UWCScholar :: Browsing by Author "Conradie, Ernst"

Browsing by Author "Conradie, Ernst"

Now showing 1 - 20 of 49

All theology is natural theology: The hermeneutic necessity of natural theology?
(Stellenbosch University, 2011) Conradie, Ernst
This article first offers a brief overview of the history of what is understood under "natural theology". The contrast between the Barthian critique against natural theology and the dangers of repudiating natural theology as stressed within the context of contemporary discourse on science and theology is highlighted. In response, the author offers a constructive proposal in which the hermeneutic necessity of natural theology is affirmed. This follows from a notion of that which is "natural" which includes human constructs (also ideas). In this sense all theology is by definition natural theology. However, the Barthian critique against natural theology may still be appropriate as a selection of those signs that can express the inexpressible with relative adequacy
The ambiguity of Johan Heyns: Sitting at Bavinck's left or right hand?
(SUN, 2013) Conradie, Ernst
Following some biographic introductory comments, the argument of this contribution proceeds in two steps. First, the distinction between Herman Bavinck's left and right hand is clarified, amongst others with reference to the distinction between fides qua and fides quae, and illustrated with examples from the subsequent reformed tradition. Second, an analysis of Heyns' own related theological choices is offered on this basis.
Brother Hauerwas: An analysis of the contribution of Stanley Hauerwas to peacemaking
(University of the Western Cape, 2017) Hosler, Nathan; Conradie, Ernst
This study will assess Stanley Hauerwas's claim that peacemaking is a virtue of the church in which peace exists as a necessary characteristic of the church. Christians are formed by practices of the church and so gain the skills required to live faithfully in the world. Such formation teaches us to be truthful and to be at peace. Peace is not only part of this formation; it is this formation. Such formation is based on the present existence of peace in the church through Christ. Not only is peace a part of the local and catholic church but war has been abolished through Christ. Hauerwas claims theology as a legitimate discourse in relation to social and physical sciences. Theology has its primary locus in the church rather than in ahistorical accounts or the university. This claiming of the language of the church creates space for particularity which is often subsumed under the universalizing assertions of the nation-state. With peace as a characteristic of the church, Hauerwas asserts that peacemaking is a virtue of the church and not merely an optional aspect of its life.
The Christian faith and evolution: An evolving, unresolved debate
(AOSIS, 2018) Conradie, Ernst
This article sketches how the debate on Christian faith and evolution has evolved. Seven challenges are identified and described in the debate, namely, regarding a recognition of deep (geological) time (challenging the historicity of the biblical creation narratives), understanding the role of chance in natural selection (posing questions about the nature of divine action, e.g., providence), human descent (challenging presumed human distinctiveness), a recognition of natural suffering (challenging the benevolence of the Creator), identifying the evolutionary roots of evil (challenging Christian views on the fall of humanity), a recognition of natural disselection (challenging notions of divine election) and, finally, evolutionary explanations of the emergence of morality and of religion (reiterating the challenge of atheism). It is argued that with each of these challenges, some of the underlying problems were provisionally resolved, only to reappear later in an even more challenging form. INTRADISCIPLINARY AND/OR INTERDISCIPLINARY IMPLICATIONS: The contribution describes shifts in Christian discourse on evolution and challenges the tacit assumption that any one aspect of the debate has been fully resolved by articulating some of the questions that have been resolved and others that remain unresolved.
Confessing guilt in the context of climate change: Some South African perspectives
(Stellenbosch University, 2010) Conradie, Ernst
This contribution explores the significance but also the immense complexities of Christian discourse on confessing guilt within the context of climate change. It draws especially on South African discourse on confessing guilt in the context of apartheid. The argument of the essay is twofold: Christians with an enduring large carbon footprint may wish to confess their guilt in this regard, but typically find it difficult to live from God�s liberating forgiveness and are therefore prone to rather desperate efforts to save the world themselves. By contrast, Christians with a small carbon footprint may opt for alternative understanding of salvation, namely in terms of redemption from the looming threat of climate change.
Congregational schisms in the Full Gospel Church: An analysis of three selected case studies in Cape Town
(University of the Western Cape, 2021) Bock, Heather; Conradie, Ernst
This thesis is under permanent embargo to protect the identities of the subjects involved.
The earth in God�s economy: Reflections on the narrative of God�s work
(Stellenbosch University, 2008) Conradie, Ernst
This essay is an abbreviated version of an inaugural lecture, read on 24 October 2007 at the University of the Western Cape. It investigates the role of cosmological narratives that help people to understand where they come from, who they are, how they can cope with the demands of life and with evil, and where they are going to. It focuses on one such a narrative, namely the Christian story of God�s work of creation, evolution, the emergence of human beings and human culture, the distortions resulting from human sin, God�s providence, redemption, the formation of the church, its ministries and missions and the consummation of all things. These themes have traditionally been captured under the notion of �God�s economy�. This term is derived from the Greek word oikos which is understood in the Christian tradition as �the whole household of God�. In contemporary ecumenical theology this term provides a clue as to how the moral of this story may be understood to address ecological degradation, economic injustices and ecumenical fellowship. The argument of the essay is that a retrieval of the underlying narrative structure of the story of God�s work can help to avoid the ways in which one �chapter� of the story tends to be subsumed under another.
Eat and/or be eaten: The evolutionary roots of violence?
(SUN, 2015) Conradie, Ernst
This contribution raises the question about where things have gone wrong in evolutionary history. In classic Christian discourse it is typically assumed that the primary problem is human sin, while the problem of natural evil is emphasised elsewhere. It seeks to test the distinction between natural suffering and socially-induced forms of suffering by exploring the roots of violence between species with reference to the emergence of the act of eating in evolutionary history. It draws on a corpus of recent literature on the consumption of food, with specific reference to the work of Edward Farley, Sallie McFague and Norman Wirzba, in order to address the following question: Is the violence associated with what Christians would redescribe as sin merely an extrapolation of the 'violence' embedded in the act of eating? The conclusion from this survey seems to be that an Augustinian approach is indeed less plausible and more counter-intuitive than Manichean or Pelagian assessments of where things have gone wrong in evolutionary history. If so, this would have far-reaching consequences for moral formation. The conclusion is offered here in the hope that it would be refuted by others!
Ecology and structural violence: The South African reception of Lutheran voices from North America
(Stellenbosch University, 2014) Conradie, Ernst
Th is review essay offers an assessment of two recent monographs by Larry Rasmussen and Cynthia Moe-Lobeda in the field of ecotheology. It focuses on the category of moral vision that both authors employ. It shows how the notion of critical moral vision helps to identify and assess the root causes of economic inequalities and ecological destruction in terms of structural violence, structural evil and the very nature of sin. It also explains why such moral vision forms the key but by itself remains insufficient for social transformation. Th e influence of such insights in the South African context is illustrated with reference to teaching and research done at the University of the Western Cape and, more specifically, the category of transfiguration in Desmond Tutu's theology.
Employing Richard T. Lawrence�s God Image Scales: Two case studies from Hanover Park
(University of Western Cape, 2016) Pedro, Trevor Enrico; Conradie, Ernst
This study is situated in the field of Practical Theology with specific reference to empirical studies on the God-images that lay people operate with in their daily lives. It is often observed in the discourse on theology and development that the images people hold of God reflect a sense of power or powerlessness but may also influence the way lay people respond to their social environment. This applies irrespective of religious or denominational affiliation, age group, gender, occupation or socio-economic standing. In particular, this study focusses on two congregations, namely St Dominic�s Anglican Church and the Pentecostal Protestant Church, both located in Hanover Park. These are selected because they represent diverging theological traditions that may or may not shape people�s God-images. The assumption is that whether people see God as law-giver and law-enforcer, a strict judge, an advisor, an advocate, a close friend, a problem-solver or dispenser of goods and services, that this would make a significant difference to how people view themselves in relation to their world. Whilst this interest in understanding the types of God-images and the influence these God-images might have on particular groupings of people is not new, the interest in God-images is new within the field of practical theology (Counted 2015; Hoffman 2005; Lawrence 1997). The God Image Scale that was developed by Richard T. Lawrence (1997), is used in this study. Lawrence (1997:214) a Roman Catholic priest, who served as a pastor at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Baltimore Maryland, developed two instruments namely the God-Image Inventory (GII) and the God Image Scales (GIS). Whilst the GII is used within clinical and pastoral counselling, the GIS has been more widely used in empirical studies in the field of religious psychology and, especially in North America, on the ways in which images of God function amongst specific groups of people. These instruments have not been widely used in the African or the South African contexts although Africa is widely regarded as �notoriously religious�. Such findings on God-images may be significant for Christian education in violence-ridden communities, not only in Hanover Park. The significance of this study on God-images within a specific community context is tied to the complexities of attempting to measure the quality of an individual�s God- image across different denominations, religious beliefs, religious practices and religious educational frameworks. Of equal importance is the need to distinguish between the influence that different doctrinal teachings and religious practices have on the formation of God-images and God-concepts. Whilst people who are social beings learn from their contexts, are influenced by their experiences and make choices based on intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors, the corpus of God-image literature recognises the pivotal role and influence that one�s God-image have on religious knowledge, attitudes and behaviours within any given context.
Eschatology in South African literature from the struggle period (1960-1994)
(University of Kwazulu-Natal School of Theology, 2000) Conradie, Ernst
On the background of the current sense of despair concerning the environmental crisis, this article follows the basic intuition that a Christian environmental praxis can only be empowered on the basis of an adequate understanding of Christian hope. Christian eschatology has traditionally responded to three distinct aspects of the human predicament - human self-enclosure, and finitude in both time and space; instigated by an unacceptable present reality, it articulates the conviction of an upcoming transformation into what it ought to be. Investigating the theme of hope in some major ecclesial documents and literature that explicitly addresses the topic written during the struggle, it is argued that the strength of the eschatology developed during that period consists in its return to the prophetic roots of Christian hope. Its concentration on the anthropological aspect of the liberation from the predicament from human sin makes it necessary to rediscover the impact of eschatology on the salvation of creation and the theocentric aspect of hope.
Facing the image in the mirror: “whiteness” in South African missional discourse
(Universty of the Western Cape, 2023) Mouton, Johannes Cornelis; Conradie, Ernst
This study is situated within the discipline of missiology and seeks to contribute to missional theology as one important contemporary school of thought within the discipline. Missional theology emerged in the 1990s especially within the Anglophone contexts of the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States of America (USA). Most forms of missional theology build on the insights of Lesslie Newbigin, who in several books, reflected from his cross-cultural missionary experience on the challenges of the gospel to churches within his own cultural context in the UK. Such insights were quickly adopted in the North American context and was further explored by the Gospel and Our Cultural Network which emphasised the local-churchin-mission. Local congregations where missional theology flourished rediscovered that the fundamental reasons for the church’s existence involves an engagement within local communities.
Food relief or food security? A study of the policies and programmes of four Muslim social welfare organisations in South Africa
(University of Western Cape, 2021) Khan, Cassiem Dawood; Conradie, Ernst
Food is a basic need, but there is nothing simple, rudimentary, and straightforward about its provision, production, distribution, preparation, or consumption. The provision of food is regarded as an act of great virtue in all faiths and is particularly firmly entrenched in Islamic doctrine, thought, history, culture, and practice. This study investigates the programmes and implementation strategies of four national Muslim social welfare organisations (MSWOs) operating in and from South Africa; these organisations provide food relief to thousands of poor people worldwide, using faith-based donations such as Zak�h (a purifying tax on personal wealth).
�For God so loved the world��The story of God�s work on earth according to Douglas John Hall
(Stellenbosch University, 2008) Conradie, Ernst
This essay reconstructs the way in which Douglas John Hall tells the story of God's work. The argument of this essay is that Hall's entire theology could be described as an exposition of the famous formula in John 3:16, "for God so loved the world". His emphasis on a theology of the cross is explored with reference to the doctrines of creation, humanity, providence, redemption, the church and the eschatological consummation. It is argued that Hall's strength (his Christological focus on a theology of the cross) is also his weakness, given his underdeveloped pneumatology. It would therefore be important to further investigate Hall's understanding of the filioque problem.
From land reform to poo protesting: Some theological reflections on the ecological repercussions of economic inequality
(Stellenbosch University, 2014) Conradie, Ernst
In the second semester of 2013 I offered a postgraduate module in Ethics at the University of the Western Cape together with Professor Charles Amjad-Ali on the theme of Land as a lens to interpret economic inequalities in South Africa. We read together a number of books on the themes of land reform and economic inequality. In this contribution I will first offer a number of observations emerging from our engagement with such literature. I will then extrapolate such observations to explore the ecological dimensions of urban land reform with specific reference to the ongoing service delivery protests over sanitation (dubbed "poo protesting"). On this basis I will offer some theological and ethical reflections on the need for sanitation.
From omega to alpha: A critical analysis of theistic evolution in the theology of Ted Peters
(University of the Western Cape, 2024) Janse van Rensburg, Helgard Michael; Conradie, Ernst
Discourse between science and religion has evolved significantly over the last few centuries. The American and Lutheran theologian Ted Peters emerged as a key figure contributing substantially to this discourse. This study critically analyses Peters' theological position on theistic evolution, examining its internal consistency, logical coherence, integration of sources from science, theology, and Lutheran discourse, as well as its potential to advance debates. Using a qualitative research design, the study focuses on analysing the strengths and weaknesses of Peters' position on theistic evolution, in particular exploring his conceptual proposals addressing key challenges associated with the topic. These include his views on; 1) randomness in relation to divine purpose, 2) natural selection in relation to divine action, 3) natural suffering in relation to God's benevolence, and 4) emergence through evolution in relation to human uniqueness.
Geloof sonder sekerhede? In gesprek met Anton van Niekerk
(SUN, 2015) Conradie, Ernst
In this review article of Anton A van Niekerk's recent book Geloof sonder Sekerhede: Hoe kan ek nog glo? (Faith without certainties: How can I still believe?) (2014, Kaapstad: Lux Verbi. ISBN: 9780796318992), three creative tensions in Van Niekerk's book are identified and discussed. The tensions between orthodoxy and orthopraxy, between certainty and doubt and between scientific knowledge and the knowledge of faith. In each case, the question is raised to what extent Van Niekerk's own emphases are context dependent.
The God of life a counter-intuitive confession
(Wiley-Blackwell, 2013) Conradie, Ernst
In ecumenical theology the conviction that the triune God may be described as the �God of life� is widely accepted. This became foregrounded with the theology of life initiative of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in the 1990s.1 It therefore comes as no surprise that it provides the central theme for the assembly of the WCC to be held in Busan, Korea, in 2013: �God of life, lead us to justice and peace.� One may safely say that the wide acceptance of this phrase has to do with the recognition of the ethical significance of the theme. To emphasize that life belongs to God is to resist the forces of death and destruction. This is born from grassroots experiences of the threats to life, that is, economic injustices, numerous forms of violent conflict (rape, domestic violence, class struggles, colonial exploitation, civil and other forms of war, religiously infused violence, etc.) and environmental destruction. This calls for a Christian praxis of resistance against the powers of death that destroy communities of life for the sake of political and economic gain. A theology of life is therefore shorthand for affirming the social agenda of the ecumenical movement.
How global is the global ethic? Delft and Chionekano as test cases
(Universty of the Western Cape, 2024) Matenda, Job; Conradie, Ernst
This study examines two prominent documents on a global ethic namely, The Declaration Toward a Global Ethic (1993) and the Earth Charter (2000). The study investigates the question whether the moral principles articulated in these documents are compatible with the moral directives of community leaders in Delft, an urban township in Cape Town, and Chionekano ward a rural area in Zvishavane district, Zimbabwe. The investigation helps to ascertain whether a global ethic can adequately address the complexities of these local contexts and contribute to justice, peace, conflict resolution, and ecological sustainability. The study adopts a qualitative research method involving a comprehensive review of literature on the global ethic, with a focus on the two documents and an empirical survey. Information was gathered through semi structured interviews with 10 community leaders in Delft and another 10 in Chionekano ward, selected through snowball sampling. The study uses the concept of “moral directives,” to understand the language community leaders use to determine what is right or wrong. Given the diversity of ethical theories and frameworks, a mapping of moral concepts used as a theoretical framework consists of eight ethical categories.
The implementation of the Isiseko Sokomoleza HIV/aids programme in the diocese of false bay: a critical theological investigation
(University of the Western Cape, 2019) Lambrechts, Desmond J.; Conradie, Ernst
The multidimensional nature of the AIDS pandemic continues to pose challenges within all spheres of society, for example health and religion, human rights, social development politics, economics, human sexuality, and Christian theologies - in particular, the pastoral and caring ministries, as well as the educational ministries. Its multidimensional nature is further exacerbated by factors of, stigma, gender power-relations, poverty, and violence against women and children. The Anglican Church of Southern Africa, in particular the Diocese of False Bay, has responded to the challenges relating to stigma reduction through many programmes, campaigns and workshops. Despite the implementation of the Isiseko Sokomoleza HIV/AIDS Programme in the Diocese of False Bay, it has had a limited impact on reducing the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS. As such, stigma remains a critical challenge in the pastoral response of the Church. In light of this observation, the question pertinent to this research project is; �What are the most significant reasons for the limited impact of the Isiseko Sokomoleza HIV/AIDS Programme in the Diocese of False Bay?� The framework of Practical Theology, with special emphasis on pastoral care and counselling, will be used as the theological framework to explore the reasons for the limited impact. In order to achieve this goal, the Primary Healthcare Model (2012) introduced in Brazil and Cuba was utilised. This does not imply that HIV/AIDS is only a medical problem, on the contrary, this medical model of implementation assists the pastoral model of the Church to analyse the reasons for the limited impact of the Isiseko Sokomoleza programme.

Browsing by Author "Conradie, Ernst"

Results Per Page

Sort Options