2024-03-28T12:08:49Zhttps://uir.unisa.ac.za/oai/requestoai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/131272022-06-30T12:48:45Zcom_10500_23650com_10500_4206com_10500_4090com_10500_1col_10500_23651col_10500_13124
Environmental management and African indigenous resources: echoes from Mutira Mission, Kenya (1912-2012)
Gathogo, Julius
Environmental management
Indigenous resources
Mutira mission
Kenya
Unlike other elements of culture, European missionaries did not explicitly dismiss home-grown
ways of environmental conservation as “fetish” as in the case of cultural practices such as female
circumcision. Indeed, they appreciated local resources in environmental protection as “other”
ways. To this end, the article sets out to show the contribution of African indigenous resources in
environmental preservation with particular reference to Mutira Mission of Kirinyaga County,
central Kenya, during and after the missionary era (1912-2012). In turn, the geographical area that
constitutes Mutira Mission in Mount Kenya region is dominated by the largest ethnic group in
Kenya, the Gikuyu, anglicised as the Kikuyu. They constitute 22% of the entire Kenyan
population of about 40 million people. In its methodology, the article uses Kikuyu cultural
practices such as proverbs, riddles, rituals and so forth to demonstrate African indigenous ways of
environmental preservation. The problem statement being unveiled is: How unique is the African
use of indigenous resources in environmental preservation; and how does the missionary era
compare with the pre-missionary era? The theoretical framework in this article is informed by
John S Mbiti’s view of natural phenomena, where he contends that traditional Africans live in a
religious environment where the cosmos is intimately associated with God. The materials in this
article are largely gathered through oral interviews and archival sources.
2014-01-30T08:50:11Z
2014-01-30T08:50:11Z
2014-01-30T08:50:11Z
2013-12
Article
Gathogo, Julius 2013, "Environmental management and African indigenous resources: echoes from Mutira Mission, Kenya (1912-2012)", Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae, vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 33-56.
1017-0499
http://hdl.handle.net/10500/13127
en
Church History Society of Southern Africa
oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/131362022-06-30T11:01:39Zcom_10500_23650com_10500_3752com_10500_4206com_10500_4090com_10500_1com_10500_18562col_10500_23651col_10500_3753col_10500_13124col_10500_18564
Across the bridge: Polokwane Uniting Reformed Church of Southern Africa from dependency to autonomy
Kgatla, Selaelo Thias
Saayman, Willem
United Reformed Church
Polokwane
The authors analyse and discuss the history of an important “Dutch Reformed Mission Church”
congregation since its inauguration under the first DRC “foreign” missionary, Stephanus
Hofmeyr, in the late nineteenth century until today. They argue that it was a typical “mission
church” congregation, suffering under white paternalistic authority and developing the typical
'dependency syndrome'. It changed drastically in the era after 1994 and today the congregation has
developed full autonomy and independence; also in financial terms. The authors see this as one of
two possible models for church formation in the DRC in a democratic South Africa.
2014-01-30T09:51:04Z
2014-01-30T09:51:04Z
2014-01-30T09:51:04Z
2013-12
Article
Kgatla, Selaelo Thias & Saayman, Willem 2013, "Across the bridge: Polokwane Uniting Reformed Church of Southern Africa from dependency to autonomy", Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae, vol. 39, no. 2, pp 223-235.
1017-0499
http://hdl.handle.net/10500/13136
en
Church History Society of Southern Africa
oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/131442022-06-14T10:08:36Zcom_10500_23650com_10500_429com_10500_44com_10500_1com_10500_4206com_10500_4090col_10500_23651col_10500_430col_10500_13124
The history of theologised politics of South Africa, the 1913 Land Act and its impact on the flight from the black self
Lephakga, Tshepo
Politics in South Africa
History of theologised politics
1913 Land Act
Black South African
Land dispossession
Theologised politics
Apartheid
Dutch reformed church
This article is an attempt to examine the role and impact of the history of theologised politics in
South Africa and the 1913 Land Act and its impact on the flight from the black self. This is done
specifically to locate the question of land and land dispossession of black South Africans that,
according to the author of this article, resulted from the theologised politics of South Africa. It is
the contention of the author that land dispossession, which was officialised in South Africa with
the passing of the 1913 Land Act, was chiefly responsible for the “flight from the black self”. This
is crucial, simply because the author is of the view that land dispossession had a terrible impact on
black people’s self-worth. It is for this reason that the author argues that black people in the main
have internalised oppression. On the basis of this, the author surmises that Apartheid, which was
rationalised as being biblically and theologically sanctioned, precipitated the 1913 Land Act and
in turn the flight from the black self. It is in this context of the flight from the black self that we
must understand the assertion that there are many South Africans within one South Africa.
2014-01-30T10:46:53Z
2014-01-30T10:46:53Z
2014-01-30T10:46:53Z
2013-12
Article
Lephakga, Tshepo 2013, 'The history of theologised politics of South Africa, the 1913 Land Act and its impact on the flight from the black self', Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae, vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 379-400.
1017-0499
http://hdl.handle.net/10500/13144
en
Church History Society of Southern Africa
oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/131392022-06-28T13:12:10Zcom_10500_4206com_10500_4090com_10500_1col_10500_13124
The impact of Christianity on Sub-Saharan Africa
Manala, Matsobane Jacob
Christianity
Education
Socio-politics
Health
Human development
The aim of this article is to describe the impact of Christianity on sub-Saharan Africa. I shall start
by first examining the key words in the title of this article, and by briefly discussing the
phenomenal growth of Christianity in sub-Saharan Africa. The article further describes the impact
of Christianity on sub-Saharan Africa in terms of education, socio-politics, and health; here I shall
base my remarks on the history of Christian missions in the region since the late nineteen century.
As far as education is concerned, this article recognises that education that focuses on holistic
human development is a positive force, and a force that was introduced by Christianity. I shall
also point out that Christianity initiated medical advances that improved the health of those who
live in the region. Regeneration as espoused by Christianity constitutes something of great value.
On the downside, Christianity led to the demise of the African customs, which it viewed as pagan
and evil; the religion also led to the implementation of apartheid (to which it gave its theological
support), and undermined the leadership role of women. Finally, Christianity has bedevilled race
relations in Africa generally.
2014-01-30T10:05:54Z
2014-01-30T10:05:54Z
2014-01-30T10:05:54Z
2013-12
Article
Manala, Matsobane J. 2013, "The impact of Christianity on Sub-Saharan Africa", Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae, vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 285-302.
1017-0499
http://hdl.handle.net/10500/13139
en
Church History Society of Southern Africa
oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/131422022-06-28T13:04:21Zcom_10500_4206com_10500_4090com_10500_1col_10500_13124
The role played by church and state in the democratisation process in Mozambique, 1975-2004
Vilanculos, Julio Andre
Political socialization
Political culture
Ideological nature
Religious factors
FRELIMO
Socialism
Roman catholic church
The political action of citizens individually or collectively is always determined by a multiplicity
of factors. These are first, political socialisation; second, the logic of the dominant political culture
in the society; third, factors of an ideological nature; and fourth, religious factors. In the particular
case of Mozambique it can be seen that from independence in 1975, the political and religious
dimensions went through several changes. In the political area, the changes were observed more
profoundly after the independence of the country under the orientation of FRELIMO, the political
party in power. From that moment until 1990, the country was governed by the domination of one
political party under a Marxist system of socialism. In the religious arena, the domination of the
Roman Catholic Church was observed prior to independence since it was working together with
the dominators (Portuguese), and other Christian religions were persecuted by this church.
However, after independence another dimension became a changing force within the country.
First of all, the relationship between FRELIMO and the church was poor. Second, from 1982 the
relationship started to take on a more positive nature. The questions that then arose were the
following: What are the factors that might have contributed to this changed situation? How can
this dimension be explained? What are the implications of these changes.
2014-01-30T10:35:03Z
2014-01-30T10:35:03Z
2014-01-30T10:35:03Z
2013-12
Article
Vilanculos, Julio Andre 2013, 'The role played by church and state in the democratisation process in Mozambique, 1975-2004', Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae, vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 333-355.
1017-0499
http://hdl.handle.net/10500/13142
en
Church History Society of Southern Africa
oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/131412022-06-21T07:56:22Zcom_10500_3752com_10500_4206com_10500_4090com_10500_1col_10500_3753col_10500_13124
The problematic nature of divorcing life from life
Senokoane, BB Tumi
African worldview
Western worldview
Religion and politics
Religion and society
African traditional religion
Christianity
Civilization
Secularisation
This article argues that the problem of divorcing religion and society is not African by nature. The
argument is based on an African understanding that both religion and politics are part of our lives.
Moreover, the article argues that secularism is not a problem for a traditional African as the nonmentioning
of religion does not necessarily declare a non-religious state. In essence, the article
argues that the non-mentioning of religion points to the core of religion as being assumed since
those members of political parties and legislatures are influenced by their worldviews.
2014-01-30T10:31:29Z
2014-01-30T10:31:29Z
2014-01-30T10:31:29Z
2013-12
Article
Senokoane, BB Tumi 2013,'The problematic nature of divorcing life from life',Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae, vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 319-332.
1017-0499
http://hdl.handle.net/10500/13141
en
Church History Society of Southern Africa
oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/131372022-06-21T10:27:38Zcom_10500_4206com_10500_4090com_10500_1col_10500_13124
How Vatican II renewed South African Catholicism - as perceived by "The Southern Cross" 1962-1968
Egan, Anthony
Catholicism
Catholicism
South Africa
Vatican II
This article is a preliminary attempt to examine the reception of Vatican II, the great reform of the
Catholic Church initiated by Pope John XXIII, that occurred between 1962 and 1965, on the
Catholic Church in South Africa. As a major primary source, I am using the Southern Cross
[hereafter SC], the semi-official, but by no means only Catholic newspaper in South Africa. Local
Catholic papers existed in some dioceses, as did UmAfrika, a Zulu paper produced out of
Mariannhill near Durban, but none of them had the “official” status or breadth of circulation of
SC. Though not owned by the Bishops Conference (SACBC), the SC’s status is such that it can be
seen as almost official, so much so that its first lay editor was only appointed in the 1990s.
My article tries to trace the view of Vatican II the SC presented, drawing on news reports
of the Council, commentaries by local and international scholars (notably Josef Ratzinger, Karl
Rahner, Hans Kung, etc) published in its pages as well as editorials, letters to the editor and
increasingly articles by informed (or at times ill-informed) Catholic laity. Given that the coverage
of Vatican II was considerable, amounting to hundreds of pieces of varying lengths and much of
them news agency reports (cf. Henriques 1997: 33-39), I shall inevitably be selective, and focus
on how South African Catholics’ attitudes changed as the Council happened.
My central thesis is that we can trace a somewhat dramatic shift in the SC’s pages brought
about by the Council: from caution and conformity to critical engagement with the theology the
Council surfaced, even – with the controversial post-Concilliar Humanae Vitae document on
artificial birth control – the first rumblings of genuine Catholic dissent on doctrinal and moral
issues outside the ongoing debate on apartheid in South Africa.
2014-01-30T09:57:26Z
2014-01-30T09:57:26Z
2014-01-30T09:57:26Z
2013-12
Article
Egan, Anthony, 2013, How Vatican II renewed South African Catholicism - as perceived by "The Southern Cross" 1962-1968, Studia Ecclesiasticae, vol. 39, no. 2, pp 239-257
1017-0499
http://hdl.handle.net/10500/13137
en
Church History Society of Southern Africa
oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/131252022-06-14T09:01:53Zcom_10500_3752com_10500_4206com_10500_4090com_10500_1com_10500_18562col_10500_3753col_10500_13124col_10500_18564
The search for a common understanding with regard to ecology and justice in the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa
Plaatjies-van Huffel, Mary-Anne
Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa
Ecology
Justice
Water crisis
Genetic modification of food
Globalism
Hydraulic fracking
The Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) has a long-standing commitment to
ecology and justice. Since 1994, the URCSA has increasingly engaged itself on the “Justice,
Peace and the Integrity of Creation” process. The URCSA is concerned about the impact of
climate change, ocean change, lack of access to clean water, and resource extraction on the
impoverished and vulnerable living beings. A close reading of the primary sources, namely
agendas, Acts of the General Synod, booklets, sermons and media statements of the URCSA,
brings various themes on ecology and justice to the fore. This article will take into account that
ecology and justice are concepts that have not been traditionally held together. The goal of this
article is to explore URCSA’s engagement with ecology under the following subthemes: caring
for the earth keeping, URCSA’s response to the water crisis; URCSA’s response to genetic
modification of food; URCSA’s response to the challenge of globalism; URCSA’s response to
hydraulic fracking and, lastly, the connection between ecology and justice. This article argues that
ecology and justice are concepts that should be held together.
2014-01-30T08:40:11Z
2014-01-30T08:40:11Z
2014-01-30T08:40:11Z
2013-12
Article
Plaatjies-van Huffel, Mary-Anne 2013,'The search for a common understanding with regard to ecology and justice in the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa', Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae, vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 1-17.
1017-0499
http://hdl.handle.net/10500/13125
en
Church History Society of Southern Africa
oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/131282022-06-30T11:35:02Zcom_10500_4206com_10500_4090com_10500_1col_10500_13124
Environment, world-view and healing among the Zulu Christians (19th and 20th centuries)
Henriques, Alan C.
Zulu
Christians
Culture
The basic question raised in this article is how Christians within the Zulu community seek relief
from illnesses. Do they turn to plant (herbal) or animal remedies, or do they regard this as an
imbalance in the mind of the person afflicted. This article touches on the sub-themes of the habitat
of a Christian community, religion and food and also how to consider the place of animals and
humans within a Christian community.
There is in fact more said in the New Testament about evils spirits than food regulations,
with the latter featuring more prominently in the Old Testament. In Bible times, sicknesses such
as epilepsy would have been regarded as demon possession where as we would consider a medical
intervention to solve that problem today. Nevertheless, how prevalent is faith healing today and
what is the role played by the patient and the community in terms of customs and regulations held
fast with the faith community being considered.
Ngubane would place an emphasis on the mind and Bosch for his part discusses the place
of demoniac possession as a source of suffering in the lives of believers. The people included in
this study are mainly from Mariannhill, Maphumulo and the Nyswa Reserve in the Valley of a
Thousand Hills in KwaZulu-Natal.
This article refers to the disciplines of botany, zoology and anthropology. Therefore, the
challenge for Zulu Christians is to synthesize these various disciplines into an integrated faith that
is rooted within the South African context – or, perhaps even applies globally.
2014-01-30T08:53:37Z
2014-01-30T08:53:37Z
2014-01-30T08:53:37Z
2013-12
Article
Henriques, Alan C. 2013, "Environment, world-view and healing among the Zulu Christians (19th and 20th centuries)", Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae, vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 57-69.
1017-0499
http://hdl.handle.net/10500/13128
en
Church History Society of Southern Africa
oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/131352022-06-30T12:07:10Zcom_10500_23650com_10500_3752com_10500_4206com_10500_4090com_10500_1col_10500_23651col_10500_3753col_10500_13124
The role of the Dutch Reformed Mission Church and the Dutch Reformed Church in Africa in the struggle for justice in South Africa, 1986-1990
Kritzinger, Johannes Nicolaas Jacobus
Dutch Reformed Church
Dutch Reformed Mission Church
South Africa
Struggle
A great deal happened in the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) family of churches between the
adoption of the Belhar Confession in 1986 and the Rustenburg Conference in November 1990.
This paper uses the notion of “the church as a site of struggle” to identify three trajectories in the
Dutch Reformed Church in Africa and the Dutch Reformed Mission Church with reference to
involvement by their members in the struggle for justice in South Africa. A seven-dimensional
praxis matrix is used to explore one of those trajectories, namely: “Standing for justice.” The
sources used for this exploration are mainly official church documents.
2014-01-30T09:45:12Z
2014-01-30T09:45:12Z
2014-01-30T09:45:12Z
2013-12
Article
Kritzinger, Johannes Nicolaas Jacobus 2013, "The role of the Dutch Reformed Mission Church and the Dutch Reformed Church in Africa in the struggle for justice in South Africa, 1986-1990", Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae, vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 197-221.
1017-0499
http://hdl.handle.net/10500/13135
en
Church History Society of Southern Africa
oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/131332022-06-30T11:22:07Zcom_10500_4206com_10500_4090com_10500_1col_10500_13124
Theological edutation of nineteenth-century French Missionaries: an appropriation of the Catholicity of Classical Christian Theology
Neele, Adriaan C.
Theology
Education
Catholicity
Christian Theology
Missionaries
The limited research on the theological education of nineteenth-century Christian missionaries,
including those of the Société des Missions Evangéliques chez les peuples non-chrétiens á Paris
(hereafter PEMS), is of particular interest considering the surviving, significant manuscript
collections related to the missionaries – their training and teaching in Paris, France and Morija,
Lesotho. This article presents the theological trajectories and historical-theological context of the
PEMS missionaries together with an in-depth analysis of a recently discovered notebook of
Adolphe Mabille (1836–1894); and concludes with preliminary observations of the theological
education of these missionaries.
2014-01-30T09:34:20Z
2014-01-30T09:34:20Z
2014-01-30T09:34:20Z
2013-12
Article
Neele, Adriaan C. 2013, "Theological edutation of nineteenth-century French Missionaries: an appropriation of the Catholicity of Classical Christian Theology", Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae, vol. 39, no. 2, pp 149-178.
1017-0499
http://hdl.handle.net/10500/13133
en
Church History Society of Southern Africa
oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/131292022-06-30T11:59:26Zcom_10500_3752com_10500_4206com_10500_4090com_10500_1col_10500_3753col_10500_13124
The historical foundation of the mission churches and Afrian Independent Churches in South Africa: matters of the church and the environment
Madise, Mokhele
Churches
African Independent Churches
South Africa
History
The 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.
2014-01-30T08:57:25Z
2014-01-30T08:57:25Z
2014-01-30T08:57:25Z
2013-12
Article
Madise, Mokhele 2013, "The historical foundation of the mission churches and Afrian Independent Churches in South Africa: matters of the church and the environment", Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae, vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 71-81.
1017-0499
http://hdl.handle.net/10500/13129
en
Church History Society of Southern Africa
oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/131452022-06-29T06:57:38Zcom_10500_4206com_10500_4090com_10500_1col_10500_13124
Mistieke elemente in Dante se "Divina Commedia", met verwysing na die "Inferno"
Du Toit, C. W.
Dante's commedia
Dante's theology
Dante's Inferno
JS Kruger
Dan Brown
Ungrund
Absolute and infinitive
Human biology
Science
Subconscious
Dante's Divina Commedia
Dante scholars
Dante’s Commedia represents one of the great classical works of the Middle Ages, and renewed
interest in this work has been stimulated by the recent publication of Dan Brown’s novel Inferno.
This article explores some of the main theological influences in Dante’s Inferno with special focus
on mystical elements underlying the work. This is done in dialogue with the ideas of JS Kruger as
it comes to the fore in his recent translation of the Inferno into Afrikaans. He proposes that the
Inferno is mystically inclined (tendensie) although the explanation of these mystical elements may
transcend the apparent intention (intensie) of the work. Kruger brings a wide horizon of mystical
traditions into play spanning all religions and historical periods. He identifies common mystical
elements that Dante shares with these traditions. Attention is also given to the idea of Ungrund
(the groundless), the Absolute and Infinitive.
The article expands on some theological motives in Dante’s work. Dante’s combination of
historical facts with imaginative depictions thereof is compared with the notion of immanent
transcendence. Immanent transcendence in this context describes the movement from the
quotidian and historical to the imaginative transcendent world that accommodates the mystical.
Reference is made to the role of human biology, science and the subconscious in Dante’s work. In
this context, dream and dance is suggested as important mystical metaphors.
2014-01-30T10:49:58Z
2014-01-30T10:49:58Z
2014-01-30T10:49:58Z
2013-12
Article
Du Toit, C. W. 2013, 'Mistieke elemente in Dante se "Divina Commedia", met verwysing na die "Inferno", Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae, vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 403-419.
1017-0499
http://hdl.handle.net/10500/13145
en
Church History Society of Southern Africa
oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/131402022-06-20T09:20:22Zcom_10500_4206com_10500_4090com_10500_1col_10500_13124
AICs as a gendered space in Harare, Zimbabwe: revisiting the role and place of women
Mapuranga, Tapiwa Praise
African Independent churches
Masowe
Mapostori
Patriarchy
Religious institutions
Gendered space
Women formal leadership
This article examines the politics of space with particular reference to African Independent
Churches (AICs) in the city of Harare. This stems from the notion that AICs in the city tend to
occupy the margins and outer spaces. On the one hand, this article argues that this location of the
periphery compounds the marginality of women in these churches as they also occupy the margins
within the hierarchies of the church in terms of leadership. This article’s assumptions are that, in
AICs, men dominate most of the religious space. Women tend to fill in the less important spheres
and, at times, are mere followers. On the other hand, despite this male dominance, women have
begun to reclaim some power that they had earlier on enjoyed in traditional religions.
2014-01-30T10:27:11Z
2014-01-30T10:27:11Z
2014-01-30T10:27:11Z
2013-12
Article
Mapuranga, Tapiwa Praise 2013,'AICs as a gendered space in Harare, Zimbabwe: revisiting the role and place of women', Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae, vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 303-317.
1017-0499
http://hdl.handle.net/10500/13140
en
Church History Society of Southern Africa
oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/131322022-07-12T08:57:20Zcom_10500_23650com_10500_3752com_10500_4206com_10500_4090com_10500_1col_10500_23651col_10500_3753col_10500_13124
African intermediaries: African evangelists, the Dutch Reformed Church and the evangelisation of the southern Shona in the late 19th century
Mujere, Joseph
Dutch Reformed Church
Evangelisation
Although some Christian denominations employed more African evangelists than others, African
evangelists were quite indispensable in evangelisation of many African communities in the late
19th century. In the end, it was often the case of Africans evangelising other Africans rather than a
purely European enterprise. Apart from working as evangelists and lay preachers, early African
converts also worked as translators, porters, guides, and aides among other jobs. This article
analyses the role played by African evangelists in the evangelisation of areas to the north of the
Limpopo River in the period before the colonisation of what is now Zimbabwe. It pays particular
attention to the work of African evangelists working with the Dutch Reformed Church and the
Berlin Missionary Society. This article also attempts to recover the voices of the African men and
women through whose efforts the Dutch Reformed Church and the Berlin Missionary Society
were able to establish mission stations and spread Christianity among the southern Shona prior to
the colonisation of Zimbabwe.
2014-01-30T09:29:02Z
2014-01-30T09:29:02Z
2014-01-30T09:29:02Z
2013-12
Article
Mujere, Joseph 2013, "African intermediaries: African evangelists, the Dutch Reformed Church and the evangelisation of the southern Shona in the late 19th century", Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae, vol. 39, no. 2, pp 133-148.
1017-0499
http://hdl.handle.net/10500/13132
en
Church History Society of Southern Africa
oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/131262022-06-21T09:10:22Zcom_10500_4206com_10500_4090com_10500_1col_10500_13124
From a farm road to a public highway : the Dutch Reformed Church and its changing views regarding the city and urbanisation in the first half of the 20th century (1916-1947)
Vosloo, Robert
Theologians
Dutch Reformed Church
Urbanization
Afrikaner people
Race problem
Volkskongres
The big question which should be in every theologian’s mind
is: How did the Dutch Reformed Church’s response to the
rapid urbanisation of the Afrikaner people in the first half of
the 20th century unfold and develop? This was a painful
transition to the many Afrikaner volk. And in order to address
this question, this article looks more closely at some of the
popular booklets by Rev JR Albertyn from the 1940s, the Kerk
en Stad report (1947), and the published papers and decisions
of the Volkskongres of 1947. These texts give us a glimpse
onto the (changing) views on the city and urbanisation within
the Dutch Reformed Church, as well as within the broader
Afrikaner society. This article will also highlight the possible
theological convictions that played a role in an attempt to face
the challenges arising from a new urban environment. This
article will furthermore focus on the way in which the
discourse, within the Dutch Reformed Church, which related
the challenges posed by urbanisation to the so-called “race
problem”, was dealt with.
2014-01-30T08:46:28Z
2014-01-30T08:46:28Z
2014-01-30T08:46:28Z
2013-12
Article
Vosloo, Robert 2013, 'From a farm road to a public highway : the Dutch Reformed Church and its changing views regarding the city and urbanisation in the first half of the 20th century (1916-1947)', Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae, vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 19-32.
1017-0499
http://hdl.handle.net/10500/13126
en
Church History Society of Southern Africa
oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/131312022-06-30T11:27:47Zcom_10500_4206com_10500_4090com_10500_1col_10500_13124
A critical black analysis of the church's role in the post-apartheid struggle for socio-economic justice
Vellem, Vuyani
Church
Socio-economic justice
This article reflects on the role of the church in the economic justice discourse post 1994 within
the context of a dominant calculative rationality. It is firstly argued that language becomes
distorted as a functionary of the dominant market fundamentalism in this context. Furthermore,
the saturation of pragmatist politics, equally a sign of the crippling effects of this rationality,
impedes democratic impulses as it eclipses theoretical and intellectual discourse. The article
demonstrates that the passages from GEAR to NGP do not portray a significant radical change in
economic policy. On the contrary, 'faith' has become central in an ambiguous economic
imaginary. Ecclesiastical discourse, particularly its lapse into “church theology” mode, delinks
social justice from reconciliation. Against an elusive interlocutor in this context, black theology of
liberation must be authentic to the plight of the scum of the earth to achieve the goals of social
justice in history.
2014-01-30T09:16:52Z
2014-01-30T09:16:52Z
2014-01-30T09:16:52Z
2013-12
Article
Vellem, Vuyani 2013, "A critical black analysis of the church's role in the post-apartheid struggle for socio-economic justice", Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae, vol. 39, no. 2, pp.113-130.
1017-0499
http://hdl.handle.net/10500/13131
en
Church History Society of Southern Africa
oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/131432022-06-28T12:42:42Zcom_10500_23650com_10500_429com_10500_44com_10500_1com_10500_2979com_10500_4206com_10500_4090col_10500_23651col_10500_430col_10500_5526col_10500_13124
The Natives Land Act of 1913 engineered the poverty of Black South Africans : a historico-ecclesiastical perspective
Modise, Leepo Johannes
Mtshiselwa, Ndikho
Native Land Act of 1913
Poverty black Africans
Black South African
Land dispossession
Indigenous people South Africa
Colonialism
Apartheid
Land South Africa
Churches South Africa
The 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?
2014-01-30T10:39:25Z
2014-01-30T10:39:25Z
2014-01-30T10:39:25Z
2013-12
Article
Modise, Leepo Johannes & Mtshiselwa, Ndikho 2014,'The Natives Land Act of 1913 engineered the poverty of Black South Africans : a historico-ecclesiastical perspective', Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae, vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 359-378.
1017-0499
http://hdl.handle.net/10500/13143
en
Church History Society of Southern Africa
oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/131342022-06-30T12:41:48Zcom_10500_4206com_10500_4090com_10500_1col_10500_13124
"... they had all things in common": Calvin's exposition of the community of goods in some key texts in Acts
Van Alten, Erik
Calvin
Community of goods
State
Church
In an interesting text that has survived as the result of one of their regular Friday meetings
(congrégations), the pastors of Geneva officially declared their position on the sensitive issue of
the community of goods. After close examination it is clear that Calvin’s own position on this
matter is completely in line with the pastors’ declaration. In this article Calvin’s commentary and
sermons on Acts 2:43–45, 4:32–37 and 5:1–6, in which he elaborates on his position, are
investigated. During the Reformation these passages were deemed key texts regarding this issue.
In his discussion of these passages, Calvin positions himself against the attitudes and
actions of four groups, namely the Anabaptists, the rich (of Geneva), the poor, and the monks.
These four groups, drawn from his own context, represent the extreme positions which Calvin
seeks to avoid. In order to find the via media between these extremes, Calvin identifies four
important concepts in Scripture that shape his own view on this matter. These are love, order,
ability and need. They are intricately connected and give Calvin’s position the balance he strived
for.
2014-01-30T09:40:56Z
2014-01-30T09:40:56Z
2014-01-30T09:40:56Z
2013-12
Article
Van Alten, Erik 2013, "... they had all things in common": Calvin's exposition of the community of goods in some key texts in Acts", Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae, vol. 39, no. 2, pp 181-196.
1017-0499
http://hdl.handle.net/10500/13134
en
Church History Society of Southern Africa