Duquesne University Duquesne Scholarship Collection Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2011 Rhetoric of Reconciliation: Implications from Bonhoeffer's [Work] for a Communicative Praxis of Reconciliation Grounded in Christian Narrative Charles E. Thomas Follow this and additional works at: https://dsc.duq.edu/etd Recommended Citation Thomas, C. (2011). Rhetoric of Reconciliation: Implications from Bonhoeffer's [Work] for a Communicative Praxis of Reconciliation Grounded in Christian Narrative (Doctoral dissertation, Duquesne University). Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/1277 This Immediate Access is brought to you for free and open access by Duquesne Scholarship Collection. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Duquesne Scholarship Collection. For more information, please contact [email protected]. RHETORIC OF RECONCILIATION: IMPLICATIONS FROM BONHOEFFER‘S [WORK] FOR A COMMUNICATIVE PRAXIS OF RECONCILIATION GROUNDED IN CHRISTIAN NARRATIVE A Dissertation Submitted to the McAnulty College & Graduate School of Liberal Arts Duquesne University In partial fulfillment for the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy By Charles E. Thomas Jr. May 2011 RHETORIC OF RECONCILIATION: IMPLICATIONS FROM BONHOEFFER‘S [WORK] FOR A COMMUNICATIVE PRAXIS OF RECONCILIATION GROUNDED IN CHRISTIAN NARRATIVE By Charles E. Thomas Jr. Approved April 19, 2011 _______________________ _______________________ Ronald Arnett, Ph.D. Calvin Troup, Ph.D. Professor, Chair Associate Professor Communication & Rhetorical Studies Communication & Rhetorical Studies (Committee Chair) (Committee Member) (Department Chair) _______________________ _______________________ Janie Harden Fritz. Ph.D. Christopher M. Duncan, Ph.D. Associate Professor Dean Communication & Rhetorical Studies McAnulty College & Graduate School of (Committee Member) Liberal Arts iii ABSTRACT RHETORIC OF RECONCILIATION: IMPLICATIONS FROM BONHOEFFER‘S [WORK] FOR A COMMUNICATIVE PRAXIS OF RECONCILIATION GROUNDED IN CHRISTIAN NARRATIVE By Charles E. Thomas Jr. May 2011 Dissertation Supervised by Professor Ronald Arnett Reconciliation may broadly be considered as the repairing, restoring, and mending of that which has been broken, namely relationships be they interpersonal, communal, or national due to some type of conflict between two parties. This project seeks to establish a Rhetoric of Reconciliation as a narratively constructed ethical communicative praxis. The first chapter will consist of an overview of reconciliation. In the second chapter the major theoretical frameworks and scholarship in the field of reconciliation will be considered to establish a working understanding of the particular communicative processes of reconciliation and how these processes are narratively grounded. The major theoretical frames will consist of Judicial, Social-Psychological, and Religious perspectives. The third chapter of this project will inquire how the narrative faith iv perspective of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Bonhoeffer‘s notion of reconciliation, which is grounded in his theological and philosophical construction of the self, other, church and community, may inform reconciliation. Furthermore, this project will take into consideration Bonhoeffer‘s ethic of responsibility as that step of faith or praxis in the reconciliation process that moves beyond the theoretical to engage a rhetoric of reconciliation in action. The fourth chapter will review South Africa‘s Truth and Reconciliation Commission as a case study of the process of reconciliation grounded in a narratively situated religious and cultural perspective and a discussion of pragmatic implications and further research on a rhetoric of reconciliation. v DEDICATION To my beautiful wife Chantel and our wonderful children Carra, Keirsten, Tierra, and Andrew. Thank you for your support, prayers, and love for without I could not have completed this work. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Abstract .......................................................................................................................... iv Dedication ...................................................................................................................... vi Introduction to the Project ............................................................................................... 1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 1 What is Reconciliation? ....................................................................................... 3 Theoretical Approaches to Reconciliation ............................................................ 4 5 Essential Aspects of Reconciliation ................................................................. 14 Dietrich Bonhoeffer ........................................................................................... 22 South Africa‘s Truth and Reconciliation Commission ........................................ 26 Theoretical Frames of Reconciliation ............................................................................ 31 Judicial Reconciliation Theory ........................................................................... 33 Social-Psychological Reconciliation Theoretical Frame ..................................... 47 The Christian Religious Theoretical Frame ........................................................ 62 Summary ........................................................................................................... 80 Bonhoeffer‘s Rhetoric of Reconciliation ........................................................................ 87 Bonhoeffer‘s Background .................................................................................. 89 Bonhoeffer‘s Theology ...................................................................................... 98 Humanity in Disunity with God, Self, and Other .............................................. 103 Faithfulness in a Flawed Community ............................................................... 115 Ethics of Responsibility in a World Come of Age ............................................ 126 Implications for a Rhetoric of Reconciliation ................................................... 135 Truth & Reconciliation Commission: A Rhetoric of Reconciliation Praxis .................. 140 Historical Background of Apartheid ................................................................. 142 TRC, Tutu, and Bonhoeffer.............................................................................. 162 Summary of TRC, Tutu, and Bonhoeffer in Praxis ........................................... 191 Communicative Praxis of Reconciliation grounded in Christian Narrative........ 194 Bibliography ............................................................................................................... 203 vii Chapter 1 Introduction to the Project Rhetoric of Reconciliation is proposed to be a communicative praxis narratively situated to bring about peace and stability in the aftermath of conflict. Reconciliation can be generally deemed as the repairing and/or establishing of relationships following conflict. Conflict resolution seeks to end the conflict, however reconciliation takes the next step to address cognitive and emotional issues connected to the conflict to establish peace and harmony (Biggar, 6). Rhetoric of Reconciliation arises out of a concern for the condition of the modern world being fraught with disassociation, individualism and cynicism, which contribute to the fragmentation of society which raises the question: what is needed in such a time of contention? The answer may lie in the foundational principle of the Christian Gospel message, reconciliation. What is reconciliation in consideration of the varied goals and aspects to achieving those goals? What theoretical ground exists for reconciliation considering that the scope of the scholarship on reconciliation encompasses at least judicial, ethical, psychological, scientific, and religious? How is reconciliation enacted and communicated in light of there being no universal acceptance of reconciliation? Is reconciliation a viable avenue for communal restoration? Can the Christian faith narrative provide a re-envisioned society through a rhetoric of reconciliation? These questions give rise to the following dissertation. The following project will first review the major theoretical approaches and scholarship in the field of reconciliation from judicial, social-psychological, and religious perspectives. Second, this project will review the life and work of Dietrich Bonhoeffer to provide a perspective on reconciliation flowing from God‘s act through Christ and 1 extending to all of humanity as being, in Bonhoeffer‘s thought, the rudimentary hinge point necessary for reconciliation at any level. Bonhoeffer‘s theological disposition addresses the human condition, both before and after the fall; the relevance of evil in the world; and the function of the church proper with respect to broader society. Additionally, Bonhoeffer‘s historical context provided a proving ground for faith in action through a rhetoric of responsibility that is achieved through making informed decisions based upon the ground under one‘s feet. Third, this project will review South Africa‘s Truth and Reconciliation Commission implemented following the end of apartheid as a course of action toward national restoration after decades of civil, political and military unrest.