Faculty of Theology
Department of Science of Religion and Missiology
Selected Highlights from Research Findings
The researcher, who served on the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), has made an in-depth study of the processes of reconciliation in South Africa as well as abroad, with special reference to the role that faith communities play in this process.
In 1999 he published his research findings in a book dealing with the inner workings of the TRC process, entitled
A Chronicle of the Truth Commission. This was followed by a series of articles on specific aspects of the reconciliation process as well as articles on the contributions of a number of Christian churches, the Jewish, Hindu as well as Muslim communities in terms of forgiveness, reconciliation and nation building (2000-2005).
The aim of the research is to identify the specific role that faith communities are able to play in the process of truth and reconciliation. In the TRC Report numerous recommendations have been made in this regard, that need careful study.
The faith communities need to be made aware of the challenges, and to be empowered to answer to the call. The specific, unique, role that these communities can fulfil, needs to be analysed. In other parts of the world similar processes are happening, and doing research together, sharing experiences benefits all. Different aspects of the reconciliation process are on the agenda.
The findings continue to be positive: Christian churches as well as the other faith communities indeed have a unique contribution to make in terms of forgiveness, justice, reconciliation, reparation and nation building, in South Africa as well as abroad.
There seems to be great interest in this research. Prof Meiring was invited to sixteen countries in Europe, Africa, USA and Asia to lecture on, or to advise in, local truth and reconciliation initiatives. Over the past years, groups of students from the USA and Canada, as well as delegations from countries as far a field as the United Kingdom and Indonesia visited the Faculty to enquire about this research project.
Prof PGJ Meiring
Science of Religion and Missiology
+27 (0) 12 420 2383
piet.meiring2@up.ac.za
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