Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Religion plays a significant role in the structuring of people's identities and perceptions and also has the potential to playa fundamental role to determine how communities respond to HIV/AIDS. Faith-based organisations are respected in their communities and have existing resources, structures and systems in place. People who are diagnosed with HIV often turn to the church where they receive emotional and spiritual support. The primary objective of this study was to determine the knowledge of religious leaders about HIV/AIDS and their attitudes towards people living with it. A non-experimental quantitative research design was used in this study and the data was gathered through a structured questionnaire. The respondents were not exceptionally informed about the transmission of the HI-virus, but their knowledge around the risk of specific sexual behaviour was high and their attitudes towards PLHA generally positive. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geloof speel "n belangrike rol in die vorming van "n mens se identiteit en persepsies en het ook die potensiaal om gemeenskappe se reaksie rakende MIV/Vigs te bepaal. Geloofsorganisasies word in hul gemeenskappe gerespekteer en het bestaande hulpbronne en stelsels in plek. Mense wat MIV postitef gediagnoseer word, wend hul dikwels na hierdie organisasies waar hul emosionele en geestelike ondersteuning ontvang. Die doel van hierdie navorsing was om die kennis en houdings van geloofsleiers rondom MIV/Vigs en die mense wat daarmee leef te bepaal. "n Nie-eksperimenteel kwantitatiewe navorsingsontwerp is gebruik, en die data is deur middel van "n gestruktureerde vraelys ingesamel. Hoewel die respondente se kennis omtrent die oordrag van die MI-virus nie voldoende was nie, het hul die nodige kennis rondom die risiko van spesifieke seksuele gedrag gehad. Hul houdings rondom MIV/Vigs en mense wat daarmee leef was positief.