Economical responsibility towards the other : a pastoral study

Date
2021-06-28
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The following research study investigated economic responsibility towards the other from a pastoral theological point of view. The study’s theoretical framework is shaped by the dialogical Intergenerational pastoral process (DIPP). The DIPP is a theory advocated within practical theology and pastoral care that allows for a better understanding of the complexities in relationships within families and communities. The DIPP puts a strong emphasis on the intergenerational connectedness of future, present and past generations. The research methodology that guided this study was Richard Osmer’s four tasks of practical theology. This approach to practical theology gives structure and serves as a clear reminder of how important the field of practical theology and pastoral care can be, especially in the challenging times we live in. Osmer’s approach guides researchers with the four core tasks namely, i) the Descriptive-empirical task, ii) the Interpretive task iii), the Normative task and iv) the Pragmatic task. These core tasks will fittingly guide the different research aspects within the study. This study was inspired by an article Hanneke Meulink-Korf & Wim Noorlander wrote in 2012 in the aftermath of the 2008 economic recession. The title of the article is ‘Resourcing Trust in a Fragmented World – The Social-Economical Dimension and Relational Ethics in the Track of Boszormenyi-Nagy.’ This article inspired the researcher to explore how the DIPP can be applied to a socio-economic crisis. The two main concepts used from the DIPP to approach the economic challenge of debt within the study was responsibility and hope. The Biblical jubilee was used as a supportive theological lens towards the DIPP. The goal of the research was not to solve the debt crisis or to predict a hypothesis. The purpose of the study was to explore how economic responsibility towards the other and a realistic perspective of hope might look like in the 21st century amidst all the challenges we face. The pastoral theological study took the risk to enter the field of economics and therefore attempted to stand on the bridge between the fields of theology and economics. The final aim was to assist pastoral caregivers with a fresh imagination to approach a socio-economic problem like the debt crisis.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsing studie het gekyk na ekonomiese verantwoordelikheid teenoor die ander vanuit ‘n pastorale hoek. Die studie se teoretiese raamwerk was gevorm deur die dialogiese intergenerasionele pastorale proses (DIPP). Die DIPP is ‘n teorie wat binne die veld van praktiese teologie en pastorale sorg soek na ‘n beter verstaan van die kompleksiteit binne verhoudinge in gemeenskappe en families. Die DIPP plaas ‘n sterk klem op die intergenerasionele verbintenis tussen toekomstige, huidige en generasies vanuit die verlede. Die navorsing metodologie wat gebruik was, was Richard Osmer se vier kern take van praktiese teologie. Hierdie metodologie gee struktuur en dien as ‘n herinnering oor die belangrikheid van teologiese interpretasie en pastorale sorg in die uitdagende tye waarin ons lewe. Osmer se benadering lei navorsers met vier kern take naamlik die i) deskriptiewe-empiriese taak, ii) die interpretasie taak, iii) die normatiewe taak, en iv) die pragmatiese taak. Die vier take het gepas die verskillende aspekte van die navorsing begelei. Hierdie studie was geïnspireer deur ‘n artikel van Hanneke Meulink-Korf & Wim Noorlander wat in 2012 geskryf was na afloop van die 2008 ekonomiese resessie. Die titel van die artikel is ‘Resourcing Trust in a Fragmented World – The Social-Economical Dimension and Relational Ethics in the Track of Boszormenyi-Nagy.’ Hierdie artikel het die navorser geïnspireer om ondersoek in te stel oor die DIPP se toepaslikheid tot sosio-ekonomiese uitdagings. Die twee fokus konsepte wat gebruik was vanuit die DIPP om die ekonomiese krisis van skuld te benader was verantwoordelikheid en hoop. Die Bybelse jubeljaar was gebruik as ‘n ondersteunende teologiese bril tot die DIPP. Die doel van die studie was nie om die skuld krisis op te los of om ‘n hipotese te voorspel nie. Die doel van die studie was om ondersoek in te stel oor hoe ekonomiese verantwoordelikheid teenoor die ander en ‘n realistiese perspektief van hoop kan lyk in die 21ste eeu te midde van al die uitdaginge wat ons in die gesig staar. Die pastorale studie het die risiko geneem om op die brug tussen die velde van teologie en ekonomie te staan. Die finale doel was om pastorale versorgers tot vars verbeelding te begelei rondom sosio-ekonomiese probleme soos die skuld krisis.
Description
Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2021.
Keywords
Responsibility, Pastoral counseling, UCTD
Citation