Thesis (MTh (Theology))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / Stigma is a social-identity devaluation due to a characteristic mark or feature. It imposes a discredited status, resulting in personal/social rejection and suffering. As a psychosocial construction, stigma reflects a systemic influence, as determined by the history and characteristics of the individual's psychological and social environment. This study explores the nature, variations, development, functions, processes, and justification of stigma and stigmatisation. It reflects on the experiential context of HIV/AIDS stigma/stigmatisation from the perspective of both the stigmatiser and stigmatised. Accounting for HIV/AIDS stigma are factors such as concealability, the unpredictability of infection, its terminal nature, and visible manifestations. The result is the multi-faceted suffering of internalised and external stigma, manifested by the prejudice, rejection, ostracism, discrimination, and condemnation of people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. An assessment of HIV/AIDS destigmatisation found that it represents a recent development in the struggle against the pandemic. Destigmatisation interventions have been mostly ineffective because they lack a systems approach. Destigmatisation interventions must be developed with cognisance of the societal context, cultural impediments, major causes and problems of the pandemic. It was argued and concluded that theology can play a major role in combating HIV/AIDS stigma and stigmatisation. Scripture provides both knowledge and existential direction to inform HIV/AIDS destigmatisation. Stigmatisation is sin because it robs the human being - as created in the image of God, reconciled, and redeemed through the cross and resurrection - from his God-endowed dignity and worth. A theology of HIV/AIDS, including a theology of affirmation and an inhabitational theology, is required to adequately address HIV/AIDS stigmatisation and destigmatisation. A theology of affirmation is appropriate because it confirms the eschatological ontology of the human being as a new creation, with a new, stigma-freed identity and status. An inhabitational theology reflects triumph over stigma through the empowerment of the indwelling Spirit. It was concluded that both a theology of the cross (reflecting the passion and compassion of God) and a theology of the resurrection is needed. A theology of the cross reveals our human condition of sin, guilt and guilt feelings, but also God's grace, our salvation, forgiveness and reconciliation. A theologia resurrectionis emphasises the power of God over sin, results in the transformation of the believer, which enables empowerment through the Spirit - who infuses the believer with courage, meaning, purpose, dignity and self-worth. Stigmatisation has made way for self-worth, victory, and charisma. The study concluded that the church has a major role to play in the destigmatisation of HIV/AIDS stigma. The church should contribute to the deconstruction of power and counter systemic injustices. Its should follow a holistic, systems approach, involving the proclamation of a theology of life, practicing pastoral care, participate in the missio Dei, and exhibiting a normative basis regarding destigmatisation interventions - especially with regard to marriage, gender and sex education. It should fulfil its calling of service, participate in the home-based care of the HIV/AIDS infected and affected (including children), and demonstrate the resurrection identity of hope and empowerment, as enabled by the Holy Spirit.

Thesis (MTh (Practical Theology and Missiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die globale en plaaslike veranderende konteks van die kerk en die vermindering in die invloed van die kerk in die samelewing, noodsaak die kerk tot eerlike selfondersoek. Dit is vir die kerk belangrik hoe sy op hierdie verandering reageer, want dit het ‟n impak op die taak van die kerk in die wêreld. Hierdie navorsing wil help om ‟n gepaste reaksie te vind vir die VGK-Koelenhof op haar spesifieke konteks. Hoofstuk een gee ‟n uiteensetting van die navorsing wat die doel, motivering en metode betref. Hoofstuk twee lê die basis vir die hele navorsing wat gegrond is in die Drie-Enige God wat ‟n sturende God is (missio Dei). Daar word gevra hoe die lewe in die triniteit die roeping van die kerk bepaal en die gang van die wêreld beїnvloed. In hoofstuk drie word die kerk se verhouding tot die Drie-Enige God belig. Die kerk moet geloofsonderskeiding beoefen ten einde haar roeping te ontdek. Hierdie proses is ook belangrik vir die besluitnemingsprosesse van die kerk. Dit impliseer dat die kerk as gestuurde van God in ‟n persoonlike gemeenskap met Hom moet leef sodat die kerk sensitief genoeg kan wees vir sy stem en hul roeping kan ontdek vir hul spesifieke omstandighede. In die vierde hoofstuk word beklemtoon dat die kerk ook in verhouding tot die wêreld staan waarin sy leef. Om haar roeping werklik uit te leef, moet die kerk nie net na God se stem luister nie, maar ook na die konteks waarin die kerk haar bevind. Die kerk het in haar bestaan sedert Jesus Christus telkens voor nuwe uitdagings te staan gekom en het verskillend daarop gereageer. ‟n Gepaste reaksie van die kerk se kant vereis soms dat die kerk intern verandering benodig. Dit is die fokus van hoofstuk vyf. Daar word gefokus op die aard van hierdie verandering, veral die rol van die leierskap in die hele proses. Hierdie verandering behels in hoofsaak ‟n verandering van instandhouding na gestuur-wees. Die verandering of transformasie in die kerk kan nooit ‟n doel op sigself wees nie. Dit is met die oog op die transformasie van die samelewing. Die verandering moet die kerk help om teken en voorsmaak van die koninkryk van God te wees in die wêreld. En daarom is die titel van hoofstuk ses: Van missionale transformasie na gemeenskapstransformasie. Ten slotte word „n opsomming gegee van die resultate van hierdie navorsing. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Uniting Reformed Congregation of Koelehof on the road from maintenance to be missional: the development of sustainable farming communities. The changing global and local context of the church and the decline of the church‟s influence on society, call for a need of honest introspection. It is important how the church respond to these changes as it has an impact on the church‟s role in the world. This research aims to help the Uniting Reformed Congregation of Koelenhof to respond properly to its own context. Chapter one gives an outline of the research with regard to the goal, motivation and method. Chapter two lays the basis for the research which is grounded in the Triune God who is a sending God (missio Dei). The question here is how life in the Trinity affects the task of the church and destination of the world. In Chapter three the relationship between the church and God is highlighted. The church must exercise spiritual discernment to discover its missional vocation in the world. Spiritual discernment is also vital with regard to the decision processes of the church. This implies that the church, as a missionary of God, must have a personal relationship with Him so that the church can be sensitive enough to hear His voice. In chapter four the emphasis is on the church‟s relationship to the world in which she finds herself. For the church to really be faithful to her calling, she needs not only listen to God, but also to the context. Since the time of Jesus, the church has to face different challenges and has always react differently to each situation. A change of context often requires a change of heart. This is the focus of chapter five. What is the nature of these changes and especially the role of the church leadership in this regard? The answer is a transformation from being maintenance driven to being missionally inspired. This transformation is never a goal in itself. This transformation aims at the transformation of society. The transformation must enable the church to be an effective sign and foretaste of the kingdom of God. Therefore the title of chapter six is: From missional transformation to community transformation. In conclusion a summary is given of the results of this research.

Thesis (MDiv (Practical Theology and Missiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / In the postmodern times people’s world changed a lot. A lot of sociological and ecclesiological paradigm shifts took place. These shifts weren’t limited to one area. Globalisation caused these shifts to take place the world over. During modernism the emphasis was mainly on knowledge and the cognitive aspect of man. Now the emphasis shifted to experience. The media provides in this need. Television, films and the internet are focused on giving an experience. The question is what influence these changes have on the church and what people want from the church. The answer is simple. People want an experience of God. The Dutch Reformed Church’s (DRC) emphasis on a rational understanding of God which crystalises in the preaching of the Word which takes a central role in the worship service, does not provide in people’s needs anymore and is out of touch with the experiences of everyday. The hypothesis is as follows: a rediscovery of the essence of reformed liturgy as continuing reforming liturgy has the potential to find a way between the extremes of set traditionalism and irresponsible experimenting where people of our generation can come home and find liturgical guidance for life.

Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2001 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Willow Creek's celebrated seeker-sensitivemodel ostensibly offers an alluring alternative ecclesiology for many congregations seeking a differentway to 'do chuch' viz an attractive communication ambience and an effective process of persuasion. It reflects both the strengths of evangelical entrepreneurial ecclesiolgy as well as the weaknesses of first generation independent ecclesiology. It espouses a pragmatic, populist approach, reliant on managerial, therapeutic and marketing techniques. Whilst there is much to commend in the Willow Creek model, uncritical imitation of the attempt to reach a secularized post-modern North American society results in unwitting theological reductionism and cultural accomodation of the gospel not least in the following respects: The temptation of image places a premium on performance and appearance. The allure of psychology distorts the ethical framework of Willow Creek. The stress on marketing and measurasble results unduly shapes the gospel. A 'user-friendly' canon within a canon results in a minimalist dualism. A marginalization of theology leads to baptised pragmatism and a deprecation of truth. The resultant re-imaged ministry model owes more to contemporary business methodolgy than it does to the historic theological magisterium of the church. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Willow Creek se beroemde soekersensitiewe model bied klaarblyklik 'n aanloklike alternatiewe eklesiologie vir baie gemeentes wat 'n anderrnanier van 'kerk-doen' soek, aan, te wete, 'n aantreklike kommunikasie ambience en 'n doeltreffende oortuigings proses. Oit weerspieel beide die sterkte van evangeliesgesinde ondernemingsekklesiologie so wei as die swakheid van eerste geslag onafhanklike ekklesiologie. Oit omhels 'n pragmatiese populis benadering vertrouend op bestuurs-, teraputiese- en bernarkinqsteqnieke. Alhoewel daar baie in die Willow Creek model is wat aanbevelings- I waard~g is, kan onkritiese navolging van die poging om 'n sekulariseerde post-moderne Noord Amerikaanse samelewingte bereik, eindig in 'n onbewuste teologiese reduksie en kult~rele aanpassing van die evangelie, ten minste in die volgende opsigte, te wete: die versoeking van beeld plaas 'n premie op vertoon en voorkoms; die aantreklikheid van sielkunde verdraai die etiese raamwerk van Willow Creek; die klem op bemarking en meetbare resultate vorm uiteindelik die evangelie; 'n verbruikervriendelike kanon binne In kanon lei tot 'n minimalistiese dualisme; die vermindering van teologie lei tot 'gedoopte' pragmatisme en afkeuring van die waarheid. Gevolglik het die nuwe beeld , r: van die bedieningspraktyk smId- meer te danke aan eietydse besigheidsmetodes as die historiese magisterium van die kerk.

Thesis (MTh (Practical Theology and Missiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Language serves as a primary medium for humanity to find and communicate meaning. To use language in such a way that an experience of vitality becomes possible for people requires particular understandings of the nature and role of language as medium and framework that mediates the existence of man in the presence of God, rather than merely a consideration of language as medium of communication between persons. The study aims to defend a particular approach to language and language activity by exploring various subject disciplines with the purpose of mediating church practice of communicating the gospel in current contexts. The investigation is done with a practical theological approach and aims to prove as valid the spatial evolutionary understanding of language. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Taal dien as ‘n primêre medium waarin die mens betekenis vind en kommunikeer. Om te kan “taal” op so ‘n manier dat ‘n belewenis van lewenskragtigheid vir mense moontlik word, vra dat die aard en rol van taal op spesifieke maniere verstaan word.– veral dan op maniere wat getrou is aan die rol van taal as medium en raamwerk vir die eksistensiële integriteit van die mens voor die aangesig van God, eerder as slegs die oorweging van taal as medium van kommunikasie tussen persone. In die studie word gepoog om ‘n bepaalde benadering tot taal en taling te verdedig deur verskillende toepaslike vakdissiplines te verken met die oog daarop om die kerklike praktyk van kommunikasie van die evangelie in ‘n hedendaagse konteks te begelei. Die ondersoek word prakties-teologies aangepak en beoog om die ruimtelik-evolusionêre verstaan van taal en taling as geldig te bewys.

Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2000 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: As a multidisciplinary liturgical scientific research project, all seven existing methods within the field of Liturgy will be used. These seven methods are namely: liturgy as book; a depth approach; the integral approach; primary and secondary sources; designation and appropriation; contextual: anthropological and cultural; as well as present, past, continuity and discontinuity, future. These seven approaches will form the matrix of the research that will be steered/directed by the researcher himself by means of interference, a so-called tamed intuition and the Bible as critical-normative source. As indicated in the title of the research proposal, the dynamic concept of inculturation will play a vital role throughout the course of the research. Since the research will be done with the intention of liturgical inculturation, the dynamic of cult and culture, as well as the time aspect of continuity and discontinuity, must be brought into account. It follows that a number of main parts will have to be opened, of which three parts have already been opened to serve as an example in this research proposal. These main parts are firstly a chapter on inculturation, secondly a chapter on ritual theory and also a chapter on the history of rituals of reconciliation within the Christian tradition. These three main parts will be opened again from a South African perspective in the final research, but will also be supplemented with a part on the theology of reconciliation, and a recent contextual analysis by means of participatory observation! ethnography. Throughout the proposed research the matrix will be applied to each chapter individually, and then on everything as a whole. The whole process will be steered by the concepts interference and quality of ritual in order to see what lines of force or series of qualities can be distilled from the process. As a whole the research will serve the initial question, namely:" How a better inculturated repertoire of rituals of reconciliation can be attained?" On this basis the research aims at making a contribution towards the so-called liturgia condenda (liturgy in process/formation), working towards the goal that the current liturgical formation in South Africa, and specifically within the Dutch Reformed Church, will take place in a theologically and anthropologically justifiable fashion. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: As multidissiplinere liturgiewetenskaplike ondersoek, sal van al sewe bestaande ondersoekswyses binne die liturgiewetenskap gebruik gemaak word, te wete liturgie as boek; In diepte benadering; die integrale benadering; primere- en sekondere bronne; benoeming en toe-eiening; kontekstueel: antropologies en kultureel; en hede, verlede, kontinuiteit en diskontinuiteit, toekoms. Hierdie sewe benaderings sal die matriks van die ondersoek vorm wat deur die ondersoeker self deur middel van interferensie, 'n sogenaamde getemde intuisie en die Bybel as krities-normatiewe bron gestuur sal word. Soos blyk uit die titel van die ondersoek, word daar vera! gewerk met die dinamiese begrip inkulturasie. Synde die ondersoek gedoen word met die oog op liturgiese inkulturasie, moet die dinamiek van liturgielkultus en kultuur, asook die tydsapek van kontinuiteit en diskontituiteit met die liturgiese tradisie wat deur die begrip inkulturasie opgeroep word, in berekening gebring word. In hierdie ondersoeksvoorstel is drie van die vyf beoogde hoofdele a! eksemplaries oopgemaak, naamlik inkulturasie, ritualiteit en geskiedenis van versoeningrituele in die Christelike tradisie. Hierdie drie hoofdele sal in die finale ondersoek weer vanuit 'n Suid-Afrikaanse perspektief oopgemaak word, en aangevul word met 'n resente kontekstuele analise met behulp van deelnemende observasie geng op versoeningrituele, asook In teologiese hoofstuk oor die begrip versoening. Die matriks sal deurgaans op al vyf dele toegepas word, eers op elkeen afsonderlik en daarna op alma! saam. Hierdie proses sal deur middel van interferensie en kwaliteite van ritueel plaasvind om te sien watter kraglyne en reekse kwaliteite afgelei kan word uit die proses. As 'n geheel staan die proses in diens van die inisiele vraagstelling, "Hoe 'n beter geinkultureerde rituele repertoire van versoening verkry kan word?". Sodoende wil die ondersoek 'n bydrae lewer tot die liturgia condenda (liturgie in wording), om mee te werk aan die ideaal dat die huidige liturgiese vormgewing in Suid-Afrika, maar spesifiek ook in die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk, op In teologies en antropologies verantwoorde wyse geskied.

Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2000 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This proposal focuses on the quest for appropriate God-images which can be used to represent God in a given pastoral situation within an African context. It identifies the challenge that confronts the African people as they try to find what can be accepted within the African culture to express their experience of God. The study argues that pastoral care and cross-cultural communication are faced with a twofold problem: the problem of accommodation (continuity) and rejection (discontinuity). It has been observed that the problem of accommodation and rejection is an integral feature of a theological problem of continuity and discontinuity in cross-cultural communication. The problem of accommodation and rejection has been described in this study as: the challenge African people confront in trying to express their experience of God in a given pastoral situation, while at the same time being aware of what is not acceptable and appropriate to the content of the Christian faith. The basic working assumption undertaken by this research, states that appropriate God-images are those which represent God and create an experience of meaning and significance in any kind of circumstance faced by His people. We will presuppose further that appropriate God-images are those which are not going to conflict with a theological interpretation of the Godhuman encounter in a given pastoral care situation. In order to clarify these basic assumptions, the study has undertaken to work with a Hermeneutical model. A hermeneutical model will help us to identify the underlying factors of an African cosmology and anthropology which, according to this study, influences the way African people formulate their God-images. It will be argued further that unless we understand what influences the way African people formulate God-images, we will not comprehend the depth of the problem of accommodation and rejection in an African context. The research proposal wishes to emphasize that the African quest for appropriate God-images is a pastoral problem. Pastoral ministry has a challenge of providing a pastoral diagnosis of God-images which people can identify with. Pastoral ministry should make use of metaphors and symbols common to African people in order to facilitate their quest for appropriate Godimages. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie voorlegging fokus op die soeke na gepaste voorstellings van God wat gebruik kan word in In gegewe pasorale situasie binne In Afrika-konteks met die oog op die effektiewe kommunikasie van die evangelie en die vorming van lidmate se geloofsvolwassenheid. Die kemvraagstuk is die probleem van inkulturasie met in agneming van die invloed van In Afrika-spiritualiteit en kosmologie op Godsvoorstellinge. Die studie voer aan dat pastorale sorg en interkulturele kommunikasie voor In tweeledige probleem te staan kom: die probleem van akkommodasie (kontinuiteit) en verwerping (diskontinuiteit). Daar is vasgestel dat die probleem van akkommodasie en verwerping In wesenlike kenmerk is van die teologiese vraagstuk van kontinuiteit en diskontinuiteit. Die probleem van akkommodasie en verwerping is in hierdie studie beskryf as: die uitdaging waarvoor die mense van Afrika te staan kom wanneer hulle probeer uitdrukking gee aan hul belewing van God in In gegewe pastorale situasie, terwyl hulle tegelyk ook bewus is van wat, volgens die inhoud van die Christelike geloof, nie aanvaarbaar en gepas is nie. Die grondliggende hipotese waaruit hierdie navorsmg voortvloei is dat gepaste voorstellings van God die is wat God op so In wyse weergee dat dit sin verskaf aan mense se daaglikse belewing en ervaring. In Verdere veronderstelling is dat gepaste voorstellings van God die is wat nie bots met In teologiese interpretasie van die ontmoeting tussen God en mens binne In konkrete situasie wat kultureel geprofileer is nie. Om hierdie grondliggende aanname te beredeneer, is daar in hierdie studie besluit om met In Hermeneutiese model te werk. Die veronderstelling is dat In hermeneutiese model ons kan help om die onderliggende faktore van In Afrika-kosmologie en antropologie te identifiseer wat In invloed het op daardie Godsvoorstellinge wat iets reflekteer van die eiesoortigheid van In Afrika-spiritualiteit. In Dergelike pastorale hermeneutiek is nodig met die oog op lydingspastoraat binne In Afrikakonteks. Die navorsingsvoorstel wil beklemtoon dat die Afrika-soeke na gepaste voorstellings van God In pastorale probleem is. Vandaar die noodsaak om met die oog op In pastorale diagnose in pastorale. terapie, aandag te gee aan kriteria wat die vraagstuk van inkulturasie in die pastorale bediening kan aanspreek. Die navorsing voorsien om op hierdie wyse uitdrukking te gee aan die vraagstuk van metaforiese teologie binne In Afrikakonteks.

Thesis (MPhil (Religion and Culture) Practical Theology and Missiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study distinguishes between religion as a sense of belonging to the ultimately-real and specific religious traditions. Religion, as used here, concerns a cosmological understanding of the universe and with that which is experienced as meaningful and real on an existential level. Although differences between religious traditions are generaly known, most people‟s emotional conceptual frameworks of the universe are so deep seated that they do not even realise that far-reaching differences between people on this level too are possible. It often happens, for example, that concepts such as transcendence and redemption are incorrectly accepted as universal to all of humanity. Yet in fact, cosmological concepts (the nature and experience of the immediate world out there, the conceptual understanding of time, the role of chance versus determinism, the source of religious knowledge and so forth) can be experienced differently on a symbolic level. In the context of Religion and Media which is the field of study relevant here, as well as in a number of other contexts, it is problematic when scholars project their own views of reality and meaning experiences onto those of others – especially when they expressly articulate their intention as the opposite. John Cumpsty (1991) distinguished three ways in which a person can derive meaning from the cosmic totality and I shall discuss two of these with reference to the Western-Christian and the traditional African reality views. From this, it becomes clear that radical different patterns of cosmological understanding are possible, each with its own systemically related set of symbols. Along with Cumpsty‟s theory, I also use the theory of Castells (2005) on the construction of social identities, as well as the theory of Sen (2006) on the use of cognitive versus affective dimensions in identity formation, to indicate how cosmological symbols can be positioned differently. With these three theories in mind, I subsequently interpret the identities of the main characters in three films hermeneutically. I specifically selected this medium as a segment of life to be studied because of the increasing popularity of the medium in reflection, construction and projection of existential meaning. Another reason for my choice is the many examples where interpretors of film project their own cosmological understanding onto those of others whilst they actually intend to be pluralistic. The findings of this study surprised me. Firstly and as expected, it clarifies the nature of differences between the Western-Christian and the traditional African cosmologies, as well as how these are implemented in praxis and by symbolic interpretations. However, the integration of the three theories also afforded me the opportunity to develop a method for a religious-cosmological analyses of identities. According to this method, an interpretor of films can distinguish between his or her own paradigm and a possible other paradigm. It allows the analyst to acknowledge the own paradigm and simultaneously respect another paradigm – without projecting the own onto the other. Therefore this method diminishes the chances of using dubble-text interpretation which maintains or promotes the exclusion of others. With this method, as well as the findings of this study, one can go much wider than the field of Religion and Media, as it involves the understanding of identity and different ways of belonging to the cosmic totality. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie onderskei tussen religie as ’n manier van behoort aan die ultiem-werklike en spesifieke religieuse tradisies. Religie soos hier gebruik, het te make met ‟n kosmologiese verstaan van die heelal en met wat eksistensieel as werklik en sinvol ervaar word. Hoewel verskille tussen religieuse tradisies algemeen bekend is, is mense se emosionele verstaansraamwerke van die heelal so diep gesetel, dat die meeste nie eens besef dat daar ook op hierdie vlak ingrypende verskille is nie. So gebeur dit dikwels dat konsepte soos “transendensie” en “verlossing”verkeerdelik as universeel aan alle mense en religeuse tradisies beskou word. In der waarheid kan kosmologiese komponente (die aard en ervaring van die onmiddellike realiteit; tydsverstaan; die rol van kans teenoor determinisme; die bron van religieuse kennis; ensovoorts) egter op ’n simboliese vlak verskillend ervaar word. In die konteks van Religie en Media waarbinne hierdie studie val, asook binne vele ander kontekste, is dit problematies wanneer akademici hul eie realiteitsiening en sinservaring op dié van ander projekteer – veral wanneer hulle hulself uitdruklik voorgeneem het om die teendeel te doen. John Cumpsty (1991) het drie maniere waarop mense sin maak van die kosmiese totaliteit onderskei en ek bespreek twee daarvan met verwysing na die Westers-Christelike en die tradisionele Afrika realiteitsienings. Hieruit word dit dan duidelik dat algeheel verskillende patrone in ‟n kosmiese verstaan moontlik is, elk met ‟n eie stel simbole wat sistemies bymekaar aansluit. Saam met Cumpsty se teorie, gebruik ek ook dié van Castells (2005) oor sosiale identiteitsvorming, en dié van Sen (2006) oor die gebruik van die kognitiewe versus die affektiewe in identiteitsvorming om aan te toon hoe kosmologiese simbole verskillend geposisioneer kan word. Met hierdie drie teorieë in gedagte, ontsluit ek vervolgens die identiteite van die hoofkarakers in drie rolprente hermeneuties. Ek het spesifiek dié medium as ‟n bestudeerbare greep van die lewe gekies weens die toenemende gewildheid daarvan in die refleksie, konstruksie en projeksie van eksistensiële sin. Nog ‟n rede is die talle voorbeelde waarin interpreteerders van rolprente hul eie kosmiese verstaan op dié van andere projekteer terwyl hulle eintlik pluralisties wil wees. Die bevindinge van hierdie studie was vir my verrassend. Dit bring eerstens, soos verwag, wel helderheid oor die aard van verskille tussen die Westers-Christelike en die tradisionele Afrika kosmologieë, asook hoe dit in die praktyk kan uitspeel aan die hand van simboliese interpretasies. Die integrasie van die drie teorieë het my egter ook die kans gebied om ‟n metode vir ’n religieus-kosmologiese analise van identiteit te ontwikkel. Hiervolgens kan ‟n ontleder van rolprente op ‟n redelike, sistematiese en sistemiese manier tussen sy of haar eie, sowel as ‟n moontlike ander, paradigma onderskei. Dit laat die ontleder toe om die eie paradigma te erken, sowel as respek te betoon teenoor ’n ander paradigma – sonder om die eie op die ander te projekteer. Daarom verminder hierdie metode veral ook die kans op die gebruik van ‟n dubbele-teks interpretasie wat uitsluiting van die ander handhaaf of bevorder. Hierdie metode, sowel as die bevindinge van die studie, kan veel wyer as die veld van Religie en Media toegepas word, omdat dit te make het met die verstaan van identiteit en verskillende maniere van behoort aan die kosmiese totaliteit.

Thesis (MTh)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Small rural congregations like Marken with a member count of 60 often battle with the question if the congregation will be able to survive. This question is influenced through individuals and larger congregations' perception that bigger is better. The vitality of small congregations is being judged by a modernistic approach. According to this viewpoint a large member count is an important factor for survival. The uniqueness of small rural congregations is not taken into account when the vitality of such congregations comes under the spotlight. The style of ministry and the program approach of larger congregations is the model normally associated with success and vitality and leads to small congregations' attempt to follow that model and in the process lose its God given uniqueness. The congregations' question of survival is addressed through a guided journey in an attempt to help the congregation realize its missional calling. A congregation like Marken must realize that a small congregation also can and should be a mirror of God's kingdom. Missional theology and Trinitarian theology cannot be discussed without taking into account the missio Dei of God. The Dutch Reformed Congregation of Marken' expression as church in and for the world must be modelled in God's missio Dei. The Trinity is the foundation for missional theology. The purpose of the study is the transformation of the Dutch Reformed Congregation of Marken who battles with a question of survival to become a missional congregation who takes part in God's mission. The history of the congregation, her identity and culture plays an important role. In the history of the congregation it became evident that a number of factors, the long absence of a minister, shortage in funds and a schism in the congregation lead to the question of survival. A pattern became evident in which the congregation described herself as small. This became part of the identity and culture of the congregation and is confirmed in the ethnographic research. All of these factors contributed to the single deepest question in the hearts of the congregation: How can the Dutch Reformed Church in Marken survive? To be able to understand these questions, one must underline the importance of the context in which the congregation finds herself. The congregation is situated in Limpopo province and form part of the Mogalakwena municipality which consists of roughly 300,000 Pedi speaking people. Realities like demography and migration patterns in the contextual analysis are indications that the congregation can't rely on growth through birth rate. The contextual analysis was also a step to open the blinded eyes of the congregation to the realities around the congregation. This was done to motivate the congregation to take part in the missio Dei. The congregation's involvement in the missio Dei can be described as a journey. In the study the first steps of Marken on this missional road is also researched. It shows that the Spirit of God is already transforming Marken and it can be seen in normal, natural experiences which helped people to recognize the work and the intention of the Spirit (Marais, 2007:120) This should give hope to a congregation who battled with a question of survival in the past. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Klein plattelandse gemeentes soos Marken met ʼn lidmaattal van 60 worstel baie keer met die vraag of die gemeente sal kan voortbestaan. Hierdie vraag word beïnvloed deur individue en ander groter gemeentes se persepsie oor klein gemeentes en dat klein gelykstaande aan minderwaardigheid is. Die lewensvatbaarheid van klein gemeentes word na aanleiding van ʼn modernistiese vertrekpunt beoordeel. Hiervolgens is ʼn groot lidmaat getal ʼn belangrike norm vir bestaansreg. Die eiesoortigheid van klein plattelandse gemeentes word meesal nie in berekening gebring wanneer oor die lewensvatbaarheid van sulke gemeentes gedink word nie. Die bedieningstyle en programbenaderings in groot gemeentes word dikwels ook voorgehou as die ideaal en dit lei daartoe dat klein gemeentes hulle daaraan meet en hulle eie Godgegewe uniekheid uit die oog begin verloor. Die voortbestaansvraag van die gemeente word aangespreek deur die gemeente te begelei om haar missionale roeping te ontdek. ʼn Gemeente soos Marken moet besef dat ʼn klein gemeente ook ʼn spieëlbeeld van God se koninkryk kan en moet wees. Missionale teologie, trinitariese teologie en die missio Dei is in mekaar gevleg. NG Gemeente Marken se uitdrukking as kerk in en vir die wêreld moet gemodelleer word in God se drie-enige uitdrukking van sy sending in die wêreld deur die geskiedenis soos dit gereflekteer word in die Bybelse getuienis. As sending dan essensieel God se sending is, dan is die Triniteit die fondasie vir missionale teologie. Die transformasie van NG Gemeente Marken wat worstel met ʼn voortbestaansvraag na ʼn missionale gemeente is dus die doelwit van die studie. Die gemeente se geskiedenis, haar identiteit / kultuur speel ewe-eens ʼn belangrike rol. In die geskiedenis van die gemeente kan duidelik gesien word dat verskeie gebeure soos die lang afwesigheid van ʼn eie leraar, ʼn tekort aan finansies en ʼn kerkskeuring aanleiding gegee het tot die voortbestaansvraag van die gemeente. Die gebeure het ʼn tendens na vore laat tree waarin die gemeente haarself as klein beskryf. Hierdie identiteit is ook bevestig met die etnografiese navorsing en dit het deel geword van die kultuur van die gemeente. Al hierdie faktore het ʼn invloed op die mees prominente of diepste vraag wat in die harte van die 60 lidmate leef. “Hoe kan die NG Gemeente Marken voortbestaan?” Om hierdie vrae te verstaan en te begin antwoord is dit belangrik om die gemeente in haar konteks te verstaan. Die gemeente is geleë in Limpopo provinsie en vorm deel van Mogalakwena munisipaliteit waar ongeveer 300,000 hoofsaaklik Pedi sprekende mense woon. Demografiese realiteite en die migrasie patroon in die kontekstuele analise toon aan dat die gemeente nie kan staat maak op die normale manier van groei deur geboorte en bevolkingsaanwas nie. Die kontekstuele analise is gedoen as ʼn stap in die proses om die fokus van Marken op oorlewing aan te spreek en die gemeente se oë oop te maak vir die werklikheid rondom die gemeente en sodoende dan te kan deelneem aan God se missio Dei. Die gemeente se deelname aan God se missio Dei kan beskryf word as ʼn reis. In die studie word die eerste treë van Marken in hierdie missionale reis ook nagevors. Dit toon aan dat die Gees van God besig is om Marken te transformeer en dit kan soos wat Frederick Marais (2007:120) dit stel waargeneem word in die “gewone, natuurlike ervarings wat mense tot die oortuiging laat kom van die werk en die bedoeling van die Gees.” Dit moet hoop gee aan Marken wat in die verlede met die vraag geworstel het of die gemeente kan voortbestaan.

Thesis (MTh (Practical Theology and Missiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis is a practical theological endeavour that evaluates church preaching as a means of changing the paradigms relating to communal and ethnic violence in Nigeria. The study critically examines the phenomenon of ethnic conflict and violence to show the magnitude of its impact on Nigerians. The impact is evident in the number of violent conflicts recorded in the Calabar area in the last few years. The interdisciplinary approach employed in the study helps to locate the causes of violent conflict and its impact on the people of Calabar, on the one hand, and investigating the perception of church preaching and its impact on congregants, on the other hand. In particular, the historical method is employed in the process of investigating, analysing and recovering materials on the causes of violent conflict in the area. Practical theological methods are employed to evaluate the purpose of preaching. However, a sociological approach is adopted in structuring questionnaires and interviews while using critical analysis to evaluate and interpret both the qualitative and the quantitative data. In the first place, the data has proved that economic factors are the main causes of violence; other contributing factors are described as ethnic, political, demographic and social factors. It is noted that victims of violence have suffered physically, psychologically, economically and socially. Secondly, data has also shown that, if re-evaluated, preaching can be used to change paradigms relating to ethnic violence and to inspire concrete congregational change and societal action against ethnic violence. Since this thesis presents views of people at the grassroots, people who are victims of ethnic violence, it has contributed, therefore, to a deeper understanding of the impact of violent conflicts on Africans, and especially on Nigerians. The most important contribution of this research to knowledge seems to be the provision of a model of transformative preaching, which can be explored further by the church. This research effort consists of five chapters. The first chapter is the introduction while the second chapter provides a brief historical survey of the Presbyterian Church in Calabar and the history of violent conflicts in Nigeria. Chapter Three focuses on biblical perspectives on violence, theories on violence, and data analysis of violence in the Calabar area. Chapter Four is concerned with data analysis and the evaluation of contemporary preaching in the context of violence in the Calabar Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria. A transformative model is proposed as a way forward. Chapter Five, which is the final chapter, presents the summary and conclusion, as well as the contribution of the research to knowledge, recommendations and suggestions on areas for future research. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis is ʼn prakties-teologiese studie oor die rol van Christelike prediking as ʼn medium om samelewings- en etniese paradigmas aangaande geweld in Nigerië te verander. Die studie kyk krities na die fenomeen van etniese konflik en geweld in ʼn poging om die omvang van die effek daarvan op Nigeriërs aan te dui. Dit blyk onder andere uit die aantal gewelddadige konflikte binne die Calabar-area gedurende die afgelope aantal jare. Die studie volg ʼn interdissiplinêre benadering ten einde die redes vir geweld en die uitwerking daarvan op die mense van Calabar aan die een kant te ondersoek, maar aan die ander kant ook die persepsies oor prediking en die impak daarvan op gemeentes. Die historiese metode is gebruik om materiaal in verband met die oorsake van geweld in die area op te spoor en te analiseer. Die betekenis van prediking is prakties-teologies ontleed, terwyl die sosiologiese metode asook kritiese analise ingespan is om beide kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe data te evalueer en te interpreteer. Bogenoemde data het eerstens getoon dat ekonomiese redes die hoof-oorsaak is van geweld. Ander bydraende faktore is etnies, polities, demografies en sosiaal van aard. As gevolg van geweld het slagoffers fisies, psigologies, ekonomies en sosiaal gely. Die data toon egter ook tweedens aan dat prediking, indien dit herinterpreteer word, ʼn medium van verandering van paradigmas insake geweld kan wees, en dat dit daadwerklike gemeentelike verandering en sosiale aksie teen etniese geweld kan bewerkstellig. Hierdie tesis verteenwoordig die stemme van mense op grondvlak, veral diegene wat slagoffers van geweld was of is, en dit bied ʼn model vir transformatiewe prediking wat verder deur die kerk in Nigerië ontwikkel kan word. Die vyf hoofstukke verloop breedweg as volg: Hoofstuk een is die Inleiding; Hoofstuk twee handel oor historiese agtergronde van die Presbiteriaanse Kerk en geweld in Nigerië; Hoofstuk drie gee ʼn oorsig oor Bybelse perspektiewe op geweld, teorieë oor geweld asook ʼn analise van die data aangaande geweld in die Calabar-streek; Hoofstuk vier gee ʼn blik op die moontlike rol van kontemporêre prediking in ʼn konteks van geweld in die Presbiteriaanse Kerk in Nigerië, en bied ook ʼn model vir transformatiewe prediking vir die toekoms aan; Hoofstuk vyf bevat opsommende konklusies, asook suggesties vir verdere studie en die implementering van sommige van die bevindinge van die tesis.