Woord en werklikheid in die moderne Praktiese Teologie

Abstract

Since the Second World War South African society has become more and more complex. The uniformity of life style, value systems and religious mind has faded away. Ministry has become a pluriform and heterogeneous praxis. The diaconiological approach to Practical Theology, stressing knowledge of the Word of God as vital for theorising about the ministry, is a valid one. In the light of the complex situation in the practice of ministry, knowledge of this field is also vital. A contextual approach to praxis has left us with biased insights because its interests are profoundly political. A theological-empirical approach for research of the practical side of ministry is proposed in order to obtain a balanced relationship between Word and reality. A theological-empirical approach implies the study of ministry in which the Word of God can be heard through the ministry in the real situation of the contemporary South African life-world.