AFRIKAANS: In die tyd waarin ons leef is daar 'n wêreldwye oplewing in spiritualiteit. Mense raak al meer bewus van die feit dat hulle ook spirituele wesens is. Desnieteenstaande vind baie mense, veral Christene, dit moeilik om hul spiritualiteit uit te leef, aangesien tradisionele geestelike dissiplines nie noodwendig hul behoefte genoegsaam aanspreek nie. In hierdie studie is daar ondersoek ingestel na die gebruik van terapeutiese kuns as geestelike dissipline in die uitlewing van spirituele identiteit by die jong volwasse vrou. Terapeutiese kuns, wat as 'n hibried van tradisionele kunsterapie beskou kan word, het anders as kunsterapie 'n estetiese eindproduk ten doel nie, maar sou ook terapeuties van waarde kon wees. Die effek van 'n estetiese eindproduk op die skepper van die werk kan nie onderskat word nie. Estetika kan 'n belangrike element wees in die ervaring van God. Die estetiese aard van terapeutiese kuns staan daarom in diens van die uitlewing van spirituele identiteit. Dit is juis hierdie blootstelling aan skoonheid en ander estetiese ervarings wat 'n persoon se emosies kan transendeer en blootstel aan die groter, aangrypende realiteit van God. Die teologiese vertrekpunt waarvan hierdie navorsing uitgaan is gegrond in postfundamentele teologie met klem op bemagtigende, profeties-bevrydende, feministies-kontekstuele praktiese teologie. Die werkswyse wat die navorsing onderlê is die narratiewe benadering wat tuiskom binne sosiaal konstruksionisme. Daar word spesifiek gefokus op kwalitatiewe, feministiese, deelnemende navorsingsmetodologie. Die navorsing handel oor die verhaal van die Vyf Dogters van Eva, ek en vier mede-navorsers, wat deur die gebruik van terapeutiese kuns gesoek het na 'n manier om kuns in te span in die uitlewing van ons spirituele identiteit. Die waarde van hierdie navorsing is veral geleë in die feit dat dit gehandel het oor die werklike lewensverhale van vyf vroue en hul belewenis van terapeutiese kuns in die uitlewing van hul spiritualiteit. Die uitkoms van die navorsing is dus allesbehalwe 'n blote hipotese. Dit is "ervaarde werklikheid", wat hopelik ook vir ander van waarde sal kan wees. Alhoewel dit in hierdie studie duidelik word dat kuns en spirituele identiteit allesbehalwe onversoenbare terme is, bestaan daar steeds die persepsie in die kerk dat daar spanning tussen die kerk en kuns bestaan. Om hierdie rede word daar aandag gegee aan die verhaal van kuns in die kerk sedert die vroegste tyd, om sodoende te probeer verstaan waar hierdie spanning vandaan kom. Daar word ook gesoek na nuwe maniere om die verhouding tussen kuns en die kerk te beskou. Die veld van kunsterapie word ondersoek en daar word ondersoek ingestel na die treffende verband tussen kunsterapie en die narratiewe benadering. Daar word ook aandag gegee aan die vrou se unieke belewenis van haar spiritualiteit en geloofsontwikkeling, asook na spirituele identiteit, om sodoende verdere Iig te werp op die potensiele verhouding tussen kuns en geloof. Die belang van die ontwikkeling van 'n unieke simboolsisteem vir elke individu bestaande uit simbool, metafoor en ritueel in die beoefening van kuns as geloofsdissipline geniet ook aandag. ENGLISH: Recently there has been a worldwide revival in spirituality. People increasingly perceive themselves as spiritual beings. Yet lots of people, especially Christians, find it difficult to realise their spirituality. Traditional spiritual disciplines do not address this need sufficiently. In this research the use of therapeutic art as spiritual discipline in the realisation of spirituality in the young adult woman has been investigated. Therapeutic art, which can be seen as a hybrid of traditional art therapy, differs from art therapy in that it aims to achieve an aesthetic end product - yet it can be experienced as therapeutic. Although therapeutic art underlines the importance of aesthetics, it does not undermine the therapeutic process. The effect of an aesthetic end product on its creator can not be under estimated. Therapeutic art enhances the realisation of spiritual identity as its aesthetic quality serves as a means of experiencing God. It is this exposure to beauty and other aesthetic experiences that transcends an individual's emotions and exposes him/her to the greater, poignant reality of God. The theological basis of the research is grounded in postfoundational theology, focusing on empowering, prophetic-liberating, feministic-contextual practical theology. The research method is rooted in the narrative approach as found in social constructionism. Specific emphasis is placed on qualitative, feministic and participatory action research methodology. The research tells the story of the Five Daughters of Eve, myself and four co¬researchers, who use therapeutic art in search of the realisation of our spiritual identity. The research is not aimed at generalising outcomes. The outcome of the research is of specific value, due the fact that the true life stories of five women and their experience of therapeutic art in the realisation of their spirituality is highlighted. The outcome of the research is not only a hypothesis - it is based on 'experienced reality' that aims to serve as a contextual framework for others in search of the realisation of their spiritual identity. Research findings clearly support the fact that art and spiritual identity are not irreconcilable ideas. The relationship between the church and art are often perceived as strenuous. As point of departure, it is attempted to create an understanding for the narrative of the church and art. A common basis of understanding is required to fully comprehend the reason for this tension. As far as the relationship between the church and art is concerned, a search is undertaken towards new ways of understanding. The art therapy field is examined and used as basis for explanation. Research focuses on the connection between art therapy and the narrative approach. The unique experience of women's spirituality and faith development, as well as spiritual identity in relation to the potential relationship between art and faith are exposed. Inquiry is conducted in the importance of a unique system of symbols, consisting of symbol, metaphor and ritual in the pursuit of art as spiritual discipline. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

Afrikaans text, with Afrikaans and English summaries / Despite legislation to the effect intended to ensure the position of the disabled in society, disabled persons still find themselves largely marginalized in the South African context. During this research a group of about twenty participants, of whom about one-half are disabled, were involved in an inclusive process of art-making. The aim of the research was to challenge the dominant discourse which holds that making art is only for the select, talented few. This research was undertaken according to the scientific guidelines of practical theology. Contextual theology was used as a starting point, with emphasis on the participatory- and narrative approaches. The characteristics of pastoral care created an atmosphere which was conducive to the disabled participants discovering and developing hope for a more rewarding future. The research culminated in an exhibition in a national museum, which could contribute to an additional dimension in the narrative of the disabled participants. / Ten spyte van wetgewing om die inklusiewe posisie van die gestremde in die samelewing te verseker, is gestremdes in die Suid Afrikaanse konteks nog grootliks gemarginaliseerd. Vanuit hierdie gemarginaliseerde posisie vind gestremdes dit moeilik en dikwels onmoontlik om hul unieke potensiaal te ontwikkel om sodoende 'n beter lewenskwaliteit lewe te vestig. 'n Groep van ongeveer twintig deelnemers, waarvan die helfte gestremd is, is tydens hierdie navorsing in 'n inklusiewe konteks van kunsmaak betrek. Die doel van die navorsing is om diskoerse uit te daag wat bepaal dat kunsmaak net vir unieke, talentvolle mense beskore was. Teen die agtergrond van 'n postmoderne epistemologie kon gestremdes sonder vooraf opgestelde reels en regulasies uiting gee aan hul verbeelding en sodoende waaghalsig wees in die proses van kunsmaak. Hierdie navorsing het plaasgevind volgens die wetenskaplike riglyne van praktiese teologie. Kontekstuele teologie is as 'n teologiese vertrekpunt gebruik, met die klem op die deelnemende en narratiewe benaderings. Sodoende is ruimte geskep vir die ontdekking sowel as die ontwikkeling van die potensiaal van die gestremde. Die eienskappe van pastorale sorg het 'n atmosfeer tydens die kunsmaaksessies geskep waarbinne die deelnemers in 'n veilige konteks hoop op 'n bykomstige realiteit en 'n beter toekoms kon ontdek en ontwikkel. Die navorsing het gekulmineer in 'n kunsuitstalling in 'n nasionale museum wat kan bydra tot 'n bykomstige dimensie in die verhaal en identiteit van die gestremdes. / Practical Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology eith specialisation in Pastoral Therapy)

Afrikaans text, with Afrikaans and English summaries / Despite legislation to the effect intended to ensure the position of the disabled in society, disabled persons still find themselves largely marginalized in the South African context. During this research a group of about twenty participants, of whom about one-half are disabled, were involved in an inclusive process of art-making. The aim of the research was to challenge the dominant discourse which holds that making art is only for the select, talented few. This research was undertaken according to the scientific guidelines of practical theology. Contextual theology was used as a starting point, with emphasis on the participatory- and narrative approaches. The characteristics of pastoral care created an atmosphere which was conducive to the disabled participants discovering and developing hope for a more rewarding future. The research culminated in an exhibition in a national museum, which could contribute to an additional dimension in the narrative of the disabled participants. / Ten spyte van wetgewing om die inklusiewe posisie van die gestremde in die samelewing te verseker, is gestremdes in die Suid Afrikaanse konteks nog grootliks gemarginaliseerd. Vanuit hierdie gemarginaliseerde posisie vind gestremdes dit moeilik en dikwels onmoontlik om hul unieke potensiaal te ontwikkel om sodoende 'n beter lewenskwaliteit lewe te vestig. 'n Groep van ongeveer twintig deelnemers, waarvan die helfte gestremd is, is tydens hierdie navorsing in 'n inklusiewe konteks van kunsmaak betrek. Die doel van die navorsing is om diskoerse uit te daag wat bepaal dat kunsmaak net vir unieke, talentvolle mense beskore was. Teen die agtergrond van 'n postmoderne epistemologie kon gestremdes sonder vooraf opgestelde reels en regulasies uiting gee aan hul verbeelding en sodoende waaghalsig wees in die proses van kunsmaak. Hierdie navorsing het plaasgevind volgens die wetenskaplike riglyne van praktiese teologie. Kontekstuele teologie is as 'n teologiese vertrekpunt gebruik, met die klem op die deelnemende en narratiewe benaderings. Sodoende is ruimte geskep vir die ontdekking sowel as die ontwikkeling van die potensiaal van die gestremde. Die eienskappe van pastorale sorg het 'n atmosfeer tydens die kunsmaaksessies geskep waarbinne die deelnemers in 'n veilige konteks hoop op 'n bykomstige realiteit en 'n beter toekoms kon ontdek en ontwikkel. Die navorsing het gekulmineer in 'n kunsuitstalling in 'n nasionale museum wat kan bydra tot 'n bykomstige dimensie in die verhaal en identiteit van die gestremdes. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology eith specialisation in Pastoral Therapy)