In this thesis, I construct a sacrificial explanation of atonement, the expanded version of which explains how the work of Christ addresses in various ways every component of the problem of sin. The first two chapters of this endeavour argue for a Wolterstorffian definition of forgiveness according to which forgiveness is the act of ceasing to treat a wrong as part of a wrongdoer's moral history and instead as part of their personal history. Moreover, I demonstrate that this definition of forgiveness is superior to the major alternatives in the literature due in no small part to its consistency with various philosophical desiderata and biblical constraints detailed in the first two chapters. In the final two chapters, I turn to an investigation of the doctrine of atonement. The most popular contemporary model of atonement in many Protestant Christian circles is a penal substitution model that assumes the centrality of a strong form of retributivism in the biblical narrative. In chapter three, I argue that the major biblical understanding of justice as fundamentally restorative in nature. I then develop an alternative form of penal substitution that rests on this restorative rationale for justice rather than the typical retributivist strain. This model of atonement, however, seems to me lacking in explanatory scope due to its limited appeal to the biblical texts. Thus, in chapter four, I offer an alternative atonement model- i.e. a sacrificial one- that combines elements of the rituals of yom kippur and Passover to explain how the work Christ addresses most of the components of the problem of sin. Lastly, I combine this sacrificial model with my account of forgiveness to address the remaining components of the problem of sin.

The study focuses on the National Vision Discussion Document (NVDD) from Zimbabwe, and is a reflection of the need for, and the churches’ approach to, reconciliation in Zimbabwe. The analysis of the social context in which the NVDD was written sets the tone for this study, and provides the basis for discussing and constructing a deeper theology of reconciliation in Zimbabwe. Two criticisms of the NVDD are advanced, namely, the lack for a critical social analysis, and a weak theological reflection. In responding to the first criticism, the study undertakes a detailed analysis of three key areas of enmity, namely, the ethnic conflicts between the Shona and Ndebele, the racial conflicts between white and black centered on land, and the political conflicts between ZANU-PF and civil society and the MDC. In responding to the second criticisms, the theology is deepened through an examination of Miroslav Volf’s, Exclusion and Embrace, John de Gruchy’s, Reconciliation: Restoring Justice, the Kairos Document and the Belhar Confession. Reconciliation was seen to lie at the edge of two parallel truths; justice and forgiveness; truth and reconciliation. In conclusion, the study established the basis for a deeper theology of reconciliation, by focusing on three key areas: social dynamics, theological reflection, and practical and logistical steps to national reconciliation. For a deeper theology of reconciliation, seven levels for reconciliation were suggested: individual, social, cultural, institutional, political, theological and religious. From these seven levels, two strategies for the practice of reconciliation were suggested: ecumenical and strategic partnerships. It should be noted that events in Zimbabwe continue to progress at a rapid rate and the social context changes from week to week. However, these current events suggest that the study remains relevant for national reconciliation and theological praxis because of the abiding issues of conflict that cry out for reconciliation. / Thesis (M.Th.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2008.

This dissertation seeks to compare paradigms of reconciliation in African tradition (including African indigenous religion and culture) and Christianity, in order to enhance the reconciliation process in South Africa. The aim is to enable and promote dialogue between African tradition and Christian tradition, with special reference to the reconciliation paradigms they offer. In order to accomplish this, the first step taken is to establish what African tradition has to offer in terms of reconciliation resources. African traditional religion, philosophy and anthropology are identified as providing a conceptual basis for reconciliation. Certain African traditional legal resources as well as African indigenous ritual resources are also considered able to contribute to social reconciliation. The next step in the dissertation is to establish what the Christian faith tradition has to offer in terms of reconciliation paradigms. The following resources available to, and stemming from, Christianity are discussed: reconciliation in the Bible; the narrative of the cross and the resurrection; the inter-linked concepts of sin, repentance and forgiveness; the church as reconciling community and institution. After having elaborated on certain reconciliation paradigms lodged in both African tradition and Christianity, the next step is to explore ways in which these paradigms interact. In some respects, they are found to clash and disagree because of their differences and the discontinuities between them. Yet in significant ways they indeed connect to and complement each other. This dissertation seeks to highlight points of agreement and connection between the paradigms of reconciliation provided by African tradition and Christian tradition. Moreover, it seeks to illustrate that the two cultural and religious traditions could interact fruitfully for the benefit of South African society. A concrete example of such positive interaction and mutual enrichment is brought forward, viz. a "new" ritual of reconciliation that combines resources from both traditions. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.

The original publication is available at http://www.ve.org.za / Reconciliation in a divided society, like the South African one, is in dire need of a new moral discourse and praxis. This article argues that this moral discourse must also be conducted on an often forgotten level, namely in the worshipping praxis of the Church. The article describes the renewed interest of ethicists and liturgists in the relationship between liturgy and ethics and especially the role of rituals. The article then focuses on the renewal of basic Christian rituals like preaching and sacraments, prayer and praise to serve this much needed moral discourse. / Publishers' Version

Assignment (MDiv)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Christians differ on various issues, among others, on dogmatic and ethical cases. Specifically, they differ on the will of God. However, a question which confronts Christians, is that their own interpretation of the will of God, often differs from that of other Christians. Christians still differ about the baptism. Churches that accept the baptism of a child and churches that accept re-baptism, offer differ which baptism what the real baptism is. Even though people differ on which form of baptism the real one is, it is important to understand the true meaning attached to the baptism. It is also important that a person has a good attitude when they differ from others about baptism. Toleration and embracement can help one to settle difference about baptism in a constructive manner. Toleration is described as the best solution when people find themselves in conflicting. Christians usually propose this as a compromise when they differ and in doing so, bring peace within a conflicting circumstance. Trust is important and patience also includes a minimal level of trust. Embracement requires that action takes place. It is a manner of expression to open yourself unto other and also welcome them. God wants more for his people than for them to live a unhappy life. God enjoy us and wants to enjoy communion with us. It can therefore be seen as one of the reasons why it is important that Christians should embrace each other when they differ does not turn into a dispute. When embracement and toleration is required, in certain situations, where people differ, reconciliation plays an important role. Communication is an integral part in the reconciliation process. Reconciliation is also important because it repair the relationship between God and man. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Christene verskil oor talle sake, onder andere oor leerstellige en etiese sake. Hulle verskil spesifiek oor die wil van God. ‘n Probleem waarmee Christene egter gekonfronteer word, is dat hul eie interpretasie van wat die wil van God in konkrete situasies is, dikwels verskil van dié van ander Christene. Christene verskil nog altyd oor die doop. Die kerke wat die kinderdoop aanvaar en die kerke wat die herdoop aanvaar, verskil oor watter doop die regte doop is. Al verskil mense oor watter vorme van die doop die regte doop is, is dit belangrik om die ryk betekenis wat aan die doop geheg word, te verstaan. Dit is ook belangrik dat ‘n mens ‘n goeie gesindheid moet het, wanneer jy met ander oor die doop verskil. Toleransie en omarming kan ons help om verskille oor die doop op ‘n konstruktiewe wyse te hanteer. Toleransie word beskryf as die beste oplossing wanneer mense in konflik is. Dit is gewoonlik ook die uitweg wat Christene voorstel wanneer hulle verskil, om sodoende die vrede te kan bring tussen mense wanneer hulle in konflik is. Vertroue is belangrik en verdraagsaamheid betrek 'n minimale vlak van vertroue. Omarming vra dat aksie moet plaasvind. Omarming is 'n manier van uitdrukking om jouself vir ander te gee en ook die ander te verwelkom. God wil baie meer vir sy mense hê as om 'n ongelukkige lewe te leef. God geniet ons en wil gemeenskap met ons hê. Dit kan dus as een van die redes gesien word hoekom dit belangrik is dat Christene mekaar moet omarm wanneer hulle verskille het, sodat die verskille nie geskille word nie. Wanneer omarming en verdraagsaamheid vereis word, in situasies waar mense verskil, speel versoening 'n belangrike rol. Kommunikasie is belangrik in die proses van versoening. Versoening is ook belangrik omdat dit die verhouding tussen God en mens herstel.

Thesis (D. Th.)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The need of reconciliation in South Africa is still voiced by many. Along with this need, the absence of church unity between the DRChurch and URChurch, churches which are still divided along racial lines, remains a sad reality. A division which has its origin partially in a reconciliation-ritual of commensality which was inculturated in Africa on wrong unscriptural grounds. Within this South African and Reformed reality the question of this research was born, namely: “Which rituals can be inculturated in South Africa in general, and in the liturgy of the DRC and URC in particular, to assist with the processes of reconciliation and church unity?”. This question is subsequently approached in a multi-disciplinary fashion with a ritualliturgical exploration. The methodological starting points in the research process entail firstly that Post’s liturgical-scientific research methodology of intereference and intuition is used as an overarching approach, and secondly along with this in the initial phase of the research the method of ethnography or participatory observation for the collection of the ritual data. Within this methodology the theoretical starting points centre around the concepts of ritual, reconciliation and liturgical inculturation. And within the field of Practical Theology this research process moves with a spiral movement between practice and theory. The basic theoretical starting point is that within the field of Liturgy a ritual approach is used, and for this reason partners were found within the domain of Ritual Studies to examine the phenomenon of reconciliation-rituals. The ritual theory of some experts on the topic is presented with which the collected data was later evaluated. Along with this ritual theory, liturgical inculturation is used as a critical reciprocal steering concept which also involves both the tradition and theology in a criterium for the evaluation and formation of rituals. With this methodological and theoretical basis five ritual probes were conducted with regards to reconciliation, namely a cultural anthropological, a Biblical, a liturgicalhistorical, an actual descriptive and a South African ethnographic probe. These probes brought several findings to the fore which can, within an African and Reformed context,be systematised within the context of the process from fast to feast as an overarching metaphor. Drinking and eating together, or the absence thereof, coupled with reconciliation, is present throughout all the probes like a leitmotiv and is also the central finding of this research. More findings concerning reconciliation rituals however came to the fore in each probe. These findings are summarised at the end of each probe and will help to stimulate the ritual imagination concerning reconciliation. However, such imagination must remain within a critical-normative Practical Theological liturgical scientific framework. The finding of this research basically attempts to show that a variety of rituals can be inculturated within the processes of reconciliation and church unity in the DRC, URC and South Africa. The process from fast to feast gives insight into the ‘what’, ‘when’ and ‘how’ concerning the inculturation of reconciliation rituals within an African and Christian context. Fast and feast, which amongst other things also entails eating and drinking together or the absence thereof, runs like a golden thread throughout all the probes. Rituals showing these qualities of commensality are pre-eminently fit to serve as reconciliation rituals, although they have sometimes in the past had the power to do exactly the opposite. Therefor the finding of this research is that this feature of commensality can be developed within South African and Reformed reconciliation rituals, but in such a way that it serves reconciliation and church unity. And for this purpose some ritual-liturgical guidelines are presented. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Vanuit verskeie oorde word die noodsaak vir versoening in Suid-Afrika steeds bepleit. Saam hiermee is die uitbly van kerkeenheid tussen die NGKerk en VGKerk, kerke wat steeds op grond van ras verdeel is, ‘n betreurenswaardige realiteit. ‘n Verdeeldheid wat deels sy oorsprong het in ‘n versoeningsritueel van saam eet en drink wat op ‘n verkeerde onskriftuurlike wyse in Afrika geïnkultureer is. Vanuit hierdie Suid-Afrikaanse en Gereformeerde situasie kom die vraag wat hierdie ondersoek aanspreek na vore, naamlik: “Watter rituele kan in Suid-Afrika in die algemeen, en in die liturgie van die NGK en VGK in die besonder, geïnkultureer word om te help in die prosesse van versoening en kerkvereniging?”. Hierdie vraagstelling word vervolgens op ‘n multi-dissiplinêre wyse met behulp van ‘n ritueel-liturgiese ondersoek aangespreek. Die metodologiese uitgangspunte in hierdie proses van ondersoek behels dat daar van Post se liturgiewetenskaplike ondersoekmetode van interferensie en intuïsie as oorkoepelende benadering gebruik gemaak word, en saam daarmee in die inisiële fase van data-kollektering die metode van etnografie of deelnemende observasie. Binne hierdie metodologie sentreer die teoretiese vertrekpunt rondom die begrippe ritueel, versoening en liturgiese inkulturasie. En binne die kader van die Praktiese Teologie word daar met ‘n spiraalbeweging tussen teorie en praktyk beweeg. Die basiese teoretiese uitgangspunte behels dat vanuit die Liturgiek met ‘n rituele benadering gewerk is. Binne die veld van die sogenaamde Rituele Studies is vennote gevind om die fenomeen van versoeningsrituele te bestudeer. Die rituele teorie van enkele eksperte word gepresenteer waarmee die gekollekteerde data beoordeel is. Saam met hierdie rituele teorie is die begrip liturgiese inkulturasie gebruik as ‘n krities wederkerige studerende konsep wat ook die teologie en tradisie betrek in die kriterium vir die beoordeling en ontwerp van rituele. Met hierdie metodologiese en teoretiese basis is vyf rituele peilings ten opsigte van versoening gedoen, te wete ‘n kultureel-antropologiese, ‘n Bybelse, ‘n liturgiehistoriese, ‘n aktueel beskrywende en ‘n Suid-Afrikaanse etnografiese peiling. Hierdie peilings hetverskeie bevindinge na vore gebring wat in ‘n Afrika-Gereformeerde konteks binne die proses van vas tot fees as oorkoepelende metafoor gesistematiseer kan word. Saam eet en drink, of die afwesigheid daarvan, gekoppel aan versoening loop as ‘n leitmotiv deur al die peilings en is die sentrale bevinding van hierdie ondersoek. Daar het egter ook meerdere bevindinge of roetemerkers ten opsigte van versoeningsrituele uit die peilings na vore gekom. Hierdie bevindinge wat saamgevat word aan die einde van elke peiling, help om die rituele verbeelding te stimuleer, maar dít juis binne ‘n krities-normatiewe Prakties Teologiese liturgiewetenskaplike raamwerk. Die bevinding van hierdie ondersoek behels basies dat ‘n verskeidenheid rituele in die prosesse van versoening en kerkvereniging geïnkultureer kan word in die NGK, VGK en Suid-Afrika, maar dat die proses van vas tot fees insig verleen in die ‘wat’, ‘wanneer’ en ‘hoe’, ten opsigte van die inkulturasie van versoeningsrituele binne ‘n Afrika- en Christelike-konteks. Vas en fees, wat onder andere saam eet en drink of die afwesigheid daarvan behels, loop soos ‘n goue draad reg deur al die peilings. Rituele wat hierdie eienskappe van kommensaliteit vertoon, is by uitstek geskik om te dien as versoeningsrituele, al het diesulke rituele ook soms in die geskiedenis juis die teenoorgestelde vermag. Daarom word voorgestel dat hierdie eienskap van kommensaliteit juis uitgebou word in Suid-Afrikaanse Gereformeerde versoeningsrituele, maar op só ‘n wyse dat dit versoening en kerkeenheid dien. En hiervoor word enkele ritueel-liturgiese riglyne aangereik.

Assignment (M.Div.)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research was done from the viewpoint that because of different reasons believers and congregations of the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa are struggling to make a significant contribution to processes of reconciliation in this country and thereby to a certain extent fail to live out the church’s witness in this regard. Therefore the question was asked how this church can be guided to play a bigger part in processes of reconciliation in the midst of phenomena like race-prejudice, race-discrimination and subtle and blatant forms of racism in South Africa today. By focusing on few of the causes of these phenomena as well as certain perspectives on missio Dei theologies, an attempt are made to guide the Dutch Reformed Church towards involvement in processes of reconciliation, the transformation of broken relationships between people of different races and the eradication of racism. A number of hermeneutical processes are being emphasized in order to guide the church towards a miss ional praxis of reconciliation. The essence of this praxis entails the eradication of stereotypes regarding ‘the other’, by focusing on an inculturation approach in the light of missio Dei theology. By focusing on an interpretation of missio Dei as God’s reconciliation through the poor, an attempt was made to guide the church towards involvement in processes aiming at economic justice. This research is therefore an attempt to guide the church towards the discernment of her role as the witnesses of Christ within this context in South Africa today. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsing is vanuit die uitgangspunt gedoen dat gelowiges en gemeentes van die NG Kerk in Suid-Afrika om verskeie redes in ‘n mindere mate daarin slaag om ‘n daadwerklike (getuienislewerende) bydrae tot versoeningsprosesse in Suid-Afrika te lewer. Na aanleiding van hierdie stelling word die vraag gevra na hoe die NG Kerk ‘n groter rol kan speel in prosesse van versoening en die transformering van verhoudinge tussen verskillende mense in Suid-Afrika, veral te midde die realiteit van rassevooroordeel, rassediskriminasie en subtiele en blatante rassisme vandag. Deur te let na enkele oorsake van rasseskeiding en rassisme, asook verskeie perspektiewe op missio Dei teologieë, word daar derhalwe gepoog om die NG Kerk hierdeur tot betrokkenheid in die transformering van gebroke rasseverhoudinge en die uitwissing van rassisme in Suid-Afrika vandag te begelei. Verskeie hermeneutiese prosesse word in die proses benadruk ten einde die kerk by te staan in die onderskeiding van ‘n missionale versoeningspraksis binne hierdie konteks. Die essensie van hierdie praksis, wat op verskeie hermeneutiese prosesse steun, bestaan daaruit om stereotipes aangaande ‘die ander’ uit die weg te ruim deur op ‘n inkulturasie-benadering tot missio Dei te fokus. Daar word ook voorstelle gemaak oor hoe om versoening tussen mense te bevorder deur die nastreef van ekonomiese geregtigheid. ‘n Aanvullende benadering tot missio Dei, nl. missio Dei as God se versoening asook God se sending deur die arme dien as basis hiervan. Op hierdie manier het hierdie navorsing ‘n bydrae gelewer oor wat die NG Kerk kan doen om versoening tussen mense groepe in Suid-Afrika te kan bewerkstellig en om haar getuienis i.t.v. hierdie konteks te oriënteer.

The research work has engaged in a critical missional reflection on the effectiveness of Tarayyar Ekklesiyoyin Kristi A Nigeria (TEKAN) as an ecumenical instrument for justice and peace in Jos, a central area in Northern Nigeria that has been bedevilled with violent conflicts commonly associated with religio-cultural and socio-political factors. The scope of this study is limited to a conceptual exploration of the issues. In the critique of TEKAN, an inherent contradiction is identified within its identity, vocation and witness. The theoretical framework that guided this study embraced an interdisciplinary approach on issues about God’s mission (Missio Dei) through the Church (Missio Ecclesia) that propels Ecumenical engagement (Oikoumene) and leads to the quest of Justice and Peace (Dikaiosune & Shalom) for all humanity. The ecumenical witness of TEKAN within the environment of Jos calls into question its effectives as a tool of transformation in a multi-political and religious environment plagued by violence. The data gathered by various commissions of inquiry into the crises of Jos seems to suggest that a study approach to problems of justice and peace will not resolve the deeply entrenched problems. Therefore, the ultimate test of whether TEKAN will develop into an effective missional and ecumenical instrument for justice and peace in Jos will be dependent on taking radical steps that embrace a genuine mission audit of its identity, vocation and witness that will empower the organization to meet the deep challenges of the people of Jos and their quest for authentic human development built on justice and peace. / Thesis (M.Th.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2011.

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.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Durban-Westville, 2000.