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The recognition of queer bodies in the URCSA : towards a hermeneutic of hospitality

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2023.

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Main Author: Davids, Hanzline Rudolf
Other Authors: Jones, Chris
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: 2023
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access_status_str Open Access
author Davids, Hanzline Rudolf
author2 Jones, Chris
author_browse Davids, Hanzline Rudolf
Jones, Chris
author_facet Jones, Chris
Davids, Hanzline Rudolf
author_sort Davids, Hanzline Rudolf
collection Thesis
description Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2023.
format Thesis
id oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/128845
institution Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:46:04.365Z
license_str Not specified — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
publishDate 2023
publishDateRange 2023
publishDateSort 2023
record_format dspace
source_str SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
spelling oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/128845 The recognition of queer bodies in the URCSA : towards a hermeneutic of hospitality Davids, Hanzline Rudolf Jones, Chris Forster, Dion Angus Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology Gender identity -- Religious aspects Queer theory Verenigende Gereformeerde Kerk in Suider-Afrika Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) Hospitality -- Religious aspects UCTD Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2023. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa, an African Reformed church, is standing at a crossroad about whether to recognise queer bodies in the denomination or not. Focusing on the URCSA as a case study, this dissertation employed queer theology as a theological framework, utilising the four main sources of doing theology: Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience. Using these sources in no specific order, this study starts with reason, which delves into the philosophical and theological meanings of recognition and a hermeneutic of hospitality. Subsequently, the study revisits reason, examining the discourses that impede the recognition of queer bodies within the URCSA. The first discourse under study is the compounding impact of heteropatriarchal ideologies of biological essentialism and gender complementarity. The second discourse centres on the politics of biblical authority and queer interpretation. Lastly, using a queer theological approach, this study turned to tradition by identifying and analysing the theological decisions regarding homosexuality from 2005 to 2022, theological reports on Homosexuality (2008) (URCSA, 2008b), the Traditional View on Homosexuality (2016) (URCSA, 2018), and the Belhar Confession. In this exploration, it becomes evident that bodies transcend the confines of biological essentialism and gender complementarity, and that a queer theological approach to Scripture open doors to readings and interpretations of recognition. Ultimately, this investigation concludes that the identification and acknowledgement of queer bodies within the URCSA should find its foundation in the Triune God. Guided by the recognition of the Triune God, a hermeneutic of hospitality directs the process of identifying discourses that contribute to misrecognition. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Verenigende Gereformeerde Kerk in Suider Afrika, ’n Afrika Gereformeerde Kerk, staan by ’n kruispad oor die vraag of queer liggame binne die denominasie erken moet word of nie. Met die fokus op die VGKSA as ’n gevallestudie, gebruik hierdie proefskrif queer teologie as ’n teologiese raamwerk, en gebruik die vier hoofbronne om teologie te doen: Skrif, tradisie, rede en ervaring. Deur hierdie bronne in geen spesifieke volgorde te gebruik nie, begin hierdie studie met rede, wat delf na die filosofiese en teologiese betekenisse van erkenning en ’n hermeneutiek van gasvryheid. Vervolgens word die rede in die studie herbesoek en die diskoerse ondersoek wat die erkenning van queer liggame binne die VGKSA belemmer. Die eerste diskoerse ondersoek wat die erkenning van queer liggame binne die VGKSA belemmer. Die eerste diskoers wat bestudeer word, is die samestellende impak van heteropatriargale ideologieë van biologiese essensialisme en geslagskomplementariteit. Die tweede diskoers sentreer op die politiek van Bybelse gesag en queer interpretasie. Laastens, met behulp van ’n queer teologiese benadering, het hierdie studie na tradisie gekyk deur die teologiese besluite rakende homoseksualiteit van 2005 tot 2022, teologiese verslae oor Homosekualiteit (2008) (URCSA, 2008b), die Tradisionele Beskouing oor Homoseksualiteit (2016) (URCSA, 2018), en die Belydenis van Belhar te identifiseer en te ontleed. In hierdie verkenning word dit duidelik dat queer liggame die grense van biologiese essensialisme en geslagskomplementariteit oorskry, en dat ’n queer teologiese benadering tot die Skrif deure oopmaak vir verskillende maniere van lees en interpretasie van erkenning. Uiteindelik kom hierdie ondersoek tot die gevolgtrekking dat die identifikasie en erkenning van queer liggame binne die VGKSA sy grondslag in die Drie-enige God behoort te vind. Deur die Drie-enige God te erken, rig ’n hermeneutiek van gasvryheid die proses om diskoerse te identifiseer wat bydra tot wanerkenning. Doctoral 2023-10-31T06:35:51Z 2024-01-08T13:11:44Z 2023-10-31T06:35:51Z 2024-01-08T13:11:44Z 2023-10-31 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/128845 en xv, 274 pages application/pdf
spellingShingle Gender identity -- Religious aspects
Queer theory
Verenigende Gereformeerde Kerk in Suider-Afrika
Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA)
Hospitality -- Religious aspects
UCTD
Davids, Hanzline Rudolf
The recognition of queer bodies in the URCSA : towards a hermeneutic of hospitality
title The recognition of queer bodies in the URCSA : towards a hermeneutic of hospitality
title_full The recognition of queer bodies in the URCSA : towards a hermeneutic of hospitality
title_fullStr The recognition of queer bodies in the URCSA : towards a hermeneutic of hospitality
title_full_unstemmed The recognition of queer bodies in the URCSA : towards a hermeneutic of hospitality
title_short The recognition of queer bodies in the URCSA : towards a hermeneutic of hospitality
title_sort recognition of queer bodies in the urcsa towards a hermeneutic of hospitality
topic Gender identity -- Religious aspects
Queer theory
Verenigende Gereformeerde Kerk in Suider-Afrika
Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA)
Hospitality -- Religious aspects
UCTD
url https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/128845
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