Journey within: the spirituality of Thomas Merton (1915-1968)
| dc.contributor.advisor | Kourie, Celia E. T. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Van Staden, Elmor | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2016-08-31T07:16:00Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2016-08-31T07:16:00Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2016-01 | |
| dc.description.abstract | English: This research project investigates the relevance of the spirituality of the well-known twentieth century Trappist monk, Thomas Merton (1915-1968), for a postmodern contemporary society. The research follows a phenomenological approach. This investigation is done especially in terms of his understanding of the inner journey which is, paradoxically, also the journey to God. The study commences with a short biography of Merton, highlighting the key events that shaped his life and that influenced his spirituality. Merton’s concept of the true self versus the false self is then analysed in relation to spiritual growth, psycho-spiritual development, or what Merton, towards the end of his life, referred to as ‘final integration’. This is followed by an analysis of contemplation, a major element in Merton’s spirituality. It includes an investigation of the relevance of contemplation for holiness, the world of technology, inter-religious dialogue, passivism and non-violence. Merton’s prophetic wisdom is also analysed especially in light of the value of contemplation within the work-place. The study is concluded by drawing together the threads of the research and extrapolating the major findings. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | Afrikaans: Hierdie navorsingsprojek het ten doel om die relevansie van die bekende twintigste-eeuse Trappiste monnik, Thomas Merton (1915-1968) se spiritualiteit vir die 21ste eeuse postmoderne samelewing te ondersoek. ‘n Fenomenologiese benadering word deurgaans gevolg. Die ondersoek fokus op die spirituele-/innerlike reis, wat, paradoksaal, terselfdertyd ook die reis na God is. Die studie het ‘n bondige biografie van Merton as vetrekpunt, met ‘n fokus op die hoofmomente van sy lewe veral in soverre as wat hulle sy spiritualiteit gevorm het. Merton se begrippe van die ware versus die valse self word ontleed in die konteks van spirituele groei, psigo-spirituele ontwikkeling, of soos Merton veral aan die einde van sy lewe daarna verwys het, ‘finale integrasie‘. Kontemplasie, as een van die hoofkomponente van Merton se spiritualiteit, word vervolgens ondersoek, en die relevansie daarvan in terme van heiligheid, die wêreld van tegnologie, intergeloof-gesprekke, pasifisme en nie-geweld word ontleed. Merton se profetiese wysheid word daarna ondersoek, veral in die lig van die waarde van kontemplasie vir die werksplek. Die studie word afgesluit met ’n ondersoek na die samehang van die onderskeie insigte en ‘n ekstrapolering van die belangrikste bevindinge. | af |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11660/4025 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_ZA |
| dc.publisher | University of the Free State | en_ZA |
| dc.rights.holder | University of the Free State | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Thomas Merton | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Spirituality | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Psycho-spiritual development | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Inner journey | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | True / false self | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Contemplation | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Mysticism | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Interfaith dialogue | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Dissertation (M.A. (New Testament))--University of the Free State, 2016 | en_ZA |
| dc.title | Journey within: the spirituality of Thomas Merton (1915-1968) | en_ZA |
| dc.type | Dissertation | en_ZA |