Browsing by Author "Nadar, Sarojini"

Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
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    Beyond a �political priest�: exploring Desmond Tutu as a �freedom-fighter mystic�
    (Black Theology, 2021) Nadar, Sarojini
    The purpose of this essay is to critically review the remarkably unique account of Desmond Tutu�s life presented by Michael Battle in his book �Desmond Tutu: A Spiritual Biography of South Africa�s Confessor.� The central contention of this essay is that Michael Battle shifts the paradigm of biographical research about Desmond Tutu beyond the popular trope of �political priest� to that of �freedom fighter-mystic.� Through a careful filtering of Tutu�s life via the three stages of mysticism � purgation, illumination and union, Battle makes a convincing case that Tutu�s political actions for justice were not in spite of his deep spirituality, but because of it. This ethnographic spiritual biography troubles the binaries between the sacred and the secular, between spiritual contemplation and social action, and between God�s justice and social justice, thereby inviting readers to the warm embrace of a more authentic spirituality
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    Beyond a �Political Priest�: Exploring Desmond Tutu as a �Freedom-Fighter Mystic�
    (Black Theology An International Journal, 2021) Nadar, Sarojini
    The purpose of this essay is to critically review the remarkably unique account of Desmond Tutu�s life presented by Michael Battle in his book �Desmond Tutu: A Spiritual Biography of South Africa�s Confessor.� The central contention of this essay is that Michael Battle shifts the paradigm of biographical research about Desmond Tutu beyond the popular trope of �political priest� to that of �freedom fighter-mystic.� Through a careful filtering of Tutu�s life via the three stages of mysticism � purgation, illumination and union, Battle makes a convincing case that Tutu�s political actions for justice were not in spite of his deep spirituality, but because of it. This ethnographic spiritual biography troubles the binaries between the sacred and the secular, between spiritual contemplation and social action, and between God�s justice and social justice, thereby inviting readers to the warm embrace of a more authentic spirituality.
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    Black theologies of liberation: how should black lives matter theologically?
    (The Ecumenical Review, 2022) Nadar, Sarojini; Solomons, Demaine
    This article introduces this thematic issue of The Ecumenical Review, which originates from a colloquium hosted at the University of the Western Cape on Black theologies. Our aim is to propose a set of theological frames through which to consider the 11 articles presented here, as well as the study of Black theology in general. We propose that Black theologies of liberation can be understood within three theological frameworks: a theology of resistance that encompasses both the social and epistemic, a theology of existence that focuses on Black consciousness and identity, and a theology of solidarity that fully embraces African feminist and queer theological perspectives. What the contributors to this issue on Black theology succeed in doing is ushering in new ways of thinking about the subject. Not only do they open new frontiers for theorizing and conceptualizing the gospel in light of Black experiences, but they also challenge the exclusionary nature of the old frontiers, calling to attention how even liberation discourses can sometimes reinscribe hegemony.
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    Daughters as water-fetchers: �Streamlining� water-gender dialectics in biblical narrative
    (2021) Dorapalli; Nadar, Sarojini
    Biblical interpreters have often been unwittingly anthropocentric in their reading of biblical narratives, ignoring the living and nonliving presence of physical world characteristics that underpin the narrative�s overall framework. Moreover, with a focus on men, women�s role as water fetchers has been overlooked, resulting in the text�s dual undermining of ecological and gender issues. This thesis attempts to move away from such interpretations and reread selected biblical texts about water and women using a dual-mode of inquiry, namely gender-ecocriticism. A central question within ecocritical inquiry is�how is nature represented in the narrative? Furthermore, on the subject of gender criticism� how are daughters narrativized in the text? These are the two critical questions that this thesis intends to explore. There are only five explicit narratives of �daughters fetching water at the well� in the Bible. Nevertheless, these scenic activities are significant because of their historical link to the waterfetching daughters in the contemporary world. This study draws attention to the gendering of the water-fetching task by a gender analysis of the five texts. To understand why only daughters are assigned the task of water-fetching, the study draws on theories of the sexual division of labour. The first theme I discuss in this dissertation is water symbolism as found in Judeo-Christian and contemporary stories of water and its interplay with current issues of water scarcity. The focus of the second part is the water-gender intersections found in those five narratives. These themes are explored in this thesis through an exegetical analysis of the five biblical water-drawing narratives. The interpretation is based on socio-historical analysis as well as literary analysis employing narratology and biblical hermeneutical methods. This dissertation concludes that water stories demonstrate that water is more than a symbol. The current water shortage crisis in some parts of the world directs our attention to the urgency of reconfiguring water in our religious and theological imaginations. Water becomes an intrinsic feature in the reader�s mind when read from a gender-ecocritical angle. Being appreciative of each physical element in the vast expanse of the ecosystem, allows a reader�s imagination to reflect on the global negative impact and the distortion of those valuable connections we as humans have with the rest of the physical world.
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    Divine intervention? Understanding the role of Christian religious belief systems in intervention programmes for men who abuse their intimate partners
    (University of Western Cape, 2021) Petersen, Elizabeth; Nadar, Sarojini
    South Africans live in one of the most religious yet most violent societies the world over, with gender-based violence (GBV) against women in intimate relationships flagged as a national priority. Traditionally, and rightfully so, intervention programmes focused on women victim-survivors of intimate partner abuse (IPA). While intervention programmes for men who perpetrate IPA emerged more recently and signify an important paradigm shift in conceptualizing solutions to IPA, the literature reveals a gap in research about the role and influence of religiously pervasive contexts in communities where some of these programmes operate. South Africa claims to be a secular state; however, around 90% of its population are religious and close to 74% are affiliated with the Christian faith. Literature indicates that men who perpetrate IPA often use easily misinterpreted scriptures and religious teachings to justify their abusive behaviour.
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    Food, sex and text: Exploring survival sex in the context of food insecurity through communal readings of the book of Ruth
    (University of Western Cape, 2021) Naicker, Linda; Nadar, Sarojini
    The study explored how contextual Bible study (CBS) contributes to the understanding of survival sex in the context of food insecurity. Even though South Africa is a food secure nation, a large percentage of the population is food insecure. While researchers focus significantly on transactional sex and other forms of sexual exchange, survival sex, particularly in the context of food insecurity has not been extensively or adequately researched from the South Africa perspective. CBS as a communal, participatory, collaborative and empowering process is designed as a literary platform upon which community concerns and social justice issues are addressed. Through CBS, conducted with a group of purposefully selected Christian women, the factors that drive survival sex in the context of food insecurity in the Msunduzi Municipality was explored.
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    �He asked me to pray afterward�: Exploring Cheryl Zondi�s mediated court testimony as a narrative of clergy sexual abuse
    (University of Western Cape, 2021) Petersen, Ashleigh; Nadar, Sarojini
    South Africa has one of the highest rape statistics in the world, and there are increasing reports of women who have been violated and abused in religious institutions, specifically by clergy. Research on clergy sexual abuse has been limited to research methods that rely on court transcripts or interviews and focus group discussions. Studies that seek to understand social and religious attitudes about sexual abuse often rely on surveys and other conventional forms of research. Drawing on the court testimony of Cheryl Zondi, who was sexually abused by her pastor, Timothy Omotoso, this study aimed to explore how social media provides a site for exploring the ways in which patriarchal religious understandings of gender and power are supported or challenged through a narrative of sexual abuse.
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    Pastoral care responses to clergy sexual abuse: a case study of the Anglican church of Southern Africa
    (University of Western Cape, 2021) Koloti, Rhine Phillip Tsobotsi; Nadar, Sarojini
    While media attention seems to suggest that clergy sexual abuse (CSA) occurs primarily in the Roman Catholic church, specifically with children, or in the so-called �unregulated� charismatic churches between charismatic leaders and pious women; the #churchtoo movement suggests otherwise. For example, the multiple cases of clergy sexual abuse from different dioceses in the Anglican Church of Southern Africa (ACSA) which has come to the fore since 2018, indicates how serious the problem is. The prevalent increase in sexual violence is despite the 2002 document called �Pastoral Standards: Practices and procedures for all in ministry� adopted and authorized by the Anglican Church of Southern Africa to provide canonically binding guidelines and detailed processes which ought to be followed where sexual (and other) clergy misconduct is reported.