Acta theol. vol.32 n.2 suppl. Bloemfontein Dec. 2012
Die noodkreet van jongmense wat hulself sny. Pastoraat aan die self-mutileerder [Self-sny, Cutting]
(Potchefstroom: Potchefstroomse Teologiese Publikasies, 2012). 116 pp. Sagteband. ISBN 978-0-8695-5197-4
Hierdie boek is die resultaat van jare se ervaring wat die outeur in sy beradingspraktyk opgedoen het. Self-mutilering is nie iets waaroor maklik gepraat word nie. Die kommerwekkende is egter dat dit 'n groeiende verskynsel is wat meer aandag van beraders behoort te kry. Hoewel die boek se titel verwys na "die noodkreet van jongmense wat hulself sny" word ook duidelik gemaak dat dit nie 'n probleem is wat net met tieners geassosieer kan word nie. Heelwat beroemde mense, onder meer Prinses Diana, het aangedui dat hulle by geleentheid hulself met opset gesny het.
Die boek gee in nege hoofstukke 'n uiteensetting van die uitdagings van self-mutilering, asook praktiese riglyne en pastorale perspektiewe op die hantering daarvan. Die mites rondom self-mutilasie word in hoofstuk een uitgespel. Self-mutilasie moet ondermeer nie met selfmoordpogings verwar word nie. In hoofstuk twee word die verskillende redes waarom jongmense self-mutilering toepas, uiteengesit. Hierin speel onder andere die gesinsklimaat 'n belangrike rol. Nuttige wenke word in hoofstuk drie gegee wat persone op die gevaartekens kan bedag maak dat iemand betrokke is by sulke gedrag. In hoofstukke vier en vyf word die belang-rike rol van emosies en die dinamika van die proses van self-mutilering beskryf. Hoofstuk ses bied talle praktiese riglyne vir die behandeling van die slagoffer.
Die besondere bydrae van hierdie boek lê waarskynlik in hoofstuk sewe: Pastorale perspektiewe. Die spesifieke bydrae wat juis 'n pastorale berader of leraar in die genesingsproses sou kon speel, word uitgelig. Onder meer word na die rol wat 'n gesprek oor Jesus se bloed en wonde kan speel, verwys. Dit is 'n perspektief wat slegs die Christen berader sou kon benut. Die verhaal van 'n self-snyer word weergegee wat die rol wat gesprekke oor Jesus se bloed en wonde in haar genesingsproses gespeel het, illustreer. Hoofstuk agt waarsku dat terugvalle wel kan plaasvind, maar dat dit as nuwe groei geleenthede gesien kan word. Hoofstuk nege sluit die boek af met die positiewe getuienis van iemand wat wel genees is. In die bylae word nuttige diagramme asook verdere inligting oor organisasies, webadresse en boeke oor die onderwerp gevind.
Hierdie boek sal besonder bruikbaar wees vir predikante, jeugwerkers en enige beraders wat met gevalle van self-mutilering te doen kry.
Dr Lyzette Hoffman
Navorsingsgenoot: Departement Praktiese Teologie
Journeying with the Old Testament
Gatti, N & Ossum-Batsa, G 2011
Bern: Peter Lang. (Das Alte Testament im Dialog vol 5). 189pp. Paperback. ISBN 978-3-0343-1006-2
This book is the result of many years of teaching the Old Testament in Africa especially in the country of Ghana at two Ghanese universities. The aim of the book is to provide the student/reader with a general introductory study of the Old Testament. The intended audience of the book is clearly students with questions put and exercises recommended to see whether the work has been mastered in a sufficient way.
The book is divided into six different "steps" as the authors call the sections in the book. In step 1 the student is introduced to the world of the Old Testament with a geographical overview combined with the major military and political powers at play in the ancient Near East during Old Testament times. Step 2 pays attention to the canon of the Old Testament providing the student with a brief overview of the formation of the Hebrew canon as well as the Hebrew and Greek versions of the Old Testament. The next three sections deal with the three different parts of the Old Testament in more detail. In the part on the Torah students are introduced to the question of the Mosaic authorship of the Torah as well as the Documentary Hypothesis. The part on the prophets deals with the former and latter prophets respectively and the writings are dealt with as a reflection and celebration of life. A brief discussion of the literary forms found in the respective parts of the Old Testament is also given. Each section closes with a brief bibliography for more interested readers.
Step 6 is about studying the Old Testament in Africa and is perhaps the most valuable chapter in the book. Different viewpoints and perspectives on the way in which the Old Testament is studied in an African context are given.
The book is the product of lesson notes from the authors "transformed into a tool that could be of use to a wider readership". It seeks to fill a gap between scholarly introductions to the Old Testament and the more popular ones also found. It is no doubt a most useful book especially within the South African context where there is a marked "turn to Africa" in the curriculum followed at theological institutions. In the end one wonders if not too little has been said. Perhaps in a second edition of the book it can be elaborated into a more comprehensive format.
S D (Fanie) Snyman
Dept Old Testament, Faculty of Theology University of the Free State Bloemfontein http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/actat.v32i2.20
Between the real and the ideal. Ministerial formation in South African churches
Naidoo, Marily (Ed.)
(Pretoria: Unisa Press, 2012). 184 pp. Paperback. ISBN 978-1-86888-692-0
This book, under the editorship of Prof. Marily Naidoo, is the result of a research project on "spiritual formation and theological education" in South Africa. The co-authors write from various church denominations' perspectives on theological training: Dutch Reformed churches, Uniting Reformed church, Anglican Church of Southern Africa, South African Presbyterian tradition, Baptist tradition, Methodist Church of Southern Africa, Lutheran tradition, Roman Catholic tradition, Charismatic context, and African Spiritual Churches.
In the foreword, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu underscores the important role of theological training by stating "... this is what will determine the quality of ministerial leadership which in turn has important repercussions for the kind of churches that evolve and the calibre of Christian disciples that will be nurtured".
The aim of the book is to contribute to discussions on ministerial training and how formation fits into theological training. A general overview of ministerial training aims and models are given. Furthermore, the authors from specific denominations give valuable insight into ministerial training in different traditions, an important contribution of this book. There is a widespread concern about the state of theological education. Regarding the three major dimensions of ministerial training, namely theological knowledge, the development of ministry skills and spiritual formation, there is dissatisfaction among theological institutions as well as other stakeholders.
In the last chapter, the way forward for ministerial formation is sketched. The South African context of theological education includes the changing landscape of higher education, as well as the changing models of theological education, among other reasons for this being the growth of the church in Africa. The recurring theme of other contributors to the book is the need for more formational content as well as integration and methodology changes within the curriculum. Curriculum challenges impacting formation are highlighted: contextualisation, Africanisation, formation programmes and integration of learning.
This book makes a contribution on various levels. First, it presents information from various church denominations regarding their theological training. Secondly, this information is combined and tendencies on theological education in South Africa are sketched. Finally, a way forward for ministerial information in South Africa is suggested. The book gives valuable information to higher education institutions as well as church denominations, and makes an important contribution to the ongoing debate on ministerial formation and theological education.
Research associate: Department Practical Theology