Can Christians really make a difference? A response to the call for change to make the world a better place
Christianity changed the world for the better through the development of education, charity organisations, art, music, law and medical care among others. However, not all changes initiated by Christianity were positive. The Christian religion was also responsible for division, death, destruction and...
| Principais autores: | , , , , |
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| Formato: | Artigo |
| Idioma: | Afrikaans |
| Publicado em: |
AOSIS
2017-04-01
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| coleção: | HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies |
| Assuntos: | |
| Acesso em linha: | https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/4351 |
| _version_ | 1831873675276582912 |
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| author | Erna Oliver Vusi Tshabele Floris Baartman Alfred Masooa Lorna Laister |
| author_facet | Erna Oliver Vusi Tshabele Floris Baartman Alfred Masooa Lorna Laister |
| author_sort | Erna Oliver |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Christianity changed the world for the better through the development of education, charity organisations, art, music, law and medical care among others. However, not all changes initiated by Christianity were positive. The Christian religion was also responsible for division, death, destruction and war. Focusing on the positive changes, nearly 500 years after the reformation though, it seems as if Christianity has lost its renewing and transformative powers. It seems as if society, politics and the economy are pressurising Christianity to conform to the world and not the other way round. Therefore, the research focuses on the question whether Christians can bring about positive change and transformation to the current problems in society. What can Christians do to provide a religious response to current persistent societal problems? Change agents – people who drive positive change – are capable and competent, make use of networks, are visible and contactable and are often also outsiders in the communities they serve. Examples of the work done by change agents – Christians within their local communities – through small-scale community projects are showcased here to suggest possible ways forward for dealing with persistent problems from a Christian point of view. |
| first_indexed | 2025-03-21T20:16:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e62fbd2e6ba541da9378b51b3f9a2f6f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0259-9422 2072-8050 |
| language | Afrikaans |
| last_indexed | 2025-03-21T20:16:21Z |
| publishDate | 2017-04-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies |
| spelling | doaj.art-e62fbd2e6ba541da9378b51b3f9a2f6f2024-06-02T09:27:08ZafrAOSISHTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies0259-94222072-80502017-04-01733e1e1110.4102/hts.v73i3.43513812Can Christians really make a difference? A response to the call for change to make the world a better placeErna Oliver0Vusi Tshabele1Floris Baartman2Alfred Masooa3Lorna Laister4Department of Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology, University of South AfricaDepartment of Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology, University of South AfricaDepartment of Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology, University of South AfricaDepartment of Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology, University of South AfricaDepartment of Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology, University of South AfricaChristianity changed the world for the better through the development of education, charity organisations, art, music, law and medical care among others. However, not all changes initiated by Christianity were positive. The Christian religion was also responsible for division, death, destruction and war. Focusing on the positive changes, nearly 500 years after the reformation though, it seems as if Christianity has lost its renewing and transformative powers. It seems as if society, politics and the economy are pressurising Christianity to conform to the world and not the other way round. Therefore, the research focuses on the question whether Christians can bring about positive change and transformation to the current problems in society. What can Christians do to provide a religious response to current persistent societal problems? Change agents – people who drive positive change – are capable and competent, make use of networks, are visible and contactable and are often also outsiders in the communities they serve. Examples of the work done by change agents – Christians within their local communities – through small-scale community projects are showcased here to suggest possible ways forward for dealing with persistent problems from a Christian point of view.https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/4351Christian ReligionChange agentSecond reformationsocial changespiritual leadertransformationcommunity engagementUbuntu |
| spellingShingle | Erna Oliver Vusi Tshabele Floris Baartman Alfred Masooa Lorna Laister Can Christians really make a difference? A response to the call for change to make the world a better place HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies Christian Religion Change agent Second reformation social change spiritual leader transformation community engagement Ubuntu |
| title | Can Christians really make a difference? A response to the call for change to make the world a better place |
| title_full | Can Christians really make a difference? A response to the call for change to make the world a better place |
| title_fullStr | Can Christians really make a difference? A response to the call for change to make the world a better place |
| title_full_unstemmed | Can Christians really make a difference? A response to the call for change to make the world a better place |
| title_short | Can Christians really make a difference? A response to the call for change to make the world a better place |
| title_sort | can christians really make a difference a response to the call for change to make the world a better place |
| topic | Christian Religion Change agent Second reformation social change spiritual leader transformation community engagement Ubuntu |
| url | https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/4351 |
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