Pharos Journal of Theology最新文献

{"title":"A hybrid approach to spiritual care: The impact of social media in pastoral care spaces","authors":"R. Hove","doi":"10.46222/pharosjot.105.423","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.46222/pharosjot.105.423","url":null,"abstract":"Spiritual care refers to the care provided by religious leaders (chaplains, pastors or ministers), social workers and other counsellors. It reinforces one’s understanding of one’s beliefs in a moment of a crisis. One’s spirituality will always influence one’s journey towards healing. Spiritual care calls for an understanding of the holistic pastoral care that seeks to promote the individual’s and also a group’s welfare by attending to their socio-economic and spiritual matters of concern. Traditionally, spiritual care was only done through contact sessions in pastoral care spaces such as church meetings, hospitals, prisons, and workplaces. This approach refers to the notion that unless one travels to a meeting point, one will not provide or receive spiritual care as desired. With the advent of technology and digital and social media platforms that form our daily lives, spiritual care should be transformed to hybrid approaches, as social media platforms are used in family life, health spaces, business, and workplaces. Social media has become a valuable tool that is unavoidable in pastoral care spaces. The synergy between the physical contact approach and digital platforms increases the capacity of reaching out in providing spiritual care services. This desktop study aims at understanding the role and impact of the social media in spiritual care when used together with the traditional contact approaches. The article utilised literature reviews on spiritual care in general and the use of social media in pastoral care to arrive at its conclusions. It discusses the implications of using social media in pastoral care. This study thus seeks to enhance the hypothesis that social media can neither be ignored nor left out in spiritual care and related issues.","PeriodicalId":32676,"journal":{"name":"Pharos Journal of Theology","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141693902","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The COVID-19 pandemic, Women and Mental Health in Zimbabwe: A Gender-Based Violence perspective","authors":"T. Muyambo","doi":"10.46222/pharosjot.105.414","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.46222/pharosjot.105.414","url":null,"abstract":"The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that engulfed the world from 2019 to date has not only exposed the failure by national governments to decisively deal with the pandemic, it has also posed serious questions about the intersections of COVID-19, women and mental health issues in Africa. It appears as if previous epidemics such as HIV and AIDS and Ebola, just to mention a few, have not fully equipped people on how to deal with emergencies such as the COVID-19 crisis. This article is an attempt to unravel the tumultuous terrain that characterise the impact of COVID-19 on women’s mental health in Zimbabwe. It draws from lessons learnt through the COVID-19 experiences across all the sectors of human life. Adopting a narrative methodological approach, the study explored the impact of COVID-19 on people’s (particularly women’s) mental health. Using the biopsychosocial model of mental health as the prism through which issues at hand are dissected, the article argues that the COVID-19 pandemic is taking advantage of the faulty lines that exist on issues about women, gender and religion to expose women to major mental health challenges. The study also found out that men, too, were victims of GBV as the ‘stay-at-home’ decree emasculated them of their ‘man ego’ normally expressed by providing for the family.","PeriodicalId":32676,"journal":{"name":"Pharos Journal of Theology","volume":"141 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141708265","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"African Women, Covid-19, Grounded theology and the adoption of a religious virtual space in CITAM Ngong Church and Nomiya Luo Church in Kenya","authors":"Sophia Chirongoma, Loreen Maseno","doi":"10.46222/pharosjot.105.421","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.46222/pharosjot.105.421","url":null,"abstract":"The Republic of Kenya Ministry of Health update on Corona Virus on 13th February 2020 insisted that persons were to avoid close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections. A ban was imposed on public meetings. Later, lockdowns were introduced, and religious meetings were banned across the country. Religious actors during and after the Covid-19 lockdowns devised ways through which they could reach their members, given the absence of physical meetings. The adoption of religious virtual space has impacted African women’s congregational life variously. Acknowledging the integral role of technology in our contemporary times, this article reflects on the creation and adoption of virtual space by African women in CITAM Ngong and \u0000Nomiya Church, Kenya, in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. It will also highlight some aspects relating to mental health during the pandemic. Using grounded theology as a useful methodological approach, over a period of 6 months, data was collected that was in touch with the realities of the religious arena. Through grounded theology, data was generated deriving from research on religious virtual space. Methodologically, the study adopted grounded theology as a method for unearthing stories informing the everyday lives of African women in the religious virtual space from data collected over six months. The theoretical framework applied is Rogers’ diffusion and adoption theory to explain the adoption of technology by women from these two churches. The key findings emerging from the study are that technology adoption is complex and inherently social. In addition, gendered experiences from the everyday lives of these African women considered broader and embedded structures, because it is in relation to these that the religious virtual space was made meaningful. Further, access to the right technology and resources that run technology influenced the use of the religious virtual space by the women.","PeriodicalId":32676,"journal":{"name":"Pharos Journal of Theology","volume":"47 201","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141843091","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Double pandemic for Sub-Saharan African women during COVID-19: A Critical Patriarchal Exposé with Intervention Strategies","authors":"Rosheena Jeawon","doi":"10.46222/pharosjot.105.48","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.46222/pharosjot.105.48","url":null,"abstract":"The Covid-19 pandemic presented a lot of macro and micro challenges throughout the entire world. While some of these impacts were immediately felt, others have long term consequences. Some of the major impacts were the macroeconomic challenge which left many governments, organisations and individuals in a state of disarray - causing a lot of physical and mental health issues among both men and women. However, research suggests that women were disproportionately affected by mental health issues. This is because women especially in Sub-Saharan Africa are considered to be ‘vulnerable’ to several of the major challenges facing the continent and the burdens they carry make them susceptible to mental health problems. Against this background, this study explores three key areas: the relationship between patriarchy and gender-based violence during COVID-19 in Africa, how the pandemic exacerbated existing gender inequalities, and the impact of COVID-19 on women's mental health. This study is a literature review that draws on academic journals, books, reports, media sources and electronic databases. The study concludes that the COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impacted African women, leading to a rise in gender-based violence, a widening of existing gender inequalities, and a negative impact on women’s mental health. The study recommends strengthening existing traditional social support structures, such as families and women's groups, to better equip them to assist women during crises.","PeriodicalId":32676,"journal":{"name":"Pharos Journal of Theology","volume":"13 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141716939","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"“Don’t call me Naomi Call me Mara” (Ruth 1:20): rethinking about God in the face of COVID-19 trauma","authors":"Canisius Mwandayi","doi":"10.46222/pharosjot.105.415","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.46222/pharosjot.105.415","url":null,"abstract":"Since the fall of humanity from grace (Genesis 3:1f), people have forever been struggling with mental illness. In fact, one can say that the Bible as a whole contains much evidence of deep pain both at communal and personal levels. One finds in it struggles for survival, the pain of exile, death, war, accounts of political oppression and various other ills that are weaved together in its narratives. While, in short, it is a story of trauma, it is also a theological and spiritual response to it. Singling out the story of Naomi, this paper takes a life course approach into the story of her life. The intention is to understand her traumatic experience following the death of her husband and two sons and juxtapose that with the lived experiences of women who lost dear ones to COVID 19. While Naomi thought that God had turned away from her, it was rather the opposite as her name came to be captured in the annals of Israelite history as David’s great grandmother (Ruth 1:17). Though her life story is about the long way down, it was equally a long way up as the plan of God began to unfold. It is the same God who continues to open new pathways to women still struggling to grapple with the devastating trauma of COVID -19.","PeriodicalId":32676,"journal":{"name":"Pharos Journal of Theology","volume":"10 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141709300","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The agency of the elderly women in indigenous responses to COVID-19-related mental health challenges among the Ndau of south-eastern Zimbabwe","authors":"Macloud Sipeyiye","doi":"10.46222/pharosjot.105.418","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.46222/pharosjot.105.418","url":null,"abstract":"Pandemic-related stressors are many and they are known to cause mental health challenges to people. Research has shown that women are disproportionately affected by the effects of pandemics on mental health than their male counterparts (Manyonganise, 2022). It has also shown that the elderly people are at risk of the pandemic-related mental health challenges because of their advanced age that undermines their resilience. There is not much literature on how the elderly women in some cultural contexts form a formidable resource in mobilizing emotional and practical resilience in times of pandemics. The available literature has not emphasized the fact that every society has its own conceptualization of pandemics and unique strategies of mobilizing resilience. This study, therefore, explores the agency of the elderly women in indigenous response initiatives to COVID-19-related impacts on mental health using the case of the Ndau people of south-eastern Zimbabwe. The study argues that \u0000‘elderly people’ are not a homogeneous group. They are found in diverse cultural contexts that have a bearing on their response to pandemics. Therefore, there is need for sensitivity to religio-cultural contexts when dealing with the impacts of pandemics on communities’ mental health. The conceptualization, and strategies employed to mitigate the effects of pandemics on mental health are context specific. The African ecofeminist theory informs this empirical qualitative phenomenological study that takes an ethnographic research design. In-depth interviews were used to gather data. The Ndau people were chosen on the bases of the researcher’s cultural familiarity and, the non-homogenous character of the religio-cultures of African communities. The study makes a unique contribution to scholarship as it seeks to emphasize on the agency of the elderly women in building local communities’ resilience to pandemic-related mental health challenges, with less emphasis on the common narrative of their victimhood.","PeriodicalId":32676,"journal":{"name":"Pharos Journal of Theology","volume":"311 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141692095","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Women, Biblical Texts and COVID-19 in Zimbabwe: Navigating the Mental Health Terrain","authors":"Molly Manyonganise","doi":"10.46222/pharosjot.105.410","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.46222/pharosjot.105.410","url":null,"abstract":"From its onset in Zimbabwe, COVID-19 disrupted the mental health of many Zimbabweans. Its quick transmission and viciousness caused fear and panic as people tried to ensure their safety from infection. When lockdown was first declared as the death toll slowly climbed up, it became clear that a number of people would suffer from mental health problems mainly because of isolation, failure to take care of the sick loved ones as well as stigmatization of those who got infected and recovered. In most cases, name calling resulted from ignorance of how to treat those who had recovered from the disease. While recovery was celebrated, the recovered patients were labelled as ‘vaya vakamborwara neCOVID’ (those ones who once suffered from COVID) or ‘pamba peveCOVID-19’ (the home of the COVID-19 sufferers, sic). As infection cases soared and hope seemed to be lost, many people turned to religion. The genderedness of the pandemic became clear as women suffered the most, both as carergivers for the sick as well as from Gender-based Violence (GBV). In such cases, the deployment of biblical texts took centre-stage in most Zimbabwean societies and beyond as women tried to make meaning of their situation. The purpose of this article, therefore, is to investigate how biblical texts were deployed by women for the sake of taking care of their mental health in a threatening environment. The intention is to establish the many ways that religion becomes a useful resource in pandemic contexts particularly for the mental wellbeing of women in Zimbabwe. This is largely a qualitative paper which utilizes in-depth interviews of women in Harare’s Central Business District (CBD). The African Womanist Approach informs the study.","PeriodicalId":32676,"journal":{"name":"Pharos Journal of Theology","volume":"48 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141712407","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Intersection of Religion and Politics: A Systematic Literature Review","authors":"Saipul Bahri, Anri Naldi, Nazil Mumtaz al-Mujtahid, Rahmansyah Fadlul Al Karim Rambe","doi":"10.46222/pharosjot.105.323","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.46222/pharosjot.105.323","url":null,"abstract":"This article aims to analyse the complex relationship between religion and politics by exploring collective identities in an increasingly polarised global context. The methodology used is qualitative, with a systematic literature review approach. Data collection techniques included a literature review, utilising more than a thousand previous studies related to politics and religion, as well as secondary data sources, including books, scholarly articles, and reportage. Data analysis involved data condensation, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The results revealed that the interaction between religion and politics is often symbiotic, where religion can strengthen political legitimacy. Conversely, politics can intensify the integration or marginalisation of religion in society. In the context of Qur'anic literature, analyses show that this sacred text provides relevant guidance for political thought and practice in Muslim societies, putting forward principles such as justice, consultation and the protection of human rights. Furthermore, in understanding the characteristics and objectives of Siyasah (politics) in the Qur'an, it is found that Islamic shari'a directs fair and effective governance, strengthening social relations and justice. This research provides important insights for policymakers and religious leaders to formulate strategies that promote cooperation, tolerance and peace among different religious and political groups.","PeriodicalId":32676,"journal":{"name":"Pharos Journal of Theology","volume":"11 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141715944","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of COVID-19 on mental health: A Case of Indigenous Ndebele women within Gwanda District, Zimbabwe","authors":"Shumba Sibiziwe, Joseph Muyangata, Jakata Francisca","doi":"10.46222/pharosjot.105.417","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.46222/pharosjot.105.417","url":null,"abstract":"The worldwide pandemic of coronavirus (COVID-19) that shook the world in disturbing ways has impacted on women more than men in a multifaceted manner. The worst being an increase of mental health cases among women. At the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, governments across the world had to put their respective countries under lockdown measures. People were urged to stay at home, regularly wash their hands, and maintain social distance when out in public spaces. In Zimbabwe, the COVID-19 pandemic affected everyone, but more disproportionately women. Such women constituted a larger percentage of people who lived with and were affected by mental health challenges and disorders. The COVID-19 pandemic led to mental health problems due to disease experience, physical distancing, stigma, discrimination and job losses. Health care workers, patients suffering from COVID-19 related illnesses and those suffering from other chronic conditions, children, youths and women experienced post-traumatic disorders, anxiety, depression and insomnia. Hence, the main purpose of the study was to explore the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of indigenous Ndebele women within the Gwanda district. The study employed a qualitative methodological approach and a descriptive case study design. It used purposive sampling to select fifty participants and in-depth interviews and focus group discussions as the research instruments. The findings revealed that indigenous Ndebele women within Gwanda district were dealing with great mental pressure, which caused an imbalance in their lives. It was also found out that the loss of control over the decisions and actions of women in African indigenous cultures due to patriarchal and cultural systems, impacted on their mental health. The conclusion was that COVID-19 heavily affected Ndebele women’s mental health in Gwanda district. Given this scenario, it is necessary that sustainable intervention mechanisms are put in place to deal with mental health cases in general and help women with mental health challenges in particular during and after pandemics. The recommendations were that various advocacy strategies be used by the government especially local governments, since it is essential to include African indigenous women in recovery initiatives and ensure that critical resources are availed. The article fits into the theme of Women, COVID -19 and Mental Health in Africa: An African Interventionist Perspective. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 on indigenous Ndebele women in Gwanda district mental health problems intensified. The types of mental health problems and strategies suggested assist various policy makers with ways of overcoming mental health problems.","PeriodicalId":32676,"journal":{"name":"Pharos Journal of Theology","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141705255","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Women Mental Health Illness and COVID-19 in Zimbabwe: A Gendered Perspective","authors":"N. Sande","doi":"10.46222/pharosjot.105.416","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.46222/pharosjot.105.416","url":null,"abstract":"It is not contested that women are pillars of African society and contribute significantly to the economy, leadership and stability of families. Such work sometimes makes them vulnerable. The emergence of COVID-19 not only resulted in the death of so many people but also exposed more challenges affecting women, adding to their vulnerability. During the pandemic, women were disproportionately affected more than their male counterparts. Besides celebrating women's resilience and their selfless sacrifices in caring for the sick, there is a need to address issues of women's mental health during and after COVID-19. In Zimbabwe, there are not many public and academic discourses about mental health illness. People who suffer from mental health illness are frowned upon, defamed, and even neglected. Besides the challenges of adequate demography of mental health patients and how mental health illness is gendered, affecting women more than men. This article explores responses to mental health illness and COVID-19 in Zimbabwe. The social recognition theory is used to understand women’s behaviour leading to mental health illness after COVID-19. This paper uses social recognition theories to understand women's behaviour during and after COVID-19 that triggers mental health issues. Qualitatively, the paper uses desktop research to gather data. Besides finding out that there was an increase in mental health illness during COVID-19, mental health issues are complex and affected by cultural, religious and medical perspectives. Accordingly, this paper concludes that mental health issues are not yet prioritised in Zimbabwe. This paper recommends that double sustainable interventions and efforts be given to women to help them deal with mental health challenges, particularly during and after pandemics.","PeriodicalId":32676,"journal":{"name":"Pharos Journal of Theology","volume":"22 S1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141702739","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}