Die promovering van kinderregte : 'n prakties-teologiese ondersoek

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: All children should be regarded and treated with dignity. Children's rights have beenestablished in the international community as well as in South African society to address anyviolations of children's rights and any detrimental influence this can have on them. Theresponsibility of ensuring that the rights of children are implemented, respected and protectedin civil society lies primarily with the national government. Nevertheless, the struggle torealise children's rights extends across all sectors and levels of society.As part of the theological task of developing a publicly orientated ministry that will addressthe social circumstances of children in South Africa in a just way, this study took as its pointof departure the contribution that Practical Theology can make towards a systematic andcritical interpretation of the cause of children and their welfare and rights.At the time that the study was launched there was limited comprehensive analysis of thesubject of children in Practical Theology that devoted attention to a theological response tothe promotion of children's welfare and rights in South African society. Two lacunae in thetheorising on children were identified in South African academic studies in PracticalTheology: (i) a lack of focus on children and their rights, and (ii) a general absence ofstrategic perspectives on how the theological community can deal with the contextualrealities of children in South African society.The primary aim of this study was to develop a theoretical framework in terms of which thecontribution of Practical Theology could be conceptualised as a discourse and practice thatcould promote the cause of children and their welfare and rights. David Tracy's three publicsof theological involvement (the academy, the church and civil society) and Richard Osmer'sconceptualisation of the four modes of practical theological interpretation (empiricaldescriptive,interpretive, normative and pragmatic) were harnessed in an interdisciplinary wayto develop a deeper understanding of the welfare of children and the importance of a practicaltheological approach to advancement of children's welfare and rights. On the basis of Tracy'sand Osmer's conceptual frameworks, a number of conditions were identified to promote thecause of children, child welfare and children's rights in the discipline of Practical Theology inSchools of Theology and Religion. These conditions include a third public mode of practicaltheological interpretation being adopted, a culture of adultism being confronted and transformed, and children's acts of faith becoming an integral part of the field of PracticalTheology.On the basis of an empirical investigation among registered members of the Society forPractical Theology in South Africa, the study comes to the conclusion that the academic fieldof Practical Theology, in its interaction with communities and civil society, can make aunique contribution to the advancement of children's rights. The fundamental contribution ofthe academic field of Practical Theology to the advancement of children's rights in SouthAfrica recide in focussing on the inclusion of the cause of children in theological interpretation;by implication this will entail actively countering the exclusion of children in theologicaldiscourse and praxis in the field of Practical Theology.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University