This research assessed the perceived and actual roles of Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) in their community and in working with offenders and their families in relation to the Criminal Justice System (CJS). Additionally, the research study evaluated this issue on the local level in an attempt to ascertain whether FBOs still do what they have historically been perceived to do or whether their involvement with the CJS has shifted in any way. Particularly, the research study also examined perceptions of staff members from FBOs regarding services and support provided for families of offenders. The sample was selected using a combination of convenience and snowball sampling. Group sizes ranged from 2-5 participants. A total of 14 participants interacted in the focus groups. Each focus group lasted approximately one hour. All focus groups were recorded using a digital audio recording device, and transcriptions of the focus groups were prepared. The transcripts were prepared using a combination of edited and intelligent transcription techniques. Researchers reviewed the transcriptions for recurring themes. Twenty-four initial themes were generated. Researchers then reviewed the themes for redundancy which resulted in 10 themes being identified. The transcripts were then coded based on the 10 revised themes. These themes focused on issues related to the perceived and real roles of FBOs in relation to the Criminal Justice System. As expected, the researchers found that FBO programming difficulties and concerns (f = 65) and misperception and lack of church involvement in the lives of offenders and the CJS (f = 50) were the most recurring themes. Miscommunication and lack of connection between the CJS and community was found to be the third most recurring theme (f = 15), followed closely by lack of reunification of offenders with their families (f = 14). Perceptions of participants such as clergy and mental health practitioners confirmed the researcher’s expectations that offenders often express deep anxiety and concern over being separated from their families. Thus, current programming efforts may reflect a lack of emphasis on services designed to rejoin offenders with their families or reintegrate them in family systems based on participants’ perceptions. Analysis of the data is ongoing. Researchers will return to the data to further discuss theme coding and to determine if additional themes emerge. All identified themes will be further assessed for inter-rater reliability.

This research explores reasons why congregations in Paarl community are not involved, as faith based organizations (FBO's), with the support of female adolescent victims of sexual abuse. The researcher conducts a literature review concerning the developmental phase of adolescence and issues regarding sexuality that emerge from this phase. The researcher discusses the nature and effects of sexual abuse and statistics regarding this abuse. Different church leaderships' statements regarding the prevalence of sexual abuse are also viewed. Based on the literature study, empirical research is conducted to explore why congregations in Paarl are not involved as FBO's with the support of adolescent female victims of sexual abuse. The researcher uses basic individual interviews with several leaders of congregations in Paarl to gather the data needed. Lastly, the data is analyzed and discussed. Based on this discussion, the researcher offers some guidelines for congregations to become more involved as FBO's with adolescent female victims of sexual abuse. / Social Work / M.Diac.(Direction: Youth Work)

The central focus of this study is the role of the church as a faith-based organisation in dealing with unemployment. Following an introductory chapter in which the research methodology and modus operandi are being explained, Chapter 2 is devoted to a discussion, in the light of recent literature, of the concept of unemployment and the effect of unemployment on the individual, the family and society. In Chapter 3 the discussion focuses on the involvement of faith-based organisations in addressing unemployment as part of social development. In Chapter 4 the empirical survey, conducted by means of semi structured interviews with church leaders in the Paarl-Wellington-area, is described. The interpreted results are discussed in Chapter 5 according to main themes, sub themes and categories. A literature control is carried out simultaneously. Based upon the literature study and the findings of the empirical survey, certain conclusions are drawn and recommendations are made in chapter 6. These recommendations are specifically aimed at activating the church in the form of local congregations to get actively involved in dealing with unemployment in their environment and community. / Social Work / D.Diac. (Youth Work)

Introduction: Rustenburg is a fast growing city in the world. This growth influences establishment of new faith based churches which is, in many respects at the expense of mission churches. The HIV/AIDS pandemic and diseases related to stresses results in movement of Christians from one church to the other. Christians are vulnerable when facing life stressors which results into changing allegiance to a particular church. This is a qualitative descriptive/ exploratory study Method: The researcher purposely selected respondents from the black Christian community of Rustenburg. These are those Christians who have moved from one church to join another .From these interviews the themes that emanate are discussed. Leaders of prominent churches were also interviewed . Findings: The qualities of church leaders have an influence on the movement of its members. The media, especially the local radio station has been widely used to attract new members. The availability of a pastor in times of need plays a vital role. Power struggles seem to disappoint some loyal Christians who may reluctantly leave the church. Financial benefits also play an important role in attracting membership. The faith based churches have grown both in numbers and in membership. Women with their healing power are active especially in the Zion churches. The help seeking behaviour of Christians also influences their affiliation to a particular church such as seeking / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology)

Grounded in a theoretical debate between anthropological studies on Roma/Gypsies and anthropological studies of Christianity, the focus of this thesis is on the experience of social and religious life among members of a traditional minority in Finland, the Finnish Kaale/Finnish Roma, a population of approximately 13.000 people living in Finland and Sweden. Over the past decades, the processes of urbanisation and sedentarisation have led to shifts in the ways in which the social lives of Kaale families are lived. A shift towards individualisation is interlinked with the continuous importance placed on family and kin belonging, which come together in a re-assessment of people's central attachments in the world. At the same time, over the same period of time, a large number of this population have converted to Pentecostal and charismatic movements in the country, leading to subtle changes in the shape of social relations within and outside their own community: between believers and non-believers, between Kaale and non-Kaale. Making use of participant observation, interviews, conversion stories and individual life histories among Finnish Kaale living in the capital city of Helsinki and in Eastern parts of the country, this ethnography provides an insight into the multiple, overlapping and complex ways in which Kaale belonging is understood and into the ways in which Pentecostal religious life takes shape among born-again Kaale. Furthermore, looking specifically at the practice of Evangelism and missionary work, which defines the life of Pentecostal Kaale believers, the role of faith as an enhanced engagement with the world is analysed. A conversation therefore emerges also on the role of Pentecostal belonging in mobilising believers in relation to the world around them and, more specifically, on the way in which Pentecostal faith provides an avenue for a further social engagement and social mobilisation of individual Kaale believers.

The aim of my thesis is to discuss the possible uses of the concept of autonomy in the study of conversions of Roma to Charismatic/Pentecostal Christianity. Focus on empowerment and social inclusion has been prevailing in the field, and critical reflection of questions of governance and oppression is lacking. I use the thesis by Patrick Williams (1987; 1991; 1993a), according to whom the French Gypsies who converted to Pentecostalism achieved autonomy or at least a sense of autonomy, which allowed them to downplay the role of structural factors and other people behind their actions. Through a case study from ethnographic fieldwork in a Romani Charismatic congregation in Western Bohemia I extend and refine the concept. The main theoretical innovations come from the contemporary moral philosophy, especially the theory of autonomy (of the oppressed) by Christman (2014) who defines autonomy as a reflexive affirmation of an assumed practical identity, a "life worth living". The story which missionaries in Márov, the place of my fieldwork, put forward, was that Roma converted from being pimps and drug dealers. The empirical realities and narratives about the change cast doubt on the easy account of radical change through the religion. Based on a detailed focus on conversion of one former drug addict I...

The aim of my thesis is to discuss the possible uses of the concept of autonomy in the study of conversions of Roma to Charismatic/Pentecostal Christianity. Focus on empowerment and social inclusion has been prevailing in the field, and critical reflection of questions of governance and oppression is lacking. I use the thesis by Patrick Williams (1987; 1991; 1993a), according to whom the French Gypsies who converted to Pentecostalism achieved autonomy or at least a sense of autonomy, which allowed them to downplay the role of structural factors and other people behind their actions. Through a case study from ethnographic fieldwork in a Romani Charismatic congregation in Western Bohemia I extend and refine the concept. The main theoretical innovations come from the contemporary moral philosophy, especially the theory of autonomy (of the oppressed) by Christman (2014) who defines autonomy as a reflexive affirmation of an assumed practical identity, a "life worth living". The story which missionaries in Márov, the place of my fieldwork, put forward, was that Roma converted from being pimps and drug dealers. The empirical realities and narratives about the change cast doubt on the easy account of radical change through the religion. Based on a detailed focus on conversion of one former drug addict I...

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support is a growing field of intervention in humanitarian assistance worldwide. The influence of culture and faith in individual and collective coping mechanisms and recovery processes has brought scholars to emphasize the need for MHPSS programming to adopt a cultural and faith sensitive approach to increase the cultural relevance and efficacity of interventions. However, despite official guidelines for humanitarian agencies to integrate cultural and faith sensitivity in their operations, there is an information gap on designing such an approach and its effects on the implementation and success of interventions. This qualitative study explores the opportunities and challenges encountered when adopting a cultural and faith sensitive approach within MHPSS interventions in the context of the Red Cross in Zambia, Ghana, Niger, and South Africa. Based on in-depth interviews with key informants from the Red Cross, the results provide insights into the strengths and opportunities of adapting to local cultural norms and practices and cooperating with faith-based and traditional community leaders during the implementation of MHPSS. The study concludes on the potential of such an approach to strengthen the local capacities of faith-based actors and reduce the stigmatization of mental illness.

Not applicable. / The study “Water carved out the mountains. Policy communication of Engaged Buddhists related to international development cooperation” contributes to an understanding of development from perspectives of non-denominational action among so called Engaged Buddhists. Departing from qualitative interviews with nine leaders of socially engaged organizations from five Asian countries, the systemic programming resulting from their ideals are compared to key principles and programming of international development cooperation. Responding to the question:”What policy ideals shape the development programming, and can these be linked to forms of power and the rights-based approach?” this inter-disciplinary and multi-sited study feeds into the increased interest in faith-based expressions within the general public sphere, and specifically in the development industry. Guided by the ontology of critical realism, a mixed method is used shaped by qualitative interviews and participatory observations, enabling both analysis of meanings and development programming. Based on their views on Buddhist ethics and practices, the leaders address development topics common today. Policies expressed are placed within a communication culture for change, yet not necessarily by conventional confrontational advocacy modes. Diverse understandings are at play, such as how to convey meanings of “kindness”. Although not referring to concepts common within the social and cultural structures of contemporary international development cooperation, the actors develop methods based on principles of participation in particular and the work today can also be related to other principles of the Human Rights Based Approach. The policies and programming are linked to invisible, informal and formal forms of power although informants refer to interpretations of compassion, inter-relatedness and non-dualism, among other.From a perspective of development cooperation, a hypothetical argument is advanced suggesting that the informants do not differ at substantial level related to their understanding and practice of Buddhism or their general approaches to development topics, as much as they differ regarding their approach to programming aimed at influencing forms of power. The common criticism of Buddhists not addressing power can then for this group be nuanced, and indicatively suggested not to be valid regarding invisible and informal power, but rather regarding formal power.Academic fields: Communication for development with reference to sociology of religion, political science, global studies and multi-sited ethnography.Key words: Engaged Buddhism, Civil Society Organizations, Faith-Based Organizations, Human Right Based Approach, participation, complexity/systemic approaches, power, Thich Nhath Hanh, Sister Chan Khong, Sulak Sivaraksa, Bikkhuni Dhammananda, A.T. Ariyaratne, Sarvodaya.

As the debate intensifies regarding developing remedies to meet the needs of America’s homeless, one solution is for governmental agencies to collaborate with and employ organizations from the nonprofit sector to assist with the needs of the homeless population. Included in the nonprofit sector, faith-based organizations (FBOs) have historically been a source of debate and contention in terms of collaborations with the government. However, Presidents Reagan, George H. Bush, Clinton, George W. Bush, and Obama have embraced the idea of including FBOs in the pool of service providers offering human services. In the Richmond, Virginia region, FBOs and nonreligious nonprofit organizations provide a range of human services to a substantial population of homeless clients. Yet, whether the homeless population prefers services offered by FBOs versus nonreligious nonprofits in general and for specific categories of service is unknown. These specific categories of service include alcohol treatment and recovery, counseling, drug treatment and recovery, food pantries, health care, job training and placement, short-term and long-term shelter, and meal sites. In addition, this study seeks to identify models using variables from this study that predict the preference for each category of service. Since homeless clients overall and specific human service preferences are an unknown, the importance of this study is to inform policymakers, those in the nonprofit sector, researchers, and other interested parties of these preferences. A study of this nature is also important to compare policy implementation to the preferences of the homeless to ensure the implementation accounts for principles of social equity. In addition, a study of this nature seeks to fill a literature gap by examining and understanding the intersections of demographic characteristics and preferences. Using the cohort and the rational choice theories, this study examines the preferences of homeless individuals for particular types of service providers.