Magister Philosophiae - MPhil (Religion and Theology)

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Browsing by Subject "Christianity"

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    The Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification (1999): A Comparison of the implied positions of Simon Maimela and Klaus N�rnberger
    (2021) Pieterse, Willem Elia �Nosey�; Conradie, E M
    The Protestant reformation in the 16th century led to some of the major and long-lasting schisms in global Christianity. The doctrine of justification was at the core of Lutheran schism which was triggered by the papal bull of 1521. The Confession of Augsburg (1530) and the subsequent Apology (1531) failed to heal that schism and instead resulted in the hardening of the schism after the Council of Trent (1545-1563). After Vatican II, on-going dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) continued to address this schism. This culminated in the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification (JDDJ) (1999) signed by the Catholic Church�s Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (PCPCU) and the LWF. However, this declaration did not by itself heal the schism and resulted in mutual discontent, e.g., signalled by RCC�s Cardinal Avery Dulles and the statement of 250 German professors (1998), advising Lutheran churches not to sign the JDDJ (1999). This study explores the reception of the JDDJ (1999) in the context of Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (ELCSA) as one of the member churches of the LWF. However, such reception arguably remains extremely limited in terms of synodical debates and resolutions, letters to the press or publications by members of ELCSA. Instead, this study focuses on the positions on justification adopted by two senior Lutheran scholars who are members of ELCSA, namely Klaus N�rnberger and Simon Maimela. The question that will be investigated is whether the views on the doctrine of justification of Klaus N�rnberger and Simon Maimela diverge from the �differentiated� consensus on justification as expressed in the JDDJ (1999).
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    The parousia-expectation: does it have any effect on mission? A historical-missiological perspective of the pentecostal movement
    (University of Western Cape, 1997) Isaacs, Edwin; Robinson, P.J.
    Although there were various small Pentecostal experiences (like baptismsin the Holy Spirit accompanied by glossolalia utterances) just before and after the beginning of the twentieth century, the origin of the Pentecostals is generally traced back to two incidents very early in this century (Frodsham 1946:15-17; Kendrick 1961 :34-36). Some writers prefer to linkthe origin of the Pentecostal Movement to Charles Parham's Bible Collegeat Topeka (Kansas) (Nichol 1966: 26). Others prefer to link thisMovement's origin to the Azusa Street revival of William J.Seymour (Nichol 1966: 32).
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    Towards a theology of inculturation and transformation: theological reflections on the practice of initiation rites in Masasi district in Tanzania
    (2009) Jambulosi, Mavuto; Engdahl, Hans
    The aim of my research project is to give a theological reflection on the practice of initiation rites within Masasi district, in south-east Tanzania. While initiation remains a very significant tradition among the Yao, Makonde and Makua tribes in Masasi, the ancestral cult and the content of sex related education in these rites have presented challenges to the Christian communities. Some Christians do not feel comfortable with the inclusion of the ancestor cult since this does not immediately seem to agree with Christian doctrine. There is also a general acknowledgment that the rites could be partly responsible for the premature involvement in sexual activity by young people. In the past theological attempts were made to Christianise Masasi initiation rites with the hope of addressing these two issues highlighted above. This approach had its difficulties and limitations since not all communities in Masasi villages are Christian and since religious diversity has to be respected. Furthermore, in areas where Christianisation has been put into effect, not much change has been recorded with regards to the two main problems noted above. Christianisation simply touched on the form but did not influence the content of rites. Other theologies, especially in missionary circles, viewed initiation as an antithesis of Christianity, a view which undoubtedly discouraged constructive Christian dialogue with the practice. African theologians on the other hand seem not to have produced much systematised treatments on the subject of rites which otherwise would have been useful materials to various African Christian communities. As a result of these and other inadequacies we have a problem as far as what should be done to have the Christian faith inform the processes within the rites of passage. What kind of theology will respect the culture and yet uphold teachings of the biblical tradition in addressing cultural initiation? In this project I am proposing a theology of �inculturation and transformation� to address the impasse described above. Inculturation �describes the process of integration of the faith and life of the church in a given culture� (Pobee 1992:35). The aim of inculturation is to express the Christian faith in a culturally relevant manner so as to transform the culture. Initiation rites will be made to engage with the Christian theology in such a way that the precepts of biblical theology will be applied to rites with a view to moulding those aspects of rites that are not consistent with the teachings of the Bible. The good elements already found in these rites will be maintained. The goal of inculturation is not to destroy the rites but to present the rites �in a far more perfect way on an essentially different and infinitely higher level� (Nyamiti 1971:6). Through inculturation the underlying cultural worldview behind rites is taken into account. Inculturationtransformation theology aims at addressing the inner levels of culture. For this to happen the Gospel has to go in-culture and mould it from within.September 2009