Original Research - Special Collection: Gateway to the Future from a deconstructed past
The study of theology and religion at the University of Pretoria: Two epochs of endeavor
HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies | Vol 73, No 1 | a4615 |
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v73i1.4615
| © 2017 J.S. (Kobus) Krüger
| This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 28 April 2017 | Published: 27 July 2017
Submitted: 28 April 2017 | Published: 27 July 2017
About the author(s)
J.S. (Kobus) Krüger, Department of Dogmatics and Christian Ethics, Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, South AfricaAbstract
This article explores the possibility of an alignment of (a) theology (understood as study concentrating on one faith from the faith suppositions of that faith) and (b) a study of world religions, open to all regardless of faith in the context of an encompassing theory. This article argues that far from undermining the dignity and value of any religion, (b) could add value to the theological study of any one religion. This article proceeds to develop a model for (b). Utilising a methodology revolving around the strategies of careful historical criticism, faithful intentional understanding and imaginative yet trustworthy tendentional interpretation, this article explores a model harmonising the key concepts of metaphysical mysticism (understood as the peak of religious aspiration), conditionality (emphasising the unique singularity of individual religions), totality (emphasising the religious landscape as one coherent whole) and horizon (emphasising the non-absoluteness of all religions, petering out on, and arising from, silence).
Keywords
conditionality; historical critical explanation; horizon; intentional understanding; metaphysical mysticism; pax fidei; tendentional interpretation; totality
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Crossref Citations
1. What is so theological about a faculty of theology at a public university? Athens – Berlin – Pretoria
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HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies vol: 75 issue: 4 year: 2019
doi: 10.4102/hts.v75i4.5488