Abstract
This article explores the role of the Afrikaans sister churches during the initial stages of the fight against communism. After initially sketching the relations between South Africa and Russia until the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, focus is placed on a narrow case of financial support from the side of the Reformed Church in South Africa (the GKSA) via the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands towards the reformed movement in Polish-Ukraine during the 1930s and 1940s. Through the use of primary sources, this small historical cross-section illustrates how the GKSA, in cooperation with the other Afrikaans churches, fought the battle against communism during these initial stages. It also highlights the motivations that drove them. The sources reveal that the GKSA was not only concerned about the Reformed movement in far-away Polish-Ukraine, but that there was also a healthy measure of self-preservation and self-interest involved, protecting South Africa and its Christian population from the influence of communism by subtly promoting Calvinism as a formative paradigm for Afrikaner nationalism. Contribution: This article contributes to a better understanding of the relations between Reformed Churches in South Africa and Eastern Europe during the first half of the 20th century, as well as to the role of the churches in fighting what it perceived as dangerous ideological influences.
Highlights
IntroductionEastern Europe and South Africa have experienced two very different traumatic epochs during the 20th century (communism and apartheid, respectively), but on several tangible levels, these epochs were connected
Eastern Europe and South Africa have experienced two very different traumatic epochs during the 20th century, but on several tangible levels, these epochs were connected. They were connected through the voluntary association with communism of organisations such as the South African Communist Party1 and to a lesser degree, the African National Congress, whose activities were intricately linked to the worldwide communist movement
After having funded the translation of the abbreviated version of Calvin’s Institutes into the Ukrainian language, the Dutch Committee requested deputies to test the waters in South Africa for a broader support of the Reformed movement in Ukraine
Summary
Eastern Europe and South Africa have experienced two very different traumatic epochs during the 20th century (communism and apartheid, respectively), but on several tangible levels, these epochs were connected. After having funded the translation of the abbreviated version of Calvin’s Institutes into the Ukrainian language (clearly the churches heeded the call of deputies in the article in Die Kerkblad), the Dutch Committee requested deputies to test the waters in South Africa for a broader support of the Reformed movement in Ukraine. In order to understand this connection, we have to return to the initial translation project
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