October 2009

Beyond Western Ways: A White Afrikaner's Journey in African Initiated Christianity (Review Article)

Submitted by Anthony Egan SJ on 1 October 2009 - 9:00am

All Things Hold Together: Holistic Theologies at the African Grassroots. Selected essays by M L Daneel; Pretoria: Unisa Press, 2007; Pb. xvi+408 pp; ISBN 1-86888-429-5.

Martinus (“Inus” to friends and colleagues) Daneel’s life as a theologian has led him from his conservative Dutch Reformed roots into a deep and profound engagement with the theology and spirituality of African Initiated Churches (AICs, sometimes called in earlier literature African Independent Churches), particularly the AICs of Zimbabwe, where Daneel has lived and worked for decades. Indeed his work has led to him being made “Bishop Moses” by one group of Zimbabwean Zionists,

Punchy Contribution to the African Synod

Submitted by Anonymous on 7 October 2009 - 9:00am

Here's some early and punchy input to the African Synod by the Archbishop of Johannesburg, and President of the Episcopal Conference of Southern Africa, Buti Joseph TLHAGALE, O.M.I.

In the Instrumentum Laboris (working document), the question of inculturation is barely touched upon. And yet Ecclesia in Africa categorically stated that inculturation is a sine qua non in the work of evangelization. Without inculturation, there is neither genuine evangelization nor genuine reconciliation. After all, "the gospel is grounded in the human terrain of culture" (I.L. 73).

Moral values embedded in the diverse African cultures, alongside the gospel values, are threatened by the new global ethic which aggressively seeks to persuade African governments and communities to accept new and different meanings of concepts of family, marriage and human sexuality.

Will the African Synod Make a Difference?

Submitted by Anthony Egan SJ on 12 October 2009 - 9:00am

Many who are watching the African Synod in Rome “The Church in Africa in Service to Reconciliation, Justice and Peace” are hoping it will be more than a talking shop and actually bear positive fruit. My sense is that if it rises to the challenge of being the Church of Africa, and not a branch of the Church in Africa, it will.

Year of the Sister?

Submitted by Chris Chatteris SJ on 16 October 2009 - 9:00am

Shortly after the watershed democratic election of 1994 I was involved in the organisation of the annual meeting of the Conference of Major Religious Superiors of Southern Africa. To help us reflect on the recent, bitter past, we had the good fortune to have emeritus Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, Desmond Tutu.

Time has erased much of what he said to the assembly, but the matter and manner of Tutu's preamble remain crisply clear in my mind's eye and ear.

Read more at America Magazine's blog
http://www.americamagazine.org/blog/entry.cfm?blog_id=2&id=83050565-3048...

Chris Chatteris SJ's blog

Reconciliation in the African Synod

Submitted by Anthony Egan SJ on 22 October 2009 - 9:00am

Reconciliation has become a major theme of the African Synod, with the Church seen (rightly) as an important real or potential player in the process. A new dimension to this was added by Sister Pauline Bukasa of the Democratic Republic of Congo, speaking a few days ago, who called (together with other speakers) to recognise the importance of women as agents of the process in both church and state. Women, after all, bear the brunt of violence, oppression and marginalisation – in, once again, both Church and State.

An African synod – In Rome?

Submitted by Anthony Egan SJ on 23 October 2009 - 9:00am

As the Synod comes to a close, as many important insights get written into its final document, as many weary bishops and advisors prepare to return home, one question must surely remain: why have an African synod in Rome?

Marxists who follow the world systems theory of Immanuel Wallerstein might argue that this reflects the nature of global power, a world ruled from the centre.

Neurotheology: Faith rites boost brains, even for atheists

Submitted by Chris Chatteris SJ on 23 October 2009 - 9:00am

Tom Heneghan's article on a book about the beneficial effects of the spiritual practices of the world faiths makes engaging reading.

The authors claim that there are benefits even for unbelievers, which would explain why adherents to non-theistic religions and people who do transcendental mediation can achieve what Christians would term 'peace of soul'.

I suppose Christians might want to claim that being able to focus lovingly on the person of the living Risen Jesus would in principle be more efficacious spiritually than just repeating a mantra, breathing rhythmically or concentrating on the unity of the universe. Of course the unbeliever might quite conceivably perform his or her exercises with greater intensity than the believer...

Or at greater length. '[T]he short prayers most believers say leave little trace on the brain because they are not as intense as meditation', reports Heneghan.

However the good news from the authors is that, "Even 10 to 15 minutes of meditation appear to have significantly positive effects on cognition, relaxation and psychological health".

Chris Chatteris SJ's blog

Documenting Christianity's Complex History in South Africa (Review Article)

Submitted by Anthony Egan SJ on 30 October 2009 - 9:00am

CHRISTIANITY AND THE COLONISATION OF SOUTH AFRICA: A Documentary History Volume 1, by Charles Villa-Vicencio and Peter Grassow (Pretoria: UNISA Press, 2009), Pb, xvii + 360pp; ISBN 978-1-86888-399-8.

CHRISTIANITY AND THE MODERNISATION OF SOUTH AFRICA: A Documentary History Volume 2, by John de Gruchy (Pretoria: UNISA Press, 2009), Pb, xix + 388pp; ISBN 978-1-86888-440-7.

Twenty years ago, as a Master’s student in History at the University of Cape Town, I was recruited by John de Gruchy and Charles Villa-Vicencio to find and collect documents on the history of Christianity in South Africa. It was part of a project they had started with a range of graduate students, all the rest of whom were in Religious Studies, to set up a comprehensive data base on church-state relations, the foundation for what became the Research Institute for Christianity in Southern Africa (RICSA).

The Interim Budget – Doing More With Less

Submitted by Chris Chatteris SJ on 30 October 2009 - 9:00am

The newspaper billboard summed up Minister Pravin Gordhan's difficulties perfectly - 'No Money, But We'll Deliver'.

Guardian of the Light (Book Review)

Submitted by Chris Chatteris SJ on 30 October 2009 - 9:00am

Chris Chatteris looks at the life of a rare, genuinely big man who could admit when he erred

Guardian of the Light: Denis Hurley Renewing the Church, Opposing Apartheid by Paddy Kearney (UKZN Press and The Continuum International Publishing Group)

I was fortunate enough to be in Durban in 1985 when Alan Paton dubbed Denis Hurley "guardian of the light" in an address at Hurley's 70th birthday celebration.

Chris Chatteris SJ's blog

We work with people from the business, political and educational sectors as well as those from various faith backgrounds. We are keen to engage with all who have an interest in improving our society.

The Jesuit Institute is dedicated to providing training and encouraging debate on current social and religious issues from a faith perspective and to stimulating critical reflection, research and dialogue.

The Jesuit Institute provides reflection and training on, and critical analysis of, contemporary social and religious issues from a Catholic perspective. We are motivated by the service of faith and the promotion of justice.