Open AccessWhy Augustine – now? An African perspective
Author(s) -
J.H. Van Wyk
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
in die skriflig/in die skriflig
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2305-0853
pISSN - 1018-6441
DOI - 10.4102/ids.v38i1.418
Subject(s) - perspective (graphical) , kingdom , protestantism , christian theology , white (mutation) , philosophy , theology , epistemology , sociology , art , paleontology , biochemistry , chemistry , gene , visual arts , biology
It is a fascinating fact that interest in Augustine’s theology has never waned and that Protestant as well as Catholic theologians have time and again involved themselves in a study of Augustine’s views. The question is: why? In this article the author attempts to formulate an answer to this intriguing question, writing from an African and a Reformed perspective. He considers five possible answers and specifically highlights Augustine’s emphasis on the kingdom of God as an overriding concept in theology. The author argues that it is precisely this message of the kingdom of God, and not messages of secular utopias, that white and black Christians in South Africa need to hear today – more than anything else