Down & out : parallels and divergences in structure and method between the theological responses of Martin Luther and contextual theologies to their times.
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Date
2004
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Abstract
The thesis compares the structure of the theological responses of Martin Luther and contextual
theologies , especially those of Juan Luis Segundo and Albert Nolan. The structure of the theologies
are described using concepts derived from the methodologies of research programmes developed by
Imre Lakatos. The social and ideological background of the ruling ideology of Luther's time (medieval
Catholicism) and that of contextual theologies (neo-colonial capitalism) are presented . Parallels are
found in that the ruling ideology utilises a monopoly on legitimating authority to orientate the life
energies of people to achieving legitimation in terms of norms set up by the ruling class. These norms
result in a an exchange of work for legitimation, and so exploit people. This constitutes an 'in and up'
theology: Resources are drawn in in order to climb up to a position of legitimation . Both Luther and
contextual theologies respond by reversing this pattern, decoupling legitimation from the norms of the
ruling class and the work of people. They constitute 'down and out' theologies: God, the legitimator,
is down with people, and because legitimation is given freely to people down where they are, energies
flow out to serve the common good. Dissimilarities between Luther and Contextual Theologies are
found in the locus of legitimation (individual vs. social), the role of faith, and the negative heuristic
(dialectic of the cross vs. transformation of the system). It is argued that the difference in negative
heuristic is mainly responsible for the perennial nature and conservatism of Lutheran Theology versus
the rapid demise of South African contextual theology. The results of the investigation show that the
conceptual structure of Lakatos' epistemology, coupled with an analysis of the flow of legitimation and
orientation, is useful in structuring and evaluating theological systems on the questions where does
legitimation come from, where to does the theology orientate, and how are orientation and legitimation
linked. These questions may be seen as a new way of formulating the lawl gospel distinction of
classical Lutheran theology.
Description
Thesis (M.Th.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.
Keywords
Theses--Theology., Contextual Theology--South Africa., Luther, Martin, 1483-1546--Theology.