Liberation or domestication? An examination of the role of religion during apartheid in South Africa

My thesis examines the role of religion during apartheid in South Africa. I argue that in order to comprehend the socio-political circumstances surrounding the end of apartheid, it is necessary to understand the role of religion in South African society. During my fieldwork in the country, I interviewed key religious figures about their role in the liberation struggle. These interviews as well as information from theological statements produced by religious organizations, published memoirs, transcripts of speeches and published research on the apartheid era formed the backbone of my research. I established that religion served both as a force for domestication as well as liberation in South Africa. The Afrikaner community used religion to theologically justify and enforce apartheid. The use of religion for liberation manifested itself in theology, the work of religious leaders and direct political activism.