Volume 5, Issue 3, October 1992
Articles
South Africa Beyond Apartheid: En Route to the Promised Land
John W. de Gruchy, pp.247-262
This article offers reflections on the political, ecclesial, and theological contexts of reform in South Africa, with particular reference to the dismantling of apartheid, the justification of violent struggle, white and black racism, and the theology of the land. Complete reconciliation is seen to rest on a restructuring of a society that is just and non-racial. Between the Exodus and the Promised Land lies the Wilderness journey. The Wilderness entails a period of trial and struggle through which we have to journey before we can arrive in the land for which we all hope and pray. How we cope with the experience of the Wilderness will determine whether or not we arrive in the Promised Land: it will also determine the kind of nation we will become.
Bartolome de Las Casas: Defender of the Indians
Gustavo Gutierrez, pp.263-273
There are three parts to this article. The first offers a brief commentary on the situation in Latin America, including an effort to understand the situation from the under-side of history, from the point of view of the Indians. The second part is concerned with Las Casas’ vision and his protest against the Catholic European invasion. The third and concluding part explores those lessons for us today which can be drawn from Las Casas’ witness.
Suffering from God: Theology as Theodicy
Johann Baptist Metz, pp.274-287
This article argues that Christian theology has avoided asking questions about suffering that appears to come from God. The mystery of God has been tamed by philosophical positions, and the Israelite sense of povety of spirit before God needs to be recaptured. Christian hope remains tied to an apocalyptic conscience and Christians must not hurriedly bypass the slowly dying cry of Jesus.
Self-Love and Self Acceptance
Elisabeth Moltmann-Wendel, pp.288-300
Male images of God have alienated women from Christianity. This article explores themes which bring to life images for Christian women. The first is the tradition of wisdom-theology, followed by reflections on a new creation-theology and on a creation-spirituality.
Reconciliation with Nature
Jürgen Moltmann, pp.301-313
The first part of this article argues that the ecological crisis of nature today is, at the same time, a religious crisis of the human race, at least of the Western world. In the second part, three perspectives from the Biblical-Christian traditions are offered which may overcome this religious crisis of the human race and the ecological crisis of nature.
Celebrating Columbus
Andrew Hamilton, pp.314-323
In this article the various responses to the Centenary are discussed, paying particular attention to the approach developed by John Paul II and its reception within the churches of Central and Latin America. The implications of this programme of evangelisation for the rest of the world are also noted.
Book Reviews
Lazarus: A Contemporary reading of John 11:1-46
Brendan Byrne
Francis J. Moloney pp.324-325
Middle Judaism: Jewish Thought 300 B.C.E. to 200 C.E.
Gabriele Boccaccini
Robert A. Anderson pp.326-328
Systematic Theology, Volume 1
Wolfhart Pannenberg
Chris Mostert pp.329-331
The Crisis of Philosophy
Michael H. McCarthy
Brendan Lovett pp.331-334
Jesus and the Cosmos
Denis Edwards
Ronald Anderson pp.335-337
A Sense of Place
Geoffrey R. Lilburne
Bruce L. Barber pp.337-339
Beyond Patching: Faith and Feminisim in the Catholic Church
Sandra Schneiders
Christine E. Burke pp.339-341
Encounter not Performance
Frank Wallace
Alan H. Cadwallader pp.341-342
Understanding Media
Paul Duffy
Peter Thomas pp.343-345
Society and Spirit: A Trinitarian Cosmology
Joseph A. Bracken
John Honner pp.345-346
Contributors
John de Gruchy is professor of Christian Studies at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. His recent studies include The Church Struggle in South Africa and Theology and Ministry in Context and Crisis.
Gustavo Gutiérrez is a Peruvian priest of Indian descent. After studies in Louvain and Lyons he became professor of theology at the Catholic University in Lima and consultant to the Episcopal Conference of Latin America. Committed to the struggle for justice for the poor, his major works include Theology of Liberation and We Drink From Our Own Wells.
Johann Baptist Metz is professor of theology in the University of Münster. In his writings on political theology he argues that Christianity must offer a constructive critique of society and the church. His works include Theology of the World, Faith in History and Society, and The Emergent Church.
Elisabeth Moltmann-Wendel studied theology at the University of Göttingen and, after her marriage, served at a small country church in Bremen, then at a seminary in Wuppertal, then at the universities in Bonn and Tübingen. Having completed a doctorate in theology, she is now involved in freelance work in Tübingen.
Jürgen Moltmann has for many years been professor of theology at Tübingen. His publications include A Theology of Hope, The Crucified God, God in Creation, and The God of Jesus Christ.
Andrew Hamilton teaches systematic theology and church history at the United Faculty of Theology in Melbourne and serves as theologian and historian for the Jesuit Refugee Service. He spent the first half of 1992 on sabbatical leave among the peoples of El Salvador.
