Interpreting the Bible in the context of apartheid and beyond: An African perspective
Loading...
Authors
Farisani, Elelwani B.
Issue Date
2015-01
Type
Article
Language
en
Keywords
Apartheid , Apartheid ideology , Dutch Reformed Churches , Bible interpretation
Alternative Title
Abstract
During the apartheid era in South Africa, the Bible was used both as a tool to legitimise the apartheid ideology and as a site of struggle against it. Today, in the post-apartheid context, the Bible still plays a significant role in addressing the current challenges. Accordingly, in this article my aim is twofold: first, to chronicle how the biblical text has been used to support the apartheid ideology and second, to spell out the role of the biblical text in the post-apartheid context. I begin by discussing how uncritical and literal interpretations of Scripture have been used by the white minority to exclude, oppress and sideline the black majority in South Africa. I then present a biblical inter-pretation which may serve as a safeguard against our tenden-cies to exclude, oppress, marginalise and sideline any minority or powerless group in our society. I conclude by suggesting ways to interpret the Bible that are less likely to lend them-selves to abuse by the powerful in the post-apartheid context.
Description
Peer reviewed
Citation
Farisani, Elelwani B., 2015, Interpreting the Bible in the context of apartheid and beyond: An African perspective, Historiae Ecclesiasticae, vol. 40, no. 2, pp. 207-225.
Publisher
Church History Society of Southern Africa
License
Journal
Volume
Issue
PubMed ID
DOI
ISSN
1017-0499