Towards a fusion of horizons : thematic contours for an urban public theological praxis-agenda in South Africa

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Authors

De Beer, Stephanus Francois
Swart, Ignatius

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

OpenJournals Publishing

Abstract

This article proposes a ‘fusion of horizons’ in constructing urban public theologies in South Africa. This is done through the introduction of five interrelated themes that have emerged from the on-going knowledge and idea production by a distinguishable counterpoint in contemporary scholarly, intellectual and activist engagement with the urban, in the authors’ own South African context but also wider internationally. In advancing a praxis-agenda for urban public theology, the authors subsequently identify the following, albeit not exhaustive, themes: southern urbanisms and the factor of unprecedented urban migration; ‘right to the city’ and urbanisation from below; a reclaiming of the commons; the making of ‘good cities’; and actors of faith in relation to urban social life.

Description

This article constitutes the second introductory article to the special collection on ‘Doing urban public theology in South Africa: Visions, approaches, themes and practices towards a new agenda’ in HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies Volume 70, Issue 3, 2014.

Keywords

Thematic contours, Fusion of horizons, Public theologies, South Africa (SA), Urban public theology

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG-01: No poverty
SDG-11: Sustainable cities and communities

Citation

De Beer, S. & Swart, I., 2014, ‘Towards a fusion of horizons: Thematic contours for an urban public theological praxisagenda in South Africa’, HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 70(3), Art. #2812, 9 pages. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/hts.v70i3.2812.