No abstract availableThesis (PhD (Science of Religion and Missiology))--University of Pretoria, 2007.Science of Religion and Missiologyunrestricte

Ndou, Muthuphei Rufus

Thesis (PhD (Science of Religion and Missiology))--University of Pretoria, 2007.No abstract availableScience of Religion and Missiologyunrestricte

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THE GOSPEL AND VENDA CULTURE:AN ANALYSIS OF FACTORS WHICH HINDERED OR FACILITATED THEACCEPTANCE OF CHRISTIANITY BY THE VHAVENDAbyMuthuphei Rufus Ndouin the Faculty of TheologyDepartment of Science of Religion and Missiologyof theUniversity of PretoriaPretoria2000© University of Pretoria     It is with pride that I dedicate this thesis to my late grandfather, Rev. CharlesRathogwa Ndou (Netshirondoni), who laboured hard under difficult circumstancesin establishing the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Venda in 1928.   I am delighted and deeply grateful to my promoter, Professor Dionne Crafford,who, before retirement, helped me immensely in the structure of the wholethesis. To the indefatigable Professor Piet Meiring, I give my heartfelt thanks forhis critical and constructive ideas. Through his pleasant and positive guidance,thus I have reached so far.This thesis could have been a fruitless venture, if I were not assisted byProfessor Ralushai, who encouraged me by giving his untiring efforts and hissympathetic understanding in times of need. A word of appreciation goes to myinterviewees, whose information helped me to collect the accurate data for myfield of study.I am also deeply indebted to the Human Science Research Council for theScholarship grant I received, which enabled me to travel in order to collect datafor the thesis. I appreciate the hard work undertaken by Michael MohapiMakosholo, for his enormous work of editing the language of this thesis andPetrus Jacobus Maritz. My sincere appreciation goes to the typist, MunzhedziNelly Phadziri, for her untiring patience in typing the whole document.I further wish to give thanks to my children, Rathogwa, Ndivhuwo, Elelwani and.Tshamaano, for their supportive role. My achievements are an inspiration to themfor furthering their studies. I am also indebted to my younger brother, SamuelMukondeleli, and Johannes Mutshaeni for their support.I appreciate the efforts of my wife, Ndanganeni, without whose invaluableassistance I could not have achieved this honour. I am also thankful to my lateparents, who could not witness the achievement of their son, as they weredeprived by their early departure.   I thank God for giving me strength, good health and guidance to achieve this fieldof study.The members of the Charles Rathogwa Memorial Temple (African MethodistEpiscopal Church), I thank for their support and understanding, as during myresearch period I could not nurture them fully as expected of me. A thank you isalso due to Rev. A.K. Masehela, presiding elder of the Venda District, for hersupport and encouragement.   Dedication 2Acknowledgements 3Chapter 1INTRODUCTION 11.1. Problem 11.2. Aim 31.3. Hypothesis 51.4. Method of study 51.5. Chapter Outline 61.6. Venda Society 81.6.1. The Venda Region 81.6.2. Language 131.6.3. Religion 141.6.4. Mission 16Chapter 2BRIEF HISTORY OF THE COMING OF MISSIONARIES IN VENDA 212.1. Establishment of the white settlement in Venda 212.2. Mission work amongst the Vhavenda 252.2.1. Dutch Reformed Church 252.2.1.1. Alexander McKidd 272.2.1.2. Stephanus Hofmeyr 332.2.1.3. John Daneel : 392.2.1.4. Lucas van der Merwe 432.2.1.5. Nico Smith 452.2.1.6. Louis Swanepoel. 522.2.1.7. Faure Louw 542.2.1.8. Wilhelm van Deventer 552.2.2. The Berlin Missionary Society 562.2.2.1. Alexander Merensky 562.2.2.2 Carl Beuster 582.2.2.3. Erdman Schwellnus 632.2.2.4. Klaas Koen 662.2.2.5. Ludwig Giesekke, Ernst Friedrich Gottshling, Otto Klatt 682.2.2.6. Stephan us Makhado Masiagwala 712.2.2.7. Samson Rabothata 722.2.2.8. Nicodimus Masekela 732.2.3 Swiss Missionaries 742.2.3.1. Paul Berthoud, Ernest Creux (Tsonga mission) 742.2.3.2. Numa Jaques (Vhavenda Mission) 832.2.3. The Reformed Presbyterian Church 852.2.3.1. DA Mc Donald 86   2.2.3.2. Mc Donald's assistants and successors: Mrs Mc Donald,Lamont, Nkhabide, Aitken, Charity Majiza 912.2.4. Reformed Church (Gerformeerde Kerk in Venda) 942.2.4.1. The First Pioneers: Dirk Postma, Pieter Bos 942.2.4.2. Hugo Du Plessis 962.2.4.3. Koos van Rooy 982.3. Factors which hindered or facilitated the acceptance of the Gospelin Venda 99Chapter 3TRADITIONAL BELIEFS, CUSTOMS AND PRACTICES OF THEVHAVENDA 1073.1. Introduction 1073.2. Nwali 1073.3. Nwali shrines 1153.4. Ancestor veneration 1183.5. Intermediatory agents 1213.6. Christ as Brother Ancestor 1283.7. Belief in spirits and supernatural power. 1333.8. Form of manifestation 1353.8.1 Dreams 1363.8.2. Disasters 1363.8.3. Possession 1383.9. Traditional healer 1423.10. Witchcraft 1473.11. Factors which hindered and facilitated the acceptance of the Gospel. 151Chapter 4THE RISE OF INDEPENDENT CHURCHES AND THEIR APPROACH TOVENDA CULTURE 1614.1. Healing of the invalid 1624.2. Praise and worship 1684.3. Polygamous marriage 1744.4. Kingly church leadership 1804.5. Inheritance 1864.6 Dreams and visions 1884.7. Factors which hindered or facilitated the acceptance of Christianity 191Chapter 5POLITICAL, COLONIAL AND SOCIAL FACTORS WHICH HINDEREDOR FACILITATED ACCEPTANCE OF CHRiSTIANITy 2015.1. Traditional leaders 2015.2. Colonialism 2115.3. Sociallife.~ 2165.4. Factors which hindered or facilitated the acceptant of the Gospel 221   Chapter 6EVALUATION 2326.1. Definition of Mission 2326.2. Proclamation (Kerygma) 2336.2.1. God 2336.2.2. The person of Jesus 2366.2.3. Ancestral veneration 2386.2.4. Sin 2406.2.5. Comprehensive Gospel 2426.2.6. Polygamy 2456.2.7. Colleagues 2476.2.8. The missionaries' wives 2496.3. Diakonia 2516.3.1. Individual healing 2516.3.2. Church community 2536.3.3. The broader community 2556.3.3.1. Schools 2556.3.3.2. Hospitals 2566.3.3.3. Community projects 2576.3.4. The relationship with the traditional leaders 2586.3.5. Land issues 2616.3.6. Economical empowerment 2626.4. Koinonia 2646.4.1. Building up of the church 2646.4.1.1. Sharing of meals 2646.4.1.2. Church services 2656.4.2. Ecumenical relations 2666.5. Leitourgia 2696.5.1. Western style of worship 2706.5.2. Baptism 2726.5.3. Communion services 2736.5.4. Circumcision 2756.6. Motives of missionaries 2776.6.1. Positive Motives 2786.6.1.1. The kingdom motive 2786.6.1.2. Ecclesiological Motive 2796.6.1.3. The obedience motive 2796.6.1.4. Love and compassion as motives 2806.6.2. Negative Motives 2806.6.2.1. Imperialism 2816.6.2.3. Paternalism 2826.6.2.4. The debt motive 2836.6.2.5. Cultural or development motives 284   Chapter 7CONCLUSiON 2867.1. Summary of all chapters 2867.2. Main findings and evaluation of the hypothesis 2887.3. Recommendations 2917.3.1. Challenges to the church and mission 2917.4. Areas for future research 294BIBLIOGRAPHy 296Interviews 309Personal Interviews 309Telephone Interviews 311   

The gospel and Venda culture : an analysis of factors which hindered or facilitated the acceptance of Christianity by the Vhavenda

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The gospel and Venda culture : an analysis of factors which hindered or facilitated the acceptance of Christianity by the Vhavenda

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