Divine discomfort: A relational encounter with multi-generational and multi-layered trauma

This year, 2019, marks the 25th anniversary of the political settlement in South Africa. In the lead-up to the 25th anniversary, we have seen an increase in anger, violence and vengeance on all levels of our society. These acts of anger, violence and vengeance is an indication of the woundedness of the people of this country. It acknowledges the legacy of generational trauma and pain in our society, mainly caused by an unjust political system and centuries of colonialism, and how this inheritance is transmitted to the current generation and will continue to be transmitted to future generations if we are not able to transform it. For the most part of the 25 years, the state of the trauma in our country has been mainly supressed by the transition process, the first democratic election, the TRC process and the many political promises. This has literally kept the trauma in what I want to call a ‘state of frozenness’.

Based on this argument, this contribution wants to determine whether the concept of ‘divine discomfort’ coined by philosopher Emmanuel Levinas, supported by the theory of the dialogical intergenerational pastoral process, in particular the notions of responsibility, accountability and justice, can contribute to finding ways to deal with the eruption of multi-generational and multi-layered ‘frozen trauma’.

WATCH THE INAUGURAL LECTURE HERE

Short biography

Christo Thesnaar was born in Burgersdorp (1966) and grew up in Butterworth. He matriculated at De Kuilen High School in Kuils River (1983). He studied at Huguenot College (UNISA, B-DIAC) and at Stellenbosch University (BTh, Liss; MTh in Practical Theology, Clinical Pastoral Care and Counselling; DTh in Practical Theology, Clinical Pastoral Care and Counselling). He obtained his doctorate in 2001 under the supervision of Prof. Daniel Louw with the theme “Die proses van heling en versoening: ’n Pastoraal-hermeneutiese ondersoek van die dinamika tussen slagoffer en oortreder binne ’n post-WVK-periode” [The process of healing and reconciliation: A pastoral hermeneutical investigation of the dynamic between victim and perpetrator within a post-TRC period].

Christo was appointed as junior lecture at Huguenot College in 1994, as lecturer in 1998 and as senior lecturer in 2002. During his time at Huguenot College he served as the chair of the Department of Youth Work from 2002 to 2008. From 2008 to 2010, he was appointed as senior lecturer in Youth Ministry at Stellenbosch University and from 2011, as senior lecturer in Pastoral Care and Counselling. In 2013, he was appointed as associate professor and in 2018 as full professor.

Christo delivered guest lectures at the Protestant Theological University (the Netherlands), Umeå University (Sweden), Tilburg University (the Netherlands), the Free University Amsterdam (the Netherlands), Christelijke Hogeschool Ede (the Netherlands), Flensburg University (Germany), Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena (Germany) and the University of Regensburg (Germany). He has published more than 20 academic articles in accredited journals and 13 chapters in academic volumes and co-edited three books. He has twice received the Rector’s award for publications and number of PhD students supervised. He is currently involved in international research projects in Europe and on the African continent.

Within the discipline of pastoral care, he is particularly interested in research from a transdisciplinary approach on themes related to reconciliation, such as memory, trauma, justice, healing and restitution. He is currently chairing the Unit for Reconciliation and Justice at the Beyers Naudé Centre for Public Theology and serves on the board of the Institute for Healing of Memories. Christo is married to Nelmarie and they have two children, Lomarie (22, a final-year student in Occupational Therapy) and Hanel (19, a first-year student in Theology).

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