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Bonhoeffer on salvation : towards an adequate soteriology for engaging secular humanism in Malawi
Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2021.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2021
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| _version_ | 1867613890049736704 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Phiri, Michael John Jonifani |
| author2 | Vosloo, Robert |
| author_browse | Phiri, Michael John Jonifani Vosloo, Robert |
| author_facet | Vosloo, Robert Phiri, Michael John Jonifani |
| author_sort | Phiri, Michael John Jonifani |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2021. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/123648 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:43:19.203Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publishDateRange | 2021 |
| publishDateSort | 2021 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/123648 Bonhoeffer on salvation : towards an adequate soteriology for engaging secular humanism in Malawi Phiri, Michael John Jonifani Vosloo, Robert Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Systematical Theology and Ecclesiology. Bonhoeffer, Dietrich, 1906-1945 Salvation Malawi Humanism UCTD Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2021. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The research explores Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s views on salvation and the central place occupied by soteriology in Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s theology as well as how Bonhoeffer’s soteriology could provide a theologically sufficient resource for engaging secular humanism in Malawi. Secular humanism is portrayed as a soteriological problem requiring a soteriological address. The research traces some of the underlying assumptions of secular humanism and indicates how it is at odds with, and poses a challenge to, the Christian doctrine of salvation. Though Bonhoeffer did not address secular humanism directly, his soteriology – this study argues – could provide a paradigm and model for understanding and responding to secular humanism in Malawi. Given the central focus on Bonhoeffer’s soteriology in this study, the political-historical context of Bonhoeffer’s thought as well as the theological and philosophical influences upon Bonhoeffer’s theology, especially his soteriology, are first explored. The research progresses to follow the unfolding of the theme of salvation in Bonhoeffer’s academic theology, his Berlin lectures, his pastoral theology and his later theology. Subsequently, systematic considerations concerning the relation of soteriology to other themes like ecclesiology and Christology in Bonhoeffer’s theology are discussed. The objective is to discern the content, role and prominence of soteriology in Bonhoeffer’s entire theological project. Against this backdrop, selected African theologians on the theme of salvation are introduced with a view to understand how these theologians speak of salvation. It is worthwhile noting that this discussion points to an understanding of salvation as wholeness that affirms salvation in both spiritual and temporal dimensions. Herein lies an important congruence with Bonhoeffer’s thought. This knowledge helps in determining how to appropriate Bonhoeffer’s soteriology in contemporary African contexts, addressing, for instance, the challenges posed by secular humanism in Malawi. Hence the soteriological formulation of Bonhoeffer’s Christological question: What is salvation for us today? The research affirms soteriology as a crucial theme underlying Bonhoeffer’s writings and theology, and indicates its potential to respond in a theological adequate way to the concerns raised by secular humanism without slipping into religious fundamentalism. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsing stel ondersoek in na hoe Dietrich Bonhoeffer se soteriologie as teologiese hulpbron aangewend kan word om sekulêre humanisme in Malawi aan te spreek. Sekulêre humanisme word uitgebeeld as ʼn soteriologiese vraagstuk wat ʼn soteriologiese antwoord verg. Met hierdie fokus in gedagte, ondersoek die navorsing Bonhoeffer se siening oor verlossing en die sentrale rol daarvan in sy teologie. In die lig van die navorsingsvraag, naamlik, hoe Bonhoeffer se soteriologie kan help om die uitdagings wat sekulêre humanisme bied, sowel as die verskynsel self, aan te spreek, bied die studie ʼn uiteensetting van die hoofonderwerpe in die leerstellings van die sekulêre humanisme. Die navorsing spoor enkele onderliggende aannames van sekulêre humanisme na en dui aan hoe dit in stryd is met, en uitdagings bied aan, die Christelike heilsleer. Alhoewel Bonhoeffer nie sekulêre humanisme direk aangespreek het nie, word aangevoer dat sy teologie ʼn paradigma en model kan bied vir ʼn verstaan van en reaksie op sekulêre humanisme in Malawi. Gegewe die sentrale fokus op Bonhoeffer se soteriologie in hierdie studie, word die polities-historiese konteks van Bonhoeffer se denke, sowel as die teologiese en filosofiese invloede op sy teologie – en veral sy soteriologie – eerstens ondersoek. Die navorsing gaan voort om die ontwikkeling van die heilstema in Bonhoeffer se akademiese teologie, sy Berlynse lesings, sy pastorale teologie en sy latere teologie te verken. Vervolgens word sistematiese oorwegings rakende die verband tussen soteriologie en ander temas soos ekklesiologie en Christologie in Bonhoeffer se teologie bespreek. Die doel is om die inhoud, rol en prominensie van soteriologie in Bonhoeffer se ganse teologiese projek te onderskei. Teen hierdie agtergrond, skuif die fokus na bepaalde Afrika-teoloë se siening van die heilstema, met die doel om te verstaan hoe hierdie teoloë oor verlossing praat. Hierdie bespreking dui op ‘n verstaan van verlossing as heelheid, waar redding in beide die geestelike en temporele dimensies bevestig word. Hierin lê ʼn belangrike ooreenstemming met Bonhoeffer se teologie. Hierdie insig help om te bepaal hoe Bonhoeffer se soteriologie in kontemporêre Afrika-kontekste toegepas kan word, deur byvoorbeeld die uitdagings wat sekulêre humanisme in Malawi bied, aan te spreek. Vandaar die soteriologiese formulering van Bonhoeffer se Christologiese vraag: Wat is verlossing vir ons vandag? Die navorsing bevestig soteriologie as ʼn deurslaggewende tema in Bonhoeffer se teologie, en dui die potensiaal daarvan aan om op ’n teologiese wyse te reageer op die vraagstukke wat die sekulêre humanisme meebring, sonder om in godsdienstige fundamentalisme te verval. Doctoral 2021-08-27T07:33:41Z 2021-12-22T14:13:56Z 2021-08-27T07:33:41Z 2021-12-22T14:13:56Z 2021-08-27 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/123648 en Stellenbosch University ix, 229 leaves application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Bonhoeffer, Dietrich, 1906-1945 Salvation Malawi Humanism UCTD Phiri, Michael John Jonifani Bonhoeffer on salvation : towards an adequate soteriology for engaging secular humanism in Malawi |
| title | Bonhoeffer on salvation : towards an adequate soteriology for engaging secular humanism in Malawi |
| title_full | Bonhoeffer on salvation : towards an adequate soteriology for engaging secular humanism in Malawi |
| title_fullStr | Bonhoeffer on salvation : towards an adequate soteriology for engaging secular humanism in Malawi |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bonhoeffer on salvation : towards an adequate soteriology for engaging secular humanism in Malawi |
| title_short | Bonhoeffer on salvation : towards an adequate soteriology for engaging secular humanism in Malawi |
| title_sort | bonhoeffer on salvation towards an adequate soteriology for engaging secular humanism in malawi |
| topic | Bonhoeffer, Dietrich, 1906-1945 Salvation Malawi Humanism UCTD |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/123648 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT phirimichaeljohnjonifani bonhoefferonsalvationtowardsanadequatesoteriologyforengagingsecularhumanisminmalawi |