Oor tradisie, hermeneutiek en wetenskap: mistastings in Sakkie Spangenberg se lesing van Geloof sonder sekerhede

Abstract

This is article is the response of the author of Geloof sonder sekerhede: besinning vir eietydse gelowiges (Faith without certainties: reflextion for contemporary believers) to the critical article about this book by Sakkie Spangenberg in a previous issue of the NGTT (Postmoderne Bybelwetenskap en die Christelike godsdiens – kanttekeninge by die boek Geloof sonder sekerhede: besinning vir eietydse gelowiges, Ned Geref Teologiese Tydskrif, 48 (1&2). Maart en Junie 2007. 188-201). The author deals with five themes in response to Spangenberg’s criticisms: 1. The relationship between the author and the “New Reformers†in South Africa (of which Spangenberg is a prominent member); 2. The author’s problems with Spangenberg’s view of theology and the inconsistency of his idea of “Biblical sciencesâ€; 3. The author’s view about the hermeneutical conditions of text interpretation and theology; 4. The author’s problems with Spangenberg’s notion of “scienceâ€, and 5. The author’s reaction to Spangenberg’s reporoach that he (the author) engages in a traditionalist theology that is only focused on “heaven†and has little relevance for the everyday world in which we live.