This article discussed the role of the Holy Spirit in Ghanaian Pentecostal churches from a missiological perspective. In order to achieve the aim for the topic, the article focused on one of the major factors that led to the rise and popularity of Pentecostalism in Ghana; i.e. the concern of the indigenes about their worldview not being addressed by the Western missionaries which came to serve in Ghana. The article argued that, in the desire for Ghanaians to have their worldview addressed, they resorted to Pentecostalism – a movement first introduced into Ghana by the African Initiated Churches. It is also argued that, though one of the factors that have made Pentecostalism to be accepted by Ghanaians is how it has addressed their worldview; Ghanaian Pentecostal Churches are of the view that the role of the Holy Spirit is the major factor for this increase.
{"title":"The role of the Holy Spirit in Ghanaian Pentecostal churches : a missiological study","authors":"P. White, C. Niemandt","doi":"10.5952/55-1-2-536","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5952/55-1-2-536","url":null,"abstract":"This article discussed the role of the Holy Spirit in Ghanaian\u0000 Pentecostal churches from a missiological perspective. In order to achieve the aim\u0000 for the topic, the article focused on one of the major factors that led to the rise\u0000 and popularity of Pentecostalism in Ghana; i.e. the concern of the indigenes about\u0000 their worldview not being addressed by the Western missionaries which came to serve\u0000 in Ghana. The article argued that, in the desire for Ghanaians to have their\u0000 worldview addressed, they resorted to Pentecostalism – a movement first introduced\u0000 into Ghana by the African Initiated Churches. It is also argued that, though one of\u0000 the factors that have made Pentecostalism to be accepted by Ghanaians is how it has\u0000 addressed their worldview; Ghanaian Pentecostal Churches are of the view that the\u0000 role of the Holy Spirit is the major factor for this increase.","PeriodicalId":18902,"journal":{"name":"Nederduitse Gereformeerde Teologiese Tydskrif","volume":"26 1","pages":"471-487"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74750126","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Religious Communication as academic discipline analyses the ways in which the spiritual commitments of humanity find expression in and through communicative acts. Diverse and multi-disciplinary as this discipline is, one of the aspects Religious Communication studies, is the problematic religiously inclined people experience in eliciting a meaningful message, relevant to modern times, from holy texts (such as the Bible) that stem from ancient times, dissimilar cultures, and far-removed communicative contexts. Within Christianity such problematic have, inter alia , given rise in the modern era to exegesis as an expert enterprise with which to practice the science and art of both understanding the texts within their ancient contexts and eliciting valid messages from them for current times. In such endeavours, Communication and Theology mix in a unique way as an expression of Religious Communication. In this contribution, the author builds forth on previous publications in the fields of Religious Communication and of Exegesis, to discuss here some major modern attempts in this regard. The pre-modern allegorical use of biblical texts were through the rise of historical consciousness, as part of the Enlightenment, replaced by historical-critical interpretations of the holy texts, which then dominated the exegetical scene for about two centuries. During the past half-century, however, different a-historical methods have been developed. In this contribution, the communicative intent with each of these exegetical methodologies are described and compared critically.
{"title":"Getting texts to talk. A critical analysis of attempts at eliciting contemporary messages from ancient holy books as exercises in religious communication","authors":"C. Lombaard","doi":"10.5952/55-1-2-522","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5952/55-1-2-522","url":null,"abstract":"Religious Communication as academic discipline analyses the\u0000 ways in which the spiritual commitments of humanity find expression in and through\u0000 communicative acts. Diverse and multi-disciplinary as this discipline is, one of the\u0000 aspects Religious Communication studies, is the problematic religiously inclined\u0000 people experience in eliciting a meaningful message, relevant to modern times, from\u0000 holy texts (such as the Bible) that stem from ancient times, dissimilar cultures,\u0000 and far-removed communicative contexts. Within Christianity such problematic have,\u0000 inter alia , given rise in the modern era to exegesis as an\u0000 expert enterprise with which to practice the science and art of both understanding\u0000 the texts within their ancient contexts and eliciting valid messages from them for\u0000 current times. In such endeavours, Communication and Theology mix in a unique way as\u0000 an expression of Religious Communication. In this contribution, the author builds\u0000 forth on previous publications in the fields of Religious Communication and of\u0000 Exegesis, to discuss here some major modern attempts in this regard. The pre-modern\u0000 allegorical use of biblical texts were through the rise of historical consciousness,\u0000 as part of the Enlightenment, replaced by historical-critical interpretations of the\u0000 holy texts, which then dominated the exegetical scene for about two centuries.\u0000 During the past half-century, however, different a-historical methods have been\u0000 developed. In this contribution, the communicative intent with\u0000 each of these exegetical methodologies are described and compared\u0000 critically.","PeriodicalId":18902,"journal":{"name":"Nederduitse Gereformeerde Teologiese Tydskrif","volume":"1 1","pages":"205-225"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"91309907","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The article asserts that the quest for power is one of the debilitating cultural impediments that keep theological education caught in an out-dated paradigm. It uses case studies to illustrate the hypothesis as well as the journey to escape the stranglehold of the colonial heritage. Philippians 2:1-18 posits the normative theological principle of kenosis that should guide us in passing through the needle of an old paradigm. An experience in Kampala and research from the Anglican Church in Kenya illustrate the problem while case studies from Angola, Malawi and South Africa illustrate the paradigm shift from an institutional to a missional paradigm in theological education.
{"title":"Theological education in Africa: Messages from the fringes","authors":"H. J. Hendriks","doi":"10.5952/55-1-2-516","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5952/55-1-2-516","url":null,"abstract":"The article asserts that the quest for power is one of the\u0000 debilitating cultural impediments that keep theological education caught in an\u0000 out-dated paradigm. It uses case studies to illustrate the hypothesis as well as the\u0000 journey to escape the stranglehold of the colonial heritage. Philippians 2:1-18\u0000 posits the normative theological principle of kenosis that\u0000 should guide us in passing through the needle of an old paradigm. An experience in\u0000 Kampala and research from the Anglican Church in Kenya illustrate the problem while\u0000 case studies from Angola, Malawi and South Africa illustrate the paradigm shift from\u0000 an institutional to a missional paradigm in theological education.","PeriodicalId":18902,"journal":{"name":"Nederduitse Gereformeerde Teologiese Tydskrif","volume":"118 1","pages":"61-80"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88472957","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The purpose of this article is to reflect on individual worship practices and offer a description of spirituality, and the varieties in spirituality, by drawing on the insights of neuroscientists and neurotheologians. The varieties in spirituality are described transversally according to the Neethling Brain Instrument (NBI). The article concludes by offering a description of the different aspects of spirituality accentuated by individuals and links this description to the discussions about church structure and unity in Reformed churches in South Africa.
{"title":"Die verskeidenheid in spiritualiteit : 'n transdissiplinêre benadering","authors":"Gys M. Loubser","doi":"10.5952/55-1-2-523","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5952/55-1-2-523","url":null,"abstract":"The purpose of this article is to reflect on individual worship\u0000 practices and offer a description of spirituality, and the varieties in\u0000 spirituality, by drawing on the insights of neuroscientists and neurotheologians.\u0000 The varieties in spirituality are described transversally according to the Neethling\u0000 Brain Instrument (NBI). The article concludes by offering a description of the\u0000 different aspects of spirituality accentuated by individuals and links this\u0000 description to the discussions about church structure and unity in Reformed churches\u0000 in South Africa.","PeriodicalId":18902,"journal":{"name":"Nederduitse Gereformeerde Teologiese Tydskrif","volume":"V 3 1","pages":"227-248"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74064157","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Living beyond apartheid: narratives of church members from a longitudinal pastoral involvement How do white Afrikaans Christians live in post-apartheid South Africa? This question was investigated with members of the Dutch Reformed Church as co-researchers over a period of fourteen years (1998-2012). The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) revelations form a backdrop for their stories. Themes include white people’s idea of apartheid, guilt and confession, reconciliation and the role of the church. The research is placed within practical theology and specifically in a postmodern paradigm informed and supported by social construction discourse. By using a longitudinal narrative informed methodology a series of group discussions were held in 1998 with co-researchers with the themes mentioned above as focus. In 2012 a series of individual conversations were once again conducted with the same co-researchers focusing yet again on the same themes mentioned above. Despite changes on various levels of South African society very little has changed in the views of the co-researchers during this period. In some cases they have even taken a more racist position than in 1998. The focus in the research is mainly on the Dutch Reformed Church and the process of reconciliation, reintegration and the possible role of the Confession of Belhar in this process.
{"title":"Lewe na apartheid: Lidmate se narratiewe vanuit ’n longitudinale pastorale betrokkenheid","authors":"L. M. Foot, J. V. D. Berg","doi":"10.5952/55-1-2-515","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5952/55-1-2-515","url":null,"abstract":"Living beyond apartheid: narratives of church\u0000 members from a longitudinal pastoral involvement How do\u0000 white Afrikaans Christians live in post-apartheid South Africa? This question was\u0000 investigated with members of the Dutch Reformed Church as co-researchers over a\u0000 period of fourteen years (1998-2012). The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s\u0000 (TRC) revelations form a backdrop for their stories. Themes include white people’s\u0000 idea of apartheid, guilt and confession, reconciliation and the role of the church.\u0000 The research is placed within practical theology and specifically in a postmodern\u0000 paradigm informed and supported by social construction discourse. By using a\u0000 longitudinal narrative informed methodology a series of group discussions were held\u0000 in 1998 with co-researchers with the themes mentioned above as focus. In 2012 a\u0000 series of individual conversations were once again conducted with the same\u0000 co-researchers focusing yet again on the same themes mentioned above. Despite\u0000 changes on various levels of South African society very little has changed in the\u0000 views of the co-researchers during this period. In some cases they have even taken a\u0000 more racist position than in 1998. The focus in the research is mainly on the Dutch\u0000 Reformed Church and the process of reconciliation, reintegration and the possible\u0000 role of the Confession of Belhar in this process.","PeriodicalId":18902,"journal":{"name":"Nederduitse Gereformeerde Teologiese Tydskrif","volume":"91 1","pages":"43-60"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86866421","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Calvin’s views on the Lord’s Supper During the Calvin commemoration of 2009, the question was often asked whether his views on the Lord’s Supper still hold ecumenical potential for today. A first section deals with the controversial question where exactly Calvin’s views on the Lord’s Supper should be found and how it should be described. In an attempt to respond to this question still challenging contemporary scholarship, a second section attempts to provide an answer in terms of Calvin’s comprehensive understanding of the presence of Christ. His views regarding the Supper can only be construed as integral part of his views regarding Christ’s presence. Five forms of Christ’s presence are distinguished in Calvin’s thought, namely a living presence, a spiritual presence, a sacramental presence, a eucharistic presence and an ecclesiological presence. A final section considers the contemporary ecumenical question whether these views could be appropriated today, in the light of several serious obstacles.
{"title":"Oor Calvyn se siening van die nagmaal","authors":"Dirkie Smit","doi":"10.5952/55-1-2-528","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5952/55-1-2-528","url":null,"abstract":"Calvin’s views on the Lord’s\u0000 Supper During the Calvin commemoration of 2009, the\u0000 question was often asked whether his views on the Lord’s Supper still hold\u0000 ecumenical potential for today. A first section deals with the controversial\u0000 question where exactly Calvin’s views on the Lord’s Supper should be found and how\u0000 it should be described. In an attempt to respond to this question still challenging\u0000 contemporary scholarship, a second section attempts to provide an answer in terms of\u0000 Calvin’s comprehensive understanding of the presence of Christ. His views regarding\u0000 the Supper can only be construed as integral part of his views regarding Christ’s\u0000 presence. Five forms of Christ’s presence are distinguished in Calvin’s thought,\u0000 namely a living presence, a spiritual presence, a sacramental presence, a\u0000 eucharistic presence and an ecclesiological presence. A final section considers the\u0000 contemporary ecumenical question whether these views could be appropriated today, in\u0000 the light of several serious obstacles.","PeriodicalId":18902,"journal":{"name":"Nederduitse Gereformeerde Teologiese Tydskrif","volume":"15 1","pages":"325-348"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86413452","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Living as a family in South Africa: Intercultural Bible study as a transformational power in society This contribution describes a research project in empirical hermeneutics which departed from the hypothesis that a development of hermeneutical skills among Christian communities for reading the Bible together with “the Other” could contribute significantly towards the fostering of interculturality in the broader South African society. Additionally, it was hypothesized that the studying of the dynamics of intercultural Bible reading could provide us with better insight into the dynamics of a shift from multiculturality to interculturality. The present article reports on the results achieved in the investigation. It has been established that fear for and a lack of knowledge of “the Other” are important reasons for the lack of interculturality in society. It has also been confirmed that the Bible – as liminal “meeting place” for people from different cultures – can foster a sense of family and hospitality in the South African nation.
{"title":"Om as familie in Suid-Afrika te leef: Interkulturele Bybelstudie as transformatiewe krag in die samelewing","authors":"L. Jonker","doi":"10.5952/55-1-2-519","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5952/55-1-2-519","url":null,"abstract":"Living as a family in South Africa: Intercultural\u0000 Bible study as a transformational power in society This\u0000 contribution describes a research project in empirical hermeneutics which departed\u0000 from the hypothesis that a development of hermeneutical skills among Christian\u0000 communities for reading the Bible together with “the Other” could contribute\u0000 significantly towards the fostering of interculturality in the broader South African\u0000 society. Additionally, it was hypothesized that the studying of the dynamics of\u0000 intercultural Bible reading could provide us with better insight into the dynamics\u0000 of a shift from multiculturality to interculturality. The present article reports on\u0000 the results achieved in the investigation. It has been established that fear for and\u0000 a lack of knowledge of “the Other” are important reasons for the lack of\u0000 interculturality in society. It has also been confirmed that the Bible – as liminal\u0000 “meeting place” for people from different cultures – can foster a sense of family\u0000 and hospitality in the South African nation.","PeriodicalId":18902,"journal":{"name":"Nederduitse Gereformeerde Teologiese Tydskrif","volume":"1 1","pages":"139-166"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88852679","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Local leadership is crucial in Africa. This article focuses on leadership in African Independent Churches, more specifically on the leader of a local congregation of the Corinthian Church, Rev Dingani in Phepheni, Eastern Cape. The article is composed of two parts. The first part is a portrait of Dingani, mainly from an emic (inside) point of view. After a biographical sketch, his ministry and liturgical leadership are outlined, followed by a portrait of Rev Dingani as a theologian. The second part, which mainly takes an etic (outside) stance, places this portrait in a wider context of leadership in African Independent Churches and sub-Saharan Africa as a whole. After indicating some general features of African leadership, the article focuses more specifically on two leadership styles: 1. The humane-oriented and charismatic/value-based style. 2. The participative and autonomous style. By distinguishing this emic and etic positions, we confront Western and African epistemologies, without reconciling them in advance.
{"title":"Rev Pungula Wellington Dingani : leadership in the Corinthian Church in Phepheni, Eastern Cape, South Africa","authors":"M. Barnard, I. Nell, H. Mbaya","doi":"10.5952/55-1-2-513","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5952/55-1-2-513","url":null,"abstract":"Local leadership is crucial in Africa. This article focuses on\u0000 leadership in African Independent Churches, more specifically on the leader of a\u0000 local congregation of the Corinthian Church, Rev Dingani in Phepheni, Eastern Cape.\u0000 The article is composed of two parts. The first part is a portrait of Dingani,\u0000 mainly from an emic (inside) point of view. After a biographical sketch, his\u0000 ministry and liturgical leadership are outlined, followed by a portrait of Rev\u0000 Dingani as a theologian. The second part, which mainly takes an etic (outside)\u0000 stance, places this portrait in a wider context of leadership in African Independent\u0000 Churches and sub-Saharan Africa as a whole. After indicating some general features\u0000 of African leadership, the article focuses more specifically on two leadership\u0000 styles: 1. The humane-oriented and charismatic/value-based style. 2. The\u0000 participative and autonomous style. By distinguishing this emic and etic positions,\u0000 we confront Western and African epistemologies, without reconciling them in\u0000 advance.","PeriodicalId":18902,"journal":{"name":"Nederduitse Gereformeerde Teologiese Tydskrif","volume":"57 1","pages":"9-28"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75355341","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Spirituality is a way of living. It is described as that which touches the core of human existence, namely “our relationship to the Absolute”, whatever the definition of the latter may be. In this paper, we deal with the importance of our relationship with the Trinitarian God as revealed in Scripture and determined by Christ. The world experiences a revolution in secular spirituality, rejecting a dualistic supernaturalism. This paper will not try to cover the whole debate and spectrum of spirituality, but will focus mainly on the most obvious spiritualities in the South African society, namely Biblical, post-modern and African spirituality. It is the argument of this paper that transforming and liberating spirituality will have to take the influence of sin on our koinonia with God and with our neighbour seriously. The importance of the different dimensions of koinonia as inner dynamics of the process of transformation and liberation will help dispel the myth that Christian spirituality has no relevance in a socio-political situation.
{"title":"Transforming a fragmented South African society through a spirituality of koinonia coram Deo","authors":"J. Knoetze","doi":"10.5952/55-1-2-520","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5952/55-1-2-520","url":null,"abstract":"Spirituality is a way of living. It is described as that which\u0000 touches the core of human existence, namely “our relationship to the Absolute”,\u0000 whatever the definition of the latter may be. In this paper, we deal with the\u0000 importance of our relationship with the Trinitarian God as revealed in Scripture and\u0000 determined by Christ. The world experiences a revolution in secular spirituality,\u0000 rejecting a dualistic supernaturalism. This paper will not try to cover the whole\u0000 debate and spectrum of spirituality, but will focus mainly on the most obvious\u0000 spiritualities in the South African society, namely Biblical, post-modern and\u0000 African spirituality. It is the argument of this paper that transforming and\u0000 liberating spirituality will have to take the influence of sin on our koinonia with\u0000 God and with our neighbour seriously. The importance of the different dimensions of\u0000 koinonia as inner dynamics of the process of transformation and liberation will help\u0000 dispel the myth that Christian spirituality has no relevance in a socio-political\u0000 situation.","PeriodicalId":18902,"journal":{"name":"Nederduitse Gereformeerde Teologiese Tydskrif","volume":"39 1","pages":"167-187"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87990585","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Apart from the more immediate catalysts for “Church and Society” such as the Reformation Day Confession, the Open Letter, the suspension of the Dutch Reformed Church from the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Confession of Belhar, also the legacy of Cottesloe, the demise of “Ras, Volk en Nasie”, contributions of the Cape Synod, pressure from overseas Reformed institutions and growing internal misgivings about apartheid, should be kept in mind. Two divergent currents met in “Church and Society”, causing it to become a document of compromise. Theologically, it improved on its predecessor, but its ambivalent character subjected it to severe criticism. The most basic strategic mistake in “Church and Society” was the exclusion of the rest of the Dutch Reformed family. The Dutch Reformed Church was not yet ready to confess apartheid unreservedly as sin. Finally, it is suggested that our present situation urgently calls for a new, prophetic ecclesiastic directive, but then one coming from the Dutch Reformed family as a whole; still better: from one united Dutch Reformed Church.
除了“教会与社会”更直接的催化剂,如改革日告白、公开信、荷兰归正教会从世界归正教会联盟和贝尔哈尔告白中被暂停之外,还有科特斯罗的遗产、“Ras, Volk en Nasie”的消亡、开普主教会的贡献、来自海外归正机构的压力以及对种族隔离日益增长的内部疑虑,这些都应该铭记在心。两种不同的思潮在《教会与社会》中相遇,使其成为一份妥协的文件。在神学上,它改进了它的前身,但其矛盾的性格使它受到严厉的批评。《教会与社会》一书最基本的战略错误是将荷兰改革宗家庭的其他成员排除在外。荷兰归正教会还没有准备好毫无保留地承认种族隔离是罪。最后,我们现在的处境迫切需要一个新的、先知性的教会指示,但这个指示必须来自整个荷兰改革宗家庭;更好的是:来自一个统一的荷兰归正教会。
{"title":"Revisiting “Church and Society” after a quarter of a century – a critical reappraisal","authors":"A. D. Toit","doi":"10.5952/55-1-2-514","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5952/55-1-2-514","url":null,"abstract":"Apart from the more immediate catalysts for “Church and\u0000 Society” such as the Reformation Day Confession, the Open Letter, the suspension of\u0000 the Dutch Reformed Church from the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the\u0000 Confession of Belhar, also the legacy of Cottesloe, the demise of “Ras, Volk en\u0000 Nasie”, contributions of the Cape Synod, pressure from overseas Reformed\u0000 institutions and growing internal misgivings about apartheid, should be kept in\u0000 mind. Two divergent currents met in “Church and Society”, causing it to become a\u0000 document of compromise. Theologically, it improved on its predecessor, but its\u0000 ambivalent character subjected it to severe criticism. The most basic strategic\u0000 mistake in “Church and Society” was the exclusion of the rest of the Dutch Reformed\u0000 family. The Dutch Reformed Church was not yet ready to confess apartheid\u0000 unreservedly as sin. Finally, it is suggested that our present situation urgently\u0000 calls for a new, prophetic ecclesiastic directive, but then one coming from the\u0000 Dutch Reformed family as a whole; still better: from one united Dutch Reformed\u0000 Church.","PeriodicalId":18902,"journal":{"name":"Nederduitse Gereformeerde Teologiese Tydskrif","volume":"40 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74076054","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}