Cancer is a life threatening and hope inhibiting disease. Furthermore, as in the case of breast cancer and the concomitant loss of an intimate body part, it is an identity threatening disease. The disease, the mastectomy, as well as the treatment place high demands on the process of hope for the whole family. In various ways, the family is constantly busy constructing a hopeful story for the future. Hope develops from a conjunction of a rich variety of factors that consciously or unconsciously have an influence on the process of hope. For the Christian, faith is first and foremost anchored in God and his Word. Our hope grows, in various ways, when our own story becomes one with God’s Story of Hope. Many people with cancer experience spiritual growth, a transformation of faith narratives, and get to know God in a way that would not have been possible in any other conditions. However, hope is not only spiritual hope. Hope also grows in relationships in a social constructionist process. The woman who had undergone a mastectomy and experiences unconditional acceptance in various ways of support by family members and friends, can, as a result, construct a hopeful story for the future. Acceptance of the inevitable that is happening to her, as well as the consequential self-acceptance, helps her to establish a new identity. The ability to experience loss as only a small part of one’s self-identity is crucial for the process of emotional healing. During this process of healing, hope prospers. Positivism and hope are closely related and realism is always coupled with positivism. Hope is ingrained in reality. Positive, realistic people are able to make choices that will result in hope. In this freedom of choice lies the potential to transform a personal tragedy into a triumph. A viable system of belief with regard to the purpose of life of human existence, helps in creating a foundation of hope in a person’s life. The belief that a person’s existence is purposeful, despite the inevitable tragedies of life, equips the human being to live to the full, amidst tragedies. The return of a sense of humor is one of the most secure signs of a healthy recovery. Hope is stimulated within ourselves and others when we are able to laugh at ourselves and with others, amidst sad conditions. Reconstruction can be regarded as an aid in the process of growth of hope concerning the woman’s body image, providing her with feelings of balance and completeness, and enhancing her feeling of being a woman. Shared hope is one of the strongest sources of hope for people with cancer. To be able to talk to someone who had personally suffered from and outlived breast cancer has more value than merely taking note of the statistics of survivors. People suffering from cancer also experience oases of hope in things like a book that is significant to their situation, relationships, an unexpected meeting with a breast cancer survivor, or her work. Hope also becomes manifest in nature as a symbol of life and hope, in participation in research studies, in a reliable doctor. Even more hope will be established if all women have the privilege of having breast examinations performed at breast clinics where professional and sympathetic people can announce the diagnosis in cases where cancer is indeed diagnosed. Various treatment options can be discussed. Time can be made available to prepare the entire household and provide peace of mind for the children. / Thesis (PhD (Pastoral Family Therapy))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

Text in Afrikaans / Die Wetenskap filosofiese en prakties teologiese posisionering word deur 'n postmoderne benadering bepaal. Met die doel van die studie naamlik, dekonstruksie van die teologiese diskoers, liefde, in die oog, volg 'n blik op kwalitatiewe navorsing. Sosiale konstruksie diskoers word as epistemologiese vertrekpunt bespreek. Metodologies het die keuse op 'n narratiewe benadering geval. Voortvloeiend hieruit volg die gebruik van metafore, eksternalisering en dekonstruksie van die gesprekke. Die doel van die studie vereis ook bestudering van verskeie sienings oor liefde. Die literatuurstudie word bespreek onder die volgende metafore, naamlik algemene sienings, 'n historiese oorsig en teologiese sienings. Die relevansie van die gekose inligting word weerspieel in die gesprekke. Met behulp van veelvuldige reflekterende gesprekke word saam met gesinne gekonstrueer aan 'n nuwe verstaan van liefde. / Both the Scientific Philosophical and the practical theological positioning are determined by a postmodemistic approach. Keeping in mind the aim of this study, namely the deconstruction of the theological discourse, iove, a view on qualitative research is given. A review of social construction discourse as epistemological starting point is given. Methodologically a narrative approach was used. Emanating from this follows the use of metaphors, externalization and deconstruction of the interviews. The aim of this study also demands the study of various views on love. The study is arranged under the following metaphors, namely general views, a historic review and theological views. The relevance of the chosen information is reflected in the interviews, and new understanding of love is constructed in collaboration with the families. / M.Th.(Practical theology)

Text in Afrikaans / Die Wetenskap filosofiese en prakties teologiese posisionering word deur 'n postmoderne benadering bepaal. Met die doel van die studie naamlik, dekonstruksie van die teologiese diskoers, liefde, in die oog, volg 'n blik op kwalitatiewe navorsing. Sosiale konstruksie diskoers word as epistemologiese vertrekpunt bespreek. Metodologies het die keuse op 'n narratiewe benadering geval. Voortvloeiend hieruit volg die gebruik van metafore, eksternalisering en dekonstruksie van die gesprekke. Die doel van die studie vereis ook bestudering van verskeie sienings oor liefde. Die literatuurstudie word bespreek onder die volgende metafore, naamlik algemene sienings, 'n historiese oorsig en teologiese sienings. Die relevansie van die gekose inligting word weerspieel in die gesprekke. Met behulp van veelvuldige reflekterende gesprekke word saam met gesinne gekonstrueer aan 'n nuwe verstaan van liefde. / Both the Scientific Philosophical and the practical theological positioning are determined by a postmodemistic approach. Keeping in mind the aim of this study, namely the deconstruction of the theological discourse, iove, a view on qualitative research is given. A review of social construction discourse as epistemological starting point is given. Methodologically a narrative approach was used. Emanating from this follows the use of metaphors, externalization and deconstruction of the interviews. The aim of this study also demands the study of various views on love. The study is arranged under the following metaphors, namely general views, a historic review and theological views. The relevance of the chosen information is reflected in the interviews, and new understanding of love is constructed in collaboration with the families. / M.Th.(Practical theology)

Afrikaans text, with Afrikaans and English summaries / Despite legislation to the effect intended to ensure the position of the disabled in society, disabled persons still find themselves largely marginalized in the South African context. During this research a group of about twenty participants, of whom about one-half are disabled, were involved in an inclusive process of art-making. The aim of the research was to challenge the dominant discourse which holds that making art is only for the select, talented few. This research was undertaken according to the scientific guidelines of practical theology. Contextual theology was used as a starting point, with emphasis on the participatory- and narrative approaches. The characteristics of pastoral care created an atmosphere which was conducive to the disabled participants discovering and developing hope for a more rewarding future. The research culminated in an exhibition in a national museum, which could contribute to an additional dimension in the narrative of the disabled participants. / Ten spyte van wetgewing om die inklusiewe posisie van die gestremde in die samelewing te verseker, is gestremdes in die Suid Afrikaanse konteks nog grootliks gemarginaliseerd. Vanuit hierdie gemarginaliseerde posisie vind gestremdes dit moeilik en dikwels onmoontlik om hul unieke potensiaal te ontwikkel om sodoende 'n beter lewenskwaliteit lewe te vestig. 'n Groep van ongeveer twintig deelnemers, waarvan die helfte gestremd is, is tydens hierdie navorsing in 'n inklusiewe konteks van kunsmaak betrek. Die doel van die navorsing is om diskoerse uit te daag wat bepaal dat kunsmaak net vir unieke, talentvolle mense beskore was. Teen die agtergrond van 'n postmoderne epistemologie kon gestremdes sonder vooraf opgestelde reels en regulasies uiting gee aan hul verbeelding en sodoende waaghalsig wees in die proses van kunsmaak. Hierdie navorsing het plaasgevind volgens die wetenskaplike riglyne van praktiese teologie. Kontekstuele teologie is as 'n teologiese vertrekpunt gebruik, met die klem op die deelnemende en narratiewe benaderings. Sodoende is ruimte geskep vir die ontdekking sowel as die ontwikkeling van die potensiaal van die gestremde. Die eienskappe van pastorale sorg het 'n atmosfeer tydens die kunsmaaksessies geskep waarbinne die deelnemers in 'n veilige konteks hoop op 'n bykomstige realiteit en 'n beter toekoms kon ontdek en ontwikkel. Die navorsing het gekulmineer in 'n kunsuitstalling in 'n nasionale museum wat kan bydra tot 'n bykomstige dimensie in die verhaal en identiteit van die gestremdes. / Practical Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology eith specialisation in Pastoral Therapy)

Afrikaans text, with Afrikaans and English summaries / Despite legislation to the effect intended to ensure the position of the disabled in society, disabled persons still find themselves largely marginalized in the South African context. During this research a group of about twenty participants, of whom about one-half are disabled, were involved in an inclusive process of art-making. The aim of the research was to challenge the dominant discourse which holds that making art is only for the select, talented few. This research was undertaken according to the scientific guidelines of practical theology. Contextual theology was used as a starting point, with emphasis on the participatory- and narrative approaches. The characteristics of pastoral care created an atmosphere which was conducive to the disabled participants discovering and developing hope for a more rewarding future. The research culminated in an exhibition in a national museum, which could contribute to an additional dimension in the narrative of the disabled participants. / Ten spyte van wetgewing om die inklusiewe posisie van die gestremde in die samelewing te verseker, is gestremdes in die Suid Afrikaanse konteks nog grootliks gemarginaliseerd. Vanuit hierdie gemarginaliseerde posisie vind gestremdes dit moeilik en dikwels onmoontlik om hul unieke potensiaal te ontwikkel om sodoende 'n beter lewenskwaliteit lewe te vestig. 'n Groep van ongeveer twintig deelnemers, waarvan die helfte gestremd is, is tydens hierdie navorsing in 'n inklusiewe konteks van kunsmaak betrek. Die doel van die navorsing is om diskoerse uit te daag wat bepaal dat kunsmaak net vir unieke, talentvolle mense beskore was. Teen die agtergrond van 'n postmoderne epistemologie kon gestremdes sonder vooraf opgestelde reels en regulasies uiting gee aan hul verbeelding en sodoende waaghalsig wees in die proses van kunsmaak. Hierdie navorsing het plaasgevind volgens die wetenskaplike riglyne van praktiese teologie. Kontekstuele teologie is as 'n teologiese vertrekpunt gebruik, met die klem op die deelnemende en narratiewe benaderings. Sodoende is ruimte geskep vir die ontdekking sowel as die ontwikkeling van die potensiaal van die gestremde. Die eienskappe van pastorale sorg het 'n atmosfeer tydens die kunsmaaksessies geskep waarbinne die deelnemers in 'n veilige konteks hoop op 'n bykomstige realiteit en 'n beter toekoms kon ontdek en ontwikkel. Die navorsing het gekulmineer in 'n kunsuitstalling in 'n nasionale museum wat kan bydra tot 'n bykomstige dimensie in die verhaal en identiteit van die gestremdes. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology eith specialisation in Pastoral Therapy)