Abstract
Should the teaching and practice of theology be dictated by the church? In this article it is argued that the practice of theology as a science, based on the presupposition that the Bible is the word of God, is inherently part of the calling and responsibility of the church. Therefore, practising theology as a science rooted in faith should also be ecclesiastically subservient to theology in general, and should indicate the way for the training of ministers of the Word. In this article it is argued that practising theology as a science rooted in faith is not to be regarded as an old-fashioned approach as this way of practising theology can be related to one of the positive trends in post-modernism: the increasing need for expressed presuppositions. This view stands in opposition to the rationalistic approach of theology in which the Bible is seen as a collection of texts of historical origin. According to the rationalistic view point, the Bible represents a collection of texts which reflect narratives of people’s experiences and should be studied historically-critically. Thus the Bible becomes an object of rational analysis. Should the focus of theology (in contemporary postmodern times) move to the phenomenon of religions emphasizing rational analysis, churches will have to take the sole responsibility for the training of future ministers – even if the consequence implies that the involvement of universities in theological training be excluded.
Highlights
In this article it is argued that the practice of theology as a science, based on the presupposition that the Bible is the word of God, is inherently part of the calling and responsibility of the church
Hierdeur word die groeiende siening in die Suid-Afrikaanse samelewing, waarvolgens die verskillende godsdienste as alternatiewe beskou moet word, versterk
Sal teologiese fakulteite in die toekoms nie al moeiliker deur die regering gesubsidieer kan word, sodat die klem in staatsgesubsidieerde teologiebeoefening dan eerder op die verskynsel van godsdienste as op die beoefening van teologie sal val nie?
Summary
Die nuwe era waarin ons lewe, word onder meer gekenmerk deur ’n nuwe spiritualiteit. In hierdie spiritualiteit gaan dit nie soseer om watter godsdiens beoefen word nie, maar meer oor hoe die mens sy behoefte aan spiritualiteit kan bevredig (Adam, 1995:11). ’n Neerslag van hierdie spiritualiteit blyk ook in die Suid-Afrikaanse samelewing: die Suid-Afrikaanse Grondwet bepaal naamlik dat alle godsdienste gelykwaardig is en sodoende de jure as geldige alternatiewe beskou moet word. Dat hierdie gedagtegang ook al hoe meer in die denke van gereformeerde mense leef, blyk uit die standpunte wat deur Willem de Klerk in die Vreemde God en sy mense (1998) gestel word: In ander godsdienste lê die voetspore van die Here God” en. Genoemde omlyning teken omstandighede wat die vraag al hoe meer na vore laat kom of teologiese fakulteite aan universiteite vir die nuwe godsdiensneutrale Suid-Afrikaanse regering nie al hoe minder bekostigbaar gaan word nie. Sal teologiese fakulteite in die toekoms nie al moeiliker deur die regering gesubsidieer kan word, sodat die klem in staatsgesubsidieerde teologiebeoefening dan eerder op die verskynsel van godsdienste as op die beoefening van teologie sal val nie?
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