BLACK THEOLOGY: FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS OR A QUANTUM LEAP TOWARDS RESUSCITATION

• Jennifer Slater Systematic Theology & Theological Ethics University of South Africa

DOI: https://doi.org/10.7833/105-0-164

Abstract

Black theology traditionally presented itself, implicitly or explicitly, as an instrument for black liberation. Its proverbial silence since 1994 in South Africa raises the question whether Black Theology should be left to die a natural death, or be resuscitated. This article proposes to measure the functionality of Black Theology within the context and culture of the �new� South Africa. By so doing it will try to rescue Black Theology from its perceived dormant state as well as unravelling its current status as a theological and academic conundrum. It wishes to look at reformulating a tentative set of interpretive principles, which would serve as guidelines for validating Black Theology once again as a functional theological discipline among other credible theological disciplines. The appraisal of Black Theology will be done against its own historical strengths and weaknesses; against its own criteria as a �hands on� theology embedded within the Christian tradition. It will ascertain whether its raison d��tre can be rekindled to a renewed appropriateness.