Allan Boesak and the black immanentization of the eschaton: an analysis of black and reformed

Abstract

This paper is an analysis of the theological politics of Allan Boesak, as presented in his book Black and Reformed. The theoretical sensitivity and framework of analysis is provided by the political theory of Eric Voegelin. The analysis specifically tries to answer the question whether Boesak's theological politics tries to create an immanent dreamworld of earthly felicity, which dissolves the tensions of human existence. The article concludes that Boesak is an activist political thinker, who draws the transcendant source of order into mundane existence. By so doing he immanentises this source into an earthly parousia, eclipsing reality into a second realm or dreamworld.