Cape Dutch Christendom and its legacy
Date
2012
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Pieter de Waal Neetlhling Trust
Abstract
As a general concept, Christendom (corpus Christianum) – and particularly the phenomenon of patronage – are useful tools to understand the relationship between churches and cultures, and between political and civil society. This is particularly true of Western churches, but also of former Western colonial possessions and churches within them. In Christendom, patronage is usually associated with privileges bestowed upon a church by the state (political society) – state control over church/es in its realm. However, civil society and a culture, too, can assume patronage over a church, threatening the latter’s integrity and prophetic witness. The colonial Cape (Dutch Reformed) Church’s character was formed by powerful political patronage to the extent that it found it difficult to live and witness under the sole patronage of its crucified Lord. Ever since, it also continually sought to align itself with one or more of the above mentioned powers in South Africa.
Description
CITATION: Nieder-Heitmann, J. 2012. Cape Dutch Christendom and its legacy. Dutch Reformed Theological Journal, 53:163-173, doi:10.5952/53-0-204.
The original publication is available at https://ngtt.journals.ac.za
The original publication is available at https://ngtt.journals.ac.za
Keywords
Church and state -- South Africa, Patronage, Ecclesiastical, Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk -- South Africa
Citation
NGTT: Ned Geref Teologiese Tydskrif
Nieder-Heitmann, J. 2012. Cape Dutch Christendom and its legacy. Dutch Reformed Theological Journal, 53:163-173, doi:10.5952/53-0-204.
Nieder-Heitmann, J. 2012. Cape Dutch Christendom and its legacy. Dutch Reformed Theological Journal, 53:163-173, doi:10.5952/53-0-204.