Thesis (MTh (Practical Theology and Missiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: During the study there was an attempt to understand the interplay between Christian faith and
Shona tradition in the quest for meaning within the HIV and AIDS pandemic. It was revealed
that HIV/AIDS has caused unimaginable suffering among all segments of society in Zimbabwe
but impacts more on women and children. The suffering caused by HIV and AIDS has inevitably
raised the question of meaning which is urgent and widespread, making people turn to the
Christian faith or to Shona tradition for answers to their suffering. During the study there was an
attempt to find out why Shona Christians revert to Shona traditions in quest for meaning within
the HIV and AIDS scourge. It has been revealed that one single answer does not exist and that
the quest for meaning as the sum total of answers does not exist. The quest for meaning is about
discovering a God-image which is appropriate to give meaning in suffering by being involved
and engaged with the existential realities of people within the HIV and AIDS pandemic. It was
made clear during the study that the quest for meaning within the HIV and AIDS pandemic has
greatly challenged both belief systems to the extent that the Shona Christians, not only revert to
tradition in quest for meaning but move back and forth, in and out of both belief systems and
remain confused about who God is. The dilemma for the Shona Christians in quest for meaning
therefore is a crisis of faith, a personal crisis of identity and a continuous search for meaning. In
light of this devastating pandemic, it is an undeniable fact that the quest for meaning among the
Shona Christians within the HIV and AIDS pandemic challenges the SDA church to reinterpret
and reframe pastoral theology in a way that is relevant to discovering a God who can be trusted
to give meaning in suffering. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In die studie is daar gepoog om die wisselwerking tussen die Christelike geloof en Shona tradisie
te verstaan – veral in die konteks van die soeke na betekenis binne die MIV/VIGS pandemie.
Daar is gevind dat MIV/VIGS ongekende lyding veroorsaak in alle sektore van die gemeenskap
in Zimbabwe, maar dat die impak daarvan groter is op vroue en kinders. Die lyding wat deur
MIV/VIGS veroorsaak word, het onvermydelik vrae laat ontstaan met betrekking tot die vraag na
betekenis. Hierdie vrae is dringend en wydversprei en veroorsaak dat mense hulle tot die
Christelike verloof of na die Shona tradisies wend vir antwoorde rakende hulle lyding. Daar is
gepoog om uit te vind hoekom Shona Christene hulle tot die Shona tradisie wend vir antwoorde
op hierdie kwessie. Daar is gevind dat daar nie een enkele antwoord vir hierdie verskynsel
bestaan nie, maar dat die soeke na betekenis eintlik 'n soeke na 'n Godsbeeld is wat betekenis sal
verleen deur betrokke te wees in die eksistensiële werklikhede van mense binne die MIV/VIGS
pandemie. Dit het tydens die studie duidelik geword dat die soeke na betekenis tydens die
pandemie beide geloofsisteme tot so 'n mate bevraagteken het, dat Shona Christene hulle nie net
tot die Shona tradisies gewend het nie, maar ook heen en weer en in en uit beweeg tussen die
sisteme en steeds verward bly oor wie God is. Vir die Shona Christen word die dilemma dus 'n
geloofskrisis, 'n persoonlike identiteitskrisis en 'n volgehoue soeke na betekenis. In die lig van
hierdie verskriklike pandemie en in die soeke na betekenis tydens die MIV/VIGS pandemie,
word die Sewendedagadventistekerk uitgedaag om hulle pastorale teologie op so 'n wyse te
herinterpreteer en te herbewoord dat dit relevant is tot die ontdekking van 'n God wat vertrou
kan word om betekenis aan lyding te gee.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/6511 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Tamirepi, Farirai |
| Contributors | Thesnaar, Christo, University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology and Missiology. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 152 p. |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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