20.01.2015 Views

Haase_UZ_x007E_DTh (2).pdf - South African Theological Seminary

Haase_UZ_x007E_DTh (2).pdf - South African Theological Seminary

Haase_UZ_x007E_DTh (2).pdf - South African Theological Seminary

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

15<br />

autonomy proper to human reason and clearly delineated the spheres of faith and reason,<br />

maintaining the importance of philosophy and the sciences even for theology” (Cross,<br />

1997:1615). At times, the Bible was subordinated to human reasoning, at other times the<br />

reverse. All the while, animistic beliefs remained deeply imbedded in the worldview of<br />

many people. A strong medieval state-church made for a Christianized culture, but<br />

produced a Christian veneer that could not root out animistic beliefs and practices across<br />

the Occident.<br />

Modernity<br />

People periodically wonder about their reason for being, or raison d'être, and whether<br />

their life is as good as it could, or should be. There are times when traditions and<br />

conventions no longer satisfy, so people look elsewhere for answers. The prevailing<br />

worldview of the pre-modern period satisfied many, but hardly all, and the unsettled<br />

among them began to search for answers beyond the accepted norms of the day. Scholars<br />

now more widely agree that periods of cultural and intellectual renaissance do occur<br />

periodically, especially driven by discontent, and/or troubles of some kind. Historians<br />

now usually differentiate several renaissance periods in Europe, such as the 12 th Century<br />

Renaissance, or the Carolingian Renaissance.<br />

The pre-modern period was a time across Europe when religious dogmatism and<br />

fanaticism were common. “Prior to the enlightenment life in all its stratifications and<br />

ramifications was pervaded with religion” (Bosch, 2000:267). Christianity and the<br />

various animistic beliefs of pre-Christian Europe were still quite enmeshed. At times,<br />

people were imprisoned for not attending church. All publications were thoroughly<br />

scrutinized and anything not in accord with the teachings of the church were subject to<br />

censorship and/or destruction (Durant, 1961:580). Creating and publishing unauthorized<br />

versions of the Bible (e.g., Wycliffe), could mean death.<br />

University of Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal, <strong>South</strong> Africa

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!