Fearing the stranger? : homiletical explorations in a fear-filled world
Date
2019
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AOSIS
Abstract
The large number of xenophobic attacks that broke out in different places in South Africa during 2008 was still continuing unabated 10 years later. We were stressed to come to terms with the reality that this occurred in a country that is globally considered to be an example of reconciliation. It is clear that we were confronted by the politics of fear, which were manifested in xenophobia and all the other -isms. In this article, the primary causes of these xenophobic outbreaks were scrutinised and placed within the wider framework of a culture of fear. The central research question is: Why are we still struggling with this phenomenon more than a decade after it first appeared on South African soil? In-depth analysis will be performed on what is lying behind the culture of fear underlying these acts of violence. After exploring some of the factors related to a culture of fear by making use of a sociological frame, the author moved on to answer a second question: How do we, as preachers, researchers and practical theologians, respond in a theological way to the challenges posed by a xenophobic culture in our preaching activities? Finally, the impact of violence and fear on the practice of preaching within a Christian context was discussed.
Description
CITATION: Nell, I. A. 2019. Fearing the stranger? : homiletical explorations in a fear-filled world. HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies, 75(4):a5255, doi:10.4102/jsava.v89i0.1683.
The original publication is available at https://hts.org.za
Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund.
The original publication is available at https://hts.org.za
Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund.
Keywords
Xenophobia
Citation
Nell, I. A. 2019. Fearing the stranger? : homiletical explorations in a fear-filled world. HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies, 75(4):a5255, doi:10.4102/jsava.v89i0.1683