Knowledge, values, and beliefs in the South African context since 1948: An overview

Abstract

In this contribution, an overview of the distinct waysin which the interplay between knowledge, values, and beliefs tookshape in the South African context since 1948 is offered. This is framedagainst the background of the paleontological significance of SouthAfrica and an appreciation of indigenous knowledge systems, but alsoof the ideological distortion of knowledge and education during theapartheid era through the legacy of neo-Calvinism. The overviewincludes references to discourse on human rationality (as an implicitcritique against ideology), on the use of social sciences in theologicalreflection, on the teaching of evolution in public schools, on scienceand religion, and on religion and ecology. The essay concludes witha survey of some of the major voices regarding the interface betweenreligion and science in South Africa.