Showing papers in "Hts Teologiese Studies-theological Studies in 1997"
60 citations
TL;DR: The authors suggest a typology of approaches: rejection of the claims of biblical authority; acceptance of those claims with critique of oppressive interpretations; revisionism, which holds to the possibility of reconstructing the lost experience of women in the texts; reliance on symbol and image of the feminine to convey meaning; and finally, theliberation critique of the oppressive structures.
Abstract: Amid the varieties of feminist interpretive methods in biblical scholarship, this article suggests a general typology of approaches: rejection of the claims of biblical authority; acceptance of those claims with critique of oppressive interpretations; revisionism, which holds to the possibility of reconstructing the lost experience of women in the texts; reliance on symbol and image of the feminine to convey meaning; and finally, the liberation critique of oppressive structures. An appreciation and critique is offered for each alternative.
33 citations
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33 citations
25 citations
TL;DR: The authors showed that it is anachronistic to speak of either "Christians" or "Jews" in the biblical period. But it became appropriate to refer to 'Jews' when referring to the period of Rabbinic Judaism onwards, and of 'Christians' since the christological debates of the fourth century C E.
Abstract: The article shows that it is anachronistic to speak of either 'Christians' or 'Jews' in the biblical period. In the New Testament both 'Words are used pejoratively by outsiders. However, it became appropriate to speak of 'Jews' when referring to the period of Rabbinic Judaism onwards, and of 'Christians' since the christological debates of the fourth century C E. 'Israel' was the in-group name during the Second Temple period. Outsiders, like the Romans, called the entire land 'Judea' and all its inhabitants 'Judeans'. Members of the 'house of Israel' called all outsiders 'non-Israel' or 'the nations'. The article concludes with a discussion of the ancient point of view of labeling persons.
21 citations
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TL;DR: The authors of Daniel 7-12 and of 1 Enoch 83-90 are identified as groups from the retainer class as mentioned in this paper, and they differed in their reactions to the measures which Antiochus IV Epiphanes took against the temple and the Jews in 167 BCE.
Abstract: The authors of Daniel 7-12 and of 1 Enoch 83-90 are identified as groups from the retainer class. Both groups belonged to the apocalyptic Hasidic movement. They differed in their reactions to the measures which Antiochus IV Epiphanes took against the temple and the Jews in 167 BCE. The Enoch group were inclined towards the activist stance taken by the Maccabees. The Daniel group chose for a modified apocalyptic form of asceticism.
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TL;DR: The notion of truth pervades the very fibre of Western thinking as discussed by the authors, and the question of the end of religious, scientific, and metaphysical truth is addressed in the context of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Abstract: As we are approaching the end of the century, many ideas, systems, and certainties, previously taken for granted, seem to be questioned, altered and rejected. One of these is the notion of truth, which pervades the very fibre of Western thinking. Rejecting the relevant critique as simply a postmodem fad, this article proceeds to give attention to the questions regarding the end of religious, scientific, and metaphysical truth. Truth and power are dealt with, as well as the narrative nature of truth. The article concludes with reference to the functioning of truth in the South African context as manifested in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
14 citations
TL;DR: The role and junction of women in the empty-tomb narratives of the early Church is explored in this article, where the authors apply a feminist analysis using both a hermeneutic of suspicion and of remembrance.
Abstract: This article will explore the role and junction of the women in the empty tomb narratives of the Gospel tradition. What purpose do they play in the resurrection kerygma of the early church? Why is the story of their first arrival at the tomb so persistent that it continues into the later apocryphal gospels? The discussion of this question will be in three parts: part one will summarize some of the work on these passages that has been done by scholars using the tools of redaction criticism. Part two will examine some of the surrounding issues from the perspective of social history and social construction of meaning, especially with regard to women's subcultures, roles in burial customs, and public testimony. Part three will apply to these findings a feminist analysis using both a hermeneutic of suspicion and of remembrance.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigate the problem of normative theological dicta in parts of the Old Testament, which are contradicted in another or even the same book of the old Testament.
Abstract: Grand narratives, little narratives and canonisation - a perspective on some of the books of the Prophets. The raison d'etre of this study is the problem of normative theological dicta in parts of the Old Testament, which are contradicted in another or even the same book of the Old Testament. In this article canonisation as an ongoing process is investigated from a postmodem perspective which takes contextuality, intertextuality and grand and little narratives into account. The so-called Zion Theology is identified as a grand narrative during the time before and after the Babylonian exile. Books like Jeremiah, Micha, Samuel and Kings, as well as Jonah and Chronicles are referred to in this regard. The research, inter alia, leads to the following result: the normative material of a religious society is interpreted in the light of the prevailing grand narrative. These interpretations are usually added to the normative material. Little narratives, being contradictory to and resisting incorporation into grand narratives, are usually added to the normative material after the grand narrative has been stripped of its hegemony by historic events. This accounts for contradictory theological dicta in the Old Testament. From this follows that the very nature of the canonised material brought together in the Old Testament opposes a Jundamentalistic or orthodox theological approach.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors discuss the way we are affected by music in general and the role of association, as well as the way association influences the forming of criteria for the evaluation of music and how these criteria would apply to church music.
Abstract: The way we are affected by music in general and the role of association, as well as the way association influences the forming of criteria for the evaluation of music and how these criteria would apply to church music, are discussed. The essence of liturgy and the function of music, as part of the liturgy are established. The conclusion is made that 'variety' is the key for the renewal of liturgical singing.
TL;DR: In this paper, a book to wait for in this month is given, even if you have wanted for long time for releasing this book gods spirit transforming a world in crisis; you may not be able to get in some stress.
Abstract: That's it, a book to wait for in this month. Even you have wanted for long time for releasing this book gods spirit transforming a world in crisis; you may not be able to get in some stress. Should you go around and seek fro the book until you really get it? Are you sure? Are you that free? This condition will force you to always end up to get a book. But now, we are coming to give you excellent solution.
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TL;DR: Van Campen and den Hertog as mentioned in this paper discussed the need for a dialogue between Christians and Jews, the election of Israel, its identity and alienation, the role of history and the meaning of the land and the State of Israel.
Abstract: This review article of the collection of essays edited by M Van Campen and G C den Hertog deals with the question of the relationship between Jews and Christians. The publication, Israel, volk, land en staat, by the Centre for Israel Studies in the Netherlands is discussed. This article also summarises and comments on the views in the publication regarding the need for a dialogue between Christians and Jews, the election of Israel, its identity and alienation, the role of history and the meaning of the land and the State of Israel.
TL;DR: The relationship between preaching and confessions in a post-modem society: a "marriage" or "free love" is investigated in this paper, within the tradition of the Reformation.
Abstract: The relationship between preaching and confessions in a post-modem society: A 'marriage' or 'free love'? This article attempts, within the tradition of the Reformation, to investigate the relationship between preaching and the confession of the church Through the ages, this relationship altered from a spontaneous interaction to a formal, judicial contract This role prescribed to the confession, of being a formal and dominating instrument with judicial authority, is no longer acceptable in a postmodem society The study aims to establish the specific nature of the relationship and to seek means to organize it in a way that will accommodate the demands of our time, but in an orderly manner that will also benefit the proclamation of the gospel
TL;DR: A closer reading of both contemporary family life and the Gospels reveals that things are not what they seem as mentioned in this paper, and the Synoptic Gospels consistently ponray not only an estrangement between Jesus and his family, but also his encouragement of his disciples to break family ties in favor of the surrogate family of the circle of disciples.
Abstract: 'Family values' is a set of traditional images that most cultures collect, images drawn mostly from an idealized picture of family life in the recent past. For Christians, the popular image of Jesus gets included: the Holy Family as a nuclear family unit, Jesus blessing children, Jesus as advocate of traditional family life. A closer reading of both contemporary family life and the Gospels reveals that things are not what they seem. Contemporary family life in Western societies is structured quite differently than the ideal. Jesus' family life was spent in a peasant village surrounded by relatives and neighbors, with little privacy and strong social pressure towards conformity. The gospel records indicate that he did not conform, and paid the price: rejection and misunderstanding by his extended family. The Synoptic Gospels consistently ponray not only an estrangement between Jesus and his family, but Jesus' encouragement of his disciples to break family ties in favor of the surrogate family of the circle of disciples. In a culture in which kinship loyalty was essential, this message caused deep problems for early Christians which the authors of the household codes of Ephesians, Colossians, the Pastoral Epistles, and 1 Peter tried to alleviate.
TL;DR: In this paper, an overview of developments in this file with reference to the African and Afriko.net contexts is given, and the authors conclude that the relationship between theology and literature is vital to both fields.
Abstract: Over the years the literary world has been one of the most productive and creative sources of Jesus interpretation. This article gives an overview of som aspects of developments in this filed with reference to the African and Afriko.net contexts. The way in which Jesus is fictionally transformed may reflect the influence of scholarly research, popular and innovative Jesus interpretations, existential questions, and cultural fluctuations, or simply a celebration of imagination. The relationship between theology and literature is vital to both fields. Theology is challenged by the freedom of the novel and the novel stimulated by theological findings. After dealing with some categories of fictional narratives, a Jew examples are discussed. The article gives attention to Jesus in post-modem novels and in postcolonial literature. An African novel is referred to and then Jesus is dealt with more extensively in Afrikaans poems. Examples are given from the work of SheilaCussons, Breyten Breytenbach and Adam Small. The article closes with the sentiment that Jesus interpretations remain a critical and creative comment on humankind and its religion.
TL;DR: A systematic survey of early Christian mythology and its influence on Western (specifically American) civilization can be found in this article, where a discussion of the ethical urgency for such a humanistic strategy is presented.
Abstract: Theologies as dangerous human constructs: Burton Mack's evaluation of early Christian myths. After an introductory explication of the social approach to myths/theologies and a consideration of the ethical urgency for such a humanistic strategy, this article offers a systematic survey of Burton Mack's incisive criticism of early Christian mythology and its influence on Western (specifically American) civilization. His cynical reading, which claims to take its cue from deconstruction, is assessed under three headings (which are inevitably interrelated): (1) The evangelical meaning of Jesus' death: the victimization of Jews; (2) The apocalyptic myth as social nightmare: the collusion of innocence and power, and (3) From diverse origins to reduced end product and back: the decanonization of the Christian Bible as ethical necessity. As a programmatic sug-gestion of how Mack's contribution can be taken further, the essay concludes by juxtaposing Mack's myth criticism with that of a selection of scholars (Crossan, Voltaire) and Polish poets (Zagajewski, Szymborska), whose points of view may serve not only to corroborate, but especially, to critically refine Mack's perspective.
TL;DR: In this paper, the use of the term "love" in the context of the family of God is investigated, and it is established that, reverentially, love includes loyalty towards members of the community and the acceptance of responsibility.
Abstract: Love in the family of God. A descriptive expositin of familial love in the Gospel of John. Love is the central ethical term in John's Gospel. The meaning of the term is often misunderstood. This article investigates the use of the term in John's Gospel, especially within its familial context. It is established that, reverentially, love includes loyalty towards members of the community and the acceptance of responsibility. This implies that love is expressed in actions. It works reciprocally. The Father sets the example which should be followed in obedience by the children. The nature of love depends on the situation. In the case of the Father love is expressed by giving his Son to die on the cross. In the case of the disciples, love is expressed by them obediently following the commands of the Father and the Son. In both cases it involves giving something, whether it is your Son or life, or in the case of the disciples, themselves.