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Prayer for protection : a comparative perspective on Psalms in relation to Lozi prayer traditions

Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2008.

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Other Authors: Human, Dirk J.
Format: Thesis
Published: University of Pretoria 2013
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Human, Dirk J.
author_browse Human, Dirk J.
author_facet Human, Dirk J.
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © University of Pretoria 2007 D469 /
description Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2008.
format Thesis
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:40:14.906Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2013
publishDateRange 2013
publishDateSort 2013
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
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source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/27136 Prayer for protection : a comparative perspective on Psalms in relation to Lozi prayer traditions Human, Dirk J. lkamuwanga@yahoo.co.uk Kamuwanga, Liswaniso Cultural experience Psalms (bible) Prayer Lozi prayers UCTD Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2008. Thematically, this research interrogates prayer for protection. Its title embodies two distinct religious traditions namely the biblical Psalms in the Old Testament and Lozi prayers grounded in a broad African religious cultural experience. The concept of prayer precipitates questions regarding functionality, structural and theological aspects. Further, this investigation problematizes a theoretical trajectory of closeness between biblical and African cultural experience proposed by some scholars. This study makes a contribution towards a comparative approach in Biblical Studies. An integrated hermeneutical reading is applied to Psalms scholarship. The argumentation is based on a construct of cultic, literary, historical contexts and theological analyses of Psalms 28; 64; 77; 91 and 140. A contemporary reading of similar prayer traditions arising from Lozi people is then conducted. From a perspective of both Psalm studies and African religious experience prayer for protection is seen as a petitioner’s response to the Supreme Being during periods of danger and adversarial encounters. Such danger is imminent at the time of prayer. A victim places his/ her confidence in the salvific intervention of God or the gods. Through this standpoint selected psalms are considered not as songs of praise, but rather as prayers of protection from danger and enemy attacks. A parallel is drawn to the Lozi suppliants’ response to various cultural foes like tribal enemies, malicious neighbours and witchcraft. Other situations of danger are identified as mythological and natural calamities such as drought and crop failure. A comparative analysis of concepts like God, enemies, petitioners, elements of prayer, cultic and other related aspects has yielded similarities and differences. The results of this research contribute to a data bank on indigenous Lozi knowledge systems, hermeneutical and dialogical points of departure between the two traditions within the context of Biblical and Religious Studies. Biblical and Religious Studies unrestricted 2013-09-07T10:43:14Z 2008-09-22 2013-09-07T10:43:14Z 2008-04-17 2008-09-22 2008-08-11 Thesis a 2007 D469 /gm http://hdl.handle.net/2263/27136 http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-08112008-130227/ © University of Pretoria 2007 D469 / application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle Cultural experience
Psalms (bible)
Prayer
Lozi prayers
UCTD
Prayer for protection : a comparative perspective on Psalms in relation to Lozi prayer traditions
title Prayer for protection : a comparative perspective on Psalms in relation to Lozi prayer traditions
title_full Prayer for protection : a comparative perspective on Psalms in relation to Lozi prayer traditions
title_fullStr Prayer for protection : a comparative perspective on Psalms in relation to Lozi prayer traditions
title_full_unstemmed Prayer for protection : a comparative perspective on Psalms in relation to Lozi prayer traditions
title_short Prayer for protection : a comparative perspective on Psalms in relation to Lozi prayer traditions
title_sort prayer for protection a comparative perspective on psalms in relation to lozi prayer traditions
topic Cultural experience
Psalms (bible)
Prayer
Lozi prayers
UCTD
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/27136
http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-08112008-130227/