Spirituality is a word in frequent use in contemporary society. In a broad sense it refers to the 'raison d'etre' of our existence, the meaning and values to which we ascribe. Everyone embodies a spirituality in this wider sense, whether it be nihilistic, materialistic, humanistic or religious. The present study evaluates the phenomenon of the Toronto Blessing in the light of spirituality in general and Christian spirituality in particular. By means of a broadly-based phenomenological methodology, the manifestations accompanying the Toronto Blessing are evaluated firstly, with respect to the Bible; secondly, with respect to the Hindu experience of 'Kundalini awakening'; and thirdly, in terms of neuroscience and certain psychological processes, such as hypnosis, mass hysteria, and the role of body and mind in creating spiritual experiences. Although Charismatics claim that the Toronto Blessing has a sound biblical foundation, no evidence to support this claim has been found. However, striking similarities are found between the manifestations of the Toronto Blessing and the techniques used in the 'Kundalini awakening' for the transference of energy. Finally, the major findings of this study support the conclusion that the Toronto Blessing is largely the result of psychological techniques. The possibility of Godly intervention is not totally excluded, but caution is urged, so as to be aware of extraneous factors that create similar manifestations. While it is agreed that the Toronto Blessing can be seen as an expression of spirituality in a broad sense, nevertheless it cannot be viewed as an expression of Christian spirituality in the Charismatic Movement. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / D. Th. (Christian Spirituality)

Master's thesis called Spirituality of Faithful Women in Pregnancy and after the Birth focuses on meaning of spirituality, expressing of spirituality and possible transformation of women's spirituality in pregnancy and after the birth. The thesis is divided into theoretical and research part. The theoretical part contains three chapters. The aim of the first chapter is to define the term of spirituality. It deals with spirituality as a dimension of personality, and spirituality as a need. This part also presents the seven dimensions of Christian spirituality, spirituality of women and the spirituality of motherhood. The second chapter describes the term of pregnancy, childbirth and the period after the birth from the perspective of a holistic approach. The third chapter focuses on spirituality in pregnancy and after the birth. This part contains biblical-theological perspective of pregnancy and childbirth and includes the Roman Catholic Church point of view. The research part of the thesis uses a qualitative social science approach with biographical research design. The goal is to find out the meaning of spirituality in pregnancy and after the birth for women of the Roman Catholic Church, and to find out, how the spirituality is changed and how it is manifested. Master's thesis is written in the...

Spirituality is a word in frequent use in contemporary society. In a broad sense it refers to the 'raison d'etre' of our existence, the meaning and values to which we ascribe. Everyone embodies a spirituality in this wider sense, whether it be nihilistic, materialistic, humanistic or religious. The present study evaluates the phenomenon of the Toronto Blessing in the light of spirituality in general and Christian spirituality in particular. By means of a broadly-based phenomenological methodology, the manifestations accompanying the Toronto Blessing are evaluated firstly, with respect to the Bible; secondly, with respect to the Hindu experience of 'Kundalini awakening'; and thirdly, in terms of neuroscience and certain psychological processes, such as hypnosis, mass hysteria, and the role of body and mind in creating spiritual experiences. Although Charismatics claim that the Toronto Blessing has a sound biblical foundation, no evidence to support this claim has been found. However, striking similarities are found between the manifestations of the Toronto Blessing and the techniques used in the 'Kundalini awakening' for the transference of energy. Finally, the major findings of this study support the conclusion that the Toronto Blessing is largely the result of psychological techniques. The possibility of Godly intervention is not totally excluded, but caution is urged, so as to be aware of extraneous factors that create similar manifestations. While it is agreed that the Toronto Blessing can be seen as an expression of spirituality in a broad sense, nevertheless it cannot be viewed as an expression of Christian spirituality in the Charismatic Movement. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / D. Th. (Christian Spirituality)

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-21T14:49:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Maria Ines Skavronski.pdf: 7035423 bytes, checksum: 82a34065ee06277acde324a2665e208e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-12-02 / This research reveals the tensions and conflicts over the maintenance of ethnic identity from the transformations of the blessing rituals, social and religion practices taking as a starting point the Ukrainian descendants in the town of Prudentópolis. Such sacred rituals, which take place throughout the liturgical calendar of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church of Byzantine ritual, are practices strongly loaded with symbols and meanings. Gestures, symbols, songs of praise, celebrations and rituals of blessing water, houses, candles, boughs, food, the deceased, fruit, flowers, plantations and harvests, that take place on days which the Ukrainians consider hallowed, are part of a set of conceptions inherited by the Ukrainian descendants, and re-meant in the areas they occupied during the process of immigration. The rite presents a religious dimension because it assumes a symbolic and transcendental character, and also reaffirms the ethnic identity of its participants because it is an action, a communicative moment constitutive of a vision of the world that sustains a set of relations among individuals. In this context, both, the identity construction and the construction of difference, are defined by the social relations based on speeches and language, always immersed in relations of power. Thereby, from a conception of identity understood as tension between the “self” and the “other”, between local and global, between speech and practice, between being and not being, the present work analyses, from oral history, the reformulation and the reaffirmation of the Ukrainian ethnic identity tightened by the translations of the liturgy and the blessing rituals from the Ukrainian language into the Portuguese language between the years 1990 and 2014. / Esta pesquisa revela as tensões e os conflitos em torno da manutenção da identidade étnica a partir das transformações dos rituais de bênçãos, práticas religiosas e sociais dos descendentes de ucranianos do Município de Prudentópolis. Esses rituais sagrados, que ocorrem durante o calendário litúrgico da Igreja Greco Católica Ucraniana de Rito Bizantino são práticas fortemente carregadas de simbologia e significados. Gestos, símbolos, cantos, celebrações e rituais de bênçãos da água, da casa, das velas, dos ramos, dos alimentos, dos falecidos, dos frutos, das flores, das lavouras e das colheitas, que ocorrem em dias por eles considerados santificados, fazem parte de um conjunto de concepções herdadas pelos descendentes de ucranianos e ressignificadas nas áreas que ocuparam durante o processo de imigração. O rito apresenta uma dimensão religiosa por assumir um caráter simbólico e transcendental e também reafirma a identidade étnica de seus participantes por ser uma ação, um momento comunicativo e constitutivo de uma visão do mundo que sustenta um conjunto de relações entre indivíduos. Nesse contexto, tanto a construção identitária quanto a construção da diferença são definidas pelas relações sociais baseadas nos discursos e na linguagem sempre imersas em relações de poder. Assim, a partir de uma concepção de identidade compreendida como tensão entre o “eu” e o “outro”, entre o local e o global, entre o discurso e a prática, entre o tradicional e o moderno, entre o ser e o não ser, o presente trabalho analisa, a partir da história oral, a reformulação e a reafirmação da identidade étnica ucraniana tensionada pelas traduções da liturgia e dos rituais de bênçãos do idioma ucraniano para a língua portuguesa entre os anos de 1990 a 2014.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:48:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Sergio Bezerra da Silva.pdf: 1521293 bytes, checksum: 9f967973b5f62862a9f60d3081c963c0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-08-30 / Fundo Mackenzie de Pesquisa / This research is intended to reflect the influence of the Sacred in the social transformation of children and adolescents in social risk arising from the temporary or permanent removal of Justice or by the Guardian Council held in the City of the Child, a project of AEBVB (Valley of Blessing), located in the municipality of Araçariguama, state of São Paulo, Brazil. At first we present the story of the founding of the Evangelical Associa-tion BENIFICENTE VALLEY OF BLESSING and its founders, placing his mem-bership in the Evangelical Brazilian context, presenting projects, activities, structure and recognition by authorities and civil society. The second aim was to analyze the work done specifically in the City of the Child, which presented a proposal of work, activities, expected results and through semi-structured interviews can analyze the evidence. In third place are addressed concepts of Sacred, in the daily lives of children and adolescents in the Valley of Blessing and its influence on epistemological formation transforming children and adolescents in a national consciousness through a Christian worldview, restoring family values, ethics and morality. This reflection part of its history and work proposal, the activities of the Child in the City, results, and through interviews with internal staff and the influ-ence of the Sacred in everyday life and training of the child, as well as the so-cialization of adolescents. Finally, through the analysis of results can confirm the influence of reli-gion in the transformation of children and adolescents at risk of social redeem-ing values, moral, ethical, family, whipping a possible marginalization. / Esta pesquisa tem como propósito refletir a influência do sagrado na transformação social de crianças e adolescentes em situação de risco social, oriundas da destituição provisória ou definitiva por parte da Justiça ou Conse-lho Tutelar, na Cidade da Criança, um dos projetos da AEBVB (Associação Educacional e Beneficente Vale da Bênção), localizado no município de Araçariguama, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. No primeiro momento apresentamos a história da fundação da AEBVB e de seus fundadores, no contexto evangélico brasileiro, com projetos, ações, estrutura e seu reconhecimento perante autoridades e sociedade civil. Em seguida, buscou-se analisar o trabalho realizado especificamente na Cidade da Criança, com a apresentação de propostas de trabalho, ativida-des e resultados esperados. Os depoimentos foram analisados através de entrevistas semiestruturadas. Em um terceiro momento, são abordados o conceito de sagrado, a vi-vência no cotidiano das crianças e adolescentes no Vale da Bênção e sua influência na formação epistemológica transformando a criança e adolescente em um cidadão consciente através de uma cosmovisão cristã, resgatando valo-res familiar, ético e moral. Esta reflexão parte de sua história e proposta de tra-balho, das atividades na Cidade da Criança, dos resultados, e através de entrevistas com internos e funcionários a influência do sagrado no cotidiano e na formação da criança, bem como a socialização do adolescente. Finalmente, através da análise de resultados, pode-se confirmar a influência da religião na transformação de crianças e adolescentes em situação de risco social, resgatando valores morais, éticos e familiares e minimizando a possibilidade de marginalização.

λειτουργία denotes all the religious acts and activities of worship performed by Christians during the worship service and in life. The aim of this study was to determine the nature of the interactive relationship between the liturgy of the worship service and the liturgy of a Scripture driven life. The central theoretical argument of the study was that this relationship is dynamic and transforming. Basic theoretical perspectives were formulated in Section A. The comprehensive conclusion attained in this section was that the liturgy of the worship service and the liturgy of life is an undividable unit consisting of differentiate elements. Meta-theoretical perspectives were formulated in Section B. These principles were drawn from research done relating to postmodernism, the effects of the post-94 transformation in South Africa on previously advantaged South African Christians and empirical research. The perspectives indicated that the praxis of life impacted directly on the liturgy of the worship service. The conclusions reached in both Sections A and B lead to the final conclusion that the nature of the interactive relationship between the liturgy of the worship service and the liturgy of life is dynamic and transforming. It was further indicated by the research that the interactive relationship between the liturgy of the worship service and the liturgy of life reflected the broken reality of our sin-corrupted world. Hence an adjusted practical theory and accompanying practical theoretical model were developed to aid the alignment of the praxis as indicated by the meta-theoretical perspectives with the Scriptural ideal purported by the basis theoretical principles. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Liturgics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

λειτουργία denotes all the religious acts and activities of worship performed by Christians during the worship service and in life. The aim of this study was to determine the nature of the interactive relationship between the liturgy of the worship service and the liturgy of a Scripture driven life. The central theoretical argument of the study was that this relationship is dynamic and transforming. Basic theoretical perspectives were formulated in Section A. The comprehensive conclusion attained in this section was that the liturgy of the worship service and the liturgy of life is an undividable unit consisting of differentiate elements. Meta-theoretical perspectives were formulated in Section B. These principles were drawn from research done relating to postmodernism, the effects of the post-94 transformation in South Africa on previously advantaged South African Christians and empirical research. The perspectives indicated that the praxis of life impacted directly on the liturgy of the worship service. The conclusions reached in both Sections A and B lead to the final conclusion that the nature of the interactive relationship between the liturgy of the worship service and the liturgy of life is dynamic and transforming. It was further indicated by the research that the interactive relationship between the liturgy of the worship service and the liturgy of life reflected the broken reality of our sin-corrupted world. Hence an adjusted practical theory and accompanying practical theoretical model were developed to aid the alignment of the praxis as indicated by the meta-theoretical perspectives with the Scriptural ideal purported by the basis theoretical principles. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Liturgics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Originally presented as the author's Thesis (doctoral)--Universität Wien, 1995. / Includes summary in English. Includes bibliographical references (p. 386-416) and index.

Originally presented as the author's Thesis (doctoral)--Universität Wien, 1995. / Includes summary in English. Includes bibliographical references (p. 386-416) and index.

Thesis (DTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation seeks to develop further the theological interpretation of the books of Samuel, by examining I Samuel I: 1-2:10 in the context of fertility and barrenness as blessing and curse. This reading was related to the Karanga understanding of fertility and barrenness. The contribution shows how the Biblical narrative can become a resource for ethical reflection in African communities such as the Karanga women. The hypotheses that guided this study, were that: a-Fertility and barrenness in the Old Testament should be understood in close conjunction with blessing and cursing as theological concepts in ancient Israel. b-Fertility and barrenness could also be examined in a relevant and contextual manner by relating it to the culture and understanding of the Karanga people. In order to achieve this, two major tasks were attempted. One: An exegesis of I Samuel I: 12: 10 in which Vernon Robbins' method of Socio- Rhetorical criticism was used. The method helped to identify that the text is a narrative, and that the author might have been the Deuteronomistic historian, who wrote in the period of the decline of the Judean monarchy and when the Jews were in exile. The narrative is used to tell about the despair of the Jews, and to inform the Jews that there was hope for restoration if they obeyed God. This ideology is woven in the story of a barren woman Hannah who suffered the despair of barrenness and was later blessed with a child because of her prayer and obedience to God. In the narrative God is described as one who cares for the marginalised, and one who changes the lives of his people, from curse to blessing. The method also helped to realise tbe culture and context of Hannah, and made it possible to relate this culture and context to other cultures that are similar. Secondly an empirical survey was conducted amongst one hundred Karanga women. The findings were that Karanga consider fertility as blessing and barrenness as curse. The curse is experienced in the suffering of the barren women. Barrenness is used to inflict pain, to marginalise women, and has become a major cause of divorce and death through the spread of HIV and Aids. A reading of the story of Hannah helped the Karanga women to identify their barren problems with Hannah, and to find a new way of understanding their own problem in terms of hope. This study was able to prove its hypothesis both through the exegesis and the discussions of the research findings. It was found that the narrative form of the text appealed effectively to the understanding of Karanga women. This was possible because narrative is one of the methods of communication that is used effectively by the Karanga in their language. Through using Hannah as a paradigm of curse and blessing in relation to barrenness and fertility, Karanga women were challenged to view their barren situations in a different way that is open to accept change from curse to blessing. The study has also contributed to see how an old text of the time of Hannah could in the present day contextually influence Karanga women's barren experiences through holding the same culture and also by having similar experiences barren of women. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie dissertasie poog om die teologiese interpretasie van die boeke van Samuel verder te ontwikkel by wyse van 'n ondersoek van I Samuel 1:1-2:10 in die konteks van vrugbaarheid en onvrugbaarheid as 'n seën en as 'n vervloeking. Hierdie ondersoek verwys na die Karangabevolking se begrip van vrugbaarheid en onvrugbaarheid. Die bydrae toon aan hoe die Bybelse verhaal 'n bron vir etiese nadenke onder Afrika-gemeenskappe, soos die Karangavroue, kan word. Die hipoteses wat hierdie studie gerig het, was dat: a-Vrugbaarheid en onvrugbaarheid in die Ou Testament behoort begryp te word in 'n noue verbintenis met seën en vervloeking as teologiese begrippe in antieke Israel. b-Vrugbaarheid en onvrugbaarheid kan ook ondersoek word in 'n relevante en kontekstuele wyse deur dit te verbind met die kultuur en begrip van die Karanga-mense. Om dit te vermag, is twee hooftake onderneem. Die eerste was 'n eksegese van I Samuel 1: 12: 10 waarin Vernon Robbins se metode van sosioretoriese kritiek aangewend is. Hierdie metode het gehelp om die teks as 'n narratief te identifiseer en dat die skrywer die Deuteronomiese historikus kon gewees het, wat in die periode van die monargie van Juda geskryf het en ook tydens die Jode se ballingskap. Die narratief word gebruik om aan te toon hoe wanhopig die Jode was en om hulle in te lig dat daar hoop op hul herstel was indien hulle God gehoorsaam. Hierdie ideologie is verweef in die verhaal van die onvrugbare vrou, Hanna, wat aan die wanhoop van onvrugbaarheid gely het en later met 'n kind geseën is op grond van haar gebede en gehoorsaamheid aan God. In die narratief word God as die een beskryf wat na die gemarginaliseerdes omsien en wat die lewens van sy mense vanaf vervloeking tot seën omvorm. Die metode het ook meegehelp om die kultuur en konteks van Hanna te begryp en dit moontlik gemaak om hierdie kultuur en konteks te verklaar ingevolge die van ander soortgelyke kulture. Tweedens is 'n empiriese studie onder 'n honderd Karanga-vroue onderneem. Die bevindinge was dat Karanga-vroue vrugbaarheid as 'n seën en onvrugbaarheid as 'n vervloeking beskou. Die vervloeking word in die lyding van die onvrugbare vroue ervaar. Onvrugbaarheid word aangewend om pyn en lyding te veroorsaak, om vroue te marginaliseer en het 'n belangrike bron van egskeiding en dood deur die verspreiding van HIV en Vigs geword. Deur die verhaal van Hanna te lees, het die Karanga-vroue gehelp om hul eie onvrugbaarheidsprobleme met die van Hanna te identifiseer en om nuwe wyses te vind om hul eie probleme te verstaan in terme van hoop. Hierdie studie was in staat om sy hipoteses te bewys sowel by wyse van die eksegese en ook deur die bespreking van die navorsingsbevindings. Dit is bevind dat die narratiewe vorm van die teks duidelik tot die begrip van die Karanga-vroue gespreek het. Dit was moontlik aangesien 'n verhalende trant een van die kommunikasiewyses is wat doeltreffend deur Karanga-vroue aangewend word in hul taal. Deur Hanna as 'n paradigma van vervloeking en as seën te gebruik met verwysing tot onvrugbaarheid en vrugbaarheid, is Karanga-vroue uitgedaag om hul beskouing van hul onvrugbare toestand op verskillende wyses te betrag wat oop is om 'n verandering te aanvaar vanaf vervloeking tot seën. Die studie het ook daartoe bygedra om te sien hoe 'n ou teks uit die tyd van Hanna tans kontekstueel die Karanga-vroue se onvrugbaarheidservarings kan beinvloed waar hulle uit 'n soortgelyke kultuur kom en ook soortgelyke ervarings as Hanna het as onvrugbare vroue.