'Democracy is coming to the RSA': On democracy, theology, and futural historicity

Verbum et Ecclesia

 
 
Field Value
 
Title 'Democracy is coming to the RSA': On democracy, theology, and futural historicity
 
Creator Vosloo, Robert R.
 
Subject Theology; Philosophy Democracy; Derrida; De Gruchy; future; historicity
Description This article brings the concept of democracy – as an open-ended tradition – in conversation with notions dealing with historicity and the future, such as ‘democracy to come’, ‘promise’, and ‘a democratic vision’. It is argued that although these notions are rightfully associated with the future, they also imply that democracy should not be disconnected from an emphasis on an inheritance from the past. With this emphasis in mind, the first part of the article attends to the French philosopher Jacques Derrida’s intriguing term, ‘democracy to come’, whereas the second part of the article takes a closer look at some aspects of the work of the South African theologian John de Gruchy on democracy, with special reference to his distinction between a democratic system and a democratic vision. The third, and final, part of the article brings some of the insights taken from the engagement with Derrida and De Gruchy into conversation with the continuing challenges facing theological discourse on democracy in South Africa today.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: A constructive proposal is made that emphasises the futural openness of democracy in a way that challenges a vague utopianism.Keywords: Democracy; Derrida; De Gruchy; future; historicity
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor not applicable
Date 2016-05-25
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — theological inquiry; philosophical inquiry
Format text/html application/octet-stream text/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/ve.v37i1.1523
 
Source Verbum et Ecclesia; Vol 37, No 1 (2016); 7 pages 2074-7705 1609-9982
 
Language eng
 
Relation
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:

https://verbumetecclesia.org.za/index.php/ve/article/view/1523/2788 https://verbumetecclesia.org.za/index.php/ve/article/view/1523/2789 https://verbumetecclesia.org.za/index.php/ve/article/view/1523/2790 https://verbumetecclesia.org.za/index.php/ve/article/view/1523/2733
 
Coverage South Africa; Europe 20th century; 21st century not applicable
Rights Copyright (c) 2016 Robert R. Vosloo https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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