This study examines the baptismal practices of the early Christian community using Tertullian’s ethical text on baptism in relation to his other writings to dialogue with the Roman Catholic understanding of baptism, original sin and grace. Tertullian referring to the sacramental form of baptism that is done with water, held that baptism is indispensable for salvation because it imparts the grace that washes away original sin and makes someone a Christian; and capable of attaining a matured Christian life. At the moment, the Roman Catholic Church does not confer baptism of water on polygamists, and subsequently fails to admit them to her sacramental life because of their polygamous relations. This raises a question regarding the salvation of these polygamous families. How do they receive baptismal grace and become part of the church? This study argues that church and baptism were inseparable right from the beginning of Christianity in the New Testament. People became members of the church by the fact of their baptism. This study does a hermeneutical retrieval of the early church’s teaching on baptism and original sin in the light of Tertullian as the pillar of western theology. The study concludes by invoking pastoral consideration to baptize polygamous families (husband and wives) who married before converting to the faith. They are not to enter into any new marriage after baptism since they have received Christ in their state. “Go and sin no more,” says Christ. / Dissertation (MA Theol)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / gm2014 / Church History and Church Policy / unrestricted

Thesis presents diocesan clergy reformed by the Council of Trent in a way of historical- liturgical probe: requirements set on secular clergy and external expression of these demands with the clerical dress - cassock. The work knowingly preserves historical and theological planes: firstly it brings basic points for institution of the sacrament of priesthood (Levitical priesthood of the Old Testament, priesthood of the New Covenant and its further rethinking), then it comes with contextual establishment of the Council of Trent (convening, process, discussed themes, follow-up reception of the Council decrees) and its results mainly in a relation to the clergy (theological grasp of the clergy). The thesis subsequently outlines position of the clergymen as a state, upon which society and country put certain clearly defined requirements. The treatise itself then shows individual demands lain on clergymen from the Church reformed by Tridentinum (formation in seminary, self conception of the clergy). All these specific demands are reflected in a stringently designed form of the clerical clothing meant for everyday wear. In this context the work brings inspiration both for creation of the professional clerical clothing and its influence on appearence of the religious habits and finally comparison with...

Manželství z křesťanského pohledu Marriage from a Christian Perspective Šárka Ambrosio This work is based on the provisions of the biblical creation of man (as male and female) and the concept of marriage in the New and Old Testament. I reflected on the legal status of marriage in modern society and the provision of marriage according to the order of the Roman Catholic Church, the Czechoslovak Hussite Church society and the Christian community center as well as comparing their views on marriage and their wedding ceremonies. This literal work is divided into two parts. The first section is a biblical description of marriage from the old and new testament and its perspective regarding marriage from these three individual churches. The second section describes ten moral values of a healthy Christian marriage from my own personal observations and studies from the Bible. This chapter may be an inspiration to many people and to their marriages. The various questions about marriage are answered in the Bible. Every marriage has the chance to resolve its own issues for a healthy and satisfying relationship. The aim of this work was not only to describe marriage from the three different Churches, but also to show people that if two individuals share a common faith and have core values, the greater chance they...

The thesis traces the beginnings of these reformation movements: Waldensians, Hussites, Unity of Brethren, Lutherans and Anabaptists. It also deals with the situation in Roman Catholic church since all the movements spring out of it. Furthermore the author is answering the question whether these movements have a common denominator, that links them together. If the answer is yes the author also covers what preconditions are necessary for the reformation to occur. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

Pope Francis, who was elected 13th March, 2013 after the unexpected resignation of Pope Benedict XVI., became in a short time one of the world's most popular leaders ever because of his behavior and demeanor. Also world mass media played a big part in it as Pope Francis became a very important media personality. Also he contributed heavily to this fact by using the media intensively himself. He continues in the footsteps of his predecessors, he extensively uses all the media possibilities he can reach and since becoming the Pope he collaborates with a team of media experts who successfully help with his communication strategy. This master thesis titled "Media image of Pope Francis in Czech Daily Press" and it attempts to capture the person of Pope Francis and the reasons for his success and general popularity and to outline how much medialized he actually is in our country, which ranks amongst the secularized states. The pivotal part of the text therefore constitutes of the quantitative content analysis, which focuses on the media coverage of the Pope in the four most widely read Czech Daily Press (MF Dnes, Lidové noviny, Hospodářské noviny and Právo) and thus try to interpret his media image, of how Czech society might perceive him.

O presente trabalho é um estudo sobre as memórias de participantes de Comunidades Eclesiais de Base (CEBs) numa região paroquial de Santo André. Trata-se de tentar compreender as relações dialéticas entre a vida social e a subjetividade das pessoas que narram suas lembranças. Foi escolhido o procedimento de História Oral de Vida, a fim de captar o conjunto das experiências vividas, desde a infância até o momento presente, ao longo de suas trajetórias e reconstruídas na narrativa memorial de cada um. Os narradores percorrem suas lembranças, unindo-as a reflexões, avaliações, explicações e interpretações que tendem à formação de um sentido totalizante de vida. A fé, os compromissos sociais e políticos, os espaços, as relações sociais, os desenvolvimentos humanos, as respostas às dificuldades, os valores, o trabalho, as relações com o tempo e com os testemunhos pessoais, são alguns dos aspectos destacados das memórias neste estudo. O pesquisador constrói, com os narradores, algumas reflexões acerca dos aspectos que emergem das memórias, tendo a companhia de autores como Ecléa Bosi, Maurice Halbwachs, Karl Marx, István Mészáros, José Moura G. Filho, Guimarães Rosa, os teólogos da libertação, entre outros. O estudo teve como eixo 4 sujeitos e suas histórias de vida, enriquecidas por observações em espaços diversos e convivências com muitos outros participantes de movimentos e grupos afins às CEBs, especialmente no ABC. / This study is about the memories of the participants of Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) in a parish area in Santo André. The aim of this work is to understand the dialectical relationship between social life and the subjectivity of the persons who narrate their recollections. In order to capture the totality of life experiences from childhood until the present time (as they are rebuilt in the individual memorial narrative), the method employed is Oral History of Life. Narrators travel through their memories and unite them to reflections, critical evaluations, explanations and interpretations which tend to form a totalizing sense of life. Aspects as faith, political and social commitments, social relations and spaces, human developments, responses when faced with difficulties, values, work and the relationship with time and personal testimonies have all emerged from the recollections here gathered. The researcher builds some reflections with the narrators about the elements which arise from their narrated memories, resorting to authors such as Ecléa Bosi, Maurice Halbwachs, Karl Marx, István Mészáros, José Moura G. Filho, Guimarães Rosa, liberation theologists and others. This study is based on four individuals and their life histories and was enriched by observations in several different spaces and by the close personal relationship with many other militants of groups and movements related to the BECs, particularly in the region of ABC.

O presente trabalho é um estudo sobre as memórias de participantes de Comunidades Eclesiais de Base (CEBs) numa região paroquial de Santo André. Trata-se de tentar compreender as relações dialéticas entre a vida social e a subjetividade das pessoas que narram suas lembranças. Foi escolhido o procedimento de História Oral de Vida, a fim de captar o conjunto das experiências vividas, desde a infância até o momento presente, ao longo de suas trajetórias e reconstruídas na narrativa memorial de cada um. Os narradores percorrem suas lembranças, unindo-as a reflexões, avaliações, explicações e interpretações que tendem à formação de um sentido totalizante de vida. A fé, os compromissos sociais e políticos, os espaços, as relações sociais, os desenvolvimentos humanos, as respostas às dificuldades, os valores, o trabalho, as relações com o tempo e com os testemunhos pessoais, são alguns dos aspectos destacados das memórias neste estudo. O pesquisador constrói, com os narradores, algumas reflexões acerca dos aspectos que emergem das memórias, tendo a companhia de autores como Ecléa Bosi, Maurice Halbwachs, Karl Marx, István Mészáros, José Moura G. Filho, Guimarães Rosa, os teólogos da libertação, entre outros. O estudo teve como eixo 4 sujeitos e suas histórias de vida, enriquecidas por observações em espaços diversos e convivências com muitos outros participantes de movimentos e grupos afins às CEBs, especialmente no ABC. / This study is about the memories of the participants of Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) in a parish area in Santo André. The aim of this work is to understand the dialectical relationship between social life and the subjectivity of the persons who narrate their recollections. In order to capture the totality of life experiences from childhood until the present time (as they are rebuilt in the individual memorial narrative), the method employed is Oral History of Life. Narrators travel through their memories and unite them to reflections, critical evaluations, explanations and interpretations which tend to form a totalizing sense of life. Aspects as faith, political and social commitments, social relations and spaces, human developments, responses when faced with difficulties, values, work and the relationship with time and personal testimonies have all emerged from the recollections here gathered. The researcher builds some reflections with the narrators about the elements which arise from their narrated memories, resorting to authors such as Ecléa Bosi, Maurice Halbwachs, Karl Marx, István Mészáros, José Moura G. Filho, Guimarães Rosa, liberation theologists and others. This study is based on four individuals and their life histories and was enriched by observations in several different spaces and by the close personal relationship with many other militants of groups and movements related to the BECs, particularly in the region of ABC.

In 1936 the founders of PAX aimed at 'resistance to modern warfare on grounds of traditional morality'. Believing that 'just war' criteria could no longer be met, they called themselves pacifists. Although most members were Roman Catholic Pax did not claim to be a 'Catholic society' because the RC Church at that time took an opposing view, particularly of conscientious objection. Church authorities attempted to censor Pax literature and instructed clergy to resign from the society. Pax supported conscientious objectors during the Second World War. When membership declined afterwards it continued to publish the Pax Bulletin and to provide a forum where Catholics could debate theological and practical questions of war and peace. By the 1960s Pax had gained some distinguished sponsors and a branch in the United States - support which enabled it to influence debate at the Second Vatican Council in 1965. The Council endorsed the right to conscientious objection. In 1971 Pax merged with Pax Christi, the international Catholic peace organisation which began in France in 1944/45. This is the first detailed historical study of the Roman Catholic element in the British peace movement. The story of Pax demonstrates the part that even a small pressure group can play in changing public opinion through patient work. Eventually, despite apathy and opposition, Pax helped bring the RC Church to a recognition of the right to conscientious objection and played a crucial role in the development of a more widespread peace movement within the Church

According to the directives of Lgr11, learning about Christianity should be an important part of religious education in secondary school (7th-9th grade) in Sweden. A school teacher must therefore have good knowledge of the field and of different aspects of the beliefs of the various Christian traditions. This essay is about how salvation is conceived of by two members of the laity in each of three different Christian traditions: the Syriac Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Sweden (which is Lutheran). As a theoretical perspective for my analysis, I have chosen the official views of salvation of these three churches. That is to say, views of the members of the laity have been compared with the official views of the respective churches. It is thus a very limited qualitative study aiming at finding out how the views of the laity conform to the official creed concerning salvation and whether there are any differences here between the churches. The result of this essay is that there were few differences and a lot of similarities between the laity belief in the relation to the official doctrines of salvation. Only among the protestant laity differences were prominent.

Cette thèse a pour but d’analyser l’engagement institutionnel de l’Église catholique et des groupes pentecôtistes sur le terrain politique et agraire du Brésil à partir de l’organisation de la Conférence nationale des évêques du Brésil (CNBB) en 1952. Nous discutons la façon dont l’Église catholique commence la lutte d’abord pour « alphabétiser » et « rapprocher » ses fidèles perdus par l’idéologie socialiste développée par les ligues paysannes, puis pour empêcher l’accroissement du front communiste dans les campagnes. L’engagement social de l’Église catholique n’est pas désintéressé car les militaires brésiliens, avec l’aide américaine, déclarent le « coup d’État » en 1964. L’Église catholique brésilienne se divise en deux pôles, progressiste et conservateur. Le côté progressiste de la théologie de la libération se voit empêché et interdit par Rome. Mais cette minorité religieuse arrive à créer la Commission pastorale de la terre (CPT) qui contribuera au retour de la démocratie, à la création du Parti des travailleurs (PT) en 1980, considéré alors comme le parti de Dieu, et du Mouvement des paysans sans terre en 1984. / This thesis aims to analyse the institutional engagement of the Roman Catholic Church and other Pentecostal groups, regarding the land reform and agrarian policies launched in Brazil after the organisation of the Brazil’s Conference of Catholic Bishops (CNBB) held in 1952. We underline that it is necessary to highlight the way how the Roman Catholic Church started its actions by “teaching to read and write” and “recovering” their members those who were dragged into the socialist ideology developed by peasant’s leagues, in order to prevent the growing of the communist front in the countryside. At that time, the catholic’s social movement objectives were under eminent danger, due the Brazilian army aided by the U.S. government, declared a coup in 1964. The Roman Catholic Church in Brazil is divided into two wings: a left and a conservative. The left wing has launched the “Liberation Theology” prohibited by the head of the church in Rome. However, this religious left minority succeeded by organizing the Land’s Pastoral Commission, which contributed to the return of democracy, as well as the organization of the Worker’s Party in 1980, considered by the believers as the God’s will and the foundation of the Landless Worker’s Movement in 1984.