The role of society in addressing harmful practices in new religions in South Africa

Authors

  • S. P. Pretorius University of South Africa

Abstract

Die vryheid van godsdiens en die beoefening daarvan is ? saak wat al heelwat debat uitgelok het. Een aspek van godsdiensvryheid wat veral aandag geniet is die beskouing van sommige geleerdes dat hierdie reg deur sekere godsdiensgroepe, ook bekend as “new religious groups”, misbruik word met die doel om hulle eie selfsugtige doelwitte te bereik. In pogings om hierdie vergrype aan te spreek is daar na oplossings gesoek by nasionale regerings of selfs die internasionale gemeenskap. Ongelukkig is politieke mag en jurisprudensie beperk deur die grondwet en kan dit nie die interne godsdienstige funksionering van enige godsdiens voorskryf of reguleer nie. Hierdie artikel toon aan dat die oplossing om die mis bruik van gods diensvryheid aan te spreek, en ?  harmoniese gemeenskap te verseker, geleë is in die aktiewe rol wat die ge meen skap speel as deelnemers aan hierdie reg. Die gemeenskap moet die verantwoordelikheid aanvaar om op te tree in  gevalle waar misbruik voorkom ten einde te verseker dat die vryheid van godsdiens tot sy reg kom in die gemeenskap. Die gemeenskap moet optree as waghond wat waarsku teen skadelike praktyke wat nie net individue nie, maar ook die gemeenskap, as geheel kan benadeel met die doel om die gemeenskap te suiwer van skadelike praktyke. Voorstelle word verder gemaak wat aandui hoe die ge meen skap kan verseker dat godsdiens vry beoefen word sonder dat dit inbreuk maak op ander regte.
Religion has always been a sensitive topic, especially when it comes to the right to freedom of religion and its expression. Some scholars believe that new religions, also referred to as cults, abuse the right to freedom of religion to advance their own goals. Scholars and others are looking for solutions to address this alleged abuse in measures introduced by government or the international community. Unfortunately, political power and even legal intervention is restricted to deal with trespassing of laws and cannot address or prescribe internal religious functioning. This article points out that the solution to ensuring a harmonious religious community lies in the role that society plays as participants of this right. Society needs to accept the responsibility to act and express their religious rights within the framework of the right to freedom of religion without infringing other rights. Furthermore, society should blow the whistle on abuse or harmful practices in an attempt to rid itself of unwanted and harmful practices. Proposals are presented on how society can participate in ensuring a balanced and settled religious society.

Published

2012-12-21

How to Cite

Pretorius, S. P. (2012). The role of society in addressing harmful practices in new religions in South Africa. Tydskrif Vir Christelike Wetenskap | Journal for Christian Scholarship, 48(3-4), 229-249. Retrieved from https://pubs.ufs.ac.za/index.php/tcw/article/view/296

Issue

Section

Artikels | Articles