EDITORIAL

Editorial

In this December 2020 edition of the Stellenbosch Theological Journal (STJ) we are proud to present 23 peer-reviewed academic articles and two book reviews. As was the case with the July 2020 edition, this edition too was finalised amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. A special word of thanks from the editorial team to the reviewers for their time and commitment, often under trying circumstances.

The article by Prof Theo de Wit on "The modern state as mortal god: On rogues and rogue states" is an adapted and translated version of his professorial valedictory address at the University of Tilburg. We are glad that we can include it in this edition, also given its relevance for many of the current discussions within the broader field of political theology.

Another article that was first delivered as a lecture, is the article by Dr Demaine Solomons (University of the Western Cape) on "The absurdity of reconciliation: What we should learn from Rustenburg and its implication for South Africa." In March 2020 (before the lockdown) this article was presented as the annual Willie Jonker Memorial Lecture at the Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch University. Solomons also reviewed the publication Reconciliation, Forgiveness and Violence in Africa - a publication that will be of interest to readers of this journal.

Two of the articles included in this edition provide interpretations of figures that are often describe as icons in the church struggle against apartheid. In this regard, see the articles by Van Wyngaard on Beyers Naudé and of Fortein on Allan Boesak. We are also privileged to include an article by Dr Boesak that addresses the continuing task of Black Theology and Black Consciousness in the context of what is described as "our incomplete revolution".

The articles by Cas Wepener and Hennie Pieterse will be of special interest to readers and researchers that follow the discourses on the methodology and history of homiletics in South Africa.

Special mentioned can be made of the article by Prof Kees Waaijman, who is a well-known and much respected scholar in the field of studies in spirituality, as well as an article by the Dutch historian Gerrit Schutte on a well-known text in South African reformed historiography. Within broader African church history, there is growing research on African Pentecostalism, and therefore we welcome the article by Dr Peter White, who has also recently been appointed within the discipline group of Practical Theology and Missiology at Stellenbosch University.

As editorial board we trust that readers will find the other articles and reviews in this volume also to be of high-quality and of interest.

Robert Vosloo

Editor: STJ

Redaksionele voorwoord

In hierdie Desember 2020-uitgawe van die Stellenbosch Teologiese Joernaal (STJ) bied ons met trots 23 portuur-geëvalueerde akademiese artikels en twee boekresensies aan. Soos wat die geval met die Julie 2020-uitgawe was, is hierdie uitgawe ook tydens die Covid-19 pandemie gefinaliseer. Ons wil dan ook in besonder as redaksie die keurders bedank vir hulle tyd en toewyding, ten spyte van die uitdagende omstandighede.

Die artikel deur prof Theo de Wit, met as tema "The modern state as mortal god: On rogues and rogue states", is 'n verkorte en vertaalde weergawe van sy professorale afskeidslesing aan die Universiteit van Tilburg. Ons is dankbaar om dit in hierdie uitgawe in te sluit, gegewe die relevansie daarvan vir huidige gesprekke binne die breër navorsingsveld van politieke teologie.

Nog 'n artikel wat eers as 'n lesing gelewer is, is Dr Demaine Solomons (UWK) se "The absurdity of reconciliation: What we should learn from Rustenburg and its implication for South Africa" wat in Maart 2020 (vóór die inperking) as die jaarlikse Willie Jonker-gedenklesing gelewer is. Solomons het ook die bundel Reconciliation, Forgiveness and Violence in Africa geresenseer, 'n publikasie waarby lesers van STJ belang sal hê.

Twee van die artikels wat hier ingesluit word, bied 'n interpretasie van figure wat dikwels as ikone in die kerkstryd teen apartheid beskou word. Die artikels van Van Wyngaard oor Beyers Naudé en van Fortein oor Allan Boesak is hier ter sprake. Ons is ook bevoorreg om 'n artikel van Allan Boesak te kan insluit wat die voortgaande taak van Swart Teologie en Swart Bewussyn aanspreek, met verwysing na wat as "ons onvoltooide rewolusie" beskryf word.

Die artikels deur Cas Wepener en Hennie Pieterse onderskeidelik sal ook die belangstelling van lesers en navorsers wek wat gesprekke oor die metodologie en geskiedenis van homiletiek in Suid-Afrika volg.

Spesiale vermelding word gemaak van die artikel van Prof. Kees Waaijman, 'n bekende en gerespekteerde kundige in die veld van studies oor spiritualiteit, asook die artikel van die Nederlandse historikus Gerrit Schutte oor 'n bekende teks in Suid-Afrikaanse gereformeerde historiografie. Binne die breër veld van Afrika kerkgeskiedenis word daar tans heelwat navorsing gedoen oor Afrika Pentekostalisme, en daarom verwelkom ons die insluiting van 'n artikel oor hierdie tema deur Dr Peter White. Hy is onlangs in die dissiplinegroep Praktiese Teologie en Missiologie by Universiteit Stellenbosch aangestel.

As redaksie vertrou ons dat lesers die ander artikels in hierdie uitgawe ook as van belang en van hoë akademiese kwaliteit sal beleef.

Robert Vosloo

Redakteur: STJ