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Magister Theologiae - MTh / This study begins by recognising the religiously plural context in which the Christian churches currently exist. It discusses the various forces that impel the churches towards recognition of and dialogue with those of other faiths, as well as factors that hinder this process. It mentions a variety of ways in which theology - in particular, the theological understanding of the relationship between the Christian churches and other faith communities - is influenced by its context. In an attempt to identify a model within the Judaeo-Christian tradition that will provide a basis for inter-faith dialogue, the study proposes an exploration of the relationship between Yahweh and the gods of the nations as reflected in the the prophetic writings known as Deutero- and Trito-Isaiah, writings that almost certainly emerged from two particular periods in the history of the people of lsrael: the Babylonian exile and the early post-exilic period in Palestine. The study outlines historical developments within these two periods. It explores the various religious beliefs - Babylonian, Palestinian and Persian - that together formed the multi-faith context for Deutero- and Trito-Isaiah.

No description available.

The purpose of this research project has been to shed light on the experiences of Black women in Afrocentric groups' Nation of Gods and Earths, the Black Panther Party, and Rastafarians' that operated on the fringes of society during the 1960s through the early 2000s. This work articulates the gender dynamics between the men and women of the groups. In it, I trace the history of Black nationalism and identity in the United States in the late 19th century to the 20th century which set the framework for the formation of the Nation of Gods and Earths (NGE), the Black Panther Party(BPP), and Rastafarianism and its members to see themselves as a part of the Black nation or community and the women of these groups to see their identity tied in with the goals and desires of the group not as one set on individualistic ambitions. The Africana womanist did not see herself as an individual but rather a vital part of the entire Black community. From a feminist perspective, it would appear as though the women of these Afrocentric fringe groups were marginalized and oppressed by the men but this perspective fails to give credence to the fact that Rasta women, Earths—the female members of the NGE—and women Panthers saw race and racism as a more pressing issue than that of sexism. That is not to say that women in these groups did not question or challenge some of the sexist actions of their male counterparts. When there was a challenge it was done so in a way that reminded the men of the tenets of their respective group and their responsibility to uphold those principles; principles that required the men to consider the women as equally valuable in the cause of the group and deserving of just treatment. While adhering to a gender order that afforded the male members a more visible position, the women of this study did not view their positions as mothers, wives, and sister members as a hindrance to their own personal joy or freedom. In fact, using an Africana womanist point of view, they would argue that it was in the best interest of the entire Rasta, NGE, or BPP and by extension, the Black community for them to own their statuses as a form of empowerment. For it was through their wombs and nurturing that the next generation would be born, through their providing a stable home that would allow their husbands to focus their attentions on the issues concerning their communities outward and through their role as supportive "sisters" encouraging the men that the community could advance socially. / Master of Arts

A presente dissertação consiste em um estudo do romance Deuses americanos de Neil Gaiman levando em consideração suas conexões a outros textos bem como inserções de diversos textos provenientes de outros trabalhos na prosa do romance. A proposta de leitura do texto de Gaiman segundo este trabalho utiliza os conceitos de intertextualidade e arquétipos de forma a analisar a relação entre a trama de Deuses americanos às várias utilizações de textos cuja escrita “original” não é atribuída ao autor do livro inseridos (ou referenciados) na prosa do romance. Embora o objeto de estudo seja comumente visto como um livro difícil de ser categorizado dentre de um certo gênero, a proposta desta dissertação é demonstrar que o movimento e o fluxo contínuo de discursos (textos) e estilos na prosa do romance remonta a uma visão de um estrangeiro sobre os Estados Unidos e como o país foi criado: ou seja, que ele é não somente um ponto geográfico de confluência de muitos povos, mas também de muitas crenças e culturas que, de um modo ou outro, trouxeram os seus deuses consigo. A análise do uso de intertextos, intratextos e arquétipos no romance está estruturada em três capítulos centrais: o primeiro contextualiza os mitos que aparecem no romance e discute a questão de gênero literário do livro, além do conceito de América no texto de Gaiman. O segundo capítulo examina o uso de mitos por Gaiman em relação a outros trabalhos, tanto os manuscritos antigos de crenças pagãs quanto instâncias mais modernas de mito e alegoria, além de estudar as conexões entre Deuses americanos e outros textos escritos por Gaiman de acordo com o conceito de intratextualidade proposto por Affonso de Sant’Anna. Por fim, o terceiro capítulo se concentra no uso pontual de intertextos no romance, organizando-os entre alusões literárias, referências à cultura pop, além de estudar o conflito entre a era digital e o antigo reinado da fé religiosa, sem deixar de investigar o uso de arquétipos e apropriação na prosa do romance. O trabalho, assim, tem como objetivo verificar a alegação de que a qualidade intertextual do romance é essencial tendo em vista sua trama e cenário, bem como a afirmação de que ele redefine o conceito da América do final dos anos 90 como um espaço multicultural, dinâmico e mítico. / This thesis consists of a study of Neil Gaiman’s American Gods in the light of its connections to other texts as well as the punctual insertions of various texts from other works in the novel’s prose. The proposed reading of Gaiman’s text employs the concepts of intertextuality and archetypes in order to further analyze the relation of the plot of American Gods to the various uses of texts - that were not originally written by the book’s author – which are inserted (or alluded to) in the novel’s prose. Although the object of study is generally seen as a book that is hard to brand within a certain genre, this thesis’ approach to the novel demonstrates that movement and the continuous flow of speeches (texts) and styles in the novel’s prose comprises an outsider’s view of America and how the country came into existence – that is, that it is the geographical conflux not only of many peoples, but also of many beliefs and cultures, which in some way or other brought their gods with them. This examination of the use of intertexts, intratexts and archetypes in the novel is structured in three main chapters: The first chapter contextualizes the myths that appear in the novel and discusses the issues of genre and the concept of America in Gaiman’s text. The second chapter analyzes Gaiman’s use of myths in relation to other works – the original manuscripts of ancient beliefs as well as modern instances of myth and allegory – along with the connections between American Gods and Gaiman’s other works according to Affonso de Sant’Anna’s concept of intratextuality. Finally, the third chapter focuses on the punctual uses of intertexts in the novel, breaking them down into literary allusions, references to pop culture and the conflict between the digital era and the age of religious faith, and the use of archetypes and appropriation in the novel’s prose. At the end of the work, I aim to assert my belief that the intertextual nature of the novel is essential to its plot and setting, and re-defines the concept of late-90’s/early 2000’s America as a multicultural, dynamic mythical space.

University of Macau / Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities / Department of History

A presente dissertação consiste em um estudo do romance Deuses americanos de Neil Gaiman levando em consideração suas conexões a outros textos bem como inserções de diversos textos provenientes de outros trabalhos na prosa do romance. A proposta de leitura do texto de Gaiman segundo este trabalho utiliza os conceitos de intertextualidade e arquétipos de forma a analisar a relação entre a trama de Deuses americanos às várias utilizações de textos cuja escrita “original” não é atribuída ao autor do livro inseridos (ou referenciados) na prosa do romance. Embora o objeto de estudo seja comumente visto como um livro difícil de ser categorizado dentre de um certo gênero, a proposta desta dissertação é demonstrar que o movimento e o fluxo contínuo de discursos (textos) e estilos na prosa do romance remonta a uma visão de um estrangeiro sobre os Estados Unidos e como o país foi criado: ou seja, que ele é não somente um ponto geográfico de confluência de muitos povos, mas também de muitas crenças e culturas que, de um modo ou outro, trouxeram os seus deuses consigo. A análise do uso de intertextos, intratextos e arquétipos no romance está estruturada em três capítulos centrais: o primeiro contextualiza os mitos que aparecem no romance e discute a questão de gênero literário do livro, além do conceito de América no texto de Gaiman. O segundo capítulo examina o uso de mitos por Gaiman em relação a outros trabalhos, tanto os manuscritos antigos de crenças pagãs quanto instâncias mais modernas de mito e alegoria, além de estudar as conexões entre Deuses americanos e outros textos escritos por Gaiman de acordo com o conceito de intratextualidade proposto por Affonso de Sant’Anna. Por fim, o terceiro capítulo se concentra no uso pontual de intertextos no romance, organizando-os entre alusões literárias, referências à cultura pop, além de estudar o conflito entre a era digital e o antigo reinado da fé religiosa, sem deixar de investigar o uso de arquétipos e apropriação na prosa do romance. O trabalho, assim, tem como objetivo verificar a alegação de que a qualidade intertextual do romance é essencial tendo em vista sua trama e cenário, bem como a afirmação de que ele redefine o conceito da América do final dos anos 90 como um espaço multicultural, dinâmico e mítico. / This thesis consists of a study of Neil Gaiman’s American Gods in the light of its connections to other texts as well as the punctual insertions of various texts from other works in the novel’s prose. The proposed reading of Gaiman’s text employs the concepts of intertextuality and archetypes in order to further analyze the relation of the plot of American Gods to the various uses of texts - that were not originally written by the book’s author – which are inserted (or alluded to) in the novel’s prose. Although the object of study is generally seen as a book that is hard to brand within a certain genre, this thesis’ approach to the novel demonstrates that movement and the continuous flow of speeches (texts) and styles in the novel’s prose comprises an outsider’s view of America and how the country came into existence – that is, that it is the geographical conflux not only of many peoples, but also of many beliefs and cultures, which in some way or other brought their gods with them. This examination of the use of intertexts, intratexts and archetypes in the novel is structured in three main chapters: The first chapter contextualizes the myths that appear in the novel and discusses the issues of genre and the concept of America in Gaiman’s text. The second chapter analyzes Gaiman’s use of myths in relation to other works – the original manuscripts of ancient beliefs as well as modern instances of myth and allegory – along with the connections between American Gods and Gaiman’s other works according to Affonso de Sant’Anna’s concept of intratextuality. Finally, the third chapter focuses on the punctual uses of intertexts in the novel, breaking them down into literary allusions, references to pop culture and the conflict between the digital era and the age of religious faith, and the use of archetypes and appropriation in the novel’s prose. At the end of the work, I aim to assert my belief that the intertextual nature of the novel is essential to its plot and setting, and re-defines the concept of late-90’s/early 2000’s America as a multicultural, dynamic mythical space.

A presente dissertação consiste em um estudo do romance Deuses americanos de Neil Gaiman levando em consideração suas conexões a outros textos bem como inserções de diversos textos provenientes de outros trabalhos na prosa do romance. A proposta de leitura do texto de Gaiman segundo este trabalho utiliza os conceitos de intertextualidade e arquétipos de forma a analisar a relação entre a trama de Deuses americanos às várias utilizações de textos cuja escrita “original” não é atribuída ao autor do livro inseridos (ou referenciados) na prosa do romance. Embora o objeto de estudo seja comumente visto como um livro difícil de ser categorizado dentre de um certo gênero, a proposta desta dissertação é demonstrar que o movimento e o fluxo contínuo de discursos (textos) e estilos na prosa do romance remonta a uma visão de um estrangeiro sobre os Estados Unidos e como o país foi criado: ou seja, que ele é não somente um ponto geográfico de confluência de muitos povos, mas também de muitas crenças e culturas que, de um modo ou outro, trouxeram os seus deuses consigo. A análise do uso de intertextos, intratextos e arquétipos no romance está estruturada em três capítulos centrais: o primeiro contextualiza os mitos que aparecem no romance e discute a questão de gênero literário do livro, além do conceito de América no texto de Gaiman. O segundo capítulo examina o uso de mitos por Gaiman em relação a outros trabalhos, tanto os manuscritos antigos de crenças pagãs quanto instâncias mais modernas de mito e alegoria, além de estudar as conexões entre Deuses americanos e outros textos escritos por Gaiman de acordo com o conceito de intratextualidade proposto por Affonso de Sant’Anna. Por fim, o terceiro capítulo se concentra no uso pontual de intertextos no romance, organizando-os entre alusões literárias, referências à cultura pop, além de estudar o conflito entre a era digital e o antigo reinado da fé religiosa, sem deixar de investigar o uso de arquétipos e apropriação na prosa do romance. O trabalho, assim, tem como objetivo verificar a alegação de que a qualidade intertextual do romance é essencial tendo em vista sua trama e cenário, bem como a afirmação de que ele redefine o conceito da América do final dos anos 90 como um espaço multicultural, dinâmico e mítico. / This thesis consists of a study of Neil Gaiman’s American Gods in the light of its connections to other texts as well as the punctual insertions of various texts from other works in the novel’s prose. The proposed reading of Gaiman’s text employs the concepts of intertextuality and archetypes in order to further analyze the relation of the plot of American Gods to the various uses of texts - that were not originally written by the book’s author – which are inserted (or alluded to) in the novel’s prose. Although the object of study is generally seen as a book that is hard to brand within a certain genre, this thesis’ approach to the novel demonstrates that movement and the continuous flow of speeches (texts) and styles in the novel’s prose comprises an outsider’s view of America and how the country came into existence – that is, that it is the geographical conflux not only of many peoples, but also of many beliefs and cultures, which in some way or other brought their gods with them. This examination of the use of intertexts, intratexts and archetypes in the novel is structured in three main chapters: The first chapter contextualizes the myths that appear in the novel and discusses the issues of genre and the concept of America in Gaiman’s text. The second chapter analyzes Gaiman’s use of myths in relation to other works – the original manuscripts of ancient beliefs as well as modern instances of myth and allegory – along with the connections between American Gods and Gaiman’s other works according to Affonso de Sant’Anna’s concept of intratextuality. Finally, the third chapter focuses on the punctual uses of intertexts in the novel, breaking them down into literary allusions, references to pop culture and the conflict between the digital era and the age of religious faith, and the use of archetypes and appropriation in the novel’s prose. At the end of the work, I aim to assert my belief that the intertextual nature of the novel is essential to its plot and setting, and re-defines the concept of late-90’s/early 2000’s America as a multicultural, dynamic mythical space.

Background Loading efficiency within logistics is a research area which has been given a lot of attention by researchers during recent years. Pallet Loading Problem has been presented as a mean to tackle the loading efficiency issue in this area. Loading efficiency can be measured in terms of fill rate of the load and the number of reclaimed gods. Different loading methods presents advantages and disadvantages regarding the two presented areas fill rate and returned gods.      Purpose The purpose with this study is to examine the different issues related to implementing an efficient pallet loading method, with the help of a comparative study of alternative loading methods. In order to accomplish this, different key factors are located and identified in which the relation between these factors is displayed. Research in this area has highlighted that a streamlining of the loading process has assisted organizations in reducing their costs. The cost reduction is an effect of the reduced transport and reclaimed gods.   Methods In this comparative study of alternative loading methods, key factors in different loading methods were identified and analyzed. The data for the three key factors were collected through archival research, unstructured interviews and observations of the different procedures. The analytic tests of the data where conducted through SPSS with the likes of descriptive statistic, non-parametric t-test, correlation and logistic regression.     Results In the result of this thesis, the differences of studied loading methods are presented based on the defined key factors. Each loading method is individually analysed and later compared to the other alternative loading method in order to decide which method is the most efficient, based on the presented key factors. The analyses in the tests presents a connection between fill rate and claims but also between claims and loading method.     Conclusions Between the two presented loading methods, free pallet loading and standing pallet loading, there’s a significant difference based on the analysed key factors. Free pallet loading is concluded to be the more efficient loading method in each of the analysed categories fill rate, claims and cost of claims. This concludes free pallet loading to be the more sustainable and economically beneficial loading method. / Bakgrund Lastningseffektivitet inom logistiken är ett område som dem senaste år fått mycket uppmärksamhet där pallastning av produkter är ett centralt område. En lastningseffektivitet kan mätas i den totala fyllnadsgraden för lastningen samt vilken skaderisk det medför. Två centrala begrepp vilka studerats för lastning är Pallet Loading Problem samt Reclaimed Gods.            Ovanstående ämnesområden presenterar fördelar samt nackdelar med olika lastningsmetoder.   Syfte Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka problematiken kring att tillämpa en effektiv pallastning med hjälp av en jämförelsestudie kring alternativa lastningsmetoder. Detta då för att identifiera och kartlägga nyckelfaktorer samt sambandet mellan dessa i en lastningsprocess. Forskning visar på att en effektivisering av lastningsprocessen har hjälpt olika företag att reducera sina kostnader, genom en minskning av transport samt minimering av skaderisk för det lastade godset.   Metod Tillvägagångssättet för denna studie var att göra en jämförelsestudie där nyckelfaktorer i olika lastningsmetoder skall analyseras. Tre olika faktorer för lastning analyserades, där underlag för analysen införskaffades ur organisationens datasamling genom arkivforskning, observationer samt ostrukturerade intervjuer. Analyserna gjordes i SPSS genom de olika dataanalystesterna, deskriptiv statistik, icke parametriskt t-test, korrelation samt logistisk regression.   Resultat Resultatet av studien visar hur lastning skiljer sig åt med avseende på de tre olika nyckelkoncepten beroende på vilken metod som ligger till grund. Respektive lastningsmetod analyseras för sig själv för att sedan jämföras, detta då för att identifiera vilken som är effektivast beroende på nyckelfaktorer. Resultatet presenterar ett samband mellan claims och fyllnadsgraden samt mellan claims och metodval.    Slutsats Slutsatsen av denna studie är att bland de två presenterade lastningsmetoderna, löst liggande samt stående pallastning finns en signifikant skillnad sett till nyckelfaktorerna vilka undersökts. Löst liggande pallastning är en effektivare modell sett till samtliga av de undersökta nyckelfaktorerna det vill säga fyllnadsgrad, claims samt kostnaden vilken uppkommer i samband med claims. Detta medför att löst liggande lastning är den mer gynnsamma lastmetoden sett till både ett hållbarhets och ekonomiskt perspektiv.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Although the traditional viewpoint of the Ancient Egyptian civilisation is one of isolation and self containment, in fact Egypt and Syro-Palestine had a long history of contact and interaction before the Late Bronze Age, albeit somewhat tenuous and ad hoc. The commencement of the New Kingdom in Egypt heralded a more vigorous period of exchange. This was largely due to the Egyptian policy of increased commercial activity and military campaigns in Syro-Palestine as well as the rising strength of the Asiatic peoples. At the personal level there was always a trend of Asiatics moving into Egypt in search of a better life, which opened the door for the Hyksos rule at the end of the Middle Bronze Age. This foreign rule was an affront on the dignity of the Egyptians. Thus, following numerous military campaigns much of Syro-Palestine was incorporated into the wider Egyptian political entity. In counterpoint to the situation in Egypt, Syro-Palestine was very far from isolated, situated in the open cultural landscape of Syria and Mesopotamia it was the very hub of the Ancient Near East. Inevitably there was considerable interaction, and throughout history, as even today, Syro-Palestine is a crossroads and melting pot of different peoples. At the forefront of any exchange were religious ideas, religious traditions were introduced and foreign gods were spread far and wide. The international nature of the gods seems to have been a characteristic of the Ancient Near East. In this scenario were the Egyptian god Seth and his counterpart the Syro-Palestinian god Baaal, each with a complex story, wherein the iconographical and textual evidence of the gods show much commonality. The association of Seth with Baaal in Egypt is clear, the name of Baaal being written with the Seth-animal determinative, whereas Syro-Palestine has the Mami stele from Ugarit. Major events shook the Ancient Near East ca. 1500-1000 BCE, Egypt reached its apogee and ruled the East; providing the most likely answer regarding the presence and worship of Seth in Syro-Palestine. Certainly Seth was present and worshipped, naturally the massive numbers of Egyptian military and diplomatic personnel required facilities for this practice. Since the earlier Hyksos rulers accepted and worshipped Seth this predicates on a continuum into the period in question. To summarize: Seth equals Baaal and Baaal equals Seth. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Alhoewel die tradisionele siening van die antieke Egiptiese beskawing een van isolasie en selfonderhouding is, het Egipte en Siro-Palestina in werklikheid ʼn lang geskiedenis van kontak en interaksie voor die Laat Bronstydperk gehad, hoewel ietwat beperk en ad hoc. Die aanvang van die Nuwe Koninkryk in Egipte het ʼn meer dinamiese tydperk van wisselwerking ingelui. Dit was grootliks weens die Egiptiese beleid van toenemende handelsaktiwiteit en militêre veldtogte in Siro-Palestina, asook die opkomende mag van die Asiatiese volke. Op persoonlike vlak was daar altyd ʼn neiging van Asiate om na Egipte te trek op soek na ʼn beter lewe, wat die deur vir die Hiksosheerskappy aan die einde van die Middel-Bronstydperk oopgemaak het. Hierdie vreemdelinge heerskappy was ʼn belediging vir die waardigheid van die Egiptenare. Gevolglik, na afloop van talle militêre veldtogte is die meerderheid van Siro-Palestina in die breër Egiptiese politieke entiteit ingelyf. In teenstelling met die situasie in Egipte was Siro-Palestina alles behalwe geïsoleer. Geleë in die oop kulturele landskap van Sirië en Mesopotamië was dit die ware middelpunt van die Ou Nabye Ooste. Daar was noodwendig aansienlike interaksie, en regdeur die geskiedenis, soos selfs vandag nog, is Siro-Palestina ‟n kruispad en smeltkroes van verskillende volke. Aan die voorpunt van enige wisselwerking was godsdienstige idees, godsdienstige tradisies was ingevoer en uitheemse gode wyd en syd versprei. Die internasionale aard van die gode blyk ʼn kenmerk van die Ou Nabye Ooste te wees. In hierdie scenario was die Egiptiese god Seth en sy Siro-Palestynse eweknie Baäl, elk met ʼn komplekse storie, waarin die ikonografiese en tekstuele bronne van die gode baie ooreenstemming toon. Die verbintenis van Seth met Baäl is duidelik in Egipte, waar Baäl se naam met die Seth-dier as determinatief geskryf is, terwyl Siro-Palestina die Mami-stela van Ugarit het. Groot gebeurtenisse het die Ou Nabye Ooste ca. 1500-1000 v.C. geskud, Egipte het sy hoogtepunt bereik en oor die Ooste geheers, wat die mees waarskynlike antwoord aangaande die teenwoordigheid en aanbidding van Seth in Siro-Palestina verskaf. Seth was ongetwyfeld teenwoordig en aanbid, natuurlik het die enorme getalle Egiptiese militêre en diplomatieke personeel fasiliteite vir hierdie praktyk vereis. Aangesien die vroeëre Hiksosheersers Seth aanvaar en aanbid het, bevestig dit ‟n kontinuum in die periode onder bespreking. Om op te som: Seth is gelyk aan Baäl en Baäl is gelyk aan Seth.