https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/5099 2026-05-12T22:42:51Z 2026-05-12T22:42:51Z Meylahn, Johann-Albrecht https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/5665 2022-08-05T08:28:34Z 2011-12-01T00:00:00Z

Ecclesiology as doing theology in and with local communities but not of the empire Meylahn, Johann-Albrecht The concept of empire has re-emerged as one useful to interpret and describe the joining of dominant global themes that together construct a global homogeneous totality. Some of the main themes of this totality are: global finance/capitalism which goes hand in hand with consumerism, global media and communication technologies, security (including personal, national and global), equity within a context of limited natural resources and postmodern multi-culturalism with so-called religious pluralism. These themes, together, have created a system of meaning – an imperial world-of-meaning, that is imperialistic in the sense that it takes on absolute proportions as it does not acknowledge or accommodate alternative worlds-of-meaning unless such worlds-of-meaning have consumer value in a so-called pluralistic society, thus allowing alternative voices to be assimilated into the Same. South Africa is not exempt from this imperialism as our political-economic reality and our culture – which is strongly determined by the global media and social life – is dependent on, and interpreted within, the context of empire. This article will ask the question: What role can the local church play in such an imperialistic context? In response to this question the article will unpack a hermeneutical way of doing theology in and with the local community that is not of the empire as a possible ecclesiological response to empire. In other words, a theology that is contextual and embedded within the local community, yet that is not determined by the empire, but critically engages with the empire as it challenges the local effects of empire, thereby creating a liberated space for alternative realities. Peer reviewed

2011-12-01T00:00:00Z Landman, C. (Christina) https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/5664 2022-08-22T11:49:03Z 2011-12-01T00:00:00Z

Die Kerkorde as emporium en anti-emporium Landman, C. (Christina) In huidige akademiese gesprekke word met “emporium” (“empire”) verwys na die eenvormigheid wat deur groot rolspelers globaal op alle fasette van menswees afgedruk word volgens waardes wat deur hulle neergelê word. Die imperialistiese waardes van die emporium skryf voor hoe die geskiedenis geïnterpreteer moet word, hoe tekste gelees moet word, en wat die magsverhoudings in die toekoms sal wees tussen mense van verskillende klasse, rasse en genders. Die emporium skryf waardes aan mense toe volgens hulle posisie in die hiërargie wat deur die emporium bepaal word. In hierdie artikel word gekyk na die Stipulasies tot die Kerkorde van die Noordelike Sinode van die Verenigende Gereformeerde Kerk in Suider-Afrika (VGKSA). Die vraag word gevra of die plek wat hierin aan die Moderamen gegee word, die beginsels van die (Nederlands-) Gereformeerde kerkreg weerspieël en of dit nie ‘n emporium skep wat eenvormige mag oor “minderes” uitoefen nie. Die ontstaansgeskiedenis van die Stipulasies tot die Kerkorde van die Noordelike Sinode van die VGKSA (2011) vis-a-vis die rol van die Moderamen word beskryf, en tersaaklike gevalle-studies binne die VGKSA word bespreek. Uiteindelik word gevra hoe ‘n Kerkorde en sy Stipulasies sal lyk wat op anti-emporiese beginsels en praktyke berus. Die beginsels wat die Belydenis van Belhar onderlê, en die praktyk van kerklike visitasies soos beoefen in die Protestantse Kerk in Nederland word as voorbeelde van anti-emporium beskryf.; The Church Order as empire and anti-empire In recent academic discussions, “empire” refers to the hegemony with which major role players take control over allThe Church Order as empire and anti-empire In recent academic discussions, “empire” refers to the hegemony with which major role players take control over all aspects of humanity and impress their values on all. The imperialistic values of empire dictates how history is to interpreted, how texts must be read, and what the relationships between people of different classes, races and genders will be like in future. The empire awards value to people according to their position in the hierarchy of power created by the empire. In this article the Stipulations to the Church Order of the Northern Synod of the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) will be scrutinised. The question will be asked whether the place attributed to the Moderamen in these Stipulations is according to the principles of (Dutch) Reformed church polity, or whether an empire is created which rules over the less mighty. The history of the said Stipulations (2011) is described, and relevant case studies within URCSA are discussed. Finally, a vision is formulated as to the contents of a church order and its Stipulations that are based on the princeples and practices of anti-empire. The principles of the Confession of Belhar, and the practise of church visitations of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands are described as examples of anti-empire. Peer reviewed.; Summaries in Afrikaans and English

2011-12-01T00:00:00Z Plaatjies Van Huffel, Mary-Anne https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/5663 2022-05-30T21:20:29Z 2011-12-01T00:00:00Z

Patriarchy as empire: a theological reflection Plaatjies Van Huffel, Mary-Anne "Empire" manifests itself both as an empirical reality and in its ideological claims. The paper argues that sexism, patriarchy and hierarchical societal structures still prevail in postapartheid South Africa. The shift from the view that gendered objects were regarded as racial objects in apartheid South Africa to the view of gendered objects as equity objects in post-apartheid South Africa goes hand in hand with meaningful shifts in power. The paper further argues that the problem of the lack of engendering is inextricably linked to the intrinsically patriarchal character of South Africa. The presence of women in the ecclesial and societal structures is not an indicator of the transformation of the patriarchal anthropology in South Africa. The paper discusses the challenges with regard to gender mainstreaming in post-apartheid South Africa within the framework of post-structuralism. Peer reviewed.

2011-12-01T00:00:00Z Potgieter, Stella https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/5662 2022-08-05T07:59:24Z 2011-12-01T00:00:00Z

Die liggaamlike misbruik van kinders as emporium in antieke tye Potgieter, Stella Ancient times were characterised by strict regulations regarding male sexuality, and individuals made no decisions regarding their sexuality. Males were expected to take part in certain homosexual and sodomising rituals at certain times, in the correct company and according to the appropriate rules. Especially those in the highest echelons of society were preoccupied with personal freedom, hedonism and self-centredness regarding the human body and sexuality. In this paternalistic society power was lodged with the male head of the household who had power over everything and everyone, even over the sexuality of others. “Empire” as control of the powerful over the bodies of others was common during ancient times. Youths were placed under the care of older males for pedagogical reasons and bonding, and these included sexual relations. Enslaved youths were also sexually abused, which shows that total dominance creates the foundation of ancient ethics. Rituals played an important role in these times and initiation rituals were used to recruit youths. Sexual relations where one partner was dominant and the other submissive were commonplace. Fathers also had power over life and death and children were only recognised as living beings with needs once the father accepted the child. Women were only indirectly considered as vessels of reproduction and satisfaction, and were not allowed to enjoy sexual intercourse. Early church leaders did not react positively to sodomy and regarded it as a sin, but still did not write about it. Ancient times are recognised as an era preoccupied with power – power over everyone and everything – even sex. This article looks at “empire” from this perspective of exercising power over the bodies of the young.; Antieke tye was ʼn tydperk waar streng voorskrifte aangaande manlike seksualiteit gegeld het en daar geen individuele besluite geneem is nie. Manlike individue moes deur bepaalde homoseksuele pederastiese ervarings beweeg op die regte tyd, in die regte geselskap en volgens die regte reëls. Veral vir diegene wat op die hoogste vlakke van die sosiale strukture was, was persoonlike vryheid, genot en ʼn selfgesentreerdheid aangaande die menslike liggaam en seksualiteit ʼn wyse van bestaan. In ʼn paternalistiese samelewing was mag gesetel in die manlike hoof van die gesin en het hy mag oor alles en almal gehad – tot oor hulle seksualiteit. “Emporium” (empire) as die beheer van magtiges oor die liggame van andere was ʼn algemene verskynsel in antieke tye. Seuns is onder die sorg van ouer mans geplaas vir pedagogiese redes en ook vorming, maar seksuele omgang was nie hierby uitgesluit nie. Slaweseuns is ook seksueel misbruik wat daarop wys dat algehele dominansie die grondslag vir antieke etiek skep. Rituele het ʼn belangrike rol in die antieke tyd gespeel en inisiasierituele is beoefen om die jong seun te werf. Seksuele verhoudings wat dui op ʼn magsverhouding, waar een deelnemer dominant en die ander passief is, was aan die orde van die dag. Vaders het ook die mag oor lewe en dood gehad en kinders is eers gesien as ʼn lewende wese en iemand met behoeftes sodra die vader die kind aanvaar het. Vroue is slegs indirek in ag geneem as instrumente vir voortplanting en bevrediging en is nie toegelaat om seksuele omgang te geniet nie. Vroeë kerkvaders het hulself nie positief uitgespreek oor pederastiese praktyke nie en dit is as sonde afgemaak; tog is daar nie daaroor geskryf nie. Die antieke tydperk word erken as ʼn absolute magsbehepte tydperk – mag oor alles en almal – selfs oor die seksuele. Hierdie artikel kyk na “emporium” vanuit hierdie perspektief van mag neem oor die liggame van kinders. Peer reviewed

2011-12-01T00:00:00Z