Structural Violence

  What do we make of the past ten days in South Africa? How do we process the violent protests, looting, food shortages, apartheid-style racial profiling, and restriction of access to shops and communities? How do we sort through the short-term and long-term impact on our country? What are the underlying causes and how does...
In this episode David and John review and discuss the South African movie Ellen: The Ellen Pakkies Story, the story of a mother who murdered her tik (crystal meth) addicted son in 2007. This movie, with strong Christian themes, tells the harrowing, true story of a family, a community and a woman whom society has failed. David and John discuss the community of Lavender Hill, in which the movie is…
Jesus death on the cross is the comprehensive Jubilee event. It is through the death of Jesus that victory and liberation is brought to all of creation. The cross is not that which replaced the Jubilee (as if all the socio-political and economic aspects simply drop away leaving only a spiritual significance) it is the fulfillment of the Jubilee including the total redemptive accomplishment and final liberation from all that…
How do we theologically understand violence? Is there biblical warrant for a broader definition of violence? What does it mean to be peacemakers in a context of both repeated, overt acts of violence and insidious systemic violence? How does the gospel shape our understanding of and reaction to both behavioural and systemic violence? These are questions and concerns addressed in this talk.
Over the last few years, South Africa has been exposed to frequent acts of violence, many of which have been politically or racially motivated. From the white man who beat a black domestic worker claiming he thought she was a prostitute, to the pummelling of black students who interrupted a rugby match at the University...