CHRISTIAN ETHICS IN SOUTH AFRICA: LIBERAL VALUES AMONG THE PUBLIC AND ELITES

  • Hennie Kotzé Stellenbosch University
  • Reinet Loubser Stellenbosch University
Keywords: South Africa, Christianity, Liberal Values, Human Rights

Abstract

 This article uses statistical data from the World Values Survey (WVS) and the South African Opinion Leader Survey to examine liberal values and attitudes among the following samples of South Africans: Afrikaans, English, isiXhosa and isiZulu speaking Protestants, Catholics, African Independent Church (AIC) members and non-religious people (public and parliamentarians). We find that South Africans have softened in their traditionally conservative attitudes toward homosexuality, prostitution, abortion and euthanasia (but not the death penalty). We conclude that the South African public has gradually become more accepting of the liberal values of the constitution (the product of elite-driven transition to liberal democracy). That being said, South Africans have not become liberals as such and many mainline Protestants and members of the AICs (in particular) have remained fairly con-servative in their views. Additionally, elites (parliamentarians) continue to outpace the public with regards to the acceptance of liberal values and practices.

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Author Biographies

Hennie Kotzé, Stellenbosch University
Research fellow, Centre for International and Comparative Politics  
Reinet Loubser, Stellenbosch University
Researcher, Centre for International and Comparative Politics
Published
2018-05-25
Section
Articles