Naming is a very important tool used among various African cultures to convey certain messages, either to an individual, family members or a community. Naming of various objects is linked with the socio-political factors of countries where anthroponyms and toponyms are found. It is for this reason that onomastics (the study of names) can never be isolated from studying the dynamics of various societies, the behaviour and the psychology of different individuals. While names can unite communities, they can also serve as a dividing tool in various communities. It is from names that one can learn the various cultures that have been present in a particular place, and have an understanding and the appreciation of the history of a place. Onomastics is multidisciplinary in nature. It can be approached from different perspectives. These include linguistic, historical, sociological, philosophical, economical and other perspectives. Chapter two focuses on the linguistic and semantic aspects of names. It explores onomastic definitions and the comparison between the meaning of Euro-western and African names. In Chapter two an argument is presented on the morphological structure of Zulu and/or Xhosa names for boys and girls. In this Chapter the orthography of place names is also discussed. The importance of standardising names for purposes of having one name for one entity and asserting the country's history and heritage cannot be overemphasised. As indicated above that onomastics can also be approached from a historic approach, Chapter 3 looks at the changing political scenario in South Africa that has had an impact on the culture of indigenous people, their identity and the existence of Euro-western names among them. The arrival of white people in South Africa contaminated the indigenous culture and the African belief systems. The traditional belief system of the indigenous people is discussed in Chapter three together with the advent of Christianity. Chapter four looks at the sociological approach in onomastics. Names of any nature exist in a society. These names reflect the social dynamics of the societies where they are found. The society plays a major role in influencing the choice of names given to individuals and entities. These names have different functions in societies. The different functions that names have in various communities are also discussed. In Chapter four the significance of anthroponyms and toponyms is discussed. Various types of names are also looked at. Political changes witnessed in the country play a major role in transforming the country whether economically, culturally or socially. The impact of political changes and the attitudes of South Africans towards name changes are discussed in Chapter five. President Thabo Mbeki's call for an African renaissance came at the time when South Africa attained its independence. The adoption of African names was on the increase during this period. Chapter six looks at the link between changing naming patterns and the African renaissance. As an African renaissance calls for the rebirth of African culture and ways of living, xenophobic attitudes among Africans are examined. It is argued that Africa's rebirth is dependant on various issues including the respect and value that Africans give each other. Onomastics, as mentioned above can be studied using different approaches, however the limitedness of this study prevents discussion on all approaches. Onomastics is a relatively new field in South Africa, however its multidisciplinary nature and the abundance of data, invites more studies to be conducted. Chapter seven makes recommendations on some of the onomastic studies that may be conducted in future. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.

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The thesis links African Theology with three notions: identity, mission and empowerment. Out of this linkage arise three interrelated themes that dominate the thesis. Firstly, different African theologies can be read as different modes of the quest for identity. The thesis demonstrates how the quest for identity in African Theology fits into political, philosophical, religious and other quests for identity in Africa, which are driven by historical factors such as the slave trade, imperialism, colonialism and neocolonialism. The responses of inculturation and liberation theologies to these historical factors of disempowerment leads to the conclusion that being Christian can be both liberating and fully compatible with being African. Secondly, the quest for identity in African Theology properly belongs to the notion of mission understood as missio Dei. This conclusion is derived from an examination of critical aspects of missio Dei. These include determining the purposes of missio Dei as being the restoration of the imago Dei and the salvation and liberation of humankind. The conclusion is also derived from acknowledging that missio Dei is effected through missiones ecclesiae and missio hominum. Thirdly, constructing mission as missio Dei leads to the notion of the quest for identity as a mission of empowerment and an empowerment for mission. A multidiscipline theoretical framework of empowerment leads to a stipulation of ways in which African theology, through a quest for identity, is empowering or can empower its interlocutors. At the same time the mission of empowerment becomes an empowerment for mission. This is especially significant in the light ofthe acknowledged southward shift in Christianity's centre of gravity. That shift implies African Christianity having a missionary responsibility that extends to the rest of the world. The quest for identity in African Theology is fraught with ambiguities, dilemmas and risks. But this is a price various African theologies are willing to pay in order both to help uplift the historically disadvantaged Africans and also to secure the future of Christianity on the continent. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2002.

A juventude na sociedade contemporânea tem assumido uma postura em relação ao sagrado e a religiosidade bem diferente da religião institucionalizada. Nesta pesquisa busca-se identificar algumas características da formação da identidade religiosa dos jovens, diante de um campo religioso cada vez mais plural, em uma cultura globalizada e consumista. Observa-se que é comum entre a juventude o trânsito religioso, uma flutuação entre denominações e sistemas, buscando construir a sua estrutura de sentido. Diante da forte influência da subjetividade em relação às escolhas religiosas, a religião torna-se "invisível", porque se localiza na subjetividade dos indivíduos que agora têm que construir a sua estrutura de sentido, caracterizando-se como identidades sempre mais provisórias e nômades / Youth in contemporary society has taken a position in relation to the holy and to the religiosity completely different from established religion. This research intends to identify some characteristics on formation of religious identity of youth faced with a religious field more and more plural in a global and consumption culture. We notice that is usual among youth the religious traffic, a floating between denominations and systems searching to build their structure of meaning. Faced with the strong influence of subjectivity in relation to the religious choices, the religion become "invisible" because it is located in the subjectivity of the person who has to build now its structure of meaning described always much more provisional and nomad

A presente dissertação tem como objetivo geral identificar pensamentos e sentimentos das pessoas ante a morte, buscando compreender como esta crise interfere na identidade religiosa do adulto. O trabalho visa identificar como a crise ante a morte interfere na reconfiguração da identidade religiosa dos adultos pesquisados bem como averiguar se dentre os sentimentos elencados surgem medos relacionados à morte e a situação pós-morte. Esta pesquisa usa a abordagem qualitativa dos dados, sobretudo por não se pretender generalizar resultados. A partir desta perspectiva, utiliza-se o método fenomenológico, com o propósito de identificar os significados dos sentimentos vividos pelos adultos, diante da crise ante a morte. Para alcançar os objetivos propostos, o instrumento da coleta de dados é a entrevista semi-estruturada, baseando-se em duas perguntas norteadoras. A amostra consta de doze sujeitos com idade entre cinqüenta e quatro e noventa anos que se declaram pertencendo à religião católica, espírita, evangélica, sem religião definida e alguns que se auto-atribuíram denominações religiosas novas, criadas no momento da própria entrevista. Com os dados em mãos, faz-se a análise qualitativa das vivências e representações, buscando delimitar e descrever fenomenologicamente o conteúdo das entrevistas em unidades de significados, confrontando-as com as teorias embasadoras. Os resultados das análises demonstram que os adultos que vivenciam uma situação de crise ante a morte, tendem a questionar os seus valores religiosos, desenvolvendo algumas atitudes que se refletem em um movimento de reconfiguração de suas identidades religiosas: uns retraindo-se, distanciando-se ou rompendo completamente com os laços afetivos que os ligam as instituições religiosas de origem, outros, de modo contrário, aproximam-se e intensificam as suas relações com suas instituições ou grupos religiosos. E ainda outros, afastando-se fazem do seu lar, um lugar sagrado e passam de um tipo de fé herdada, para um tipo de fé pessoal, íntima, que se reflete no seu cotidiano, donde se pode concluir que o confronto com a morte, ocasiona uma crise de natureza psicoespiritual / The present report has the objective to identify thoughts and feelings of people toward death, searching to understand how this crisis interferes in the adult religious identity. The essay aims to identify how crisis facing death interferes in the religious identity reconfiguration of researched adults, as well as, to find out if among those feelings there is a fear related to death and the after death situation. This research uses a qualitative approach of data, once, one does not intend to generalize results. It is used the phenomenological method from this perspective, to identify the meaning of feelings undergone by adults due to death crisis. We collect data from semi-structured interviews with two main questions for the proposed objectives. The sample is of twelve persons from 54 to 90 years old, that say to be Catholic Spirit, Evangelic, no defined Religion and some self-defined with new religious denominations, created at the moment of the interview. The qualitative analysis of experiences and representations is carried out with the data seeking to delimitate the interview content phenomenological description in meaning units, to confront them with based upon theories. The results of the analysis show that adults go through crisis situation when facing death, they tend to question their religious values, developing attitudes that are reflected in their religious identity reconfiguration: some of them withdrawing themselves or completely breaking the affective ties that link them to their religious institutions, others, differently, get closer and intensify ones relations with those institutions or religious groups. And others at home have a holy place, going from the inherited faith to an inner faith, that it is reflected in daily life, so, one can conclude that, an existential crisis happens, when facing death

A base de referência desta dissertação é a Comissão de Ensino Religioso do estado do Rio Grande do Norte (CER-RN) nos seus 39 anos de existência. Nesse percurso, buscou-se compreender como a instituição estudada faz surgir as ressonâncias do sagrado nas entrelinhas dos eixos temáticos previstos nos Parâmetros Curriculares Nacionais do Ensino Religioso (PCNER). A pesquisa valeu-se de consultas a fontes documentais da Secretaria Estadual de Educação, do estudo dos subsídios produzidos pelo Fórum Nacional Permanente do Ensino Religioso (FONAPER) e de entrevistas com membros da comissão. O sagrado aparece como uma dimensão humana capaz de inspirar o desabrochar de atitudes como temperança, prudência, tolerância, resistência e perseverança, sabedorias necessárias à formação do sujeito responsável. / La base de referencia de esta tesis es la Comissão de Ensino Religioso del estado de Rio Grande do Norte (CER-RN) en sus 39 años de existencia. En el curso del trabajo, se ha buscado comprender como la institución investigada hace surgir las resonancias del sagrado ente las líneas de los ejes temáticos previstos en los Parâmetros Curriculares Nacionais do Ensino Religioso (PCNER). La investigación utilizó como referencial metodológico consultas a fuentes documentales de la Secretaria Estadual de Educação, estudio de los subsidios producidos por el Fórum Nacional Permanente do Ensino Religioso (FONAPER) y entrevistas con miembros de la comisión. El sagrado aparece como una dimensión humana capaz de inspirar el florecer de actitudes como templanza, prudencia, tolerancia, resistencia y perseverancia, sabidurías necesarias a la formación del sujeto responsable.

A nossa pesquisa busca analisar a reação da Igreja Presbiteriana do Brasil (IPB) contra a implantação do movimento pentecostal em Pernambuco na década de 1920. Procuramos acompanhar o início das atividades das Igrejas Presbiterianas e da Assembléia de Deus no estado, a partir do exame da imprensa pentecostal e presbiteriana, bem como das atas do Presbitério de Pernambuco, órgão que coordenava os trabalhos da Igreja Presbiteriana do Brasil no estado. Essas fontes nos permitiram perceber as diferenças e indiferenças entre os grupos que dirigiam essas igrejas. Vimos ainda os argumentos e as estratégias implementadas pela Igreja Presbiteriana do Brasil (IPB) no combate aos pentecostais/assembleianos, bem como analisamos também as características e diferenças doutrinarias quanto à reação dos presbiterianos a um movimento composto por imigrantes, negros e mulheres, uma religiosidade de gente marginalizada. / Our research aims at analyzing the reaction of the Presbyterian Church of Brazil against the implementation of the Pentecostal Movement in Pernambuco in the 1920s. We seek to trace the activities of the early Presbyterian Churches and of the Assembly of God in this State from the examination of the press both Pentecostal and Presbyterian as well as the Pernambuco Presbytery minutes, the agency that coordinated the work of the Presbyterian Church of Brazil in Pernambuco. These sources have helped us understand the differences and indifferences between both groups that led these churches; we have seen also the arguments and strategies implemented by the Presbyterian Church of Brazil (IPB) as it took a stand against the Pentecostals of the Assembly of God. Moreover, we analyzed the characteristics and doctrinal differences with respect to the reaction on the Presbyterians part against a movement comprised by immigrants, negroes and women, that is, a religion of marginalized people.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-01T18:12:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao_fernanda_andrade.pdf: 2510494 bytes, checksum: 911aed91257f47f980180aac51617657 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-12-01 / Youth in contemporary society has taken a position in relation to the holy and to the religiosity completely different from established religion. This research intends to identify some characteristics on formation of religious identity of youth faced with a religious field more and more plural in a global and consumption culture. We notice that is usual among youth the religious traffic, a floating between denominations and systems searching to build their structure of meaning. Faced with the strong influence of subjectivity in relation to the religious choices, the religion become "invisible" because it is located in the subjectivity of the person who has to build now its structure of meaning described always much more provisional and nomad / A juventude na sociedade contemporânea tem assumido uma postura em relação ao sagrado e a religiosidade bem diferente da religião institucionalizada. Nesta pesquisa busca-se identificar algumas características da formação da identidade religiosa dos jovens, diante de um campo religioso cada vez mais plural, em uma cultura globalizada e consumista. Observa-se que é comum entre a juventude o trânsito religioso, uma flutuação entre denominações e sistemas, buscando construir a sua estrutura de sentido. Diante da forte influência da subjetividade em relação às escolhas religiosas, a religião torna-se "invisível", porque se localiza na subjetividade dos indivíduos que agora têm que construir a sua estrutura de sentido, caracterizando-se como identidades sempre mais provisórias e nômades

Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-01T18:12:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 jose_roberto_souza.pdf: 987591 bytes, checksum: acfb188843e3babbd1f73fb83baf0cea (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-04-09 / Our research aims at analyzing the reaction of the Presbyterian Church of Brazil against the implementation of the Pentecostal Movement in Pernambuco in the 1920s. We seek to trace the activities of the early Presbyterian Churches and of the Assembly of God in this State from the examination of the press both Pentecostal and Presbyterian as well as the Pernambuco Presbytery minutes, the agency that coordinated the work of the Presbyterian Church of Brazil in Pernambuco. These sources have helped us understand the differences and indifferences between both groups that led these churches; we have seen also the arguments and strategies implemented by the Presbyterian Church of Brazil (IPB) as it took a stand against the Pentecostals of the Assembly of God. Moreover, we analyzed the characteristics and doctrinal differences with respect to the reaction on the Presbyterians part against a movement comprised by immigrants, negroes and women, that is, a religion of marginalized people. / A nossa pesquisa busca analisar a reação da Igreja Presbiteriana do Brasil (IPB) contra a implantação do movimento pentecostal em Pernambuco na década de 1920. Procuramos acompanhar o início das atividades das Igrejas Presbiterianas e da Assembléia de Deus no estado, a partir do exame da imprensa pentecostal e presbiteriana, bem como das atas do Presbitério de Pernambuco, órgão que coordenava os trabalhos da Igreja Presbiteriana do Brasil no estado. Essas fontes nos permitiram perceber as diferenças e indiferenças entre os grupos que dirigiam essas igrejas. Vimos ainda os argumentos e as estratégias implementadas pela Igreja Presbiteriana do Brasil (IPB) no combate aos pentecostais/assembleianos, bem como analisamos também as características e diferenças doutrinarias quanto à reação dos presbiterianos a um movimento composto por imigrantes, negros e mulheres , uma religiosidade de gente marginalizada .

Thesis (DTh (Old and New Testament))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / In this study the very relevant theological-ethical question of social identity and intergroup conflict is looked at. This is done by reading the Book of Nahum multidimensionally as an “Oracles Concerning the Nations” text, and as part of the Book of the Twelve. The multidimensional methodology includes a combination of synchronic and diachronic reading strategies, the implementation of social identity theory and self-categorization theory, the focus on ideological-critical aspects and theological-ethical questioning. In the process of research the underlying dynamic of social identity construction of ancient Israel is uncovered and theological-ethically appropriated. In the first two chapters the problem of the global rise of extreme nationalism, racism and zenophobia is noted. The very diverse post-apartheid society of South Africa, as well as the post-nazi and post-unification German society is mentioned. The Book of Nahum, an Oracle “Concerning the Nations” text, is chosen as avenue for studying the dynamic underlying the construction of social identity in ancient Israel. It is suggested that while a one-dimensional reading strategy may lead to an exclusivist intepretation of Nahum that fosters a theological ethic of intolerance and hate, a multidimensional reading strategy leads to a theological ethic of liberation, responsibility and peace. Chapters 3 and 4 give a research overview of the study of ancient Israel’s identity as well as how the Book of Nahum is to be understood with regards to its dating, unity, stucture and historical situation. The research overview shows how incorporating social identity theory and self-categorization theory provides a better and more integrated perspective on social identity than what has been done up to now. The social psychology theories are summarized into five working premises. The background study of Nahum comes to the conclusion that Nahum should be read synchronically in its diachronical development from the pre-exilic Assyrian crisis with its polarized political inter-group conflicts to the exilic/post-exilic situation with its unique search for a new beginning, identity and hope. Chapters 5 and 6 contain the exegetical explication of the Book of Nahum. Nahum 1:9- 14;2:2-3:19 is interpreted as a pre-exilic construction of social identity. Nahum 1:2-8;2:1 is read as an exilic/post-exilic text. The inter-group dynamic between the Yahweh-Alone movement and the pro-Assyria party (pre-exilic) as well as the Deutero-Isaiah group with its theological opponents (exilic/post-exilic) are interpreted in terms of the five social identity premises. Although social identity construction in Nahum does follow the main premises of discrimination and prototypical ingroup favouring a surprising ambiguous undercurrent of self-criticism as apposed to ethnocentrism is discovered in both historical situations. Apart from the social identity, a strong movement towards liberation from oppression is present in the Book of Nahum. This underlying ambiguous dynamic of social identity construction and the liberatory rhetoric of Nahum is appropriated theolgical-ethically in Chapter 7. A theological-ethical model, which combines the role of identity in ethics, the concept of “natural law”, the responsibility ethics of Levinas and a focus on liberation, is suggested as a useful instrument for interpreting the theological-ethically uncomfortable Oracles Concerning the Nations texts. Chapter 8 summarizes the study and points out the research’s contribution towards Old Testament methodology (exegetical and ethical), Nahum studies as well as providing a possible theological-ethical solution to intergroup conflicts (religious, cultural, political etc.) from an Old Testament perspective.