Abstract
This article outlines resources possessed by the African indigenous churches (AICs) that help them engage with the democratic dispensation and could be used to foster social cohesion in South Africa. It starts off with the premise that social cohesion is that which holds the nation together. The South African rainbow-nation narrative tended to focus on tolerance and there cognition of diversity as strength. Tolerance does not address the fundamental issues that would facilitate cohesion. The idea of cultural justice as advocated by Chirevo Kwenda is seen as the most useful tool to move forward. Cultural justice ensures that all citizens are able to draw on their cultural resources without any fear of being discriminated against. The AICs have an assortment of resources at their disposal that are drawn from African religion,Christianity and Western culture. These resources enable AIC members to appreciate being African and Christian, as well as being South African.
Highlights
Postal address: School of Religion, Philosophy and Classics, 3rd Floor MTB, Howard College, Durban 4041, South Africa
This article outlines resources possessed by the African indigenous churches (AICs) that help them engage with the democratic dispensation and could be used to foster social cohesion in South Africa
Is tolerance sufficient for social cohesion? Is the fact that people tolerate each other and each other’s beliefs enough for society to cohere? Historian of religion Chirevo Kwenda (2003) pushes the issue further by advocating for cultural justice where members of each cultural group are not alienated from the nation-building project
Summary
The African indigenous churches’ spiritual resources for democracy and social cohesion. Postal address: School of Religion, Philosophy and Classics, 3rd Floor MTB, Howard College, Durban 4041, South Africa. How to cite this article: Masondo, S.T., 2014, ‘The African indigenous churches’ spiritual resources for democracy and social cohesion’, Verbum et Ecclesia 35(3), Art. This article outlines resources possessed by the African indigenous churches (AICs) that help them engage with the democratic dispensation and could be used to foster social cohesion in South Africa. The AICs have an assortment of resources at their disposal that are drawn from African religion, Christianity and Western culture. These resources enable AIC members to appreciate being African and Christian, as well as being South African
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