Theses and Dissertation

Permanent URI for this communityhttp://192.168.4.170:4000/handle/20.500.12342/3

Welcome to Theses and Dissertation community

Browse

End date: 2009

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    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
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    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.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    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.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The Methods of Evangelisation of the Montfort Missionaries And The Missionaries of Africa
    (Tangaza University College, 1998-05) Baluwa, Callisto Augustine
    The aim of this thesis is to analyse the evangelising methods of the Montfort Missionaries and the Missionaries of Africa in Malawi. Evangelisation is a wide topic, therefore I intend to limit my analysis to their contribution in areas of Catechetical Approach, Peace and Justice and Inculturation. This will give guidelines and recommendations for the future and effective evangelisation of the country. The choice of this thesis is dictated by the pastoral situation in which the Catholic Church in Malawi is. In the first place, the Missionaries of Africa were the first Roman Catholic missionaries to bring the good news to Malawi in 1889. Twelve years later, in 1901, the Montfort Missionaries arrived in Malawi at the invitation of the Missionaries of Africa to work with them as auxiliaries. In their agreement the Montfort Missionaries were to work under the jurisdiction of the Vicar Apostolic of Nyasa who happened to be a Missionary of Africa. The two missionary groups had different ways of approaching evangelisation. After some time working together, rivalry between them necessitated the creation of another vicariate in the south. This took effect on the 3'd of December 1903 and the new vicariate was named Shire Vicariate with Rev. Fr. Auguste Prezeau as its prefect apostolic. This new vicariate was then entrusted to the care of the Montfort Missionaries. The importance of this study cannot be underestimated, as it will highlight the differences in their approach to evangelisation. This study will also serve as a guide for evaluation of the past, present and future of missionary evangelisation in Malawi. Historically the church in Malawi will celebrate the first centenary of existence in the year 2001. Therefore this study is timely and very important.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Mugumo Self-Help Group as Source of Women's Empowerment in Kiserian Parish, Kenya
    (Tangaza University College, 1999-03) Kimaro, Rosina
    This project research examines the efficiency of Mugumo Self-Help Group as source of women empowerment in all aspects of life particularly economic wise. The study emphasizes on the importance of making women aware of their poverty in their quest for liberation. The Church and society are urged to be conscious of women issues so as to take part in promoting women economically. In this study, collective effort must be made to mobilize women to get united into groups where they can tackle their common enemy, namely, poverty and helplessness. The researcher chose to analyse Mugumo Self-Help Group so as to find out how best self-help groups should be the source of women's empowerment and the way to self-reliance. Women and men members of Mugumo Self-Help Group were selected randomly with the group They answered questions during interviews and questionnaires elicited information about Mugumo Self- Help Group as source of empowering women economically. It is therefore the hope of the researcher that this piece of work will act as a promoter of women self-help groups in Kenya and in other parts of Africa.