Thesis (doctoral)--Göteborgs universitet, 2000. / Extra t.p. with thesis statement and English abstract inserted. Includes bibliographical references (p. 213-232).

Thesis (doctoral)--University of Turku, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 209-219) and index.

Thesis (doctoral)--Universität, Basel, 2002/2003. / Includes bibliographical references (p. [305]-330).

Thesis (doctoral)--University of Göteborg, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 272-294).

Originally presented as the author's Thesis (doctoral)--Columbia University. / Includes bibliographical references (p. [258]-294).

Thesis (doctoral)--Göteborgs universitet, 2000. / Extra t.p. with thesis statement and English abstract inserted. Includes bibliographical references (p. 213-232).

Thesis (doctoral) - Universität, Mainz, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references.

The master thesis Identity and location in the novel about South Africa explores the relation between identity of a person, group, culture or nation and location. The objective of this study is to determine how this mutual relation is reflected in the literature. To formulate the main research question: In how far the location where a man is located can determine his identity in the novel about South-Africa? How the relation between identity and location is reflected in Etienne van Heerden's novel Kikoejoe? The theoretical part of the thesis describes the status quaestionis about the topics of identity and location. It determines the meanings that are attributed to those two concepts in the postcolonial discourse. This master thesis makes use of cultural analysis, imagology and deconstruction. The practical part of the thesis applies those theories on the novel Kikoejoe (1996) by the South African author Etienne van Heerden. The analysis explores the relation between plaas, the traditional South African farm, and the Afrikaner identity. Furthermore, this study uses the concept of hybrid identity introduced by the postcolonial theorist Homi K. Bhabha.

Hierdie studie handel oor gemeentebou en kerkgeboue. Die doel van dié studie is om in die lig van gemeenteboubeginsels riglyne vir kerkgeboue binne die Suid-Afrikaanse kerklike opset op die tafel te plaas, wat missionêr in fokus is en dit voor te hou as 'n alternatief ten opsigte van die huidige verstaan oor die in- en oprigting van kerkgeboue. Die metodologie van praktiese teologie word in drie konsepte weergegee, naamlik: verstaan, verklaar en verandering. Hierdie studie fokus op al drie konsepte – uitgedruk as die hermeneutiese verstaan, die empiriese werklikheid en riglyne vir die praktyk. Die hermeneutiese verstaan of teorie is met twee fokuspunte in gedagte nagevors, naamlik: die teologiese perspektief – waarin daar eerstens op die identiteit van die Kerk in Christus en tweedens op die roeping van die Kerk, uitgedruk in die missio Dei en dissipelskap gekonsentreer is. Die tweede fokus is op die Bybelse ideaal – soos dit in die Skrif voorkom, deur teologiese tradisies geïnterpreteer is en hoe die kerk dit histories in sy geboue tot uitdrukking laat kom het. Die tweede konsep is die empiriese meting ten einde te toets en te verklaar in watter mate hierdie hermeneutiese verstaan in die werklikheid, binne die Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika, verdiskonteer is. Die derde konsep konsentreer op die verandering en is nagevors met die oog op die daarstel van teoretiese riglyne vir die praktyk. Hierdie riglyne is verwerk, tesame met wat die Bybel se siening oor die in- en oprigting van kerkgeboue is, sowel as die kerk se historiese verstaan daarvan. Die uiteinde is om nuwe riglyne vir die bedieningspraktyk daar te stel. / Thesis (PhD (Practical Theology))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

When looking at the society of today, we get a picture of a society that has lost hope in their lives. This picture also has an effect on the church. Regarding this phenomenon is the remark of Gerard Dekker that the church has become a fringe phenomenon and that the church has lost contact with the world. The church is in a situation of uncertainty and in a search of identity. The use of symbolism and rituals provides identity and security. When a person is confronted with the meaning of the symbol that is been used, it helps that person to give meaning to its life on to give hope for that person. But for this to happen it is necessary that the symbols are being used correct and from the basis of the Scripture. The main place were the symbols and rituals are being used is in the place of public worship. Therefore it is necessary that we will understand what happens in the public worship and who the person is that comes to the public worship. It is also necessary to look at reasons for the insufficient use of symbols in the public worship. In a study that is being made we find that the most significant aspect on the preaching is the atmosphere that there is in the public worship. The church lives in a time of changes and these changes have an affect on the church and the preaching. The public worship is also a creative process were the role of the Scripture, the traditions and the context are important. When using symbols in the public worship we have to look at the communication theory of Ricoeur. For Ricoeur the narrative plays an important role. The process of understanding is for him a creative process where he makes use of stories, metaphors and symbols. From his communication theory it is important that the listener are included. The use of symbols is for him a help in understanding. The symbols also have a double significance, namely unveiling and concealing. The thesis also shows out the role that the Reformation, the Modernism and the Post Modernism have on a person and the way we understand the Word of God. The use of symbols is helpful in the communication of the Word of God to the Post Modern person. The challenge for the preaching is that the symbols are being used in a manner that the other reality is being communicated to the Post Modern person. The last two chapters of the thesis concentrates on the role that symbols plays in our lives; the characteristic of symbols; the conditions for the use of symbols and the use of symbols and rituals. When it comes to the use of symbols we see that these symbols gives meaning and hope to a person. / Dissertation (MA (Theology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Practical Theology / unrestricted