Theological reflections on empire

CITATION: Boesak, A. A. 2009. Theological reflections on empire. HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies, 65(1): 1-7, doi: 10.4102/hts.v65i1.291.The original publication is available at http://www.hts.org.zaSince the meeting of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches in Accra, Ghana (2004), and the adoption of the Accra Declaration, a debate has been raging in the churches about globalisation, socio-economic justice, ecological responsibility, political and cultural domination and globalised war. Central to this debate is the concept of empire and the way the United States is increasingly becoming its embodiment. Is the United States a global empire? This article argues that the United States has indeed become the expression of a modern empire and that this reality has considerable consequences, not just for global economics and politics but for theological reflection as well. © 2009. The Authors.http://www.hts.org.za/index.php/HTS/article/view/291Publisher's versio

To stand where God stands : reflections on the Confession of Belhar after 25 years

Peer reviewedThe Confession of Belhar was first adopted by the synod of the Dutch Reformed Mission Church in 1982, and then formally accepted as a fourth confession in 1986. Since then it has become the bedrock of theological reference and reflection as well as a salient point of theological identity within the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa. It has not escaped controversy, and today has become quite the most visible point of conflagration in the tortuous process of reunification of the Dutch Reformed Church family. Over the past twenty-five years,, the Confession of Belhar has been accepted as the formal confession of a number of churches within the Reformed family world wide, is seriously being studied as an important theological contribution to the thinking of the ecumenical church and significantly informs such documents as the Accra Confession, adopted by the World Alliance of Reformed Churches’ General Council in Accra, Ghana, 2004. This article, first presented in a lecture series, offers historical and theological reflections on the confession. It endeavours to show the relevance of the confession in the different contexts into which it came into being and how those contexts are challenged by the confession. It looks at the theological understanding upon which the confession rests, and argues that it remains of great relevance to and theological importance for the churches in South Africa as well as world wide, and is an absolute necessity for the theological integrity of the church unification process.Research Institute for Theology and Religio

Theological reflections on empire

Since the meeting of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches in Accra, Ghana (2004), and the adoption of the Accra Declaration, a debate has been raging in the churches about globalisation, socio-economic justice, ecological responsibility, political and cultural domination and globalised war. Central to this debate is the concept of empire and the way the United States is increasingly becoming its embodiment. Is the United States a global empire? This article argues that the United States has indeed become the expression of a modern empire and that this reality has considerable consequences, not just for global economics and politics but for theological reflection as well.http://www.hts.org.zaam201

"A hope unprepared to accept things as they are" : engaging John de Gruchy's challenges for "Theology at the edge"

This article argues, in conversation with the work of John de Gruchy, for the continuation of the struggle for the integrity of the prophetic witness of the church in the world. Prophetic theology is, as all true prophetic theology always is, indeed a theology “on the edge” – always on the edge of challenge and risk, of confrontation with the powers and principalities of our present age. Th e article also challenges the waves of Christian neo-fundamentalism washing over Africa and much of the global South with its toxic neocolonialist package deal of scriptural selectivity, violent homophobia, patriarchal power, and anti-justice agenda. Prophetic theology should be much better prepared to take on the challenges posed by it. Prophetic theology, furthermore, is not rooted in the hope of acceptance by those who rule the world, but grounded in the hope that is unprepared to accept the world as it is and as the powerful have made it; a hope in the reign of God that will overcome the reign of terror that rules our world.http://ngtt.journals.ac.za/hb201

The riverbank, the seashore and the wilderness: Miriam, liberation and prophetic witness against empire

This article examines the manner and method of resistance against patriarchal power and privilege. Two types of power are contrasted. One is the violent, war-like and hierarchical power of an empire, and the other is the faithful resistance of Israel’s prophets. A further distinction is made between violent male power and non-violent female power. It is argued that Miriam was a prophet of the people and her prophetic witness is an example of the power and outcome of non-violent resistance. Her theology explicitly and specifically praises God not as a warrior. Hers is not a muscular, masculine God whose power seeks to match the power of empire. Her God has a power that through radical love for a slave people and taking sides with the enslaved overcomes the power of the slaveholder. In her theology, Miriam recalls the God of the exodus, who begins the acts of liberation with the women, to whose faithfulness, courage and defiant obedience, the freedom of the people is entrusted. From a feminist perspective it is argued that this style of non-violent, faithful prophetic witness has a greater impact than violent resistance associated with an empire-like power. It is suggested that black liberation theology should adopt this paradigm in its witness of and resistance against oppression

The Finger of God : Sermons on faith and responsibility

New Yorkxii, 100 p.; 21 c

The tenderness of conscience : African renaissance and the spirituality of politics

CITATION: Boesak, A.A. 2005. The tenderness of conscience : African renaissance and the spirituality of politics. Stellenbosch: SUN PRESS. doi:10.18820/9781919980812.The original publication is available from AFRICAN SUNMeDIA - www.sun-e-shop.co.zaBOOK BLURB: With this book theologian and political observer Allan Boesak once again displays the strengths of his writings that were evident in the seventies and eighties: bringing Christian theology to bear on the political and socio-economic realities of our world. This time the emphasis falls on President Thabo Mbeki’s idea and ideal of an African Renaissance and its interaction with globalization, continental politics and the political dynamics in South Africa as they pertain to the burning issues of our time: reconciliation, the role of the church in post-apartheid South Africa, the centrality of religious faith in the struggle for freedom, and Allan Boesak’s assertion that “just as we had a spirituality of struggle, so South Africa needs a spirituality of politics”. The Tenderness of Conscience is a passionate, eloquent and entirely convincing book, not just in its treatment of the issues, but also in its forthright and mind-broadening conversation with President Thabo Mbeki. It is a clarion call for the transformational presence of the religious voice in politics – a voice that speaks up for the well-being of the entire nation.Publishers' versio

Die vlug van Gods verbeelding

CITATION: Boesak, A.A. 2005. Die vlug van Gods verbeelding. Stellenbosch: AFRICAN SUN MeDIA. doi:10.18820/9781920689391.The original publication is available from AFRICAN SUNMeDIA - www.sun-e-shop.co.zaINLEIDING: Ons Afrikaanse koerante staan deesdae bol van lesersbriewe uit bepaalde kringe van die kerk wat reageer op artikels van en oor teoloë oor dinge wat vir ons geloof van fundamentele belang is: die skepping, die historiese Jesus, die gesag van die Skrifte en die opstanding. Ek kan nie sê hoe bly ek oor dié ontwikkeling is nie. Dit beteken immers dat teologiese debatte oor sake wat die hart van die geloof raak, nie meer slegs in geleerde boeke, vakteologiese artikels en lesinglokale gevoer word nie. “Gewone” Christene praat saam, en dit is uiters belangrik.Publishers' versio

Farewell to Innocence : A Socio-Ethical Study on Black Theology and Black Power

New Yorkxii, 185 p.; 21 c