Koers (E-Journal)
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Africa: signs of hope?
Get PDFThe dawning of the 21st century generally brought new hope to African leaders and countless thousands of ordinary citizens of many countries on the continent. The first signs of a new turn of events shone through by the end of the last decade of the previous century. This was manifested by economic growth rates that started to pick up in a number of African states, by pro-democracy movements which in country after country succeeded in replacing authoritarian regimes, and by the winding down and termination of some of Africa’s most devastating wars. The results of this analysis confirm the above-mentioned positive political, economic and conflict trends in Africa. It is clearly a significant turn of events given the well-known political and economic predicament with which Africa is struggling. When this negative legacy and Cold War background of Africa is considered, the importance of present developments is clear to see. The identified heightened sense of purpose among the leaders and peoples of Africa and the changed mood and need among Africans to take charge of their own future that found expression in the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) are indeed significant and bode well for the future of the continent. A word of warning here is, however, necessary. Our conduct with Africa must be very cautious and we must guard against over-optimism and the exaggerated belief that Africa is now on a trajectory of sustained development and peace. We cannot generalise about Africa – for that the continent is just too big and diverse from a geographical, cultural, economic and political point of view
Continuing professional development for teachers in South Africa and social learning systems: conflicting conceptual frameworks of learning
Get PDFTo transform education in this country, South African teachers need to be appropriately equipped to meet the evolving challenges and needs of the country. The national policy framework for teacher education and development is an attempt to address the need for suitably qualified teachers in South Africa. Its aim is to improve the quality of education by focusing on the professional development of teachers. This article attempts to address the following research problem: Does continuing professional development for teachers (CPDT), as stipulated by the national policy framework, have the potential to contribute to the development of teachers as proposed by social learning systems? The answer to this question has the potential to inform and influence the policy and its implementation. The answer also describes how conceptual frameworks for learning in Wenger’s social learning systems conflict with effective professional development (PD) programmes and CPDT
A kenotic response to secularity
Get PDFThe church must be concerned to make the correct response to its increasing impotence and marginalisation in Western society due to secularisation. Past reaction has been to accommodate to the changed worldview, even to identify with it. A more appropriate response is to be Christocentric, so as to reflect the action of God himself in the sending of Christ for salvation. This involved his kenosis . In this case the response of the church is its own kenosis. This is also appropriate as secularisation was possible through the kenosis of God. The kenosis of the church is not an acceptance of defeat, but on the contrary, just as the kenosis of Christ, it aims at a positive result, the transformation of society
When \u27paradigms\u27 differ: scientific communication between skepticism and hope in recent philosophy of science
Get PDFThe first half of this article illustrates how contemporary humanist philosophy of science got caught up in a gradual loss of confidence concerning the possibility of sound communication among scholars holding on to different paradigms or presuppositions. The second half is dedicated to the responses provided by a Christian school of philosophy to the bleak possibility of a communication crisis. The resources deployed by the reformational school of philosophy are argued to constitute valuable instruments to create a more hopeful attitude towards scientific dialogue. A final note is dedicated to the possible causes of the difficulties experienced in this area of reflection by contemporary humanist philosophy of science
Die rol van ’n mentor vir seuns tydens die oorgangsfase van die laat-middelkinderjare na adolessensie
Get PDFThe role of a mentor for boys during their transition phase from late middle childhood to adolescence Boys in their late middle childhood experience far-reaching changes in their lives. Reaching puberty and experiencing the transition from childhood to adolescence causes immense stress and tension. The intensity of the relationship between father and son decreases many times, while involvement with the peer group increases. This article focuses on the experiences of the boys in their late middle childhood regarding their biological father and the influence of the family hierarchy. As alternative father figure, the focus falls on a mentor. The longing for a mentor and the expectations of the boys in their late middle childhood in this regard are explored in this article
The spiritual and religious dimension of education and bringing-up
Get PDFIn this article I will discuss the differences between the concepts “spirituality”, “religion” and “faith” and indicate the intertwinement of these dimensions of man’s mental life with bringing-up and education. Definitions of these concepts will not be given. Rather, their characteristics will be brought to the fore. The purpose of this article is to look for the essential relation of spirituality to the education and bringing-up of children. A so-called “religious matrix” will be worked out in which the core questions of spirituality and religion are to be expressed. By means of this matrix, a notion of the relation between spirituality, bringing-up and education will be formulated
Musiek as heelbreinaktiwiteit by innerlike verandering
Get PDFThe role of music as wholebrain activity in inner change In this article the importance of music as wholebrain activity in the context of inner change is discussed. Attention is given to the following relevant features: the psychological dimensions, the postmodern context in which it happens, functions of the brain and especially the consequences of the use of the whole brain instead of the leftbrain approach. The background to the development of music and the influence it may have on inner change is also discussed. Due to the paradigm shift towards postmodernity, feelings and experiences are more easily expressed. According to the results of the research inner change and healing of the postmodern individual may be promoted by the use of music as well as symbols, metaphors, rituals and art. The final conclusion of this article is that music as a wholebrain activity can and should be used to bring about inner change
Imago et similitudo Dei: op soek na die betekenis van die mens as beeld en gelykenis van God vanuit ’n Christelikfilosofiese hoek
Get PDFImago et similitudo Dei: the meaning of humans being God’s image and likeness investigated from a Christianphilosophical perspective This investigation is an effort to determine the meaning of the Biblical revelation that human beings were created in the image and likeness of God and to do so from a Christian-philosophical perspective. The following steps are taken: The introduction is a reminder that one’s view of reality (ontology) and of being human (anthropology) is decisive in terms of how one will understand the meaning of “imago Dei”. It is illustrated, firstly in the older essentialistic (or ontological) viewpoints, which explained the image of God in man analogically, in other words as similarity and difference between the divine and human natures. Next, it is indicated that the more recent relational viewpoints on the image of God also cannot really indicate its full richness. The next section provides an exposition of how a few reformational philosophers understood this mysterious Biblical expression about the human being. It is indicated how their viewpoint about human beings can solve many misconceptions connected with the “imago et similitudo Dei” and also open new, wider perspectives. The concluding part will summarise the results of the investigation