Pastorale berading van die vader in die postmoderne gesin

Abstract

The role of the father in post-modern times has changed dramatically and the new challenges posed to fathers due to these changes prompted this study. The aim of this study is to design a theory for a practice that could possibly be used by a Biblical counsellor or therapist to counsel and enrich fathers amidst the challenges of the post-modern world. The research was done on the basis of the practical theological model of Zerfass and contains the following structure: • A meta-theoretical evaluation of fatherhood in related subject areas revealed by literature studies. • The meta-theoretical evaluation was combined with an empirical research by means of interviews with fathers. An applicable questionnaire was used to research the conceptual understanding of fatherhood and practice of post-modern fatherhood with the fathers. . A basic theory on which Scriptural perspectives on fatherhood have been researched. The meta-theoretical research indicated that the main reason for the dramatic changes to fatherhood is not ideological based but due to practical changes in society. Due to the women's very successful entering of the workplace, a predominantly men's territory, many things have changed on the family front. Men were forced to share responsibilities in the practical care taking of children at home. A search for new models to post-modern fatherhood started. The old patriarchal model failed to provide ways of meaningful understanding and processing the new challenges of fatherhood brought on by practical changes in the society of a post-modern world. Linked to this search for new models of post-modern fatherhood is the feminist's struggle against patriarchy. The research indicated that the main pillar of patriarchy was the theological concept of God as Father. The feminist produced a lot of material on the ways and means to free God and society of patriarchy. The basic theory on which Scriptural perspectives on fatherhood have been researched took into consideration the results of feminist's studies. One benefit from the feminist's struggle was the emphasis put on the metaphorical character of theological discourse. God our Father is a metaphorical discourse, which bring into play the hermeneutic process of interpretation. Realising the metaphorical character of theological language we can enhance our understanding of God by reconstructing our concept of God's fatherhood. Through research we rediscovered many other complimenting metaphors of God in a parental capacity (God sometimes acts like a Mother, He gave birth to His people etc.) which can help the post-modern father to come to a better self-expression when it comes to the challenges posed to him today. Very often these new roles were traditionally restricted to the women's territory. The conclusion of the research is that through the process of pastoral hermeneutics the post-modern father can discover the cultured derived practice of his fatherhood and evaluate this post-modern fatherhood in terms of God's fatherhood as it has been revealed through the process of researching the Scripture. The interaction between his understanding of what fatherhood means and of God's fatherhood enables the father to come to a new and meaningful self-expression of his own fatherhood in post-modern times.