1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910495954803321

Autore

Villa-Vicencio Charles

Titolo

The spirit of freedom : South African leaders on religion and politics / / Charles Villa-Vicencio

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Berkeley, CA : , : University of California Press, , [1996]

©1996

ISBN

0-520-91626-3

0-585-30585-4

Edizione

[Reprint 2019]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (xxxii, 301 p. ) : ports., maps ;

Collana

Perspectives on Southern Africa ; ; 52

Altri autori (Persone)

KarisThomas G

Disciplina

291.1/77/0968

Soggetti

Religion and politics - South Africa

Political activists - South Africa - Interviews

South Africa Religion 20th century

South Africa Politics and government 1989-1994

South Africa Politics and government 20th century

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references.

Nota di contenuto

Front matter -- CONTENTS -- MAPS -- FOREWORD -- Conversations on Politics, Religion and Values -- NEVILLE ALEXANDER -- RAY ALEXANDER -- FRANZ AUERBACH -- CHERYL CAROLUS -- FRANK CHIKANE -- SHEENA DUNCAN -- ELA GANDHI -- NADINE GORDIMER -- CHRIS HANI -- TREVOR HUDDLESTON -- NELSON MANDELA -- GOVAN MBEKI -- FATIMA MEER -- STANLEY MOGOBA -- RUTH MOMPATI -- ITUMELENG MOSALA -- BEYERS NAUDÉ -- EBRAHIM RASOOL -- ALBERTINA SISULU -- JOE SLOVO -- DESMOND TUTU -- AFTERWORD

Sommario/riassunto

This collection of interviews explores the role of religion in the lives of eminent South Africans who led the struggle against apartheid. Nelson Mandela, Chris Hani, Desmond Tutu, Nadine Gordimer, and seventeen other political, religious, and cultural leaders share the beliefs and values that informed the moral positions they adopted, often at great cost. From all ethnic, religious, and political backgrounds, these men and women have shaped one of the greatest political transformations of the century.    What emerges from the interviews are reflections on all aspects of life in an embattled country. There are stories of the



homelands and townships, and tales of imprisonment and exile. Dedicated communists relate their intense youthful devotion to Christianity; Muslim activists discuss the complexity of their relationships with their communities. As the respondents grapple with difficult questions about faith, politics, and authority, they expose a more personal picture: of their daily lives, of their pasts, and of the enormous conflicts that arise in a society that continually strains the moral fiber of its citizens. Taken together, these interviews reveal the many-faceted vision that has fueled South Africa's struggle for democracy.