Abstract:
During Prof.
Piet Meiring’s discussion of the Dutch Reformed Church’s ‘Year of Hope’ in 2001, he
argued that the societal issues of reconciliation, poverty and moral regeneration on which
the church focused that year, necessitated a theology of hope towards which theologians
of different disciplines should contribute. In this article is explored whether to pursue
such an endeavour more than two decades since the Year of Hope. Therefore, from a
church historiographic viewpoint, aspects of Jürgen Moltmann’s ideas on a theology of
hope within a context of injustices are revisited to assert their current relevance. In
addition, more recent theological developments concerning the horizontal dimension of
Christological hope within society are considered as well. In this regard reference is made
to relevant ideas of the Emergent Church movement and its historical continuance.
Reflecting on the current South African context and its socio-political, economic and
environmental challenges, the need for a theology of hope is considered relevant to the
church in order to establish credible relationships and engage strategically with society in
need of hope itself.
INTRADISCIPLINARY IMPLICATIONS : This article contains reviewed material of historical relevance
and is, therefore, conducted within the field of Church Historiography. In further consideration
of a Theology of Hope the opportunity arises for interdisciplinary collaboration of theological
disciplines such as Systematic Theology and Practical Theology.
