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The interplay between God-images and healing in pastoral ministry : engaging an African spirituality

Thesis (DTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2004 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study can as well be termed as "an attempt to interpref' pastoral care and
counseling methods and modules in an African understanding. For this reason, the study
engages concepts, metaphors and images that reflect an African understanding of pastoral
ministry. It is argued that pastoral ministry will be enriched more by accommodating an
African spirituality and cosmology that usually influences the world view of African
people on God, life and the cosmic life-force.
The study attempts to work with God-images that will help people to gain meaning in
moments of pain and suffering, and much more also that will help them appropriate faith
to life situations in a more meaningful way. Thus the study gives attention to defming
God-images in light of pain and suffering within a given pastoral care situation. Two
God-images are therefore proposed for use in a pastoral care setting in Africa, namely,
God as a friend (Mubwezi) and God as companion (woyenda naye).
The study proposes a working model that can be used by pastoral ministry in the process
of assessment of God-images. It is argued that unless pastoral ministry undertakes to
work with models that are going to help African people come to terms with situations of
pain and suffering, the work of pastoral ministry will be limited to a large extent. For this
reason, the study proposes that pastoral ministry should reckon with African cultural
values that are always expressed through metaphors and symbols. It is argued further that
pastoral ministry should work with Christian rituals, such as Holy Communion, Baptism
and the Cross which are going to help African people understand the involvement of God
in their lives and also in times of pain and suffering. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die navorsing is 'n poging om 'n pastorale hermeneutiek te ontwikkel wat in die prosesse
van heling rekening hou met die eiesoortigheid van 'n Afrika-konteks. Vandaar die fokus
op 'n Afrika-spiritualiteit en 'n Afrika-kosmologie. Die navorsing is 'n poging om die
verstaan van die lewe as 'n werklikheid, beinvloed deur spirituele werkinge en kosrniese
lewenskragte, te kombineer met 'n pastorale antropologie.
Die navorsingsvoorveronderstelling is dat 'n bepaalde kulturele verstaan en
ervaring van God (Godsbeelde en Godsvoorstellinge) menslike identiteit en
derhalwe ook prosesse van heling en terapie wesenlik beinvloed. Die navorsing
konsentreer daarom op die interaktiewe en wisselwerkende verband tussen
Godsbeelde en die vraagstuk van lyding en heling.
Die uitkoms van die navorsing is die ontwerp van 'n beradingsmodel vir die pastoraat
waarin rekening gehou word met die eiesoortige spiritualiteit van 'n bepaalde
kultuurkonteks. Vandaar die ontwerp van 'n ses-fase model vir die maak van 'n pastorale
diagnose (pastorale assessering). Verskillende simbole en metafore vanuit 'n Afrika
lewenservaring kan help om her na te dink oor die verstaan van God binne lyding in 'n
pastorale gesprek oor die vraagstuk van teodisee.
Die beradingsmodel wat voorgestel word, verskuif die fokus weg van 'n analitiese,
individualisties-georienteerdheid na 'n meer holistiese en sisterniese kommunale
georienteerdheid. In die verb and moet die dinarnika van verhoudinge saam met 'n
narratiewe benadering opnuut herontgin word vir pastorale berading.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/53772
Date03 1900
CreatorsKasambala, Amon Eddie
ContributorsLouw, D. J., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology & Missiology.
PublisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageUnknown
TypeThesis
Format226 pages
RightsStellenbosch University

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