Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / Reconstruction theology is widely regarded as one of the most influential approaches to contemporary African Christian theology – alongside others such as inculturation theology, liberation theology, African women’s theology, evangelical theology and Pentecostal theology. In this thesis I offer a critical assessment of one of the main exponents of such reconstruction theology, namely the Kenyan theologian Jesse Mugambi. I explore the question of how his position on the notion of reconstruction should be understood. One point of entry into understanding Mugambi’s views on reconstruction is to explore his position on the relationship between the church and the coming reign of God. In the history of Christianity this relationship has been understood in widely divergent ways. The task of this thesis will therefore be to examine, position, analyse and assess Mugambi’s particular view in this regard. This will be done on the basis of a close reading of Mugambi’s publications such as African Christian Theology: an Introduction (1989), From Liberation to Reconstruction: African Christian Theology after the Cold War (1995), Christian Theology and Social Reconstruction (2003), and numerous chapters in publications by African theologians.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Mudanças significativas em âmbito global, nos anos 90, repercutiram sobre a Teologia da Libertação (TdL). No capítulo um são apresentadas as análises de três teólogos brasileiros bastante representativos (C. Boff, L. Boff e H. Assmann). A partir de suas respectivas sínteses teológicas e pessoais, eles indicam qual é o perfil teológico mais adequado para o novo momento histórico. Neste capítulo é analisada, ainda, a hipótese de uma mudança de paradigma na TdL, como resposta à crise experimentada. Constata-se que esta fase se caracteriza pela pluralidade de paradigmas em coexistência. No capítulo dois constatamos que, em meio aos novos cenários dos anos 90, a teologia latino-americana opera importantes desdobramentos e deslocamentos de ordem metodológica e epistemológica. Estes são devidamente registrados e analisados neste capítulo. No terceiro e conclusivo capítulo, explicitamos a tese de que as mudanças previamente identificadas não podem ser, na sua totalidade, subsumidas dentro do paradigma original da TdL. Observa-se que esta nova fase se caracteriza por um novo pluralismo teológico, que exige a vigência de um (macro)paradigma ecumênico crítico. De um lado, diante do pluralismo, rejeitamos a perspectiva da fragmentação teológica. De outro lado, em face à exigência da unidade, negamos qualquer solução que busca diluir ou harmonizar as diferenças. Por isso, indicamos que o paradigma mais adequado para a reflexão teológica atual é o ecumênico crítico. Ele promove a coexistência plural e a mútua fecundação entre os distintos enfoques. / Significant changes at global level in the 90s have had their effect upon Liberation Theology in Latin America. Chapter one of this thesis presents the analyses of three representative Brazilian theologians (C. Boff, L. Boff, H. Assmann). From their own personal and theological perspectives, they indicate what are the most appropriated theological outlines for Latin American theology at this historical moment. In this chapter I also deal with the hypothesis of a paradigm shift in Liberation Theology as an answer to the crisis experienced. It is observed that this period is characterized by a plurality of paradigms in coexistence. In chapter two I try to show that, in the midst of the new scenarios of the 90s, Latin-American theology reveals important developments and dislocations both of methodological and epistemological nature. These are described and analyzed in this chapter. In the third and conclusive chapter, I sustain the thesis that the changes previously identified cannot be, in their totality, subsumed within the original paradigm of Liberation Theology. It is observed that this new phase is characterized by a new theological pluralism which requires an ecumenical critical (macro)paradigm. On the one hand, in what concerns pluralism, we reject the perspective of theological fragmentation. On the other hand, in what concerns the demands for unity, any solution is denied which seeks to skip or to harmonize the differences. The contention is that an ecumenical critical paradigm is the most appropriate for ongoing theological reflection. This paradigm promotes the plural coexistence and a mutual fertilization between the distinctive perspectives.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2016-07-15T17:54:19Z No. of bitstreams: 1 nilotavaressilva.pdf: 18219670 bytes, checksum: 9f855a66e431717beaca49eccff8d09d (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2016-07-22T14:58:12Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 nilotavaressilva.pdf: 18219670 bytes, checksum: 9f855a66e431717beaca49eccff8d09d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-22T14:58:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 nilotavaressilva.pdf: 18219670 bytes, checksum: 9f855a66e431717beaca49eccff8d09d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-24 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O presente trabalho objetiva captar os sentidos atribuídos pelos fiéis da Convenção Batista Brasileira ao que se convencionou chamar de Ecumenismo. Baseando-nos na abordagem teórica das representações sociais, fundamentada por Serge Moscovici e Denise Jodelet, em nosso trabalho partimos de uma preocupação que norteou toda a pesquisa. Centramos estudos em conhecer melhor, a partir do princípio que caracteriza a representação como uma forma de saber prático ligando um sujeito a um objeto, o que\como pensam os (as) fiéis da Igreja batista, “a partir do seu lugar”, sobre a prática ecumênica. Entendemos que as práticas estabelecidas pelos fiéis pesquisados inserem-se em tempos-espaços não cristalizados, sujeito às dinâmicas sócio-culturais que, ora seguem, ora modificam, ora transgridem as regras estabelecidas por atores hegemônicos (Instituições, mercado, e outros). Através dos questionários, buscamos captar aspectos aventados pelos participantes, relacionados aos processos constituintes de suas representações, ou seja, como as relações estabelecidas pelos mesmos na articulação de sua conduta como fiéis da Igreja batista e a prática ecumênica, se constituem através dos processos de objetivação e ancoragem. / The study aimed to investigate the meanings referred by the faithful of the Brazilian Baptist Convention to the notion of ecumenism. The adopted theoretical framework was the Theory of Social Representations proposed by Serge Moscovici and Denise Jodelet. We focus studies to better know from the principle that characterizes the representation as a form of practical knowledge linking an individual to an object, which \ like to think (the) Baptist Church's faithful, "from its place" on the ecumenical practice. We supposed that the established practices raise and flourish in a non-crystallized space-time continuum, influenced by sociocultural dynamics that may follow, disobey or change rules defined by hegemonic agents (institutions, market, and other). Using questionnaires specifically developed for the study, we searched to assess opinions related elaborated by them are defined in the articulation of established by them in the articulation of his conduct as a faithful Baptist Church and ecumenical practice by means of the “objetivation” and “anchior” process.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2016-07-22T12:27:51Z No. of bitstreams: 1 vitordelimacampanha.pdf: 1045395 bytes, checksum: dd72339bb5761f1930d74bf3ff918598 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2016-07-22T15:42:06Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 vitordelimacampanha.pdf: 1045395 bytes, checksum: dd72339bb5761f1930d74bf3ff918598 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-22T15:42:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 vitordelimacampanha.pdf: 1045395 bytes, checksum: dd72339bb5761f1930d74bf3ff918598 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-17 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar e analisar como conteúdos tradicionalmente cristãos/católicos são rearticulados dentro de interpretações e práticas new age. O estudo busca entender as articulações e tensões entre Nova Era e cristianismo partindo do pensamento de Trigueirinho Netto, autor de dezenas de livros sobre espiritualidade e esoterismo, com conteúdos que vão de vida em outros planetas até reinterpretações da crucificação de Cristo. Trigueirinho é fundador de uma comunidade alternativa rural, a Comunidade Figueira, e um dos fundadores da Ordem Graça Misericórdia, idealizada em conjunto com autointitulados freis e madres videntes, a pedido de Nossa Senhora. Além da comunidade alternativa, grupos de seguidores urbanos acompanham palestras dos líderes e aparições de Maria via internet. Assim, a dissertação baseia-se na análise da cosmologia de Trigueirinho, da Ordem Graça Misericórdia, em duas etnografias: a primeira, sobre o grupo urbano de seguidores e a segunda, on-line, sobre a celebração de aparição de Maria promovida pela ordem. / This dissertation aims to present and analyze how traditionally Christian/Catholic contents are re-articulated within interpretations and New Age practices. The study seeks to understand the joints and tensions between New Age and Christianity, starting from the thought of Trigueirinho Netto, author of dozens of books on spirituality and esotericism, with content ranging from life on other planets to reinterpretations of Christ's crucifixion. Trigueirinho is the founder of a rural alternative community, the Comunidade Figueira, and the founder of the Ordem Graça Misericórdia, created in conjunction with friars and nuns seers at the request of Our Lady. In addition to the alternative community, urban groups of followers accompanying lectures of leaders and apparitions of Mary through the internet. Thus, the dissertation is based on the analysis of Trigueirinho cosmology, the Ordem Graça Misericórdia, by two ethnographies: the first, on the urban group of followers, and the second, on-line, on Mary's appearance celebration.

The thesis explores the manner and extent of World Council of Churches activities that reflect the obligation in its original constitution to develop ecumenical consciousness among the members of the churches. The study explores the possible original meaning of ecumenical consciousness and the implications of widening understandings of ecumenism and develops a working definition of ecumenical consciousness. That definition is seen as having particular significance not only for the structures and activities of the WCC but for the ecumenical movement as a whole. Social movement analysis is used to seek to understand better the nature of the ecumenical movement and its relationship to the World Council. Whilst not completely identifying the ecumenical movement as a social movement, it is suggested that an understanding of participation, the framing of issues of contention and the purposes of social movement organisations can all contribute fruitfully to understanding the ecumenical movement. This perspective leads to questions about whose ecumenical consciousness needs to be addressed and about cognitive and emotional mobilisation. These questions provide a framework for engaging with the stated understandings of the educational and formational activity of the World Council from its foundation to the Porto Alegre Assembly in 2006. From the Library and Archives of the World Council, the research draws on the official documents of Assemblies and Central Committee meetings and perhaps, more significantly, on reports of less high profile consultations and papers of staff discussions. Because of the way in which the World Council operates, this historical analysis is divided into the periods between Assemblies. The conclusion reached is that periods of creative thinking about people’s involvement and participation which might lead to the formation of ecumenical consciousness have alternated with reversions to more formal processes of teaching about the ecumenical movement. The expectations of the member churches of the World Council have been directed more towards being supported in their separateness than being challenged ecumenically. The demands of particular issues (ecclesiological and justice/peace) have led to a greater concentration on content rather than process. The value of ecumenical experience has been recognised but not always the necessity of learning through reflection on that experience. It is suggested that these and other tensions have resulted in the World Council being unable to benefit from the potential of an ecumenically conscientised constituency. The thesis concludes with a chapter considering the implications of these conclusions for the future work of the World Council, arguing that, both for its own good and that of the ecumenical movement, it needs to work to develop an ecumenical consciousness in the people of its whole constituency as well as in the institutional churches and their leaders.

As the church is moving towards its 21st century of existence, it is confronted by challenges it has never known before. Globalization, the rise of different socio-political orders and a growing tendency towards a post-modern understanding of the world are but some of the issues. This changing world demands self-reflection from the church. It has to consider its place, identity and function, thereby giving rise to the exploration of its mission. In this thesis, the ecclesiology of Karl Barth is explored. By considering Barth’s understanding of the church’s relationship with different parties such as God, other religions, those outside the Christian faith, the State and its own inner dynamics, the church will be reminded of its missionary function in the world. The church’s relationships are important for they direct the way in which it fits into the world. When it considers that it exists purely because of God’s self-revelation, and that its own existence is an act of faith in response to this divine self-disclosure, it becomes aware of defined parameters within which the church can operate under the banner of mission. Mission is therefore much bigger than the notion of evangelism, which is one part of the church’s role. Where evangelism concerns the physical activity of the church’s proclamation, its mission describes its identity and function in bearing testimony to its Lord. Identity and function are not self-generated characteristics and neither is mission. Karl Barth has given a tremendous gift by exploring the Christian faith, the God whom it serves, the church within which it operates, and the world that it exists in. It is the author’s belief that no other work is as comprehensive and descriptive of the church’s place, both in relation to God and the world. This thesis explores this gift and searches for answers concerning the church’s mission that will be helpful and relevant in today’s world. This is necessary if the church seeks to be relevant and effective, speaking to new challenges, and a new World 129. Copyright 2007, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. Please cite as follows: Bentley, W 2007, The notion of mission in Karl Barth's ecclesiology, PhD thesis, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-10162007-151230 / > / Thesis (PhD (Dogmatics and Christian Ethics))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Dogmatics and Christian Ethics / unrestricted

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2016-01-22T18:31:57Z No. of bitstreams: 1 romimarciabencke.pdf: 1848276 bytes, checksum: c53572cdff6d9e8b2714277782ce7730 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2016-01-25T18:56:46Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 romimarciabencke.pdf: 1848276 bytes, checksum: c53572cdff6d9e8b2714277782ce7730 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-01-25T18:56:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 romimarciabencke.pdf: 1848276 bytes, checksum: c53572cdff6d9e8b2714277782ce7730 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-01-28 / A partir da Teoria da Modernização desenvolvida por Inglehart e Welzel (2009), que chama atenção para a relevância dos valores sociais no desenvolvimento humano busca-se testar a hipótese de que existe uma relação entre ecumenismo e valores de autoexpressão. Partindo dos conceitos de valores sociais (autoexpressão e sobrevivência), ecumenismo e modernidade, a coleta de dados para a dissertação consistiu em uma pesquisa documental em uma organização ecumênica e duas igrejas protestantes, bem como um survey com agentes eclesiais de uma destas igrejas. Os resultados do survey, assim como a análise dos documentos suportam a relação positiva entre o ecumenismo e valores sociais vinculados ao desenvolvimento humano emancipador. A partir dos achados da dissertação, pode-se afirmar que o ecumenismo contribui para que o cristianismo estabeleça um diálogo com a modernidade. / Stemming from Modernization Theory developed by Inglehart and Welzel (2009) which discusses the importance of social values in human development, the thesis puts forward the hypothesis of an existing relationship between ecumenism and self-expression values. By using concepts such as social values (self-expression and survival), ecumenism and modernity, data collection consisted of documentary research in an ecumenical organization and two protestant churches as well as a survey with pastoral agents of one of the protestant churches. Both survey results and the qualitative analysis of documents support the positive relationship between ecumenism and social values related to liberating human development. Based on the findings of this thesis, it can be claimed that ecumenism contributes to Christian dialogue with modernity.

This thesis examines the bilateral ecumenical dialogues of the Old Catholic Churches of the Utrecht Union. After a brief introduction of the Utrecht Union as an ecumenical project and its development, the author discusses the dialogues of the Old Catholic Churches with the Anglican Churches, Orthodox Churches, Roman Catholic Church, Church of Sweden and other associated dialogues. The thesis also includes three excursuses: the concept of mainstream Old Catholic theology, the ecumenical method of differentiated consensus and the concept of differentiated participation, and the specific situation of the dialogue between the Old Catholic and Evangelical churches in Germany. In addition to an overview and the reception of the dialogue on the global level, the paper presents a reflection upon the local situation in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Keywords: Old Catholic Church, Union of Utrecht, ecumenism, bilateral dialogue.

Doctor Theologiae - DTh / Reconstruction theology is widely regarded as one of the most influential approaches to contemporary African Christian theology - alongside others such as inculturation theology, liberation theology, African women's theology, evangelical theology and Pentecostal theology. In this thesis I offer a critical assessment of one of the main exponents of such reconstruction theology, namely the Kenyan theologian Jesse Mugambi. I explore the question of how his position on the notion of reconstruction should be understood. One point of entry into understanding Mugambi's views on reconstruction is to explore his position on the relationship between the church and the coming reign of God. In the history of Christianity this relationship has been understood in widely divergent ways. The task of this thesis will therefore be to examine, position, analyse and assess Mugambi's particular view in this regard. This will be done on the basis of a close reading of Mugambi's publications such as African Christian Theology: an Introduction (1989), From Liberation to Reconstruction: African Christian Theology after the Cold War (1995), Christian Theology and Social Reconstruction (2003), and numerous chapters in publications by African theologians.

No description available.