A critique of sex and power within the womanist liberation theology: human dignity-relationship perspective

“The power of sex to dominate and the ability of power to obtain sex in order to dominate” is at the crux of the researchers’ investigation. The researcher problematizes the usage of power for the attainment of sexual favours. At the heart of this research is the question, what is at the root of the exploitation and “sexifying” of power by either the granter or the recipients of sexual favours. The researcher utilises various lenses in exploring the research problem. Such lenses include a social lens which zooms in at the social power possessed by men over women in society and a theological lens which zooms in on the domination of men over women in scripture. In an attempt to explore the subject at hand, the author explores the role of patriarchy, unequal opportunities between men and women and poverty as some of the primary proponents for those who offer themselves as sex objects to those in power. In most cases, it is women who are at the suffering end of poverty; it is also women who are forced to use their bodies for sex, this, therefore, means that women are doubly oppressed. Part of the socialised “sexual oppression” of women is the notion that women were created for marriage, work, labour and the pleasure of men. Anthropologically, men and women are the crown of creation and are worthy of dignity. It is, therefore, a necessity for women to reclaim their dignity. The researcher is aware of the complex nature of sex which varies from negative to positive experiences depending on the individual. In a society that views sex as a commodity and is permissive in its perception of sex, in a society that has a high rate of pornography, swinging and swapping. The researcher probes the “humanising” of sex so that it is not just a physical activity but an intimate act of love and affection. The principles for the above involves viewing sex as personal and relational; sex as exclusive and unique; sex as fruitful and productive; sex and selfless and sacrificial and an acknowledgement of sex as multi-dimensional. Though the writer comes from a religious background and is the Wesleyan tradition, though she converses with a faith community in Eersterust as part of her quantitative research; she does not evade confronting the reality of the bible as a document flawed with patriarchy, clothed in culture and set in a particular context. The author who is Wesleyan draws from this rich heritage and compares the times of John Wesley which were characterised by, “Champagne, dice or a neighbour’s spouse” to the South African context. She utilises the Wesleyan quadrilateral to draw these parallels. All these findings led the author to the conclusion that conversations, training, safe space and capacitating of those in power, those abusing power, those attracted to power must be held for the restoration of human dignity with particular reference to women. The church remains a powerful and efficient platform for the above. The Church can no longer evade her role in rectifying the damage caused by patriarchy as assumedly condoned by the bible. The church can no longer evader her role in the restoration of human dignity.Philosophy, Practical and Systematic TheologyM. Th. (Systematic Theology

Reconsidering the Freedom Charter, the black theology of liberation and the African proverb about the locust’s head in the context of poverty in South Africa

While South Africa attained liberation from the apartheid rule in 1994, the legacy of colonialism and apartheid – in the form of poverty and economic inequality – continues to haunt black South Africans. The aim of this article is to make a case for the equitable sharing of South Africa’s mineral wealth amongst all its citizens with the view to alleviate poverty. Firstly, this article provides a reflection on the Freedom Charter and suggests that the values of the Charter, for instance, the sharing of resources and wealth, are relevant in South Africa today. Secondly, it is argued in the present article that the preferential option for the poor which is upheld in the black theology of liberation is equally relevant in post-apartheid South Africa where many black South Africans remain poor. Thirdly, this article argues that the African proverb, Bana ba motho ba ngwathelana hlogo ya tšie [The siblings share the head of a locust], also echoes the idea of equitable sharing of resources with a view to alleviate poverty. Lastly, the author submits that the idea of equitable sharing of resources and wealth that is echoed in the Freedom Charter, the black theology of liberation and the African wise saying support the equitable redistribution of the mineral wealth to the benefit of all South Africans

The emergence of the Black Methodist Consultation and its possible prophetic voice in post-apartheid South Africa

Racism is an issue which the activism of the Black Methodist Consultation (BMC) was set to address during the South African apartheid rule, a view which black theologians and church historians generally accept. This observation brought to mind, in turn, the influence that the Black Consciousness philosophy and the black theology of liberation had on the establishment of the BMC. Recounting such an influence, this article provides a reflection on the formation of the BMC in 1975. In such a reflection, the hypothesis is that the prophetic voice of the BMC is crucial in post-apartheid South Africa. Firstly, the interconnectedness of the Black Consciousness philosophy, the black theology of liberation and the BMC is highlighted. Secondly, the article proceeds to navigate the possible prophetic voice of the BMC in postapartheid South Africa. In the end, this article sees the BMC as a crucial interlocutor of liberation in present South Africa

Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 in discussion with the Methodist Church of Southern Africa on homosexuality

In recent times, the texts of Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, has attracted the attention of Old Testament scholars, clergy and the laity alike. In my view, such an attention has been inspired by the readers’ quest to the possible light which the text can shed on the subject of homosexuality. The latter topic is one of the burning issues raised in present day South Africa. It thus comes as no surprise, that interpreting texts such as Leviticus18:22 and 20:13 becomes pertinent in our context. This research aims at coming up with a constructive dialogue between the Methodist Church of Southern Africa (hereafter referred to as MCSA)’s readings of this text, scholars’ interpretation of the same and the Xhosas’ reception of homosexuality in the Republic of South Africa. Through the use of methodologies such as the Literary, Textual, Canon, Composition and Redaction Criticism, as well as Socio-Scientific Criticism, Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, will be brought to bear with its MCSA’s readings and Xhosas’ readings with a view to making a necessary contribution to African biblical hermeneutics.Dissertation (MA(Theol))--University of Pretoria, 2010.Old Testament Studiesunrestricte

The Natives Land Act of 1913 engineered the poverty of Black South Africans: a historico-ecclesiastical perspective

Peer reviewedThe legacy of socio-economic injustice which was inherited from the Natives Land Act of 1913 continues to haunt the majority of black South Africans. The land dispossession of the indigenous people of South Africa under this Act caused poverty which is still prevalent in our country today. Many South Africans, especially black South Africans, are trapped in a cycle of poverty that emerged as a result of our history of colonialism and apartheid. The interrogation of the unsettling discourse on land in South Africa as well as the continuous poverty cycle is fundamental for offering empowering possibilities for the poor. As such, the role played by the South African churches to support and/or oppose the Natives Land Act of 1913 cannot be ignored. The main question engaged with in the present text is: if the issue of poverty, as foregrounded in the discourse of land and within the ecclesial discussion, is engaged with from a historicoecclesiastical2 perspective, could the discourse provide a valuable contribution towards poverty alleviation in South Africa

Trends and determinants of competitiveness in the South African table grape industry

Thesis (MCom)--Stellenbosch University, 2020.ENGLISH SUMMARY : Global competitiveness has become relevant topic, especially for South Africa’s export-driven agricultural industries like the table grape industry, which exports more than 90% of its product. In order for these industries to survive and maintain their economic relevancy in the international markets, they need to promote competitive, market-directed products and systems. The competitive performance of these industries is affected by both internal and external factors. At the farm level, producers are faced with uncertain and changing climate and weather conditions, rising input costs, fluctuating exchange rates, disruptive technology, water restrictions and policy related changes. Players in the table grape value chain have to adhere to stringent administrative and compliance regulations and certifications, related to safety, ethical, transformational, environmental and financial requirements, transportation costs (i.e. shipping), changing packaging and labelling regulations, etc. On the demand side, consumers are increasingly faced with choices from many regions and countries, and also concerns about ethics and environmental food safety standards and health; all this requires active, efficient, transparent, traceable, competitive and sustainable performance. These aforementioned factors trigger the importance to investigate the competitive performance of the South African table grape industry in global markets. The main purpose of this research was to undertake a comprehensive enquiry into the competitive performance of the South African table grape industry and how it could be enhanced in an ever-competitive global environment. Competitiveness in the context of the South African table grape industry was defined – in terms of its strong export orientation – as ‘The sustained ability of the South African table grape industry to attract investment by competitively trading its produce within the global marketplace, whilst continuously striving to earn returns at least greater that the opportunity cost of resources engaged’. This definition anchors competitiveness strongly in economic theory. The economic concepts of comparative and competitive advantage were considered in terms of New Competitiveness Theory (Cho, 1994; ISMEA, 1999; Porter, 1990, 1998; Rugman & D’Cruz, 1993; Webber & Labaste, 2011), featuring the Porter competitive diamond model as the theoretical construct. The relative trade advantage (RTA) (Vollrath, 1991) and comparative trade advantage (RCA) (Balassa, 1965) were considered appropriate to measure the competitive performance trends in the industry. The secondary trade data obtained from the ITC was used together with trade data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The results of the analysis of both datasets (i.e. FAO and ITC) show positive figures for South Africa. For 1961, the FAO data reveal that South Africa had an RTA of 7.9, which increased over the years to a highpoint of 16.8 in 2004. The ITC data indicate an RTA value of 12.1 in 2001, with a highpoint of 18 in 2004, after which a gradual increasing, albeit positive, trend has been witnessed over recent years, with FAO data showing 10.8 in 2013 and ITC data revealing a 12.9 RTA value in 2017. The fluctuations are due to many factors, such as political factors, i.e. regulation of the industry and economic hardships in Europe and United Kingdom, and were considered in this research in terms of the Porter competitive diamond model. The trends were categorised into five phases, revealing that there has been significant improvement in the industry since economic deregulation in 1997. Another observation made on the trends from both FAO and ITC data is that there is not much difference between them, as the ITC data disaggregates table grapes from dried grapes, while the FAO data that does not. It therefore is clear that the table grape values dominate the formula used. From these measurements it can be concluded that the South African table grape industry has been competitive and, albeit fluctuating, has maintained this status since 1961, despite considerable structural changes and changing global trading regimes. South Africa (SA) is particularly challenged by countries in the Southern hemisphere, such as Peru and Chile, and outperforms countries like Argentina and Brazil. One hundred and seven (107) factors that influence (positively or negatively) the competitiveness status of the local table grape industry were identified and analysed using the Porter competitive diamond. Industry expert opinions were mobilised through a two-round Delphi technique. In the first round, selected respondents – all experts and operating at different points in the value chain – were provided with a questionnaire (the Table Grape Industry survey), which was developed and tested through interactions with the South African Table Grape Industry (SATI). The questionnaire was designed to rate the impact of the factors identified – either enhancing or constraining the competitiveness of the table grape industry. Enhancing factors include well-developed infrastructure, innovation and advanced technology, and product traceability systems. Factors constraining competitiveness include access to water, the skills of qualified labour, and potential land expropriation without compensation, all of which constrain long-term investments. These 107 factors were clustered and grouped into the six Porter competitive diamond determinants, viz. production factors, demand factors, firm strategy, structure and rivalry, related and supporting industries, government support and policies, and chance factors. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to identify highly correlated and uncorrelated factors under each determinant. Highly correlated factors refer to those that were rated similarly by the respondents (from different viewpoints in the industrial value chain), and uncorrelated factors were those that regarding which the respondents differed greatly in their ratings. Firm strategy, structure and rivalry was identified as the determinant that enhanced the performance of the table grape industry the most. Government support and policies, which includes land reform policies and cumbersome administrative procedures, was identified as the determinant that constrains the industry the most. From an industry consensus viewpoint, opinions on the Related and Supporting Industries determinant varied in terms of all factors. Firm Strategy, Structure and Rivalry is a determinant that was rated the highest among all the Porter’s diamond determinants. It was also found to be the highest in other studies that have been conducted on the SA export fruits industry (Boonzaaier, 2015; Boonzaaier & Van Rooyen, 2017; Dlikilili, 2018; Esterhuizen, 2006; Jafta, 2014; Sibulali, 2018; Van Rooyen et al., 2011). Abei (2017) and Angala (2015) found the same in the Cameroonian and Namibian fruit industries respectively. Almost all the ratings for factors under this determinant were rated above 3 out of 5 (60% plus impact). This indicates that, in a highly competitive trade environment as is the case for table grapes, firm-level strategy needs to be of the highest order to sustain their trade. This finding also confirms the stated definition of competitiveness used in this study related to the use of scarce factors of production. The views of the respondents also varied on factors such as labour/social unrest and strikes, crime, competitors’ unfortunate events, health conditions and South Africa’s economic development, which means that there could be discrepancies within the industry value chain that constrain co-ordinated decision-making related to government negotiation. In total, 27 factors revealed high correlation. These correlated factors were further subjected to Cronbach’s alpha analysis to assess their levels of internal reliability. These factors were then subjected to a round-two Delphi analysis. In this round, the respondents were requested to rate the relevance of these remaining factors as determinants of competitiveness. The results reveal that well-developed infrastructure, advanced technology and a product traceability system, improved access to water, labour skills and stable land reform policies are highly relevant to the overall competitive performance of the industry. The prevalence of a socio-economic and transformation theme was strongly observed in some of the most constraining factors across all the Porter determinants. This led to a proposal that an additional or seventh determinant, namely socio-economic and political transformation, be added to the Porter competitive diamond to make provision for the South African situation as an economy in transition facing various socio-economic challenges. This new determinant identified and grouped socio-economic/political factors and highlighted the overall constraining impact of these factors on current competitive performance. The most enhancing factor was ‘obtaining unskilled labour’, and the most constraining was land reform policies, including ‘without’ compensation prospects. The addition of such a new determinant to the Porter competitive diamond needs to be looked at further in detail, but reflects the considered view of Michael Porter when he visited South Africa in 2007. His view was that economic objectives need to complement social objectives in a developing country environment such as that experienced in South Africa. From this, it can be concluded that the explicit inclusion of socio-economic/political transformation interventions will improve the analysis of the competitiveness of agri-businesses in the South Africa. The results of this study were finally drafted into a set of strategic findings and recommendations that propose industry-level strategies to address factors that were identified as constraining yet relevant to the industry. These factors also need an industry-based “strategic plan” to interact with government in order to establish sustained collaboration between the industry and government agencies, in particular the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development and the Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, to address water- and land-related matters; and to interact on all trade-related matters.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Globale mededingendheid het ’n relevante onderwerp geword, veral vir Suid-Afrika se uitvoergedrewe landboubedrywe soos die tafeldruifbedryf, wat meer as 90% van sy produkte uitvoer. Vir hierdie bedrywe om te oorleef en hulle ekonomiese relevansie in die internasionale markte te behou, moet hulle mededingende, markgerigte produkte en stelsels bevorder. Die mededingende prestasie van hierdie bedrywe word beïnvloed deur beide interne en eksterne faktore. Op die plaasvlak word produsente gekonfronteer met onsekere en veranderende klimaats- en weerstoestande, stygende insetkoste, skommelende wisselkoerse, verdelende tegnologie, waterbeperkings en beleidsverwante veranderinge. Die spelers in die tafeldruifwaardeketting moet aan streng administratiewe en voldoeningsregulasies en sertifikasies voldoen wat verband hou met veiligheids-, etiese, transformasionele, omgewings- en finansiële vereistes, vervoerkostes (m.a.w. verskeping), veranderende verpakkings- en etiketteringsregulasies, ens. Aan die vraag kant word verbruikers toenemend gekonfronteer met keuses uit verskeie streke en lande, en ook bekommernisse oor etiese en omgewings- voedselveiligheidstandaarde en gesondheid; hierdie vereis alles aktiewe, doeltreffende, deursigtige, naspeurbare, mededingende en volhoubare prestasie. Voorgenoemde faktore gee aanleiding tot die belangrikheid daarvan om die mededingende prestasie van die Suid-Afrikaanse tafeldruifbedryf in globale markte te ondersoek. Die hoofdoel van hierdie navorsing was om ’n omvattende ondersoek in te stel na die mededingende prestasie van die Suid-Afrikaanse tafeldruifbedryf en hoe dit in ’n steeds mededingende globale omgewing verhoog kan word. Mededingendheid in die konteks van die Suid-Afrikaanse tafeldruifbedryf is gedefinieer – in terme van sy sterk uitvoer-oriëntasie – as ‘die volgehoue vermoë van die Suid-Afrikaanse tafeldruifbedryf om belegging te lok deur mededingend sy produkte binne die globale mark te handel terwyl dit voortdurend daarna streef om opbrengste te verdien wat ten minste groter is as die geleentheidskoste van die hulpbronne gebruik’. Hierdie definisie anker mededingendheid sterk in ekonomiese teorie. Die ekonomiese konsepte van vergelykende en mededingende voordeel is in terme van Nuwe Mededingendheidsteorie oorweeg (Cho, 1994; ISMEA, 1999; Porter, 1990, 1998; Rugman & D’Cruz, 1993; Webber & Labaste, 2011), met die Porter mededingende diamant- model as die teoretiese konstruk. Die relatiewe handelsvoordeel (relative trade advantage (RTA)) (Vollrath, 1991) en vergelykende handelsvoordeel (comparative trade advantage (RCA)) (Balassa, 1965) is beskou as gepas om die mededingende prestasietendense in die bedryf te meet. Sekondêre handelsdata vanaf die ITC is gebruik saam met handelsdata vanaf die Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Die resultate van die analise van beide datastelle (m.a.w. FAO en ITC) toon positiewe syfers vir Suid-Afrika. Vir 1961 toon die FAO-data dat Suid-Afrika ’n RTA van 7.9 gehad het, wat oor die jare gegroei het tot ’n hoogtepunt van 16.8 in 2004. Die ITC-data dui op ’n RTA-waarde van 12.1 in 2001, met ’n hoogtepunt van 18 in 2004, waarna ’n geleidelik toenemende, tog positiewe, tendens oor die afgelope paar jaar gesien is, met FAO-data wat ’n waarde van 10.8 in 2013 getoon het en ITC-data met ’n RTA-waarde van 12.9 in 2017. Daar is verskeie faktore wat die skommelings veroorsaak, soos politieke faktore, m.a.w. regulering van die bedryf en ekonomiese swaarkry in Europa en die Verenigde Koninkryk, en hierdie is in die navorsing in ag geneem in terme van die Porter mededingende diamant-model. Die tendense is in vyf fases gekategoriseer, wat toon dat daar ’n beduidende verbetering in die bedryf was sedert ekonomiese deregulering in 1997. Nóg ’n waarneming op grond van die tendense in beide die FAO- en ITC-data is dat daar nie baie verskille tussen hulle is nie, aangesien die ITC-data tafeldruiwe van gedroogde druiwe disaggregeer (disaggregate), terwyl die FAO-data dit nie doen nie. Dis is dus duidelik dat die tafeldruifwaardes die formule wat gebruik word, oorheers. Vanuit hierdie metings kan dit afgelei word dat die Suid-Afrikaanse tafeldruifbedryf mededingend was en hoewel dit gewissel het, het dit hierdie status sedert 1961 behou, ten spyte van aansienlike strukturele verandering en veranderende globale handelsregimes. Suid-Afrika (SA) word veral uitgedaag deur lande in die Suidelike halfrond, soos Peru en Chili, en presteer beter as lande soos Argentinië en Brasilië. Een honderd en sewe (107) faktore wat die mededingendheidstatus van die plaaslike tafeldruifbedryf (positief of negatief) beïnvloed, is geïdentifiseer en geanaliseer deur gebruik te maak van die Porter mededingende diamant. Die opinies van bedryfskundiges is verkry deur gebruik te maak ’n twee-rondte Delphi-tegniek. In die eerste rondte het geselekteerde respondente –almal kundiges wat op verskillende plekke in die waardeketting werksaam is – ’n vraelys (die(Tafeldruifbedryf-opname (Table Grape Industry survey)) gekry wat deur interaksies met die Suid-Afrikaanse Tafeldruifbedryf (SATI) ontwikkel en getoets is. Die vraelys is ontwerp om die impak van die geïdentifiseerde faktore te evalueer as versterkend of beperkend van die mededingendheid van die tafeldruifbedryf. Versterkende faktore sluit in ’n goed ontwikkelende infrastruktuur, innovasie en gevorderde tegnologie en produk- naspeurbaarheidstelsels. Faktore wat mededingendheid beperk, sluit in toegang tot water, die vaardighede van gekwalifiseerde arbeid en die moontlikheid van grondonteiening sonder vergoeding, almal waarvan langtermyn beleggings beperk. Hierdie 107 faktore is in ses Porter mededingende diamant-determinante gegroepeer, nl. produksiefaktore, vraagfaktore, ondernemingstrategie, struktuur en wedywering, verwante en ondersteunende bedrywe, regeringsondersteuning en -beleid, en kansfaktore. Hoofkomponentanalise (Principal component analysis (PCA)) is onderneem om hoogs gekorreleerde en ongekorreleerde faktore onder elke determinant te identifiseer. Hoogs gekorreleerde faktore verwys na dié wat deur die respondente eenders geëvalueer is (vanuit verskillende gesigspunte in die bedryfswaardeketting), en ongekorreleerde faktore is dié waaroor die respondente noemenswaardig in hulle evaluerings verskil het. Ondernemingstrategie, -struktuur en -wedywering is geïdentifiseer as die determinante wat die prestasie van die tafeldruifbedryf die meeste versterk het. Regeringsondersteuning en -beleide, wat grondhervormingsbeleide en omslagtige administratiewe prosedures insluit, is geïdentifiseer as die determinant wat die bedryf die meeste beperk het. Vanuit ’n bedryfskonsensus-oogpunt het opinies van die Verwante en Ondersteunende Bedrywe in terme van alle faktore verskil. Ondernemingstrategie, -struktuur en -wedywering is die determinant wat die hoogste geëvalueer is onder al die Porter diamant determinante. Dit is ook gevind om die hoogste te wees in ander studies wat op die SA uitvoervrugtebedryf onderneem is (Boonzaaier, 2015; Boonzaaier & Van Rooyen, 2017; Dlikilili, 2018; Esterhuizen, 2006; Jafta, 2014; Sibulali, 2018; Van Rooyen et al., 2011). Abei (2017) en Angala (2015) het dieselfde gevind in die Kameroense en Namibiese vrugtebedrywe onderskeidelik. Amper al die evaluerings vir faktore onder hierdie determinant is hoër as 3 uit 5 geëvalueer (60% plus impak). Dit dui daarop dat, in ’n hoogs mededingende handelsomgewing soos wat die geval is met betrekking tot tafeldruiwe, moet ’n ondernemingsvlak-strategie van die hoogste orde wees om hulle handel in stand te hou. Hierdie bevinding bevestig ook die gestelde definisie van mededingendheid wat in hierdie studie gebruik word, wat verband hou met die gebruik van skaars produksiefaktore. Die sienings van die respondente het ook verskil oor faktore soos arbeids/sosiale onrus en stakings, misdaad, ongelukkige gebeure wat mededingers ervaar, gesondheidstoestande en Suid-Afrika se ekonomiese ontwikkeling, wat beteken dat daar verskille kan wees in die bedryf se waardeketting wat gekoördineerde besluitneming met betrekking tot onderhandeling met die regering kan beperk. In totaal het 27 faktore hoë korrelasie getoon. Hierdie gekorreleerde faktore is verder onderwerp aan Cronbach se alfa-analise om hulle vlakke van interne betroubaarheid te assesseer. Hierdie faktore is toe onderwerp aan ’n twee-rondte Delphi analise. In hierdie rondte is die respondente gevra om die relevansie van hierdie oorblywende faktore as determinante van mededingendheid te evalueer. Die resultate toon dat goed ontwikkelde infrastruktuur, gevorderde tegnologie en ’n produk-naspeurbaarheidstelsel, verbeterde toegang tot water, arbeidsvaardighede en stabiele grondhervormingsbeleide baie relevant is vir die algehele mededingende prestasie van die bedryf.Master

Party political chaplaincy? – Methodist ministry to political parties

The debate on church and party politics is far from being exhausted in South Africa. Although the Methodist Church of Southern Africa discourages the participation of clergy persons in political parties, it is becoming critical that the church offers a prophetic voice in the political sphere. Issues of morality and spirituality within the political parties necessitate a careful involvement of the Church in politics. This article therefore sets out to offer a theological reflection on the (possible) ministry of Methodist clergy persons to political parties in South Africa

Humans created God in their image? An anthropomorphic projectionism in the Old Testament

The Old Testament projects not only a Deity that created the world and human beings but also one that is violent and male. The debate on the depiction of the God of Israel that is violent and male is far from being exhausted in Old Testament studies. Thus, the main question posed in this article is: If re-read as ‘Humans created God in their image’, would Genesis 1:27 account for the portrayal of a Deity that is male and violent? Feuerbach’s idea of anthropomorphic projectionism and Guthrie’s view of religion as anthropomorphism come to mind here. This article therefore examines, firstly, human conceptualisation of a divine being within the framework of the theory of anthropomorphic projectionism. Because many a theologian and philosopher would deny that God is a being at all, we further investigate whether the God of Israel was a theological and social construction during the history of ancient Israel. In the end, we conclude, based on the theory of anthropomorphic projectionism, that the idea that the God of Israel was a theological and social construct accounts for the depiction of a Deity that is male and violent in the Old Testament

A biblical perspective and critique of homosexuality by the Xhosa culture

The clergy and the laity of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa (MCSA) are of opposing views in their attempt to deal with the phenomenon of homosexuality in the church. Scripture says, “Do not practice homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman. It is a detestable sin” (Lv 18:22). Leviticus 20:13 reinforces the above commandment. Scripture, according to some people, is associated with colonialism. This paper argues that legitimizing homosexuality among societies is in conflict with the ideology of Africanizing and enculturation of Scriptural texts, and tends to violate certain cultural values of other African societies, with specific focus on Xhosa ethnic group2. The question of morality is critical within the Xhosa cultural belief system. In this study, biblical teachings, cultural tenets of the Xhosa people and modern feministic concepts are highlighted in an attempt to explore the heated debate that surrounds homosexuality.This paper is a re–worked part of an MA (Old Testament) degree completed at the University of Pretoria under the supervision of Professor D J Human.http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-10152010-190355/nf201