Cultural identity and military chaplaincy, with special reference to the Namibian War of Independence, 1966-1989

Abstract

This article provides a historical perspective on the infl uence of the diverse cultural traditions of the Afrikaans and English language communities on military chaplaincy, especially during the time of the Namibian War of Independence (1966-1989), also known as the Border War or the Bush War. A brief historical background is provided, in terms of which the cultural divide between the two groups, and their different perspectives with regard to military chaplaincy during the two world wars, are explained. During the Namibian War of Independence these differences resulted, on the one  hand, in a crusade mentality aimed at defending Christianity, and, on the other hand, in a denunciation of military chaplaincy. Oral-history testimonies obtained from chaplains who had ministered during the Namibian War of Independence revealed that the infl uence of the cultural discord lay far deeper than the socio-political sentiments of the day, and contributed to the development of a sense of alienation on the part of English chaplains with regard to the South African Chaplain Service (SACHS).

Key words: Border War; Bush War; cultural diversity; First World War; military chaplains; Namibian War of Independence; oral testimonies; Second World War; South African Chaplain Service (SACHS)