This study tells in a cursory manner the story of the Christian faith and church in the regions that
over the centuries is known as the Arab countries. It is a remarkable story. During the first seven
centuries of the Christian era, this faith joined the Arab world and established itself among the
Arabs. In large parts it even became the predominant religion. Ecclesiologically and
theologically it portrays a differentiated and blended picture. In the seventh century a post-
Christian religion - Islam â announced itself and quickly became a religion of this great land.
The Christian faith and churches were challenged and were even supplanted in many places. For
Christians a new phase in their history was introduced. The study therefore continued to focus on
the relationship of the two religions and brings to light how Christians with a typical coexistence
as interlocutors continued to preach the gospel linked to its historicity.
A second major turning point came in the twelfth century, when the Christian crusades
overwhelmed the Muslim world. The crusades as historical events, replaced the original
orientation towards the historical Calvary by a new historical image that would in the centuries
to come define the relationship between Muslims and Christians. In addition, Islam identified
himself in a powerful and dominant world empire. Injustice and power underlie the historical and
theological comprehension with which Christians are viewed ever since.
The Christian response since the twelfth century was unbundled in the laden concept mission.
The research traces this history until the beginning of the 21st century, but focuses on the
Protestant version thereof. The 9/11 event strengthened the âcrusadeâ historical image of
Muslims and as another powerful filter slid in between them and the proclamation of the gospel.
In order to acknowledge and critique the question and image of history held by Muslims, the
study is of opinion that the service of the Gospel to Arab Muslims cannot be underpinned by or
associated with the Western concept of mission. It can only be embodied in humility, in full
acknowledgment of history, based on the event of Calvary.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ufs/oai:etd.uovs.ac.za:etd-08212012-154728 |
| Date | 21 August 2012 |
| Creators | Du Plooy, Marius |
| Contributors | Prof RM Britz |
| Publisher | University of the Free State |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en-uk |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.uovs.ac.za//theses/available/etd-08212012-154728/restricted/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University Free State or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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