Abstract
This article rethinks (original) sin and evil through the life of a child called Engela who has been ‘sold’ into sex slavery. Focus is placed on the high value with which children should be regarded, especially children who have been sold as sex slaves. During this argument the emphasis is placed on ecclesiastical evolutionary perspectives on creation as well as relevantand contemporary understandings of sin and evil, and related to this, the devil and hell. Towards the end of the article theological consideration is given to fatherlessness, because Engela’s father was often absent in her life. According to literature, Jesus in all probability grew up without a father too. It seems as if Joseph played a minimal role in his life and education, whilst Jesus’ own experience of rejection laid the foundation for his compassion with the socially rejected, particularly children. Fatherlessness from a black African liberation perspective is also contextualised and applied.
Highlights
This article rethinks sin and evil through the life of a child who has been ‘sold’ into sex slavery. It is done by focussing on the high value of childhood; the meaning of our baptism; the child in our midst and creation
Related to sin and evil, it rethinks the existence of the devil as a person and an eternal hell where people will be punished who die without God, according to traditional understandings of church confessions and doctrine
The aim is that it may help us to become more aware of injustices and harm done to people when they, in the context in which they live or into which they have been forced, find that they cannot exist as authentic people
Summary
This article rethinks sin and evil through the life of a child who has been ‘sold’ into sex slavery. Related to sin and evil, it rethinks the existence of the devil as a person and an eternal hell where people will be punished who die without God, according to traditional understandings of church confessions and doctrine It shows how Christ in all probability grew up without a father in Galilee. Jesus’s own experience of rejection laid the foundation for his compassionate service to the socially rejected, children He wanted to guide them in a non-judgemental way to the higher reality of the loving community of God. He wanted to guide them in a non-judgemental way to the higher reality of the loving community of God He wanted to show them, especially us adults, the way to the final harmonious unity with God, as he did with Engela, a rejected and largely fatherless girl from South Africa who was ‘sold’ into sex slavery. Permission has been obtained from all relevant parties to retell her life story published in the book called: Van Skoolbank tot Bordeelbed (which means: from school desk to brothel bed)
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