This study describes and analyses lay training programmes at Mindolo Ecumenical Foundation (MEF) with emphasis on: Women's Training; Conference, Research and Development; and Youth Leadership. Mindolo is seen as an expression of the church's presence in society and a symbol of hope, peace and reconciliation. Lay training programmes at Mindolo aim at equipping Christians to act as 'leaven', salt and 'light' in society. The values and morals of the African people could be the basis of such teaching. The study discusses how the term 'laity' has negative implications such as regarding the laity as non-competent or specialist because they are not priests or theologians. It illustrates that although the majority of Christians are women, leadership in the church is dominated by men. The study illustrates how critical it is for Mindolo to evaluate its original vision in light of current challenges and promises. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / MA (Religious Studies)

This thesis deals with the pastoral and social work in prison service. In the theoratical part I focus on European trends in prison service in some European countries and in the Czech Republic, on the mission and tasks of prison pastoral services, particularly the sense and practice of pastoral service in prison service. I outline all Churches working in prison pastoral service, the possibilities of their work in prison {--} mainly legislation. I describe the ecumenical process in prison service. The work also describes social work with people under custody or sentence, and finally the Code of Ethics of social workers in the Czech Republic. The practical part concerns the opinions and experience of chaplains working in prison pastoral care.

It is widely accepted, amongst epistemologists, that evidence plays an important role in our epistemic life. Crucially, there is no agreement on what evidence is. Following Silins, we can cash out the disagreement around the notion of evidence in terms of the opposition between Evidential Internalism and Evidential Externalism (Silins, 2005). Evidential internalists claim that evidence supervenes on one's non-factive mental states, such as, beliefs, impressions (BonJour, 1999, Audi, 2001). Evidential Externalists deny that. In this Thesis, first, I contrastively assess the plausibility of two prominent contemporary externalist theories: Duncan Pritchard's Epistemological Disjunctivism, the thesis on which one's evidence in perceptual cases is truth-entailing and reflectively accessible (Pritchard, 2012), and Timothy Williamson's E=K, the thesis on which one's evidence is all and only the propositions one knows (Williamson, 2000). Second, I develop a novel externalist account of evidence that I call Ecumenical Evidentialism. I show how Ecumenical Evidentialism is able to bring together some of the benefits of both Pritchard's Disjunctivism and Williamson's E=K. This Thesis is structured into three sections, each of which addresses the following three questions respectively: Does the Access Problem represent a real threat to Evidential Externalism? Is Evidential Externalism committed to a sceptical variety of Infallibilism? How does Evidential Externalism understand the relation between evidence and epistemic justification? I argue that neither Epistemological Disjunctivism nor E=K are fully satisfying Externalist accounts of evidence. On one hand, I argue that Disjunctivism captures the orthodox intuition on which justification is a matter of being evidence-responsive, but it does so on pain of facing the so-called Access Problem. On the other hand, by rejecting any strong accessibility thesis, Williamson's E=K is better positioned to resist both the Access Problem as well as the Infallibility Problem, but it does not vindicate the orthodox intuition on which justification is a matter of being evidence-responsive. Finally, I show that, while retaining the main commitments of Williamson's theory of evidence, such as, E=K, my Ecumenical Evidentialism is able to capture the orthodox responsiveness intuition about epistemic justification.

Religious diversity is the inevitable corollary of globalization and with it comes the challenge and opportunities of greatly increased interaction with religious Others. The United States was founded on an Anglo-Saxon Protestant basis but has now become "the world’s most religiously diverse nation" according to one Harvard religious studies scholar. To deal with this development, American thinkers, mainly Christians, have devoted a good deal of scholarship in the past three to four decades construing strategies how to meet and interact with the religious Other. During the 70’s and 80’s, a typology of exclusivism, inclusivism and pluralism was developed by Christians as a response to religious diversity. Many see today that it is a necessity to find an alternative to hostility and violence and therefore dialogue is the order of the day. Since Christians are still by far the largest faith-group, and the US has economic resources, US Christians have a natural predominance in dialogue. Is that good or bad from the stand point of the minority Other? One such minority is a major sub-division of Hinduism, namely Vaishnavism. Christian-Vaishnava dialogue in the US is a new phenomenon in the past two decades and an emerging minority representative is a globalized Vaishnava organization ISKCON, popularly known as the Hare Krishna movement, which has its Western roots in the counter-culture of the 1960’s. While ISKCON struggled for legitimacy in the 70’s and ‘80’s, it has in recent decades become a major factor in Hindu and especially Vaisnava representation. How American Christians respond today to Vaishnava dialogue and how this typology arose and functions as a theoretical basis for the on-going development of Christian-Vaishnava dialogue is the subject of this action-research minor field study.

Thesis (doctoral)--Universität, Hannover, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--Indiana University, 2008. / Title from screen (viewed on July 7, 2008). Department of Philanthropic Studies, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). Advisor(s): Dwight F. Burlingame, Leslie Lenkowsky, Martha I. Pallante. Includes vitae. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 66-69).

Este trabalho busca analisar o discurso sociopolítico e religioso apresentado por grupos de jovens envolvidos com a Rede Ecumênica de Juventude REJU , e o Monitoramento Jovem de Políticas Públicas MJPOP, a partir do bairro de Santo Aleixo, Jaboatão dos Guararapes PE; essas juventudes, interligadas em Rede, aparentam apresentar uma militância religiosa engajada com as causas sociais, a partir de um a reflexão sociopolítica de incidência de suas realidades. Em seus discursos, parecem apresentar, como prioridade , a melhoria do coletivo da cidade apresentada a partir do olhar de quem vive na periferia. Também, em diálogo com outros movimentos religiosos, de cunho mais conservador e voltados para jovens de linha protestante e carismática, analisaremos essas posições religiosas e políticas a partir do método pecheutiana de análise do discurso. Sobretudo, no trato de temas ligados as garantias de políticas públicas voltadas para as juventudes brasileiras e na garantia dos Direitos Humanos. Inicialmente, apresentaremos para análise dois vídeos, produzidos e disponibilizados nas redes sociais Facebook.com e Youtube.com feitos de maneira amadora onde se faz uma reflexão sociopolítica e ecológica ligando aos princípios do ecumenismo, do diálogo inter-religioso e ecológico. Ao mesmo tempo, o trabalho busca apresentar como essa discussão sociopolítica, vivenciada no espaço virtual e interligada aos espaços religiosos, é apresentada e influencia nos posicionamentos políticos e religiosos dessas juventudes a partir dos seus respectivos espaços de fé. / This study aims to analyze the socio-political and religious discourses presented by youth groups involved with the Ecumenical Network of Youth Reju [Rede Ecumênica de Juventude] -and Youth Monitoring of Public Policies MJPOP [Monitoramento Jovem de Políticas Públicas], in Santo Aleixo, Jaboatãodos Guararapes Pernambuco State; these young peoples groups, interconnected in a network, seem to present a religious militancy engaged with social causes, from a socio-political reflection of incidence in their realities. In their speeches, they seem to have as a priority the improvement of the citys collectivity presented through the eyes of those who live on the outskirts. Also, in dialogue with other religious movements, of more conservative nature and focused on young people from protestant and charismatic lines, we will analyze these religious and political positions from Pecheuxs method of discourse analysis. Especially dealing with issues related to the guarantees of public policies for the Brazilian youth and ensuring human rights. Initially, we will present the analysis of two videos, produced and made available on social networks - Facebook.com and Youtube.com produced in an amateur way, where a socio-political and ecological reflection is done linking the principles of ecumenism, interreligious and ecological dialogues. At the same time, the study aims to present how this socio-political discussion, experienced in a virtual space and linked to religious spaces is presented and influence on political and religious positions of these young people from their respective spaces of faith.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-01T18:12:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 izaias_torquato_silva.pdf: 2462101 bytes, checksum: 9da185140c975a37899f35828af84a1f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-12-15 / This study aims to analyze the socio-political and religious discourses presented by youth groups involved with the Ecumenical Network of Youth Reju [Rede Ecumênica de Juventude] -and Youth Monitoring of Public Policies MJPOP [Monitoramento Jovem de Políticas Públicas], in Santo Aleixo, Jaboatãodos Guararapes Pernambuco State; these young people s groups, interconnected in a network, seem to present a religious militancy engaged with social causes, from a socio-political reflection of incidence in their realities. In their speeches, they seem to have as a priority the improvement of the city s collectivity presented through the eyes of those who live on the outskirts. Also, in dialogue with other religious movements, of more conservative nature and focused on young people from protestant and charismatic lines, we will analyze these religious and political positions from Pecheux s method of discourse analysis. Especially dealing with issues related to the guarantees of public policies for the Brazilian youth and ensuring human rights. Initially, we will present the analysis of two videos, produced and made available on social networks - Facebook.com and Youtube.com produced in an amateur way, where a socio-political and ecological reflection is done linking the principles of ecumenism, interreligious and ecological dialogues. At the same time, the study aims to present how this socio-political discussion, experienced in a virtual space and linked to religious spaces is presented and influence on political and religious positions of these young people from their respective spaces of faith. / Este trabalho busca analisar o discurso sociopolítico e religioso apresentado por grupos de jovens envolvidos com a Rede Ecumênica de Juventude REJU , e o Monitoramento Jovem de Políticas Públicas MJPOP, a partir do bairro de Santo Aleixo, Jaboatão dos Guararapes PE; essas juventudes, interligadas em Rede, aparentam apresentar uma militância religiosa engajada com as causas sociais, a partir de um a reflexão sociopolítica de incidência de suas realidades. Em seus discursos, parecem apresentar, como prioridade , a melhoria do coletivo da cidade apresentada a partir do olhar de quem vive na periferia. Também, em diálogo com outros movimentos religiosos, de cunho mais conservador e voltados para jovens de linha protestante e carismática, analisaremos essas posições religiosas e políticas a partir do método pecheutiana de análise do discurso. Sobretudo, no trato de temas ligados as garantias de políticas públicas voltadas para as juventudes brasileiras e na garantia dos Direitos Humanos. Inicialmente, apresentaremos para análise dois vídeos, produzidos e disponibilizados nas redes sociais Facebook.com e Youtube.com feitos de maneira amadora onde se faz uma reflexão sociopolítica e ecológica ligando aos princípios do ecumenismo, do diálogo inter-religioso e ecológico. Ao mesmo tempo, o trabalho busca apresentar como essa discussão sociopolítica, vivenciada no espaço virtual e interligada aos espaços religiosos, é apresentada e influencia nos posicionamentos políticos e religiosos dessas juventudes a partir dos seus respectivos espaços de fé.

Pentecostalism has always been regarded as a movement that does not have all the ecclesiastical qualities that qualify it to be called a fully-fledged tradition alongside other major streams of Protestantism. Contrary to popular theologies that undermine the great role that the Pentecostal tradition can play in the global church, modern Pentecostal theologies agree that most of the misconceptions and assumption are misplaced because the Pentecostal tradition is a rich tradition with vital elements and symbols necessary to advance the ecumenical goal of unity and reconciliation. Based on this perception that Pentecostal ecclesiology is ecumenical, this research critically analyses Pentecostal ecclesiology as portrayed by Kärkkäinen in order to determine its ecumenicity or relevance to the ecumenical goals of unity, tolerance and reconciliation. This research confronts the paternalistic assumptions and misconception that regard Pentecostalism as simply a superstitious and naive sect which is only relevant to the lower class by bringing out the different elements and symbols within the tradition that are vital for the success and development of the global church in a modern global context. Some of the critical elements and symbols within the Pentecostal tradition that are explored within this study include÷ unity in diversity, the mission nature of the church, experiences of the Spirit as portrayed in its Pneumatological Christology and Soteriology, its rapid adaptation to new global south contexts and critical elements of inclusivity and plurality as portrayed in the foundations of the tradition. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology

[pt] A presente dissertação trata da questão de Maria dentro do Cristianismo, no âmbito do diálogo entre a Igreja Católica e as Igrejas protestantes. Partimos de uma abordagem sobre o ecumenismo na atualidade, com ênfase no ecumenismo espiritual, para situarmos um contexto no qual se pode aprofundar o tema de Maria. A perspectiva que adotamos foi a aproximação do ensinamento do Magistério da Igreja, conforme o Capítulo VIII da Constituição Lumen Gentium, com o qual confrontamos o livro do Grupo de Dombes Maria no desígnio de Deus e a Comunhão dos Santos, que tomamos com ponto central desta dissertação. Esse livro foi vivamente investigado e apresentamos um resumo do seu conteúdo com suas propostas de interesse ecumênico. Do mesmo livro levantamos as ideias que são tratadas nas seções finais da explanação. Nestas seções, iniciamos por enfatizar aspectos do diálogo com a Comissão Internacional Anglicano-Católica Romana (ARCIC) e a Federação Luterana Mundial. A seguir, identificamos pontos de contato do livro de Dombes e da Constituição Lumen Gentium com a Exortação Marialis Cultus, como chave para aproximações sobre uma visão da figura de Maria, tendo também em conta a ótica de alguns outros autores, em contribuições atuais. Desenvolvemos, no final, alguns aspectos teológicos e pastorais do tema, ainda em perspectiva ecumênica, e apontamos, em especial, para os elementos promotores de consenso entre as Igrejas verificados na pesquisa. Foram priorizadas metodologias e propostas que pudessem servir de base para o desenvolvimento do diálogo ecumênico sobre Maria. / [en] This dissertation deals with the question of Mary within Christianity, in the context of the dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Protestant Churches. We started with an approach to ecumenism today, with an emphasis on spiritual ecumenism, to situate a context in which the theme of Mary can be deepened. The perspective that we adopted was the approach of the teaching of the Magisterium of the Church, according to Chapter VIII of the Constitution Lumen Gentium, with which we confronted the book of the Dombes Group Mary in the design of God and the Communion of Saints, that we took as the central point for this dissertation. This book was thoroughly investigated and we presented a summary of its content with its proposals of ecumenical interest. From the same book we raised the ideas that are dealt with in the final sections of the explanation. In these sections, we started by emphasizing aspects of the dialogue with the Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC) and the Lutheran World Federation. Next, we identified points of contact from the book of Dombes and from the Constitution Lumen Gentium with the Exhortation Marialis Cultus, as key to approximations on a vision of the figure of Mary, also taking into account the perspective of some other authors, in current contributions. We developed, in the end, some theological and pastoral aspects of the theme, still in an ecumenical perspective, and we pointed, in particular, to the elements that promote consensus among the Churches verified in the research. Methodologies and proposals that could serve as a basis for the development of ecumenical dialogue on Mary were prioritized.