https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/4090 Sun, 03 May 2026 09:52:36 GMT 2026-05-03T09:52:36Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/30277 Happiness and being human: The tension between immanence and transcendence in religion/spirituality Bentley, Wessel What is the happiness that we strive for and what does it mean for our understanding of being human? As we pursue happiness, we find that happiness is complex, in many ways subjective to the experiences and contexts of individuals or groups. Happiness also can be found in attaining greater self-awareness and a sense of meaning/purpose. This article argues that religion/spirituality has a role to play in facilitating well-being/happiness in terms of the tension held in their understanding of immanence and transcendence. This will be done, using a science and religion discourse. Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/30277 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/30151 Suffering in evolutionary biology and Christian theology: Mutually exclusive notions? Bentley, Wessel The question of suffering, specifically that experienced by human beings, has been contentious in the discourses of biology and religion. The dilemma, especially in the Christian faith tradition has been to reconcile suffering with the idea of a benevolent deity in whose image humans are believed to have been created. Evolutionary biology, and specifically the field of cognitive psychology, contends that the experience of suffering may have more pragmatic origins, while not necessarily being to the benefit of the individual, may be a mechanism that favours the longevity of a species. This article explores the understanding of ‘natural suffering’ from the perspective of evolutionary biology and Christian faith convictions and proposes principles that can facilitate a mutually beneficial religion and science discourse. Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/30151 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/30150 God-talk and the question of being human Bentley, Wessel The doctrine of the Trinity has, for centuries, dominated God-talk and the view of humanity within the framework of sin and salvation. This article investigated how God-talk, specifically the doctrine of the Trinity in Christian theology, speaks about both the nature of the Godhead and who we are as human beings. The article followed the outlines of our understanding of God’s transcendence, immanence and presence in experienced reality. It then proposed a new metaphor to describe the Trinity and how this affects the human quest for identity in a complex universe. Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/30150 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/29656 Can we live a good life? Engaging Kretzschmar’s social ethics Bentley, Wessel Louise Kretzschmar has served society, the church and academia as a person who has shaped minds in the fields of Christian spirituality, leadership and ethics. This article seeks to celebrate Kretzschmar’s work as she retires from full-time academia. This article describes Kretzschmar’s notion of a good life, asks why Christians fail in following this good life and concludes by outlining the social-ethical contribution Kretzschmar’s approach can make in society. None Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/29656 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z