Hasil untuk "Practical religion. The Christian life"

Chidinma P. Ukeachusim

Wars and rumours of wars have occurred worldwide since time immemorial. After the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus, wars [πολέμους] and rumours of wars [ἀκοὰς πολέμων] and other events enlisted in the Olivet–prophecy are now being theologically re-interpreted to be eschatological birthpangs. Many Christians around the globe do not understand the peculiar nexuses that exist between each ongoing war and news of wars as well as the apocalyptic views and teachings of Jesus in the Olivet–prophecy. Because of the lack of understanding many have about wars and rumours about wars, it is significant to study the didactic Matthean Gospel’s redacted account of the Markan eschatological sermon, and thereby unveil the peculiar nexuses that the ongoing war and news between Russia and Ukraine have with Jesus’ eschatological views and teachings. Therefore, the main concern of this study is whether the Russia–Ukraine war and its rumours of war have nexuses with Jesus’ presaged biblical eschatological birthpangs, as redacted by Matthew the theological redactor. The study adopted the exegetical design and specifically employed the redaction method of Bible criticism to study Matthew 24:1–26, focusing on unveiling whether there are peculiar nexuses and theological implications that the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war and its news have with the eschatological views and teachings of Jesus. The results drawn from the exegetical study of Matthew 24:1–26 when applied to the war that started on 24 February 2022 and is still ongoing between Russia and Ukraine revealed that there are nexuses that relate them to the apocalyptic views and teachings of Jesus as preached and preserved by Mark and redacted by Matthew. Such nexuses have theological implications for Christians being troubled by this war and other intensifying wars and rumours of wars and how to understand these. The highlighted theological essence and engagement help to discern whether the nexuses underline the peculiar understanding Christians should have regarding their response to the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war. Contribution: This study unveiled that the ongoing conflicts and war between Russia and Ukraine have peculiar nexuses with the theological underlined characteristics of the eschatological birthpangs Jesus enlisted in the Olivet–prophecy. With special reference to the Russia–Ukraine war, the study unveils the theological implications that manifest due to the nexuses the Russia–Ukraine conflicts and war have as merely eschatological birthpangs.

Piet J. Strauss

Paul Kruger on the covenant of 1838: Was he on target? Many Afrikaners and those associating with them, keep the promises made by the Voortrekkers in the Covenant of 16 December 1838 in connection with the battle of Blood River between them and the Zulu impis of King Dingane. As a champion of the Afrikaner in the 19th century, Paul Kruger as the elected president (1883–1900) of the Boer Republic, called the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek, partook in the Day of the Covenant as being celebrated by Afrikaners every year. This is a spiritual event the people associating with the Covenant should use to thank God for his salvation and for saving them and their forebears in a military crisis. With this view, Kruger as a Reformed Christian Afrikaner, would also have been able to accept the resolution of the General Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church of 1990, about the Covenant of 1838 being celebrated in South Africa after the change in government and the public attitude in 1994. As far as Kruger was concerned, the gratitude of people observing the Covenant of 1838, should be part of a life of gratitude and obedience to God, as their answer to his salvation and saving in everyday life. This view of Kruger came to the fore in his speeches in December 1886, 1891, and 1896 at Paardekraal, Krugersdorp. Paardekraal became the venue for festivities every five years around the Day of the Covenant in the old Transvaal. This was an implementation of a resolution of the government of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek in 1883. Contribution: The well-known and debated covenant of 1838 of the trekking Boers, or Voortrekkers of that year once again is the reason for this article. The contribution is written from a historical and church-historical perspective, providing clarity on what it means to keep the covenant for those who ascribe to it at the moment. This theme is compared with the views of Paul Kruger, a representative of the Afrikaners in the 19th century.

Miriam Niklová, Karina Zošáková

The study aimed to map the prevalence of social media disorder in secondary school youth. We used an abbreviated version of the Social Media Disorder Scale (SMD) and the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ-16B). The reliability of the questionnaires used in the research, indicates that they have sufficient internal consistency. A total of 637 re-respondents participated in the study. Their ages ranged from 15 to 19 years (AM=16.63). The results of the study showed social media impairment in 11.1% of the respondents, confirming a statistically significant difference in terms of the gender of the adolescents in favour of girls, and in terms of the degree of concern about their appearance, in favour of those who are more concerned about their appearance. Furthermore, a statistically significant difference in the degree of concern about their appearance in terms of gender, was confirmed in favour of girls.

Thomas Ryan

A review of Kate Jackson-Meyer, _Tragic Dilemmas in Christian Ethics

I. Aye

This article investigates the escalation of anti-northeastern racism during the COVID-19 pandemic in India, by analysing the existing and underlying forms of domination faced by north-eastern Indian populations living in the metropolitan cities of India. It particularly investigates the intersectionalities of caste and race, gender, LGBT, and the older form of anti-Chinese sentiment called the yellowperil myth. It explores Mary Magdalene’s life and reflects on the public and cultural narrative, while simultaneously highlighting the lived experiences of north-eastern women in Indian cities. The article compares the experience of Mary Magdalene with that of the indigenous northeastern women. It asks how Mary, if she were slant-eyed, negotiated the humiliation and discrimination of race and gender, and how the figure of Mary can help challenge the public myth and offer a site of resistance for north-eastern women, many of whom are Christian.

Sally Mann

This paper offers theological reflections on a sociological research project the author undertook during the 2020 Covid lockdown, called Parklife (Author, 2021). It adopts Riceour’s hermeneutical phenomenology and the concept of the narratological self to explore the potential for transformation in autobiographical stories. In reflecting on stories gathered from a community of people experiencing homelessness it argues that attentive listening has transformational power - an act of soul recreation, the transformation of the self. It grounds its findings in a set of suggestions to shape how we might better attend to stories and become story-rich communities as a missional practice.

Arielle Harms

Pope Paul VI’s 1968 encyclical Humanae vitae is one of the most controversial ecclesial documents issued in the last century, still dividing on account of the document’s teaching concerning the licitness of contraception. Related to its position as a flash point in the contraception debate within the Catholic Church, Humanae vitae also served as a major influence on moral theology in general, questioning not just the application of principles, but the principles themselves. While Humanae vitae does not provide a full account of natural law, the account used is a decidedly Thomistic one, where the acts of natural law are those corresponding to virtue.

Philip Landrigan

The author discusses the health effects of pollution and climate change to planetary health, and examines the distribution of their impacts through the lens of social justice. Pollution is the largest environmental cause of disease, disability, and death–whether one considers pollution in air, oceans, and soil or caused by chemicals. At the same time, global climate change has numerous negative effects on the planet’s ecosystems, and multiple adverse effects on human health are enhanced by pollution. Furthermore, both pollution and climate change disproportionately affect the poor and the vulnerable–and, among them, children and people living in the Global South and in poor communities worldwide. Hence, pollution, poverty, poor health, and lack of social justice are closely intertwined.

Terézia Rončáková

In the more recent scholarly literature on media, pop culture or celebrity studies, there has been a growing tendency to identify media, stardom and other pop culture forms of cult with religion. An increasing number of concepts have sprung up such as “media as religion” or “stardom as religion”. However, these concepts need to be critically scrutinized as to whether the use of specific theological terms in those concepts is sound and consistent—or, as the case may be, superficial. The primary aim of this paper is to examine whether there are essential intrinsic similarities between religion and media. To answer this question, we have examined the structural similarities between media and religion (by comparing their use of ritual and liturgy; emotions; cosmology; myth and archetype; and the cult of individualism in particular). Subsequently, we have analyzed the key terms that have emerged from those comparisons (religion and faith; God; emotions; community; liturgy; cosmology; archetypes; saints; individualism). The term religion is used in its broad sense; however, the subject is examined in detail within the context of Christian theology. We came to the conclusion that media religion is a non-theistic religio without God, with an exclusive emphasis on social cohesion. The absence of verticality, lack of transcendence to eternity as well as the non-existing relationship with God as a person—have determined the remaining partial conclusions presented herein.

Mathieu B. Mufika, Hendrik G. Stoker

Especially since the late 20th century, former ‘Western’ cults such as the Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons and Branhamites, became a real threat to churches in the greater Kolwezi, the rest of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and several other places in Africa. Because these cultic groups question some of the most basic teachings of Christianity, including who God is and whether salvation occurs through Jesus Christ alone, it is crucial for Christian churches confronted with them, to respond apologetically in an effective way. To be able to do it, it is important to understand why these groups made such inroads and proselytes from Christian churches. In the article such background is given and a way forward through Christian apologetics and a missionary strategy is discussed.

Vladislav Topalović

Matt 27:25 is one of the most controversial texts in the dialogue between Judaism and Christianity. The author’s goal is to emphasize incorrectness and danger of anti-Judaic and anti-Semitic interpretation of Matt 27:25. That is why the author observes these words in the historical context of the Church in which Matthew’s Gospel was written, while analyzing certain terms used in the text and comparing them to parallel synoptic texts and the rest of the New Testament. The author also reviews the history of the interpretation of Matt. 27:25 and those commentaries considered to be anti-Judaic. The conclusion is that the anti-Judaic reading of Matt. 27:25 is unjustified, as well as certain readings of patristic commentaries of this text that supposedly have anti-Judaic tone. Matt. 27:25 is a text can very well be interpreted as an expression of opportunity for Judaism, and not as the anti-Judaic expression.

Frederik van Niekerk

The Reformation and scientific revolution are characterised by an overlap in time, location and a special locus of events that dramatically impacted world history. Precursors for both movements abound, yet the historiographic development characteristics of the era are prominent and distinguishable. The historical context and the developments leading to the Reformation and scientific revolution, specifically the influence of the precursors of both the Reformation and scientific revolution, the prevailing Zeitgeist, the influence of the institutionalised church and ecclesiastical authority, pervasive beyond the realm of the church, the philosophical and theological paradigms of the time and the influence of the press, are appraised to determine the mutual influence of the Reformation and the scientific revolution. The basis for a causal relationship between the Reformation and the scientific revolution is presented, and explanations premised on mere coincidence and other factors are refuted. The continued mutual influence between ideas of the Reformation and science throughout the Enlightenment and modern era is discussed in relation to the interaction between science and faith. It is argued that a mutually supportive model of interaction in a reconciliation model best resonates with the ideas of the Reformation as well as finding authenticity in and concordance between science and views of scripture.

Coenraad Jurgens, Marius Hilgart Smit, Hannes Van der Walt

Abstract South Africa has both a shortage and an urgent need for qualified people with technical and mechanical skills. In order to meet this need, the teaching of technical subjects at public schools should be promoted and improved. A key aspect of teaching technical subjects in schools is to ensure the safety of all learners in technical workshops. The theory of Geborgenheit (safety, wellness, wellbeing) in education entails the notion that effective teaching and learning is enhanced if the places of learning are safe and secure. School workshops should be secure and safe spaces for learners in order for effective teaching and learning to occur. Although the state may be held liable if harm is caused in a negligent or culpable manner to a person in a school workshop, such incidents have negative effects on learners and educators as well. This study reports on the findings of mixed method research, which involved quantitative data collection among 220 technical schools as well as qualitative research about safety and the frequency and nature of injuries in Mechanical Technology school workshops. The findings indicate that educators (teachers, instructors) have insufficient knowledge of the law, including ignorance of the de minimis non curat lex-principle, state liability based on section 60 of the Schools Act and the applicability of the Occupational Health and Safety Act to school workshops. Some learners, especially black school girls, are afraid of machines and refuse to work with them. More importantly, the study confirms that some educators are unqualified to teach Mechanical Technology as a subject. Factors like the lack of security, non-compliance with statutory requirements and ignorance of the law contribute to reduce Geborgenheit in workshops. This, in turn, affects the effectiveness of the teaching and learning process in schools.   Abstrak In Suid-Afrika is daar ʼn dringende behoefte aan gekwalifiseerde mense met tegniese en meganiese vaardighede. Om aan hierdie behoefte te voldoen behoort die onderrig van  tegniese vakke in openbare skole bevorder te word. ʼn Sleutelaspek by openbare skole is die veiligheid van leerders in tegniese werkswinkels. Die teorie van Geborgenheid in die onderwys behels dat effektiewe onderrig-leer plaasvind indien die plekke van leer veilig en geborge is. Alhoewel die staat aanspreeklik is indien persone weens nalatige of skuldige optrede by skoolwerkswinkels beseer word, kan sulke insidente ʼn negatiewe uitwerking op opvoeders (onderwysers, instrukteurs) en leerders hê. Werkswinkels moet ʼn geborgenheidsruimte vir leerders skep sodat effektiewe onderrig en leer bevorder kan word. ’n Gebrek aan geborgenheid mag die onderrig- en leerproses ernstig benadeel. Die studie rapporteer bevindings van gemengde metodes navorsing, wat kwantitatiewe data-insameling by 220 tegniese skole asook kwalitatiewe navorsing oor veiligheid, die frekwensie en aard van beserings by Meganiese tegnologie werkswinkels behels het. Die bevindings dui daarop dat opvoeders onvoldoende kennis aangaande die reg het, insluitend onkunde oor die de minimis-beginsel, staatsaanspreeklikheid ingevolge artikel 60 van die Skolewet en die toepaslikheid van die Wet op Beroepsgesondheid en -Veiligheid op skole. Sommige leerders, veral swart skooldogters in sekere skole, is bang vir werkswinkelmasjinerie en weier om daarmee te werk. Die studie bevestig ook dat sommige opvoerders nie behoorlik gekwalifiseer is om Meganiese Tegnologie aan te bied nie. Faktore soos die gebrek aan sekuriteit, nie-nakoming van wetlike vereistes en onkunde van die reg kniehalter geborgenheid in die werkswinkels. Dit benadeel die effektiwiteit van die onderrig-leerproses. https://doi.org/10.19108/KOERS.84.1.2457

Rozen Barbara

The article “In the service of the Church and science: philosophy of culture was her passion – Halina Wistuba (1920-2013)” is dedicated to a woman who in her writing activity was very involved in the process of change in Poland at the end of the 20th century. There was much to make up then, especially in upbringing and education. Halina Wistuba served with the gift she had and with the result of her intense intellectual work: as a speaker, lecturer and author of many publications in the field of philosophy of culture. Her philosophical and pedagogical erudition, keen mind and inquisitiveness in discovering the truth, as well as her great concern for the harmonious, integral development of young people, the love for the homeland and her personal deep faith put her at the forefront of people who, in their writing activities, rooted in the philosophy of culture, gave direction to the de-velopment of Catholic thought in the field of education of the young generation of Poles, who lived in the time of the great socio-political changes and the development of the democratic system in the country.

Mustafa ÖZTÜRK

Bu makaledeki ana izlek, kadınlarla ilgili ayetlerdeki mesaj içeriği ve bu ayetlerin klasik ve modern dönem tefsir geleneğinde nasıl te’vil edildiği meselesiyle ilgilidir. İslam dünyasında Kur’an ve kadın konusu ciddi bir sorun olarak görülmekte ve konuyla ilgili ayetler çağdaş normlarla bağdaşır tarzda yorumlandığında sorunun çözüleceği düşünülmektedir. Üstelik bu apolojist (savunmacı) yaklaşımda hem bütünüyle tarih-üstü kabul edilen Kur’an’a sadakatten vazgeçilmediği, hem de Kur’an’ın her çağla çağdaş olduğunu göstermek gibi bir başarı elde edildiği zannedilmektedir. Daha geniş tabanlı gelenekçi yaklaşım tarzı ise İslam’da kadın gibi bir meseleden bahis açmayı dahi gereksiz görmekte, üstelik doğrudan veya dolaylı olarak kadının toplumsal cinsiyet rollerine atıfta bulunan Kur’an ahkâmını nüzul dönemindeki toplumsal zemin ve sosyolojiye değil, teoloji ve ontolojiye bağlayarak izah etmektedir. Ne var ki her Kur’an hükmünün aksiyolojik açıdan birbiriyle eşdeğer olduğu noktasında birleşen bu iki farklı yaklaşımdan ilki, Kur’an’ın evrenselliğini savunmak adına modern dönemin normlarını, ikincisi ise milâdî yedinci yüzyıldaki Arap kültür kodlarını evrenselleştirdiğini fark etmemektedir.

Şakir GÖZÜTOK

Kadın, tarih boyunca en çok istismar edilen ve horlanan varlık olmuştur. Antik Yunan düşüncesinden itibaren, genel olarak çoğu toplumlarda kadınların düşük, aşağılık ve utanç verici bir varlık olduğu düşünülmüştür.  İslam’dan önceki dönemde kadın, normal bir eşya gibi muamele görmüş, alınıp satılmıştır. Hz. Muhammed (SAV)’in yaşadığı dönemdeki Arap toplumunda da bu durumun devam ettiği görülmektedir. Kadının toplumdaki konumunun, onun aynı zamanda değerinin de bir ifadesi olduğu göz önüne alındığında, İslam’ın kadına verdiği değeri ortaya koyabilmek için, onun toplumdaki genel yerini belirlemek gerekmektedir. Eğitim de bu alanlardan biri olarak karşımıza çıkmaktadır.Bu çalışmada, Resulullah (S.A.V) döneminde kadının eğitim ve öğretim alanında nasıl yer aldığı temel mesele olarak ele alınmaktadır. İslam’ın kadına yaklaşımının temelini oluşturan bakış açısı, ayet, hadis ve peygamberin uygulamalarından örneklerle ortaya konulmuştur.  İslam kadının bir insan olarak değerli olduğunu ortaya koyan yeni bir dünya anlayışını inşa etmeye başlamıştır. Bu anlayışın bir yansıması da, eğitim alanında görülmektedir. Resulullah (S.A.V) döneminde kadın, toplumunun her alanında kendine yer bulduğu gibi, eğitim ve öğretim sahasında da yer almaya başlamıştır. Eğitim ve öğretimden istifade etmek adına kadın ve erkek ayırımı gözetilmemiştir. Resulullah (S.A.V), kadınların eğitimi için özel alanlar tahsis ettiği gibi, onların eğitimi için özel günlerde zaman da ayırmıştır. Hz. Peygamber, eğitimli kadınları çeşitli yerlerde görevlendirmiş ve onlara sosyal roller vermiştir.

R. Venter

This article addresses a specific issue, namely the ramifications for theology practised at a public university under (post)-apartheid conditions. In South Africa, scholarly opinion has not paid sufficient attention to what “transformation” entails for theology under these circumstances. The article describes transformation in detail by clarifying the main referents for this notion and attending to discourses in higher education. Heuristic categories such as inclusivity, alterity, critique, freedom and flourishing are identified that should inform multi-level and comprehensive embodiment in terms of knowledge, people and practices. The article identifies several critical issues such as the plurality of intellectual traditions and identity formation that should be explored in more detail. It also emphasises the distinctive theological task of theology at a public university – the articulation of transcendence and the construal of a non-naturalistic symbolic interpretation of reality.

Seija Jalagin

Jakobus M. (Koos) Vorster

No abstract available