Systematic Theology / M. Th (Systematic Theology)

Text in Afrikaans. / Summaries in English and Afrikaans / Die mensdom beleef 'n grootskaalse ekologiese krisis vanwee die mens se vermoe om die skepping totaal te vernietig. Gevolglik is die ekologiese krisis ook 'n menslike krisis. Gesien vanuit 'n holistiese oogpunt, kan die oorsaak van die krisis aan die deur gele word van die sogenaamde meganiese-wereldbeskouing. Om dit te verander vra vir 'n radikale verandering in die evaluering van die Heilige Gees se werkinge in die skepping en herskepping. Die skepping is die werk van die Drie-eenheid: God die Vader skep deur die Seun in die krag van die Heilige Gees. Die gedagte van Geesverwaarlosing het aanleiding gegee tot die WRK se tema in Canberra: "Kom Heilige Gees- Vernuwe die Ganse Skepping!" Verandering en venuwing vind alleenlik plaas deur die Heilige Gees wat as agent optree in die proses van herskepping. Deur die Heilige Gees is God immanent in die kosmos. Nie alleen die mens nie, maar ook die res van die skepping word vernuwe en herskep. Dit is God se plan om Sy koningkryk tot die hele kosmos uit te brei. Die mensdom, bekragtig deur die Heilige Gees, moet hul taak as bouers en medewerkers tot opsigte van herskepping met erns opneem. Die doel van hierdie verhandeling is om die allesomvattende rol en werkinge van die Heilige Gees in beide christene sowel as nie-christene, wat in die krag van die Gees van God die skepping onderhou, te bepaal en te omskryf. / Mankind experiences an ecological crisis that is unprecedented because human beings now have it in their power to destroy the creation. Therefore the ecological crisis is also an anthropological crisis. Seen from a holistic perspective, this crisis, caused by the so-called mechanical worldview, calls for a radical change in viewing the work of the Holy Spirit in creation and re-creation. Creation must be seen as a Trinitarian process: the Father creates through the Son in the power of the Holy Spirit. It was the apparent absence of the Holy Spirit in God's creation that led to the WCC theme at Canberra: "Come Holy Spirit, - Renew the Whole Creation!" This change and renewal is to be brought about by the Holy Spirit, who acts as the agent in creating a "new creation". The Holy Spirit represents the personal presence of God in the cosmos, and not only recreates God's people, but nature as well. The design of our world is to be God's kingdom. Humankind, empowered by the Holy Spirit, must be builders and co-workers in a new creation. The purpose of this dissertation is to discern the workings of the Spirit in those people, Christian and non-Christian, who empowered by the Spirit, work to help sustain the creation. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th.(Systematic Theology)

This dissertation is a biography of Beyers Naude, from his birth in 1915 . until 1977, focusing attention on the period 1963 to 1977, when he was director of the Christian Institute. The study examines how Naude, whose father championed Afrikaans, became a leading minister in the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC). It examines the challenges which confronted Naude over the DRC's support fqr apartheid. The dissertation documents the factors that led Naude to reject apartheid and clash with the DRC, the Broederbond and the National Party government, culminating in his banning in 1977. It assesses the contribution he made to debates on apartheid in church and political circles and explains how he increasingly supported black initiatives to end white rule. The dissertation shows that Naude's background and leadership qualities enabled him to have an impact on the church and political scene as apartheid became a burning issue at home and abroad. / History / M.A. (History)

Text in English / This dissertation has examined the University Christian Movement (UCM) over its turbulent five year history from 1967 to 1972 in terms of the original hopes of the sponsoring ecumenical denominations. Contextual factors within the socio-political arena of South Africa as well as broader youth cultural influences are shown to have had a decisive influence. These factors help to explain the negative reaction from the founding churches. While this is not a thesis on Black Consciousness, nevertheless the contribution of the UCM to the rise of Black Consciousness and Black Theology is evaluated. UCM is shown to be a movement well ahead of its time as a forerunner in South Africa of Black Theology, contextual theology, feminism, modem liturgical styles, and intercommunion. As such it was held in suspicion. It suffered repressive action from the government and alienation from the churches. Constant cross referencing to other organisations such as the World Student Christian Federation, the National Union of South African Students, the South African Council of Churches, the Christian Institute, and the Sllldents Christian Association, helps to locate the UCM within the flow of contemporary history. The concluding evaluation differs markedly from the report of the Schlebusch Commission by making both critical and positive judgement from the perspective of the UCM as an ecumenical mission to students. / Christain Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M.Th. (Missiology)