Sinkretisme as pluralisering en sakralisering : 'n godsdiens- en sendingteologiese perspektief

Abstract

Afrikaans: Tradisioneel wanneer na 'n saak as sinkretisties verwys word, is so 'n verwysing gevul met pejoratiewe konnotasies. Die grootste probleem met die bestudering van sinkre¬tisme was nog altyd en is steeds 'n definisieprobleem. Daar bestaan verskillende benaderingswyses tot die bestudering van sinkretisme. Sinkretisme kan vanuit 'n teologiese, fenomenologiese of godsdienshistoriese perspek¬tief benader word. Hierdie studie onderneem vanuit 'n teologiese vertrekpunt die bestu¬dering van sinkretisme om tot 'n beter verstaan daarvan binne die godsdienswetenskap en sendingwetenskap te kom. Dit is dus nodig om eers uit te klaar met watter definisie van sinkretisme gewerk word. Binne hierdie studie word sinkretisme verstaan as die resultaat van 'n proses van pluralisering, wat onder andere die proses van sekularise¬ring kan behels, en aanleiding gee tot die herinterpretasie en eklektiese hersakralise¬ring van elemente. Daar word op grond van Bybelse gegewens gewys hoe daar voorbeelde bestaan van hoe godsdienste weens interaksie met mekaar groei en verander. Sommige ge¬leerdes verwys na die prosesse as sinkretisme, alhoewel sommige na die prosesse as die normale ontwikkeling van godsdienste verwys. Dit bevestig weer die vermoede dat nie aile godsdiensvermenging as sonder meer sinkretisme tipeer kan word nie. Vir die verstaan van sinkretisme, wil hierdie studie aandui, is 'n grondige verstaan van wat openbaring en godsdiens is, nodig. Die verstaan van openbaring bepaal hoe godsdienste evalueer word. Sodra klarigheid verkry is oor wat godsdiens is, kan die interaksie tussen godsdienste evalueer word. Interaksie tussen godsdienste geskied egter nie in 'n lugleegte nie, maar vind plaas in samehang met 'n verskeidenheid van faktore. Daar is meer wat op die vorming en verandering van godsdienste inspeel as bloot net die kontak tussen godsdienste. Die godsdiens word volgens bepaalde prosesse in 'n kultuur ingedra. Hierdie proses van inkulturasie moet ook teologies evalueer word. In 'n veranderende tydsgees is dit ook noodsaaklik om opnuut te besin oor tradisio¬nele denke. In die Iig van die postmoderne is dit nodig om die saak van sinkretisme weer nuut te beskou. Sodoende kan nuwe antwoorde op nuwe vrae formuleer word en tot 'n beter verstaan van sinkretisme gekom word. English: Traditionally when something is referred to as syncretistic, such an etiquette is filled with pejorative connotations. The most complex part of studying syncretism was and still remains the problem of definition. A specific definition determines the uses of the term as well as the attitude with which the term will be used. There are different points of departure for studying syncretism. Syncretism can either be looked at from a theological, phenomenological or religio-historical perspecti¬ve. This study is undertaken from a theological point of reference to come to a better understanding of syncretism within religion and Missiology. Therefore it is necessary to first of all declare with which definition is worked here. In this study, syncretism is un¬derstood as the result of a process of pluralizing, which could also consist of the proc¬ess of secularising and could result in the re-interpretation and eclectic re-sacralising of elements. With reference to Biblical situations some examples are pointed out where religions grow and change due to interaction with one another. Some scholars refer to these processes as syncretism, while others indicate these processes as normal ways in which religions develop. This emphasises the fact that not all mixing of religions can be labelled as syncretism. For the understanding of syncretism, this study endeavours to indicate, that a thor¬ough knowledge of what revelation and religion is, is required. The way in which revela¬tion is understood, determines how religion is evaluated. The moment there is clarity on what religion is, the interaction between religions can be evaluated. Interaction among religions however never takes place in a void. It always takes pla¬ce in coherence with a variety of factors. There are more to the formation and change of religions as merely the contact between religions. Religion is introduced into a cultu¬re through certain processes. Therefore the process of inculturation also needs to be theologically evaluated. In a changing paradigm, it also becomes necessary to reconsider traditional thought patterns. In the light of the post-modern, it is necessary to reconsider syncretism. By doing so there can be new answers to new questions in order to arrive at a better un¬derstanding of syncretism.