VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT AMSTERDAM UNIVERSITY OF THE WESTERN CAPE Reconciliation as a controversial symbol An analysis of a theological discourse between 1968-2010 Demaine Jason Solomons A thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for a joint degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Theology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and the Department of Religion and Theology at the University of the Western Cape Supervisor: Prof E. A. J. G. Van der Borght Supervisor: Prof E. M. Conradie September 2017 Declaration I declare that Reconciliation as a controversial symbol: An analysis of a theological discourse between 1968-2010 is my own work, that it has not been submitted for any degree or examination in any other university, and that all the sources I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by complete references. Name of student: Demaine Jason Solomons Signature……………………………… Date……………………………………. Name of supervisor: Prof E. A. J. G. Van der Borght (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) Signature……………………………… Date……………………………………. Name of supervisor: Prof E. M. Conradie (University of the Western Cape) Signature……………………………… Date……………………………………. ii http://etd.uwc.ac.za Acknowledgements This study would have been impossible were it not for the intellectual and personal support of several key individuals and organisations, whom I wish to thank. To the National Research Foundation of South Africa (Desmond Tutu Doctoral Programme), the Faculty of Theology at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, South Africa-VU-Strategic Alliances (SAVUSA), the Erasmus Mundus EM2SA for the financial support over the course of this study, this includes a formative study period in Amsterdam. I would also like to acknowledge the Ryoichi Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellowship Fund (Sylff) for their financial support. Primarily, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to my supervisor, Prof Eddy Van der Borght (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam). His encyclopedic knowledge of the intellectual history of the South African churches during and after apartheid, as well as his critical eye to the rendering of this history, has been invaluable. Above all, however, it is his constant availability (over a cup of Earl Grey tea and Belgian chocolate) and goodwill on a personal level for which I am most grateful. It is an exceptional privilege to study under the guidance of an individual of such intellectual and personal qualities. Many of the theological and personal discussions we had both in Amsterdam, and Cape Town will remain with me for the rest of my life. The same hold with regard to my supervisor, Prof Ernst Conradie (University of the Western Cape), a great international scholar and an exceptional person, whose encouraging approach served as a constant source of inspiration and support. His incalculable thematic and methodological suggestions and advice were of great importance – you do not often meet a scholar who is as excited about the wonders and mysteries of the theological project. Together with my former supervisors and lecturers, Profs Hans Engdahl, Christo Lombard, Douglas Lawrie, Wollie Cloete, Charles Amjad-Ali and Dr Miranda Pillay, they have contributed to my academic formation for which I remain truly grateful. They are some of the best minds in the iii http://etd.uwc.ac.za business, and I hope to make them proud. To my colleagues in the Department of Religion and Theology at the University of the Western Cape, especially Dr John Klaasen, thank you for your constant encouragement and support. My family has been a source of love and support throughout my life and studies. My parents, with their minimal education, made the best of a difficult situation and often emphasised the importance of education. To Mammie and Dare, I would be less of a person without you. To my sister, Jessie, don’t let anyone out there tell you cannot do it. To my wife and partner, Sam, this journey has been yours as much as it is mine. You were there through the good and bad times. Without your love and support, this would not have been possible. You inspire me to be a better scholar and moreover a better husband and father. To my children, Aaron and Anika, I am hoping this contribution will help build the South Africa you can be proud of. Love her, care for her, and never take her people granted. Praise be to God who made all of this possible! iv http://etd.uwc.ac.za Abstract This study entails a conceptual analysis of “reconciliation” as one of the guiding concepts in Christian discourse in the South African context. It is abundantly clear from the literature that reconciliation is understood in very different ways. This is observed from publications beginning in the 1960s. Since that time it is often used to offer theological reflection on social conflict in the country. In this study, I propose a framework in which one can identify, describe and assess at least three distinct ways in which the reconciliation concept is understood in theological literature emanating from South Africa. I describe them as a) Justice through reconciliation in Jesus Christ, b) Justice and reconciliation after liberation and c) Reconstruction requires national reconciliation. The famous Christus Victor typology of the three main “types” of atonement developed by the Swedish theologian, Gustaf Aulén is used as a background to these approaches. The purpose of this study is to aid continued theological reflection on the basis of a conceptual analysis of creative ways in which the reconciliation concept is used in a Christian context. This study is an attempt to offer a constructive reinterpretation of reconciliation in contemporary South Africa. v http://etd.uwc.ac.za Keywords Apartheid Atonement Christus Victor Church Struggle Justice Liberation Reconciliation Reconstruction South Africa Truth and Reconciliation Commission vi http://etd.uwc.ac.za Abbreviations AACC – All Africa Conference of Churches AFM – Apostolic Faith Mission Church ANC – African National Congress BCP – Black Community Programme BPC – Black People’s Convention Christian Council – Christian Council of South Africa Christian Institute – Christian Institute of South Africa CODESA – Convention for a Democratic South Africa ICT – Institute for Contextual Theology IFP – Inkatha Freedom Party NG Sendingskerk – Nederduitse Gereformeerde Sendingskerk NGK – Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk NHK – Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk NIR – National Initiative for Reconciliation PAC – Pan-Africanist Congress of Azania PCR – Programme to Combat Racism PSC – Programme for Social Change RDP – Reconstruction and Development Programme SACC – South African Council of Churches SASO – South African Student’s Organisation SPRO-CAS – Study-Project on Christianity in Apartheid South Africa The Message – Message to the People of South Africa vii http://etd.uwc.ac.za TRC – Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa UCM – University Christian Movement UDF – United Democratic Front WARC – World Alliance of Reformed Churches WCC – World Council of Churches WCP – White Community Programme viii http://etd.uwc.ac.za Table of Contents Declaration ....................................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................... iii Abstract .............................................................................................................................................. v Keywords ......................................................................................................................................... vi Abbreviations ................................................................................................................................ vii 1. Introduction................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Context of the study ............................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Relevance of the study ........................................................................................................... 4 1.4 Reconciliation in the Christian context ............................................................................... 6 1.5 Research question ................................................................................................................... 9 1.6 Methodological clarification ............................................................................................... 13 1.7 Thesis outline ........................................................................................................................ 14 2. The symbol of reconciliation in Christian theology ........................................................... 17 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 17 2.2 Reconciliation in the Christian Tradition .......................................................................... 18 2.2.1 The Old Testament ..................................................................................................... 18 2.2.2 The New Testament ...................................................................................................