Thesis (DTh (Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology))—University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study is a critical investigation of a theological basis for believers and the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian in Malawi to support a culture of human dignity and human rights, and specifically in the light of the classic Reformed doctrine of atonement, as reflected in the works of Calvin and Barth and also the Westminster Confession. It is argued in this study that the very essence of public recognition and consistent implementation of human rights is far reaching when understood in the light of the Reformed view of the
atonement. In fact, in important and influential studies on human rights in ecumenical Reformed
circles, the support for human rights is normally based on other doctrines. This study, however, argues that Jesus’ earthly life, sayings or parables in the Gospel narrative are all
integral to the atonement process according to classical Reformed understanding, and are of
great importance and relevance as a transformative power for the renewed life of the
Reformed Christians in Malawi. It is argued that such a transformative power is capable of
leading Reformed Christians in Malawi to a different view concerning their reception and
building of a human rights culture in Malawi.
Other Reformed Christian responses to human rights do provide an excellent overview of the liberating power of Christ’s cross and resurrection, and how believers may
understand and affirm their vocation in light of this. However, the claim of this dissertation is
that a fuller and more faithful understanding of the atonement will assist Reformed Christians
in Malawi to see more clearly the importance of a culture of human rights specifically for the
more faithful practice of their own Reformed faith and piety. For that reason, the research study has two research questions. The main research question investigates the relationship between the classic Reformed doctrine of atonement and human rights. The secondary question inquires about the implications of the classic Reformed doctrine of atonement for the promotion of human rights in Malawi. Hence, the research study comprises of five chapters.
Chapter 1 introduces the problem being research, whilst Chapter 2 argues for a more faithful understanding of the Reformed view of the atonement. Chapter 3 provides the necessary background for the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian and its involvement in political change, and its response to the introduction of human rights and freedoms in Malawi. Chapter 4 discusses human rights in Malawi, in light of the Reformed doctrine of the atonement. The last Chapter (Chapter 5) summarizes and makes conclusions. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie is ‘n kritiese ondesoek van ‘n teologiese basis vir gelowiges en die Church of Central Africa Presbyterian in Malawi om ‘n kultuur van menswaardigheid en mensregte te ondersteun, spesifiek in die lig van die klassieke gereformeerde leerdtelling van versoening soos dit uitgebeeld word in die werke van Calvyn en Barth asook die Westminster Belydenis. Daar word in die studie geredeneer dat die wese van publieke
erkenning vir en konsekwente toepassing van menseregte ver-reikend is wanneer dit
verstaan word volgens die gereformeerde siening van versoening. Inderwaarheid is die steun vir menseregte in belangrike en invloedryke studies oor menseregte in ekumeniese gereformeerde kringe gewoonlik gebaseer op ander leerstellings. Hierde studie redeneer egter dat Jesus se aardse lewe, gesegdes en gelykenisse in die evangelies ‘n integrale deel van die klassieke gereformeerde verstaan van die versoeningsproses is, en uiters belangrik en relevant is as transformatiewe mag tot die hernude lewe van gereformeerde Christene in Malawi. Daar word geredeneer dat sodanige
transformatiewe mag in staat is om gereformeerde Christene in Malawi te lei tot ‘n ander
standpunt wat hul ontvanklikheid vir en vestiging van ‘n menseregte-kultuur in Malawi betref.
Ander gereformeerde Christelike reaksies op menseregte bied ‘n uitstekende oorsig
van die bevrydende mag van Christus se kruisiging en opstanding, en hoe gelowiges in die
lig hiervan hul roeping kan verstaan en bevestig. Hierde dissertasie beweer egter dat ‘n
voller, meer getroue verstaan van versoening gereformeerde Christene in Malawi sal help
om die belang van ‘n menseeregte-kultuur duideliker te sien, juis vir ‘n meer getroue
beoefening van hul eie geloof en piëteit.
Die navorsingstudie fokus dus op twee navorsingsvrae. Die hoof-navorsingsvraag
ondersoek die verhouding tussen die klassieke gereformeerde leerstelling van versoening
en menseregte. Die sekondêre vraag kyk na die implikasies van die klassieke gereformeerde leerstelling oor versoening vir die vestiging van menseregte in Malawi. Die navorsingstudie bestaan uit vyf hoofstukke. Hoofstuk 1 stele die navorsingsvraag wat andersoek word, terwyl Hoofstuk 2 argumenteer vir ‘n meer getroue verstaan van die gereformeerde siening van versoening. Hoofstuk 3 gee agtergrond-inligting oor die Church of Central Africa Presbyterian, die kerk se betrokkenheid by politieke verandering en reaksie op die instel van menseregte en –vryhede in Malawi. Hoofstuk 4 bespreek menseregte in Malawi in die lig lig van die gereformeerde leerstelling oor versoening. Die laaste hoofstuk (Hoofstuk 5) som op en bereik ‘n slotsom.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/1261 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Thipa, Joseph Andrew |
| Contributors | Smit, D. J., Koopman, N. N., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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