Christian emergence among Batlhaping ba ga Phuduhucwana tribe in Taung : the London Missionary Society

Peer reviewedThe Batlhaping people, like other communities, nations and countries have encountered difficulties such as invasions, war and conquest and, in some cases, have stood up to defend themselves against their enemies (one well-known battle in which they successfully defended themselves was the Battle of Dithakong against the Difeqane/Mfecane (Madise 2002:276)). In spite of all these difficulties, missionaries still found their way to evangelise and convert the Batlhaping. This article is intended to show how Batlhaping ba ga Mankuroane came to embrace Christianity from 1829 onwards through the London Missionary Society. A number of denominations made inroads into Taung and established themselves among the tribes who lived in this area, the main denominations being the Methodists, the Anglicans, the Catholics and the United Congregationalists. In this article, however, I will focus mainly on one denomination, the United Congregational Church.Research Institute for Theology and Religio

Parallels of the European Church Reformation and the church reformation in Africa : the cultural dichotomy and reflection

Peer reviewedHistory shows us that ‘there is no smoke without fire’. The reformation in Europe was not deemed to be schism; reformers cited a number of reasons why the church needed reforming. The South African situation does not appear to have been viewed in the same line simply because what happened in South Africa occurred in an inside the context which could neither authenticate nor validate the reformation. The formation of the African Independent Churches in Africa reflected the same type of historical events within the Protestant Churches as occurred in the Catholic Church in the 16th century. As in Europe, the cultural context played a major role in the reformation of the church which was influenced mainly by the Renaissance.Research Institute for Theology and Religio

The Christian families' participation in baptism as a basis for including children in Holy Communion

Peer reviewedChildren have become a central point of the Holy Communion in the church. As a result, issues such as understanding baptism, understanding children, the demands from parents and demands from children and the developments of children’s participation in the church will be discussed. Throughout the history of Christianity the issue of baptism has been seen as the only way to accepting children into the fellowship of the faithful. Families have been the ones guiding the children’s Christian faith as they grow to become responsible adults with faith. Their (the children’s) exclusion has prompted them to raise questions with parents about their role in the Christian community particularly in the Holy Communion. As a result, Christian families form the central part of children’s participation in the Holy Communion. The article will proceed to discuss the dynamics which are involved. This will be followed by the conclusion that will be drawn from the article itself.Research Institute for Theology and Religio

The historical foundation of the mission churches and Afrian Independent Churches in South Africa: matters of the church and the environment

Peer reviewedThe missionaries established the Christian church in South Africa without access to any proper building structures. They discovered that the local people relied on the environment for their survival and sustainability, so the missionaries decided to do the same as a means to get the indigenous people to understand the importance of worship. However, it was not easy for the missionaries to adapt to the harsh African climate and conditions. The Africans had their own ways of withstanding these harsh conditions; taking shelter under trees and in caves was just part of their existence. So, to ensure that their work continued, the missionaries had no alternative but to do the same. Churches were therefore established under the trees. For some ethnic groups, these trees were significant, while for others, they carried no meaning at all. Nevertheless, the environment became part of the church structure, as trees, caves and water were used to establish the church. Although the mainline churches regarded water as an essential source of life, they viewed it differently from the African Initiated Churches. The main focus of this article, therefore, will be on the use of water as an environmental resource by both the African Independent Churches and the mission churches. In this regard, Taung became a particularly significant place. The article will focus on original material, as well as oral research from some areas where the practice of worshipping in caves and under trees is still observed.Research Institute for Theology and Religio

Minister fraternal vis-a-vis Ecumenism : a close look at the confrontation between the South African Council of Churches and the then Bophuthatswana Ministers Fraternity (1976-1994)

Peer reviewedDuring the rule of the National Party in South Africa, the Bantustans were founded on the basis of discrimination along the lines of race as well as ethnicity. At the same time, some were offered “independence” which to many Black South Africans was suicidal especially in respect of their human dignity. However, this did not end there as it also advocated territorial advancement along the same lines mentioned above. The ecumenical movement in South Africa then was vocal in respect of the socio, political, economic and religious injustices of the time. The founding of the “Independence of Bophuthatswana” also opened a window of “opportunity” for them to establish what they called Bophuthatswana Minister Fraternity. Its functions were in direct opposition to what the South African Council of Churches stood for and believed in. This article will examine the socio, political, economic and religious context of that time.Research Institute for Theology and Religio

The use of different types of water in the Zion Christian Church

Peer reviewedHumanity discovered the curative properties of water more than 4 000 years ago. This can be seen in the way in which people were drawn over time to natural resources such as springs, fountains, rivers and wells to wash in and drink from in the belief that they would be healed and their pains would end. African Independent Churches in South Africa also use water, one of the natural resources, to facilitate the completion of their rituals. Amongst these churches is the Zion Christian Church (ZCC), which will be the focal point of this article. An introductory section is followed by a brief historical background to the use of water. A discussion of the use of different types of water in the ZCC follows. Lastly, conclusions are drawn

The relevance of oral history as a methodology of research in church history : the case of the Zion Christian Church

Peer reviewedThis article is intended to show how the use of oral history as a methodology can be helpful, yet may sometimes lead to distortions. Some of the information addressed in this article has already been documented, but much of it has not been given in full. The reason for this is simply that many of the African Independent Churches do not openly disclose everything about themselves. In some cases the names of the people interviewed for this article are not disclosed, for their own protection. Sometimes church leaders were present during the interview sessions to determine what should be disclosed and how. In other cases, church leaders chose who was to be interviewed and on what subject, as some information is deemed sensitive and may not be disclosed at all. It is in this context that conclusions have been drawn

A new phenomenon in Zionist churches of Botswana : the use of divination bones and sacred places

Peer reviewedThe birth of the African Initiated/Independent Churches (AICs) on the African continent brought with it phenomena which in the African worldview are not new, but in the ecclesiastical view, as perceived by the missionaries, were historically regarded as ‘unChristian’. Here we are referring to phenomena such as the use of divination bones and the belief that certain natural places are sacred. This article will focus on three issues: (1) cultural practices in Setswana Traditional Religion; (2) natural places treated as sacred places by certain churches; and (3) a phenomenological approach to the healing ministry in the Zionist churches. Conclusions will be drawn at the end to show the new emerging paradigm in the AICs in Botswana.Church History Society of Southern Afric

The Methodist Church in Africa, 1933-2001

Peer reviewedResearch Institute for Theology and Religio

The influence of Calvinism on South Africa's education system prior to 1994

Peer reviewedIn South Africa, Calvinism has exercised a profound influence on theology and this influence extended to education. Indeed, Calvinism played a major role in shaping a local education system which was adopted as a result of a specific political ideology. In this article, we intend to show how Calvinism was used to justify the superiority of one group of people over another through the education system. This article will look at the ideals of Calvin in South Africa in the context of formal education during the apartheid era, and offer a critique of formal education before 1994. It will be argued that, in his theology, Calvin himself emphasised healthy values such as accountability, communication, obedience, orderliness, lack of oppression, responsibility and the rule of law. However, these values were either ignored in the local version of Calvinist education, or applied from a racist perspective.Research Institute for Theology and Religio