Nobody has a safeguard against loss. All people experience loss and the accompanying grief process during their lifetime. Grieving is a complex process. There are many different forms of grief. The grief process is understood in this study as identifiable moments rather than successive stages. The moments of grief are experienced on an unconscious level and vary in intensity. The role of the counsellor is to facilitate the process of bringing the experiences of grief into the conscious. This provides the counselee with the opportunity to work through his or her experience of loss. The contention of this study is that an existential experience of God’s presence can counteract the despair often associated with loss and the grief process. A method of story telling is used to bring hopeless stories into the empathic presence of God. Hope then becomes possible. A person’s experience of God is articulated by means of metaphors. Some of these are shared with the faith community as a whole, whereas other metaphors express the person’s individual experience of God. The different God images function in relation to one another. This study investigates how images of God can be harmful or helpful to the counselee in the grief process. The use of imagery assists in bringing the person’s perceptions of God to conscious awareness. By means of questions asked from a not-knowing position the counsellor helps to facilitate the telling of their story of grief, the story of God’s presence, and eventually their new story of hope for the future. The counselee experiences consolation, healing, liberation and a victory which becomes an existential reality in God’s presence. This pneumatic event is understood as God’s deliverance through Jesus Christ from a situation of hopelessness. This liberation takes place here-and-now. At the same time it is open toward the future. / Thesis (PhD (Practical Theology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document / Thesis (PhD (Dogmatics and Christian Ethics))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Dogmatics and Christian Ethics / PhD / unrestricted

No description available.

Thesis (DTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2002 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The presence of God in preaching is one of the most important Reformed homiletical themes. However, contemporary homiletics and preaching ministry do not pay due attention to this theme. More specifically speaking, contemporary Korean preaching also asks for a more comprehensive homiletical foundation for the homiletically appropriate witness of the divine presence in preaching. Based upon Dingeman's practical theological methodology, this study thus aims to describe and examine the practical realities of the witness of the divine presence in contemporary Korean preaching, and to make further some comprehensive normative and strategic suggestions on this homiletical theme. In chapter 1, in order to prepare to analyze and explain the practical reality of the witness of the divine presence in Korean preaching, we constructed an appropriate sermon analysis frame that consists of the following three components: analysis norms (God, the preacher, the Scriptures, and the audience), analysis targets (the five representative Korean preachers and their sermons - Yune-Sun Park, Yong-Gi Cho, Sun-Hee Kwak, Han-Hum Oak, and Dong-Won Lee), and analysis variables (the religio-sociological background of the Korean corporate personality in relation to the four indigenous Korean religions - Shamanism, Taoism, Buddhism, and Neo-Confucianism). Based upon this analytical frame, from chapter two till six, this study analyzed in detail five sermons of representative Korean preachers with the guidance of the analytical questions: Yune-Sun Park (ch. 2), Yong-Gi Cho (ch. 3), Sun-Hee Kwak (ch. 4), Han-Hum Oak (ch. 5), and Dong-Won Lee (ch. 6), and observed several homiletical aspects of the witness of the divine presence in contemporary Korean preaching. Through this detailed analysis of the five representative Korean preachers' sermons, we noted the fact that God-images implemented by the preacher cannot help being confined by the specific pastoral interests or theological emphasis that the preacher has in mind, as raised from the existential experience of the preacher, the theological emphasis, or pastoral context. However, without an appropriate consideration of the four components of preaching, the witness of the divine presence cannot achieve the desirable sermonic results. With this homiletical necessity in mind, we discussed the normative foundation of the witness of the divine presence in relation to the four components of preaching: God (ch. 8), the Scriptures (ch. 9), the preacher (ch. 10), and the audience (ch. 11). After establishing a normative understanding of how each component is to be involved in the witness of the divine presence, we have also made several strategic suggestions in relation to Korean preaching. In chapter 8, based upon the pneumatological dimension of preaching, we confirmed that the witness of the divine presence should be rendered in a linguistic and ecclesial frame, and suggested that God-images should be used based upon Christian narrative that brings about a linguistic and ecclesial collision between the identity narrative of the Christian community and the individual's narrative in preaching. In chapter 9, in connection with the question of how the voice of the Bible can be involved in the witness of the divine presence, we discussed the sacramental character of the Bible to mediate the divine presence to the Christian reader, and suggested that the reading of the Bible should make the transformative encounter with God happen to the reader. In chapter 10, we examined the question of how the voice of the preacher can be harmoniously involved in the witness of the divine presence, and paid attention to the three factors which the preacher is aware of in preaching: God (spirituality), the audience (integrity), and self (subjectivity and conviction). In chapter 11, we tackled the question of how the audience can be involved in the witness of the divine presence. Here we firstly defined the audience in relation to the other three components of preaching: in relation to God (theological, pneumatological, and eschatological being), to the Bible (hermeneutical being), and the preacher (communicative being). In addition to these definitions, we also defined the audience according to the reception axis of the Word: as an individual being (human heart and paradigmatic imagination), ecclesial and communal being (the divine presence through the pastoral ministry), and as one who is engaged in the world (socio-political responsibility to reflect the divine presence to the world). Based upon these definitions, we further suggested an appropriate communicative strategy for the witness of the divine presence, which consists of the image of God who is present in suffering, the communicative frame of the poor in spirit, and the four linguistic dimensions of confessional, evocative, hermeneutic, and imaginative witness. Through these normative and strategic suggestions, we confirmed and suggested that the witness of the divine presence should involve comprehensively all four components of preaching: God, the Scripture, the preacher, and the audience so as to sound like a sermonic symphony in which all four voices harmoniously take part in the witness of the divine presence, while retaining their own homiletical value. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die teenwoordigheid van God in die prediking is 'n belangrike Refonnatoriese tema. Hedendaagse homiletiek skenk egter nie genoeg aandag daaraan nie. Veral eietydse Koreaanse prediking kort 'n meer omvangryke homiletiese basis vir hierdie aangeleentheid. Hierdie studie is gebaseer op Dingeman se praktiese teologiese metodologie en dit beoog om die praktiese realiteite van die prediking van die goddelike teenwoordigheid in Koreaanse prediking te ondersoek en te beskryf en om verdere omvattende nonnatiewe en strategiese voorstelle ten opsigte van hierdie homiletiese tema te maak. In hoofstuk 1 ontwerp ons 'n toepaslike raamwerk vir preekanalise wat bestaan uit die volgende drie komponente: nonne vir analise (God, die prediker, die Skrif en die gehoor); teikens vir analise (vyf verteenwoordigende Koreaanse predikers en hulle preke - Yune-Sun Park, Yong-Gi Cho, Sun-Hee Kwak, Han-Hum Oak en Dong-Won Lee); en die analitiese veranderlikes (die godsdienstig-sosiologiese agtergrond van die Koreaanse samelewing met betrekking tot die vier inheemse Koreaanse godsdienste (Shamanisme, Taoisme, Buddhisme en Neo-Confucianisme). Gebaseer op hierdie analitiese raamwerk, analiseer hierdie studie vanaf Hoofstuk 2 tot 6 in besonderhede vyf preke van verteenwoordigende predikers na gelang van bepaalde analitiese vrae: Yune-Sun Park (Hf. 2), Yong-Gi Cho (Hf. 3), Sun-Hee Kwak (Hf. 4), Han-Hum Oak (Hf. 5) en Dong-Won Lee (Hf. 6), en let ons op sekere homiletiese aspekte van die getuienis van die goddelike teenwoordigheid in Koreaanse prediking. Deur middel van hierdie gedetaileerde analise merk ons dat die voorstellings van God soos getuig deur hierdie predikers beinvloed word deur spesifieke pastorale belange en teologiese beklemtoninge van die prediker self of deur die pastorale konteks. In die daaropvolgende hoofstukke bespreek ons die nonnatiewe onderbou vir die getuienis van die goddelike teenwoordigheid: God (Hf. 8), die Skrif (Hf. 9), die prediker (Hf. 10), en die gehoor (Hf. 11). Nadat die rol van elkeen van hierdie komponente bespreek is, maak ons strategiese voorstelle i.v.m Koreaanse prediking. In Hf. 8, gebaseer op die pneumatologiese dimensie van prediking, bevestig ons dat die getuienis van die goddelike teenwoordigheid plaasvind in 'n linguistiese en ekklesiologiese raamwerk, en suggereer ons dat voorstellings van God voortspruit uit die Christelike narratief. In Hf. 9 bespreek ons hoe die stem van die Bybel betrokke kan wees in die getuienis van die goddelike teenwoordigheid, Ons wys veral op die sakramentele karakter van die Bybel as bemiddelaar tussen die goddelike teenwoordigheid en die Christelike leser. In Hf. 10 gaan ons in op die vraag hoe die stem van die prediker betrokke kan wees in die getuienis van die goddelike teenwoordigheid en gee ons aandag aan drie aspekte waarvan die prediker bewus moet wees: die relasie tot God (spiritualiteit), die gehoor (integriteit), en die self (subjektiwiteit en oortuiging). In Hf. 11 bespreek ons die vraag hoe die gehoor (gemeente) betrokke kan wees in die getuienis van die goddelike aanwesigheid. Eers beskou ons die gehoor in sy betrokkenheid by die ander drie komponente: sy verhouding tot God (teologiese, pneumatologiese en eskatologiese wese), tot die Bybel (hermeneutiese komponent) en tot die prediker (kommunikatiewe komponent). Ter aanvulling van hierdie beskouinge definieer ons die gehoor as die ontvanger van die Woord, en weI as: 'n individuele wese (mens like hart en paradigmatiese verbeelding), kerklike en gemeentelike wese (die goddelike teenwoordigheid d.m.v. die pastorale bediening), en as mense wat betrokke is by die wereld (wat sosio-politieke verantwoordelikheid het om die goddelike teenwoordigheid in die wereld weer te gee). Gebaseer op hierdie definisies het ons 'n toepaslike kommunikatiewe strategie vir die getuienis van die goddelike teenwoordigheid voorgestel, bestaande uit 'n voorstelling van God wat teenwoordig is by lyding, die kommunikatiewe raamwerk van die armes in gees, en die vier linguistiese dimensies van die belydende, evokatiewe, hermeneutiese en verbeeldingryke getuienis. Met hierdie normatiewe en strategiese voorstelle bevestig ons dat die getuienis van die goddelike teenwoordigheid al vier die komponente van prediking behoort in te sluit: God, die Skrif, die prediker en die gehoor, ten einde 'n homiletiese simfonie te orkestreer.

Thesis (DTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2004 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study can as well be termed as "an attempt to interpref' pastoral care and counseling methods and modules in an African understanding. For this reason, the study engages concepts, metaphors and images that reflect an African understanding of pastoral ministry. It is argued that pastoral ministry will be enriched more by accommodating an African spirituality and cosmology that usually influences the world view of African people on God, life and the cosmic life-force. The study attempts to work with God-images that will help people to gain meaning in moments of pain and suffering, and much more also that will help them appropriate faith to life situations in a more meaningful way. Thus the study gives attention to defming God-images in light of pain and suffering within a given pastoral care situation. Two God-images are therefore proposed for use in a pastoral care setting in Africa, namely, God as a friend (Mubwezi) and God as companion (woyenda naye). The study proposes a working model that can be used by pastoral ministry in the process of assessment of God-images. It is argued that unless pastoral ministry undertakes to work with models that are going to help African people come to terms with situations of pain and suffering, the work of pastoral ministry will be limited to a large extent. For this reason, the study proposes that pastoral ministry should reckon with African cultural values that are always expressed through metaphors and symbols. It is argued further that pastoral ministry should work with Christian rituals, such as Holy Communion, Baptism and the Cross which are going to help African people understand the involvement of God in their lives and also in times of pain and suffering. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die navorsing is 'n poging om 'n pastorale hermeneutiek te ontwikkel wat in die prosesse van heling rekening hou met die eiesoortigheid van 'n Afrika-konteks. Vandaar die fokus op 'n Afrika-spiritualiteit en 'n Afrika-kosmologie. Die navorsing is 'n poging om die verstaan van die lewe as 'n werklikheid, beinvloed deur spirituele werkinge en kosrniese lewenskragte, te kombineer met 'n pastorale antropologie. Die navorsingsvoorveronderstelling is dat 'n bepaalde kulturele verstaan en ervaring van God (Godsbeelde en Godsvoorstellinge) menslike identiteit en derhalwe ook prosesse van heling en terapie wesenlik beinvloed. Die navorsing konsentreer daarom op die interaktiewe en wisselwerkende verband tussen Godsbeelde en die vraagstuk van lyding en heling. Die uitkoms van die navorsing is die ontwerp van 'n beradingsmodel vir die pastoraat waarin rekening gehou word met die eiesoortige spiritualiteit van 'n bepaalde kultuurkonteks. Vandaar die ontwerp van 'n ses-fase model vir die maak van 'n pastorale diagnose (pastorale assessering). Verskillende simbole en metafore vanuit 'n Afrika lewenservaring kan help om her na te dink oor die verstaan van God binne lyding in 'n pastorale gesprek oor die vraagstuk van teodisee. Die beradingsmodel wat voorgestel word, verskuif die fokus weg van 'n analitiese, individualisties-georienteerdheid na 'n meer holistiese en sisterniese kommunale georienteerdheid. In die verb and moet die dinarnika van verhoudinge saam met 'n narratiewe benadering opnuut herontgin word vir pastorale berading.

Thesis (MPhil (Ancient Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Although St Augustine of Hippo (354–430 C.E.) was raised as a Christian, he refuted Catholicism as a youth in his search for divine wisdom and truth. Like the biblical prodigal son, he first had to realise the error of his aversion (turning away from the Catholic Church) before he could experience conversion (returning to the Catholic faith). Augustine narrates certain central events of his life in the Confessiones as a series of conversions, leading him from his native Roman North Africa to his conversion to Catholic Christianity in the Imperial City of Milan. Philosophy, especially Neo-Platonic thought, played a crucial role in his conversion process, as did the influence of St Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, and other Neo-Platonic intellectuals in Milan. Neo- Platonism also influenced Augustine's conception of the imago Dei (image of God). Although Augustine’s teaching of the concept of the imago Dei is found in all his works (but mainly in De Trinitate), a survey of the literature has shown that the way in which this concept is used to inform, structure and advance his conversion narrative in the Confessions, has not yet been investigated in a structured manner. In order to address this gap in scholarly knowledge, the thesis attempts to answer the following research question: How did the concept of the imago Dei inform and structure Augustine's conversion narrative, as recounted in his Confessiones, taking into account the theological and philosophical influences of Ambrose and the Neo-Platonists of Milan on his spiritual development? The investigation was conducted by an in-depth study and analysis of the Confessiones and relevant secondary literature within the historical, philosophical and religious framework of the work. An empirical approach, by means of textual analysis and hermeneutics, was used to answer the research question. The analysis of the Confessions is limited to its autobiographical part (Books 1 to 9). In order to carry out the analysis, a theoretical and conceptual framework was posited in Chapters 1 to 4, discussing the key concepts of conversion and of the imago Dei, as well as explaining the influence of Neo-Platonism and Ambrose on Augustine. In Chapter 5, this conceptual framework of the nature of the imago Dei is complemented by a literary framework for the Confessions to form a metaframework. The textual analysis was done within the meta-framework with reference to certain endowments (attributes) imprinted in the image, namely personality, spirituality, rationality, morality, authority, and creativity. The main conclusion is that Augustine's personal relationship with God had been harmed by the negative impact of sin on these endowments of the divine image in him. His gradual realisation that God is Spirit, his growth in faith, and his eventual acceptance of the authority of Scripture and of the Catholic Church, brought about the healing of the broken image of God in Augustine and also the restoration of God’s likeness in him. This enabled Augustine to be reconciled to God through Christ, who is the perfect Image of God, and helped to convert him to the Catholic Church, which is the Body of Christ. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Alhoewel die Heilige Augustinus, Biskop van Hippo (354–430 n.C.), as Christen grootgemaak is, het hy as jong man die Katolisisme verwerp in sy soektog na goddelike wysheid en waarheid. Soos die verlore seun van die Bybel, moes hy eers die fout van sy afkerigheid (wegdraai van die Katolieke Kerk) insien voordat hy tot bekering (terugkeer tot die Katolieke geloof) kon kom. Augustine vertel sekere kerngebeure van sy lewe in die Confessiones (Belydenisse) as ‘n reeks van bekeringe, wat hom gelei het van sy geboorteplek in Romeins-Noord-Afrika tot sy bekering tot die Katolieke Christendom in die Keiserstad Milaan. Filosofie, veral Neo-Platoniese denke, het ‘n deurslaggewende rol gespeel in sy bekeringsproses, soos ook die invloed van die Heilige Ambrosius, Biskop van Milaan, en ander Neo- Platoniese intellektuele in Milaan. Neo-Platonisme het ook Augustine se begrip van die imago Dei (Godsbeeld) beïnvloed. Alhoewel Augustinus se leer oor die begrip imago Dei in al sy werke aangetref word (maar veral in De Trinitate), het ‘n literatuurstudie uitgewys dat die manier waarop hierdie begrip gebruik word om sy bekeringsverhaal in die Confessions toe te lig, vorm te gee en te bevorder, nog nie op gestruktureerde wyse ondersoek is nie. Om hierdie leemte in vakkundige kennis te vul, poog hierdie tesis om die volgende navorsingsvraag te beantwoord: Hoe het die begrip imago Dei Augustinus se bekeringsverhaal toegelig en vorm gegee, soos vertel in sy Confessiones, met inagneming van die teologiese en filosofiese invloede van Ambrosius en die Neo-Platoniste van Milaan op sy geestelike ontwikkeling? Die ondersoek is uitgevoer deur middel van ‘n grondige studie en ontleding van die Confessiones en toepaslike sekondêre literatuur binne die historiese, filosofiese en godsdienste raamwerk van die werk. ’n Empiriese benadering, by wyse van teksontleding en hermeneutika, is gebruik om die navorsingsvraag te beantwoord. Die ontleding van die Confessiones is beperk tot die outobiografiese deel (Boeke 1 tot 9). Om die ontleding uit te voer, is ’n teoretiese en konseptuele raamwerk vooropgestel in Hoofstukke 1 tot 4, waar die sleutelbegrippe bekering en imago Dei bespreek is, asook die invloed van Neo-Platonisme en Ambrosius op Augustinus. In Hoofstuk 5 word hierdie konseptuele raamwerk vir die aard van die imago Dei aangevul deur ’n literêre raamwerk vir die Confessions om sodoende ‘n metaraamwerk te vorm. Die teksontleding is gedoen binne die metaraamwerk met verwysing na sekere geestesgawes (eienskappe) wat in die beeld neerslag vind, naamlik persoonlikheid, spiritualiteit, rasionaliteit, moraliteit, outoriteit, en kreatiwiteit. Die hoofgevoltrekking is dat Augustinus se persoonlike verhouding met God geskaad is deur die negatiewe impak van sonde op hierdie geestesgawes van die Godsbeeld in hom. Sy geleidelike besef dat God Gees is, sy groei in sy geloof, asook sy uiteindelike aanvaarding van die gesag van die Bybel en van die Katolieke Kerk, het meegebring dat Augustinus se gebroke Godsbeeld en -gelykenis herstel is. Daardeur is Augustinus met God versoen deur Christus, wat die volmaakte Godsbeeld is, en sodoende is hy bekeer tot die Katolieke Kerk, wat die Liggaam van Christus is.

(Annotation) This thesis compares the orthodox approach to man to psychotherapeutics, especially with psychoanalysis, analytic psychology and logoterapy. These systems arise from positivistic backgrounds and approaches to man in this direction. In opposite to psychoanalysis analytic psychology and logoterapy think about spiritual aspect in life of man, but both systems mostly psychologize this aspect. The orthodox psychotherapy especially works with this spiritual aspect. It comes out from patristic anthropology referring that man is God's creature according to Genesis. The spirit aspect plays the cardinal role in the relationship between man and God. This relationship was corrupted by the rebellion of man against God. This rebellion has changed the ontological nature of man. According to the orthodox psychotherapy mental disorders are a result from this ontological change of man, which characterized by "garment of skin" done by God for man to revive in fallen state. The solution of mental disorders and then spiritual problems is to accept the state of "garments of skill" and in renewing of relationship with God.

Under stormaktstiden och tiden för det stora nordiska kriget, som utbröt år 1700, var relationen mellan kyrka och stat god. Det var också dessa två som satte premisserna över hur den övriga svenska befolkningen skulle leva ett religiöst liv i enlighet med den evangelisk-lutherska läran. Tidigare forskning har gett oss mycket information om vad förkunnelsens innehåll och syfte var under tiden för det stora nordiska kriget. Hur detta mottogs av karolinerna, d.v.s. de som följde med på Karl XII:s ryska fälttåg, och hur deras religiösa liv såg ut finns det emellertid inte lika mycket information om. Syftet med föreliggande studie är att undersöka gudsbild och religiositet hos några av karolinerna under det stora nordiska kriget. Tanken är att se hur dessa kom till uttryck och hur karolinerna förhöll sig till detta under fälttåget i allmänhet och i förhållande till striden i synnerhet. Metoden är en kvalitativ textanalys av åtta karoliners dagböcker och memoarer. Det visar sig att karolinernas texter ger uttryck för en närvarande och agerande gud. En gud som hjälpte, räddade, belönade och straffade under både marsch och i strid. Relationen med Gud fanns både på ett kollektivt och ett individuellt plan, där den sistnämnda utmärker sig främst i kontexter i behov av räddning. Både behovet och hoppet om räddning verkar stamma från den tudelade synen karolinerna hade på sig själva som dels ett utvalt folk, men också som syndare. Religiositeten kommer också till uttryck genom deras gudsbild och hur de skulle få den agerande guden att handla till deras fördel eftersom det var en ömsesidig relation det handlade om. Karolinerna behövde i sin tur leva i enlighet med deras syn på ett kristet liv. Detta gällde både ur moraliska aspekter, upprätthållandet av en religiös praxis, samt erkänna Gud när han hade handlat väl mot dem.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:48:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Andre Jorge Catalan Casagrande.pdf: 797804 bytes, checksum: 3d1cac408c197e2a9460c8a871d796a5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-10 / This thesis examines the theology-literature interface; more specifically, it analyzes theologically and literately the novel Entre Todos os Homens (Among All Men) by Frei Betto. The approach focuses particularly on the anthropological bias - the method proposed by Manzatto - since the analysis underlying the theological narrative of the novel as much as the literary analysis of Jesus' character shows a deeply humanizing theology. In truth, the research moves from theology to anthropology, that is, the image of God conveyed by the novel ends in anthropology contained in the Jesus character. It follows, therefore, that Jesus as a character of Entre Todos os Homens carries in himself the fullness of human existence, either by the theological resources or by the literary devices which the author uses. This means that being God-incarnate is precisely the Jesus character's close relationship with God himself who turns out to affirm and further emphasize his humanity in the pages of the novel, making, in this way, that this ancient character acquires again conditions to surprisingly convince the reader throughout the narrative simply on account of his human attributes. / A presente dissertação versa sobre a interface teologia-literatura, mais especificamente, analisa teológica e literariamente o romance Entre todos os homens de Frei Betto. A abordagem incide especialmente sobre o viés antropológico - método proposto por Manzatto - uma vez que tanto a análise teológica subjacente a narrativa do romance quanto à análise literária da personagem Jesus evidencia uma teologia profundamente humanizadora. A bem da verdade, a pesquisa caminha da teologia a antropologia, ou seja, a imagem de Deus veiculada pelo romance desemboca na antropologia contida na personagem Jesus. Conclui-se, assim, que Jesus enquanto personagem de Entre todos os homens carrega em si a plenitude da existência humana seja pelos recursos teológicos seja pelos recursos literários dos quais o autor lança mão. Isto significa que sendo Deus-encarnado é justamente a relação de proximidade da personagem Jesus com o próprio Deus que acaba por afirmar e ressaltar ainda mais sua humanidade nas páginas do romance, fazendo desta feita, com que esta velha personagem adquira novamente condições de surpreender convincentemente o leitor ao longo da narrativa por conta pura e simplesmente de seus atributos humanos.

The thesis is situated in the interface between psychology and Christian spirituality. It explores the experience of women in the South African context making the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius as a Nineteenth Annotation Retreat. The results of the study show that shifts in image of self and image of God are facilitated by the imaginal and dialogical/relational processes in the Spiritual Exercises. A qualitative, hermeneutical approach was taken in which nineteen women were interviewed about their experience of making the Spiritual Exercises. Fifteen of these were interviewed after completing the Spiritual Exercises while four were interviewed during the process. Shifts towards more positive self and God-representations were reported by all but one of the women interviewed. Images of God shifted from distant or ambivalent to positive relational images. Images of self also shifted in concert with shifts in image of self, with the women coming to see themselves as intrinsically valuable and unconditionally loved by God. A marked lessening in defensive processes was also noted. A constructive interpretation of the themes which emerged from an analysis of the data was done from both psychological perspective and spiritual-theological perspectives. From a psychological perspective Object-Relations theory and Dialogical Self theory were used to better understand the mechanisms enabling shifts in God and self-representation. From a spiritual theological perspective, Rahner’s (1960, 1964) relational theology of grace shed light on the spiritual processes in the Spiritual Exercises which facilitate shifts in image of God and self. Imaginal dialogical or relational aspects of the Exercises were found to play an important role in facilitating shifts in both image of self and image of God. The findings of this study provide compelling evidence for the interplay between psychological and spiritual processes in the Spiritual Exercises in particular, and spiritual experience in general, resonating with the work of Meissner (1987, 2003) and Ulanov (2001). It also resonates with Rahner’s (1960, 1964) theology of grace as God’s self-communication which parallels the move in psychology towards the relational which is strongly evident in both object-relations theory and the more recent Dialogical Self psychology. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2008.