<i>Ubuntu</i>, <i>koinonia</i> and <i>diakonia</i>, a way to reconciliation in South Africa?

Abstract

This article seeks to contribute to the process of reconciliation in South Africa. This is achieved by firstly exploring the meaning of ubuntu as a common culture or religion under a large percentage of South Africa’s people over the borders of language and other cultural values. In the second part of the article two concepts that play a major role in Christianity are explored, namely koinonia and diakonia. Again a large percentage of South Africans believe that the Bible is the Word of God in which the right way of living is described. A comparison is made between the core values of ubuntu and the way of living that emerges from the use of the two concepts of koinonia and diakonia in the New Testament. A way that can contribute to reconciliation is suggested from this comparison.

Reconstructing communities and individuals after conflict and violence: An avant-garde quest for a forgiveness process that includes koinonia and diakonia

“…The concept of group solidarity offers both sad and joyous moments that are communally shared and celebrated. A valued description of ubuntu is made by Breed and Semenya (2015:2) that 'a person is a person because of others'. It could be defined as an all-inclusive and other-oriented African worldview grounded on the fundamental principles of humanity and compassion in the quest for peaceful living to ensure a nonviolent community life in the spirit of the family (Denton 2018a:6; cf.…”

Core aspects of ubuntu: A systematic review

“…This ethical theory is based on a (totemic) system whereby an individual ought to see him-/herself as related and interrelated with the spiritual world on the vertical line, as well as other non-human species and the wider environment on the horizontal line. [28,56,68,[76][77][78][79][80][81][82] Breems [11] and Dolamo [80] imply that ntu has continuities with other categories -the REVIEW unborn, plants, animals, spirits, transcendent or supernatural forces, and so on. Forster [68] expresses this differently: 'the unity and harmony of personhood expressed in ubuntu stretches from the world seen through the naked eye to the world of ancestors, the spirit world.…”

“…An interdependent community is one in which individuals can only discover who they are through others, while recognising the distinctive identity of individuals. [79] Finally, interdependence/interconnection also means that one's humanity is caught up or inextricably bound up with and intertwined in, that of others. [28,54,92,105] For this reason, when a community is broken, the individual is also broken.…”

Theologies of Childhood and the Children of Africa

“…Children who grow up in the religion of worshipping the forefathers find it very difficult to understand the concept of one Lord and saviour (Breed & Semenya 2015):…”

“…In research and in ministry, children were neglected or limited to a few aspects of the ministry for very long. Children should be fully integrated in the ministry of the church, and research should establish a well-founded theology of children from which a sound ministry can be deducted (Breed & Kruger 2014;Dean 2010:25-42;Grobbelaar 2008:139-190;Strommen & Hardel 2008).…”