Section 1 of this thesis develops an eclectic meta-model of metaphor analysis that is subsequently applied to the paraenetic metaphors in First Peter. This comprehensive and broadly-based theory provides for the integration of First Peter‟s metaphors in the analysis of the epistle‟s persuasive, knowledge-change rhetoric. The bulk of this thesis is a largely suggestive and primarily inductive study of the major paraenetic metaphors within the conceptual and rhetorical world of First Peter, especially “gird up the loins of your mind” and “be sober,” which are crucially bound up with the epistle‟s first grammatical imperative: “hope on the grace to come …” (1:13). I argue that 1:13 is central to all of First Peter‟s paraenetic statements through a sequential survey of these injunctions in the order provided by the text. While “girding the loins” is capable of a more generic or other specific interpretations, I argue for a conflict connotation. First Peter presupposes a situation of spiritual peril, with the danger especially related to the “mind.” The greatest threat is not from persecution but from ignorance, an irrational fear of humans rather than a rational fear of God, along with other sinful “passions”–forces strengthened by the menacing Devil. By means of courageous faith believers must “stand firm” with a disciplined and focused mind oriented vertically towards and hoping fully upon God‟s present and future grace (5:12) to the exclusion of sin, ready for spiritual battle–just as Christ was (4:1). In addition, I maintain that honouring/glorifying God is the ultimate goal of First Peter‟s paraenesis. Consistent with this, the metaphorical organization of “space” in the letter gives evidence of the prioritizing of the vertical axis over the horizontal. In this connection, I challenge Troy Martin‟s view of the Christian life as a journey, finding First Peter to image it as essentially a stationary waiting for final salvation to come to them. Finally, I seek to demonstrate that the Fatherhood of God is the dominant metaphor for First Peter as a whole, a complex image that unites its metaphors, paraenesis, and overall message. / New Testament / D.Th. (New Testament)

It was certainly a primary concern of the Second Vatican Council, facing the Third World in a post-colonial era, to show a maximum respect for humanity's invincible cultural pluralism (GS, 44, 58). Hence the emphasis on the primordial and unique missionary principle of incarnation, is derived directly from the scandalous belief that God became one of us in everything except sin (cf Heb. 2:14-18; 4:15). The Christian understanding of the relationship between God and humankind is dominated by this incarnationcd theme, which takes seriously the meaning of finitude, flesh and history. The incarnational self-donation, through which humanity is embraced from within, involved an incomprehensible self-emptying (cf. Phil 2:6-8). In giving himself to us in this intrinsic manner the divine Logos discounts his divinity and humbles himself that he might become truly one of us. Jesus of Nazareth is not a disguise used by God, not a human outer garment covering the divinity, not something foreign to what we are. / Systematic Theology / M.Th. (Systematic Theology)

The central tenet of the study is that language and madness are bound together, language both including madness and perpetuating the exclusion of madness as 'other'. The first chapter considers the representation of madness in Atwood's novels The Edible Woman, Surfacing and Alias Grace from the perspective ofFoucauldian and Kristevan theories oflanguage and madness. Alias Grace becomes the focus in the second chapter. Here the syntax of madness is traced during Grace's stay in the mental asylum. Language, madness and sexuality are revealed as a palimpsest written on Grace's body. The final chapter looks at Grace's incarceration in the penitentiary and her dealings with the psychologist Dr. Simon Jordan where Grace's narrative tightly threads language and madness together. Underlying each chapter is a concern with how language and madness are in permanent interaction and opposition writing themselves onto society and onto Grace. / English Studies / M.A. (English)

The thesis deals with search for the meaning of human life in present time from the philosophical and theological point of view of Egon Bondy. Bondy perceives a human being as a biological and intellectual unity in which the peak of evolution has been reached. However, as to Bondy, this ?peak? has to be overcome, humans have to transcend and renew their humanity, otherwise they would get stuck at the place momentary reached where they are not happy and stand without any meaning. Bondy brings the concept of a ?non-substance model? of ontological reality, in which the attempts to find a common path for both theology and philosophy. This way we can also follow Egon Bondy?s development from atheism to the acceptance of ?living God?. Bondy reaches the opinion that human faith in God and the reception of grace offer person?s life the feeling of fulfilment which contemporary humanity has been so much lacking. Bondy hints at his spiritual experience of ?splendour inside?, where he could feel that the meaning of life cannot be reached by one?s own activity or just ?ordered?. The meaning of life can only be humbly expected.

The doctrine of predestination in Western theology had for centuries been burdened by the dualistic conception of Saint Augustine. The bishop of Hippo held that it is God?s intention to reveal His mercy on a small number of those predestined to salvation and His justice on a far larger mass of rightly damned sinners. He came to be convinced that salvation is an utterly undeserved gift and consequently he negated the importance of human freedom. His interpretation would rather give rise to anxiety than the hope Scripture speaks about. Vladimír Boublík dared to oppose Augustine?s authority and presented an entirely different solution based on modern exegesis of the Pauline epistles. He defined predestination as an irreversible divine decision the content of which is the participation of all humanity on divine life in Christ. The present paper shows that Boublík?s theology stems from not just academic, but above all existential search for the answer to the question of human destiny marked with sin, suffering and death. It is already apparent on the pages of the spiritual diary the author kept during his studies. All his writing shows the intention to address his contemporaries and lead them to Christ who stands in the centre of the author?s thinking. This paper attempts to follow up on the work of the Czech exile theologian. It presents his conception of predestination and further develops it in some respects. Besides other things, it throws light on the previously unclarified problem of Christ?s primacy in predestination. Vladimír Boublík?s thesis is confronted with objections that have been raised against it and its content is compared with the content of today?s contribution to the topic.

Content of graduation theses is focused on civil divorce and church nullity of marriage. Graduation theses are divided in three Themes, secular law, canon law and comparison. First part is aimed at civil law which regulates divorce. Second part is focused on canon law. It conducts a study of church nullity of marriage in consequence of marriage agreement failure, canon form or impedimenta presence. Third part compares ways of marriage termination in Czech secular law and ways of marriage cessation in catholic canon law. It tries to find their equivalent components, their dissimilarities and relationship. The canon law is a base of comparison. Secular law is based upon the tenet of marriage dissolvability. Canon law is based upon the tenet of marriage indissolubleness. Marriage divorce in the civil law is ineffective in the canon law respectively church nullity of marriage is ineffective in the secular law of the Czech Republic.

Even though the idea of microcredit is to stimulate entrepreneurial activities in developing countries, there is an ongoing debate whether this is achieved. Many argue that only providing credit is not enough and see a need for additional components in promoting entrepreneurial activities for the stimulation of economic growth. Moreover, the importance of including women in economic development is widely acknowledged. In Lao People's Democratic Republic where many women run their own businesses and a majority of microcredit borrowers are women, we aimed to examine the relation between microcredit and female entrepreneurship. This was accomplished by conducting semi-structured interviews with 13 Laotian female microcredit borrowers running businesses, as well as interviews with seven representatives from organizations related to microcredit and female entrepreneurship. To understand the female entrepreneurs and the environment in which they operate, we developed a model where factors related to the loan agreement, networking, motivation, gender division of labor and training were identified as important components in the context of Lao PDR. The results support the view that a credit only approach is not enough for the development of female entrepreneurship in Lao PDR.

Dispersée dans la multiplicité d'ouvrages qui se nourrissent directement de sa légende et abritent son image, Jeanne d'Arc a réussi à les dépasser tous : peu importent les recherches menées sur les détails de sa vie et qui visent à ébranler l'aspect héroïque de sa mission, sa légende continue à prendre le dessus et répand l'image de la petite fille guerrière et libératrice de la France dans le monde entier. Rarement une figure aura donné lieu à autant d'interprétations différentes, à autant de débats et de récupérations de partis opposés. Symbole de la résistance à toute invasion étrangère et de l'obéissance aux ordres divins, elle n'a cessé de se prêter à d'innombrables rôles et d'exprimer les aspirations les plus contradictoires. Au XXe siècle, l'œuvre de Charles Péguy consacrée à Jeanne d'Arc est une résurrection du personnage de la Pucelle où les données historiques sont prises comme prétexte pour doubler l'acte héroïque de Jeanne d'une portée mythique qui engage le salut de l'humanité entière. À travers le mythe de Jeanne d'Arc, Péguy s'interroge sur le sort de l'humanité, sur le sens caché de l'Incarnation et sur le mystère de la Rédemption : les images se superposent, les mots doublent de sens et derrière le spectacle de la guerre se devinent, plus horribles encore, les cris sourds des âmes damnées. Avec Péguy, Jeanne dépasse son rôle d'héroïne et de sainte au service de la France et des Français, elle cherche le salut de l'humanité à travers celui de son pays. Dès lors et à travers la conception d'une vie humaine, celle de Jeanne, Péguy nous fait assister à la constitution d'un mythe à la fois personnel et universel. / Despite the numerous books that dealt with the legend story of Joan of Arc, still she managed to overcome all the expectations. Regardless the detailed researches done to reinforce the heroic aspect of her mission, her legend continues to spread all over the world the image Joan of Arc the warrior and liberator of France. In the literature rarely a character had given rise to such so different opinions and discussions as Joan of Arc had done. A symbol of resistance against any foreign invasion and obedience to divine commands, she had continued give herself to a countless roles and to be a source of inspiration in most contradictory manner. In the twentieth century, the work of Charles Peguy is a renovation of character of Joan of Arc “The Maid of Orleans”. In his book, Peguy emphasize the heroic mythic part of Jeanne concerning the salvation of whole humanity. Throughout the legend of Joan of Arc, Peguy rise the question about the fait of humanity through the hidden sense of incarnation and the mystery of redemption : the images serve to metaphor, the wards have double meanings and behind the spectacle of war which becoming more and more horrible we can hear the cries of the cursed souls. With the writings of Peguy, Joan overcome her role as a heroine and saint to serve France and the French people, she is looking forward the salvation of the humanity throughout the salvation of her country. Hence Peguy shows us the creation of a personal and universal myth with the help of simple conception of Joan’s humane life.

Santo Agostinho e João Calvino são pensadores representativos de dois momentos históricos distintos da cristandade, e figuram entre aqueles que ajudaram a moldar, de forma determinante, os contornos da tradição cristã de pensamento a qual representavam. A despeito do lapso temporal que os separa, João Calvino foi muito influenciado pelo pensamento de Agostinho em virtude da presença marcante da teologia e espiritualidade agostinianas na atmosfera intelectual e religiosa do século XVI, sendo boa parte destes influxos, produto da apropriação direta de Calvino de aspectos do pensamento de Agostinho, por meio do contato in loco com suas obras. Estes influxos diretos e indiretos do pensamento de Agostinho sobre Calvino resultaram em muitos paralelos e similaridades teológico-filosóficos. Um dos temas comuns a estes dois pensadores cristãos foi o da centralidade da doutrina do conhecimento de Deus e do autoconhecimento. Na verdade, ambos definem a natureza do projeto sapiencial e beatífico humano em termos de aquisição deste duplo conhecimento. Portanto, a principal finalidade deste trabalho é apresentar a relevância que a doutrina da cognitio Dei et sui desempenha na proposta teológico-filosófica de ambos os pensadores, bem como estabelecer uma análise de suas fontes, natureza e características. Este trabalho visa demonstrar, também, que apesar de haver similaridades e paralelos estreitos entre Calvino e Agostinho no tocante aos aspectos gerais que envolvem a doutrina do conhecimento de Deus e do autoconhecimento, existem distinções incontornáveis naquilo que concerne aos meandros específicos desta matéria, como aquelas disjunções relacionadas à natureza e às características específicas da dinâmica interna deste duplo conhecimento. / St. Augustine and John Calvin are thinkers representing two different periods in the history of Christianity, remarkably appearing among those who helped to shape up the contours of the Christian tradition of thought they represented. Despite the time gap that set them apart, John Calvin was greatly influenced by the thought of Augustine due to the strong presence of Augustinian theology and spirituality in the intellectual and religious atmosphere of the sixteenth century. Most of these inputs were the product of Calvins direct assimilation of certain aspects from Augustine\'s thought through in loco contact with his works. Such direct and indirect inflows of Augustines thought on Calvin resulted in many theological and philosophical parallels and similarities. One theme common to both Christian thinkers was the centrality of the doctrines of the knowledge of God and self-knowledge. In fact, both Augustine and Calvin define the nature of the human sapiential and beatific project in terms of attaining this dual knowledge. In this context, the present study aims to present the relevant role the doctrine of cognitio Dei et sui plays in the theological and philosophical views of both thinkers, as well as to develop an analysis of its sources, nature and characteristics. In addition, this work demonstrates that although there are close parallels and similarities between Calvin and Augustine with regards to general issues surrounding the doctrines of knowledge of God and self-knowledge, there are compelling distinctions as far as the particulars of this subject are concerned; such as disjunctions related to the nature and specific features of the internal dynamics of this dual knowledge.

Véritable théologoumène, l’imago Dei apparait comme un thème majeur de la théologie qui permet d’élaborer une anthropologie théologique. Aussi l’imago Dei a pu connaitre plusieurs interprétations dans l’histoire. Ainsi est-il est possible d’identifier deux grandes catégories d’anthropologies théologiques dans le christianisme contemporain : une anthropologie dite « substantialiste » et une anthropologie dite« relationnelle ». Selon l’anthropologie théologique que l’on rencontre le plus fréquemment, l’homme est défini par une propriété qui lui est commune avec Dieu comme l’intelligence ou la faculté d’aimer. Le but de cette thèse est de montrer, à travers le prisme de l’anthropologie relationnelle sans concession de Jean Ansaldi qui interroge sans cesse la légitimité même de l’imago Dei comme fondement biblique d’une anthropologie chrétienne, que cette anthropologie qui semble la plus classique n’est en fait qu’une parenthèse dans l’histoire du christianisme qui, de l’écriture de la Bible jusqu’à la théologie contemporaine, perçoit l’être humain avant tout comme vis-à-vis de Dieu, altérité représentant le Tout Autre, être qui est relation comme Dieu est en lui-même relation. / Theologoumenon true, imago Dei appears as a major theme of theology that allows to develop a theologica anthropology. Imago Dei also could know several interpretations in history. Thus it is possible to identify two broad categories of theological anthropology in contemporary Christianity : a so-called "substantialist" anthropology and called "relational" anthropology. According to theological anthropology that the most frequently encountered, man is defined by a property that is common with God as the intelligence or the ability to love. The aim of this thesis is to show, through the prism of relational anthropology uncompromising Jean Ansaldi who constantly questions the legitimacy of imago Dei as a biblical foundation of a Christian anthropology, anthropology seems that the classic is actually a parenthesis in the history of Christianity, writing of the Bible to contemporary theology sees the human being as primarily vis-à-vis God alterity while representing the Other, which is being relationship as God is in himself relationship.