The making of Allan Aubrey Boesak : theologian and political activist

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Authors

Maluleke, Tinyiko Sam

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University of South Africa, Department of Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology

Abstract

Although no conventional biography of Allan Boesak has been published, either by himself or others, as far as we are aware, we have enough data and information in various places to make small beginnings of the long overdue task. Boesak's phenomenal contribution to political theology, black theology and ecumenism both in South Africa and internationally, deserves deliberate acknowledgement. In this essay, we attempt an appraisal of the contribution of Allan Boesak to politics and theology by focusing on key milestones and reflections in his life. We take our cue from Boesak’s own selfdefinition of being a theologian and a political activist and proceed to explore some of the roots and sources of his theology and political activism.

Description

An earlier version of this article was published in the Allan Boesak Festschrift published by Sun Press in 2016. Permission to republish has been obtained.

Keywords

Allan Boesak, Black consciousness, Steve Biko, Soweto uprising, Dutch Reformed Mission Church, World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC), Beyers Naude, Alliance of Black Reformed Churches in South Africa (ABRECSA)

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Citation

Maluleke, T. 2017, 'The making of Allan Aubrey Boesak : theologian and political activist', Missionalia, vol. 45, no. 1, pp. 61-76.