Le modèle du couple actuel, uni par l’amour et désireux d’avoir des enfants, qu’il soit marié ou non, devient pour nos contemporains un vrai « lieu spirituel ». Comment, en chrétien, penser et accompagner le nouveau paradigme du « couple électif », quand les notions ainsi associées évoluent ? La spiritualité en Occident repose sur des héritages croisés et combinés : le dualisme gréco-romain ; une certaine focalisation sur la rédemption, et le péché de la chair ; une quête moderne visant à être soi, vrai, équilibré ; et la vision incarnée, communautaire et trinitaire de Vatican II, trop peu connue. La construction de la conjugalité entre amour, mariage, voire unions moins formelles, inspire vers 1930 une spiritualité conjugale » catholique, reconnue dans Gaudium et Spes. Or, la spiritualité, au sens large du terme, aide tout couple à tenir bon : d’où la relance d’une recherche pluridisciplinaire. Comment, donc, définir la « spiritualité coélective » qui anime les « couples électifs », en prenant en compte à la fois le pluralisme moderne et le cadre chrétien ? Inscrites dans l’universelle « loi du don », la « promesse » et l’« alliance », abritées dans l’« intimité coélective », construisent la « communauté du couple » ; ces catégories font aussi sens en christianisme. Une pneumatologie de la « circulation des dons » se révèle ainsi. Aider l’amour fécond à s’accomplir contribue à humaniser la société, jusqu’à l’ouvrir davantage aux enjeux planétaires. / Based on the partners’ choice for each other, their loving commitment and desire to start a family, the couple relationship, whether in formal marriage or not, has become for many of our contemporaries a real locus spiritualis, the seat and source of a spirituality. How to understand, from a Christian point of view, this new paradigm and foster it while the concepts associated with it are continuously evolving? Spirituality in Occidental history has a diverse and layered heritage: Greco-Roman dualism; a strong focus on the ‘sin of the flesh’; a modern quest for self-realisation and authenticity; and, although less known, an understanding of spirituality since Vatican II which is strongly incarnational, community-oriented and Trinitarian.Shaping a model of conjugal life in between intimate love and institutional marriage, couples in the 1930’s start referring to a Catholic “marital spirituality” which will be fully acknowledged only by Gaudium et Spes. Later generations will realize that spirituality, understood in a broad sense, helps couples to become resilient – an insight which will be at the basis of multi-disciplinary research. But how to conceive in today’s pluralistic society of a spirituality of couple life, or ‘co-elective spirituality’, that at the same time enhances the flourishing of contemporary couples and yet does not forsake its Christian frame of reference? The universal “law of giving” and the concepts of “promise” and “covenant” which equip for a “shared intimacy” appear to be central concepts which both help to shape the communion of ‘elective couples’ and lend themselves to be lived in a specifically Christian way. Here a pneumatology takes shape which is to be understood as a “circulation of gifts”. Helping fruitful love to flourish thus contributes not only to humanizing society but also to raise awareness for global challenges.

Afrikaans speaking believers have been experiencing a degree of disillusionment due to changes in the South African political landscape. This has caused spiritual instability that again caused people to want to escape to beter opportunities elsewhere, reduced church attendance and social isolation. This disillusionment is due to the fact that Afrikaans speaking believers hold to a cultural, social and self empowering type of hope that looks to the advantages of positive circumstances. A great void exists in research dealing with the hope and spirituality of Afrikaans speaking believers who experience such a disillusionment, and that resulted in this study. An empirical study revealed that the Afrikaans community struggles to deal completely with the new South African community. They feel the pressure of limited or no work opportunities due to affirmative action, uncertainty regarding their role in the new South Africa and the breaking down of Afrikaans as a historically respected language and culture. Materialism, a false trust in political and world leaders, negative media reporting, as well as people immigrating for beter opportunities, were singled out as contributors to the breaking down of hope, a hope that takes on the form of cultural entitlement and social self empowerment. A literary study showed that true Christian hope must be distinguished from wishful thinking, the outcome of social, political or economical self empowerment or emotional optimism, but rather that it is grounded in the faith knowledge of Jesus Christ as Redeemer. The church as the family of God provides hope in a space where the past and the future comes together in an active walk of faith that follows the life of Jesus Christ in serving and caring for others. Preaching must be the carrier of hope and the reminder that the promises of God will be realized up and until the coming of Jesus Christ in glory. Perspectives from Scripture confirmed that hope is not just a human thought of wishful thinking, an emotional state of mind or optimism. True Christian hope is an inner faith conviction and trust in the promises of God for salvation, provision and grace, even in the midst of poor or bad circumstances, caused by sin. This Christian hope is initiated and developed through a knowledge of the Word of God, that finds fulfillment in Jesus Christ. True Christian hope is an inner spiritual conviction through faith in Jesus Christ, a practical lifestyle of love in accordance with God’s will and a living expectation for the coming of Jesus Christ. Practical-theoretical guidelines and study work were developed where Afrikaans speaking believers, experiencing a degree of disillusionment due to a changing South Africa, can be pastorally guided to a true Christian hope. / MA (Pastoral Studies), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Afrikaans speaking believers have been experiencing a degree of disillusionment due to changes in the South African political landscape. This has caused spiritual instability that again caused people to want to escape to beter opportunities elsewhere, reduced church attendance and social isolation. This disillusionment is due to the fact that Afrikaans speaking believers hold to a cultural, social and self empowering type of hope that looks to the advantages of positive circumstances. A great void exists in research dealing with the hope and spirituality of Afrikaans speaking believers who experience such a disillusionment, and that resulted in this study. An empirical study revealed that the Afrikaans community struggles to deal completely with the new South African community. They feel the pressure of limited or no work opportunities due to affirmative action, uncertainty regarding their role in the new South Africa and the breaking down of Afrikaans as a historically respected language and culture. Materialism, a false trust in political and world leaders, negative media reporting, as well as people immigrating for beter opportunities, were singled out as contributors to the breaking down of hope, a hope that takes on the form of cultural entitlement and social self empowerment. A literary study showed that true Christian hope must be distinguished from wishful thinking, the outcome of social, political or economical self empowerment or emotional optimism, but rather that it is grounded in the faith knowledge of Jesus Christ as Redeemer. The church as the family of God provides hope in a space where the past and the future comes together in an active walk of faith that follows the life of Jesus Christ in serving and caring for others. Preaching must be the carrier of hope and the reminder that the promises of God will be realized up and until the coming of Jesus Christ in glory. Perspectives from Scripture confirmed that hope is not just a human thought of wishful thinking, an emotional state of mind or optimism. True Christian hope is an inner faith conviction and trust in the promises of God for salvation, provision and grace, even in the midst of poor or bad circumstances, caused by sin. This Christian hope is initiated and developed through a knowledge of the Word of God, that finds fulfillment in Jesus Christ. True Christian hope is an inner spiritual conviction through faith in Jesus Christ, a practical lifestyle of love in accordance with God’s will and a living expectation for the coming of Jesus Christ. Practical-theoretical guidelines and study work were developed where Afrikaans speaking believers, experiencing a degree of disillusionment due to a changing South Africa, can be pastorally guided to a true Christian hope. / MA (Pastoral Studies), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Zugl.: Münster (Westfalen), Univ., Diss., 2007

The subject of this diploma thesis is comparison of Orthodox and Evangelical churches pneumatology. The main goal is to summarize, compare and evaluate the knowledge acquired from studying various texts from both Orthodox and Evangelical theologians. The first part of the diploma thesis is addressing significant theological topics from the Orthodox Church. The second part focuses on Evangelical pneumatology with special attention to its charismatic and Pentecostal character. A substantial part of this section is devoted to terminologically defining evangelicalism in its historical context. At the same time an attempt was made to capture the breadth and diversity of this modern phenomenon. The starting point that was chosen for the thesis were the works of various Pentecostal and charismatic authors whose main viewpoints are being compared in key points with those of traditional, conservative theologians. The third and at the same time the last part evaluates the acquired knowledge and accentuates the similarities and differences.

Kamil Vystavěl: T. C. Oden's Concept of Pneumatology. Its Presentation and its Comparison with Pneumatologies in Four Dogmatics of the Contemporary Anglo- american Theologians. Summary The thesis deals with five pneumatologies written by angloameric systematic teologians. The aim of the thesis is to present and evaluate T. C. Oden's concept of pneumatology. In the first chapter, there are basic information about Oden and characterization of his theologic approach, called postmodern paleo-orthodoxy. The second chapter introduces to the content of his pneumatology. The following four chapters deal with the pneumatologies written by: James L. Garrett, Shirley C. Guthrie, Robert W. Jenson and Geoffrey Wainwright. The purpose of the chapters is to find specific features of these alternative concepts of pneumatology and to evaluate them by comparison with the Oden's concept. In the end of the thesis, Oden's concept of pneumatology is discussed and evaluated. Keywords Protestant theology of 20th/21th century, anglo-american theology, systematic theology, dogmatics, pneumatology, Holy Spirit, Thomas C. Oden.

The thesis deals with a philosophical conception of an Austrian thinker of the 20th century Ferdinand Ebner in his life?s work ?Das Wort und die geistigen Realitäten: Pneumatologische Fragmente? (1921). Not only his life and the persons who influenced Ebner?s work were taken into account, but also the cultural-historical context of the period in which his original thoughts evolved. The heart of this paper lies in the introduction and explanation of the basic terms and theses that are crucial for Ebner?s philosophy, or more precisely his pneumatology. This part also contains Czech translation of some of the most important passages of Ebner?s work.

This study deals with creative preaching through exploring pneumatology and creativity as prime ingredients for creative preaching. The researcher sees the problem of preaching in terms of the limited resources for proclaiming the very old message of the gospel of Jesus Christ in a fast changing world. Preaching in the reformed tradition is based primarily upon the Bible and the tradition of the church. The researcher suspects that, given the limitations of the age of the source, the preacher runs the risk of boring the congregation, who regularly attends sermons, by becoming irrelevant to their living conditions through having to repeat the same basic message. The researcher suspects that the preacher may run out of ideas and ways of bringing a relevant message in a fresh way, week after week, and begin to employ all kinds of tricks and gimmicks in order to stay relevant. Creative preaching is suggested as answer to this dilemma. Creative preaching is studied within the frame of creativity in service of the Holy Spirit. The study strives to explore the field of creativity from a homiletical perspective and bring the results into a pneumatological context by means of a hermeneutical method, with the aim of designing a basic theory for creative preaching. The first part of the study comprises a literature study of the fields of pneumatology and creativity. Pneumatology is explored in terms of the biblical roots of the use and meaning of the terms rûah, pneuma and paracletos, as well as a brief theological exploration. A pneumatology for preaching includes the Spirit as carrier of the Word and inspirer of the preacher and listener, within the context of the congregation as dedicated space for the working of the Spirit. The second part of the literature study deals with creativity as a human capacity that can be learnt and developed. Creativity is a deliberate dynamic activity that produces new, unexpected and meaningful results through creative observation, creative thinking and creative insight. Empirical research was conducted amongst preachers in the Dutch Reformed Church to ascertain their understanding of creative preaching and their experience of the workings of the Holy Spirit and creativity, in the process of producing a sermon. The research found that preachers understood the Holy Spirit as a vital part of the preaching process. Preachers experience the activity of the Spirit in their normal daily routines as ministers. Preachers do not regard themselves as creative people although they apply principles of creativity primarily in producing visual material for sermons as an additive. The Research found a need for the concept of creative preaching. Creative preaching is developed and described as a process in which the preacher, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, employs creative methods like observation, association, imagination and creative thinking in the whole process of sermon creation, from choice of Scripture to the presentation of the sermon. The sermon is structured in such a way as not only to be creative but also stimulating the creativity of the listeners. Creative preaching is stimulating preaching based on scripture, imagination and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

L'articulation de cette thèse découle d'une curiosité sur la façon dont les croyants africains contemporains urbains comprennent le Saint-Esprit. Les portraits que les théologiens africains ont dressés de la compréhension africaine du Saint-Esprit, semblent être basés sur un paradigme théologique dichotomique: la religion traditionnelle africaine et la tradition chrétienne occidentale, qui avait créé la dissonance dans la scène académique. Ce paradigme soulève un débat de continuité et de discontinuité entre les êtres spirituels des deux traditions, les esprits traditionnels et le Saint-Esprit. Cette thèse va prendre une attention particulière sur les travaux de Elochukwu Uzukwu et de Matthew Michael, qui figurent parmi les quelques théologiens africains ayant travaillé sur la compréhension de l'Esprit Saint. Uzukwu soutient la continuité fondée sur l'orientation théologique des églises indépendantes africaines, tandis que Michael s'est rangé du côté de ceux qui déclarent la discontinuité, se basant sur l'orientation théologique évangélique. Ces théologiens, qui adoptent des positions opposées en s’appuyant sur leurs orientations théologiques respectives, défendent des positions théologiquement bipolarisées de la pneumatologie africanisée et de la religiosité africaine. Étonnamment, le débat en cours parmi les théologiens n'a pas accordé beaucoup de place à la religiosité des croyants laïcs, ni à son étude empirique. Par conséquent, cette thèse a décidé d'interroger les croyants africains laïcs sur qui le Saint-Esprit est pour eux, en espérant que cette étude pourrait régler la dissonance persistante dans le terrain académique. Les voix des laïcs africains contemporains ont rapporté des récits vivants à la façon dont ils ont théologisé les deux mondes spirituels pour définir le Saint-Esprit dans une foi africaine. Leurs voix, qui ont été introduites dans le domaine universitaire, ont apporté des idées novatrices et des découvertes. Elles ont révélé comment la compréhension africanisée du Saint-Esprit présentée par les théologiens Africains ont été la position de la minorité des croyants, bien qu'elle ait fût représentée comme si elle était une pneumatologie africanisée populaire. À l'inverse, le paradigme bipolarisé sur lequel les théologiens africains articulaient la compréhension africanisée du Saint-Esprit semblait même dépassé. Par conséquent, sur la base des voix du terrain, cette thèse développe des propositions, pour une compréhension africanisée du Saint-Esprit, qui pourraient être pertinentes pour la religiosité urbaine de nos jours. Par les voix inédites à qui elle offre une ouverture, cette thèse appelle à réévaluer l'articulation entre le Christianisme et la religion traditionnelle en Afrique. / The articulation of this thesis derives from a curiosity on how the urban contemporary African believers understand the Holy Spirit. The portrayals African theologians have drawn of the African understanding of the Holy Spirit, seems to be based on a dichotomized theological paradigm: the African traditional religion and the Western Christian tradition, which had created dissonance on the academic stage. This paradigm raises a debate of continuity and discontinuity between the spiritual beings of the two traditions, the traditional spirits and the Holy Spirit. Elochukwu Uzukwu and Matthew Michael, whom this thesis will take a special attention, figure among the few works of the African theologians about the understanding of the Holy Spirit. Uzukwu supports continuity based on the African Independent Churches’ theological orientation, whereas Michael sided with those stating the discontinuity, grounds on the Evangelical theological orientation. These theologians, whom take opposite stances based on their respective theological orientations, represent theologically bipolarized stances on Africanized Pneumatology and the African religiosity. Surprisingly, the ongoing debate among the theologians did not accord much room to the lay believers’ religiosity nor on their empirical studies. Therefore, this thesis has decided to inquire the lay African believers on whom the Holy Spirit is to them hoping that this study could settle the dissonance persisting on the academic field. The voices of the contemporary lay African believers brought vivid accounts on how they have theologized the two spiritual worlds to define the Holy Spirit into an African faith. Their voices that were introduced to the academic field have brought innovative insights and discoveries. It revealed how the Africanized comprehension of the Holy Spirit presented by the African theologians were the stance of the very minority of believers, although it were wrapped as if it was a popular Africanized Pneumatology. Conversely, the bipolarized paradigm on which the African theologians were articulating the Africanized understanding of the Holy Spirit even appeared to be outmoded. Therefore, based on the voices of the ground, this thesis develops proposals for an Africanized understanding of the Holy Spirit that could be relevant and pertinent to an urban contemporary African religiosity. The unheard voices that this thesis brought its attention to call to re-evaluating the articulation between Christianity and Traditional Religion in Africa.

Text in German with German and English summaries / Die Pneumatologie ist ein aktuelles und insbesondere für die ökumenische Theologie entscheidendes Thema geworden. Die „Geistvergessenheit“ tritt immer mehr in den Hintergrund und schafft dadurch freien Raum für den noch nicht abgeschlossenen Prozess der „Wiederentdeckung des Heiligen Geistes“. Für eine missionale und gesellschaftsrelevante Theologie steht dabei immer wieder die Frage einer Verhältnisbestimmung zwischen Gott-Kirche-Gesellschaft im Fokus. Aus der Perspektive der Pneumatologie fehlen aber noch weitgehend Untersuchungen. Diese Arbeit will daher einen Beitrag leisten zur Diskussion, a) wie in der Theologie von Jürgen Moltmann – und im Vergleich dazu in der pfingstlichen Theologie der Gegenwart – Geist-Kirche-Gesellschaft aufeinander bezogen werden und zu welchem Ziel, und b) worin die Stärken und Schwächen des jeweiligen Ansatzes liegen und welche Konsequenzen daraus gezogen werden können. Durch den Vergleich der Modelle dieser zwei führenden Impulsgeber entsteht eine gute Grundlage für die Diskussion, wie das Verhältnis oder allenfalls die Wechselwirkung zwischen Geist, Kirche und Gesellschaft formuliert werden könnte. / Pneumatology became an ongoing and relevant topic, especially for the ecumenical theology. „The oblivion of the Spirit“ recedes to a large extend into the background and thus makes space for the process that has not yet been fully completed, that is to say, the „rediscovery of the Holy Spirit“. For a missional and socially relevant theology, the focus is again and again on the question of defining the relationship between God, Church and Society. From a pneumatological point of view the investigations are greatly lacking. Therefore, this paper intends to contribute to the discussion of a) how in Jürgen Moltmann’s theology – and in comparison to it in the current Pentecostal theology – Spirit, Church and Society relate to each other and to what purpose; and b) what are the strengths and weaknesses of each approach and which consequences can be drawn from them. By comparing the models of these two leading initiators, there occurs a solid basis for a discussion of how to define the relationship, or at best, the interplay between Spirit, Church and Society. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Systematic Theology)