Theses and Dissertation

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Start date: 2003End date: 2009

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    Eschatology and the spiritual life in ST. Augustine city of God
    (2006) Jude Mulenga, Chisanga
    The theme for this thesis is Eschatology and the Spiritual Life in Augustine's City of God But here, we should ask the question: what is eschatology? We can define eschatology as a religious language of hope for the fulfillment of the divine promises entailing an interpretation of history 1as well as the satisfying of the nature of man. People are never completely happy when they are still living here on earth, and so they go on longing for joy and peace, wishing that one day in the future they would attain the so much needed solace of body, mind and heart. True harmony in body, spirit and heart will only be achieved at the end of man's life on this earth; when we return to God who created us in His own image and likeness, and this is the· subject of the eschatology. Consequently, the interpretation of the term 'eschatology,' also calls for the understanding of the meaning of the 'spiritual life' so that we can know how to nourish it while we are still in this world; what instrument to use in order for it to mature; we need prayer and spiritual direction that help us to sift through our lives. In spiritual direction and prayer: We receive help to confront ourselves and thereby to discover our authentic voice. That voice alone will· lead us to intimacy with God. We must be patient, however, and ever so silent. We must listen to our heart and not be afraid to hear what it has to say. When we speak from the heart, we soon discover the gentle voice of the Spirit yearning within us. To pray in truth is to pray in the Spirit, the- re-creative We may define the Spiritual Life as man or woman under the action of the ever-coming God actively allowing God to free him or her from all that obstructs the ever-invading love and power of God in order to be more available for God. We are always restless in this life because our present life is temporal; our present state is not what we are meant to be finally when we come face to face with God. It is for this reason that St. Augustine says that we shall only be fulfilled at the end of time when we shall rest in God.3 And so briefly, in the modem theological language, we can also define eschatology as the doctrine of the end of the world and history of mankind; the study of the last things, ta eschata.4
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    Hermeneutics of Lk. 3:7-18 On the Kalenjin People of Kenya With Special Reference To Justice Today.
    (Tangaza University College, 2003) K1pkorir, K1rlty Charles
    The Kalenjin in Kenya are of nomadic origin. Having migrated in the early 9th bentury from the present-day Sudan, where the desert life was so harsh to them, their lifestyle still to date hinges on the traditions founded on these harsh conditions. In the desert, an individual who is separated from histher group must be able to count without question on the hospitality of the group through which he/she passes or he/she joins. Anyone may have need of this help and therefore everyone must give it; this is the basis of the Law of Hospitality and Asylum. The history of the Kalenjin people is akin to the one of the people of Israel whose ancestors lived as Nomads. Because of their closely-knit society, the message of John the Baptist -the message of justice- is very central to their lives for it touches their identity.
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    Reconstructing Kenyan Women's Image in Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye's Coming to Birth
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2008-02) Barasa, Violet Nasambu
    This study examines how Macgoye, in her novel Coming to Birth, articulates the place of women characters in the Kenyan society from colonial to postcolonial periods. It investigates how Macgoye explores Kenya’s postcolonial socio-political dynamics and their influences in the construction of individual women’s identities. The study relies on feminist articulations to help us capture the contestation between patriarchal dominance and women agency as presented in Coming to Birth. I argue that, through the utilisation of political changes and events, Macgoye demonstrates the capacity of African women and Kenyan women in particular to break from the fetters of social-cultural structures to achieve self-realisation as free agents. The study begins with a review of Macgoye’s writings and a general literature survey on feminist debates that are relevant in articulating women’s experiences in Africa and Kenya in particular. By focusing on the theme of politics, the research proceeds to demonstrate how socio-political changes influence the formation of identities and choices of individuals in the society as exemplified by the protagonist, Paulina. Given the centrality of women’s agency in Coming to Birth, the work proceeds to explore strategies that women employ for their individual emancipation within a society dominated by patriarchal dictates. I do this by focusing on marriage and motherhood and how women interrogate the construction of these institutions. The work then explores other key elements pertinent to women emancipation used in Coming to Birth, namely, Christianity, education, rural/urban dynamics and traditional practices. Finally, friendship is discussed as a site that enables women to transcend social structures imposed on them by society.