Spirit of Freedom
South African Leaders on Religion and Politics
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Publisher: University of California Press
ISBN: 9780520200456
Number of Pages: 325
Published: 08/10/1996
Width: 15.6 cm
Height: 23.4 cm
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.
Interviews with: 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 Naude Ebrahim Rasool Albertina Sisulu Joe Slovo Desmond Tutu