Koers (E-Journal)
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Ludin’s Kopftuch (headdress): A problem of religious freedom in German schools
Get PDFFereshta Ludin is a German citizen and devout “Muslimin”. She has been denied leave to wear her “Kopftuch” in the classroom. She has lost her case in the courtrooms of the states where appeals were lodged to lift the ban. She may consequently not teach at any public school in Germany. We argue that Ludin is entitled to wear the “Kopftuch” on grounds of her right to religious freedom and that the attempt to deny her this entitlement constitutes a breach of individual rights. Following the South African philosopher, Denise Meyerson, we maintain that the domain of religion constitutes an area of intractable dispute, and that the state is not entitled to limit liberty in this domain because it cannot justify limitations in a neutrally acceptable way. Meyerson’s arguments rest on the acceptability of Rawls’s notion of public reason. We test Ludin’s case against Jeremy Waldron’s objections to the use of deliberative discipline of public reason in cultural disputes and against his alternative to the politics of identity. Meyerson’s approach offers protection of religious dissent in a way Waldron’s cannot. One significant reason for this is Waldron’s insistence on the elimination of identity claims from the conversation between cultures seeking accommodation with one another in the liberal pluralist state. However, bracketing identity claims eliminates what is peculiar about Ludin’s case. This we bring out by drawing on views of Sawitri Sahorsa and Melissa Williams. We argue that Ludin’s dilemma is twofold: her status as “metic” – as a member of a minority at the margins of mainstream German culture, and her status as “Muslimin” – as one believed to be suffering sexual discrimination in her own culture, hang together in a way that challenges the integration policies of the German state and embarrasses German feminism
Misdaad en die impak daarvan op die mens – ’n Christelike perspektief
Get PDFCrime and its impact on man – a Christian perspective Crime is a depressing and frightening reality, especially within the South African context. In this article the following aspects are discussed from the vantage point of a Christian world view: the concept crime, its impact on ‘victims’, and the care-taking of victims’ needs. Crime has a two-sided effect: it affects the victim and the perpetrator as well as their next of kin. Problematic issues regarding crime are outlined in the introductory part of the article. Subsequently a Christian perspective and what this frame of reference implies are discussed. On the basis of this perspective it is argued that crime is in essence a transgression of universal laws as well as of laws applied by governments and other authorities. When one lives lawlessly one implicitly and explicitly does not obey God’s commandment to love one’s neighbour and to honour and glorify God. As a result of the emotional ‘distance’ between a person affected by crime and a perpetrator, a crime-affected person is often not able to react and behave as can be expected of a believer whose way of life is intended to honour God. In addition to possible negative behavioural patterns and reactions, post-traumatic stress can contribute to dysfunctional development of traumatised people’s potential. The Word of God teaches that care should be given to the interests of one’s neighbour (in this case ‘neighbour’ implies both perpetrator and crime-affected person). A person affected by crime deserves the attention and support of both care-giving professionals and of members of the community at large
The development of normative theory in International Relations: Some practical implications for norm-based and value-based scholarly inquiry
Get PDFThis article attempts to assess the development and significance of normative theory in International Relations as an academic discipline. It is pointed out that a revival of normative concerns and issues in International Relations has transpired in recent decades, and that many scholars in International Relations today accept a proposition that scientific knowledge and inquiry in the discipline and its application should be underpinned or directed by a defensible normative commitment. It is furthermore pointed out that normative theory and some practical manifestations of norm-based and valuebased scholarly inquiry in the discipline are a matter of great significance, since these issues relate to some moral and ethical dimensions of activities in the international community. The article concludes by asserting that the growth of normative theory in International Relations is also of great importance and significance for scholarly research from a Christian perspective
Involved fathering: Expanding conceptualisations of men’s paternal caring
Get PDFFatherhood has received increased attention during the past few decades in both scholarly writings and public forums, yet the conceptualisation of involved fathering has remained largely limited to the idea that men are merely childcare assistants. In this article the generativity perspective on fathering is considered as a possible theoretical expansion of what paternal involvement may entail. Taking the concept of generativity, as defined by Erik Erikson in his psychosocial development theory, as point of departure, generative fathering refers to paternal conduct that responds to the physical, emotional and cognitive needs of a child. This kind of involved fathering implies that a father is focused on lovingly nurturing his child and improving the wellbeing of his offspring, instead of merely conforming to what is stipulated by society and cultural norms with regard to paternal role obligations
’n Voorstel vir ’n tipologie van die geloofwetenskapdebat
Get PDFA suggested typology of the faith-science debate In this article a typology of the faith-science debate is proposed by identifying four possible points of entry into the debate. The ontological, epistemological, hermeneutical and ethical angles of the debate are then consecutively discussed. The ontological angle focuses on the assumptions of reality as inherent in the approaches of faith and science respectively. The epistemological angle is concerned with the differences and similarities in the methods followed by faith and science to obtain knowledge of what exists. The hermeneutical angle in turn deals with the strategies that faith and science employ to interpret experience. The ethical angle focuses on ethical issues characteristic of faith and science, as well as ethical judgements on various issues, respectively from the fields of faith and science. With regard to the four mentioned points of entry into the debate, a possible reductionist as well as a possible non-reductionist position is identified and discussed
Die voorstelling van VIGS-verwante stigma in ’n versameling gedigte deur Afrikaanssprekende hoërskoolleerders
Get PDFThe representation of AIDS-related stigma in a collection of poems by Afrikaans-speaking teenagers This article reports on a discourse analysis of twenty-two poems written by a group of white South African teenagers, with special reference to the construal of people living with HIV/AIDS and the role that stigmatisation plays. The vantage point is that of Christian ethics, while psycho-social models of stigma, and the archetypes of people living with HIV/AIDS (as portrayed by the media) serve as the descriptive framework. The most salient stigma-enhancing factor was found to be the perception that self-stigmatisation is an undeniable reaction to the disease. Although coming to terms with one’s HIV status by finding a deeper meaning in the disease can be regarded as a stigma-reducing response, it may be harmful if personal responsibility for one’s physical and mental well-being is not acknowledged and exercised. The article concludes with a number of recommendations regarding destigmatising intervention messages based on ethical principles
Mind control: The secret weapon utilised by religious cults to control their followers
Get PDFThe aim of this article is to create awareness of the dangers of religious cults. The process utilised by these cults to recruit members and to control their lives is so subtle that members are led to believe that they joined out of their own free will. A brief discussion of what religious cults are as well as how they function is followed by an explanation of mind control and how it is utilised by cults. This article maintains that mind control is the secret weapon with which leaders of cults lure their followers under false pretences to mislead, control and make them dependent on the cult
\u27Medelyemoegheid\u27 – die hantering van sekondêre traumatiese stres
Get PDF\u27Compassion fatigue\u27 – coping with secondary traumatic stress There is a cost to caring. Professionals who listen to clients’ stories of fear, pain and suffering may feel similar fear, pain and suffering because they care. Simply the knowledge that a loved one has been exposed to a traumatic event can be traumatising – in this respect trauma can sometimes be contagious. The consequence of this process is that trauma therapy profoundly changes the therapist. These changes are both inspiring and disturbing, involving gains and losses. Traumatology literature usually excludes those who have been traumatised indirectly; thus this aspect is specifically explored in this article. Terminology like compassion fatigue, secondary traumatic stress, burnout, countertransference, and vicarious traumatisation, are explored. The importance of compassion satisfaction, a team approach and supervision is also highlighted. A list of typical characteristics of compassion fatigue is provided, as well as practical guidelines for dealing with and preventing this problem. Certain pastoral-theological perspectives concerning this theme are also discussed
’n Kennis anders as die bloot analitiese? Die Westerse denkwyse versus dié van die Ooste en Afrika
Get PDFKnowledge different from merely the analytical? The Western way of thinking versus the Eastern and African mode of thought This study addresses the problem of intercultural contact and communication from the angle of the different ways of thinking in the West, the East and Africa. As an introduction, the author explains his own viewpoint about culture and worldview as well as how culturalworldviewish differences should be evaluated. In the first main section the Western mode of thought is contrasted with both ancient Hebrew thinking and that of the modern Japanese. This is followed by an analysis of the differences between the thought patterns of the Western mind and that of the (traditional) African. The study reveals remarkable similarities between the contours of thinking in the East and Africa in contrast with that of the West. In conclusion, the distilled theoretical (cultural-philosophical) insights are applied practically to the educational situation (secondary as well as tertiary) on the African continent