Nog nadenke na aanleiding van ‘Nadenke van ’n Afrikaner’ deur HJC Pieterse

Considering the reflections of HJC Pierterse on the AfrikanerIn a recent publication the theologian HJC Pieterse reflected on the spiritual and existential condition of the modern Afrikaner, and his feelings of guilt, loneliness and hopelessness. In this article it is argued, by comparing Pieterse’s reflections to Afrikaans literature, that the Afrikaner has, since the beginning of the 20th century, been moving away from the soil and from his African contacts, and has become more and more European and American in his thinking. Apartheid was meant to finalise his separateness from Africa. The resistance of the modern Afrikaner to apartheid does not, however, bring a new relation to Africa. It is rather one further step closer to European thinking

The need for ethical quality of life practices

This article reflects on ways in which the idea of an ethical quality of life of the people of God can be contextualized. This idea is largely similar to the concept of the wholeness of life that is found in documents of the World Council of Churches. Attention is given to the results of efforts to improve the quality of life in Africa through modernization during the development era, as well as to the quality of life in post-apartheid South Africa. The consumer culture has a strong influence on rich and poor, but there are different forms of resistance to modernisation. These forms of resistance often become destructive. If the church wants to present an attractive lifegiving alternative, we need a moral vision, even a new cosmology, as well as the technology, practices, life styles and other ways to make that vision a reality.http://ngtt.journals.ac.za/hb201

A centre for community life in its fullness

This article considers some theological reasons why there is a Centre for Sustainable Communities at the Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria. The role of the Centre is discussed within the global and local search for sustainability; the world-wide trend in churches towards a missional approach, which emphasises the church’s life-giving role in all areas of life, and the theological reflection on the relationship between the church community and the civil community, so reflecting on the role of the local church to promote life in its fullness in the community. The Centre for Sustainable Communities (Centre) was established at the Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, in 2014. The Centre is intended to develop resources for local congregations to promote life in its fullness in local communities in southern Africa in an effective and meaningful way. In this article attention is given to the theological reasons for its establishment and where it is being positioned in the wider field of sustainability institutions. Attention will be given to the following: • The position of the Centre in the global search for sustainability. • Life in its fullness in the emerging 21st century missional paradigm. • The Christian community as agent of life in its fullness in the civil community.This article represents a theological reflection on the Faculty Research Theme (FRT) of the Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, entitled Ecodomy - Life in its fullness. The theme is portrayed from the perspective of various theological disciplines. A conference on this theme was held on 27–28 October 2014.http://www.ve.org.za/am201

The missional congregation in the South African context

The term missional has come into use over the last years in the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa and the Department of Science of Religion and Missiology of the Faculty of Theology at the University of Pretoria. This term refers to the role of the local congregation in the local community or communities and is used with, or in the place of, the term missionary, which traditionally referred to the sending out of a missionary to some or other place. The use of the term missional includes specific views on the goal of mission, what mission is and how it should be done. In this article it is argued that this approach can be seen as a new wave of mission within the South African context, and that it is related to developments in many parts of the global church.http://www.hts.org.zaam201

A centre for community life in its fullness

This article considers some theological reasons why there is a Centre for Sustainable Communities at the Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria. The role of the Centre is discussed within the global and local search for sustainability; the world-wide trend in churches towards a missional approach, which emphasises the church’s life-giving role in all areas of life, and the theological reflection on the relationship between the church community and the civil community, so reflecting on the role of the local church to promote life in its fullness in the community. The Centre for Sustainable Communities (Centre) was established at the Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, in 2014. The Centre is intended to develop resources for local congregations to promote life in its fullness in local communities in southern Africa in an effective and meaningful way. In this article attention is given to the theological reasons for its establishment and where it is being positioned in the wider field of sustainability institutions. Attention will be given to the following: • The position of the Centre in the global search for sustainability. • Life in its fullness in the emerging 21st century missional paradigm. • The Christian community as agent of life in its fullness in the civil community.This article represents a theological reflection on the Faculty Research Theme (FRT) of the Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, entitled Ecodomy - Life in its fullness. The theme is portrayed from the perspective of various theological disciplines. A conference on this theme was held on 27–28 October 2014.http://www.ve.org.za/am201

"But where's the bloody horse?" Die NG teologie in Afrika

The relation between theology in the Dutch Reformed Church and the African world is discussed with reference to: (a) the relation between theology in the Dutch Reformed Church and science, and specifically the university with its policies; (b) the relation between science and the African world, especially as seen by African writers; and (c) the way that certain theologians in the Dutch Reformed Church have dealt with the African world and African theology. The relation between theology and praxis depends on the conception of truth held by the theologian involved. If truth is seen as the product of the theologian as subject (each subject produces his or her own truth), or if truth is identified with propositions or statements, the related theology can be expected to be unrelated to the praxis. A relation concept of truth is where God addresses a person and confronted by the realities of life and discovers truth in these relationships. Such a concept of truth does offer the prospect of a theology that interacts with reality. It is suggested that opportunities to engage existentially in such relations should become a strong characteristic of the way in which our theology is structured

Die stryd oor die opstanding aan die Teologiese Fakulteit by UP. ?n Gesprek met Prof Julian M�ller

In recent years some of the lecturers at the Faculty of Theology at the University of Pretoria were confronted with the question whether they believed in the historical and physical resurrection of Jesus. This article focuses on a book on the resurrection in which one of these lecturers, professor Julian M�ller of Practical Theology, responds to this question. He refuses to answer with a simple �yes�, because he feels the question originates from a fundamentalist and modernistic theology, in which the aim is to take control of the truth. He offers a postmodern interpretation. In this article an effort is made, from the viewpoint of Missiology, to understand his views as he wishes them to be understood, and to respond to it. In Missiology, through the theological rediscovery of Biblical eschatology, the physical and historical resurrection of Jesus has become of central importance again, also in a postmodern paradigm. In conclusion, an effort is made to understand the role of our Faculty of Theology within our Southern African context

The dispute about the resurrection at the Faculty of Theology at UP : a discussion with Prof Julian Müller

In recent years some of the lecturers at the Faculty of Theology at the University of Pretoria were confronted with the question whether they believed in the historical and physical resurrection of Jesus. This article focuses on a book on the resurrection in which one of these lecturers, professor Julian Müller of Practical Theology, responds to this question. He refuses to answer with a simple "yes", because he feels the question originates from a fundamentalist and modernistic theology, in which the aim is to take control of the truth. He offers a postmodern interpretation. In this article an effort is made, from the viewpoint of Missiology, to understand his views as he wishes them to be understood, and to respond to it. In Missiology, through the theological rediscovery of Biblical eschatology, the physical and historical resurrection of Jesus has become of central importance again, also in a postmodern paradigm. In conclusion, an effort is made to understand the role of our Faculty of Theology within our Southern African context