Browsing by Author "Mahokoto, Marlene S."

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    Lament in liturgy : a critical reflection from an URCSA perspective
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015-03) Mahokoto, Marlene S.; Cilliers, Johan; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology and Missiology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa faces many challenges, as a country. Our communities are struggling with many issues such as poverty, inequality, rape, abuse, violence, corruption and many more. Yet, our faith community seems reluctant to lament these issues during their worship services. This research looks specifically at the practice of the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa. The question that this research wrestles with is: “Given the challenging times that we live in, in what way could a re-discovery or a re-claiming of lament in liturgy, against the background of healing and hope, obtain new meaning in our congregations?” The assumption of the research is that if the church wants to be relevant in the lives of their members today, she would need to revisit and reclaim the process of lament in the liturgy. It could further be argued that a re-thinking and a re-introduction of lament in liturgy could have far-reaching and enriching implications in the life of the faith community, especially where the healing of memories is concerned. Part of the research was a literature study while another section consisted of empirical studies. Congregations from the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa, in the Western Cape, took part in the studies. The main focus of the research was descriptive empirical and the information gathered had to be interpreted. Through the normative task, theological reflections could be carried out and finally possible criteria could be deduced in terms of how lament could be re-integrated into existing liturgies of our church.
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    Lament in the aesthetic
    (Pieter de Waal Neethling Trust, 2019) Mahokoto, Marlene S.
    The aim of this essay is to look at the function of lament in the aesthetic. The concept of lament cannot be looked at in isolation because what we experience emotionally influences our life in all its facets. Our understanding of the language of hope and lament is quite crucial when we look at lament in the aesthetic. This essay will also go into conversation with some of the work of Johan Cilliers to show how he has argued that the layered and complex beauty of God can be seen, even within lament in the aesthetic. Attention will also be given to the language of hope and lament and how it could function in the aesthetics. Furthermore, I will also argue that an aesthetical practical theology could provide us with an important tool to approach the layered and complex beauty of God. In this essay illustrations will be used to depict the complexity and layers of God’s beauty.
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    Prophetic preaching in a post-apartheid South Africa : an URCSA perspective
    (Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2007-12) Mahokoto, Marlene S.; Cilliers, Johan; University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology and Missiology.
    This study is about an investigation in the role of the prophetic voice of the church in a post-apartheid South Africa. In the first chapter I have given a brief description of the history of apartheid as well as a detailed description of the role the church played during these years in South Africa. I also looked at the impact that the Belhar Confession played during this time. In chapter two I have tried to deal with the difficult challenges that faced the church now after democracy and how the voice of the church can be heard in society. I have looked at the different ways that ministers made use of prophetic preaching during the apartheid era. Due to the apartheid system, many people suffered tremendously in this country. During these years of oppression people were leaning heavily on guidance from the church. This was not just for spiritual guidance but people were dependent on the church leaders for emotional support during their hours of need. I have tried to look at the different prophetic voices in the church during these difficult times. In chapter three I have tried to give possible recommendations to assist the church in regaining its prophetic voice in our society. I have looked at several ways in which our congregants could be challenged in terms of prophetic preaching. I have also looked at our understanding of the language of hope and lament. Finally, I have tried to give guidelines in terms of prophetic preaching in our context today.