This dissertation considers the contextualising in African settings of three themes addressed in youth literature of the Baptist International Publications Services (IPS). It utilises a critical methodology developed from Kraft's (1979) ten principles of communication to analyse the efforts to contextualise the themes of salvation, the Christian family and witchcraft. Chapter one discusses contextualisation and presents a critical methodology based on Kraft's ( 1979) principles of communication. Chapter two is an historical background study of the International Publications Services. Chapters three, four and five use the critical methodology developed in chapter one to examine the themes of salvation, the Christian family and witchcraft respectively, as found in IPS youth literature. Chapter six is an analysis and conclusion of the study with suggestions for further research. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M.Th.

L’idée principale de la thèse est l’écoculture, c'est-à-dire une réflexion plus approfondie sur la relation entre l’homme et la nature. Afin d’expliquer cette idée, nous avons analysé certains éléments caractéristiques de la culture traditionnelle, comme : le châtiment, la malédiction, la bénédiction, le serment, la métamorphose, l’empathie, la révérence, la sacralisation etc. Ces éléments culturels ne concernent pas seulement les mœurs et pratiques morales humaines dans la vie sociale, mais aussi bien les relations entre l’homme et la nature. Dans son sens véridique, en dehors de pensée, des symboles et des valeurs, l’écoculture sous-entend également les comportements, les actions concrètes et les autres routines de la vie quotidienne. L’une des conclusions de cette thèse est que les mouvements écologiques au Kosovo, et tout ceux qui prétendent créer une culture environnementale ou bien une conscience écologiques, afin de changer des comportements et des habitudes par rapport à l’environnement, pourraient prendre pour référence l’écoculture traditionnelle albanaise, parce qu’on y trouve beaucoup d’éléments communs avec des éthiques environnementales contemporaines, comme : écologie profonde, écoféminisme, spiritualisme écologique, dark-green religion / The main idea of the thesis is the eco-culture, that is to say, a deep reflection on the spiritual relationship between human and nature. To explain this idea, I analyze some characteristic elements of the traditional culture, such as punishment, curse, blessing, oath, metamorphosis, empathy, reverence, sacredness, etc. These cultural elements do not concern only the mores and ethical human practices in social life, but also the relationship between human and nature. Nowadays, in everyday life, these values are sometimes expressed openly and concretely, and other times latently and not obviously. In addition to thinking, symbols and values, the eco-culture also manifests itself through behavior, concrete actions, and other routines of daily life. Amongst the conclusions of this thesis is that the environmental movements in Kosovo, aiming at changing the habits related to the environment by means of creating the environmental culture and raising ecological consciousness, must refer to the traditional Albanian eco-culture, since the latter has many common elements with contemporary environmental ethics, such as deep ecology, eco-feminism, ecological spiritualism, dark-green religion, etc.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This study investigates the imaginary in Metal rosicler by Cecilia Meireles, one of her last books which was published in 1960. The aim is to analyze the relation of this book and the structures of alchemy imaginary. As well as the spiritual alchemists searched for the transmutation of insignificant metal in order to make it possible for men to reach the enlightenment, in Metal rosicler there is the attempt to go through an ontological search by linking the poetic to the alchemy symbolism, then as it happens in the alchemy process, it reveals itself in the rosicler (the color of a rose). Started by poetry, the search indicates the transmutation of the black stone- the raw rosicler metal- revealing from the depth a hidden and sublime essence in alchemy rosicler. Such essence is the meaningful reason for the search because it represents the desirable entirety in coincidentia oppositorum, and also the integration of the opposites of androgeny. Thus, the transformation may only be completed by performing the phases and the steps in the alchemy ritual: mortification in the nigredo, the abstract ideality in the albedo leading to the whole life of red color in the rubedo. All the symbolism untwines itself before the mitocriticism of poems which is based on contributions of critique about imaginary and alchemy, such as: the imaginary anthropology, according to Gilbert Durant`s work; phenomenology of poetic, as stated by Carl Gustav Jung studies. The theoretical instrument purposed by Durand e Bachelard concerns the imagination s dynamic creation and the strength of myths in peoples representative productions throughout the years. Imaginary philosophy of alchemy is based on Jung s deep psychology perspective which considers the relation between the alchemy symbolism and the process of individualization of human being in the search of entirety of himself. Mitocriticism work reveals the constellation of images which is a response for the alchemy poetic of the book, how the symbols imbricate the imperishable into ephemeral; the nocturnal images which join life and death; images of the air, the water, and the land which brings in the transcendence; dissolution in the nigredo and molding the androgynous, besides the mithemes of Hermes-Mercury in the alchemy become, the symbols of mortification of black stone and the sublimination of rosicler in the rubedo. Therefore, such journey reveals, in poems, the poetic melting pot of transmutation where the lyrical itself searches the spiritual entirety in the extraction of rosicler. / Este estudo explora o imaginário de Cecília Meireles em Metal rosicler, sua penúltima publicação em vida, no ano de 1960. O objetivo é investigar o liame da obra com as estruturas do imaginário alquímico. Assim como os alquimistas espirituais buscavam a transmutação dos metais vis para que o homem alcançasse a iluminação, em Metal rosicler, o eu-lírico empreende uma busca ontológica, entrelaçando o poético ao simbolismo alquímico, a fim de obter, tal como no processo da alquimia, o desvelamento do si mesmo, que se daria no rosicler. Encetada pela poesia, essa busca emblematiza a transmutação da pedra negra o metal rosicler bruto desentranhando, ao final, a essência oculta e sublimada do rosicler. Tal essência fundamenta o sentido da busca, pois ela representa a desejada totalidade na coincidentia oppositorum, ou, ainda, a integração dos opostos na androginia. Nesse sentido, para efetivar a transformação cumprem-se as etapas do ritual alquímico: a mortificação na nigredo, a idealidade abstrata na albedo culminando na vida plena do vermelho na rubedo. Todo esse simbolismo desenreda-se mediante a mitocrítica dos poemas que se funda nos aportes da crítica do imaginário e da alquimia, quais sejam: a antropologia do imaginário, segundo os trabalhos de Gilbert Durand; a fenomenologia do poético, consoante as pesquisas de Gaston Bachelard, e a filosofia da alquimia, conforme os apontamentos de Carl Gustav Jung. O instrumental teórico proposto por Durand e Bachelard referenda o dinamismo criador da imaginação e a força diretiva dos mitos nas produções representativas da cultura de todos os tempos. Por sua vez, a filosofia imaginária da alquimia apóia-se na psicologia profunda de Jung que relaciona o simbolismo alquímico ao processo de individuação do ser em busca da totalidade no si mesmo. No pormenor, o trabalho mitocrítico revela uma constelação de imagens que responde pela poética alquímica do livro, como os símbolos que imbricam o imperecível no efêmero; as imagens noturnas que articulam a vida e a morte; as imagens do ar, da água e da terra que instalam a transcendência, a dissolução na nigredo e a modelagem do andrógino; além dos mitemas de Hermes-Mercúrio no devir alquímico, os símbolos da mortificação da pedra negra e da sublimação do rosicler na rubedo. Assim sendo, tal jornada desvela, no espaço dos poemas, o cadinho poético da transmutação onde o eulírico busca sua inteireza de espírito na extração do rosicler. / Mestre em Teoria Literária

I denna studie undersöks och jämförs hur rytmisk notläsning med barn, 5–8 år, framställs i vetenskapliga texter under 2000-talet. Fokus för studien är vilka strategier som skildras men även forskning om vilka effekter notläsning kan ha på läs- och skrivutveckling refereras. För att besvara studiens syfte och frågeställning används metoden allmän litteraturstudie med systematisk ansats samt en informell intervju med tre forskare inom neurologi. Fyra vetenskapliga artiklar är inkluderade i studien. Alla har granskats kvalitets- och kunskapskritiskt. Den vetenskapsteoretiska ansatsen för studien är kulturhistorisk men min långa bakgrund som rytmikpedagog, skolad och erfaren i Dalcroze-metodik, är den vinkel jag oundvikligen betraktar resultatet ur. Ett av studiens resultat är att ämnet inte ägnats någon större uppmärksamhet från forskare under 2000-talet och det därför finns mycket att göra för att utveckla praxis. De huvudsakliga resultaten i de studerade artiklarna är att a) barn tenderar att prioritera tonhöjd framför rytm i notbilden, b) underliggande puls på rytmens minsta värde, snarare än puls som motsvarar taktens värde, förenklar för notläsningsförmågans utveckling, c) god notläsning kräver tidigt utformade strategier snarare än övning och d) rytmisk notläsning kan utvecklas på ett likartat sätt som läs- och skrivförmåga och bör stödjas ur det perspektivet med aktiviteter som innefattar ljuda, skriva och läsa. I intervjudelen framkommer bland annat att rytmisk träning kan främja tal- och skriftspråklig utveckling men att det inte förekommer några direkta transfereffekter mellan läsning och notläsning. / In this study, the 21st century scientific literature addressing rhythmic music reading in children aged 5–8 is explored and compared. The described strategies are the main focus of the study but research on music reading´s effect on the development of reading and writing skills is also discussed. In order to meet the purpose of this study and answer the scientific question, the methods general literature study with systematic approach together with informal interviews with three neurology-scientists, are applied. Four scientific articles are included in the study. They were all thoroughly reviewed from a quality- and knowledge perspective. The scientific theory used for this study is Vygotskij´s cultural-historical psychology but my own background as a teacher of eurythmics, educated and experienced in Dalcroze´s methodology, is inevitably the light in which I view the results of this study. One of the study´s results, is that this subject did not yet render much attention from researchers during the 21st century, leaving a lot of room for further development of practice. The main results of the studied articles are that a) children tend to prioritize tone before rhythm when reading notated music, b) underlying beat on the shortest note-duration in the rhythm, rather than beat that corresponds to the “worth” of the bar, simplifies the development of music reading skills, c) accomplished music reading demands early developed strategies rather than practice and d) rhythmic music reading may develop in a trajectory similar to that of language and literacy acquisition and should be fostered within that perspective through all of the following: oral and aural exercises, writing and reading. The interview-section shows, amongst other things, that rhythmic training may promote the development of articulation and writing, but there are no direct transfer effects between reading and music reading.

Privilegia-se nesta dissertação a leitura e interpretação de Avalovara, romance de Osman Lins, sob a ótica de um tema universal da literatura o amor humano, seguindo-se as pistas deixadas pelo autor em entrevistas e analisando-se, de modo especial, sua configuração poética na narrativa. Tendo em vista o intenso conteúdo sexual do romance, estuda-se as várias dimensões do amor carnal, desde o uso político do corpo até seu aspecto mítico e cosmogônico. Para tanto, primeiro conceitua-se literatura erótica para depois contextualizar-se Avalovara na tradição ocidental no século XX. Em seguida, são apontadas suas fontes, que remontam à Bíblia e à tradição hindu do tantra. Unindo-as, Lins cria um amor concreto e carnal, capaz de levar os amantes a reencontrar a unidade original. Além disso, ao incorporar a geometria simbólica do tantra na estrutura do romance, Lins confere à literatura um poder mágico até então encontrado apenas em textos religiosos e místicos. De modo que esta dissertação, fundamentada também em teorias da narrativa e do romance e numa abordagem comparatista, tem sobretudo uma perspectiva crítica: mostrar a especificidade de Avalovara, dentro da tradição da literatura erótica e o seu papel no contexto da literatura brasileira, nos anos da ditadura militar. / This dissertation focuses on the reading and interpretation of Osman Lins novel Avalovara based on a universal literary theme human love -, following the clues left by the author in interviews and analyzing especially its poetic configuration in the narrative. Taking into consideration the intense sexual component of the novel, it studies the various aspects of carnal love, from the political use of the body to its cosmogony and its mythical aspect. In order to do so, it first defines erotic literature to then position Avalovara in the twentieth century occidental tradition. Afterwards, it indicates its sources, which go back to the Bible and the Hindu tradition of the tantra. In uniting them, Lins creates a carnal and concrete love, capable of taking the lovers back to the original unity. In incorporating the symbolic geometry of tantra in the novels structure, Lins gives literature a magical power until then only seen in religious and mystical texts. Moreover, this dissertation, also based in narrative and novel theories and in a comparative approach, has above all a critical perspective: to show Avalovaras uniqueness in the tradition of erotic literature and its role in Brazilian literature, during the military dictatorship.

At least eight soapstone carvings of birds furnished a shrine, Great Zimbabwe, in the 19th century. This large stonewalled settlement, once a political and urban centre, had been much reduced for four centuries, although the shrine continued to operate as local traditions dictated. The Zimbabwe Birds were handed down from a past that has only been partially illuminated by archaeological inquiry and ethnography, as has the site as such. This thesis publishes the first detailed catalogue of the Birds and attempts to reconstruct their provenance at the site based on the earliest written accounts. A modern history of the Birds unfolds when the European settlers removed them from the site in dubious transactions, claiming them as rewards of imperial conquest. As the most treasured objects from Great Zimbabwe, the fate of the Birds has been intertwined with that of the site in a matrix of contested meanings and ownership. This thesis explores how the meanings of cultural objects have a tendency to shift and to be ephemeral, demonstrating the ability of those in power to appropriate and determine such meanings. In turn, this has a bearing on ownership claims, and gives rise to an “authorized heritage discourse” syndrome.   The forced migrations of the Zimbabwe Birds within the African continent and to Europe and their subsequent return to their homeland decades later are characterised by melodramatic episodes of manoeuvring by traders, politicians and theologians, and of the return of stolen property cloaked as an amicable barter deal, or a return extolled as an act of generosity. International doctrines that urge the return of cultural property are influenced by Western hegemonic ideologies. Natural justice is perverted, as stolen property acquires a (superior) significance in its new context, which merits the extinction of the original provenance. This leaves “generosity” and goodwill as the promises of the future, holding the fate of one Zimbabwe Bird still kept in exile in South Africa.

Hearing parents of deaf children who are reliant on Sign Language need to learn to sign to ensure communication mode-match with their children. Signing is vital for parent-child interaction, and has implications for the socio-emotional well-being and educational outcomes of the child. However, poor signing skills of parents is repeatedly reported in the literature, with the majority of children in signing educational programmes reported not to be exposed to signing in the home. Teaching parents to sign therefore appears a priority, with sign teaching strategies being debated in the literature. The learning of Sign Language as a second language by hearing parents of deaf children within the bilingual educational approach, which regards Sign Language as the first language of deaf children, raises the challenges of cross-modality language learning for hearing parents. Reports on teaching methods are mainly anecdotal with only a few studies addressing sign learning by hearing individuals. While the use of graphic representations of signs is a common practice in teaching signs, there is no empirical data on their influence on the learning of signs. This study explored the contribution of graphic representations of signs in sign teaching. The main aim of the study was to describe the impact of sign illustrations on the teaching of signs to hearing mothers. Two sub-aims were formulated to compare the conditions of sign learning with and without the use of sign illustrations in graphic displays in terms of (a) sign reception and sign production, and (b) the amount and nature of assistance required in learning signs. An Adapted Alternating Treatments Design (AATD), with four theme-based sign sets, and probes balanced for equivalence, was developed and used. Four biological mothers of three boys and a girl in a Grade Three class at a day school for the deaf in an urban area of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa took part in the study. The results revealed no significant differences between the two training strategies for sign acquisition, in terms of sign reception and sign production post-training. There were however, significant differences between the two training strategies with regard to assistance required while learning signs. The graphics strategy required significantly less trainer assistance (p<0.05). In addition, there were significant differences in the nature of assistance provided with the use of graphic representations. Significantly fewer repeated demonstrations of signs were required by the participants during self practice (p<0.01). There was a significantly higher number of corrections with the graphics strategy (p<0.01) initially, and this decreased over time, unlike with the signing-only strategy. It would appear that the sign illustrations were redundant during the initial stages of sign learning using a multimodal approach, but that they were relied on to trigger recall of signs during the self practice phase. Thus, the study confirmed the supportive role of sign illustrations in sign learning. The use of theme-based graphic displays of sign illustrations emerged as a viable method in teaching signs. The implications of these results and recommendations for future research are discussed. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (CAAC) / unrestricted

Compare diagram 1: ‘n Paradigmaverandering van teorie na praktyk en van gemeente na gesin en gemeenskap” and diagram 2: “Die siklus van geloofsbemiddeling”. The family is the most important building system in the church, the society and the whole world. The family is also the cradle and even the womb of the symbolic way in religious education. Almost all families stay in a community where interactions of faith take place. Teenagers leave the church because there are not enough exciting activities in the community to be part of a transformation process for a better life. For that reason the paradigm in this research emphasises an event-driven teenage and family ministry within the community. That means a ministry that accentuates processes, people and relations. Faith development cannot find a place outside the relationship of human beings. Relationship is the password to understanding and the most natural form of relationship is the family. The covenantal family is the most important building system in the church, the society and the whole world. To develop a model for teenage and family ministry for this purpose, the research will emphasise practicing more than theorising, although the dialogue between these two factors in practical theology is of utmost importance. Better relationships within the family, congregation and the community needs better communication. For that reason symbols and rituals are a necessary part of the whole process of teenage and family ministry which is community-directed. God acts within the lives of individuals and groups, but planned the family as the most important unit for interaction. No religion can be without a God and no religion can be without people. All people are born into one or another kind of family and have a God-given need to be part of a group even when ostracised by families or the society. The community of faith never lives in a vacuum - it is always in the midst of cultural reality which is a powerful influence. The faith of this community is embedded in the context of symbols, rituals and narratives. To be busy with practical theology, with this paradigm in mind, needs a threefold exegesis: an exegesis of the Bible, an exegesis of the culture, and an exegesis of the self and the community. Strengthening the inner life of churches and their relation to their immediate communities should be the first priority of the leaders of churches. Churches have a covenant responsibility to help people develop and sustain strong and healthy families. / Dissertation (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2004. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

This dissertation traces military integration in Europe from the 1940s to the early 2000s in order to reveal the growth of a common European defence identity. Four factors characterize its approach. First, European defence identity is analyzed in relation to the broader path of European integration and its historical context, showing connections with key turning points in European integration, with the evolution of Franco-German relations and European-American relations, with the Cold War and subsequent Collapse of Communism, etc. Second, the dissertation applies theories of identity formation to guide the historical analysis. This approach draws attention, for example, to the important roles that borders and symbols played in European defence identity formation. Third, the thesis adopts a hybrid “top-down” and “bottom-up” approach; one side considers formal programs, policies, and institutions that promoted a European defence identity, while the other takes stock of public perceptions, actions by “rank and file” soldiers, etc. This dual approach helps to reveal more fully the complex, negotiated character of European defence identity formation. Finally, this thesis traces the growth of a European defence identity as a path of ideological and emotional change, growing commitment, and trust-building that spanned decades.

Depuis la fondation de la République Turque en 1923, la laïcité constitue le principe le plus discuté et controversé, notamment car le rejet d’un des autres principes n’a jamais été perçu, comme c’est le cas pour la laïcité, comme impliquant un rejet de la République elle-même. Que signifie la laïcité pour la Turquie ? Le renforcement de l’autorité des élites ? Ou le sens de la République ? Aujourd’hui, comment comprenons-nous la laïcité, et avons-nous besoin de la redéfinir ? Sans réaliser une analyse poussée des fondements socio-religieux du pays, les travaux étudiant la laïcité turque ont tendance à se borner à des descriptions formelles et rigides. La laïcité est le principe juridique exprimant la neutralité de l’État envers toutes les croyances religieuses, et sa purification de toutes références religieuses. Néanmoins dans les faits, nous n’avons jamais vu une telle application de laïcité, si pure et théorique. Ce qui fait de la laïcité un instrument d’oppression est en réalité, un ensemble de symboles et de mythes encerclant le sens de la laïcité. Cet ensemble de symboles et de mythes constitue une religion politique, rigide et incontestable. Pour cette raison, les travaux étudiant l’application du principe de laïcité ont perçu les symboles de la religion politique comme une laïcité distincte et particulière. Dans notre travail, nous allons étudier les bases historiques et philosophiques de la laïcité en Turquie. Notre but est de mettre en relief les origines de la laïcité et son évolution en tant que religion politique, opposée à l’Islam traditionnel et politique. Dans la dernière partie de notre travail, nous allons étudier la laïcité en Turquie dans le contexte de la démocratie, à la lumière de la jurisprudence de la Cour Européenne des Droits de l’Homme, afin de savoir s’il est nécessaire de la redéfinir. / Since the foundation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923 the secularism « la laïcité » is discussed much more than any other topic and its denial meant the denial of Turkish Republic. However, what does secularism mean for Turkey? Is it the reinforcement of elite’s authorities? Or is it the definition of Republic? Nowadays, how do we understand secularism and do we need to redefine it? In Turkey most of the academic works about secularism are still not brining any additional value rather than staying as another description of secularism. The dictionary description of secularism « la laïcité » is that, the state must be natural against all religious beliefs and do not stand as a reference point for any religion. But in practice, the secularism cannot be defined as straight as its definition, it never appears with those sharp borders and in that purity. The factors, which are transforming secularism from a legitimate view to a control mechanism, are its symbols and myths that are considered as part of secularism. Actually, these myths and symbols are forming an undeniable political religion. For that reason most of the previous academic works which are analyzing secularism by considering these myths and symbols as an add-on to the term of secularism, pushed us to look and create a new definition of this concept. In this work, we will analyse the historical and philosophical basis of secularism. We will also trace the origin and the formation of secularism as a political religion opposite to the traditional and political Islam. In this work, we will analyse the historical and philosophical basis of secularism. We will also trace the origin and the formation of secularism as a political religion opposite to the traditional and political Islam.The final part of work will observe secularism in the light of the jurisprudence of the European Convention of Human Rights and, the democracy in order to understand if the notion of secularism in Turkey requires redefinition.