German text / Die Frage nach der Bedeutung Elias hat schon viele Ausleger beschäftigt. Von ihm wird zwar nur innerhalb des Königebuches berichtet, aber Wundertaten und Himmelfahrt machen sein Wirken außergewöhnlich. Außerdem sind seine Nachwirkungen im Alten und Neuen Testament, sowie in Judentum und Christentum bemerkenswert. Der Großteil der Elia-Forschung liegt im Bereich der historisch-kritischen Methodik. Die Ergebnisse sind dabei nicht einheitlich. Größere Abschnitte als Gesamtheit wurden bisher nur selten untersucht. In dieser Arbeit wird der Frage durch eine literarisch-exegetische Analyse des Textabschnitts 1. Könige 16,29 – 2. Könige 2,25 nachgegangen. Dabei wird deutlich, dass auf Grundlage des vorliegenden Endtextes die Bedeutung Elias in seiner Funktion als Vertreter JHWHs liegt, der für die Rückkehr Israels zum Bund mit JHWH eintritt. Es zeigt sich eine theologische Linie von Mose über Elia hin zu Jesus. Die Nachwirkungen Elias sind aber nicht allein darauf zurückzuführen. Sie hängen auch mit dem Bericht über Wundertaten und Himmelfahrt zusammen. / The question of Elijah’s significance has piqued the interest of many scholars. Although his story is reported only in Kings, the miracles he performed and his ascension to heaven make his ministry extraordinary, and the effects of his ministry in the OT, the NT, Judaism and Christianity are noteworthy. Most research of Elijah is carried out with a historical-critical methodology. The results of this research are not consistent. This work approaches the topic through a literary-exegetical analysis of 1 Kings 16,29 – 2 Kings 2,25. On the basis of this text it becomes apparent that Elijah’s significance lies in his function as YHWH’s representative who attempts to bring Israel back to her covenant with YHWH. A theological continuum from Moses through Elijah to Jesus reveals itself. The repercussions of Elijah’s ministry are traced back not only to this, but also to the report of his miracles and ascension to heaven. / Biblical and Ancient Studies / M. Th. (Old Testament)

The application of Qur'ān and Hadith in the teaching of life skills in Muslim schools in South Africa. This study explores the application of Qur‟ān and Hadith in the teaching of life skills, as part of the Islamic Studies curriculum, at Muslim schools. The study further discusses the need to equip learners at Muslim schools with the necessary skills, values, attitudes and orientations that are conducive to greater participation in adulthood. The study is aimed at examining the potential of an Islamic perspective to meet these needs. The discussion focuses on five areas: health development, personal development, social development, physical development and orientation to the world of work. The research reveals that the Islamic Studies curriculum can be holistically integrated with life skills development, and the Qur‟ān and Hadith can make a significant contribution for the optimal implementation of this learning area. Muslim schools are urged to implement the recommendations made in this study. The sustained training of educators and the continuous development of learning support materials is needed to ensure that this learning area achieves its objectives. / Religious Studies and Arabic / M.A. (Islamic Studies)

The main purpose of the thesis is to investigate the possibility of bridging the dichotomy between Islam and the criteria of modern society by means of reinterpreting the principles (foundations) of Islam. The reformists Abdolkarim Soroush, Sedigheh Vasmaghi and Tariq Ramadan seek to prove that the methods keeping strictly within the boundaries of tradition interpreting the Quran along the lines of previous generations is not necessarily the sole means of coming to an understanding of the Quran’s message. The thesis discusses these reinterpreters’ critique of tradition and their arguments for the possibility of uniting the principles of Islam with the prerequisites of modern society. In conjunction with this, the question whether modern society presupposes a strict division between the private and the public sphere is problematized from a point of departure in Jeffrey Stout’s Democracy and Tradition. The thesis attempts to show potential conceptions of a modern society based on the principles of Islam.

Cette recherche étudie les lettres de Paul de Tarse, telles que conservées dans le Nouveau Testament, dans le contexte des pratiques épistolaires antiques, principalement judéennes. L’interrogation initiale est double : d’une part, elle porte sur le potentiel documentaire offert par les sources de type épistolaire et, d’autre part, sur le potentiel pragmatique spécifique du médium épistolaire pour induire des changements chez les destinataires. Les lettres de Paul ont été écrites non pour consigner des réalités ou des vérités d’autrefois en tant que telles, mais pour communiquer efficacement auprès de cercles divers et variés de destinataires. Cette double interrogation est déployée en amont, parmi les pratiques susceptibles d’avoir servi de modèle, comme celle liée à la lettre aux exilés insérée narrativement dans le Livre du prophète Jérémie (chapitre 29). Celle-ci a servi de modèle de communication à distance pendant plusieurs siècles parmi différents milieux de la Diaspora judéenne. Est ensuite interrogée la pratique épistolaire de Paul lui-même, en particulier celle déployée dans sa IIe Lettre aux Corinthiens (chapitres 10-13). Cette séquence, écrite au moment d’une très forte remise en question de son autorité d’apôtre, montre bien le potentiel pragmatique que Paul reconnaissait au médium épistolaire, ceci en convoquant notamment l’autorité de Jérémie. Enfin, en aval, on s’intéresse aux débuts l’histoire de la réception de l’autorité d’épistolier de Paul. Celle-ci montre comment on a reconnu très tôt à l’apôtre Paul une autorité d’épistolier, à l’instar des prophètes écrivains de l’ancien Israël. / This research examines the letters of Paul of Tarsus, as preserved in the New Testament within the context of letter writing of that time, principally Judean ones. The initial examination questions both the potential of sources such as letters to provide information about an era, and the specific pragmatic potential of the epistolary medium as a means of inducing change in its recipients. As such, the letters of Paul were written not to conserve the historical realities or truths of the past, but to communicate efficiently with diverse circles and various recipients. The two-part examination is used to gain a perspective on the practices of the time, which may have been used as models for epistolary writing. The letter addressing the Judean Diasporas exiles inserted into the narrative of the Book of Jeremy (chapter 29) is such a model, providing a means of communicating over distance and time among the different groups. The epistolary practice of Paul himself is then examined. In particular, his Second letter to Corinthians (chapters 10-13), written in a moment of intense self-examination as his apostolic authority was questioned, is a good example of the pragmatic potential that Paul recognised in the epistolary medium, particularly in light of the prophet Jeremy. Finally, the beginnings of the apostle Paul’s epistolary writing and it’s reception are explored, showing how his credibility as an apostolic authority was quickly and easily recognised as being of the same quality as those of the prophet writers of ancient Israel.

<p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><p><p>About two years after publishing so called Muhammad cartoons in Denmark, the Swedish regional newspaper</p><p><em>Nerikes Allehanda </em>in Orebro published an editorial on self-censorship. A drawing of Prophet Muhammad as a Roundabout dog, drawn by <em>Lars Vilks</em>, was illustrating the article. Publishing of Muhammad drawing was followed by reactions both in Sweden and in some other countries especially in the muslim world. There are many differences and similarities between the publishing in Denmark and Sweden. There are differences and similarities between the two cases even regarding to the reactions in muslim countries. Mass media have certainly played an important role in mediating information about the publishing to people in muslim countries. Which information and how they were mediated are significant for shaping perceptions and thereby the reactions that followed the publishing of Muhammad drawing in Sweden. This essay is investigating how newspapers and online newspapers (web newspapers) in nine muslim countries reported about the publishing of Muhammad drawing. The subjects that newspapers were interesting of and the discourses domination reporting are in focus for this investigation. This essay will also investigate how newspapers and online newspapers in muslim countries covered two issues which were well covered by Swedish media, A threat against <em>Lars Vilks </em>from organization "Islamic State in Iraq" and a statement from the Iranian president Ahmadinejad regarding the Muhammad drawing in <em>Nerikes Allehanda</em>.</p></p></p>

Algorithms and simulators comprised of SPICE3 as a circuit level simulator and two device simulators EOFLOW and PROPHET for accurate simulation of new types of devices are presented in this thesis. An integration of EOFLOW with SPICE3 creates a capability for efficient simulation of a system containing interconnected electroosmotic flow channels together with control electronics. Using this simulator, an accurate simulation of a complex interconnection of channels has been performed. In addition, various flow control schemes have been evaluated for their effectiveness. Coupling of PROPHET and SPTCE3 allows for the simulation of accurate semiconductor device models. This capability is necessary for critical RF and analog applications. The coupled SPICE3-HB-PROPHET simulator incorporates the harmonic balance algorithm for large-signal frequency domain analysis. Applications of this analysis are demonstrated in the noise coupling between devices sharing the same silicon substrate. / Graduation date: 2003

From fourteenth century medieval literature to contemporary American and African American literature, researchers have singled out and analyzed writing from every genre that is prophetic in nature, predicting or warning about events, both revolutionary and dire, to come. One twentieth-century American whose work embodies the essence of warning and foretelling through history-laden literature is Toni Morrison. This modern-day literary prophet reinterprets eras gone by through what she calls “re-memory” in order to guide her readers, and her society, to a greater understanding of the consequences of slavery and racism in America and to prompt both races to escape the pernicious effects of this heritage. Several critics have recognized and written about Morrison’s unique style of prophetic prose. These critics, however, have either taken a general cursory analysis of her complete body of works or they are only focused on one of her texts as a site of evidence. Despite the many critical essays and journal articles that have been written about Morrison as literary prophet, no critic has extensively investigated Morrison’s major works by way of textual analysis under this subject, to discuss Morrison prophetic prose, her motivation for engaging in a form of prophetic writing, and the context of this writing in a wider general, as well as an African-American, tradition. This dissertation takes on a more comprehensive, cross-sectional analysis of her works that has been previously employed, concentrating on five of Morrison’s major novels: The Bluest Eye, Song of Solomon, Beloved, Jazz and Paradise, in an order to assess how Morrison develops and infuses warnings and admonitions of biblical proportions. This investigation seeks to reveal Morrison’s motivation to prophecy to Americans, black and white, the context in which she engages with her historical and contemporary subjects, and the nature of the admonitions to present and future action she offers to what she sees as a contemporary generation of socially and historically oblivious African Americans, using literary prophecy as the tool by which to accomplish her objectives. This dissertation also demonstrates—by way of textual analysis and literary theory—the evolution through five novels of Morrison’s development as a literary prophet.

This thesis presents a comparative study of two modern Muslim biographers of the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad Husayn Haykal and Sayyid Ja$ rm sp{c}$far Murtada, the one a Sunni the other a Shispc$ = i. In dealing with their works on the { it s = i ra}, the intention is to focus on some aspects of the life of the Prophet of Islam from the time when he resided in Makka. After outlining the authors' scholarly backgrounds, sources, methods, and purposes, etc., the thesis deals with certain specific issues concerning the Prophet's birth, his nursing and the reason behind the custom of having foster-mothers, the controversial stories of the splitting of his chest and of his participation in the sacrilegious war, his state both before and after the announcement to him of his Mission, the authors' interpretations of his night journey and ascent to heaven and lastly their discussion about the Prophet and miracles. This research should not be considered as historical in nature; rather, it aims at clarifying the similarities and differences which may be discovered between our two biographers, and at comparing their respective Sunn = i and Sh = i$spc$ = i approaches.

The application of Qur'ān and Hadith in the teaching of life skills in Muslim schools in South Africa. This study explores the application of Qur‟ān and Hadith in the teaching of life skills, as part of the Islamic Studies curriculum, at Muslim schools. The study further discusses the need to equip learners at Muslim schools with the necessary skills, values, attitudes and orientations that are conducive to greater participation in adulthood. The study is aimed at examining the potential of an Islamic perspective to meet these needs. The discussion focuses on five areas: health development, personal development, social development, physical development and orientation to the world of work. The research reveals that the Islamic Studies curriculum can be holistically integrated with life skills development, and the Qur‟ān and Hadith can make a significant contribution for the optimal implementation of this learning area. Muslim schools are urged to implement the recommendations made in this study. The sustained training of educators and the continuous development of learning support materials is needed to ensure that this learning area achieves its objectives. / Religious Studies and Arabic / M.A. (Islamic Studies)

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-03T12:20:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Mairolet Vega.pdf: 380112 bytes, checksum: a99843e12068cf8bf0872f6c7eeeaaa6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-05-28 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The present thesis pretends to analyze the message transmitted from Yahweh to the prophet Isaiah in the context of the siro-efraimita war (734 to 732 b.C.), in times of the King Ahaz. The first part of this research presents a general and historical panorama, either international or national, of the situation faced by Judah. In the midst of wars, invasions, desolations and increased taxes, Yahweh decided to be side by side with the people. Through an oracle He shows a way for changing an unjust political system that came out as a result of the sins practiced by Israel. To Regard Yahweh as holy, according to the text, is the unique way of avoiding destruction. To Regard Yahweh as holy has to do with preservation of life, mainly the life of those who were unprotected; which means to be for a new social political an economical order able to provide security and dignity for every one. The goal of this thesis is to understand how the concept of sanctification pointed out by Isaiah can help us to overcome our daily life problems and give us new ethic postures for facing life, that s to say, a concept of sanctification that implies an active engagement with people, specifically with defenseless ones. By studying phrases and words, and through an exegetical work, we bring out insights to understand the passage of Is 8,11-15 and our present-day realities and problems. Through this work we hope to contribute to the Popular Reading of the Bible that several groups are realizing today in order to find new horizons, hopes, dreams, and utopias to go on in the midst of a world in crises.(AU) / Esta pesquisa visa analisar a mensagem de Javé transmitida através do profeta Isaías em meio à guerra siro-efraimita (734-732 a.C.), no tempo do rei Acaz. A primeira parte deste trabalho fornece uma panorâmica histórica da situação tanto internacional quanto nacional da nação de Judá. No meio de sinais de guerras, invasões estrangeiras, desolação e aumento de tributos que acarretam maior insegurança para os setores mais empobrecidos, Javé faz sua aposta pela vida de Israel. Através do oráculo profético mo stra um caminho que pode chegar a subverter a ordem de um injusto sistema político advindo do próprio pecado da nação de Israel. Neste texto, santificar a Javé é a trilha que pode livrar-lhes da queda e da destruição. Santificar a Javé significa cuidar e preservar a vida, especialmente dos mais desprotegidos. Isto implica optar conscientemente por uma nova ordem que garanta uma existência digna para todos e todas. O objetivo desta pesquisa é entender como o conceito de santificação salientado pelo profeta Isaías, na perícope (Is 8,11-15), pode ajudar-nos a superar os problemas cotidianos e fornecer-nos novas posturas éticas para enfrentar a vida, isto é um conceito de santificação que requer do engajamento com o povo, fundamentalmente com a população mais carente e necessitada atualmente. Por meio do trabalho exegético tentamos encontrar respostas escondidas entre palavras, termos e frases, procurando entender o texto em diálogo com a vida cotidiana de seu tempo e do nosso. Este estudo pretende providenciar subsídios para a leitura popular da Bíblia que está sendo realizada por muitos grupos nas igrejas e comunidades cristãs, que buscam novos caminhos, horizontes, sonhos e utopias para continuar a viver em meio de sociedades em crises e de tempos difíceis.(AU)