The Heidelberg Catechism on prayer: Relevance of a 16th century confession for 21st century households?
Abstract
English: In a world characterized by power abuse and violence, where and how would
people with the life-affirming ethos of God’s alternative kingdom be formed? In view
of this challenge, the essay explores the potential of the third part of the Heidelberg
Catechism (on prayer) for moral formation in Christian households. It is believed that,
through facilitating transformative encounters with the living God, the Catechism
holds the potential also to shape (young) people’s imagination and behaviour in
present-day (African) contexts, provided that a critical-constructive awareness of
the hierarchical origins of New Testament household codes be nurtured alongside it.