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In die Skriflig

versão On-line ISSN 2305-0853
versão impressa ISSN 1018-6441

In Skriflig (Online) vol.43 no.2 Pretoria Jan. 2009

 

ORIGINAL RESEARCH

 

Spirituality: The new religion of our time?

 

Spiritualiteit: Die nuwe godsdiens van ons tyd?

 

 

J.L. van der Walt

Faculty of Education Sciences, Potchefstroom Campus. North-West University. Potchefstroom. E-mail: jlvdwalt@aerosat.co.za

 

 


ABSTRACT

Mainstream religions and their institutions have since the 1960s been gradually bleeding to death because of their members leaving them in search of rather more inspirational experiences elsewhere. Christian educationists are concerned about this development, because it means that these churches have been losing their capacity for entering into meaningful tripartite pedagogical partnerships with family and school. A description of the problem of churches losing members is followed by a brief depiction of spirituality, something that can be experienced both within Christianity and elsewhere. The inability of mainstream churches to let their members experience true Christian spirituality compels the latter to go elsewhere in search of it. It is concluded that spirituality is no "new" religion after all as far as Christianity is concerned. It is in fact the quintessence of Christianity, but has through the ages become deeply buried in the mainstream religions and churches under thick layers of dogmatic and other superficialities.


OPSOMMING

Hoofstroomgodsdienste en hulle inrigtings is sedert die sestigerjare aan die doodbloei as gevolg van die feit dat lidmate hulle verlaat in hulle soeke na meer inspirerende ervarings elders. Christen-opvoedkundiges is diep besorg oor hierdie verskynsel, aangesien dit tot gevolg het dat hierdie kerke die vermoë aan die verloor is om in 'n betekenisvolle opvoedings-vennootskap met die gesin en skool te tree. 'n Beskrywing van die probleem word opgevolg met 'n bondige uiteensetting van spiritualiteit - iets wat sowel binne die Christelike godsdiens as daarbuite ervaar kan word. Die onvermoë van die hoofstroom-kerke om hulle lidmate die ware Christelike spiritualiteit te laat ervaar, dwing die lidmate om elders daarna te gaan soek. Die konklusie word getrek dat spiritualiteit eintlik geen "nuwe" godsdiens is sover dit die Christelike godsdiens aangaan nie. Dit is, om die waarheid te sê, die diepste essensie van die Christelike godsdiens, maar dit is deur die loop van die eeue in die hoofstroomkerke toegegooi onder dik lae dogmatiese en ander oppervlakkighede.


 

 

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