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An ecological theology in the Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa? : a critical theological review
Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2020.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2020
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| _version_ | 1867614079504351232 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Hoffmann, Dewald |
| author2 | Forster, Dion Angus |
| author_browse | Forster, Dion Angus Hoffmann, Dewald |
| author_facet | Forster, Dion Angus Hoffmann, Dewald |
| author_sort | Hoffmann, Dewald |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2020. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/109205 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:46:20.037Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2020 |
| publishDateRange | 2020 |
| publishDateSort | 2020 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/109205 An ecological theology in the Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa? : a critical theological review Hoffmann, Dewald Forster, Dion Angus Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Systematical Theology and Ecclesiology. Human ecology -- Religious aspects -- Christianity Ecotheology Environmental ethics UCTD Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2020. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The global Earth community finds itself in an unprecedented environmental crisis; a crisis that has been bought on by the actions of its human inhabitants. As humanity has evolved and grown, so has its societies and the way in which it views the world. This rapid growth and progress have however had a devastating impact on the whole Earth community. The power with which humanity enacts violence against the rest of creation has physically altered delicate balances that sustain life, effecting both human and non-human existence. Never has a single species had such an overwhelming effect on the Earth. These habits and practices are deeply embedded in beliefs and worldviews that have objectified the natural world as a recourse to be exploited for human gain. These issues demand theological reflection. Many contributions in Ecotheology have been shared, but one could ask how the environmental crisis has been engaged from within a South African context? The environmental crisis is something that affects all of the Earth community; it not only has an effect on the natural world, but also on the livelihoods of people. It is therefore a concern that is relevant (and essential!) to local congregations. This study will focus on the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) of South Africa and attempts to map the landscape of Ecotheology within the denomination. This is done by examining the theologies and worldviews that have had an impact in shaping the environmental crisis as we have it today. Then by engaging with the complexity of the South African context, the study situates the DRC by understanding environment in a holistic manner. Following this, the study focusses on the impact different metaphors and creative language can have on engaging with the environmental crisis. The environmental crisis is an unparalleled test facing humanity. The human race has to honestly reflect on the scope of its destructive impact and drastically change its ways. Examining a well-established and institutional church in the South African context has the potential to awaken conversation and fresh contributions. Surveying the ecotheological landscape of the DRC can become part of a wider movement in society. The call to adopt alternative practices helps frame the rest of creation as more than just a recourse, but as good and part of God’s great cosmic story. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die hele Aardse gemeenskap bevind haarself in ‘n ongekende omgewingskrisis wat aan die voet van die mensdom se aksies gelê kan word. Soos die mensdom gegroei en ontwikkel het, het haar verstaan van die wêreld ook verander. Hierdie vinnige groei en vooruitgang het egter ‘n verwoestende impak op die hele Aarde gemeenskap. Die mag waarmee die mensdom geweld uitoefen teen die res van die skepping het die fyn balanse versteur wat noodsaaklik is om lewe onderhou. Hierdie versteurings het verreikend gevolge vir beide menslike en nie-menslike lewe hier op Aarde. Nog nooit het een spesie so ‘n oorweldigende effek op die Aarde gehad nie. Hierdie ongesonde gewoontes en praktyke is ten diepste verweef met oortuigings en wêreldbeskouinge wat die natuurlike wêreld sien as net ‘n hulpbron vir menslike gewin. Hierdie kwessies verg teologiese refleksie. Baie bydraes is al in ekoteologie gelewer, maar mens sou kon afvra hoe die kwessie al aangespreek is binne die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks? Die omgewingskrisis is iets wat die hele Aardse gemeenskap beïnvloed en ‘n impak het op die gesondheid van beide die natuur en menslike gemeenskappe. Dit is dus ‘n uitdaging wat relevant (en noodsaaklik!) is tot plaaslike gemeenskappe. Hierdie studie fokus spesifiek op die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk (NGK) van Suid-Afrika en poog om die landskap van ekoteologie te skets binne die denominasie. Hierdie taak word gedoen deur die teologie en wêreldbeskouings te bestudeer wat die omgewingskrisis gevorm het soos ons dit vandag beleef. Daarna word die kompleksiteit van die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks benader deur ‘n holistiese verstaan van omgewing te inkorporeer en hoe die NGK in hierdie konteks inpas. Hierna fokus die studie op die moontlike impak wat verskillende metafore en kreatiewe taal kan hê op die mens se teologiese nadenke oor die omgewingskrisis. Die uitdaging wat die mensdom in die gesig staar met die omgewingskrisis is ongekend. Die mensdom word geroep om eerlik te reflekteer oor hul verwoestende dade en drasties begin om aanpassings te maak. Die hoop is dat nuwe gesprekke en bydraes gestimuleer kan word deur ‘n gevestigde kerk in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks te ondersoek. Hierdie nadenke kan gesien word as deel van ‘n wyer beweging wat die skepping nie net sien as ‘n hulpbron nie, maar as deel van God se groot kosmiese narratief. Masters 2020-11-24T04:14:55Z 2021-01-31T19:39:37Z 2020-11-24T04:14:55Z 2021-01-31T19:39:37Z 2020-11 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/109205 en Stellenbosch University xii, 127 pages : illustrations application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Human ecology -- Religious aspects -- Christianity Ecotheology Environmental ethics UCTD Hoffmann, Dewald An ecological theology in the Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa? : a critical theological review |
| title | An ecological theology in the Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa? : a critical theological review |
| title_full | An ecological theology in the Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa? : a critical theological review |
| title_fullStr | An ecological theology in the Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa? : a critical theological review |
| title_full_unstemmed | An ecological theology in the Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa? : a critical theological review |
| title_short | An ecological theology in the Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa? : a critical theological review |
| title_sort | ecological theology in the dutch reformed church of south africa a critical theological review |
| topic | Human ecology -- Religious aspects -- Christianity Ecotheology Environmental ethics UCTD |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/109205 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hoffmanndewald anecologicaltheologyinthedutchreformedchurchofsouthafricaacriticaltheologicalreview AT hoffmanndewald ecologicaltheologyinthedutchreformedchurchofsouthafricaacriticaltheologicalreview |