Abstract
This research was encouraged by the need for Christian religious-ethical principles for
counselling of HIV/Aids patients and their families within a multi-religious
environment. During his lifetime the researcher was a member of Professional Family
Care, a multi-religious and multi-disciplinary organization assisting HIV/Aids patients
in Middelburg, Mpumalanga. The aim of the study is to highlight the sexual ethos of
people from a Christian ethical perspective by means of the example of the character
Samson in the book of Judges (Jd 13-16), in order to derive sexual-ethical principles for
counselling. The hypothesis is that an ethical relationship exists between the
rebelliousness in Samson’s life, and his sexual conduct. A similar relationship can be
identified in our current society as a result of the negligence of healthy religious-ethical
norms.
A socio-rhetorical approach has been applied to explore various textures found in the
Samson saga. After a discussion of Old Testament ethics as a subject, emphasis was laid
on analysing the intra-textual, ideological, social and cultural, and holiness structures of
the Samson saga. HIV/Aids as a social problem is discussed, primarily by means of
relevant statistics. Professional Family Care implements an eco-systemic model, viz. an
integrated approach involving medical professions, social workers, and religious leaders
from all the religions involved. The principles of this approach are explained. After the
religious-ethical perspectives of various religions have been highlighted, final
conclusions are drawn.
The ethical conduct of individuals normally mirrors the dominant ideological
framework of the society in which they live. The sexual-ethical conduct of Samson,
within its context, and the ethical principles, which can be deduced from that for the
current context of Middelburg, Mpumalanga, clearly indicate that a relationship exists
between the violation of sexual-ethical norms of the society as well as the consequences
thereof for individuals and the broader community. In the light thereof both the positive
and negative conduct of Samson have been implemented to formulate basic principles
for counselling.
Prof. Johan Coetzee