This research pursues the use of the Bible in counseling. The focus is to identify the different theological paradigms in which the Bible is used and the different ways that counsellors make use of the Bible in therapy. It also pursues the experiences that the clients had of such counsellors in the use of the Bible. Therapists and clients from different theological backgrounds partake in this study. An overview is given of the shift that is taking place from a modern to a postmodern approach about reality, truth, and knowledge and the effect there of on the use of the Bible in therapy. The aim of the research is to explore if an evangelical christian in a postmodern context can make use of the Bible as the inspired word of God. The implication of this can be profound for pastoral therapy. A narrative paradigm is adopted to dicuss the discourses that evolved from the research. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th. (Pastoral Therapy)

This thesis examines the representation of weeping rulers in early medieval sources, focusing on the Carolingian empire between 790 and 888. The meanings applied to tears are culturally specific: thus, exploring how, why, when and where rulers cried can illuminate the dynamics of power and ideals of kingship in this period. This thesis provides a survey of a poorly understood phenomenon. It also challenges several assumptions about the nature of early medieval power. Rulers wept not only over their own sins (a well-recognised phenomenon), but also over the sins of others and out of a desire for heavenly glory. Thus, they wept in a ‘monastic' or ‘priestly' way. This was something associated more with certain rulers than others. As such, tears can be used as a lens through which developments in ideas about the relationship between secular rulers and the ecclesiastical hierarchy can be traced. The thesis is divided into six sections. The historiographical importance of this topic is discussed in the introduction. Chapter one assesses the understanding of tears in biblical, Roman and Merovingian sources. Chapter two focuses on the representation of tears in texts associated with the court of Charlemagne (d. 814). Chapter three explores how authors loyal to Louis the Pious (d. 840) used tears to respond to criticisms of him and his wife, the Empress Judith (d. 843). Chapter four turns to exegetical material written between 820 and 860 and examines how biblical rulers were represented weeping. In particular, the reception of these previously unrecognised images in royal courts and their influence on narrative sources will be considered. Chapter five explores sources from the later ninth century, focusing particularly on the writings of Hincmar of Reims (d. 882) and Notker of St Gall (d. 912). Chapter six considers tears in three case studies drawn from post=Carolingian sources. Finally the concluding section outlines the significance of this thesis for our understanding of Carolingian and post Carolingian political culture and the history of weeping in the middle ages.

Text in German / Die vorliegende Forschungsarbeit beschäftigt sich mit der erlebnisorientierten Ausrichtung des geistlichen Lebensstils als Herausforderung für den Gemeindeaufbau in der Postmoderne. Die zunehmende Erlebnisorientierung der postmodernen Gesellschaft hat auch vor den Türen der Glaubensgemeinschaften in Deutschland und in der Schweiz nicht Halt gemacht. Die Folgen fordern von den Verantwortlichen der Gemeinden und Kirchen neue Überlegungen im Hinblick auf die bisherige Gemeindeaufbaupraxis. In diesem Prozess fällt auf, dass in Deutschland und in der Schweiz vor allem die Impulse der Church Growth Movement (CGM), insbesondere das Gemeindemodell der Willow Creek Community Church (WCCC) und der Saddleback Valley Community Church (SVCC), große Aufmerksamkeit erlangt haben. Einerseits werden die Gemeindemodelle vielerorts mit Begeisterung nachgeahmt, andererseits werden sie aber unter anderem wegen ihres Verhältnisses zur Erlebnisorientierung und wegen ihres Umgangs damit stark kritisiert. In der vorliegenden Forschungsarbeit wurden deshalb die Gemeinsamkeiten und Unterschiede bezüglich der erlebnisorientierten Ausrichtung des geistlichen Lebensstils der Gläubigen in den Partnergemeinden der Willow Creek Community Church und in den Nichtpartnergemeinden empirisch untersucht. Außerdem wurde geprüft, inwiefern soziostrukturelle Faktoren, insbesondere das Gemeindeumfeld, zur Generierung des erlebnisorientierten geistlichen Lebensstil beitragen und, inwiefern eine Wechselwirkung zwischen den Bestandteilen des geistlichen Lebensstils vorhanden ist. Die Ergebnisse der Forschungsarbeit ermöglichen eine empirisch-oikodomische Beurteilung der Gemeindeaufbaumodelle der CGM und die Entwicklung einer Vorgehensweise im Gemeindeaufbau in der Postmoderne, wodurch auf die zunehmende Erlebnisorientierung der Gesellschaft als Herausforderung in der Gemeindeaufbaupraxis entsprechend reagiert werden kann. The present research investigates the justification of an experience-orientated alignment of a spiritual lifestyle as a challenge for churchbuilding in postmodernity. The increasing experience-orientated behaviour in post-modern society did not stop at the gates of the churches in Germany and Switzerland. The results require, from those persons responsible in the congregations and churches, new deliberation and reflection with regard to the present practice of the promotion and development of church growth. When one looks at this process, it becomes apparent, that above all the stimuli from the Church Growth Movement (CGM), especially the church models of the Willow Creek Community Church (WCCC) and the Saddleback Valley Community Church (SVCC) gained huge attention in Germany and Switzerland. On the one hand the church models are emulated with great enthusiasm, on the other hand they are strongly criticised for their relationship with and handling of experience-orientated behaviour. The present research empirically examines and investigates the communalities and differences regarding the experience-orientated alignment of the spiritual lifestyle of the faithful believers from partner churches of the Willow Creek Community Church and non-partner churches. It was also examined and investigated to what degree socio-structural factors contributed to, particularly the congregational environment, with regards to the creation of the experience-orientated spiritual life style, and in how far an interaction exists between the various components of the spiritual lifestyle. The research findings facilitate an empirical-theological evaluation and assessment of the models of churchbuilding of the CGM and the development of an approach to churchbuilding in postmodernity. It is therefore possible to react to the increasing experience-orientation of the societal as a challenge in the churchbuilding. / Practical and Systematic Theology / D.Th. (Practical Theology)

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 292-313) : illustrations / This thesis examines the Experience of God in the Fourth Gospel (in this research, it is also called the Johannine Experience of God) by perceiving it from the perspective of the metaphoric Familia Dei, found in this Gospel. This examination is done in a three-step process: The first step consists of a literary review and a presentation of the methodology and approach employed in this research. It intends to set the thesis within the Johannine studies. The second step involves the articulation of essential considerations on Religious Experience, the Johannine Community, and the Fourth Gospel. This articulation has two aims: First, to acquire a deeper understanding of the background of the Johannine Experience of God, and second, to point out the functionality of this Gospel’s narrative in constituting this experience. The third step comprises the following suggestion and the elaboration on its constituents: - The Johannine Experience of God consists of two components: the first one is the initiative of God the Father conveyed by Jesus Christ, perpetuated by the Holy Spirit, and as it is recorded in the Fourth Gospel. And the second one is the response of the believers (John’s readers) to this initiative by accepting the Son and journeying spiritually under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. - The Johannine Experience of God can be perceived from the perspective of the Familia Dei metaphoric found in the Fourth Gospel. - The narrative of the Fourth Gospel has the ability to constitute an experience of God and accordingly creates spirituality, once it is read or heard. This thesis aims to generate a deeper understanding of the spirituality of the Fourth Gospel at one level, and to offer an acceptable general insight about the Johannine Spirituality at another, hoping that its findings become an inspiration for future studies. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / D. Th. (Christian spirituality)