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The communicative power of blood sacrifices : a predominantly South African perspective with special reference to the Epistle to the Hebrews

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

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Other Authors: Van der Watt, J.G. (Jan Gabriel), 1952-
Format: Thesis
Published: University of Pretoria 2013
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Van der Watt, J.G. (Jan Gabriel), 1952-
author_browse Van der Watt, J.G. (Jan Gabriel), 1952-
author_facet Van der Watt, J.G. (Jan Gabriel), 1952-
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © University of Pretoria 2008 D507/
description Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2008.
format Thesis
id oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/29248
institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:37:48.825Z
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:2263/29248 The communicative power of blood sacrifices : a predominantly South African perspective with special reference to the Epistle to the Hebrews Van der Watt, J.G. (Jan Gabriel), 1952- upetd@up.ac.za Mvunabandi, Shadrack Power Salvation Blood Communicative Sacrifice Ancestors God Forgiveness Sin and spirits UCTD Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2008. In this dissertation, the researcher discusses the topic: “The Communicative Power of Sacrifices: A Predominantly South African Perspective with Special Reference to the Epistle to the Hebrews”. It investigates blood sacrifices among Xhosa people, and includes some Zulu and Tsonga thoughts, as well as a few examples from elsewhere in Africa. The research findings support the fact that both animal and human blood sacrifices are still performed today. The comparison between biblical blood sacrificial rituals and African ones reveals striking similarities and a few differences. The existence of such similarities poses a pertinent question: to determine whether or not African traditional religious sacrifices, like biblical sacrifices, could also be acknowledged as originating from God. This seems indeed difficult, because such an affirmation would suggest that God has revealed Himself through African traditional religious sacrificial rituals, and would therefore call into question the unique and exclusive biblical claim to revelation. Neyrey’s (2005) model of benefactor-client, benefactor-patron has been instrumental in illustrating the mutually influential communication and exchange existing between deities and their worshippers. In order to obtain benefactions from superiors, subordinates have to use inducement and influence - inducement has to do with all sorts of gifts and services, while influence refers to reasons for doing what one does, hence requests, petitions and the like. In religious terms, inducement is called sacrifice, and influence is called prayer. The intensification of the materialisation of anticipated benefits by worshippers entails the multiplication of interactive contact through blood sacrificial rituals, as well as the strengthening of ties between deities and their worshippers, creating a seemingly unbreakable bond. The results of this study’s qualitative, empirical research in Gauteng, Kwazulu-Natal and North West provinces have substantiated the above ideas. In the Epistle to the Hebrews, the communicative power of the blood sacrifice of Jesus provided worshippers with eternal salvation, forgiveness of sins and the removal of guilt feelings. Unlike Old Testament animal blood sacrifices, Jesus’ once and for all blood sacrifice has communicated powers for soteriological, psychological and sociological benefits. This superior power should be scholarly defended through amicable dialogue. New Testament Studies unrestricted 2013-09-07T15:13:14Z 2008-12-17 2013-09-07T15:13:14Z 2008-09-04 2008-12-17 2008-11-05 Thesis a 2008 D507/gm http://hdl.handle.net/2263/29248 http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-11052008-161103/ © University of Pretoria 2008 D507/ application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle Power
Salvation
Blood
Communicative
Sacrifice
Ancestors
God
Forgiveness
Sin and spirits
UCTD
The communicative power of blood sacrifices : a predominantly South African perspective with special reference to the Epistle to the Hebrews
title The communicative power of blood sacrifices : a predominantly South African perspective with special reference to the Epistle to the Hebrews
title_full The communicative power of blood sacrifices : a predominantly South African perspective with special reference to the Epistle to the Hebrews
title_fullStr The communicative power of blood sacrifices : a predominantly South African perspective with special reference to the Epistle to the Hebrews
title_full_unstemmed The communicative power of blood sacrifices : a predominantly South African perspective with special reference to the Epistle to the Hebrews
title_short The communicative power of blood sacrifices : a predominantly South African perspective with special reference to the Epistle to the Hebrews
title_sort communicative power of blood sacrifices a predominantly south african perspective with special reference to the epistle to the hebrews
topic Power
Salvation
Blood
Communicative
Sacrifice
Ancestors
God
Forgiveness
Sin and spirits
UCTD
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/29248
http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-11052008-161103/