Beyond mere repetition: On tradition, creativity and theological speech
This article argues for understanding Christian theological speech, including a Reformed engagement with confessions, as ‘traditioned creativity’. The argument is introduced by highlighting a theological hermeneutic that underlies the Belhar confession’s accompanying letter. This discussion points t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Afrikaans |
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AOSIS
2023-09-01
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| Series: | HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/9051 |
| _version_ | 1797668303718580224 |
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| author | Robert R. Vosloo |
| author_facet | Robert R. Vosloo |
| author_sort | Robert R. Vosloo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article argues for understanding Christian theological speech, including a Reformed engagement with confessions, as ‘traditioned creativity’. The argument is introduced by highlighting a theological hermeneutic that underlies the Belhar confession’s accompanying letter. This discussion points towards an account of Christian discourse that is ‘traditioned’ by the past but also moves beyond the mere repetition of the tradition’s authoritative statements. The article, therefore, affirms the need to distinguish between a living tradition and a narrow traditionalism. In addition, the article also interrogates some forms of theological rhetoric in which ‘tradition’ functions to insert control over spaces and people, often exhibiting totalising discourses and over-triumphant claims.
Contribution: The conclusion links a hermeneutic of tradition (that sees Christian speech, doctrine and action as ‘traditioned creativity’) to some metaphors that can further illuminate what it means for a tradition to be open to the future in a way that displays vulnerability and vitality. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T20:27:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5377e6587ac34a9197bfc4c8fa16e7c2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0259-9422 2072-8050 |
| language | Afrikaans |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T20:27:10Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies |
| spelling | doaj.art-5377e6587ac34a9197bfc4c8fa16e7c22023-10-02T12:35:13ZafrAOSISHTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies0259-94222072-80502023-09-01792e1e610.4102/hts.v79i2.90515790Beyond mere repetition: On tradition, creativity and theological speechRobert R. Vosloo0Department of Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology, Faculty of Theology, University of Stellenbosch, StellenboschThis article argues for understanding Christian theological speech, including a Reformed engagement with confessions, as ‘traditioned creativity’. The argument is introduced by highlighting a theological hermeneutic that underlies the Belhar confession’s accompanying letter. This discussion points towards an account of Christian discourse that is ‘traditioned’ by the past but also moves beyond the mere repetition of the tradition’s authoritative statements. The article, therefore, affirms the need to distinguish between a living tradition and a narrow traditionalism. In addition, the article also interrogates some forms of theological rhetoric in which ‘tradition’ functions to insert control over spaces and people, often exhibiting totalising discourses and over-triumphant claims. Contribution: The conclusion links a hermeneutic of tradition (that sees Christian speech, doctrine and action as ‘traditioned creativity’) to some metaphors that can further illuminate what it means for a tradition to be open to the future in a way that displays vulnerability and vitality.https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/9051traditioncreativitythe belhar confessionhans urs von balthassarwillie jenningsconfessing the faithfragments |
| spellingShingle | Robert R. Vosloo Beyond mere repetition: On tradition, creativity and theological speech HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies tradition creativity the belhar confession hans urs von balthassar willie jennings confessing the faith fragments |
| title | Beyond mere repetition: On tradition, creativity and theological speech |
| title_full | Beyond mere repetition: On tradition, creativity and theological speech |
| title_fullStr | Beyond mere repetition: On tradition, creativity and theological speech |
| title_full_unstemmed | Beyond mere repetition: On tradition, creativity and theological speech |
| title_short | Beyond mere repetition: On tradition, creativity and theological speech |
| title_sort | beyond mere repetition on tradition creativity and theological speech |
| topic | tradition creativity the belhar confession hans urs von balthassar willie jennings confessing the faith fragments |
| url | https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/9051 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT robertrvosloo beyondmererepetitionontraditioncreativityandtheologicalspeech |