Browsing by Author "Loubser, Reinet"

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    Christian ethics in South Africa : liberal values among the public and elites
    (Stellenbosch University, Faculty of Theology, 2018) Kotze, Hennie; Loubser, Reinet
    This article uses statistical data from the World Values Survey (WVS) and the South African Opinion Leader Survey to examine liberal values and attitudes among the following samples of South Africans: Afrikaans, English, isiXhosa and isiZulu speaking Protestants, Catholics, African Independent Church (AIC) members and non-religious people (public and parliamentarians). We find that South Africans have softened in their traditionally conservative attitudes toward homosexuality, prostitution, abortion and euthanasia (but not the death penalty). We conclude that the South African public has gradually become more accepting of the liberal values of the constitution (the product of elite-driven transition to liberal democracy). That being said, South Africans have not become liberals as such and many mainline Protestants and members of the AICs (in particular) have remained fairly con-servative in their views. Additionally, elites (parliamentarians) continue to outpace the public with regards to the acceptance of liberal values and practices.
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    Christian ethics in South Africa : liberal values among the public and elites
    (Department of Old and New Testament - Stellenbosch University, 2018) Kotze, Hennie; Loubser, Reinet
    This article uses statistical data from the World Values Survey (WVS) and the South African Opinion Leader Survey to examine liberal values and attitudes among the following samples of South Africans: Afrikaans, English, isiXhosa and isiZulu speaking Protestants, Catholics, African Independent Church (AIC) members and non-religious people (public and parliamentarians). We find that South Africans have softened in their traditionally conservative attitudes toward homosexuality, prostitution, abortion and euthanasia (but not the death penalty). We conclude that the South African public has gradually become more accepting of the liberal values of the constitution (the product of elite-driven transition to liberal democracy). That being said, South Africans have not become liberals as such and many mainline Protestants and members of the AICs (in particular) have remained fairly con-servative in their views. Additionally, elites (parliamentarians) continue to outpace the public with regards to the acceptance of liberal values and practices.
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    Evil and violence : illiberal beliefs in South Africa’s liberal democracy
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015-12) Loubser, Reinet; Du Toit, Pierre; Steenekamp, Cindy; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Political Science.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis examines beliefs regarding spiritual conceptions of evil among South Africans and the role that such attitudes may play in outbreaks of public and other forms of violence. In examining these illiberal attitudes and consequent violence, the thesis contributes to the discourse on democratic consolidation in South Africa. It is argued that illiberal values – such as the belief in evil as a literal force which may be countered with violence - present a challenge to the country‟s liberal democratic system of governance. The thesis is both quantitative and qualitative in nature. It includes a longitudinal analysis of the secondary data of the World Values Survey. The latter is used for two purposes: to measure the extent of beliefs in evil among South Africans and to find predictors for these beliefs. Quantitative analysis revealed that the beliefs in evil is widespread in South Africa and that over half the population may believe that violence can be used to rid communities of persons deemed evil. However, despite an exhaustive quantitative analysis of independent variables – including demographic, socio-economic and attitudinal factors as well as trust and tolerance, locus of control and religiosity - no definitive predictors of the attitudes regarding evil could be found. It is concluded that the beliefs in question are so universal and entrenched in South Africa that they cannot be associated with any particular demographic or other group. In the absence of quantitative findings, the thesis turns to qualitative analysis to explain the widespread nature of illiberal beliefs in South Africa. The thesis examines the country‟s serious problems with crime and violence. It also posits that South Africa has experienced a decivilisation process in which liberal values have to compete with the absolute individualism of an Hobbesian state of nature.
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    Religiosity in south Africa : trends among the public and elites
    (Stellenbosch University, Faculty of Theology, 2017) Kotze, Hennie; Loubser, Reinet
    This article uses statistical data from the World Values Survey (WVS) and the South African Opinion Leader Survey to examine religiosity among the following samples of South Africans: Afrikaans, English, isiXhosa and isiZulu speaking Protestants, Catholics, African Independent Church (AIC) members and non-religious people (public and parliamentarians). We find that mainline Protestant churches have suffered a loss of members, thus changing the denominational face of the country. Additionally, although South Africans remain very religious, the importance of God in their lives has declined. For many people God is now less important although not unimportant. Parliamentarians appear unaffected by these changes: God is still highly important to members of parliament who profess Christianity (the majority). However, the small number of parliamentarians who are not religious now think God is unimportant.