Kan J A Heyns se Sosiale Etiek ons teologies toerus vir die toekoms?

Abstract

Can J A Heyns’ Social Ethic equip us theologically for the future?
Heyns’ socio-ethical model, which is based on a "cultivar" of the Calvinistic philosophy, provides ethical stability with its theocentric anchor. However, it shows shortcomings as to flexibility and relevancy because a dialectic between deductive and inductive ways of theologizing is lacking. The use of the notion "Volksverband" (national bond) as an ethical pillar in the first chapter cannot be derived from a New Testamentical centre but can rather be connected to the theology of creational orders. Although the chapter contains important ethical directives for internal dialogue amongst (white) Afrikaners, there is very little on the economic, semiotic, restitutional and ecological facets of modem group-forming tendencies.