Browsing by Subject "Liberation theology"

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    The captivity of the Bible in South Africa : toward a pastorally concerned biblical hermeneutics
    (1990) Sampson, Courtney Dale; Mazamisa, Welile
    Various contemporary Liberation methodologies of Biblical interpretation have generally failed to find a firm enough footage amongst communities of the oppressed. This is so, in spite of the fact that these methodologies are born out of the struggles for liberation of these communities. Most of the people who have a relationship with the Bible, are quite ignorant concerning the human element in the production of the Bible. This ignorance, amongst others, results in a subservient and uncritical approach to the Bible. This is essentially the issue that this thesis wants to address. Chapter one deals with the human origins of both the Old and New Testaments. This is followed by a chapter on methodologies of biblical interpretation. Both in essence seek to highlight and celebrate our humanity by highlighting the human element in our understanding of the Bible. Chapter two also deals with the question of what constitutes a sacred text. Chapter three is a critical reflection on existing Liberation theologies and particularly looks at Liberation theology in Latin America, Black and Prophetic theology in South Africa and Feminist theology. The perception of the Bible which are influenced by these theologies are used in developing a hermeneutical starting point which does not regard the Bible as the absolute and ultimate Word of God, but as a source in the Christian tradition. Chapter four is an attempt to show how the ethos of a denomination influences the way in which people understand the Bible. It is then argued that it is impossible for anybody to follow the Bible literally because of the ways in which various factors such as socio-political, economic, psychological and tradition influence our interpretation of what is read in the Bible. Furthermore, people do not in reality accept the Bible as the absolute Word of God although most seem to claim that it is and Biblical scholars and theologians have this as their hermeneutical starting point. Given these arguments, people do have a special relationship with the Bible and it is a meaningful religious symbol to many who find solace, comfort and direction in it. The Bible must be seen in the context of the community of faith and therefore it must be studied in that context. Any hermeneutics must take the needs and limitations of these communities seriously as Biblical scholars are challenged to be sensitive about the faith of the people for whom the Bible remains a holy and inspirational source, especially if they are victims of oppression. The concluding section challenges Bible study facilitators to question their own hermeneutics in the light of the evidences of this thesis and to see the empowerment of the oppressed as a priority in the presentation of the Bible. This is the underlying issue of importance throughout the thesis, i.e., how the Bible can be appropriated by communities of the oppressed who adhere to the Christian faith, in the struggle for liberation and transformation.
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    A study in Christianity, Marxist ideology and historical engagement with special reference to the liberation theology of José Miguez Bonino
    (1982) Borman, John; De Gruchy, John W
    This study examines the seminal thought of a leading Protestant exponent of Latin American liberation theology, Jose Miguez Bonino. It shows that, by a dialectical use of Marxist theory he is able to rediscover a basic and essential Christian understanding of history which requires that Christians be actively engaged in its shaping. Miguez Bonino's choice of the biblical category of the Kingdom of God is examined and is seen to constitute a departure from and an improvement on the conventional model of the Exodus used by most liberation theologians. The Marxist critique of idealism in traditional theology is accepted and serves as a starting point for a revised Christian interpretation of history. The unity of history is traced as originating in the prophetic teaching which linked political happenings with divine sovereignty. The crucial rediscovery of apocalyptic in contemporary European political theology is seen as an important step in the direction taken by Miguez Bonino as is the theological reflection on "thinking in two spheres" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The use which Miguez Bonino makes of the concept of the Kingdom of God to emphasize the eschatological significance of human historical action is also outlined. The Marxist emphasis on human responsibility for historical initiative is taken as the point from which to expound an understanding of the Kingdom of God in which the account of the tension between the present age and the future age in apocalyptic is important as is the contrast between continuity and discontinuity in the Pauline concepts of "body", "Resurrection" and "works". Again, Miguez Bonino's indebtedness to Bonhoeffer, this time in his polarity of the ultimate and penultimate is acknowledged. Miguez Bonino's distinctive exposition of the Kingdom as a call to effective action to articulate Christian love is also examined and compared with other models. Political engagement is seen to require mediations in the form of social analysis, theological interpretation and ideology. Sacralization and fanaticism are avoided by the application of ethical criteria and the submission of the mediations to divine judgement. In this regard Miguez Bonino's preference for Marxism is scrutinized and an alternative suggested.
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    Towards a eucharistic theology and practice for the South African context : a re-appraisal of Reformed eucharistic theology from the perspective of the Eucharist in Catholic liberation theology
    (1989) Van der Water, Desmond; De Gruchy, John W
    The theology and practice of the eucharist emerged as one of the major points of contention in the 16th Century Reformation. While the Reformers themselves differed in their respective eucharistic theologies, they were nevertheless unanimous in rejecting what they perceived as heresy and abuse in the theology and practice within the Roman Catholic Church. Part One of this dissertation explores the Reformed teaching on the eucharist by surveying the eucharistic theologies of the Reformers, Huldrych Zwingli and John Calvin, and more recent theologians, Peter Forsyth and Karl Barth. The challenge of the Reformation, however timeous and valid, did not go far enough. While the Reformers went to great lengths to expose theological heresy and to condemn abuses, they gave scant attention to the contextual implications of their theology. For instance, the Reformation focussed on such theological issues as the "essence" or "substance" of Christ's presence in the eucharist, without giving attention to its missiological implications within the contextual struggles for human liberation from socio-political and economic structures of domination, oppression and exploitation. Roman Catholic theology of liberation, emerging from Latin America in the latter part of the 20th Century, presents a compelling challenge to both traditional Catholic teaching and Reformed theology and practice. While not departing from the basic tenets of Catholic teaching, liberation theology adopts a radically critical stance, whereby any orthodox theology and practice is judged in terms of its relevance to the existential situations of human oppression, poverty and suffering. Part Two of this dissertation reflects on the response of liberation theologians to a new crisis for the sacraments within the Roman Catholic Church. This is done by surveying the eucharistic theologies of Juan Luis Segundo, Rafael Avila (from Latin America) and Tissa Balasuriya (from Asia). The Churches of the Reformed tradition have not as yet adequately responded to the challenges within a country characterised by racism, state oppression, social injustices and economic exploitation. A Reformed eucharistic theology and practice should be formulated for the South African context, which takes seriously the criticisms of Catholic liberation theology, while simultaneously exploring the contextual implications of its own Reformed tradition. It is not necessary for a Reformed understanding of the eucharist to break with tradition, anymore than Catholic liberation theology does. What is required is that the tradition be retrieved in relation to the struggle for liberation within our historical context. Part Three sets out the proposal for a eucharistic theology and practice for the South African context, in terms of two major themes, namely those of protest and celebration. These themes are fundamental to both the biblical framework and the contextual application of the eucharist, are consonant with the intention of Reformed eucharistic theology. Central to the proposal will be the formulation of a theology and practice of the community-of-faith. It will become evident as to what is meant by community-of-faith as we explore the above themes.