Keywords:
Empiriese Hermeneutiek, Multikulturaliteit, Interkulturaliteit, Bybelse Hermeneutiek, Suid-Afrikaanse samelewing, Empirical
Hermeneutics, Multiculturality, Interculturality, Biblical Hermeneutics, South
African society
Abstract
Living as a family in South Africa: Intercultural
Bible study as a transformational power in societyThis
contribution describes a research project in empirical hermeneutics which departed
from the hypothesis that a development of hermeneutical skills among Christian
communities for reading the Bible together with “the Other” could contribute
significantly towards the fostering of interculturality in the broader South African
society. Additionally, it was hypothesized that the studying of the dynamics of
intercultural Bible reading could provide us with better insight into the dynamics
of a shift from multiculturality to interculturality. The present article reports on
the results achieved in the investigation. It has been established that fear for and
a lack of knowledge of “the Other” are important reasons for the lack of
interculturality in society. It has also been confirmed that the Bible – as liminal
“meeting place” for people from different cultures – can foster a sense of family
and hospitality in the South African nation.
