Sedert die begin van 2002 is daar in die openbare media 'n lewendige debat gevoer oor en met ... more Sedert die begin van 2002 is daar in die openbare media 'n lewendige debat gevoer oor en met die beweging wat as die Nuwe Hervorming bekend geword het. Vanwee die vinnige en vlugtige aard van die debat was daar dikwels nie 'n duidelike beeld van die oortuigings wat daarin voorgedra is nie. In hierdie leemte voorsien die bundel met die titel Die Nuwe Hervorming wat aan die einde van 2002 onder die redakteurskap van dr Piet Muller by Protea Boekhuis in Pretoria verskyn het. Die bundel bestaan uit twaalf bydraes. Naas die redakteursinleiding waarin 'n kort oorsig oor en 'n toetrede tot die vermelde debat gebied word, lewer Piet Muller verder nog twee bydraes waarin onderskeidelik die temas "Die postmoderne gelowige" en "Die Evangelie van Tomas en 'n nuwe spiritualiteit" behandel word.
Ecclesiology and theological education: A South African reformed perspective. The church is one o... more Ecclesiology and theological education: A South African reformed perspective. The church is one of the primary contexts in which theology is done. In the South African theology education debate the implications which this context has for the nature of theological education has not yet been adequately described. This article therefore intends dealing with this issue. The well known four attributes of the church are used as indicators of the nature of theological education which results in confessionality, spirituality, ecumenicity and hermeneutics being identified as its main dimensions.
During the past three years the Faculty of Theology at the University of Pretoria was involved in... more During the past three years the Faculty of Theology at the University of Pretoria was involved in a profound process of transformation. In this article, the historical background of the faculty is briefly described as well as the basic characteristics of the present-day South African tertiary education scene in which this process took place. This is followed by an analysis of the basic principles and procedures of the transformation process. Special emphasis is placed on the ecumenical ideal that inspired the development of the new faculty.
The "New Reformation" and Orthodoxy A recent movement which became known as the New Reformation i... more The "New Reformation" and Orthodoxy A recent movement which became known as the New Reformation identifies itself, inter alia, by taking a very negative stance towards several aspects of traditional Christian orthodoxy while also finding the idea of orthodoxy as a way of giving expression to Christianity equally unacceptable. This attitude seems to be based on the perception that orthdoxy is legalistic, modernistic, metaphysical and ideological in nature. This article argues that the perception just mentioned renders an inadequate analysis of the phenomenon and substance of orthodoxy by not sufficiently taking into account its doxological character and the fundamental theological consequences thereof.
The freedom of theology according to recent Roman Catholic thought In this article the notion of ... more The freedom of theology according to recent Roman Catholic thought In this article the notion of the freedom of theology in recent Roman Catholic thought is discussed with special reference to the Vatican Instruction "Donum Veritatis", which outlines the current views in this church on the ecclesial vocation of the theologian. The factors which prompted the publication of this document are described as well as the tradition within which it is situated. A careful analysis of the structure and contents of the Instruction is made and the basic presuppositions of its notion of theology are indicated. The article concludes with a Refonned response to the central argument of the document.
The Dutch Reformed Church and the Reformed tradition: expression and challenges In this article a... more The Dutch Reformed Church and the Reformed tradition: expression and challenges In this article a brief analysis is presented of the manner in which the Reformed tradition finds expression in die Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa. Such an analysis presupposes answers to the questions why such an attempt is necessary and what the identity of the Reformed tradition is. These answers are suggested in the first two sections of the article. The third section contains the envisaged outline of the manner in which the Dutch Reformed Church represents the Reformed tradition. This leads to the conclusion that the contribution which this church could strive to make to the church scene in South Africa is to promote the combination of the faith dimensions of knowledge, experience and obedience which is characteristic of the Reformed tradition.
DesmonD mpilo TuTu I was honoured to be invited to become Chancellor of the University of the Wes... more DesmonD mpilo TuTu I was honoured to be invited to become Chancellor of the University of the Western Cape in 1988. In many ways it would have been an oxymoron to feel honoured to be associated with such an institution for it was spawned by apartheid with its obsession for separation. It was designed as the university for Coloureds as, for instance, the University of Zululand was meant for Zulus-all tertiary institutions that had been rejected contemptuously as merely bush colleges by nearly everyone in the Black community. UWC was turning this bizarre policy on its head, a process begun under the leadership of Professor Van der Ross, its first coloured rector, when it jettisoned the ludicrous policy of ethnic entrance qualifications, replacing it with the conventional one of academic qualifications. UWC was establishing its credentials by being involved in protests and demonstrations against the brutal apartheid police when the student body marched against apartheid's minions. Frequently the students were headed by the Rector and his academic colleagues. Professor Van der Ross was succeeded by a younger, quiet but charismatic person, Jakes Gerwel, who accelerated the transformation process throwing down the gauntlet even more spectacularly by declaring at his installation as Rector that he intended UWC to become "the intellectual home of the Left". That was really throwing the fat into the fire for an oppressive Government obsessed with its so-called anti-communist stance. UWC was rapidly establishing its credentials as a genuine site of the struggle against apartheid. Hence being honoured to become its Chancellor. This was in the turbulent 1980s when apartheid repression was at its most vicious and our people were dying like flies .
Theology and context: a Dutch discussionIn this article an analysis is made of the lectures prese... more Theology and context: a Dutch discussionIn this article an analysis is made of the lectures presented to a conference on theology between church, university and society, organised by the Netherlands School for Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion in the Dutch town Hoeven from 5 to 7 June of this year. The analysis is preceded by a brief overview of the present state of affairs regarding the provision of tertiary theological education in the Netherlands. The basic tenor of this wide ranging conference was that theology could and should develop a harmonious relationship to all the contexts in which it operates.
... Publication Date: 2006; Pages: p.799 - 817; Authors: CJ Wethmar; SJP Brand; ISSN: 00282006; A... more ... Publication Date: 2006; Pages: p.799 - 817; Authors: CJ Wethmar; SJP Brand; ISSN: 00282006; Abstract: <B>The logic of faith : prayer as point of contact between rationality and experience in Rahner and Calvin</B> <BR>We investigate two theologians, the twentieth century ...
The aim of this article is to give an account of the interaction between Christianity and African... more The aim of this article is to give an account of the interaction between Christianity and African Traditional Religion found in African Christian theology. The comparison is made with special reference to the respective conceptualisations of evil present in each of these traditions. The paper commences with a brief survey of the manner in which the notion of evil features in the Christian Scriptures and tradition. A brief outline of the African world and life view is then presented in order to provide the back-drop against which an analysis of the notion of evil in African Traditional Religion can be attempted. This analysis is mainly made with reference to recent research on witchcraft and spirit beliefs and is followed by a portrayal of the interaction between the traditional Christian views on evil and those found in African Traditional Religion. This interaction exhibits the twofold structure of rejection on the one hand and accommodation on the other.
In the version of this book review initially published, Wethmar, C., 2019, 'Augustinus as wegwyse... more In the version of this book review initially published, Wethmar, C., 2019, 'Augustinus as wegwyser vir 'n geestelike en morele lewe', In die Skriflig 53(1), a2472. https://doi.org/10.4102/ ids.v53i1.2472, the reviewed book's publisher city was given incorrectly as SUN MeDIA, Bloemfontein. The correct city name should be Stellenbosch instead of Bloemfontein. This correction does not alter the review's findings of significance or overall interpretation of the results. The publisher apologises for any inconvenience caused.
Ecclesiology and Ethics: Etienne de Villiers� work in the light of ecumenical discussions on eccl... more Ecclesiology and Ethics: Etienne de Villiers� work in the light of ecumenical discussions on ecclesiology and ethics. In honouring Etienne de Villiers, this article discusses the latter�s contribution to a deepening of the notions of church and ethics, as well as the mutual relationship between these notions in the South African context. De Villiers� work in this regard is compared with that which has been done by the World Council of Churches (WCC). The article therefore highlights the manner in which De Villiers, in line with the WCC, analysed the moral deformation, but also the transformation and formation in which especially the Dutch Reformed Church was involved in in South Africa since the middle of the 20th century. Although De Villiers mainly works in the field of Christian ethics, it is clear that the latent ecclesiological views to which his ethical contributions are related, would also, to a considerable extent, be in line with those that have been and are being developed...
Sedert die begin van 2002 is daar in die openbare media 'n lewendige debat gevoer oor en met ... more Sedert die begin van 2002 is daar in die openbare media 'n lewendige debat gevoer oor en met die beweging wat as die Nuwe Hervorming bekend geword het. Vanwee die vinnige en vlugtige aard van die debat was daar dikwels nie 'n duidelike beeld van die oortuigings wat daarin voorgedra is nie. In hierdie leemte voorsien die bundel met die titel Die Nuwe Hervorming wat aan die einde van 2002 onder die redakteurskap van dr Piet Muller by Protea Boekhuis in Pretoria verskyn het. Die bundel bestaan uit twaalf bydraes. Naas die redakteursinleiding waarin 'n kort oorsig oor en 'n toetrede tot die vermelde debat gebied word, lewer Piet Muller verder nog twee bydraes waarin onderskeidelik die temas "Die postmoderne gelowige" en "Die Evangelie van Tomas en 'n nuwe spiritualiteit" behandel word.
Ecclesiology and theological education: A South African reformed perspective. The church is one o... more Ecclesiology and theological education: A South African reformed perspective. The church is one of the primary contexts in which theology is done. In the South African theology education debate the implications which this context has for the nature of theological education has not yet been adequately described. This article therefore intends dealing with this issue. The well known four attributes of the church are used as indicators of the nature of theological education which results in confessionality, spirituality, ecumenicity and hermeneutics being identified as its main dimensions.
During the past three years the Faculty of Theology at the University of Pretoria was involved in... more During the past three years the Faculty of Theology at the University of Pretoria was involved in a profound process of transformation. In this article, the historical background of the faculty is briefly described as well as the basic characteristics of the present-day South African tertiary education scene in which this process took place. This is followed by an analysis of the basic principles and procedures of the transformation process. Special emphasis is placed on the ecumenical ideal that inspired the development of the new faculty.
The "New Reformation" and Orthodoxy A recent movement which became known as the New Reformation i... more The "New Reformation" and Orthodoxy A recent movement which became known as the New Reformation identifies itself, inter alia, by taking a very negative stance towards several aspects of traditional Christian orthodoxy while also finding the idea of orthodoxy as a way of giving expression to Christianity equally unacceptable. This attitude seems to be based on the perception that orthdoxy is legalistic, modernistic, metaphysical and ideological in nature. This article argues that the perception just mentioned renders an inadequate analysis of the phenomenon and substance of orthodoxy by not sufficiently taking into account its doxological character and the fundamental theological consequences thereof.
The freedom of theology according to recent Roman Catholic thought In this article the notion of ... more The freedom of theology according to recent Roman Catholic thought In this article the notion of the freedom of theology in recent Roman Catholic thought is discussed with special reference to the Vatican Instruction "Donum Veritatis", which outlines the current views in this church on the ecclesial vocation of the theologian. The factors which prompted the publication of this document are described as well as the tradition within which it is situated. A careful analysis of the structure and contents of the Instruction is made and the basic presuppositions of its notion of theology are indicated. The article concludes with a Refonned response to the central argument of the document.
The Dutch Reformed Church and the Reformed tradition: expression and challenges In this article a... more The Dutch Reformed Church and the Reformed tradition: expression and challenges In this article a brief analysis is presented of the manner in which the Reformed tradition finds expression in die Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa. Such an analysis presupposes answers to the questions why such an attempt is necessary and what the identity of the Reformed tradition is. These answers are suggested in the first two sections of the article. The third section contains the envisaged outline of the manner in which the Dutch Reformed Church represents the Reformed tradition. This leads to the conclusion that the contribution which this church could strive to make to the church scene in South Africa is to promote the combination of the faith dimensions of knowledge, experience and obedience which is characteristic of the Reformed tradition.
DesmonD mpilo TuTu I was honoured to be invited to become Chancellor of the University of the Wes... more DesmonD mpilo TuTu I was honoured to be invited to become Chancellor of the University of the Western Cape in 1988. In many ways it would have been an oxymoron to feel honoured to be associated with such an institution for it was spawned by apartheid with its obsession for separation. It was designed as the university for Coloureds as, for instance, the University of Zululand was meant for Zulus-all tertiary institutions that had been rejected contemptuously as merely bush colleges by nearly everyone in the Black community. UWC was turning this bizarre policy on its head, a process begun under the leadership of Professor Van der Ross, its first coloured rector, when it jettisoned the ludicrous policy of ethnic entrance qualifications, replacing it with the conventional one of academic qualifications. UWC was establishing its credentials by being involved in protests and demonstrations against the brutal apartheid police when the student body marched against apartheid's minions. Frequently the students were headed by the Rector and his academic colleagues. Professor Van der Ross was succeeded by a younger, quiet but charismatic person, Jakes Gerwel, who accelerated the transformation process throwing down the gauntlet even more spectacularly by declaring at his installation as Rector that he intended UWC to become "the intellectual home of the Left". That was really throwing the fat into the fire for an oppressive Government obsessed with its so-called anti-communist stance. UWC was rapidly establishing its credentials as a genuine site of the struggle against apartheid. Hence being honoured to become its Chancellor. This was in the turbulent 1980s when apartheid repression was at its most vicious and our people were dying like flies .
Theology and context: a Dutch discussionIn this article an analysis is made of the lectures prese... more Theology and context: a Dutch discussionIn this article an analysis is made of the lectures presented to a conference on theology between church, university and society, organised by the Netherlands School for Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion in the Dutch town Hoeven from 5 to 7 June of this year. The analysis is preceded by a brief overview of the present state of affairs regarding the provision of tertiary theological education in the Netherlands. The basic tenor of this wide ranging conference was that theology could and should develop a harmonious relationship to all the contexts in which it operates.
... Publication Date: 2006; Pages: p.799 - 817; Authors: CJ Wethmar; SJP Brand; ISSN: 00282006; A... more ... Publication Date: 2006; Pages: p.799 - 817; Authors: CJ Wethmar; SJP Brand; ISSN: 00282006; Abstract: <B>The logic of faith : prayer as point of contact between rationality and experience in Rahner and Calvin</B> <BR>We investigate two theologians, the twentieth century ...
The aim of this article is to give an account of the interaction between Christianity and African... more The aim of this article is to give an account of the interaction between Christianity and African Traditional Religion found in African Christian theology. The comparison is made with special reference to the respective conceptualisations of evil present in each of these traditions. The paper commences with a brief survey of the manner in which the notion of evil features in the Christian Scriptures and tradition. A brief outline of the African world and life view is then presented in order to provide the back-drop against which an analysis of the notion of evil in African Traditional Religion can be attempted. This analysis is mainly made with reference to recent research on witchcraft and spirit beliefs and is followed by a portrayal of the interaction between the traditional Christian views on evil and those found in African Traditional Religion. This interaction exhibits the twofold structure of rejection on the one hand and accommodation on the other.
In the version of this book review initially published, Wethmar, C., 2019, 'Augustinus as wegwyse... more In the version of this book review initially published, Wethmar, C., 2019, 'Augustinus as wegwyser vir 'n geestelike en morele lewe', In die Skriflig 53(1), a2472. https://doi.org/10.4102/ ids.v53i1.2472, the reviewed book's publisher city was given incorrectly as SUN MeDIA, Bloemfontein. The correct city name should be Stellenbosch instead of Bloemfontein. This correction does not alter the review's findings of significance or overall interpretation of the results. The publisher apologises for any inconvenience caused.
Ecclesiology and Ethics: Etienne de Villiers� work in the light of ecumenical discussions on eccl... more Ecclesiology and Ethics: Etienne de Villiers� work in the light of ecumenical discussions on ecclesiology and ethics. In honouring Etienne de Villiers, this article discusses the latter�s contribution to a deepening of the notions of church and ethics, as well as the mutual relationship between these notions in the South African context. De Villiers� work in this regard is compared with that which has been done by the World Council of Churches (WCC). The article therefore highlights the manner in which De Villiers, in line with the WCC, analysed the moral deformation, but also the transformation and formation in which especially the Dutch Reformed Church was involved in in South Africa since the middle of the 20th century. Although De Villiers mainly works in the field of Christian ethics, it is clear that the latent ecclesiological views to which his ethical contributions are related, would also, to a considerable extent, be in line with those that have been and are being developed...
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