​The Beyers Naudé Centre for Public Theology at the Faculty of Theology, SU recently launched a selection of essays, Hermeneutics and Social Transformation by Prof Bernard Lategan.

South Africa is a case in point where a major social transformation is taking place. Existing value systems are disintegrating or are under serious threat. A new public ethos seems to be emerging although the contours of such an ethos are all but clear.

Theology has much to learn but also much to give to the development of a functional public ethos and a healthy civil society. If the pragmatic intention of New Testament texts is taken seriously also in modern situational contexts, the study of these documents has indeed an important contribution to make the process of social transformation.

Bernard Lategan remains one of the most widely respected public intellectuals in SA. He completed his doctoral studies in the Netherlands, served as Professor of New Testament at UWC (1969-1977), and lectured at several SA and European Universities in Ancient languages, linguistics, literature and theology. From 1978 - 1991, Lategan was Professor of Biblical Studies at SU. Before his retirement in 2009, Lategan was founder and first director of STIAS. He was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Philosophy from SU in 2009.  

The book was published by Sun Press and is available from Marita Snyman, E-mail: [email protected] at R275.