Dion Forster
Biographic Data
| ID | 3982289 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Dion Forster |
| GIVEN NAMES | Dion |
| FAMILY NAME | Forster |
| SIGNATURE | FORSTER D |
| AFFILIATIONS | Stellenbosch University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-7292-6203 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 22 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 4 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 22 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2010 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Decolonizing Wesleyan Theology
Unearthing fault lines and tracing shifts
This article examines how Christian responses to COVID-19 mitigation measures in South Africa unveiled political and theological fault lines within two constituent Christian groups. Through an analysis of typological examples, including the Christian Revival Church (CRC) and the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), known for oppositional stances towards state measures and scientific veracity, and the South African Council of Churches (SACC)…
Reimagining forgiveness
How can one work towards the transformation of the social imagination of forgiveness among racially divided South African Christians, with the focus on the White participants, through a process of intercultural Bible reading of Matthew 18:15-35? The study highlights therole of local congregations as both sites of constraint and transformation. The research involves two Methodist churches that are institutionally united (sharing the same doctrine,…
Reading from this place? A personal reckoning with whiteness and Bible scholarship
This article offers a critical autoethnographic engagement with the enduring influence of whiteness in biblical scholarship. The author, a white South African New Testament scholar, reflects on how his theological formation and social location (which is marked by institutional privilege and Eurocentric frameworks), shaped his early interpretive practices and hindered more just, contextual readings of Scripture. Drawing on Welile Mazamisa’s challe…
Public Theology in the Secular State
The ordinary and the mystical? Exploring the intersections of Spirituality and Public Theology
This article starts from the premise that the ordinary is the mystical. It does so by delving into the dynamic relationship between Spirituality and Public Theology against the backdrop of Christianity’s societal roles. It explores how Christian theology extends beyond private faith to address broad societal issues. Through a critical examination of Public Theology’s distinct contributions to contemporary discussions, the article emphasises the n…
African theological perspectives on intersubjective identity
Developments in Strong Artificial Intelligence (AI) raise important questions about human identity. Of particular interest is how AI challenges the idea that human identity can be collapsed, without remainder, into the individual. In African theological anthropology there is an emphasis upon intersubjective relationality as a key aspect in the formation and understanding of human identity and uniqueness. This article explores the intersections of…
Ukuthwasa in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa
The postcolonial era has brought a renewed appreciation of African Indigenous Religion and culture among some Southern African Christians. However, because of Southern Africa’s colonial religious heritage, some African Christians are opposed to a constructive engagement with African religiosity and practice. Others seem to operate with a double consciousness—participating in African Indigenous religious ceremonies and holding African religious be…
Covid-19, racism and the ‘state of exception’? A theological ethical engagement with identity and human rights in an age of ‘Corona’ and beyond
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the role that religion and politics play at the intersection with individual and social rights. Religiously informed political actors capitalised on fears and prejudices to further science denialism, normalise nationalist ideologies, and curtail human rights. In the United States of America, Brazil, and South Africa, it took the form of problematic political theologies. In many instances, a state of exception, as…
Born Free? South African Young Adults, Inequality, and Reconciliation in Stellenbosch
Despite the demise of apartheid, economic inequality remains racially skewed in South Africa. For young people born either shortly before or after 1994, the official demise of apartheid—termed “born frees”—we must ask whether they are indeed “free” of the social and economic constraints of the past. How does ongoing inequality color notions of reconciliation and restitution twenty-five years later? This article focuses on the context of Christian…
African Public Theology? A conceptual engagement to keep the conversation alive
Interest in Public Theology is growing across the African continent. However, there are some important critiques of Public Theology and public theologians in Africa and from Africa. This article outlines three important critiques of Public Theology within the variety of African contexts. Having done so, it seeks to engage in a process of critical reflection on the two constituent concepts related to an ‘African Public Theology’. First, it conside…
Post-foundational theology and the contribution of African approaches to consciousness and identity
How do we know who we are? What sources can we draw upon in order to explain and understand the complex notions of identity and consciousness? This article revisits this debate and argues that African approaches the consciousness and identity cohere with Wentzel van Huyssteen’s post-foundational theology. Post-foundational theology offers a transverse rationality that operates between explanatory power and truth. The impetus for the research that…
I Must Honestly Confess That I Am Afraid of You”
Fear is a global phenomenon that impacts individuals, institutions, and nations. Fear is associated with the experience of some form of threat, for example, the fear of a specific enemy. The increase in socio-political uprisings in many contexts around the world is contributing towards an environment of violence, insecurity, and fear. Such situations, challenge preachers to preach in ways that the Christian tradition characterises as “prophetic p…
A politics of forgiveness? Engaging the ontological and the structural in the dialogical theology of John de Gruchy
Forgiveness is a deeply contested theological notion in contemporary South African theology and society. The same could be said for South African theologies of reconciliation, of which forgiveness is considered to be a part. Some claim that these concepts have been weakened, abused, and corrupted. In particular, there are doubts whether forgiveness holds any theological or social value at present. John de Gruchy has devoted a great deal of time a…
Reflecting on the nature of work in contemporary South Africa
This article argues for a rediscovery of a theology of work in South Africa that is based on the Protestant notion of calling and vocation. Such a view has the primary intention of emphasising obedience and faithfulness to God rather than self-fulfilment or achievement as the intentions of work. Such an approach can empower and equip the church and individual Christians for effective and faithful living in all spheres of life – both private and p…
State Theology and Political Populism? A Kairos Critique of Religious Populism in South Africa
A Social Imagination of Forgiveness
This article studies the complexity of understandings of forgiveness among a sample of Black and White South Africans within the context of an empirical intercultural Bible reading process. We will first focus on the foundation upon which the study is predicated—namely that the social imagination of forgiveness is deeply contested among South Africans. Next, we will discuss the approach that the study took to gather the necessary data, and analys…
Revival, Revolution and Reform in Global Methodism
This article will begin with a discussion of the distinctive ways in which the notion of Christian perfection is understood in Southern African Methodism by reflecting on how Methodists in Southern Africa have understood, perhaps even misunderstood, the emphasis on “social holiness” as a Christian response to the oppression of colonialism and apartheid on the African continent. It is contended that this understanding could be classified as a form…
New directions in evangelical Christianities
This article presents an analysis of some contemporary trends and developments in evangelical theologies and movements. This is of importance to members of Christian groups, Christian leaders and academics, since we have seen how forms of evangelicalism have shifted political realities, split historical denominations and altered global perspectives on Christianities. The article argues that contemporary trends and developments in evangelical theo…
Justice and the Missional Framework Document of the Dutch Reformed Church
This article engages with the Missional Framework Document of the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) from the perspectives of solidarity with the poor and justice for South African society. The democratic South Africa continues to face significant socio-economic problems and an increasingly dissatisfied population. In the light of this, the article presents an introductory conversation with the Missional Framework Document in order to ask whether it off…
What hope is there for South Africa? A public theological reflection on the role of the church as a bearer of hope for the future
What hope is there for South Africa? What role can the church play as a bearer of hope in South Africa? This article seeks to address these important questions. Firstly, it problematises the contemporary notion of hope in South Africa by showing that it is a complex theological and social concept. Next, a nuanced understanding of hope is presented by adopting a public theological methodology that brings dominant theological perspectives on eschat…
African relational ontology, individual identity, and Christian theology
African theology has a great deal to contribute to the theological discourse on human identity. Relationships are central to the formation, expression and understanding of who an individual person is. The African philosophy of ubuntu, more accurately expressed as umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu (a person is a person through other persons), affirms the critical understanding that identity arises out of intersubjective interactions between persons. This p…
I Must Honestly Confess That I Am Afraid of You”
Fear is a global phenomenon that impacts individuals, institutions, and nations. Fear is associated with the experience of some form of threat, for example, the fear of a specific enemy. The increase in socio-political uprisings in many contexts around the world is contributing towards an environment of violence, insecurity, and fear. Such situations, challenge preachers to preach in ways that the Christian tradition characterises as “prophetic p…
State Theology and Political Populism? A Kairos Critique of Religious Populism in South Africa
New directions in evangelical Christianities
This article presents an analysis of some contemporary trends and developments in evangelical theologies and movements. This is of importance to members of Christian groups, Christian leaders and academics, since we have seen how forms of evangelicalism have shifted political realities, split historical denominations and altered global perspectives on Christianities. The article argues that contemporary trends and developments in evangelical theo…
Justice and the Missional Framework Document of the Dutch Reformed Church
This article engages with the Missional Framework Document of the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) from the perspectives of solidarity with the poor and justice for South African society. The democratic South Africa continues to face significant socio-economic problems and an increasingly dissatisfied population. In the light of this, the article presents an introductory conversation with the Missional Framework Document in order to ask whether it off…
African relational ontology, individual identity, and Christian theology
African theology has a great deal to contribute to the theological discourse on human identity. Relationships are central to the formation, expression and understanding of who an individual person is. The African philosophy of ubuntu, more accurately expressed as umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu (a person is a person through other persons), affirms the critical understanding that identity arises out of intersubjective interactions between persons. This p…
What hope is there for South Africa? A public theological reflection on the role of the church as a bearer of hope for the future
What hope is there for South Africa? What role can the church play as a bearer of hope in South Africa? This article seeks to address these important questions. Firstly, it problematises the contemporary notion of hope in South Africa by showing that it is a complex theological and social concept. Next, a nuanced understanding of hope is presented by adopting a public theological methodology that brings dominant theological perspectives on eschat…
Justice and the Missional Framework Document of the Dutch Reformed Church
This article engages with the Missional Framework Document of the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) from the perspectives of solidarity with the poor and justice for South African society. The democratic South Africa continues to face significant socio-economic problems and an increasingly dissatisfied population. In the light of this, the article presents an introductory conversation with the Missional Framework Document in order to ask whether it off…
A Social Imagination of Forgiveness
This article studies the complexity of understandings of forgiveness among a sample of Black and White South Africans within the context of an empirical intercultural Bible reading process. We will first focus on the foundation upon which the study is predicated—namely that the social imagination of forgiveness is deeply contested among South Africans. Next, we will discuss the approach that the study took to gather the necessary data, and analys…
Revival, Revolution and Reform in Global Methodism
This article will begin with a discussion of the distinctive ways in which the notion of Christian perfection is understood in Southern African Methodism by reflecting on how Methodists in Southern Africa have understood, perhaps even misunderstood, the emphasis on “social holiness” as a Christian response to the oppression of colonialism and apartheid on the African continent. It is contended that this understanding could be classified as a form…
New directions in evangelical Christianities
This article presents an analysis of some contemporary trends and developments in evangelical theologies and movements. This is of importance to members of Christian groups, Christian leaders and academics, since we have seen how forms of evangelicalism have shifted political realities, split historical denominations and altered global perspectives on Christianities. The article argues that contemporary trends and developments in evangelical theo…
A politics of forgiveness? Engaging the ontological and the structural in the dialogical theology of John de Gruchy
Forgiveness is a deeply contested theological notion in contemporary South African theology and society. The same could be said for South African theologies of reconciliation, of which forgiveness is considered to be a part. Some claim that these concepts have been weakened, abused, and corrupted. In particular, there are doubts whether forgiveness holds any theological or social value at present. John de Gruchy has devoted a great deal of time a…
Reflecting on the nature of work in contemporary South Africa
This article argues for a rediscovery of a theology of work in South Africa that is based on the Protestant notion of calling and vocation. Such a view has the primary intention of emphasising obedience and faithfulness to God rather than self-fulfilment or achievement as the intentions of work. Such an approach can empower and equip the church and individual Christians for effective and faithful living in all spheres of life – both private and p…
State Theology and Political Populism? A Kairos Critique of Religious Populism in South Africa
Post-foundational theology and the contribution of African approaches to consciousness and identity
How do we know who we are? What sources can we draw upon in order to explain and understand the complex notions of identity and consciousness? This article revisits this debate and argues that African approaches the consciousness and identity cohere with Wentzel van Huyssteen’s post-foundational theology. Post-foundational theology offers a transverse rationality that operates between explanatory power and truth. The impetus for the research that…
I Must Honestly Confess That I Am Afraid of You”
Fear is a global phenomenon that impacts individuals, institutions, and nations. Fear is associated with the experience of some form of threat, for example, the fear of a specific enemy. The increase in socio-political uprisings in many contexts around the world is contributing towards an environment of violence, insecurity, and fear. Such situations, challenge preachers to preach in ways that the Christian tradition characterises as “prophetic p…
Born Free? South African Young Adults, Inequality, and Reconciliation in Stellenbosch
Despite the demise of apartheid, economic inequality remains racially skewed in South Africa. For young people born either shortly before or after 1994, the official demise of apartheid—termed “born frees”—we must ask whether they are indeed “free” of the social and economic constraints of the past. How does ongoing inequality color notions of reconciliation and restitution twenty-five years later? This article focuses on the context of Christian…
African Public Theology? A conceptual engagement to keep the conversation alive
Interest in Public Theology is growing across the African continent. However, there are some important critiques of Public Theology and public theologians in Africa and from Africa. This article outlines three important critiques of Public Theology within the variety of African contexts. Having done so, it seeks to engage in a process of critical reflection on the two constituent concepts related to an ‘African Public Theology’. First, it conside…
African theological perspectives on intersubjective identity
Developments in Strong Artificial Intelligence (AI) raise important questions about human identity. Of particular interest is how AI challenges the idea that human identity can be collapsed, without remainder, into the individual. In African theological anthropology there is an emphasis upon intersubjective relationality as a key aspect in the formation and understanding of human identity and uniqueness. This article explores the intersections of…
Ukuthwasa in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa
The postcolonial era has brought a renewed appreciation of African Indigenous Religion and culture among some Southern African Christians. However, because of Southern Africa’s colonial religious heritage, some African Christians are opposed to a constructive engagement with African religiosity and practice. Others seem to operate with a double consciousness—participating in African Indigenous religious ceremonies and holding African religious be…
Covid-19, racism and the ‘state of exception’? A theological ethical engagement with identity and human rights in an age of ‘Corona’ and beyond
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the role that religion and politics play at the intersection with individual and social rights. Religiously informed political actors capitalised on fears and prejudices to further science denialism, normalise nationalist ideologies, and curtail human rights. In the United States of America, Brazil, and South Africa, it took the form of problematic political theologies. In many instances, a state of exception, as…
The ordinary and the mystical? Exploring the intersections of Spirituality and Public Theology
This article starts from the premise that the ordinary is the mystical. It does so by delving into the dynamic relationship between Spirituality and Public Theology against the backdrop of Christianity’s societal roles. It explores how Christian theology extends beyond private faith to address broad societal issues. Through a critical examination of Public Theology’s distinct contributions to contemporary discussions, the article emphasises the n…
Unearthing fault lines and tracing shifts
This article examines how Christian responses to COVID-19 mitigation measures in South Africa unveiled political and theological fault lines within two constituent Christian groups. Through an analysis of typological examples, including the Christian Revival Church (CRC) and the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), known for oppositional stances towards state measures and scientific veracity, and the South African Council of Churches (SACC)…
Reimagining forgiveness
How can one work towards the transformation of the social imagination of forgiveness among racially divided South African Christians, with the focus on the White participants, through a process of intercultural Bible reading of Matthew 18:15-35? The study highlights therole of local congregations as both sites of constraint and transformation. The research involves two Methodist churches that are institutionally united (sharing the same doctrine,…
Reading from this place? A personal reckoning with whiteness and Bible scholarship
This article offers a critical autoethnographic engagement with the enduring influence of whiteness in biblical scholarship. The author, a white South African New Testament scholar, reflects on how his theological formation and social location (which is marked by institutional privilege and Eurocentric frameworks), shaped his early interpretive practices and hindered more just, contextual readings of Scripture. Drawing on Welile Mazamisa’s challe…
Public Theology in the Secular State
Decolonizing Wesleyan Theology
Sociology (18 works) · Christian Theology and Mission (16 works) · Philosophy (16 works) · Religion, Society, and Development (14 works) · Political science (13 works) · Law (12 works) · Theology (11 works) · Politics (9 works) · Epistemology (8 works) · Theological Perspectives and Practices (7 works)