Geestelike veerkragtigheid as reaksie op kerkskeuring

Abstract

Resilience as answer to the problem of church schism. The article investigates theories of resilience as applied to individuals and groups. From a group perspective, the potential of and obstacles to resilience are examined against the backgound of post-apartheid South Africa. Individual perpetrators and victims, as well as corporate bodies such as institutionalised faith communities have been affected. For the liberation of South Africa’s wounded soul, resilience is needed. In the article, psychological dimensions of resilience theory are brought into dialogue with the theological hermeneutical model of Ernst Fuchs in order to show how an encounter with the Jesus narrative of care for wounded people can foster resilience, liberate and bring healing to both faith communities and to this predominantly religious country.

Keywords

• Resilience
• Apartheid
• Netherdutch Reformed Church of Africa
• Ernst Fuchs theological hermemneutics