Abstract
A social-psychological perspective on the attitude of members in the Mangaung area towards church unification within the Dutch Reformed family of churches: a cross-cultural investigation Until recently, only one investigation had been conducted into church members’ attitudes towards church unification. This was done from a theological instead of a social-psychological point of view. The term “attitude” may be defined as the expression of inner feelings that reflect whether the person concerned has a favourable or unfavourable predisposition towards a certain object. Church unification entails the process of uniting separate church denominations within the Dutch Reformed Church family. The aims of this study were achieved by gathering data from respondents of six Dutch Reformed congregations (N=104; 46, 6%), as well as six Uniting Reformed congregations (N=47; 21, 1%). The remainder of the respondents came from five Dutch Reformed Church in Africa congregations (N=72; 32, 3%). A biographical questionnaire was used, as well as the Attitude towards Church Unification Scale. The influence of different variables such as language, gender, age, marital status and church activities on the attitudes of church members was investigated. It was concluded on the basis of statistical analysis that members of all the different denominations of the Dutch Reformed Churches had a positive attitude towards church unification. It was found that language was the variable that had the greatest influence on the attitude of church members.
Highlights
Was used, as well as the Attitude towards Church Unification Scale
The influence of different variables such as language, gender, age, marital status and church activities on the attitudes of church members was investigated. It was concluded on the basis of statistical analysis that members of all the different denominations of the Dutch Reformed Churches had a positive attitude towards church unification
Ses Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerkgemeentes (N=104; 46, 6%), ses Verenigende Gereformeerde Kerkgemeentes (N=47; 21, 1%), en vyf gemeentes van die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk in Afrika (N=72; 32, 3%), is by die ondersoek betrek. ’n Biografiese vraelys sowel as die Houding teenoor Kerkvereniging-skaal is gebruik
Summary
Met die “waterskeidingtoespraak” van Staatspresident De Klerk in Februarie 1990 tydens die opening van die parlement, het SuidAfrika ’n beslissende era in sy geskiedenis betree. Verder stel dit ook ondersoek in na groepsdinamika, die openbare mening, houdings en vooroordeel (Plug et al, 1997:352). Vooroordeel is ’n destruktiewe aspek van sosiale gedrag en gee dikwels aanleiding tot verontregting wat gebaseer is op ras, geslag en talle ander faktore (Taylor, Peplau & Sears, 2003:168). Ook die kerk en sy lidmate word deur hierdie sosiopolitieke kwessies geraak (Coetzee, 2004:7; Potgieter, 1994:1). Veral in kerklike verband, is byvoorbeeld te vinde in die rassismeklag wat by die Menseregtekommissie ingedien is omdat bruin mense blykbaar steeds uitgesluit word van kerkvergaderings op Parys (Oosthuizen, 2004a:1). In ’n land wat geteister word deur vooroordeel en rassisme is dit noodsaaklik om daadwerklike pogings aan te wend om welwillendheid en versoening in die hand te werk. Kennis van vooropgestelde houdings teenoor kerkvereniging kan lei tot die uitbreiding van wetenskaplike kennis
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
