HTS Volume 60, Number 4 (2004)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/11841

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“Voorwetenskaplike” geskiedsbewussyn en “vroeë wetenskaplike” geskiedskrywing in die Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2004) Schoeman, P.R.
The scientific practice of Church History within the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika commenced in 1920 with the submission of S P Engelbrecht’s doctoral thesis. The preliminary era can be typified as the “prescientific” historical awareness that started with an official “Pastoral Writing” by the Synod in 1855 and developed into the “early scientific” historical writing with the writing of Van Warmelo in 1881. This “early scientific” historical writing continued to develop until the early twentieth century. The aim of this article is to explore this era within the “Hervormde” church against the background of a reflection on the scientific nature of ecclesiastically historical research.
Tentmaking ministry in the Hervormde Kerk in Suidelike Afrika : solution or problem?
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2004) Manala, Matsobane J.
Tentmaking ministry is a recommended interim measure which, for some churches is a permanent measure in respect of church ministry. Churches operating in poorer countries or in countries where sections of societies find themselves in financial crisis, resort to this kind of arrangement for service provision. In order for the church to effectively fulfil its mission in situations of abject poverty, it has become necessary to implement new methods and patterns of ministry. The tentmaking ministry is one such ministry pattern. The previous theory regarding ministry does not appear to measure up to new realities. Many churches, and recently, the Hervormde Kerk in Suidelike Afrika, have adopted the tentmaking ministry. In response to the challenge within to continuously test the relationship between theory and praxis, this article aims to evaluate the tentmaking ministry as applied in the Hervormde Kerk in Suidelike Afrika.
Virtuositeit en grootsheid : aspekte van Hannah Arendt se “buite-morele” etiek van deugdelikheid
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2004) Schoeman, Marinus J.
This article focuses on the “extra-moral” character of Arendt’s view of action and virtuousness. Particular attention is given to her a-teleological, performative (dramaturgical) view of action, which was inspired by the ancient Greeks and Romans, as well as certain aspects of Renaissance humanism, especially Machiavelli’s idea of virtue. According to this view, virtue relates to the virtuosity and “greatness” of the actor’s words and deeds, which in turn presupposes an agonistic ethos where different actors constantly try to surpass one another and to achieve exemplary status. This implies that virtue, or a truly ethical existence, has nothing to do with one’s inner feelings and intentions. Neither can it be measured against some transcendent norm or set of norms. Rather, it manifests itself in the performing of great and virtuosic actions in the presence of others. These actions thus depend on the existence of a vigorous public sphere, while at the same time being co-constitutive of the public sphere, helping to sustain it and keeping it alive.
Truth and reconciliation in South Africa : Hindu experiences and concerns
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2004) Meiring, Piet (Pieter Gerhard Jacobus), 1941-
The author who served on the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), focuses on the Hindu experience in South Africa during the apartheid years. At a special TRC Hearing for Faith Communities (East London, 17-19 November 1997) two submissions by local Hindu leaders were tabled. Taking his cues from those submissions, the author discusses four issues: the way the Hindu community suffered during these years, the way in which some members of the Hindu community supported the system of apartheid, the role of Hindus in the struggle against apartheid, and finally the contribution of the Hindu community towards reconciliation in South Africa. In conclusion some notes on how Hindus and Christians may work together in their mutual quest for nation building and reconciliation, are offered.
Sonder verhale vaar niemand wel
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2004) Spangenberg, I.J.J. (Izak J.J.)
The article addresses the issue of religious education for small children. These days the South African religious book market is flooded with publications from the USA. Some of these have been translated into Afrikaans. A large number of the publications meant for small children are written from a fundamentalistic viewpoint. In this article it is argued that parents should play a more prominent role in the education of their children. They need to tell their children stories so as to help them to become well-balanced adults. A child who grows up without stories – including religious stories – is all the poorer for it.
Ontferming “beyond” vergeving als weg naar heling en heelheid : “Reframing” als narratief-pastorale bemachtiging
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2004) Van der Schaaf, Tiny; Schaaf, Tiny van der; Dreyer, Yolanda
The theme of this article is pastoral counselling with women who have been sexually violated in an ecclesial context. The article focuses on the exegesis of those passages on guilt and forgiveness in the Gospel of Matthew frequently used by theologians and pastors in this regard. The article points to the implications for counselling. The aim is to empower women who have been violated and who struggle with the Christian imperative to forgive. Donald Capps’ notion of “reframing” with regard to “first order” and “second order” change is complemented by the narrative philosophy of Paul Ricoeur on prefiguartion, configuration and refiguartion. The article is concluded by indicating a possibility for the abused woman to be liberated from the lingering power of the abuser. There is no direct link between them any longer. To become whole is the acceptance of forgiveness and to empower others to heal.
Objektivisme en relativisme : die wetenskap-filosofiese problematiek met betrekking tot historiese Jesus-studies
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2004) Ingram, Riaan
While many recent historical Jesus studies have been done from theological and methodological viewpoints, this article focuses on the perspective of the philosophy of science. It aims to view some contemporary historical Jesus studies with regard to the philosophy of science from the angle of philosophical hermeneutics inaugurated by Heidegger’s reflection on fundamental ontology. The article criticises both an objectivistic view about knowledge that data can be known in ways that correspond to actual objective existence and a relativistic mentality that undermines the value of truth-seeking.
Post-independent mainline churches in Africa (1975-2000)
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2004) Hofmeyr, J.W. (Johannes Wynand), 1947-
The Second World War was in many ways a watershed in African social and political development. Drafted by their colonial rulers into fighting for world democracy and freedom, Africans were inspired with determination to achieve this same goal for them. The ensuing struggle against colonialism eventually led to the independence of most sub-Saharan African countries in the 1960’s. Following on the heels of the Second World War came the collapse of the whole colonial system. The only remaining factor in the liberation process was South Africa, which withdrew from the British Commonwealth in 1961 because of criticism of its apartheid policy and only became a full democracy in 1994. Because of the fact that the former colonial world was located in the southern hemisphere, the confrontation took on a north-south character. Mainline churches in post independent Africa responded in different ways to this changing configuration of the world, and in spite of secularizing trends and the resurgence of rival religions they remained as major players in the world stage.
Design, designers and the designing God : a critical look at some models
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2004) Du Toit, Cornel W. (Cornelius Willem), 1953-
This paper examines some of the main positions in the debate on intelligence, design and purpose in nature. It seems that the machine metaphor with its ostensible Deistic implications, introduced by Boyle and Paley, still haunts discussion today as is clear from the anthropic principle. To deal with the issue, some ideas from the side of naturalism are discussed (Dawkins and Davies). The strict naturalistic approach of Dawkins is valued but also criticised for its lack of appreciation for the way humans perceive the world and thus view it through the lens of religion and spirituality – a quality Paul Davies tries to accommodate to some extent. Some comments are made on the ideologically based intelligent-design movement which utilises the concept of intelligence to prove a creator (Shannon, Dembski). From a theological perspective, the concerns expressed by Haught are discussed, namely, a discussion of purposeful design in a way that is less ideological than that of Dembski and Shannon (of the intelligent design movement). The efforts of some theologians (Gregerson, Drees, Rottschaefer and Pannenberg) are discussed in order to reach a conclusion which endeavours to do justice to naturalism as well as theological and spiritual concerns.
From the other side of doubt – overcoming anxiety and fear : Paul Tillich’s “courage to be” and Reinhold Niebuhr’s “Christian realism”
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2004) Dreyer, Yolanda
Paul Tillich’s view on reality is that anxiety is part of being human. According to Reinhold Niebuhr, Christian realism has a realistic and an idealistic side to it. Reality is always changing and filled with tension. On the other hand there is a vision of otherworldliness, a vision of transcendence in everydayness. The theological nomer “Christian” indicates an awareness of God’s presence as well as the human tendency to be self-directed. The objectives of this article are to “rephrase” Niebuhr’s knowledge of the reality of the secular world, conceptualise Tillich’s categories of “anxiety” and “fear” against the background of the reality of the secular world, and explain Niebuhr’s notion of “Christian realism”. Their insights are used to empower the church to overcome homophobia in the faith community’s pastoral care of gays.
Bevinding en geestelike verlating op die limiete : die historiese en teologiese kontekstualisering van die pioniersvrou Hester Venter (c1750-c1830) se Ondervindelijke Bekeeringsweg
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2004) Raath, A.W.G. (Andries Wilhelmus Gerhardus)
Theological experience is a multi-facetted reality. In experiential theology the emphasis is on the resurrection of and communion with Christ. It is the acceptance of Christ to salvation and has both internal and external dimensions. As such it has a unique position in Reformational theology. Hester Venter’s Experiential Way to Conversion has significant value by illuminating the “Dopper”-trekboers’ puritan theology. Furthermore, it casts light on the national implications of this Reformed strand of theology at a key-phase of the “Dopper”-trekboer movement into the interior of Africa. The article argues that a contemporary value of Reformed theology is that it provides an alternative to the current growth of Eastern mysticism. Reformed pietism can serve as a legitimate theological experiment for adherents to the Reformed faith who strive to live from the faith.

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