Reformation and Counter-Reformation or, what are Old Testament scholars doing at universities in South Africa?
In a recent article with the title 'The Next Christianity', Philip Jenkins has expressed the opinion that the crises which churches are currently experiencing can be compared to those which the Catholic Church experienced prior to the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century. He wro...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
2006
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| In: |
Old Testament essays
Year: 2006, Volume: 19, Issue: 3, Pages: 982-992 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (kostenfrei) |
| Summary: | In a recent article with the title 'The Next Christianity', Philip Jenkins has expressed the opinion that the crises which churches are currently experiencing can be compared to those which the Catholic Church experienced prior to the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century. He wrote: 'The fact is, we are at a moment as epochal as the Reformation itself - a Reformation moment not only for Catholics but for the entire Christian world' (2002:54). However, during the past half century the centre of Christianity has moved to the Third World and in this centre, critical study of the Bible is not always welcomed and appreciated. According to Jenkins the cultural gap between the Christians of the North and the South will increase rather than diminish in the coming decades. This gap is already visible in the different reactions to issues such as homosexuality, same sex marriages and abortion. Third World churches tend to be more conservative in their views on these issues. Old Testament scholars at universities in South Africa are in a precarious situation. Should they join the Counter- Reformation, or be part of the new Reformation? The article argues a case for the latter. |
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| ISSN: | 2312-3621 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Old Testament essays
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| Persistent identifiers: | HDL: 10520/EJC85823 |