<p>According to modern standards, the narratives about Hagar in Genesis 16 and 21 are stories of abuse, as many feminist commentators have pointed out. Some of them, however, argue that the narrator condones what happened to Hagar, seeing it as perfectly normal. This thesis aims to investigate whether and how Hagar was abused according to the narrator of Genesis 16 and 21: 8-21.</p>

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2006.

This research on Multiculturalism has basically a three-pronged or a multidimensional approach. Firstly, the definitions of culture and multiculturalism are discussed. Secondly, multiculturalism in relevance to the book of Acts, and how the early church was able to deal with the phenomenon of multiculturalism. Thirdly, multiculturalism and the Church in South Africa, in context with the book of Acts are discussed. The 'definitions of multiculturalism', is included, in order that the reader may fully comprehend the aspect of multiculturalism in the early church, and the church of the present day. Without first understanding what is culture is all about, one will not be able to fully understand the nature of multiculturalism as related to the church. Chapters 2, 3, 4, and 5 deals with some the questions like, cultural diversity, problems and challenges of multiculturalism, race and ethnicity, cultural change, language, and religion. The early church from the time of the apostles, and the church past and present, have all experienced some or most of the challenges with regards to multiculturalism. Thus, in the light of the definitions of multiculturalism and its different challenges, the phenomenon of multiculturalism and the church is hereby discussed. I have not done an empirical research on the phenomenon of multiculturalism, but a literature survey of what other scholars have written on the subject. Hopefully, in the Doctoral thesis, I shall go to the next level in my research to determine the viewpoint of others, on the phenomenon of multiculturalism, its problems, especially in the 'post-apartheid' South Africa and the Church. I want to place on record my sincere a thanks and appreciation to Dr. S.K. Moran, my supervisor, for his assistance in acquiring a bursary in connection with this research. To the National Research Foundation (NRF), for the bursary; for without which, this research would not have been possible. To Dr. J.A. Smit, for his input, guidance, critical evaluation, and helpful suggestions in completing this research. To my wife, Grace, for her patience and tolerance during the time of doing this research. My prayer is that we in South Africa, as a multicultural, multiracial, and multiethnic society, will begin to understand our 'rainbow nation' a little better. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Durban-Westville, 2004.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how psychiatric nurses working with psychiatric clients in the EThekwini District understand the spiritual dimension of holistic psychiatric nursing practice. Descriptive phenomenology informed the study design, data collection and analysis. Integrating spiritual and psychiatric care is an important contemporary issue for psychiatric nursing if the profession is to continue to define itself as a holistic and client-centered activity and to provide socially responsive care (Greasley et al 2001; Mohr, 2006). Local data about how nurses understand and practice spirituality in their working encounters with clients would be an important first step in enhancing holistic, patient-centered psychiatric nursing care in the South African context. Purposeful sampling was used to select the seven psychiatric nurses working in psychiatric settings in the EThekwini District. These participants were selected from the advanced psychiatric nursing classes of the School of Nursing of the University of KwaZulu-Natal for 2008/2009 and 2009/2010. Data were collected through in-depth interviews lasting for 45minutes to lhour and were audio-taped and later transcribed to facilitate easy analysis. The Colaizzi Method of data analysis and representation was utilized. The following four themes emerged during the analysis of the data. Each theme had between three and twenty one associated significant statements. Theme 1 revolved around the higher power of spirituality, religion and their relationship. The participants conceptualized spirituality in a variety of ways, linking spirituality to religion and to cultural values, daily moral and interpersonal experiences with self and others that provide direction and meaning in life. Spirituality was conceived of as "the glue that brings people together" and as a primary source of meaning making in daily life that provides people, nurses and patients with a sense of belonging and of joy, hope, and comfort in both difficult and happy times. The second theme "Central to but forgotten in psychiatric nursing practice" concurs with the literature view that spirituality and psychiatric nursing care are related, although spirituality is often forgotten in psychiatric nursing practice. Participants linked spirituality specifically to Maslow's Hierarchy of needs. The third theme entitled "Psychiatric nursing for the spirit: Enabling and limiting factors identifies a number of factors which influence how psychiatric nurses engage with this dimension of holistic psychiatric nursing practice. This theme focuses on factors which influence psychiatric nurses in providing spiritual care for their patients. Enabling factors include psychiatric' nurses own spiritual orientation and knowledge about spiritual care enables them to provide spiritual care whereas limiting factors include the lack of spiritual education and spiritual knowledge in providing this care. The final theme highlights what these nurses see as important for developing their ability to provide spiritual assistance and includes education in method of spiritual assessment and intervention as the basis for providing holistic psychiatric nursing practice. A number of recommendations for psychiatric nursing practice, education, research and policy-making based on the data from the study were made to relevant stakeholders. If accepted and implemented will go a long way in augmenting psychiatric nursing intervention to be holistic wherein psychiatric nursing care will include not only the biological, psychological and social care but also the spiritual care. / Thesis (MN)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

No description available.

No description available.

This paper examines the exegetical history of the prohibition against kindling fire on the Sabbath day. Since its biblical inception Ex. 35:3, the prohibition against kindling fire on the Sabbath, has undergone a multiplicity of interpretations. The texts examined in this paper survey the treatment of this verse from its inception through to the twentieth century and the advent of electricity. Over generations exegetes have understood this biblical verse to be a prohibition against kindling, burning, and even cooking. The debates concerning the legal status and implications of the verse have additionally been outlined in this paper. Tracing the history of this verse, therefore, provides insight into the meaning of the verse and its halakhic implications.

This dissertation attempts to answer the following question: Does Scripture call all churches to be as ethnically diverse as their communities? Chapter 1 introduces the "multi-ethnic mandate," the belief the Scripture instructs all churches to be ethnically diverse. Chapter 2 isolates seven arguments in favor of the multi-ethnic mandate: the Babel/Pentecost argument, the hospitality/love argument, the argument based on Christ's ministry, the unity argument, the Jew/Gentile argument, the heaven argument, and the argument based on NT examples. Chapter 3 argues that these seven reasons do not provide compelling proof for the multi-ethnic mandate. Chapter 4 highlights four biblical values that mono-ethnic churches support: God cares about preserving culture, Christians retain their ethnic identities, contextualization can make ministry more effective, and God uses the natural connectedness of people to expand his kingdom. Chapter 5 summarizes the thesis, warns of some potential dangers of affirming the multi-ethnic mandate, and points to possible areas of further research. The over-arching point of the dissertation is to demonstrate that churches need to reach out to all ethnicities to the best of their abilities, but if the natural byproduct of such ministry is a mono-ethnic church, then such a church is not unbiblical or unhealthy.

This thesis reported on a survey of the premarital sexual behavior of students at a small church-related college. The three aspects of sexual behavior studied were necking, petting, and coitus. The effect of the variables of sex of respondent and religious orthodoxy were explored. Religious orthodoxy was determined by using the scale developed by Snell Putney and Russell Middleton. In addition, the thesis compared the premarital sexual behavior of the students at the church-college to that of students at secular schools.A questionnaire was used to collect the data. responses were cross-classified with the variables of sex of respondent and religious orthodoxy and Chi-square was computed to determine if the variables were related to sexual behavior. The findings, if significant, were discussed.

This dissertation project is a preparation for development of a method for teaching traditional Ewe culture to people of Western or non-Ewe background, using dance ethnology as an approach to conducting research, and digital video recording as a means for documentation. The study focuses on one of the Ewe's oldest and most powerful religious dance and music ceremonies, Adzogbo, as it is performed by the Mawuli Kpli Mi Adzogbo Group from the village of Aflao in Ghana, West Africa. / Adzogbo, originally from Dahomey (now Benin), was brought to Ghana in the late 19th Century, and was formally performed for the Dahomeyan war gods to transmit pertinent information to warriors preparing for battle. It is still considered one of the most complex dance and music systems, having intricate polyrhythmic texture and specific relationship between the master drummer and the vigorous and articulated movements of the dancers, which are emphasized by their elaborate costume. / Presently, the dance functions as a recreational ceremony and is performed during specific special occasions. It is used to display mental, physical and spiritual power and still carries some of its original war dance characteristics. / This project consists of a written thesis document and one hour digital video documentary of the Adzogbo Dance Ceremony, outlining its background and importance, form and structure, and a comparative analyses of the organization and structure of both the dance and music. The text provides information on Ewe culture, including their historical, social, and geographical background, their dance, music and related activities and an exploration of Interactive multimedia technologies to in future develop electronic educational material.