1,720,964 research outputs found
The Belhar confession as a conduit for an emerging theological agenda: rethinking black liberation theology in post-apartheid South Africa
No full textThis study examines the interconnection between Black liberation theology and the Belhar Confession, illustrating how the Belhar Confession serves as a vital tool in shaping a contemporary theological agenda for Black liberation. The existing body of literature suggests that the Belhar Confession emerged as a response to the Dutch Reformed Church’s endorsement of apartheid laws and policies, confronting its apparent hypocrisy. However, from the researcher’s perspective, the essence of the Belhar Confession extends beyond a mere reaction to apartheid. It represents a return to the authentic Gospel of liberation, echoed and embodied within the scriptures. Consequently, the Belhar Confession transcends its historical context, offering a timeless framework and guide for achieving liberation, even in the contemporary context
Trading Justice for Peace? Reframing reconciliation in TRC processes in South Africa, Canada and Nordic countries
Get PDFConflict in its various manifestations continues to be a defining feature in many places throughout the world. In an attempt to address such conflict, various forms of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) have been introduced to facilitate the transition from social conflict to a new dispensation. The introduction and subsequent proceedings of TRCs in South Africa, Canada and Norway are widely regarded as good examples of this approach. Against this background, a number of researchers from VID Specialized University and the University of the Western Cape had an exploratory meeting in Oslo in 2018 where the possibility for a joint research project under the broad theme of ‘discourses on reconciliation’ was first discussed. This led to two further research symposia in Cape Town and Tromsø in 2019. With the inclusion of specialists working on the Canadian Truth and Reconciliation process, these meetings demonstrated common ground and a shared understanding of the issues at stake. Moreover, it pointed to the differences between the South African, Canadian and Norwegian Commissions. In comparing the South African, Canadian and Norwegian experiences, researchers identified that these countries were, in fact, at different stages of their respective truth and reconciliation processes. This has prompted scholars to revisit and problematise these processes in relation to ongoing societal challenges. In all cases, it is quite apparent that reconciliation between individuals and groups remains a significant challenge
Trading Justice for Peace? Reframing reconciliation in TRC processes in South Africa, Canada and Nordic countries
Get PDFConflict in its various manifestations continues to be a defining feature in many places throughout the world. In an attempt to address such conflict, various forms of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) have been introduced to facilitate the transition from social conflict to a new dispensation. The introduction and subsequent proceedings of TRCs in South Africa, Canada and Norway are widely regarded as good examples of this approach. Against this background, a number of researchers from VID Specialized University and the University of the Western Cape had an exploratory meeting in Oslo in 2018 where the possibility for a joint research project under the broad theme of ‘discourses on reconciliation’ was first discussed. This led to two further research symposia in Cape Town and Tromsø in 2019. With the inclusion of specialists working on the Canadian Truth and Reconciliation process, these meetings demonstrated common ground and a shared understanding of the issues at stake. Moreover, it pointed to the differences between the South African, Canadian and Norwegian Commissions. In comparing the South African, Canadian and Norwegian experiences, researchers identified that these countries were, in fact, at different stages of their respective truth and reconciliation processes. This has prompted scholars to revisit and problematise these processes in relation to ongoing societal challenges. In all cases, it is quite apparent that reconciliation between individuals and groups remains a significant challenge
The absurdity of reconciliation. What we (should) learn from Rustenburg and the implications for South Africa
No full textThe quest for reconciliation in South Africa is an exercise in the absurd. To say it is an
exercise for the absurd might also have some merit. Like Sisyphus, the figure in Greek
mythology, those engaged in the quest for reconciliation are condemned to repeat
forever the same, in some cases, meaningless task of pushing a boulder up a mountain
only to see it roll down again. This is amid the human propensity to forever search for
meaning irrespective of the incongruity of the ideal and the absurdity that defines
our existence. The illogicality of apartheid and the subsequent pain and alienation
continues to be a defining feature of a country trying to come to terms not what it ought
to be, but what it is � chaotic, irrational and sometimes meaningless. In this context,
Rustenburg is a symbol of the audacity to dream of something beyond the absurd.
Moreover, invoking a theology of reconciliation to achieve something extraordinary
amid an uncertain future
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Get PDFThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Liberation or Reconstruction: a critical survey on the relevance of Black theology in light of the emergence of Reconstruction theology
No full textMagister Theologiae - MThThe purpose of this investigation is to discuss the relevance of Black theology in light of the emergence of reconstruction theology. It offers a critical survey of a range of contributions on this issue, questioning whether scholars who have used Black theology as a form of self description should shift emphasis, from the paradigm of liberation to reconstruction. The significance of this study has to be understood within the context of the proposal to redirect African theological initiatives from liberation theologies to reconstruction theology. The basis for this call was the end of apartheid in South Africa, which signalled the independence of all countries on the African continent.South Afric
Liberation or Reconstruction: a critical survey on the relevance of Black theology in light of the emergence of Reconstruction theology
Get PDFMagister Theologiae - MThThe purpose of this investigation is to discuss the relevance of Black theology in light of the emergence of reconstruction theology. It offers a critical survey of a range of contributions on this issue, questioning whether scholars who have used Black theology as a form of self description should shift emphasis, from the paradigm of liberation to reconstruction. The significance of this study has to be understood within the context of the proposal to redirect African theological initiatives from liberation theologies to reconstruction theology. The basis for this call was the end of apartheid in South Africa, which signalled the independence of all countries on the African continent.South Afric
Reconciliation as a controversial symbol: An analysis of a theological discourse between 1968-2010
Get PDFPhilosophiae Doctor - PhD (Religion and Theology)This study entails a conceptual analysis of "reconciliation" as one of the guiding concepts
in Christian discourse in the South African context. It is abundantly clear from the
literature that reconciliation is understood in very different ways. This is observed from
publications beginning in the 1960s. Since that time it is often used to offer theological
reflection on social conflict in the country. In this study, I propose a framework in which
one can identify, describe and assess at least three distinct ways in which the reconciliation
concept is understood in theological literature emanating from South Africa. I describe
them as a) Justice through reconciliation in Jesus Christ, b) Justice and reconciliation after
liberation and c) Reconstruction requires national reconciliation. The famous Christus
Victor typology of the three main "types" of atonement developed by the Swedish
theologian, Gustaf Aulen is used as a background to these approaches. The purpose of this
study is to aid continued theological reflection on the basis of a conceptual analysis of
creative ways in which the reconciliation concept is used in a Christian context. This study
is an attempt to offer a constructive reinterpretation of reconciliation in contemporary
South Africa
Reconciliation as a controversial symbol: An analysis of a theological discourse between 1968-2010
No full textPhilosophiae Doctor - PhD (Religion and Theology)This study entails a conceptual analysis of "reconciliation" as one of the guiding concepts
in Christian discourse in the South African context. It is abundantly clear from the
literature that reconciliation is understood in very different ways. This is observed from
publications beginning in the 1960s. Since that time it is often used to offer theological
reflection on social conflict in the country. In this study, I propose a framework in which
one can identify, describe and assess at least three distinct ways in which the reconciliation
concept is understood in theological literature emanating from South Africa. I describe
them as a) Justice through reconciliation in Jesus Christ, b) Justice and reconciliation after
liberation and c) Reconstruction requires national reconciliation. The famous Christus
Victor typology of the three main "types" of atonement developed by the Swedish
theologian, Gustaf Aulen is used as a background to these approaches. The purpose of this
study is to aid continued theological reflection on the basis of a conceptual analysis of
creative ways in which the reconciliation concept is used in a Christian context. This study
is an attempt to offer a constructive reinterpretation of reconciliation in contemporary
South Africa
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