’n Prakties-teologiese besinning oor die versteuring van die luisteraksie deur persepsies en die rol van preekgesprekke as dialogisering

Abstract

Uit die kerklike praksis blyk dat prediking wat dikwels goed bedoel word en op biddende wyse gelewer word, voor die hindernis van persepsies stuit wat dan verlammend op die luisteraksie inwerk. Tussen die blote hoor van en ’n diepgaande luister na die prediking bestaan ’n groot verskil. In die lig hiervan word die volgende navorsingsvraag vir hierdie navorsing geformuleer: In hoe ’n mate begelei predikers hulle hoorders op ’n dialogiserende manier in die kuns om werklik te kan luister, sodat dít wat gesê en bedoel is die hoorders se persepsies kan beïnvloed? Ten einde hierdie navorsingsvraag te beantwoord, word die probleemveld vanuit verskillende prakties-teologiese invalshoeke verken. Metateoretiese perspektiewe vanuit die veld van die Sosiale Psigologie en Kommunikasiekunde word ook gebruik om daardeur insig oor die vorming van en die selektiewe aard van persepsies te verkry. In die ondersoek na normatiewe gesigspunte word die dialogiserende prediking en argumentasie vanuit Handelinge 17 en 19 verken. Die navorser kom tot die konklusie dat persepsies oor die prediker en die prediking verlammend kan inwerk en selfs daartoe aanleiding kan gee dat hoorders die kerk verlaat. Verder is ook bevind dat dialoog voor die preeklewering, die dialogiese gerigtheid van die prediking as deel van die liturgie van die gemeente, asook die preekgesprekke na afloop van die prediking, daartoe kan meewerk dat verkeerde persepsies reggestel word. Hierdeur word die gemeente ’n pratende gemeenskap wat van diepgaande kommunikasie leef.

From the ecclesiastical praxis it seems that preaching faces hindrances caused by negative perceptions, regardless of the good intentions of preachers and the interdependence between prayer and preaching. There is a vast difference between hearing sermons and listening to sermons. In the light of this problematic praxis, the following research question has been formulated: To what extent do preachers equip their listeners in a dialogue situation to listen profoundly with the object to influence the perceptions of listeners about the preacher and the preaching? In order to address this research question, the problem is investigated by taking into account the present practical theological vantage points concerning this field. This research field is further explored by trying to get a grasp on metatheoretical perspectives from the fields of Social Psychology and Communication Sciences. The author tries to investigate the difficult process of forming perceptions as well as the selective nature of perceptions. In an investigation into normative vantage points, perspectives from Acts 17 and 19 are explored with regard to the role of dialogue in Paul’s preaching. The researcher comes to the conclusion that negative perceptions are indeed endangering the ecclesiastical praxis and can even cause listeners to leave the church. Preachers should utilise dialogue in preparing their sermons; focusing on the dialogic nature of preaching in the context of the liturgy. In addition, preachers should endeavour to stimulate feedback after delivering of their sermons in order to rectify fallacious perceptions. Congregations should become communities nurtured by profound communication.