Thesis (DTh)--University of Stellenbosch, 1998. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study is concerned with integrated spirituality. Spirituality is understood as a life orientation
that presents itself both in worship and in a re-ordering of the elements of a
person's life to a growing correspondence with the reality presented in worship. It finds
expression in a web of relationships between God, the particular individual, the other
and creation. Integrated spirituality is spirituality that is equally serious about God and
our life in the material world, and it refuses to separate these two passions.
God is the constitutive reality of Christian spirituality. He is the source of perspective
and energy for Christian spirituality. However, the shape of spirituality is co-determined
by factors from material existence, such as context, confessional tradition, narratives
(both personal narratives and narratives of one's community) and the personal make-up
of an individual. Any congregational strategy that aims at facilitating integrated
spirituality, needs to incorporate both these aspects of spirituality. Nonetheless, it will
have to give priority to the focus on God, but in such a way that the focus on material
life retains full attention.
The spirituality that we encounter in the Psalter is a clear example of integrated
spirituality. Both the subject-matter and the editorial structure of the Psalter exhibit a
passion for God and full attention to the concrete realities of daily life. As such, they
present us with a valuable tool for facilitating integrated spirituality.
We contend that the strategy of using the Psalms as prayers in congregations will have a
distinct impact on the kind of spirituality that will evolve in these congregations. The
Psalms can be used as prayers in liturgical and pastoral contexts, as well as in the private
devotions of members of congregations. Praying the Psalms in these contexts will lead
to integrated spirituality. However, this will depend on a number of prerequisites: The
Psalms should be prayed from a proper understanding of their meaning and inner
dynamics. Additionally, the whole spectrum of meaning found in the Psalms should
become part of the prayer life of a congregation. If a congregation attains this, the result
will be growth in integrated spirituality. Our exploration into the dynamics of
spirituality as well as our overview of the Psalter's dual focus on God and life in the
material world, forms the basis for this conviction. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsing handel oor geintegreerde spiritualiteit. Spiritualiteit word verstaan as
'n lewensorientasie wat uitdrukking vind in beide aanbidding en in die herrangskikking
van die elemente van 'n persoon se lewe tot 'n groeiende ooreenkoms met die
werklikheid wat in aanbidding voorgehou word. Dit kom tot uitdrukking in 'n web van
verhoudinge tussen God, die betrokke individu, die ander en die skepping.
Geintegreerde spiritualiteit is spiritualiteit met ewe veel erns oor God en oor die lewe in
die materiele wereld, en wat weier om hierdie twee belange te skei.
God is die grondliggende werklikheid van Christelike spiritualiteit. Hy is die bron van
perspektief en energie vir Christelike spiritualiteit. Die gestalte van spiritualiteit word
egter medebepaal deur faktore uit die materiele lewe, soos konteks, konfessionele
tradisie, narratiewe (beide persoonlike narratiewe en die narratiewe van iemand se
gemeenskap) en die persoonlikheidstruktuur van 'n individu. Enige gemeentelike
strategie wat geintegreerde spiritualiteit wil fasiliteer, moet beide hierdie aspekte van
spiritualiteit insluit. Dit sal egter aan die fokus op God prioriteit moet gee, maar op so
'n wyse dat die fokus op die konkrete aardse lewe volle aandag bly geniet.
Die spiritualiteit wat ons in die Psalms aantref, is 'n duidelike voorbeeld van
geintegreerde spiritualiteit. Beide die inhoud en die redaksionele struktuur van die
Psalms vertoon 'n passie vir God en 'n totale ingesteldheid op die konkrete werklikhede
van die alledaagse lewe. As sodanig bied hulle vir ons 'n waardevolle instrument
waarmee ons geintegreerde spiritualiteit kan fasiliteer.
Ons voer aan dat die strategie om die Psalms as gebede in gemeentes te gebruik 'n
merkbare impak sal he op die tipe spiritualiteit wat in hierdie gemeentes sal groei. Die
Psalms kan gebruik word as gebede in liturgiese en pastorale kontekste, en ook in die
persoonlike gebedstye van gemeentelede. Die bid van die Psalms in hierdie kontekste
sal lei tot geintegreerde spiritualiteit. Dit sal egter van 'n aantal vereistes afhang: Die
Psalms moet gebid word vanuit 'n behoorlike begrip vir hulle betekenis en innerlike
dinamika. Verder moet die hele betekenisspektrum van die Psalms deel word van die
gebedslewe van die gemeente. As'n gemeente hieraan voldoen, sal daar groei in
geintegreerde spiritualiteit wees. Die grondslag van hierdie oortuiging word gevorm
deur ons verkenning van die dinamika van spiritualiteit, sowel as ons oorsig oor die
Psalms se dubbele fokus op God en lewe in die materiele wereld.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/15527 |
| Date | 10 1900 |
| Creators | Ludik, Cornelius Breda, Hendriks, H. J. |
| Contributors | University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology and Missiology, A-6024-2012 |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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