SOME THOUGHTS ON ‘PUBLIC THEOLOGY’ AND ITS RELEVANCE FOR THE SOUTH AFRICAN CONTEXT

Abstract

This essay explores the notion of "Public Theology" as developed in the North American context. It is explained in terms of the effort by theologians to regain some form of "public space" that was lost due to theology's marginalization and privatization after modernity. How this displacement of religion came about is briefly explained with reference to the shift in the idea of the "public" in classical Greek culture and modern secular societies respectively. Thereafter three traits of a public theology is highlighted: its mode of argumentation, accessible style of communication, and its focus on contemporary social issues. The paper closes with a few remarks about the importance of a public theology in SA since the establishment of a liberal, democratic dispensation.