Thesis (Th. M.)--Dallas Theological Seminary, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-84).

Thesis (M.A.)--Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, 2006. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 148-154).

Thesis (M.A.)--Columbia International University, 2004. / Abstrakt. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 125-131).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Western Conservative Baptist Seminary, 1986. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Westminster Theological Seminary, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 228-232).

Thesis (D. Miss.)--Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, 1993. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 269-283).

This thesis discusses the notion of amicitia in early Christian literature. By examining letters and normative texts ranging from the third to the early fifth century, the study illuminates not only how contemporary authors shaped friendship conceptually but also how these concepts relate to the actual social practice. Typically, scholars confine their reading of Christian friendship to the late antique period. In so doing, they approach amicitia either as a particular kind of relationship performing crucial social functions or as a subject for theorization that followed the example of a longstanding ancient philosophical tradition. Particularly influential has been the view that links amicitia with affection and love. Hence, scholars tend to stress the inclusiveness of friendship. By contrast, my own study focuses on the aspect of exclusion as the necessary by-product of social inclusion processes. Along these lines, amicita is described as existing in a dialectical opposition with its antonym, inimicitia. This approach yielded a number of insights. First, as the study moves into uncharted territory, the examination of third century texts highlights a tradition of amicitia-related thought that reached further back than has previously been assumed. From this, a more nuanced picture of friendship emerges that is not constrained by scholarly established boundaries between different fields of study. Second, the principle of inclusion and exclusion, dividing the world into amici and inimici, has been revealed as a powerful tool in church politics and religious controversy that established sharp boundaries between competing Christian factions. This view, which posits the truth of faith as the necessary prerequisite for friendship, is set off against other contemporary voices that did not make amicitia dependent on a particular religious group affiliation. Third, while disentangling friendship from the question of love, the character of Christian amicitia is viewed against the backdrop of the divine household. Though the conceptual overlap between friendship and kinship is not unique to the Christian tradition, such thinking ties in with an idea of community that builds on the paternity of God. These findings have implications for both the study of ancient friendship and the history of the early church. They improve our understanding of the relation between the conceptualization of amicitia and the actual social practice and moreover offer a deep insight into the social dynamics of contemporary religious controversies.

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie skripsie is 'n verkennende studie in siekepastoraat. Die fokus is op die siektebelewing van die Pedi. Die siek mens leef in 'n spesifieke wereld en verkeer in 'n wrieke situasie. Dit is boonop vir die pastor moeilik om in hierdie leefWereld die sieke se gevoelens te begryp. Meer uitsonderlik is dat dit vir enige pastor moeilik is om die tradisionele beskouing en belewenis van die sieke in sy eie kultuursituasie te verstaan. Daar is egter min materiaal oor die siekte-belewenis van die Pedi beskikbaar aangesien daar oor die algemeen min navorsing gedoen is. Pastorale sorg aan siekes vereis dat kennis geneem moet word van die kulturele agtergrond asook godsdiensbeskouing. Teen hierdie agtergrond is die doel van hierdie studie om 'n raamwerk van die denke van die Pedi-siekes te verkry waarby die siekepastoraat kan aansluit. Met die hu1p van die kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering is daar deur indiepte-onderhoude en deelnemende waameming probeer om 'n raamwerk te verkry van die siek Pedi se ervaring van siekte in 'n tradisionele situasie. Sodoende is gepoog om veertien subjekte se verhale van hul siekte en ongelukke deur middel van kwalitatiewe empiriese navorsing te beskryf Uit al hierdie data was dit moontlik om die respondente se interpretasies in vyfkategoriee in te deel: (a) Agtergrondkennis, (b) die oorsaak van hul siekte, ( c) die belewing van hul siekte, ( d) die bestryding van hul siekte en ( e) die tradisionele siening van siekte en in watter mate daar 'n verskuiwing na Westerse denke plaasgevind het. Daar is bevind dat betekenistoekenning van die meeste respondente grotendeels binne die kulturele raamwerk van die Pedi-tradisie plaasgevind het. Hierdie bevinding is belangrik vir die siekepastoraat aangesien daar by sekere begrippe aansluiting gevind kan word. Die navorser het ook probeer om vanuit die betekenis van die subjekte se belewing van siekte 'n beperkte aantal riglyne vir 'n sensitiewe kultureel georienteerde siekepastoraat te noem. / This study explores the field of pastoral care of the sick within the frame of the sick person's traditional environment. This research study was only directed at the Pedi. Little material exists on the Pedi's experience of sickness because of the general lack of research. Furthermore, pastoral care of the sick demands specific notice of the cultural background as well as their religious views. Bearing this in mind the purpose of this study is to find a frame work of the Pedi's thought to which the pastoral care could be linked. With the help of qualitative methodological research, in depth interviewing, participation and observation the researcher tried to obtain a frame work of the Pedi's experience of sickness within their traditional situation. Through the means of the qualitative emperical research strategy these stories were described. It is found that most respondents emphasise the meaning of their sickness largely within the cultural framework of the Pedi tradition. This is important for pastoral care because on these thoughts pastoral care could link up. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Praktiese Teologie)

Cheung Tang, Chung Kiu Maggie. / Thesis (M.Div.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 66-69). / In English with some Chinese; abstract also in Chinese. / Chapter CHAPTER ONE --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter i. --- Defining the problem --- p.1 / Chapter ii. --- The religious movements --- p.3 / Chapter iii. --- Same characteristics shared among these movements --- p.5 / Chapter iv. --- Discussion on organization --- p.7 / Chapter v. --- Discussion on eschatological view --- p.8 / Chapter CHAPATER TWO --- Millennialism and messianism in Chinese conception --- p.9 / Chapter I. --- Introduction --- p.9 / Chapter II. --- Human-centrism and pessimism in Chinese culture --- p.11 / Chapter III. --- Christian millennialism and messianism in Chinese tradition --- p.13 / Chapter IV. --- Buddhist millennium and messianism in Chinese tradition --- p.15 / Chapter V. --- Taoist millennium and messianism in Chinese tradition --- p.18 / Chapter VI. --- Eschatological concept in Chinese religious understanding --- p.20 / Chapter CHAPTER THREE --- Chinese Religious Movements ´ؤ nature and eschatology --- p.23 / Chapter Part I - --- Movement of the Celestial Master Sect (Tianshi Dao) --- p.23 / Chapter I. --- Introduction --- p.23 / Chapter II. --- The founding of Celestial Master Sect --- p.25 / Chapter III. --- Content of Celestial Master Sect --- p.26 / Chapter IV. --- Organization --- p.28 / Chapter V. --- Eschatological view --- p.28 / Chapter VI. --- Concluding remarks --- p.31 / Chapter Part II - --- Movement of the White Lotus Sect (Bailian Jiao) --- p.33 / Chapter I. --- Introduction --- p.33 / Chapter II. --- The history of White Lotus Sect --- p.34 / Chapter III. --- Content of White Lotus --- p.37 / Chapter IV. --- Eschatological view --- p.40 / Chapter V. --- Concluding remarks --- p.42 / Chapter Part III - --- Movement of the Taping Heavenly Kingdom --- p.43 / Chapter I. --- Introduction --- p.43 / Chapter II. --- The founding of Taiping Heavenly Kingdom --- p.44 / Chapter III. --- Installation and content of Taiping Heavenly Kingdom --- p.47 / Chapter IV. --- Eschatological view --- p.50 / Chapter V. --- Concluding remarks --- p.51 / Chapter CHAPTER FOUR --- A Christian eschatology in Chinese tradition ´ؤ problem and opportunity --- p.54 / Chapter I. --- Denial of the world in Chinese religious tradition --- p.54 / Chapter II. --- Denial of the world in Chinese Christianity --- p.60 / Chapter III. --- Conclusion --- p.63

Thesis (M.A.)--Catholic Theological Union at Chicago, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 126-129).