Etisering - personalisering - eksistensialisering van die geloofsbegrip

Abstract

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.