| Summary: | In recent decades a new way of thinking has emerged. It is called the postmodern paradigm. The ongoing technological development and increased international exposure to the thoughts, opinions and values of others (even from abroad) led to a sense of diversity. People exist in a social ocean of opinions, values and beliefs. The legitimacy of knowledge depends on social consensus. Therefore knowledge can be described as subjective, relative and pluralistic. The influence of the postmodern paradigm ranges from the intellectual scientific knowledge on the one side of the spectrum to the personal cognition of individuals on the other side. The postmodern paradigm has also influenced the theory on counseling. This study will discuss the narrative approach to counseling and the relevance of the postmodern paradigm to narrative counseling. The personal self is seen as the product of its social environment. Human identity and thought are constructed within a certain social reality. In this social reality certain dominant social discourses exist through which human thought, beliefs and values are shaped. The idea that people construct narratives (stories) as ways of making sense of personal experiences and the world they live in is central to narrative counseling. Inquiring about and exploring these stories that people live by is essential for narrative counseling. In counseling people tell stories about negative experiences and problems. They are stuck in these stories and see no escape for themselves. Sometimes religious constructs play a vital role in these stories, because people use them as tools to 'explain' their experiences and problems. These 'explanations' usually bring no clarification - instead they intensify the experience of a problematic situation. In this study the focus will be on the role of religious constructs and discourses in problematic stories. Religion is important to the persons in the case studies. For this reason new possible religious discourses will be explored in an effort to re-author their stories. In the narrative conversations with the persons in the case studies the principles of narrative counseling will be applied in assisting the persons to re-author their stories. In re-authoring their stories the persons in the case studies experience an outcome to overcome and minimize the effect of the problematic religious constructs and discourses and to live new lives through alternative stories that they constructed through alternative constructs and discourses. === Thesis (M.A. (Sociology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2004.
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