Demythologising social cohesion: Towards a practical theological vision

Stephanus F De Beer

doi:10.4102/ve.v35i2.1344

Abstract

This article considers the topical issue of social cohesion. It seeks to demythologise the issuebringing it into critical conversation with eight related categories. It proposes that a vision ofa socially cohesive society should employ all eight categories as parallel and complementarystrategies. Secondly, it proposes a practical theological vision of social cohesion that will notonly embrace these eight categories but will root itself in a spirituality of the table, informedby a vision of the oikos of God, seeking shalom in the oikos and doing so through four strategicmoments of engagement.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This article indicates that socialcohesion requires an integrated approach of different strategies, not competing butcomplementing each other. Social cohesion requires interdisciplinary, intradisciplinary andtransdisciplinary research and action. For example, exploring ways in which land redistributioninhibits or contributes to social cohesion requires multiple stakeholders and disciplinesdiscerning together. The proposed practical theological vision implies new categories to beincluded in curricula and practical theological discourse for it to contribute meaningfully notonly to the current debate but also to practices fostering a socially cohesive society.

Highlights

There has been a growing body of knowledge on the subject of social cohesion, not without criticism
If regarded as the critical and reflective accompaniment of Christian faith communities in their active participation in God’s world, has a definite responsibility (1) to accompany faith communities as they seek to contribute to social cohesion, (2) to assist faith communities in their critical and constructive reflection on social cohesion, (3) to develop an own theological vision for a socially cohesive society, rooted in theological language and aligned to what it would discern to be God’s imagination of the world, city or neighbourhood, and (4) to engage in conversation with a multiplicity of conversation partners
Müller himself is not fond of the term ‘healing’, finding it too modernistic or instrumentalist perhaps, the concept of healing belongs to Biblical language and vision, and, if seen as a verb – as the on-going work of seeking to facilitate healing where there is brokenness, to mend where things are torn apart, to create bridges where there is separation and isolation – I would propose a reclamation of healing as central to the task of a practical-theological praxis concerned with social cohesion

Summary

Introduction

There has been a growing body of knowledge on the subject of social cohesion, not without criticism. The assumption of the above paragraphs is that inclusive and participative processes, involving all citizens and inhabitants of the city or town – rich and poor, young and old, locals and foreigners, women and men – and truly integrating their aspirations, visions, needs and assets into plans that contribute to the future construction of the city, will go a long way in facilitating a more socially cohesive society.

Objectives

Results

Conclusion