English: This historic-systematic investigation by means of a literature
study, focuses on the theological propositions in the
thought of Rudolf Karl Bultmann (1884-1976) wi~h regard to
his understanding of faith and, connected with this, his
concept of science. The investigation is on the one hand
firmly embedded into the historic-theological tradition
which precedes and inspires the thought of Bultmann. Representive
of this tradition are Albrecht Ritschl (1822-89) and
Wilhelm Herrmann (1846-1922) who respectively ethisized
(Ritschl) and personalisized (Herrmann) the concept of faith
with regard to the meaning of the work and person of Jesus
of Nazareth for the present act of faith, in the light of
the intensifying dangers of the upcoming natural sciences.
This investigation is on the other hand embedded in the
realm of existensialist thought expecially of Kierkegaard
(1813-53) and Nietzsche (1844-1900). These two currents of
thought are creatively interconnected in the theological
programme of Bultmann in which theology becomes the existential
interpretation of the message of the new testament. This investigation of the historical context of his thought
and the rereading of his theological propositions, has been
necessitated by theological suspicion, misunderstanding and
unjust criticism. Over against this criticism, this thesis
asserts the continuing theological significance and contribution
of the work of Bultmann.
Afrikaans: In hierdie histories-sistematiese ondersoek aan die hand van
'n literatuurstudie met toespitsing op die teologiese grondbeginsels
van die geloofsbegrip en die daarmee samehangende
wetenskapsbegrip in die denke van Rudolf Karl Bultmann
(1884-1976), is die ondersoek enersyds grondig ingebed in
die voorafgaande histories-teologiese tradisie as voorspel
en inspirasie tot die denke van Bul tmann. Hiervan is Albrecht
Ritschl (1822-89) en Wilhelm Herrmann (1846-1922) die
vernaamste verteenwoordigers wat onderskeidelik die geloofsbegrip
etiseer (Ritschl) en personaliseer (Herrmann) in toespitsing
op die vraag na die betekenis van die werk en persoon
van Jesus van Nasaret vir die vol trekking van die
geloof in die hede t.a.v. die toenemende bedreiging van die
opbloeiende natuurwetenskap. Andersyds is die ondersoek
oorsigtelik ingebed in die kader van die eksistensialistiese
denke veral met verwysing na Kierkegaard (1813-53) en
Nietzsche (1844-1900). Hierdie twee strominge loop op
kreatiewe wyse in die teologiese denke van Bultmann ineen waarin die teologie as die eksistensiale interpretasie van
die nuwe testamentiese boodskap voltrek word.
Hierdie nagaan van die historiese konteks van die teologiese
ontwerp van Bultmann en die nalees van sy grondbeginsels, is
genoodsaak deur die teologiese agterdog, misverstand en
negatiewe kritiek t.a.v. sy denke. Hierteenoor word krities
gewys op die rigtinggewende belang van en blywende stimuli
vanuit sy denke tot die teologie.
