Browsing by Author "Erasmus, Johannes C."

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    Religion and social transformation : a case study from South Africa
    (Sage publications, 2005-07) Erasmus, Johannes C.
    Introduction: There are several reasons, from our point of view, why this topic is relevant. In February 2001 the Unit for Religion and Development Research (URDR) was formally founded within the Department of Practical Theology and Missiology at the Faculty of Theology at the University of Stellenbosch. The URDR’s mission is to empower faithbased communities towards achieving self-reliant sustainable development and outcomes through research, theorizing and training. As the name indicates, the agenda for our research activities is both religion and development, especially the nexus between the two concepts. There is a distinct connection between development and social transformation (see Castles, 1999:2ff.) and hence a relation between religion and social transformation, the topic of this paper. Secondly, Transformation Africa,2 a network organisation in South Africa mobilising prayer throughout South Africa and the world, contracted the Unit to conduct research in the Cape Peninsula. It is the mission of this organisation to effect transformation in communities throughout Africa.
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    Religious research as kingpin in the fight against poverty and AIDS in the Western Cape, South Africa
    (AOSIS OpenJournals, 2006-09) Erasmus, Johannes C.; Hendriks, Hans Jurgens; Mans, Gerbrand G.; A-6024-2012
    This article describes the researchers' efforts to apply the principles of Participatory Action Research (PAR), specifically participation, through the direct involvement of church members in the research. It includes involving them in the design of questionnaires, training and utilizing them as fieldworkers, and finally disseminating the results of the research via workshops aimed at strategizing for change. The research is based on two hypotheses, the first being that, churches and their members are intensely involved in serving both the needs of their own members, as well as the needs of the larger community; and secondly, that churches do not work alone, but are part of networks with other agencies to accomplish their goals. At the outset the article outlines the challenges and points of departure, followed by a chronological account of how this approach was applied in Paarl, a South African community. Finally, an overview of the results of the project is provided.