God-man relationship in which blessing is found. However, covenant-keeping does not merit favour; the chapter puts undeserved redemption from Egypt – grace – at its centre as the motivation of obedience. Jeremiah 32 is set in the midst of God’s enactment of curses that were promised for disobedience. However, out of the nation’s hopelessness, God speaks words of grace, consolation and New Covenant, a covenant in which hearts will not forget YHWH and blessing can be given unreservedly. Finally, Psalm 128 connects wisdom language (showing that fear of YHWH is the wise way of life that brings prosperity) with priestly blessing language (focusing the eyes of the blessed on the Giver). While God prospers those who fear Him, prosperity always operates within a complex relationship of grace and dependence. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Voorspoed is ‘n belangrike tema in die Bybel en daar is ‘n groot verskeidenheid perspektiewe op die plek wat rykdom in die lewe van die volk van God inneem. Hierdie diversiteit word gereflekteer in die verskeidenheid van teologiese reaksies op rykdom in die kerk, maar die belang van hierdie onderwerp word nie in huidige navorsing gereflekteer nie. Pogings om ‘n positiewe voorspoedsteologie te ontwikkel wat reg laat geskied aan die Bybelse gegewens is verbasend skaars. Daar is ‘n behoefte aan ‘n noukeurige Bybelse voorspoedsteologie. Hierdie studie beoog om die grondslag te lê vir ‘n meer omvattende Bybelse teologie, wat reg laat geskied aan die teenstrydige Bybelse beskouings oor seëning, voorspoed en rykdom deur behoorlike aandag te skenk aan bepaalde verhoudings: seëning vorm deel van ‘n God-mens verhouding wat gedefinieer word deur God se genade en die mens se afhanklikheid; die Beloofde Land is die eksklusiewe omgewing waarbinne seëning beloof word; en seëning word nie outomaties verskaf wanneer sonde dreig nie, maar dit vorm deel van ‘n verhouding wat deur beproewing gelouter is. Die studie is slegs die begin van ‘n Bybelse voorspoedsteologie, waarvolgens die verskillende verhoudings deur middel van noukeurige eksegese van vier sleutelhoofstukke in die Ou Testament plaasvind. Ten eerste, die studie van Genesis 12 toon dat seëning vanuit genade aan Abraham deur God geskenk word as ‘n reaksie op die vervloeking wat in Genesis 1-11 opgebou het, en dat die seëning bedoel was om na die hele wêreld uit te brei. Die seëninge word gebaseer op ‘n nuwe verhouding tussen God en mens waartoe Abram geroep is, maar dat Abram onmiddelik die ingewikkeldheid van die verhouding beleef: hoewel hy gelowig optree, ervaar hy meer beproewing as voorspoed, en dit gee aanleiding dat sy afhanklikheid van God begin wankel. Vervolgens, Deuteronomium 6 beklemtoon dat getrouheid aan die verbond die verhouding tussen God-en-mens bewaar te midde waarvan die seëning gevind word. Tog, word die hou van die verbond nie ‘n manier om guns te verdien nie; die betrokke hoofstuk plaas die onverdiende en genadige verlossing vanuit Egipte in die sentrum van die motivering van gehoorsaamheid. Jeremia 32 word geplaas in die midde van God se uitvoering van vervloeking wat beloof was in reaksie op ongehoorsaamheid. Tog, te midde van die volk se gebrek aan hoop, spreek God sy woorde van genade, troos en ‘n Nuwe Verbond, ‘n verbond waarbinne JHWH nie vergeet sal word nie en waar seëning sonder voorbehoud geskenk kan word. Ten slotte, Psalm 128 lê ‘n verband tussen wysheidsuitsprake (wat aantoon dat die vrees van JHWH die verstandige lewenswyse is wat tot voorspoed lei) en priesterlike seëning bewerkstellig (wat die fokus van die geseënde op God as Gewer rig). Hoewel God voorspoed skenk aan die wie Hom vrees, funksioneer voorspoed altyd binne die komplekse verhouding van genade en afhanklikheid. / jme2013