The ontological horizon of biblical covenant and its implications for social pluralism

Abstract

This article is part of a larger PhD dissertation. It starts from the current challenges for many states to develop meaningful public policy to deal with increasing pluralism within their territory. Immigration from countries that offer fewer economic opportunities or that do not recognise a full range of human rights has overwhelmed parts of Europe and North America in the last decade. Some countries are more prepared to absorb and integrate ‘the other’, while many others struggle greatly. Political differences rooted in religious or value-informed commitments have created increasing social tension. New concepts are needed to respond to these challenges. The aim of this article is to analyse the biblical covenant concept in philosophical terms, especially through the category of ontology. The article sought to explore in what sense we can argue that the biblical covenant exists (ontologically) in the created order, and how this concept could speak to human social relations. The article further looked at where the covenant should be in relation to political structures.
Contribution: The conclusion revealed that the ontological horizon offered by the covenant promotes a certain framework of human social relations. It not only creates the individual with its unique identity but also space for the other. It rejects a monistic view of reality. Humans do not exist in isolation but are ontologically bound to other humans through social relations. And the pre-political normativity of social relations was seen to be crucial in promoting human flourishing both individually and socially.