BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam//NONSGML v1.0//EN
NAME:PhD defence H.M. Pretorius
METHOD:PUBLISH
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART:20261021T114500
DTEND:20261021T131504
DTSTAMP:20261021T114500
UID:phd-defence-h-m-pretorius@8F96275E-9F55-4B3F-A143-836282E12573
CREATED:20261016T010645
LOCATION:Main building VU, 1105, Auditorium, De Boelelaan, 1081 HV, Amsterdam
SUMMARY:PhD defence H.M. Pretorius
X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html: Being Human after th
e Ascension of Jesus Christ: A Hermeneutical Approach to a Theologica
l Anthropology of the Ascension
Ascension Offers
a New Perspective on Living with Scars
According to n
ew research, Ascension is not just about Jesus’ departure to heaven
. It is precisely the fact that Jesus takes his wounds with him that
can shed new light on how people deal with a painful past, physical s
cars, and places marked by history.
The research by theologian
Helgard Pretorius, conducted in South Africa, begins with the questio
n of what the story of the Ascension can mean for daily life. The cen
tral idea is that Jesus brings his humanity - including his wounds -
into the life of God. As a result, scars can be not only reminders of
pain but also testimonies to what someone has experienced and can cr
eate connections with others.
According to Pretorius, this idea
also has social significance. South Africa still bears the consequen
ces of apartheid. Segregated neighborhoods and social inequality serv
e as reminders of that past. The question is how people can relate to
such a history without remaining stuck in it.
In this regard,
his research distinguishes between nostalgia and hope. Nostalgia long
s for an idealized past, while hope is focused on a new future. That
distinction can be important for communities as well: facing the past
honestly, without pretending that the future is already set in stone
.
Pretorius’s research does not offer simple solutions. Howev
er, it does provide churches and communities with a language to talk
about memory, wounds, home, and hope. Ascension Day thus becomes not
only a story about saying goodbye, but also about how people can live
with their past while simultaneously making room for a different fut
ure.
More information on the thesis.
DESCRIPTION: Being Human after the Ascension of Jesus Christ: A Hermen
eutical Approach to a Theological Anthropology of the Ascension <
strong>Ascension Offers a New Perspective on Living with Scars
According to new research, Ascension is not just about Jesus�
� departure to heaven. It is precisely the fact that Jesus takes his
wounds with him that can shed new light on how people deal with a pai
nful past, physical scars, and places marked by history.The research
by theologian Helgard Pretorius, conducted in South Africa, begins wi
th the question of what the story of the Ascension can mean for daily
life. The central idea is that Jesus brings his humanity - including
his wounds - into the life of God. As a result, scars can be not onl
y reminders of pain but also testimonies to what someone has experien
ced and can create connections with others.According to Pretorius, th
is idea also has social significance. South Africa still bears the co
nsequences of apartheid. Segregated neighborhoods and social inequali
ty serve as reminders of that past. The question is how people can re
late to such a history without remaining stuck in it.In this regard,
his research distinguishes between nostalgia and hope. Nostalgia long
s for an idealized past, while hope is focused on a new future. That
distinction can be important for communities as well: facing the past
honestly, without pretending that the future is already set in stone
.Pretorius’s research does not offer simple solutions. However, it
does provide churches and communities with a language to talk about m
emory, wounds, home, and hope. Ascension Day thus becomes not only a
story about saying goodbye, but also about how people can live with t
heir past while simultaneously making room for a different future.Mor
e information on the t
hesis.
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END:VCALENDAR