ORIGINAL RESEARCH

 

Die invloed van die Christelike geloof op die Suid-Afrikaanse samelewing

 

The influence of Christianity on the South African society

 

 

E. Oliver

Departement Christelike Spiritualiteit, Kerkgeskiedenis & Missiologie Unisa. Pretoria. E-pos: olivee@unisa.ac.za

 

 

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OPSOMMING

Die bedoeling van die vroeë kerk was nie in die eerste plek om die politiek, ekonomie en regstelsels van die wêreld te verander nie, maar spoedig het die Christene se manier van leef die samelewing rondom hulle beïnvloed. Die Europese setlaars het die calvinistiese geloof na die suidpunt van Afrika gebring waar dit vir die volgende 340 jaar 'n leidende rol in die geskiedenis van die land gespeel het. Geen teëkanting of bevraagtekening van die bevoorregte posisie van die Christendom deur nie-Christene is geduld nie en die invloed daarvan op die samelewing is as vanselfsprekend aanvaar deur veral die Christelike deel van die bevolking. Vandag vertoon die samelewing sowel die medaljes as die littekens van hierdie toedrag van sake. Hoewel Suid-Afrika nooit amptelik bekend gestaan het as 'n Christelike land nie, is die geweldige invloed wat die Christendom op die land gehad het na meer as 'n dekade van gods-diensvryheid in 'n neutrale staat, steeds sigbaar. Die doel van hierdie artikel is om 'n inleidende, oorhoofse en verkennende blik te verskaf van die reikwydte en invloed wat die Christendom op die samelewing gehad het, gesien vanuit 'n historiese perspektief.

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ABSTRACT

It was not the intention of the first Christians to change the world, but their behaviour soon influenced society. The European settlers who came to South Africa brought calvinist Christianity to the region. For the next 340 years, Christianity was a very influential force in the South African society, usually taken for granted by Christians and not allowed to be questioned, challenged or opposed by non-Christians. Today the society bears both the scars and medals of the Christian era in South African history although South Africa was never officially a Christian country. After 1994, South Africa became a neutral state, with religious freedom, and the privileged position of Christianity began to fade rapidly. More than ten years later, however, the influence that Christianity had on the country and its people is still visible. This article is an introductory investigation into the influence of Christianity on the South African society from an historical perspective.

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