ORIGINAL RESEARCH
http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/ve.v33i2.753

 

Personal-ethical perspectives in the work of Etienne de Villiers

 

 

André C.J. van Niekerk^{I, II}

^IDepartment of Dogmatics and Christian Ethics, University of Pretoria, South Africa
^IIDutch Reformed Church Waterkloof, Nieu-Muckleneuk, Pretoria, South Africa

Correspondence

 

 

---

ABSTRACT

With a mixture of hesitation and gratitude, the author undertook a reflection from a pastor's viewpoint on Etienne de Villiers's personal-ethical contributions to date. The distinguishing term 'personal' in 'personal ethics' is problematic, but the discussion thereof provided an opportunity to demonstrate that De Villiers did not develop a narrowed individual ethic, and decidedly also did not elect to take the route of Dilschneider's 'personal ethics', but provided valuable contributions on ethical issues of a more personal nature. De Villiers's greatest contribution concerns fundamental ethics which, viewed from the perspective of our history, as well as from our current situation, is now most essential for authenticity. This more fundamental focus on ethics has numerous implications for social ethics and also for more personal ethics.

---

 

 

“Full text available only in PDF format”

 

 

References

Bonhoeffer, D., 1995, Ethics, Simon & Schuster, New York.         [ Links ]

Bosch, D.J., 1979, Heil vir die wêreld, NG Kerkboekhandel, Pretoria.         [ Links ]

De Villiers, D.E., 1978, Die eiesoortigheid van die Christelike moraal, Rodopi, Amsterdam.         [ Links ]

De Villiers, D.E., 1986, 'Kritiek uit die ekumene', in J. Kinghorn (red.), Die NG Kerk en Apartheid, pp. 144-164, Macmillian,Johannesburg.         [ Links ]

De Villiers, D.E., 1989, 'Conceptions of peace in South Africa in the light of the biblical concept of peace', in K. Nürnberger, J. Tooke & W. Domeris (eds.), Conflict and the quest for Justice - NIR Reader 2, pp. 117-129, Encounter, Pietermaritzburg.         [ Links ]

De Villiers, D.E., 1996, 'Om geduldig te wees', in C.W. Burger, B.A. Müller & D.J. Smit (red.), Riglyne vir prediking oor die Christelike deugde, pp. 184-193, Lux Verbi, Cape Town.         [ Links ]

De Villiers, D.E., 1998, 'Christian views on cloning: Calvinist tradition', Proceedings of a Colloquium on Cloning, pp. 15-18, Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, Pretoria.         [ Links ]

De Villiers, D.E., 2002a, 'Euthanasia and assisted suicide: A Christian ethical perspective', ActaTheologica 22(3), 35-47.         [ Links ]

De Villiers, D.E., 2002b, 'Who will bear moral responsibility?', Communicatio 28(1), 16-21. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02500160208537953        [ Links ]

De Villiers, D.E., 2004, 'Religion, theology and the social sciences in a society of transition', Hervormde Teologiese Studie 60(1&2), 103-124.         [ Links ]

De Villiers, D.E., 2006a, 'Gee die Bybel nog vandag aan ons morele oriëntering oor kwessies soos homoseksualiteit?',ActaTheologica 26(1), 54-75.         [ Links ]

De Villiers, D.E., 2006b, 'The official stance of the Dutch Reformed Church on abortion: A Christian-ethical perspective', Tydskrif vir Christelike wetenskap 24(2), 73-89.         [ Links ]

De Villiers, D.E., 2006c, 'Prospects of a Christian ethics of responsibility (Part 1): An assessment of an American version', Verbum et Ecclesia 27(2), 468-487.         [ Links ]

De Villiers, D.E., 2007a, 'Prospects of a Christian ethics of responsibility (Part 2): An assessment of three German versions',Verbum et Ecclesia 28(1), 88-109.         [ Links ]

De Villiers, D.E., 2007b, 'Kruispunte in Christene se besluitneming oor homoseksualiteit', in C. Vos & D. Human (red.), Liefde is die grootste, pp. 282-289, Protea, Pretoria.         [ Links ]

De Villiers, D.E., 2008, 'The interdependence of public witness and institutional unity in the Dutch Reformed family of churches',Verbum et Ecclesia 29(3), 728-743.         [ Links ]

De Villiers, D.E. & Smit D.J., 1995, '"Met watter gesag sê u hierdie dinge?" Opmerkings oor kerklike dokumente oor die openbare lewe', Skrif en Kerk 16(1), 39-56.         [ Links ]

De Villiers, D.E. & Smit D.J., 1996, 'Waarom verskil ons so oor wat die wil van God is? Opmerkings oor Christelike morele oordeelsvorming', Skrif en Kerk 17(1), 31-47.         [ Links ]

Du Toit, D.A., 2008, 'Etiek, sosiale', in F. Gaum, A. Boesak & W. Botha (red.), Christelike Kernensiklopedie, pp. 320-321, Lux Verbi, Wellington.         [ Links ]

Heyns, J.A., 1982, Teologiese Etiek, deel 1, NG Kerkboekhandel, Pretoria.         [ Links ]

Heyns, J.A., 1986, Teologiese Etiek, deel 2/1, NG Kerkboekhandel, Pretoria.         [ Links ]

Jones, C., 2008, 'Etiek, persoonlike', in F. Gaum, A. Boesak & W. Botha (red.), Christelike Kernensiklopedie, pp. 318-319, Lux Verbi, Wellington.         [ Links ]

Kinghorn, J., 1986, 'Vormende faktore', in J. Kinghorn (red.), Die NG Kerk en Apartheid, pp. 47-68, MacMillian, Johannesburg.         [ Links ]

Nürnberger, K., 1984, Theological ethics, University of South Africa, Pretoria.         [ Links ]

Praamsma, L., 1981, De Kerk van alle tijden, deel 4, Wever, Franeker.         [ Links ]

 

 

Correspondence:
André van Niekerk
PO Box 75125
Lynnwood Ridge 0040
South Africa
Email: andre@waterkloofkerk.co.za

Received: 19 June 2012
Accepted: 19 Sept. 2012
Published: 06 Dec. 2012