Knowing, believing, living in Africa: A practical theology perspective of the past, present and future

HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies

Gordon E. Dames¹ 

[1] Department of Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology, University of South Africa;

关键词: transversal rationality;    transformation;    transactional cultural change;    gospel and culture;    public missional hermeneutical community;   

DOI  :  10.4102/hts.v69i1.1260

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The new democratic era in South Africa brought Western cultural influences forcefully intopublic and private living domains. This dichotomy deformed African cultures in many ways(Bujo & Muya). Local communities were previously ‘public people’ living and worshipping intransformative hermeneutical communities. This scenario has changed and local communitiesare steadily being driven into private spaces. The task of practical theology is to questionwhat the undergirding epistemology and beliefs for this shift are and to reinterpret it in thelight of the gospel. The impact of Western culture on African traditional villages is tellingin so far as traditional African values and practices are being lost at the expense of Westernideology, technology, media, et cetera (Bujo & Muya). We argue that the former dominantmonodisciplinary approach of practical theology contributed to a growing private individualistworldview. Practical theology has since developed into an interdisciplinary approach. Thisnewfound reciprocity in the social sciences led to constructive change in church and society(Dingemans). Practical theology in Africa has to deal with an individualised, pluralisticworld and tendencies of discontinuity, uncertainty, violence and destruction. In South Africa,practical theology is called upon to redress the dichotomies and defaults of Western and African cultures, respectively.

【 授权许可】

Unknown