Zugl.: Berlin, Humboldt-Univ., Diss., 2008

Th. Ph. D.--Dpartment of anthropology--Boulder (Colo.)--University of Colorado, 1974. / Bibliogr. [189]-203.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Wesleyan University, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 403-447).

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No description available.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work / Robert K. Schaeffer / Increasing human population, economic development and climatic changes in Sub-Saharan Africa have caused water scarcity, hence an urgent need for institutional arrangements that will lead to sustainable water management. This study analyzes the impact of customary institutions on rural water management in Tanzania, and shows how they might be used to complement the statutory institutions. The study was conducted in Bariadi district, northwestern Tanzania. The data were collected from household surveys, focus group discussions, key informants, participant observations, photographs, and secondary data sources. The results indicate that customary institutions are the most commonly used in regulating equitable access to water, prevention of water pollution and abuse, and natural resource conflict resolution. The awareness of the customary laws was higher than statutory laws because of the participatory nature of the customary institutions. Statutory institutions were found to be important for regulating water development issues. Villagers were not aware of statutory laws related to equitable water access, and prevention of water pollution and abuse. The study also found that customary institutions tend to discriminate against women. Women do not have land rights and were not allowed to participate in customary institutions activities. These results suggest the need for the government to recognize the importance of customary institutions in water management. The government needs to design policies and strategies that will ensure that women’s rights are respected by the customary institutions. There is also a need for fostering women’s participation in decision making, and designing cooperative institutions that are organized and governed by resource users themselves.

This dissertation examines the realities from the receiving end of short-term volunteer mission projects among the Sukuma people of Tanzania by assessing their outcomes. The work also offers implications for future STM initiatives to assist participants in avoiding pitfalls and implementing an effective strategy for STM. Chapter 1 defines the short-term missions explosion and current issues facing volunteerism in missions. The chapter also provides a definition of church health used in the study. Chapter 2 begins with an overview of theological issues facing short-term missions. Next, the chapter addresses specific missiological and anthropological issues pertinent to the effectiveness of short-term missions in an East African context. Chapter 3 offers a brief historical overview of short-term missions in general as well as to Tanzania specifically. It looks at the practices and perceptions of short-term volunteers involved in Shinyanga, Tanzania. Chapter 4 surveys the components of New Testament church life and practice evidenced among the believers and churches in Shinyanga, Tanzania based on the results of a survey. The chapter examines both the biblical proximity and the indigenousness of the churches in each of the areas of New Testament church life and practice. Chapter 5 presents the outcomes of the STM projects among the receiving churches. The chapter evaluates four specific assumptions made by volunteers concerning the results of their endeavors. It also draws implications for avoiding pitfalls and championing successful methodology in future STM initiatives. These recommendations are made to assist STM to engage the receiving culture effectively. This work contends that short-term volunteers do not always accomplish what is reported. That cultural and anthropological understanding and theological precision is of utmost importance to the preparation of short-term missionaries is made evident. The study seeks to support short-term missions; the conclusions, though critical at times, are intended to construct a more effective short-term missions philosophy and methodology. This dissertation serves as a wake-up call to volunteers, sending organizations, missionary personnel, and national churches alike that more harm than health can result if a biblical, culturally adept approach to the involvement is not embraced and implemented.

Estimates suggest that seventy percent of Muslims follow folk Islam (popular Islam), rather than the orthodox Islamic faith. Most methods for reaching Muslims with the Gospel have concentrated on one of two broad approaches with a third blending the first two methods. Apologetic, polemic and dialogue techniques argue that Christianity is more valid or reasonable than Islam. Other approaches consist of contextualized methods seeking some common ground between Christianity and Islam. Apologetic arguments have not been very effective with folk Muslims because cognitive propositions fail to answer the “why” questions posed by popular Islam. Most contextualized methods also miss the mark with folk Muslims; they rarely attend Islamic worship, observe the five pillars of Islam, or read the Qur’an. A few missiologists propose a fourth category for reaching Muslims – contextualizing according to their worldview. This thesis explores what are the best approaches for evangelizing folk Muslims who are particularly influenced by African Traditional Religion (ATR). The Beja tribe of the Sudan and the Sukuma tribe of Tanzania serve as case studies. I argue for a contextualized approach to folk Muslims, addressing their unique worldviews. ATRinfluenced folk Muslims lean toward a fear-power worldview, while the Sufis among them hold to an existential- transcendent worldview. Each group, therefore, necessitates a different evangelism approach. The first chapter presents preliminary matters, the research question, a literature review, and a rationale for the thesis. The second chapter analyzes the case study example of Beja folk Islam. Chapter three examines folk Islam and its relationship to orthodox Islam,including further illustrations from the Beja tribe. The fourth chapter explores the subject of ATR and its relationship to folk Islam. The Sukuma tribe of Tanzania serves as a base-line model of ATR for a comparison with Beja folk Islam. Chapter five introduces the topic of contextualization in Muslim evangelization and assesses the effectiveness and validity of methods that have been used. Chapter six suggests worldview approaches for reaching ATR and Sufi-influenced folk Muslims. The final chapter summarizes the thesis content, reviews the response to the research question, and analyzes the implications of the findings of the case study. / Christian Spirituality, Church History & Missiology / D.Th. (Missiology)

Estimates suggest that seventy percent of Muslims follow folk Islam (popular Islam), rather than the orthodox Islamic faith. Most methods for reaching Muslims with the Gospel have concentrated on one of two broad approaches with a third blending the first two methods. Apologetic, polemic and dialogue techniques argue that Christianity is more valid or reasonable than Islam. Other approaches consist of contextualized methods seeking some common ground between Christianity and Islam. Apologetic arguments have not been very effective with folk Muslims because cognitive propositions fail to answer the “why” questions posed by popular Islam. Most contextualized methods also miss the mark with folk Muslims; they rarely attend Islamic worship, observe the five pillars of Islam, or read the Qur’an. A few missiologists propose a fourth category for reaching Muslims – contextualizing according to their worldview. This thesis explores what are the best approaches for evangelizing folk Muslims who are particularly influenced by African Traditional Religion (ATR). The Beja tribe of the Sudan and the Sukuma tribe of Tanzania serve as case studies. I argue for a contextualized approach to folk Muslims, addressing their unique worldviews. ATRinfluenced folk Muslims lean toward a fear-power worldview, while the Sufis among them hold to an existential- transcendent worldview. Each group, therefore, necessitates a different evangelism approach. The first chapter presents preliminary matters, the research question, a literature review, and a rationale for the thesis. The second chapter analyzes the case study example of Beja folk Islam. Chapter three examines folk Islam and its relationship to orthodox Islam,including further illustrations from the Beja tribe. The fourth chapter explores the subject of ATR and its relationship to folk Islam. The Sukuma tribe of Tanzania serves as a base-line model of ATR for a comparison with Beja folk Islam. Chapter five introduces the topic of contextualization in Muslim evangelization and assesses the effectiveness and validity of methods that have been used. Chapter six suggests worldview approaches for reaching ATR and Sufi-influenced folk Muslims. The final chapter summarizes the thesis content, reviews the response to the research question, and analyzes the implications of the findings of the case study. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / D.Th. (Missiology)