The thesis deals with the Czechoslovakian philosophy in the nineteen-sixties. It focuses not only to its historical description but intends to enter its philosophical thinking from inside and analyse its principal categories. Especially it focuses on the category of work and examines its various formulations, developed in different theoretical perspectives of Czechoslovakian philosophers. This allows distinguish these perspectives in their similarities on one hand and differences on the other. The thesis notably focuses on so called "Hegelian movement" and its evaluation of category of work. This movement, which is in fact the Czechoslovakian variation to the philosophy of praxis, formulates the category of work in its philosophical meaning, i. e. as an ontological category decisive for an origin of the reality and human being. It was originally Hegel, who developed this meaning of category, and Czechoslovakian Hegelian movement continued in developing his ontology adopted through Marx. The Czech philosophers enriched it with aspects of socialistic humanism. The thesis is divided into three parts. The first part explains historical conditions of philosophical scientific performance in Czechoslovakia. The second interprets the texts of Czechoslovakian Hegelian philosophers and their expositions of category...

East Africa, with Nairobi at its hub, is currently experiencing unprecedented rates of urban population growth. Much of this growth is absorbed into informal settlements which, in the case of Nairobi, house over 55% of the city's population. The largest of these settlements is Kibera with a population totaling approximately 700,000. The thesis focuses on Pentecostal churches in Gatwikera, one of the twelve urban villages which together make up Kibera. It is argued that what is emerging within these communities is a distinctive type of church which is defined as informal Pentecostal. Consideration is given to why mainline churches appear to struggle within the informal sector while these churches appear to thrive. The explanation for this is given in the way the Pentecostal churches emerge along the same lines as the informal economy. The thesis sets out to identify the distinctive nature of the churches and the way in which they exemplify a different form of Christian presence in the settlements to that of mainline churches and Roho churches. The study offers an analysis of their ministry and their pastors and considers their relationship to the flows of the rural urban continuum and the liminality of informal settlements. The study seeks to identify the contribution these churches make to mission within the community particularly looking at their role in social transformation. It concludes that while the churches provide an important Christian presence within the community and social capital to enable people to better survive and retain hope within the settlements they offer little towards the much needed social transformation within the settlements. It is further argued that for this to be achieved, attention needs to be given to the development of appropriate forms of training and the facilitation of higher degrees of networking and collaboration. The thesis is structured around the pastoral cycle which forms both the theoretical framework and the research methodology. The suitability of the pastoral cycle as a research method is explored within the thesis. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / D.Th. (Missiology)

A. B. Simpson / Charles Spurgeon / Andrew Murray / Oswald Chambers / George Muller / Hudson Taylor / John MacMillan / A. W. Tozer / Kenneth Hagin / Kenneth Copeland / Frederick K. C. Price / E. M. Bounds / Amy Carmichael / Phoebe Palmer / This thesis is a study of nineteenth and twentieth century faith theology and praxis, seeking to determine a balanced, healthy faith that is both sound in theology and effective in practice. Part 1 presents a history and sources of Faith Teaching and Practices. It first looks historicalty at the roots of later faith teaching and practice by presenting a sampling of teachings on faith from early church fathers, reformers, mystics, and Pietists. These form the foundation for the movements of faith in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries--the classic faith teaching, followed by the modern faith movement and leaders. Part 2 deals with the foundational issues of faith teaching and practice: the relationship of faith to the supernatural, the concept of the inheritance of the believer and the practice of claiming the promises of God, the nature of faith, and the authority of the believer and its inferences for faith praxis. Part 3 investigates seven major theological issues of faith teaching and practice: faith as a law and force, the object and source of faith, the relationship of faith and the will of God, distinguishing between a logos and a rhema word of God, the concepts of revelation and sense knowledge, the doctrine of healing in the atonement, the question of evidence of the baptism in lhe Holy Spirit. Part 4 examines major practical issues of faith teaching and practice about which controversy swirls: positive mental attitude and positive confession; issues of discernment in acting upon impressions, voices, revelations, and "words from the Lord;" questions of failh regarding sickness and healing, death, doctors and medicine; the relationships between sickness, suffering, healing, and sanctification; and prosperity. Part 5 reflects upon these issues and comes to final conclusions regarding: the role of hermeneutics in determining failh theology and praxis, how to handle unanswered prayers and apparent failures of faith, the seeming paradox and tension between claiming one's inheritance and dying to self, a summary of practical conclusions for exercise of healthy faith, and final conclusions and recommendations on developing a sound theology and practice of faith for the twenty-fist century. / Practical Theology / D.Th. (Practical Theology)

Youth Centres such as Faure Youth Centre provide a challenge to questions such as violence and crime. This qualitative research journey started at Faure Youth Centre using narrative pastoral care and counselling and participatory action research to assist the young people there to find alternative ways of standing against violence and crime. Changing circumstances at Faure however, paved the way for the research to follow another direction. This resulted in different voices to emerge and for my family to receive an unexpected `gift' in the process. The `gift' that my pastoral care and counselling at Faure gave to my family initiated a process of change in us and transformed it into a spiralling journey of challenging patriarchal practices and finding alternative ways of living. / Practical Theology / M.Th. (Practical Theology)

Chronological Bible storying generally assumes a universality of the story teller's theological perspective in selecting and shaping Bible stories interculturally. This paper argues against this approach and proposes a method of crafting contextualized Bible stories which resonate with the worldview of a receptor culture. The influence of the theological and cultural presuppositions of the story teller is reduced through the utilization of the receptor culture's worldview assumptions - those values and beliefs through which the impact of scripture is experienced. The empirical research consisted of observing the responses of Sindhi Muslim men to a reading of John 13:1-10 and then interviewing them to generate cultural expressions which revealed a relationship between their culture and the scripture passage. Analysis of the data disclosed themes which have scriptural referents and can be used as the basis for selecting and crafting Bible stories that resonate with worldview assumptions. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology)

This thesis is an endeavour to participate in the call for the African Renaissance from a missiological perspective. The study observes how the debate about this African ‗dream‘ persists in the domain of intellectuals and political leaders. It recognises as timely the opportunity to contribute theologically to the development of the renaissance concept. It also observes that ordinary people have jumped onto the African Renaissance bandwagon albeit for reasons that are mainly sentimental. Hence a two-fold appeal to protagonists of the African Renaissance movement: firstly, to be inclusive of all stakeholders especially ordinary people who should be both participants and co-beneficiaries; secondly, to consider spirituality as an indispensable factor in birthing this African ‗dream‘. To help arrive at a well-considered argument the study discusses a brief history of Africa‘s economic, social and political development. Central to this history is how the human factor, actively or inadvertently, and the natural factors have devastated the continent thus necessitating a rebirth. The study notes how especially the political economy and issues of good governance of African states are key concerns to the protagonists of the renaissance movement. It also notes the establishment of structures and policies in addressing these concerns. These interventions are hoped to improve the continent‘s image towards its global counterparts and to lift the hopes of distraught African peoples. The prospect of their success in terms of probabilities and/or perceptions is discussed and Missiologically critiqued. An overview of these endeavours has led to the observation of a lingering chasm of the absence or the apparent sidelining of African spirituality as a necessary component of the African Renaissance discourse. As a major thrust of this thesis the spiritual notion of ‗rebirth‘ is advanced. The basis for this argument lies in the ‗rebirth‘ concept that is inherent in many religions, faith formations and philosophies akin to African spirituality. It is on this understanding that a Missiological dimension is build. In introducing this spiritual dimension towards an African Renaissance a Missiological methodology of a seven pointed praxis cycle is proposed and unpacked. In deconstructing this methodology real models are presented as examples to illustrate Missiology‘s contextual life-long learning philosophy. / Christian Spirituality Church History and Missiology / D. Th. (Missiology)

Philosophy & Systematic Theology / D. Th. (Systematic Theology)

Text in Afrikaans / Huisbesoek is 'n kerklike bandeling wat algemeen in gereformeerde kerke beoefen word. Die bandeling is omstrede en word geassosieer met baie besinning en bespreking. Hierdie studie gaan van die standpunt uit dat die teoriee grondliggend aan buisbesoek, nie in ooreenstemming is met die verwagtinge van lidmate nie. In die bantering van die probleem is die teorie van buisbesoek ondersoek met bebulp van 'n literatuur studie. Huisbesoek word ook beskrywe as pastorale sorg. Daarom is die teorie van pastorale so~g ook ondersoek. Empiriese navorsing is gedoen om die verwagtinge van lidmate te bepaal. 'n Ideografiese strategie is gebruik en lidmate is per onderboud gevra na bulle siening. Vanuit die ondersoek bet dit geblyk dat die teorie die praxis van buisbesoek in meeste instansies nie meer ondersteun nie. Vanuit die bevinding sluit die studie af met die trek van enkele riglyne, om teorie nader aan die verwagtinge van lidmate te bring. / Visitation is an activity generally practised in reformed churches. It is not without problems, and form the topic of many discussions. This study works from the premise that the theoretical foundation of visitation, are out of touch with the expectations of church members. In the approach to the problem, the theory of visitation is explored in a literary study. Because visitation can be described as pastoral care, the theory of care has been included in the study. Empirical research was done to ascertain the expectations of church members with regards to visitation. This has been done according to a idiographic strategy, by interviewing church members. From the research the conclusion was drawn that there is a gap between theory and praxis in regard to visitation. In the last paragraphs the author explores ways in which to bring theory closer to the expectations of members. / Practical Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology)

The goal of the research was to explore the ongoing problem of Baptist Pastors leaving the ministry and to attempt to discover the impact of this problem upon Baptist Churches by means of "focus group" interviews. The dissertation links the problem with a Baptist ecclesiology and seeks to understand the Baptist belief in the autonomy of the Local Church and the praxis of accreditation for pastoral ministry, plus the existence of so-called "subterranean Pastors" which has contributed toward pastoral termination. / Practical theology / M.Th. (Practical Theology)

The purpose of this research is to investigate whether or not adult education acts as an agent for social change in Lesotho, especially in communities of the urban and rural poor. The importance and value of adult education as an agent for social change are highlighted. The study has employed a descriptive approach with case studies, involving samples from chiefs, the Ministry of Education and three prominent institutions: the Lesotho Distance Teaching Centre, the Lesotho Association ofNon-Formal Education and the Institute of Extra Mural Studies. The samples of these constituencies totalled one hundred and forty-three. The study has used interviews, questionnaires and observations for collection of data. The researcher observed and judged the natural environment under which facilitation education occurred. Occurrences of all instances under observation were recorded and analysed. The study revealed that even though there is no government policy regarding adult education in Lesotho, the role played by adult education is important as an agent for social change. Adult education has proven its importance and value as a means of providing solutions to pressing issues and problems of the disadvantaged groups. Adult education has a wide range of achievements through which social change is visible and measurable. On the other hand, there is an equally strong opposing side that argues that adult education, as a provision of education in general, does not bring social change in Lesotho; instead, it perpetuates social inequalities that exist. Adult education, according to practices which conform to consensus and conflict paradigm principles, is used as an instrument to promote and strengthen the status quo of social inequalities in Lesotho. However, the researcher believes, through the findings of this study, that educating the urban and rural poor is a reasonable move because these groups constitute a large number of the human resource in Lesotho. With this human resource, if well developed, it is hoped that all other resources can be mobilised for the good of the nation. Lastly, the researcher believes that follow-up studies are needed in order to assess impact of adult education in Lesotho and recommends further research concerning adult education programmes and other pressing issues that are not included in this study. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Didactics)