scholarly journals Mentoring fathers who grapple with fatherhood issues in a faith-based context: A pastoral-theological review

2021 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fazel E. Freeks
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Pastoral Theology ◽  
Father Absence ◽  
Absent Fathers ◽  
Faith Based ◽  
Family Issue ◽  
Family Issues ◽  
African Context ◽  
Relationship Of

Fathers find themselves increasingly in a social crisis, the fatherhood dilemma, and are misrepresented in various studies and theories intended to shed light on the relationship between mothers and children. Fathers were once considered the pillar of the family, but, over time, society has begun to grapple with father absence as a family issue. This issue has caused a decline in the role and status of fathers. The decline in active fatherhood is a major driving force and one of many issues in society alongside social ills such as crime, violence and poverty. Research has showed that absent fathers affect the development of masculinity in boys and femininity in girls. Families and faith-based communities are directly challenged by father absence. The absence of fathers is a destructive phenomenon and tendency that society has to deal with globally. The role of the father has been devalued and degraded because of father absence. The purpose of this article was to minimise the effects of absent fathers through mentoring which can be a valuable platform for fathers, and it has a biblical nature to solve family issues. Furthermore, mentoring results in a relationship of trust and meaningful commitment, and it provides a helpful and supportive approach to helping fathers who grapple with fatherhood issues. The literature review as a methodology in this article, provided significant knowledge and rich insights to help and support fathers who grapple with fatherhood issues. In addition, the mentoring principles discussed in this study are useful and part of the solution for fathers with fatherhood issues. Mentoring and its process in the paradigm of pastoral theology can be a workable and a possible solution in the confines of households to restore relationships within broken families. This conceptualised from a biblical viewpoint as a solution for Christian fathers. In conclusion, mentoring is a decisive necessity for fathers who grapple with family issues. Relationships are an attribute of families, and mentoring is about relationships. Fathers can be mentored to become great assets to family and society.Contribution: The fatherhood issue is a serious problem in the South African context and no fatherly presence is a negative and devastating trend in many South African homes. Consequently, mentoring as an approach can be a significant contribution to fathers who grapple with fatherhood issues.

Towards a dialect-neutral assessment instrument for the language skills of Afrikaans-speaking children: the role of socioeconomic status

2012 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 415-437 ◽  
Author(s):  
FRENETTE SOUTHWOOD
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Parental Education ◽  
Education Level ◽  
Assessment Instrument ◽  
Socioeconomic Background ◽  
Parental Education Level ◽  
Father Figures ◽  
African Context ◽  
Neutral Language

ABSTRACTThe aims of the study were to establish whether there is a correlation between the socioeconomic background of Afrikaans-speaking children and their performance on a dialect-neutral language test, and to ascertain whether the allowance the test currently makes for parental education level is sufficient. The Afrikaans version of the DiagnosticEvaluation ofLanguageVariation(Seymour, Roeper & de Villiers, 2005a) was administered to 231 Afrikaans-speaking children age 4 ; 0 to 9 ; 11 from various socioeconomic backgrounds. A positive correlation was found between the composite language scores as well as the scores for each of the language domains (syntax, pragmatics, semantics) and the primary female caregivers' highest level of education. Children with father figures present did not outperform those without. It appears that the original manner of accommodating parental education level in interpreting the children's language scores on the test is sufficient and need not be refined for the South African context.

scholarly journals Social cohesion and social capital: Possible implications for the common good

2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Cloete
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
South African ◽  
Social Cohesion ◽  
Common Good ◽  
Specific Reference ◽  
The Common Good ◽  
Bridging Social Capital ◽  
African Context ◽  
The Common

The main objective of the article is to identify the possible implications of social cohesion and social capital for the common good. In order to reach this overarching aim the following structure will be utilised. The first part explores the conceptual understanding of socialcohesion and social capital in order to establish how these concepts are related and how they could possibly inform each other. The contextual nature of social cohesion and social capital is briefly reflected upon, with specific reference to the South African context. The contribution of religious capital in the formation of social capital is explored in the last section of the article. The article could be viewed as mainly conceptual and explorative in nature in order to draw some conclusions about the common good of social capital and social cohesion.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This article contributes to the interdisciplinary discourse on social cohesion with specific reference to the role of congregations. It provides a critical reflection on the role of congregations with regard to bonding and bridging social capital. The contextual nature of social cohesion is also addressed with specific reference to South Africa.

Towards validating a framework of adaptive schemata for entrepreneurial success

2006 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bae Amanjee ◽  
F Crous ◽  
A Crafford
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Job Creation ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Personality Characteristics ◽  
Entrepreneurial Success ◽  
African Context ◽  
Successful Entrepreneurs ◽  
Industry Sectors ◽  
The Impact

The role of entrepreneurship within the context of an emerging economy has been well documented. Specifically within the South African context, the concept of entrepreneurship has been embraced by most industry sectors particularly for its resultant job creation and associated economic benefits. To date, psychologists have attempted to understand and define the factors that predispose individuals to embark on entrepreneurial careers, focusing primarily on the personality characteristics of entrepreneurs. However, entrepreneurial research from a cognitive psychological framework has been limited. Specifically, the impact of schemata on the success of the entrepreneur has received little exposure. A study was conducted to examine the presence and type of schemata inherent in successful entrepreneurs. The findings indicate that successful entrepreneurs display varied manifestations of adaptive schemata.

scholarly journals Continuous formation of liturgy through social cognition

2016 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ferdi Kruger ◽  
Ben De Klerk
Keyword(s):  
Social Cognition ◽  
South African ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Vantage Point ◽  
Focal Points ◽  
Main Research ◽  
Continuous Formation ◽  
The People ◽  
African Context

This article researches two focal points, namely liturgical formation and the influence that social cognition has on liturgical formation. Within a South African context it is evident that Western liturgical traditions encounter African traditions and vice versa. This encounter is challenging because it creates new questions. The process of enculturation is prominent in recent research. The article refers to the process of social cognition as the manner in which people observe each other and try to make sense of other cultures and the people of those cultures. People’s cognition can be wrong, leading to distortions. The main research question for this investigation emanates from this possibility, namely: How does social cognition influence the process of liturgical formation? The authors first of all offer a descriptive– empirical vantage point to investigate this matter. Two local congregations were visited. The authors reflect on their own cognition, but also examine the cognition of the leaders through interviews. Based on the findings of this endeavour, normative perspectives are formulated from Acts 17:16–35 to highlight the role of cognition in liturgical formation. Throughout, the article includes consideration of the hermeneutic interaction between the various elements of this research and provides hermeneutic guidelines.

scholarly journals Organisational training perspectives in a changing South Africa

2003 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 591-611
Author(s):  
F. W. Struwig ◽  
E. E. Smith ◽  
D. J.L. Venter
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
Organisational Change ◽  
Literature Study ◽  
Traditional Role ◽  
Strategic Plans ◽  
African Context ◽  
Training Programmes ◽  
The Relationship

This article focuses on organisational training perspectives within a changing South African context. To achieve the aim of this research project, a literature study, including an Internet-based search, and empirical research were undertaken. During the empirical research, a self-administered questionnaire was sent to 365 training practitioners in order to investigate various training perspectives and its relationship with organisational change. Five null hypotheses are tested to investigate the relationship between training and change variables. The traditional role of training has become obsolete, because of organisational change. Training should be placed at the centre of human resources planning programmes and the strategic plans of the organisation. It is emphasised that actions should be taken to ensure that training programmes affect change and that trainees involved in the change process are effectively managed.

scholarly journals Pornography: Human right or human rights violation?

2010 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabet Le Roux
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Clinical Evidence ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
South African Population ◽  
Human Right ◽  
Faith Based ◽  
The Social ◽  
Systemic Discrimination ◽  
Human Rights Violation

The article investigates the availability of pornographic media to under-aged users, specifically the already marginalised under-aged sector of the South African population. It argues that the availability of pornography is just another illustration of the systemic discrimination against this section of the population. Theoretical, non-experimental and clinical evidence illustrating the negative impact that the exposure to pornography has on children is presented against the background of the social reality of South Africa. The article finds that exposure to pornography leaves children even more vulnerable than they already are. The investigation of relevant legislation indicates that those who broadcast and/or sell pornography contravene South African law. The article concludes that the effects of pornography on children are far-reaching and potentially harmful. Children should be more effectively protected against exposure to pornography. Lastly, the role of faith-based organisations (FBOs) and the possibilities of their effective involvement, is explored.

Healing Painful Memories through Storytelling Cultivated by Vivid Images of Remembrance in Liturgy: Why the Liturgical Acts of the TRC (SA-1996) Did Not Produce the Healing Expected

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 134-151
Author(s):  
Ferdi P. Kruger ◽  
Ben J. De Klerk
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Truth And Reconciliation Commission ◽  
Holy Communion ◽  
Reconciliation Commission ◽  
South African Society ◽  
Truth And Reconciliation ◽  
Worship Service ◽  
African Context

This article elucidates the idea that opportunities for remembrance should be cultivated within liturgy. No participant within liturgy enters a worship service as a tabula rasa. People enter the worship service with all kinds of memories, some of which may be painful memories of the past while others may be good memories. People’s memories could influence their participation in liturgy profoundly. The following research question was identified: What is the role of storytelling cultivated by vivid images of liturgy in healing painful memories in a post-TRC South Africa? The authors contextualize this idea by scrutinizing the praxis within a South African context nearly 25 years after the activities of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the memories around it continue to be critically interrogated. The authors’ main focus is the communicative-liturgical approach that the TRC adhered to and why this approach seems to demonstrate shortcomings. This article examines the idea that the choice to remember will always be an ongoing process, mainly because a faith community is a remembering community. Three aspects are linked in a three-stroke relationship, namely liturgy, remembrance, and storytelling. Inter-disciplinary perspectives on remembrance and storytelling are offered while theological reflection reveals that remembrance and storytelling are interwoven. Two aspects in which remembrance and liturgy are connected, namely Passover and Holy Communion, are scrutinized and it is proposed that the idea of storytelling could be an intriguing aspect for further reflection within a Reformed tradition. We conclude with the idea that people’s memories are in need of editing through the process of remembrance. The telling of stories provides opportunities to do exactly this. We have explored the recognition that South African society needs people that continuously tell their stories of painful memories, while liturgy could cultivate vivid remembrances that will inevitably lead to healing.

scholarly journals Restructuring the Christian Fatherhood Model: A practical theological investigation into the ‘male problematic’ of father absence

2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juanita Meyer
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Family Life ◽  
Father Absence ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Literature Study ◽  
South Africans ◽  
Christian Churches ◽  
Practical Theological

In South Africa, ideas around fatherhood, parenthood and family life are greatly shifting as people find themselves caught up between traditional and contemporary understandings of fatherhood and motherhood. Even though more than 70% of young South Africans stated in a national survey that parenthood is one of the top four defining features of adulthood, father absence is on the increase. Some in-depth literature study was conducted regarding South African research on fatherhood and father absence, and the role of both Christian churches and secular organisations in addressing some of these challenges brought on by rapidly growing figures of father absence. The article concludes with some suggestions on the development of a new paradigm in understanding fatherhood in South Africa, with special reference to the role of Christian churches in assisting men to construct a narrative around fatherhood, which will lead to satisfying relationships with their children, their partners and especially with God.

THE BEHAVIORAL EFFECTS OF FATHER ABSENCE ON CHILDREN AND THEIR MOTHERS

1982 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Doyle McCarthy ◽  
Joanne C. Gersten ◽  
Thomas S. Langer
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Cross Section ◽  
Father Absence ◽  
Behavioral Difficulties ◽  
Absent Fathers ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Two Samples ◽  
Intergenerational Patterns ◽  
Section Sample

This study investigates the effects of the presence or absence of the father in the home in two samples of New York City families: a sample of 1000 Welfare AFDC families and a subsample of lower-middle income families from a random cross-section sample. The effects of natural fathers, surrogate fathers and absent fathers were examined for mothers and their children, respectively. The variables included measures derived from mothers' home interviews: 18 child behavior factors and 13 familial factors. The results indicate that children of surrogate fathers revealed significantly more behavioral difficulties than those reported for children living with natural fathers and for children with no father in the home. The effect of father absence as well as the effect of the presence of a father surrogate in the home were found to differ within the two samples studied. While children in both samples were found to benefit from the presence of both natural parents in the home, cross-section children and mothers were more adversely affected by father absence than Welfare children. Implications of these findings are discussed with reference to the role of the poor family in sustaining intergenerational patterns of economic inequality.

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