‘Bliksem!’/damn it! A ritual-liturgical appreciation of a deadly sin for an angry nation

Abstract

This article addresses the current levels of anger within South African society from a practical theological perspective. Following a description of the current context with regard to the on-going processes of reconciliation and transformation two theories are revisited and critiqued. Normative insights are thereafter gained by making use of several stories from the book of Judges, and in conclusion an outline for a liturgical and homiletical theory for praxis is presented. The aim of this contribution as a whole is to reflect – in a praxis-theory cycle – on the theme of anger in order to formulate practical theological ritual-liturgical route markers for South Africa.