ORIGINAL RESEARCH

 

'n Reformatoriese samelewingsfilosofie: 'n Sistematiese uiteensetting, kritiese evaluering en praktiese toepassing

 

A Reformational social philosophy: Systematic exposition, critical evaluation and practical application

 

 

B.J. van der Walt

Skool vir Filosofie, Noordwes-Universiteit. Potchefstroomkampus. Potchefstroom. E-pos: hannah@intekom.co.za

 

 

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OPSOMMING

Die probleem wat hier onder die loep geneem word, is dat Christene, kerke en teoloë dikwels deur geen of 'n baie vae lewensbeskoulike perspektief op die sosiale lewe gelei word. Soms word selfs van nie-Bybelse metodes (soos vroeër die Marxisme en deesdae die neokapitalisme of postmodernisme) gebruik gemaak om die samelewing te analiseer. Dit kan 'n belangrike bydraende rede wees vir die ongelukkige feit dat Christene dikwels weinig invloed op die breë samelewing (die sg. openbare terrein) buite hulle persoonlike en kerklike lewe het. Hierdie artikel ondersoek 'n moontlike oplossing deur die volgende stappe: Dit begin met 'n vergelyking tussen die drie basiese samelewingsfilosofieë, naamlik individualisme, kollektivisme en pluralisme. Dit gee daarna 'n sistematiese uiteensetting van 'n Christelik-reformatoriese pluralistiese samelewingsfilosofie as moontlike kandidaat. Om aan te dui dat hierdie samelewingsfilosofie nie 'n statiese dogma of ideologie wil wees of só beskou moet word nie, bevat die volgende afdeling 'n kort oorsig oor enkele kritiekpunte wat deursimpatieke voorstanders geopper word. Die vierde afdeling gee 'n aanduiding van hoe hierdie samelewingsvisie tot samelewings-verandering kan lei. Na die voorafgaande meerteoretiese verkenning, vestig dit die aandag op die praktiese toepasbaarheid. Op hierdie wyse word 'n volledige antwoord (teoreties en prakties) gebied op die belangrike probleem wat aan die begin gestel is, naamlik die geringe impak van Christene op die sogenaamde openbare lewe.

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ABSTRACT

The problem to be discussed in this contribution is that many Christians, churches and theologians are often guided by no or merely a very vague (worldviewish) perspective on social life. Sometimes they are even inspired by unbiblical methods (e.g. earlier Marxism and contemporary neocapitalism or postmodernism) in their social analysis. This may be an important contributing factor for the sad fact that Christians often have very little impact on the broader social domain (the "public square") outside their personal and church life. Therefore this article looks at a possible solution in the following steps: It begins with a comparison between the three basic philosophies of society, viz. individualism, collectivism and pluralism. Then it provides a systematic exposition of a Christian-reformational, pluralistic social philosophy as a possible candidate. To indicate that a reformational social philosophy neither wants to pretend, nor wants to be regarded as a static dogma or ideology, the next section reviews some points of critique voiced by its sympathetic proponents. The fourth section investigates how this social view may inspire social change. Following the preceding, more theoretical exploration, it discusses possibilities for its practical application. In this way a complete answer (both theoretical and practical) is given to the urgent problem indicated at the beginning, viz. the little influence of Christians on the so-called public sphere.

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