Browsing by Author "Kotze, Manitza"
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- ItemA Christian bioethical perspective on pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) and Genetic Manipulation (GM)(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2013-12) Kotze, Manitza; Koopman, Nico; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: With the development and continued developing of medical technology, treatments become available without the time to reflect ethically on them. Given how fast things change in medical technology, it is important to constantly reflect anew. Ethical reflection, however, seems to be lagging far behind bio-technological developments. Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) and Human Genetic Manipulation (GM) is fast becoming an everyday reality and must therefore be reflected upon. Few Christian bioethical studies have been done on the impact that this could have on the larger populace, especially the local population in South Africa, where only a small percentage would be able to access these possible treatments. This study is motivated by the quest of ethicists in general and Christian ethicists in particular, to respond adequately and appropriately to the challenges posed by bio-technological developments. The study will outline and discuss the various Christian perspectives on PGD and GM. It will be shown that most Christian responses to bio-technological matters are done from within the framework of the doctrine of creation. In response, this study will then discuss a trinitarian perspective on the confession of God as creator and investigate whether this perspective might advance and enrich, and even amend, the quests of Christians to formulate ethical responses to the challenges posed by PGD and GM. I have made the decision to focus, for the most part, only on the work of one theologian, and will therefore be applying the trinitarian doctrine of creation as found in the work of Jürgen Moltmann to the development of a Christian bioethical perspective. Seeing that Christian ethics in general is concerned with human dignity, social justice and wellbeing, as well as moral upliftment, the ethical implications of this type of medical technology in the South African context, with its uneven distribution of wealth and access to medical care, must also be addressed from the perspective of this study. In this regard, the concept of human beings created imago Dei (in the image of God), with inherent human dignity, is of particular importance.
- ItemFriendship as a theological model : Bonhoeffer, Moltmann and the trinity(AOSIS, 2019-01-28) Kotze, Manitza; Noeth, CarikeFriendship has been valued since classical times and is also an important category from a theological perspective; Christians are even called ‘friends of God’ (Jn 15:15). For a theological reflection on friendship, we will be drawing upon the work of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Jürgen Moltmann in this contribution. While numerous differences exist in Bonhoeffer and Moltmann’s theology, both have written about the Christian community extensively. We will examine friendship as the theological environment in which we learn how to relate to others not only privately, but also in the public arena, seeking the common good. Friendship, we argue, should not remain in an enclosed area within the personal relationship where we remain friends with those who are similar to us. Rather, friendship, as a theological model, is the space where we can practice the attributes of friendship to enable us to live this out within the broader society with those with whom we are not necessarily friends, but with all people. Friendship can form the environment for us to be ‘trained’ in the characteristics of theological friendship where we are friends in freedom and without hierarchy, and, in so doing, learn to treat all human beings as equal.
- ItemHuman genetic engineering in the South African context with its inequalities : a discourse on human rights and human dignity(Stellenbosch University, 2014) Kotze, ManitzaThere are still severe inequalities in presentday democratic South Africa; this is no secret. The ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor also contributes to increasing disparities of access to health care and medical treatment, as well as the ability to afford them. Human genetic engineering (HGE) is fast becoming an everyday reality and, though it is not forecast to become commercially available in South Africa very soon and many of the promised benefits are still very far in the future, anticipatory reflection is needed. This article considers just one of the challenges that HGE poses to Christian ethics within the South African context and its inequalities, especially with regards to health care, as part of the discourse of human dignity and human rights.