Myth and Argument in Plato's Phaedrus, Republic, and Phaedo investigates the role played by eschatological myth in the arguments of Plato's Phaedrus, Republic and Phaedo. It argues that a reconsideration of the agenda followed by Socrates in each of these dialogues brings into view the contribution made by the mythological narrative to their argumentative line. Each of the three chapters of my thesis analyses the nature of this contribution. The first chapter argues that the myth occupying the central pages of the Phaedrus contributes to developing one of the themes addressed in the dialogue, namely a link between the divine realm and the activities thought by Phaedrus to be unrelated to the religious sphere. By showing that Eros fosters imitation of the gods, the palinode makes an important contribution to this topic. The second chapter proposes that the myth of Er and passage 608c2-621d3 in which it is included are an essential part of the line of argument of the Republic. I analyse the aims Socrates sets in Book 2 for his investigation into justice, and show that they include the description of the positive consequences of justice along with the benefits it causes in and by itself. By listing the rewards just people will receive from other people and the gods, passage 608c2-621d3 gives a description of the positive consequences of justice. The third chapter argues that the argumentative line followed in the Phaedo finds its culmination in the eschatological myth. Socrates expresses a hope for post-mortem justice in his defence of the philosophical life. To render it plausible to his interlocutors he needs to show that the soul is both immortal and intrinsically intelligent. After vindicating these notions, Socrates presents in the concluding myth the image of an afterlife governed by ethical principles.

Christian Spirituality, Church History & Missiology

Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology

[pt] A tensão já e ainda não em Oscar Cullmann e suas implicações e possibilidades para a missão da Igreja caracteriza-se por um trabalho de pesquisa que se desenvolve em perspectiva de diálogo entre a Escatologia e a Missiologia. O objeto principal de análise é o paradoxo temporal clássico da teologia conhecido por já e ainda não do Reino de Deus. O trabalho parte da pergunta pela natureza temporal da esperança do povo de Deus. Ele começa na Escritura, passa pela trajetória da Igreja através dos séculos e chega até os tempos atuais. Percebe-se como a expectativa pelo cumprimento das promessas de Deus alternou-se ao longo da história. Às vezes, a orientação pendia para uma ênfase futurista e celestial. Outras vezes, ela se concentrava em questões contemporâneas e terrenas. A reflexão descobre então, em Oscar Cullmann, uma proposta significativa para resolver o problema da polarização da temporalidade escatológica. Cullmann, a partir de sua exegese do Novo Testamento, vê como o Reino de Deus e suas promessas reivindicam uma dupla aplicação temporal, um aspecto já inaugurado na pessoa e obra de Jesus Cristo, já presente entre nós, e outro ainda não consumado, o qual é esperado para o futuro, para a parusia. Nascia o insight já e ainda não. Em seguida, esta dissertação vai mostrar como a tese escatológica de Cullmann foi recebida e reverberada por outros teólogos de seu tempo. E por último, esta reflexão conduz ao subtítulo deste trabalho, o qual busca explorar como a tensão já e ainda não informa a mensagem e afeta a postura missional da Igreja. / [en] The tension already and not yet in Oscar Cullmann - possibilities and implications to the mission of the Church – is a research that proposes a dialogue between the Eschatology and the Missiology, in which the main goal is to analyze the classic paradox in theology known as the already and the not yet of the Kingdom of God. The essay starts by exploring the question about the temporal nature of the hope that God s people have nurtured. It begins in the Scripture, passes through different epochs in the record of the Church up to the state of the issue in our days, perceiving how the people s expectation for the fulfillment of God s promises has alternated throughout history. Sometimes it displayed a more futuristic and celestial emphasis. In another period, it pointed to a more present-day and worldly orientation. The research discovers then, in Oscar Cullmann, a significant proposal to solve the dilemma of any eventual polarization. Cullmann, from his exegetical work in the New Testament, see how God s Kingdom and its promises have a double timing application: an aspect already inaugurated by the person and work of Jesus Christ, already present among us, and another not yet consumed, which is still awaited in the future, in the breakthrough of the parousia. Afterwards, this dissertation will show how Cullmann s thesis was received and reverberated across the thought of various theologians. And lastly, this reflection will focus in the dissertation subtitle, which seeks to address how the tension already and not yet informs the missional message and affects the missional attitude of the Church.

This thesis examines the relationship between Western eschatological traditions and Bishop Burchard of Worms' extended exegesis on the subject of ‘speculative theology’ within Decretum, Liber Vicesimus (c. 1012-1025). Its purpose is to explore the influence of eschatological theology upon the composition of canon law and its relationship with the administration of pastoral care in the early eleventh century. This will be achieved by investigating the authorities Burchard employed, and the unique ways in which he structured his interpretation of the subject. Chapter one reviews the scholarship on early medieval eschatological exegesis, canon law, and penance, alongside that on Burchard of Worms. Chapter two provides an overview of the history of early medieval western eschatological exegesis (c. 33-1050) and the general conditions that contemporary ecclesiastics would have experienced in relation to the study and construction of eschatological texts. Chapter three considers the historical context for the composition of the Decretum and the manuscript traditions of the Liber Vicesimus. Chapters four, five, and six, extensively analyse the structures and contents of the Liber Vicesimus: Burchard and his team of compilers are shown to have drawn extensively and developed their interpretation of eschatology from Gregory the Greats’ exegetical works, as well as identifying other unique influences. Consequently the thesis demonstrates how Gregory’s exegetical works played a central role in building the textual foundations which shaped the theological parameters governing the eschatological thoughts, beliefs, and writings, of many ecclesiastics during this period. The thesis concludes that Gregory’s work provided churchmen with an authoritative moral framework and rhetoric for the discussion of eschatological phenomena that could be utilised in a variety of ways. It also suggests new ways in which historians should interpret the written traditions that shaped the structure and content of orthodox eschatological texts in this period.

The author of the Gospel of John recorded the seven miracle accounts in his book and named them distinctively as shmei/on (‘sign’), while in the Synoptics the miracles are usually called du,namij (‘mighty deed’). This particular term signifies that the miracles of Jesus in this Gospel are significant occasions which carry associative theological messages. Thus Johannine research has always had a great deal of interest in this specific field. The important interpretative point to note is that the individual sign does not exist on its own but reciprocates the influence to the associated discourses on the revelatory mentions of Jesus and/or operates together with other signs in the specific features of its macro context. Thus the delivery of the message is maximised. As a result of the comprehensive analysis of the whole signs, it is clear that the author of this Gospel elaborately arranges seven signs, and thus draws his theological messages most efficiently. The main concern of shmei/a in this Gospel is to expose the Christological portraits of Jesus and some related theological themes. The divine identities of Jesus that are exposed by the signs are, for example, ‘the eschatological bridegroom,’ ‘the provider of eternal life,’ ‘the bringer of the eschatological salvation,’ and ‘the Messiah/Christ/King.’ Some related theological themes that are conveyed through the signs are, for example, ‘the replacement of the Jewish tradition,’ ‘the significance of a faith in Jesus,’ ‘glorification of Jesus,’ ‘unbelief,’ and ‘the discipleship.’ It is thus clear that the Johannine signs are written so that people may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing people may have Life in His name (cf. 20:31). / Dissertation (MTh.)--University of Pretoria, 2005. / New Testament Studies / unrestricted

In view of the complexity characterizing the contemporary discipline of academic theology, there is a need for functional models. Against the background of significant developments in twentieth-century theology, this thesis attempts to develop an analytical model which can make sense of some of the complexity characterizing this field. More specifically, the aim is to produce a model which can be used to distinguish between and relate different theological positions to each other at a meta-level. This is achieved through the elaboration of a two-dimensional typology composed of four quadrants representing distinct theological orientations. The proposed model and its analytical categories form the basis for a discussion of some key figures and themes in modern theology, with a particular emphasis on eschatologically oriented theologies. Finally, on the basis of preceding discussions, a case is made for theology’s ability to fulfill a vital cultural-critical role in a secular context.

[pt] A índole escatológica da Igreja, como reflexão teológica, é muito pertinente, visto que trata da relação entre a estrutura visível da Igreja e aquela realidade pensada como meta última da atividade eclesial. A escatologia do Vaticano II trouxe à tona essa reflexão, quando salientou que a tensão escatológica entre o já e o ainda não faz parte da natureza do Novo Povo de Deus, e que, por isso mesmo, a Igreja é sinal e instrumento desta plenitude da esperança no meio da humanidade. Sendo um sinal, ela se torna, para o mundo, sacramento visível da unidade de gênero humano, com Deus e consigo mesma. Nossa pesquisa deseja enfocar a posição do Concílio Vaticano II acerca dessa situação-missão da Igreja, pois, para os Padres conciliares, a salvação prometida pelo Senhor já começou em Cristo, mas ainda não se consumou, porque o tempo da restauração de todas as coisas dar-se-á somente quando tudo estiver no Pai pelo Filho no Espírito. Então, neste instante, o homem e com ele toda a criação chegará à sua restauração final. Enquanto isso não acontecer, a Igreja é impelida a levar adiante a obra de santificação da humanidade, como missão imputada por Cristo na unidade do Espírito Santo. Esse trabalho quer, portanto, demonstrar como essa salvação de Cristo continua por meio da ação eclesial, que instrui seus filhos sobre o sentido da vida temporal, enquanto esperança dos bens futuros e compromisso com o Reino de Deus. / [en] The eschatological nature of the Church as theological reflection, it is very relevant, since it is the relationship between the visible structure of the Church and that dream reality as the ultimate goal of ecclesial activity. The eschatological nature of Vatican II brought up this discussion when he emphasized that the eschatological tension between the already and not yet is in the nature of the new people of God, and that, therefore, the Church is sign and instrument of fullness of Hope in the midst of humanity. As a sign, it becomes the world visible sacrament of the unity of mankind with God and with herself. Our research focuses on the position of Vatican II about the situation, the Church s mission, as for the Fathers, the salvation promised by the Lord already begun in Christ, but not yet consummated, because the time of the restoration of all things give will be only when all; the man and with him the whole creation reach its final restoration in Christ. In the meantime the church is compelled to carry on the work of sanctification of humanity as mission charged by Christ in the unity of the Holy Spirit. This work therefore want to show how the salvation of Christ continues through the action of the Church, instructing their children about the meaning of temporal life, as hope of eternal life and commitment to the Kingdom of God.

Consecrated life or religious life as it is sometimes called within the Catholic Church is almost as old as Christianity. All baptised persons are consecrated persons by virtue of their baptism, but the consecrated life to which some people feel called, is a special and fruitful deepening of the consecration received in baptism and confirmation.. This dissertation explores Christian spirituality as it is manifested in consecrated life with relation to inculturation and religious life. The scope has been limited to a study of one congregation, the Companions of St Angela as a case study. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M.Th. (Christian Spirituality)

A lot has been written on the development of the Shona novel and the influence of orature on it. This research while acknowledging the importance of such an observation makes yet another one. This other view is that there is also another element that has had a significant impact on the development and growth of the Shona novel. This research has endeavoured to highlight that the Shona novel is a product of the society where it is found which is influenced by The Bible. The novelists Chakaipa, Chidzero, Makari, Musengezi, Tsodzo, Zvarevashe and Ngugi wa Thiong'o's A Grain of Wheat which has been translated into Shona as Tsanga Yembeu have used The Bible as the backbone of their novels. Although these novelists have all used The Bible they have not used it in the same way and for the same purpose. They have used The Bible to justify the themes embedded in their works. This research at the end shows that it is difficult to label a literary product as either a success or a failure. / African Languages / M.A. (African Languages)