’n Teologies-etiese beoordeling van aftrede

Abstract

A theological-ethical judgement of retirement
Although retirement is a relatively new phenomenon on the la- bour scene, it is a phenomenon that is generally accepted. Re- tirement is only possible when people live long enough to retire and when there is enough financial provision to live without hav- ing to work. Older-growing populations coupled with a shortage of finances has in recent times led to a re-evaluation of retire- ment. In this article, retirement is judged theological-ethically with the aim to give biblical guidance to different role players on what their attitude toward retirement should be. Firstly, the historical development of retirement is explored after which the reasons why people retire are discussed. This is fol- lowed by an exploration of biblical principles regarding work and retirement. The most important principle is that God has created man as an ever-working being. The reasons why people retire are judged in the light of the set principles. The fall of man and the resulting consequences offer numerous reasons why peo- ple have to retire. The point of reference, however, should al- ways be that man should work as long as his abilities allow him to.