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Umuhimu Wa Biblia

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Umuhimu Wa Biblia Umuhimu wa Biblia: An investigation into how Tanzanian Christians perceive and engage with God’s Word Katherine O’Donnell August 2013 Presented as part of the requirement of the MA Degree in Bible & Mission Redcliffe College Gloucester, England CONTENTS CONTENTS ...........................................................................................................................2 LIST OF TABLES..........................................................................................................................4 LIST OF FIGURES........................................................................................................................4 ABSTRACT ...........................................................................................................................5 PREFACE ...........................................................................................................................6 CHAPTER 1 Introduction........................................................................................................8 1.1 Scripture Engagement defined............................................................................................8 1.2 Personal experience.............................................................................................................9 1.3 The research question........................................................................................................10 CHAPTER 2 Literature review...............................................................................................12 2.1 The biblical perspective.....................................................................................................12 2.1.1 The precedent of Psalm 1..........................................................................................12 2.1.2 The place of the Bible amongst other means for growing in faith............................12 2.1.3 What the Bible is........................................................................................................13 2.1.4 Using the Bible...........................................................................................................13 2.1.5 How the Bible affects us – interpretation and application........................................14 2.2 The African reality..............................................................................................................15 2.2.1 The history of the Bible in Tanzania...........................................................................15 2.2.2 The place of the Bible amongst other means for growing in faith............................16 2.2.3 What the Bible is........................................................................................................16 2.2.4 Using the Bible...........................................................................................................17 2.2.5 How the Bible affects us – interpretation and application........................................20 CHAPTER 3 Research methodology......................................................................................23 3.1 The topic.............................................................................................................................23 3.2 Stance and strategy............................................................................................................23 3.3 Questionnaires...................................................................................................................24 3.3.1 Design.........................................................................................................................26 2 3.3.2 Sample........................................................................................................................27 3.4 Interview............................................................................................................................27 3.4.1 Design.........................................................................................................................28 3.4.2 Sample........................................................................................................................29 3.5 Ethics and informed consent.............................................................................................30 CHAPTER 4 Research analysis and discussion.......................................................................31 4.1 The research sample..........................................................................................................31 4.1.1 Language and literacy................................................................................................31 4.1.2 Education...................................................................................................................32 4.1.3 Church denomination................................................................................................33 4.1.4 SIL workshops.............................................................................................................33 4.2 The place of the Bible amongst other means for growing in faith....................................33 4.2.1 Data analysis..............................................................................................................33 4.2.2 Discussion...................................................................................................................35 4.3 What the Bible is................................................................................................................36 4.3.1 Data analysis..............................................................................................................36 4.3.2 Discussion...................................................................................................................37 4.4 Using the Bible...................................................................................................................38 4.4.1 Data analysis..............................................................................................................38 4.4.1.1 Owning a Bible.......................................................................................................38 4.4.1.2 Ways of using the Bible..........................................................................................40 4.4.1.3 Why people read the Bible and what they read....................................................42 4.4.2 Discussion...................................................................................................................43 4.5 How the Bible affects us – interpretation and application................................................48 4.5.1 Data analysis..............................................................................................................48 4.5.2 Discussion...................................................................................................................50 4.6 Other findings – using and understanding the Bible more................................................52 CHAPTER 5 Recommendations and conclusions...................................................................54 5.1 Recommendations.............................................................................................................54 5.2 Concluding summary.........................................................................................................57 BIBLIOGRAPHY........................................................................................................................60 3 APPENDICES .........................................................................................................................67 Appendix A – Map of MICP............................................................................................................67 Appendix B – Questionnaire..........................................................................................................68 Appendix C – Interview guide........................................................................................................76 Appendix D – Written summary of interview................................................................................79 Appendix E – Supplementary data.................................................................................................85 LIST OF TABLES I Why do you read/listen to the Bible? ……………………………………………………………………………..... 43 II Why are these your favourite parts of the Bible? …………………………………………………………...... 43 III What do you think the central message of the Bible is? ……………………………………………………. 48 LIST OF FIGURES 1 Educational level attained …………………………………………………………………………………………………. 32 2 Church denominations attended ………………………………………………………………………………………. 33 3 Which things are important to you in helping you to grow in your faith as a Christian? ……. 34 4 If you have a Bible, why do you have it? ……………………………………………………………………………. 37 5 Parts of the Bible that people own ……………………………………………………………………………………. 39 6 Ownership and usage of mother-tongue (MT) Scriptures according to people group ……….. 39 7 How have you used the Bible in the past week? ……………………………………………………………….. 40 8 Used the Bible this way (either this week or sometimes), according to language area ……… 41 9 Used the Bible this way (either this week or sometimes), according to SIL workshop attendance ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 42 10 What do you think would help you to use and understand the Bible more? ………………………
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