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Abraham Kuyper en die reg op selfbeskikking van bevolkingsgroepe
Get PDFAbraham Kuyper and the right to self-determination of peoples Sphere sovereignty as a principle that regulates the mutual relationships among different social institutions originated from the philosophy of John Althusius, and this idea is found again in one form or another in the theories of various German political and legal philosophers. However, the descriptive name of this principle derives from the Dutch politician, Guillaume Groen van Prinsterer, who under the influence of Julius Stahl, confined the principle to church-state relationships. The special contribution of Abraham Kuyper was to extend sphere sovereignty to relationships among other social institutions. However, Kuyper did not distinguish precisely between the kinds of “circles” which in principle qualify for sphere sovereignty, and in the process he also included social communities among those with sphere sovereignty. An accurate distinction among social institutions that do qualify for sphere sovereignty and (unstructured) social communities that do not, derived from the philosophy of the cosmonomic idea of Herman Dooyeweerd. Kuyper’s perception of sphere sovereignty of social communities does correspond with the right to self-determination of ethnic, religious and linguistic communities as currently defined in international law. This right, however, does not include the right to secession from an existing state, but affords to the communities concerned the right to promote their culture, to testify to and practise their religion and to speak and apply their language without state interference
Die Instituut vir Reformatoriese Studie (1962-1999) as Christelike organisasie – die betekenis daarvan vir toekomstige Christelike aksies
Get PDFThe Institute for Reformational Studies (1962-1999) as a Christian organisation – its relevance for future Christian actions During a period of 37 years the Institute for Reformational Studies (IRS) fulfilled a unique role at the former Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education. In spite of this, the IRS was closed down at the end of 1999. This happened while, in an increasingly secularised South Africa, there clearly is a growing need to provide direction in all domains of life. This article, therefore, asks the question about possible reasons for the termination of this Institute. The answer to the problem is given from a worldview perspective. The aim of the investigation is to provide, derived from the history of the IRS, some practical guidelines to future Christian actions
\u27The unmasking of modern science\u27 – the sequel (II)
Get PDFIn 1982, T.M. Moore claimed that positivism was in the process of being “unmasked”. Its shortcomings were being unmasked by its enemies as well as by its adherents. In describing the process of unmasking, Moore resorted to T.S. Kuhn’s sociological theory of normal science, paradigms, crises and revolutions. Moore then went on to challenge the Christian scholarly community to (inter alia) develop a new paradigm for science. Now, after just more than two decades have elapsed since this exhortation by Moore, a survey had to be done to see to what extent the secular as well as the Christian community has taken up the challenge and how both of them have progressed in the directions that Moore had predicted. It has also become time for the Christian community to assess its own progress towards developing a “new” scientific paradigm. In this, the second part of a two-part article on this subject, the author attends not only to how the Christian community took up Moore’s challenges, but also to how Christian scholars tried to avoid the pitfalls of secularism, postmodern fragmentation and a preference for contingent foundations, which have become the characteristic features of modern science, as outlined in part I of this article
Die dood van dogma? Calvyn se gebruik van die begrippe dogma en doctrina
Get PDFDogma’s death? Calvin’s use of the concepts dogma and doctrina In theological as well as in popular articles it has become customary to refer to “dogma” in a negative context. The trend to report negatively on the role and place of dogma in faith, religion and theology is especially obvious in reflections and studies on the sixteenth century Reformers – in particular John Calvin. There is, however, a conspicuous absence of due allowance for important aspects of the understanding and elucidation of historical texts by most authors, including researchers and journalists. The fact that almost 500 years’ history of spiritual trends and philosophical development has already developed between us and the sixteenth century is ignored to a great extent. Concepts are used as if there were no semantic and linguistic development, and this approach leads to superficial evaluation of historical texts and figures. This article points to the gap in existing research and then investigates the interaction between the concepts “dogma” and “doctrina”. It is indicated that a doctrinal treatment of the Word, or even dogmatism, was never an issue in Calvin’s thought. In research on Calvin or in translating his work it is important to be aware of the nuances and wide spectrum of possibilities he worked with when using concepts. These aspects should be considered linguistically and hermeneutically. The danger of reading Calvin eclectically, ignoring the genre and historical background, is also indicated in this article
Sport onder die soeklig: ’n Christeliklewensbeskoulik- filosofiese besinning
Get PDFSpotlight on sport: a Christian-worldviewish-philosophical reflection The problem dealt with in this article is the fact that most people are involved in sport (as participants or spectators) without knowing what kind of activity it is or should be and how they should participate. Such a situation may result in the many outrages sport is suffering nowadays. By means of a Christianphilosophical analysis of this prominent phenomenon in modern society, an attempt is made to provide an answer. To attain this goal, the following steps are followed: A brief overview of the present situation in sport serves as an introduction. This is followed by three current wrong attitudes toward sport. Attention is then asked for the fact that, in spite of the deterioration in sport ethics, the necessary theoretical reflection – also among Christians – is lacking. The theoretical exploration which follows includes some Biblical perspectives and the influence of different Christian worldviews; an effort is also given to determine the nature of sport from a comparison between leisure, play, game and sport. A philosophical analysis of the structure and direction of sport follows with a few examples of the practical implications of such a theoretical approach
Veranderende tendense en die implikasies vir jongmensverhoudings
Get PDFChanging trends and their implication for youth relationships In this article it is shown how changing trends in the world affect young people and especially in their interpersonal relationships. These trends are discussed on the macro-level (global), mesolevel (South African) and micro-level (personal) and it is shown how these trends influence young people and their lives. The following challenges for Christian communities in the postmodern era are subsequently discussed: the post-individualistic and post-rationalistic approach. Young people also live in an age of a post-dualistic and post-intellectual presentation of the gospel. The article also indicates the implications for dealing with young people and their relationships within Christian communities and the church
N.T. van der Merwe as denker
Get PDFN.T. van der Merwe as thinker The philosophical legacy of N.T. van der Merwe is characterised as a profound concern for meaning, significance and nuance, especially as they are encountered and preserved in texts. This testifies to his inspiring pleasure in crafting rich texts himself, to his commendably thorough grasp of the history of thought and being filled with wonder and awe at the inexhaustible variety of the creation of God
Wetenskap met en sonder diepte?
Get PDFScience with and without depth? In trying to understand science in interaction with its presuppositions, values and bona fides, an overview of three different but closely related dimensions or layers or zones of science present in the functioning of different disciplines is given in this article. Then the different paradigms, presuppositions and/or control beliefs typical of modernist and postmodernist theories of science are underlined. This approach could contribute towards understanding some of the modernist and postmodernist affiliations and inclinations toward specific dimensions or particular phases of the scientific venture. In the critical evaluation of these schools of thought the concept “science” is understood as a multi-dimensional knowledge act. The history of science contains no traces of science without its creeds. It is, however, agreed that science is also underdetermined by its presuppositions and that it should not be equated to a world and life view. What science ultimately is and should be cannot be rationally and scientifically fathomed. Lastly it is attempted to explain in what way our view of wisdom as a deeper dimension of science also allows for a deeper (than logical) critical discussion with scientists holding a different view of the world
Struggle in the ethics of technology
Get PDFThe advantages as well as the disadvantages of modern technology, especially in combination with the development of the natural sciences, call in general for philosophical reflection. There is a struggle going on between the various philosophical movements. What is the content of Christian-philosophical thinking about technology and its problems? And what are the consequences in relation to the ethics of technology? Such questions are very unusual among Christians. Nevertheless, the potentially disastrous effects of technology require an ethics of technology. Such an ethics must concern itself with man’s good and responsible conduct in and through technology. Generally speaking, since modern times there has been a technological control mentality. All questions relating to spiritual reflection and religious problems are ruled out. The world view has been transformed to a technological worldview. Motives, values and norms are derived from it. This implies a technological ethics which is the cause of many threats and problems. It is characterised by a cosmological deficit and an ethical deficit. It is only possible to overcome these deficits by a reorientation in culture and in ethics. The “Enlightenment” ought to be enlightened itself by the God-given revelation. The cosmology of the reality as God’s creation and the commandments of love give a possibility for the redirection of an ethics of technology. A responsible cultural and technological development evokes a representation of culture that depicts earth as a garden tended by humans. Technology must be developed within the perspective of the earth as one large garden-city. Technology ought to serve life and not to threaten it. Besides, in an ethics of responsibility attention is given to the central motive of love against the central motive of power of the technological worldview. For a justified, responsible technology the ethical challenge is finding not only true motives, but also environment values, technological values and social values. Furthermore, technology has to obey a large number of normative principles and related norms. At the end of the article attention is paid to the consequences for praxis of this ethical-philosophical view and to the differences from those views which are currently held. The perspective of an ethics of technology ought not to be on doing things right, but on doing the right things
