Towards an adequate methodology for church and theological historiography: in conversation with Paul Ricoeur

Abstract

This article aims to reflect on and contribute to the methodology of church and theological historiography from the presupposition that it exists in relation to and is influenced by the developments of historiography in general. However, a church and theological historiography should be governed by a critical theological reflection on developing methodologies and historical hermeneutics. First, a few brief comments are made about methodological sensitivity in South African church historical circles. Then the development of historiography in the Western intellectual tradition is traced in such a way that the limitations of both the modern and postmodern approach to history are stressed. The work of the French philosopher, Paul Ricoeur, is then suggested as an example of good historiographical methodology by way of reference to Ricoeur’s concept of variations in scale.