Social Responsibility with Respect to Religion and Migration in South Africa

Settler, Federico; Mpofu, Buhle

doi:10.17159/2413-3027/2017/v30n2a1

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 11 publications

(5 reference statements)

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“…These changes call for historically situated interventions as most of the challenges in contemporary social and economic structures are a product of historical socio-economic and political context. The experience of migration sets the agenda not only as a barometer for socio-economic organisation (see Mpofu & Settler 2017), but also for the church's missional activities as the experience of migration constitutes the mission-ecclesial hermeneutical tool for responding to some contextual challenges in society. It is in managing and celebrating the diversity of our communities that the Church can find its meaningful expression of worshiping God, but such a positive approach towards the situation of migration will not come naturally -it will require concerted efforts from all of us to address exclusion and discrimination in all its forms.…”

Section: I'm Somali and I'm Christian: A Dilemma For Religion And Identity In The Context Of Migration In Southern Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

I’m Somali and I’m Christian: A dilemma for religion and identity in the context of migration in Southern Africa

Mpofu

2021

HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies

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This contribution is one of a series that aimed at publishing significant findings from the research conducted for a PhD study where emerging themes were isolated and discussed. During one of the focus group conversations, Abdul (not his real name) explained how his Somali-Christian identity presented a dilemma whilst he lived with fellow Muslim Somali nationals when he was displaced during the 2015 xenophobic violence in Johannesburg. Firstly, this contribution discusses a general overview of the situation of migration and then his situation is explored from the themes, which emerged from this study from the lens of bicultural and acculturation processes of identity formation. Although this was not a representative sample of male foreign migrant experiences, analysing Abdul’s situation within a post-colonial and bicultural acculturation paradigm revealed the ‘embedded’ trajectories at the interface between religion, identity and migration in social and economic processes of transformation. Sketching Abdul’s experiences through these lenses also generated contested processes on the interface of religion and identity that reflect the significance of the role played by religion in identity constructions which are open to change (and sometimes present a dilemma), as life circumstances fluctuate with complex interactions in search of survival strategies to ward off any potential threats to a flourishing life. Such survival strategies highlight how these encounters generate hybrid identities and discourses with new boundaries, which, although fluid, volatile and situational, are reminiscent with historical and odious notions of colonialism that present African migrants as undesired foreigners whilst portraying other western and Asian migrants in cosy terms such as expatriates and tourists.Contribution: Exploring the relevance of migrant expressions within the context of identity constructions and socio-economic framework demonstrates how contested processes of socio-economic and religious transformation reflect the significance of the role played by religion on identity constructions. These constructions are articulated through fluid and complex encounters, which fluctuate to generate hybrid identities and migrant survival discourses.

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Section: I'm Somali and I'm Christian: A Dilemma For Religion And Identity In The Context Of Migration In Southern Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

I’m Somali and I’m Christian: A dilemma for religion and identity in the context of migration in Southern Africa

Mpofu

2021

HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies

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“…For example, Settler (2018) delineated this orientation into two perspectives, namely, those concerned with how the migrants move with, and use their religious traditions and practices, in which case the focus is on discourses of incorporation and hospitality. (p. 5) Furthermore, Settler and Mpofu (2017) caution that: … despite its orientations towards inclusion, protection and integration, what these theological analyses have in common is that they rely on an idea of religion that presupposes an idea of the migrant 'other' as apolitical and asexual, vulnerable and ready for incorporation into the host culture. (p. 22) Considering the fluctuations of identities in relation to migration, identity formation will be considered as an open process that is in creative tension between normativity and fluidity.…”

Section: Migration and Identitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Church’s response to migrants’ quest for identity formation

Klaasen

2021

HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies

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Migration has received diverse responses from the dominant powers in the political, social and religious spheres. Assimilation, domination and cohesion are some of the responses to the integration of people who cross regional and national borders and reside within their new locations for a considerable period of time. These responses include both positives, which are largely short-term solutions, with a lot of losses and trauma for the migrants. The reasons for these kinds of responses lie in the factors that cause and influence migration. Political and religious conflict, economics, societal factors such as language and culture, health issues such HIV or AIDS and other pandemics and environmental factors are some of the causes of migration.Contribution: This research will contribute to determining the relationship between the church and migration for identity formation. The question I wish to explore is how the church can respond to the quest for identity which shapes the social welfare and cultural co-existence of the South African society and migrants in post-apartheid South Africa. Because of the complexity of identity and the effect that migration has (had) on shaping identity, I will first provide a description of migration and identity. The article will then address the factors that cause migration and the possible ways in which migration can shape identity. A brief discussion of a theology of migration will be introduced. This will be followed by a critical discussion of how the church as a pilgrim community can contribute to identity formation and the peaceful co-existence of differentiated people.

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South Africa: re-imagining the rainbow nation

Mofu¹

2020

SIJ

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Within the context of liberation struggle, the rainbow metaphor resonated with the vision of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who delivered his iconic 'I have a dream' speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, in August 1963. As editors of this volume note, Martin Luther's dream for equality between all people inspired thousands of the marginalised and oppressed people around the world who suffered under colonial oppression.Like Dr King, Mandela, and Tutu envisioned a unified nation, where race and gender no longer defined individuals. On the contrary, it has been twenty-five years since democracy and South Africa is marred by state capture, riddled with corruption, maladministration and failing public services. Unemployment was at 29.1% in the third quarter of 2019 and youth unemployment is the largest contributor to these statistics (Stas SA, 2019). Racism remains a challenge to social cohesion. From Penny Sparrow and Steve Hofmeyr, to Dianne Kohler-Barnard; and in statements from the Freedom Front Plus (FF+) to AfriForum, we have witnessed the rise of open racism. Social and economic upheavals have also been demonstrated in various instances including the massacre in Marikana, the abuse of power and corruption within state owned enterprises, student's protests and discontent related to the #FeesMustFall movement, the debates around appropriation of land without compensation, the focus on decolonization, and the widespread scourge of gender-based violence. These are all compounded by the ever -broadening gap of inequality which perpetuate poverty and breed crime and violence. All these challenges highlighted in this book are indicative of the fact that the envisaged romance that South Africans have had with the realisation of a vibrant, successful, prosperous rainbow nation have arguably fallen short of these aspirations. In fact, and by implication through essays from the scholars in this volume, these challengesreflect everything that goes against rainbow idealism.

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Social Responsibility with Respect to Religion and Migration in South Africa

Cited by 4 publications

References 11 publications

I’m Somali and I’m Christian: A dilemma for religion and identity in the context of migration in Southern Africa

I’m Somali and I’m Christian: A dilemma for religion and identity in the context of migration in Southern Africa

Church’s response to migrants’ quest for identity formation

South Africa: re-imagining the rainbow nation

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