The recognition of queer bodies in the URCSA : towards a hermeneutic of hospitality

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dc.contributor.advisorJones, Chrisen_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorForster, Dion Angusen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorDavids, Hanzline Rudolfen_ZA
dc.contributor.otherStellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Systematic Theology and Ecclesiologyen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2023-10-31T06:35:51Z
dc.date.accessioned2024-01-08T13:11:44Z
dc.date.available2023-10-31T06:35:51Z
dc.date.available2024-01-08T13:11:44Z
dc.date.issued2023-10-31
dc.descriptionThesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2023.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa, an African Reformed church, is standing at a crossroad about whether to recognise queer bodies in the denomination or not. Focusing on the URCSA as a case study, this dissertation employed queer theology as a theological framework, utilising the four main sources of doing theology: Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience. Using these sources in no specific order, this study starts with reason, which delves into the philosophical and theological meanings of recognition and a hermeneutic of hospitality. Subsequently, the study revisits reason, examining the discourses that impede the recognition of queer bodies within the URCSA. The first discourse under study is the compounding impact of heteropatriarchal ideologies of biological essentialism and gender complementarity. The second discourse centres on the politics of biblical authority and queer interpretation. Lastly, using a queer theological approach, this study turned to tradition by identifying and analysing the theological decisions regarding homosexuality from 2005 to 2022, theological reports on Homosexuality (2008) (URCSA, 2008b), the Traditional View on Homosexuality (2016) (URCSA, 2018), and the Belhar Confession. In this exploration, it becomes evident that bodies transcend the confines of biological essentialism and gender complementarity, and that a queer theological approach to Scripture open doors to readings and interpretations of recognition. Ultimately, this investigation concludes that the identification and acknowledgement of queer bodies within the URCSA should find its foundation in the Triune God. Guided by the recognition of the Triune God, a hermeneutic of hospitality directs the process of identifying discourses that contribute to misrecognition. en_ZA
dc.description.abstractAFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Verenigende Gereformeerde Kerk in Suider Afrika, ’n Afrika Gereformeerde Kerk, staan by ’n kruispad oor die vraag of queer liggame binne die denominasie erken moet word of nie. Met die fokus op die VGKSA as ’n gevallestudie, gebruik hierdie proefskrif queer teologie as ’n teologiese raamwerk, en gebruik die vier hoofbronne om teologie te doen: Skrif, tradisie, rede en ervaring. Deur hierdie bronne in geen spesifieke volgorde te gebruik nie, begin hierdie studie met rede, wat delf na die filosofiese en teologiese betekenisse van erkenning en ’n hermeneutiek van gasvryheid. Vervolgens word die rede in die studie herbesoek en die diskoerse ondersoek wat die erkenning van queer liggame binne die VGKSA belemmer. Die eerste diskoerse ondersoek wat die erkenning van queer liggame binne die VGKSA belemmer. Die eerste diskoers wat bestudeer word, is die samestellende impak van heteropatriargale ideologieë van biologiese essensialisme en geslagskomplementariteit. Die tweede diskoers sentreer op die politiek van Bybelse gesag en queer interpretasie. Laastens, met behulp van ’n queer teologiese benadering, het hierdie studie na tradisie gekyk deur die teologiese besluite rakende homoseksualiteit van 2005 tot 2022, teologiese verslae oor Homosekualiteit (2008) (URCSA, 2008b), die Tradisionele Beskouing oor Homoseksualiteit (2016) (URCSA, 2018), en die Belydenis van Belhar te identifiseer en te ontleed. In hierdie verkenning word dit duidelik dat queer liggame die grense van biologiese essensialisme en geslagskomplementariteit oorskry, en dat ’n queer teologiese benadering tot die Skrif deure oopmaak vir verskillende maniere van lees en interpretasie van erkenning. Uiteindelik kom hierdie ondersoek tot die gevolgtrekking dat die identifikasie en erkenning van queer liggame binne die VGKSA sy grondslag in die Drie-enige God behoort te vind. Deur die Drie-enige God te erken, rig ’n hermeneutiek van gasvryheid die proses om diskoerse te identifiseer wat bydra tot wanerkenning. af_ZA
dc.format.extentxv, 274 pages
dc.identifier.urihttps://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/128845
dc.language.isoen en_ZA
dc.subject.lcshGender identity -- Religious aspectsen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshQueer theoryen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshVerenigende Gereformeerde Kerk in Suider-Afrikaen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshUniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA)en_ZA
dc.subject.lcshHospitality -- Religious aspectsen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshUCTDen_ZA
dc.titleThe recognition of queer bodies in the URCSA : towards a hermeneutic of hospitalityen_ZA
dc.typeThesisen_ZA
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