Browsing by Author "Platt, Chanel"

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    Participating in the divine drama : rethinking apologetics from a relational understanding of the Trinity
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2024-02 ) Platt, Chanel; Vosloo, Robert ; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Our disenchanted world coupled with questionable ideas of what constitute truth, love and rectitude did not leave the Church unscathed as doctrine has been marginalised and reckoned irrelevant for the Christian life. What is required is to move doctrine centre stage and once again embrace it as a road map for theological engagement. Against this backdrop, the thesis argues for doctrine and apologetics to belong together in order to link narrative, drama and relations in participative terms. As narrative apologetics connects the mind and heart it is proposed as a vehicle to draw people to the biblical metanarrative and invite them to step into the Theo-drama in order to become a refigured participant in a loving relationship with the Triune God, with self and others. A Scripturally ordered directive theory of doctrine is put forward and described as a canonical-linguistic model that drives theological engagement because it not only takes seriously the dramatic way in which the Triune God reveals himself, but it also preserves this propositional core and allows for experience gained through participation. A relational understanding of the Trinity is metaphorically explored as a divine dance that reflects the idea of co-inherence to mean mutuality, reciprocity or indwelling referred to as a movement of relations within a communion of love. This description of the inner life of the Trinity facilitates parallels of human relations to be drawn with relations in the Triune God stating it is like, not that it is. Both believers and unbelievers are encouraged to find their stories within the Triune-God’s grand story that can only become a reality through participation in the Theo-drama. A five-step narrative apologetic framework informed by a relational understanding of the Trinity in dramatic and participative terms is presented.