Zugl.: Heidelberg, Universiẗat, Diss., 2009.

A lot has been written on the development of the Shona novel and the influence of orature on it. This research while acknowledging the importance of such an observation makes yet another one. This other view is that there is also another element that has had a significant impact on the development and growth of the Shona novel. This research has endeavoured to highlight that the Shona novel is a product of the society where it is found which is influenced by The Bible. The novelists Chakaipa, Chidzero, Makari, Musengezi, Tsodzo, Zvarevashe and Ngugi wa Thiong'o's A Grain of Wheat which has been translated into Shona as Tsanga Yembeu have used The Bible as the backbone of their novels. Although these novelists have all used The Bible they have not used it in the same way and for the same purpose. They have used The Bible to justify the themes embedded in their works. This research at the end shows that it is difficult to label a literary product as either a success or a failure. / African Languages / M.A. (African Languages)

There is dissatisfaction with the Collects when scholastically (classically) understood. An alternative phenomenological understanding is an engaging and artistic philosophical enquiry. Phenomenological philosophical enquiry engages the individual in meaningful interpretation and construction of the life-world founded on a non-dichotomous ontology. Phenomenological enquiry (existential philosophy) interprets the present and relates to the future such as is not possible in scholastic (classical) philosophy. The early twentieth century philosophers, Edmund Husserl and Martin Heidegger, conceived a phenomenological method of interpretation which innovatively placed the subject and object in a dialectical union. Understanding the Collects phenomenologically presents new insights susceptible to consensus within a community. At present, the Collects are structured on the principles of classical (dichotomous) ontology. The Collects reflect the collective religious meaning of the life-world and provide a vision upon which a community may build. In phenomenological interpretation an individual and a community, in the presence of that which is divine, participate as co-creators of the life-world. Thus, in contemporary western society phenomenological methodology ~ay be more helpful and therefore more desirable than scholastic methodology for theological interpretation. The hypothesis that phenomenological philosophy is more helpful, thus more desirable, than scholastic philosopl1y began as a hunch on my part. From a theological perspective, I examined data obtained from a particular focus group. Intelligent reflection, phenomenologically not classically understood, is a working principle in this thesis. / Taking into account phenomenological methodology and conceptualising the problem as originally and scientifically as circumstances permit, I offer a resolution to the dissatisfaction with the Collects. I suggest replacing scholastic ontological understanding with the more helpful phenomenological ontological understanding in liturgical interpretation. This replacement-solution hypothesis is evidenced in this study minimally, but sufficiently, to conclude that such replacement is occurring in theological understanding. There are clear existential intimations of a shift from classical understanding to phenomenological understanding. The results of the survey show traditional understanding to be favoured, however. In the concluding remarks, I evaluate my findings and suggest what direction future studies may take. / Philosophy, Practical & Systematic Theology / D. Th. (Practical Theology)

A lot has been written on the development of the Shona novel and the influence of orature on it. This research while acknowledging the importance of such an observation makes yet another one. This other view is that there is also another element that has had a significant impact on the development and growth of the Shona novel. This research has endeavoured to highlight that the Shona novel is a product of the society where it is found which is influenced by The Bible. The novelists Chakaipa, Chidzero, Makari, Musengezi, Tsodzo, Zvarevashe and Ngugi wa Thiong'o's A Grain of Wheat which has been translated into Shona as Tsanga Yembeu have used The Bible as the backbone of their novels. Although these novelists have all used The Bible they have not used it in the same way and for the same purpose. They have used The Bible to justify the themes embedded in their works. This research at the end shows that it is difficult to label a literary product as either a success or a failure. / African Languages / M.A. (African Languages)

There is dissatisfaction with the Collects when scholastically (classically) understood. An alternative phenomenological understanding is an engaging and artistic philosophical enquiry. Phenomenological philosophical enquiry engages the individual in meaningful interpretation and construction of the life-world founded on a non-dichotomous ontology. Phenomenological enquiry (existential philosophy) interprets the present and relates to the future such as is not possible in scholastic (classical) philosophy. The early twentieth century philosophers, Edmund Husserl and Martin Heidegger, conceived a phenomenological method of interpretation which innovatively placed the subject and object in a dialectical union. Understanding the Collects phenomenologically presents new insights susceptible to consensus within a community. At present, the Collects are structured on the principles of classical (dichotomous) ontology. The Collects reflect the collective religious meaning of the life-world and provide a vision upon which a community may build. In phenomenological interpretation an individual and a community, in the presence of that which is divine, participate as co-creators of the life-world. Thus, in contemporary western society phenomenological methodology ~ay be more helpful and therefore more desirable than scholastic methodology for theological interpretation. The hypothesis that phenomenological philosophy is more helpful, thus more desirable, than scholastic philosopl1y began as a hunch on my part. From a theological perspective, I examined data obtained from a particular focus group. Intelligent reflection, phenomenologically not classically understood, is a working principle in this thesis. / Taking into account phenomenological methodology and conceptualising the problem as originally and scientifically as circumstances permit, I offer a resolution to the dissatisfaction with the Collects. I suggest replacing scholastic ontological understanding with the more helpful phenomenological ontological understanding in liturgical interpretation. This replacement-solution hypothesis is evidenced in this study minimally, but sufficiently, to conclude that such replacement is occurring in theological understanding. There are clear existential intimations of a shift from classical understanding to phenomenological understanding. The results of the survey show traditional understanding to be favoured, however. In the concluding remarks, I evaluate my findings and suggest what direction future studies may take. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / D. Th. (Practical Theology)