religion ( christianity) and poverty alleviation in south africa

192 Pages·2011·8.58 MB·English

RELIGION ( CHRISTIANITY) AND POVERTY
ALLEVIATION IN SOUTH AFRICA: A HUMAN SCALE
DEVELOPMENT APPROACH
By
BALTAHAZARNANA YENGA
DECEMBER 2004
RELIGION ( CHRISTIANITY) AND POVERTY
ALLEVIATION IN SOUTH AFRICA: A HUMAN SCALE
DEVELOPMENT APPROACH
By
BALTAHAZARNANA YENGA
Submitted in partial fulfillment ofthe requirements for the degree of
Masters ofArts in the School ofReligion and Theology
In the Faculty ofHumanities at the University of
KWAZULU -NATAL
Westville Campus
Supervisor : Dr I. S. MEKOA
Date submitted : December 2004
i
DECLARATION
The Registrar(Academic)
UniversityofKwazulu- Natal
Westville Campus
DearSir,
IPastorBALTAHAZARNANA YENGA
Reg. No: 200100109
Degree :Masters ofArts
Hereby declare that the dissertation / Thesis entitled: Religion ( Christianity) and
Poverty Alleviation in South Africa: A Human Scale Development Approach is the
resultofmyown investigationandresearchand that it has notbeensubmitted inpart
orinfull for any otherdegreeorto any otherUniversity.
23-·
03-05
----- -----------------------------
DATE
11
PREFACE
Only twenty years ago it was widely assumed that religion had lost its previous place
in westernculture and that this patternwould spreadthroughout the world. Since then
religion has become a renewed force, recognizedas an important factor in the modem
world in all aspects oflife, cultural, economic and political. This is true not only of
the Third World, but in Europe - East and West - and in North America. It is no
longera surpriseto fmd areligious factor atwork inareas ofpoliticaltension.
In SouthAfrica, the researcherhas determinedthatChristianity is not totallyinvolved
in the fundamental human needs ofcommunity. This is an urgent matter to address.
As churches committed to social and economic justice we cannot stand by and
observe. We need to fund answers to a number of important questions: What does
poverty really means? What are its causes and its consequences to South African
community. As churches we also have deeper roots in the struggle for justice and
democracy in South Africa. What is the impact ofpoverty, ifany, on democracy and
human rights in oursociety?
This researchabout suchmatters comes for the mostpart from three types ofsources.
The fIrst is the newspaper which understandably tend to concentrate on newsworthy
events, without taking the time to deal with the underlying issues ofwhich they are
but symptoms. The second source comprises studies by theologians and social
scientists who oftenadopta functionalist and reductionist view ofthe faith and beliefs
which motivate those directly involved in such situations. Finally, there are the
statements and writings ofthose committed to the religious or ideological movements
themselves.
The poor are the ones who suffer injustice through exploitation, oppression and
bondage. The reality is that Christianity do not exist unaffected by social change
which is taking place in our time. The winds ofchange are blowing at gale force in
South Africa and we live in the midst of this change, we are affected by it and we
aremutually responsible for it. Also, due to the fact that Christianity is placed in the
larger human society, it is inevitable that it will be engaged in the problems affecting
human society such as poverty, HIV/AIDS... As religious stewards we share
responsibility for the co-existence of all humankind because God does not want to
abandon the earth and its inhabitants to evil. It is Faith that commits churches and
theirmembers to be loyal to God, who through Jesus, has entered ourhuman spirit as
a human being. Through Jesus' death and resurrection we have overcome our
captivity; and through the Spirit God is involved in the situation of people. Being
committed to this faith churches cannot live in isolation from society. Churches need
to be aware that they and their members encounter the living Christ with and among
the discarbed people. These people are excluded from the material and spiritual
resources they require for sustaining their lives. People's material living conditions
impact on their spiritual life. Churches cannot exist in isolation from the society in
whichwe live. Neithercanchurches ignoretheplightunderwhichpeople live.
For religious tradition, it is our intention that an accurate and sensitive account of
Christianity should be informed by an objective and sophisticated application of
perspectives from the social sciences.
Theologies of liberation, struggle and protest have made a major contribution to
today's theological debate. They have had considerable impact in Latin America and
many other parts of the Third World, and are by no means examples of armchair
theology. But there comes a time when Christian theology must address a rather
different agenda, not neglecting the concern ofthe poor in the biblical way as Jesus
did.
DEDICATION
This dissertation / Thesis is dedicated to my devoted wife NDAYISHIMIYE
YVONNE-GEORGETTE and my children Benoit YENGA (TOM), FEZA-PAOLA
YENGA, Ladislas YENGA and SHABANI Chrispin YENGA for their support,
prayers andpatience withme during this hardwork.
Pst. B. N. YENGA
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
To produce a dissertation / Thesis ofthis nature, has been an interesting exercise, a
process of discovery, as the many strands were pieced together to create this fmal
tapestry. However, such success, in the search for the relevant material for
compilation would not have been possible without assistance of God and certain
people to whom I am deeply indebted for their valuable spiritual, material, fmancial
assistance and guidance.
Thereby, I would like to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to the following
persons:
To my supervisor: Dr 1. S. MEKOA and all staff for their encouragement,
constructivecriticismand guidance inthe process ofcompleting this research.
To National Research Foundation (NRF) for its fmancial support during my three
years ofthis research.
To my parents: YENGA Jean and FEZA NANA-MAYEMBE and to all my brothers
and sisters that afforded me that inspiration and courage to attempt great exploits for
Christand His Kingdom.
To pastor Dawie Samuels, his wife Gloria and all his family for their hospitality and
spiritofcompassion, for theirprayers, and guidance.
To those who contributed directly or indirectly for the accomplishment of this
research
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION
111
PREFACE IV
DEDICATION V
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS Vu
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
XIV
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Background and Information to the Study 1
1.2 The Research Problem orProblem Formulation 6
1.3 Aims and Research Objectives ofthe Study 6
1.4 Assumption 7
1.5 Research Methodology 7
1.6 Critical Research Questions to be Answered bythis Study 8
1.7 The Relevance or Rationale ofthe Study 8
1.8 Definition ofKey Concepts 8
1.9 ProposedDissertation Outline 16
1.10 Literature Review 17
CHAPTER TWO: VARIOUS SCHOLARLY
26
VIEWS ON POVERTY
2.1 Introduction 26
A. ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVES OF POVERTY 26
2.2 TheDefinitions ofPoverty /' 28
2.3 Causes ofPoverty -- 34
2.4 The MeasurementofPoverty 38
2.4.1 Measures ofHuman Development 38..,
a) Human DevelopmentIndicators (HDI) 3
b) The CapabilityPovertyMeasure (CPM) 44
c)MeasuringWell- being 45
d) Consumption as a Measure ofPoverty 46
2.4.2 Alternative ofPoverty 46
2.4.3 Rural- Urban Areas 47 -vy~fwje cI~
2.5 Distribution ofIncome 49
B. MEDICAL PERSPECTIVES OF POVERTY 50
a) PovertyDeterminesLifestyle and Habits 50
b) PovertyInfluences are Compounded byIgnorance 50
c) Nutritional Deficiency has a Profound Effectin the 51
LongTerm
d) SociologicalAspects ofPovertyInfluences: Health 52
e) Poverty and Ignorance are the Centralfactors in a 53
Vicious Circle for the Individual as well as the Community
f) Wide Poverty isReflected in Patterns ofDisease and 54
Mortality
g) PsychologicalAspects ofPovertyInfluence Attitude to 55
Help- seeking and Preventive Care
C. PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS OF 55
POVERTY
C.1 Introduction 55
C.2 Definingthe Poor 56
a) Economic 56
b) Cultural 57
c) Adaptive model 57
Effects emJ Pr9Ces,sesi" VgV.rt'1
D. BIBLICAL PESPECTIVES OF POVERTY 61
Povertyin the Scriptures 61
a) Poverty in the Old Testament 62
Who are the Poorin the Old Testament? 66
(1) Poverty asLackorInadequacy 66
(2) Poverty asDispossession 67
(3) Poverty as FrailtyandWeakness 68
(4)Poverty asNeed and Dependence 69
(5) Povertyas Oppression 70
b) PovertyintheNewTestament 73
2.6 Conclusion 78
CHAPTERTHREE: THE HUMAN SCALE 82
DEVELOPMENT APPROACH TO HUMAN
NEEDS
3.1 Introduction 82
3.2 HistoricalBackgroundofHumanDevelopment 82
a) Empowerment 83
b) Co- operation 83
c)Equity 83
d) Sustainability 84
e) Security 84
cF
3.3 SouthAfricaandthe HumanDevelopmentApproach
~
3.4 Whatisthe Human ScaleDevelopmentApproach?
3.4.1 Origin 88
3.4.2 Objectives 89
3.4.3 Principle 90
3.5 Whatdoes DevelopmentMeans Today? 90