HTS Volume 62, Number 1 (2006)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/11862

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Hans Küng en religieuse pluraliteit
(Reformed Theological College, Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2006) Louw, D.J. (Dirk Jakobus)
The article traces Hans Küng’s view on religious plurality over four decades: from “theocentrism” (the earlier Küng) to critical ecumenical dialogue (the later Küng). Küng’s approach to religious plurality portrays a growing openness towards non-Christian religions. However, his approach is not quite as accommodative as it may appear on face value. On closer inspection, the “theocentrism” of the earlier Küng turns out to be (merely) christocentrism, and the “maximal” openness that supposedly informs the later Küng’s critical ecumenical dialogue (and concomitant ecumenical criteria) turns out to be a “committed” openness. Although Küng’s approach seemingly constitutes a shifting of the Christian criterion, it is therefore best understood as merely a movement in the Christian criterion. This prompts the question as to whether an unbiased assessment of religions is possible at all.
The concept “salvation” in the Church of Scientology
(Reformed Theological College, Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2006) Pretorius, Stephanus Petrus
In one of its publications the Church of Scientology (COSI), a well-established religious movement in South Africa, claims to be not only the fastest growing religious movement, but also to be an active force for positive change in the world. The Church of Scientology’s utilization of familiar terms such as “church” and “religion” can be misleading. It can create the understanding with some that Scientology might be related to, or even be an extension of the Christian tradition. This understanding is further enhanced by their assurance to Christians that joining the church will not distance them from, but instead, strengthen their own faith. This article, however, concludes that closer investigation of the philosophy of Scientology indicates that there is a distinct difference between the salvations offered by Scientology and that of the Christian tradition.
Religious research as kingpin in the fight against poverty and AIDS in the Western Cape, South Africa
(Reformed Theological College, Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2006) Erasmus, Johannes C.; Hendriks, H. Jurgens; Mans, Gerbrand G.
This article describes the researchers’ efforts to apply the principles of Participatory Action Research (PAR), specifically participation, through the direct involvement of church members in the research. It includes involving them in the design of questionnaires, training and utilizing them as fieldworkers, and finally disseminating the results of the research via workshops aimed at strategizing for change. The research is based on two hypotheses, the first being that, churches and their members are intensely involved in serving both the needs of their own members, as well as the needs of the larger community; and secondly, that churches do not work alone, but are part of networks with other agencies to accomplish their goals. At the outset the article outlines the challenges and points of departure, followed by a chronological account of how this approach was applied in Paarl, a South African community. Finally, an overview of the results of the project is provided.
Doomsday movements in Africa : restoration of the Ten Commandments of God
(Reformed Theological College, Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2006-03) Venter, P.M. (Pieter Michiel), 1947-
This article investigates Kibwetere's Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God. A brief summary of the Movement's short history is followed by an outline of the movement's main beliefs. This Ugandan cult's socio historic context is thereupon analyzed. The cult's document, "A Timely Message", is summarized and their relationship with a similar Marian movement in Australia is indicated. Finally, the phenomenon of their suicide is discussed in terms of doomsday apocalypticism and depicted as a result of Roman Catholic apocalyptic thinking.
Juridiese problematiek van grondbesit in die boek Rut
(Reformed Theological College, Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2006-03) Stanton, Milda; Venter, P.M. (Pieter Michiel), 1947-
Juridical matters play an important role in the book of Ruth. There appears to be a contradiction between Ruth 1:21 and Ruth 4:3. In the former, Naomi is depicted as a desperately poor ("empty") widow. In the latter, Naomi is unexpectedly presented as the owner of land. This contradiction can be solved by understanding Naomi's right in respect of her late husband's land as a right other than ownership. A study of female ownership of land, the right of a wife to inherit from her husband, analysis of the literary elements in the book of Ruth, the rural backdrop, the theme of survival and the vocabulary in the narrative, lead to the conclusion that we are here dealing with what would today be recognised as a usufruct.
David's flight from Jerusalem according to Josephus
(Reformed Theological College, Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2006-03) Begg, Christopher T.
2 Samuel 15:13-16:14 tells of David's flight from Jerusalem to the Jordan in the face of his son Absalom's rebellion and of the five encounters that occur during that journey. This article focuses on Josephus' retelling of the episode in his Ant 7.198-210. The article's detailed comparison between the Samuel passage and its Josephan version aims to find answers to such questions as: Which of 2 Samuel 15:13-16:14 text-forms(s) did Josephus utilize? What rewriting techniques has he applied to the data of his source and what is distinctive about his own resultant rendering? Finally, how does Josephus' handling of the Scriptural data in this case compare with how the data is treated elsewhere in early Jewish and Christian tradition?
Waar is God? Relevante insigte in die Westers-Christelike tradisie rakende hedendaagse bevraagtekening van God se teenwoordigheid
(Reformed Theological College, Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2006-03) Vorster, J.H. (Jan)
Departing from a contemporary question, this article sets out to explore the tradition behind a problem in the modern concept of God. Three historical cross-sections from the tradition, connecting the modern reader with the Old Testament, are presented as summary of the background and development of Christian views of God (focusing on transcendence and immanence as reciprocal concepts). Traditional reflections of this kind utilize a philosophical vocabulary. Accordingly, theology and philosophy exemplify a similar development. A unilinear presentation of insights from the fields of theology and philosophy supports the conviction that all theology is based on some set of what are often are philosophical presuppositions. The aim of this exploration is, firstly, to show that as far as the debate about awareness of God is concerned, the concepts of transcendence and immanence are still highly relevant, and, secondly, to elicit reaction and further debate.
The theological centre of Pauline theology as it relates to the Holy Spirit
(Reformed Theological College, Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2006-03) Pretorius, Mark
The issue as to what constitutes the "heart of Pauline theology" is a contentious one in academic debates. The traditional view is the one fostered by the Reformers and perpetuated by generations of Protestants namely that "justification by faith" is the key to Paul's theology. Unfortunately, upon careful reading of Paul's letters, the inadequacy of such a view becomes apparent as such a focus would fail to cast the net broadly enough to capture all of Paul's theological concerns. In saying this and without denying the presence of other determining factors, especially Christology and eschatology, shape the framework of Paul's pneumatology. There is no doubt that in their eschatological significance, the death and resurrection of Christ control Paul's teaching on the work of the Spirit within the lives of believers. It could then be argued that as part of the fundamental core of Paul's understanding of the Gospel, the Spirit is rather close to the centre of things.
The gospel myth of Christian origins
(Reformed Theological College, Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2006-03) Schutte, P.J.W. (Philippus Jacobus Wilhelmus)
In Burton Mack's latest book, entitled "The Christian myth. Origins, logic, and legacy", he raises challenging arguments with regard to those issues of the Christian myth mentioned in the title. The aim of this review article is to by means of this book introduce the reader to his research. In the first part of the article, Mack's viewpoint and argument are summarized and in the second part, it discusses the research of the literarkritische formgeschichtlichen German researchers who paved the way.
The emergence of God's new people : the beginnings of Christianity reconsidered
(Reformed Theological College, Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2006-03) Stegemann, Wolfgang, 1945-
The article deals with the problem of the Christian beginnings. Unlike many other scholars, the article does not defend the traditional metaphor which compares Judaism and Christianity to the relationship of mother and daughter. It also does not take for granted that ancient Judaism and Christianity can be viewed as religious. The category "religion" is a modern concept and therefore does not meet the ancient discourse. The article aims to argue that the emergence of Christianity could be better understood in terms of "ethnicity". Another version of the article was published in Di storia dell' esegesi 21(2), 2004, 497-513.
The challenge of Jesus' parables : a scholarly handbook for ministers and preachers
(Reformed Theological College, Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2006-03) Reinstorf, Dieter Heinrich
The parables of Jesus recorded in the Gospels are profoundly challenging, not only as far as their original audience is concerned, but equally so as far as present day readers, hoping to fully grasp their meaning, are concerned. Renewed efforts to interpret these parables were made by a number of first-rate scholars, who published their research results in a book entitled "The challenge of Jesus parables", which forms part of the McMaster New Testament Studies Series. This review essay focuses on some of the book's main characteristics, in particular the resurgence of allegory, the Gospel contextualization of the parables and their application to contemporary issues of life.
The role alternate states of consciousness played in the baptism and Eucharist of the earliest Jesus-followers
(Reformed Theological College, Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2006-03) Groenewald, Jonanda; Van Aarde, A.G. (Andries G.)
In this article it is argued that the baptism and Eucharist of the earliest Jesus-followers can be better understood when contemporary knowledge with regard to alternate states of consciousness is taken into consideration. During Jesus' baptism and all-inclusive meals, he experienced alternate states of consciousness, which can be understood as expressions of the direct influence the Spirit of God had in his life. In the rites of baptism and the Eucharist the early Jesus-followers re-enacted Jesus' alternate states of consciousness. This re-enactment is illustrated by means of a model termed "anti-language". The understanding of the earliest baptism and Eucharist, as described in this article, could aid contemporary Christians in experiencing these rites as being meaningful today.
Hoe om in te kom en hoe om binne te bly - die "groot sendingopdrag" aan die kerk vandag volgens Matteus 28:16-20
(Reformed Theological College, Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2006-03) Van Aarde, A.G. (Andries G.)
In this article the phrases "getting in" and "staying in" relate to the technical term "covenantal nomism". The article's aim is to argue that this concept is radically redefined in the so-called "great commission" in Matthew 28:16-20. Inclusivity replaces ethnic exclusivism. This redefinition is applied to the well-being of the church and its spirituality in the present-day postmodern context. The article is specifically addressed to the members of the Nederduitsch Hervormde Church in South Africa. It challenges the traditional dichotomy between "insiders" and "outsiders" in missionary work. It advocates a way of thinking in terms of which "non-conformists" in so-called "churchless Christianity" are considered as being part of the "church on the other side"
A socio-cultural model of Judean ethnicity : a proposal
(Reformed Theological College, Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2006-03) Cromhout, Markus; Van Aarde, A.G. (Andries G.)
This article focuses on the matter of Judean ("Jewish") ethnic identity during the first century CE. New Testament scholarship lacks an overall interpretive framework by which Judean identity can be understood. Appreciation of what informed the entire process of Judean ethnic identity formation in the first century, or at any period for that matter, is lacking. This lack of interpretive framework is rather acute in scholarship on the historical Jesus, where the issue of Judeanness ("Jewishness") is most strongly debated. A Socio-Cultural Model of Judean Ethnicity is developed, as being a synthesis of (1) Sanders' notion of covenantal nomism, but reappropriated to serve as an ethnic descriptor, (2) Berger and Luckmann's theories on the sociology of knowledge, (3) Dunn's "four pillars of Second Temple 'Judaism'" and his "new perspec-tive" on Paul, (4) cultural anthropology in the form of modern ethnicity theory, and lastly, (5) Duling's Socio-Cultural Model of Ethnicity. The proposed model is termed covenantal nomism. It is a pictorial representation of the Judean "symbolic universe" which, as an ethnic identity, is proposed to be essentially primordialist.

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