The aim of the text is a description of the causes of creation, functioning and especially activities, of "Moravian" hidden Church. For these purposes 16 interviews were collected using oral history method. These interviews were analyzed through Grounded theory method. As the basic factors affecting the activity of "Moravian" hidden Church the analysis indicated: the degree of openness of activities and measure of their own individual initiative. The thesis consists of five chapters. The introduction presents state of research, described the sources from which it was drawn, it also presented the methodology and definitions based on the methodology. The second chapter introducesthe basic terms fundamental for conceptual point of view. The third chapter describes the context changes and trends within the Catholic Church in the twentieth century, chronologically, of course, it also describes the situation of the Catholic Church in communist Czechoslovakia. The fourth chapter in the first part deals with hidden Church phenomenon in Czech landsand then brings the history, specifics and characteristics of "Moravian" branches, including the integration process. Then it analyzes the hidden church activities of "Moravian" branches, including theoretical model. The conclusion summarizes the findings arising from...

Criminal liability of Corporations Abstract Criminal liability of corporations is still a current topic of Czech legal theory and practice. In order to properly grasp this new institute within the Czech legal system, it is necessary to understand the very nature and basics of legal entities, their formation and further existence. Historically, legal entities have been perceived differently and a relatively complex legal-philosophical path has led to the inference of any liability for wrongdoings or torts. Although the criminal liability of corporations is not unknown to continental law, its decline during the 18th and 19th centuries has led to the disappearance of the legal continuity. That is why it may seem today that the introduction of direct criminal liability of corporations is something completely new and absolutely unknown to countries of continental legal tradition. In this work, the author presents a number of historical arguments as to why this is not the case and demonstrates that this institute was known throughout the legal systems throughout Europe. For a better understanding of the whole issue, the interpretation is guided from the very philosophical and legal-historical foundations of corporate theories, through their later development and finally to application by recent law. The core of...

This theoretical thesis is focused on mapping and comparing the leading psychological transpersonal approaches to the conception of development of consciousness of an individual. This research is exploring the theory of Ken Wilber, Michael Washburn and Stanislav Grof also paying attention to the main disagreement among them regarding the confusion of prepersonal and transpersonal spheres of consciousness. This disagreement is further elaborated in an effort to find a conclusion and to seek for an integrative theory. The theories are compared with regard to the findings about psychedelic experience. The psychedelic experience is psychologically elaborated with emphasis on the current scientific knowledge in the field and their embedding in the context of the developmental theories of consciousness taking the effort of unravelling the pre/trans fallacy and the clinical implications into account. KEYWORDS Developmental theory, consciousness, transpersonal, psychedelics, pre/trans fallacy

In this thesis we study various aspects of integrable methods in AdS3/CFT2 holog- raphy. These techniques come from exploiting special form of gauge compatible with asymptotic boundary conditions on the bulk fields in Chern Simons formulation of 3d gravity and higher spin theories. The integrable systems emerging are so called Toda field theories. The rigid structure of these theories allows us to learn more about certain gravitational solutions - multi centered solutions. One of the most interesting applications of the formalism developed is in the problem of black hole deconstruction and information paradox where we can read of the information about the temperature from the Toda field theory charges and. Aside of the gravitational applications we also study a vast generalization of the WZW to Toda field theory reduction and its connection to the Closed Toda systems. 1

This thesis is an account of our study of two branches of dynamical systems theory, namely the mean and pointwise ergodic theory. In our work on mean ergodic theorems, we investigate the spectral theory of integrable actions of a locally compact abelian group on a locally convex vector space. We start with an analysis of various spectral subspaces induced by the action of the group. This is applied to analyse the spectral theory of operators on the space generated by measures on the group. We apply these results to derive general Tauberian theorems that apply to arbitrary locally compact abelian groups acting on a large class of locally convex vector spaces which includes Fr echet spaces. We show how these theorems simplify the derivation of Mean Ergodic theorems. Next we turn to the topic of pointwise ergodic theorems. We analyse the Transfer Principle, which is used to generate weak type maximal inequalities for ergodic operators, and extend it to the general case of -compact locally compact Hausdor groups acting measure-preservingly on - nite measure spaces. We show how the techniques developed here generate various weak type maximal inequalities on di erent Banach function spaces, and how the properties of these function spaces in- uence the weak type inequalities that can be obtained. Finally, we demonstrate how the techniques developed imply almost sure pointwise convergence of a wide class of ergodic averages. Our investigations of these two parts of ergodic theory are uni ed by the techniques used - locally convex vector spaces, harmonic analysis, measure theory - and by the strong interaction of the nal results, which are obtained in greater generality than hitherto achieved. / PhD (Mathematics), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

This thesis is an account of our study of two branches of dynamical systems theory, namely the mean and pointwise ergodic theory. In our work on mean ergodic theorems, we investigate the spectral theory of integrable actions of a locally compact abelian group on a locally convex vector space. We start with an analysis of various spectral subspaces induced by the action of the group. This is applied to analyse the spectral theory of operators on the space generated by measures on the group. We apply these results to derive general Tauberian theorems that apply to arbitrary locally compact abelian groups acting on a large class of locally convex vector spaces which includes Fr echet spaces. We show how these theorems simplify the derivation of Mean Ergodic theorems. Next we turn to the topic of pointwise ergodic theorems. We analyse the Transfer Principle, which is used to generate weak type maximal inequalities for ergodic operators, and extend it to the general case of -compact locally compact Hausdor groups acting measure-preservingly on - nite measure spaces. We show how the techniques developed here generate various weak type maximal inequalities on di erent Banach function spaces, and how the properties of these function spaces in- uence the weak type inequalities that can be obtained. Finally, we demonstrate how the techniques developed imply almost sure pointwise convergence of a wide class of ergodic averages. Our investigations of these two parts of ergodic theory are uni ed by the techniques used - locally convex vector spaces, harmonic analysis, measure theory - and by the strong interaction of the nal results, which are obtained in greater generality than hitherto achieved. / PhD (Mathematics), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

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)

A notable paucity in practice interventions and literature currently exists in regard to self-support in first-time mothers. Recent literature and practice interventions seem to focus largely on social support resources, highlighting the deficiency in the investigation of self-support in first-time mothers as an integral and holistic concept and/or focus point for intervention. Literature continues to illustrate the many challenges first-time mothers encounter and therefore this study focuses on self-support experiences of the first-time mother in relation to her environment by providing an original stance of enquiry. The investigator aimed to explore and describe the experiences of self-support in first-time mothers in the Cape Metropole. The study was conducted qualitatively and according to an Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) research design. This provided the researcher with a dual method of investigation: The first undertaking was to describe actual accounts of the participants‟ self-support experiences, while the second was to give an interpretation of these accounts which would reflect their experiences in an understandable, yet authentic manner. The meta-theoretical framework of Gestalt Therapy Theory (GTT) was applied due to its holistic and integrative nature, while the additional theoretical frameworks of Self Determination Theory (SDT) and Positive Psychology (PP) served as contributors to deepen understanding. The sample consisted of thirteen first-time mothers from moderately diverse socio-economic backgrounds. The study succeeded in giving in-depth exploratory descriptions of their self-support experiences during the first two years of motherhood. Findings displayed that the participants‟ self-support cannot be separated from their constantly shifting environments and that self-support is an integrated and dynamic process of development. Internal elements as well as environmental factors prove to disrupt this process of self-support development. Vital components for developing self-support were assuming responsibility for own well-being as a mother; as well as arriving at insight. Joy and gratefulness as experienced by the participants were proven to serve as motivators to sustain self-support. The study further exhibits that a supportive relationship is able to exist between the first-time mother‟s self-support and her environment when she is able to effectively identify, reach out and utilise social support resources available in her environment. Self-support serves as an experiential process (as an alternative to a fixed outcome) where the first-time mother is able, through experience, to mature and become more self-supportive. Findings argue that ideal self-support during novel motherhood is the capability to be in a mature interactive relationship with the environment, constantly adapting according to the organisation of the environmental field. / MA (Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The numerous and varied conspiracy theories which circulate in the contemporary discourse are subject to hyperstition, insofar as they are grouped into wider, more elaborate structures. Some of them become hierarchic to such a degree, that they may, in Michael Barkun's typology, be labeled as "superconspiracy" constructs. No author is more prolific and systematic in the crafting of these constructs than the guru of anglophone conspiracy theory belief, David Icke. The work attempts to keep as its object of study the work of David Icke and his "reptoid hypothesis," as it is effectively one of the most elaborate and baroque conspiracy theories which populate contemporary political discourse. It is Icke's oeuvre which this thesis attempts to recontextualize within the confines of critical social theory and Žižekian psychoanalysis. The existence of a "paranoid style" as professed by Richard J. Hofstadter can be noted throughout the history of western culture, from the Homeric gods, scheming behind the scenes, to its modern incarnations culminating in the superconspiracy constructs of David Icke, Alex Jones, and others. The work focuses not on specific conspiracy theories and their claim to facticity, but rather attempts to trace the structural features of Icke's construct and establish their underlying...

The thesis proposes the New Queer Cinema chapter of film history as a paradigm of queer film's subversive practices. The theoretically and historically focused first part establishes the term queer, expounds its possible applications to film in the realm of queer film studies and in the third chapter critically introduces the 'new wave' of queer film New Queer Cinema. The analytical part assigns queer and its possible functions as its basis for inquiry. It consists of two parts: the first performs the formal-content analysis of the pivotal film Swoon (1992); the final chapter builds on its conclusions and examines the corpus of New Queer Cinema films along four analytical cuts in order to describe how they produce the queer discourse. The final output of the thesis is an open model of prospective approaches to queer film.