Advances in technology and medicine have greatly impacted on religious thought and have contributed to a large extent in bringing to the fore questions regarding euthanasia, suicide and abortion. This has raised a plethora of questions regarding actions and consequent ethical choices. What impact this has had on the Durban Hindu regarding the interpretation and re-interpretation of scripture to accommodate euthanasia, suicide and abortion is examined in the background of karma and dharma. A cross-section of Durban Hindus consisting of lawyers, doctors, academics, schoolteachers, Hindu scholars, priests and housewives were interviewed. Their views on karma and dharma, to what extent these concepts underlie their thinking with respect to euthanasia, suicide and abortion and what influence classical views based on Hindu scripture as well as Western thinking have had on the contemporary Hindus of the Durban area, are examined. Consequently, karma and dharma are viewed from a hermeneutical perspective and examined in the light of the phenomenological approach. The key hermeneutical concepts of karma and dharma have been modified and re-interpreted to accommodate changing circumstances. The views expressed range from the extremely liberal to the ultra conservative. Although the subjects were not all familiar with Hindu scripture, the views expressed were similar to scripture. Many Hindus therefore are reasoning on traditional lines, although the basis of their reasoning has shifted from scripture. Ethics and morality are not the only underlying principles affecting the euthanasia, suicide and abortion debate: financial and social considerations are also important. Although euthanasia and abortion are strongly condemned by the conservative Hindu they are accepted on medical, social and utilitarian grounds. / Religious Studies and Arabic / D. Litt. et Phil. (Religious Studies)

Parish nursing, a specialty nursing practice which includes the spiritual component of integration of faith and health, has been growing rapidly over the last decade. Standards of Parish Nursing Practice developed in 1998 are consistent with the nursing process and include the spiritual dimension.

The purpose of this study is to more closely examine social workers who are practicing or familiar with spiritual and alternative techniques. These approaches are seen as highly relevant to social work values of cultural competency and empowerment.

As Yancey (2003) has pointed out, the intentional character of racially integrated churches tends to lessen the social distance between Whites and minorities. The purpose of this study is to examine how racially hierarchy-attenuating and hierarchy-enhancing environments affect classism and sexism attitudes among congregations. The finding shows that multiracial churches promote H-A environment for class and race diversity, but not for gender equality. The class and race diversity is affected by organizational structure; on the other hand, gender equality is influenced by theologies. This study finds the answers to this discrepancy from the effect of biblical teachings on classist and sexist attitudes and the cumulative effect of structured domination of women.

German text / Singles sind Menschen mit speziellen Problemen und Bedürfnissen – insbesondere, wenn sie unfreiwillig Single sind und lieber in einer Partnerschaft leben wollen. Viele Singles leiden unter ihrem Dasein als Single, ihre Probleme können vielfältig sein: Einsamkeit, unbefriedigte sexuelle Wünsche, mangelndes Selbstwertgefühl, fehlende Elternschaft, Leere und Antriebslosigkeit. Diese Probleme stellen die Seelsorge vor eine wichtige Aufgabe: Wie kann man diesen leidenden Singles helfend begegnen? Mein poimenischer Ansatz besteht darin, die Frage nach der Berufung zur Ehelosigkeit zu stellen(1 Korinther 7,17). Wenn Singles ihr Dasein nicht mehr als gescheiterte Existenz betrachten, sondern als Stand, zu dem sie von Gott berufen worden sind, hilft das vielleicht, eine positivere Lebenseinstellung zu bekommen und ein zufriedeneres Leben zu führen. / Singles are people with special problems and needs – particularly when they are involuntary singles and would prefer to live in a partner relationship. Many singles suffer with their condition as a single, and their problems can be manifold: loneliness, unsatisfied sexual desires, feelings of low self-worth, missing parenthood, emptiness and listlessness. These problems present the pastoral carer with an important task: How can these suffering singles be helped? My poimenics orientated approach is to raise the question regarding the call to singleness (1 Corinthians 7:17). When singles no longer consider their life as a failed existence, but rather as a state to which they have been called by God, perhaps that would help them have a more positive attitude to life, and to lead a satisfying life. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology)

With the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center buildings, the intersection of religious ideals in war has been at the forefront of the American discussion on war and conflict. The New York attacks were followed by the U.S. invasions of Afghanistan in October of 2001 in an attempt to destroy the religious government of the Taliban and capture the Islamic terrorist leader Osama bin Laden, and then followed by the 2003 invasion of Iraq, both in an attempt to fight terrorism and religious extremism. In both instances, American forces became embroiled in counterinsurgency operations against insurgent fighters who identified themselves in terms of religion and ethnicity. More recently, all of the regional and nuclear powers are engaged in conflicts against insurgents identified as religious in some form. The purpose of this research is to present tactical and strategic policies that can be implemented when ethno-religious violence occurs in and around religious sites, ensuring that operations at these sites will contribute to successful mitigation of violence in the wider conflict. Based on concepts from classical and contemporary counterinsurgency thought, a set of variables that contributes to successful counterinsurgency operations at religious sites was selected in order to understand successes and failures at previous operations. The results from these comparative studies were then used to develop a theoretical framework that contributes to successful counterinsurgency operations at religious sites. The comparative studies chosen for this research includes four cases from India, with the finding then applied to case studies from Thailand, and Israel. Like India, Thailand and Israel are facing insurgent movements that identify themselves along various ethnic, religious, and national constructs. The findings clearly show that there is a set of operational variables that apply to counterinsurgency operations at religious sites and contribute to tactical and strategic success. Conclusions are drawn that success or failure of counterinsurgency operations at religious sites is not solely tied to a military versus law enforcement approach to the conflict. Contrary to this theory, it is how the operation is carried out, rather than how the counterinsurgents are formed, that contributes to a successful operation.

There is presumed dialogue between the book of Proverbs and Shona wisdom poems in dealing with the subject of home based nurturing towards societal stability. The underlying principle in both approaches, it seems, is that preparation for life begins in the home. Its negligence could account for societal breakdown. This study seeks to explore, on the one hand, the contemporary validity of home based nurturing as observed in these traditional settings, and on the other, to investigate whether this dialogue yields a methodological approach of using Africa to interpret the Old Testament. The assumption we are taking in this study is that societal stability begins in the home. A socio-rhetorical reading of Proverbs 1-9 seems to reveal that these texts were written from the perspective of a parent-teacher, with years of experience and attained wisdom, which creates a forum to pass on this knowledge to a child-student. The common approach in both traditional settings is that the speaker employs wisdom poems, (memorable compositions) and local sayings (observed phenomena) to illustrate or illumine a given everyday reality as the prescriptive solution for becoming successful in life. Thus, wisdom poems, both biblical and Shona, are almost consistently used to communicate truth and lessons for life. For that reason, the reading of the book of Proverbs and that of Shona wisdom poems demands a novel hermeneutical approach. / Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Biblical Studies)

The theme of gift has in recent years been subject to considerable commentary in diverse disciplines including philosophy, anthropology, sociology, religious studies and literary criticism. The vast majority of these studies focus on how or whether gift can be differentiated from exchange. In this dissertation I maintain that gift is a form of giving and receiving that is distinct from exchange or commerce, and that it need not create an obligation to return or reciprocate. This gift is given unilaterally to the need of the other and results in relatedness rather than indebtedness. This essay considers the characteristics of exchange and of gift, then reviews the thought of five writers on giving/receiving and reciprocation. This is followed by an overview of the gift theme in African Traditional Religion and the Judaic and Christian traditions, and a concluding chapter summarising thoughts on gift and self-interest, sharing, need, and gratitude. / Religious Studies & Arabic / M.A.(Religious Studies)

This study is an inquiry into discourses which influence gay people's lives. Foucault's ideas regarding knowledge, power, discipline, discourse and sexuality form the epistemological background enabling a social constructivist-deconstructive analysis of these concepts in relation to the problem of homosexuality. The theological origins of influential discourses form the focus of one chapter. Additional discursive fields - such as psychology, education, the military and legislature - are also investigated. Besides the research initiator, three other participants shared their experiences of being gay in a conservative religious context. The narrative analysis spawned five themes of discourse ranging from homophobic discourses - which invite oppression into silence - through reverse-discourse, to those discourses which encourage free expression of gayness. The study seems to support a Foucauldian view that there are various influential power-relations which contest for the right to define human sexuality. Judging from the study, homosexuals do not appear to be powerless or completely silenced at all. / Practical Theology / MTH - SPEC PAST THERAPY

no abstract available / Class, Near & far East & Rel / MA - SP ANC LANG AND CULT