Exploring the role of the church in economic development : a literature review

Date
2012-03
Journal Title
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Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The dissertation sets out to explore the existing scholarly literature on the role of the church in economic development. The research report method will be in the form of a literature review and therefore will be exploratory in nature in the hope to inform the researcher of the views of scholars on the role of the church in economic development as well as possibly preparing the way for further research into investigating this role. Chapter 1 presents the research methodology that will be employed as well as the objectives that the research hopes to achieve, include: - To investigate what Biblical scholars understand about the role of the church with regard to economic development by reviewing the existing body of knowledge on the role of the church and economic development; - To discover what the most authoritative views and accepted definitions are on the concepts under study; - To make possible recommendations to the church based on the findings of current and previous literature. In Chapter 2 a literature study explores the views of scholars on the meaning of 'the church' in order to investigate or establish what is understood by the concept'the church'. This chapter will further explore what is meant by the mandate of the church, the missional and diaconal role of the church, the church as visible sign of God's saving work and the church and liberation role of the church. This study sets itself the task to investigate literature on the history and the context of the church as a constituent body in the world and then attempt to find a form of consensus on the role of the church. Chapter 3 will have a particular focus on exploring the views of scholars on the meaning of development and economic development. This literature review will take a multi disciplinary approach therefore this chapter will have a particular focus on the view of scholars in economic development studies. Chapter 4 examines the views of scholars on the role of the church in economic development. This chapter seeks to investigate if the church has a role to play in economic development as one of the role players in the fight against poverty, unemployment and the establishment of effective development programs. Finally, the overall summary, conclusion and recommendations are presented in Chapter 5.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studie het ten doel om verkennend na literatuur te kyk wat handel oor die rol van die Kerk in Ekonomiese Ontwikkeling deur na te speur oor wat deur kenners geskryf is oor die rol van die Kerk in Ekonomiese Ontwikkeling. Die navorsingsmetode wat vir Hierdie studie gebruik sal word neem die vorm aan van `n literatuuroorsig en sal dus daarom verkennend van aard wees in die hoop dat dit die navorser sal inlig oor wat kenners skryf oor die rol van die Kerk in Ekonomiese Ontwikkeling sowel as om die weg te baan vir die moontlikheid om verder navorsing te doen oor die rol van die Kerk in Ekonomiese Ontwikkeling. Hoofstuk een spel aan ons uit die navorsingsmetode wat vir hierdie navorsingstudie gebruik sal word sowel as wat die beoogde doelwitte is wat die navorser hoop om te bereik na aanleiding van die kwessies soos: - Om na te vors wat Bybelkenners verstaan van die Kerk met betrekking tot ekonomiese ontwikkeling, deur na die beskikbare bronne te kyk wat handel oor die rol van die kerk in ekonomiese ontwikkeling; - Om vas te stel wat die mees gesaghebbendste sienings en aanvaarde definisies is oor die konsepte onder bespreking in die studie; - Om moontlike aanbevelings vir die kerk te maak gebasseer op die bevindinge voortspruitend uit die navorsing van die huidige en vorige literatuur. In Hoofstuk 2 word n literatuur studie gedoen wat verkennend kyk na standpunte van kundiges rondom die betekenis van 'kerk' ten einde te ondersoek en of vas te stel wat word verstaan deur die kosep kerk, die mandaat van die kerk, die missionale en diakonale taak van die kerk, die kerk as sigbare teken van God se reddened werk en die kerk en bevryding ten einde in staat te wees om `n moontlike verstaan daar te stel oor die rol van die kerk. Hierdie literatuuroorsigstudie volg `n multi disiplinêre benadering ten einde die navorser in te lig oor ekonomiese ontwikkeling. Hoofstuk 3 het `n spesifieke fokus om verkennend te kyk na wat kundiges verstaan ontwikkeling en ekonomiese ontwikkeling te wees. Hoofstuk 4 ondersoek die standpunte en sienings van kenners oor die rol van die kerk in ekonomise ontwikkeling. Hierdie hoofstuk wys onder meer uit dat die kerk tog op `n manier betrokke is in ekonomiese ontwikkeling as rolspeler in die stryd teen armoede, werkloosheid en die daarstel van effektiewe ontwikkelingsprogramme. Die algehele opsomming, slot en aanbevelings word in Hoostuk 5 bespreek.
Description
Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.
Keywords
Dissertations -- Practical Theology, Theses -- Practical Theology, Economic development -- Religious aspects -- Christianity, Economic development -- South Africa -- Religious aspects
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