This academic book is dedicated to families facing the profound and often unseen challenges of father absence. It is intended for fatherless children navigating life without the steady guidance of a father figure and for mothers who shoulder the demands of dual parenting, striving to fill the gaps left behind.
Acknowledging the struggles of children raised in fatherless homes, this book offers hope, understanding, and resources to help overcome these obstacles. It also pays tribute to mothers, honouring their resilience, sacrifices, and the immense strength required to nurture and guide their children alone.
Father absence extends beyond individual households, emerging as a societal concern with far‑reaching consequences. It contributes to emotional and behavioural difficulties in children, as well as broader economic and social repercussions. This book seeks to illuminate these challenges, inspire transformation, and promote healing for those affected. Addressing this complex issue requires compassion, understanding, and action – ultimately fostering stronger families and a healthier society.
Informatii conformitate produs
Dedication/5
Background of Author/6
Foreword/11
Acknowledgements/13
List of Abbreviations/15
Introduction/23
CHAPTER 1 OVERVIEW AND STATE OF THE PROBLEM/27
1.1 Rationale/27
1.2 Biblical views on fatherhood and family well being/27
1.3 Values being passed down and absent fathers/35
1.4 The intricacies of familial relationships in reality/37
1.5 The significance of fatherhood and the implication of the
Bible/40
1.6 The positive impact of having a father and the inclusion of values/41
1.7 Conclusion/45
CHAPTER 2 PATERNAL ABSENCE AS A DESTRUCTIVE AND SOCIAL ILL IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN SOCIETY/47
2.1 Justification/47
2.2 Research inquiry/47
2.3 Introduction/50
2.4 Is South Africa becoming a father absent and fatherless
nation? /50
2.4.1 The prevalence of paternal absence in South Africa/ 51
2.4.2 Father absence beyond our frontiers/55
2.4.3 The consequences of paternal absence: South Africa and international/56
2.4.4 The catastrophic effects of father absence in South Africa/58
2.5 Is the absence of a father a significant issue? A research’s standpoint/60
2.6 Conclusion/64
CHAPTER 3 ANTI-FATHERHOOD SENTIMENTS CONTRARY TO BIBLICAL VIEWS OF PATERNITY/66
3.1 Rationale/66
3.2 Introduction/66
3.3 The criticism and onslaught on fatherhood/68
3.4 Is fatherhood vanishing? The inevitable challenges/70
3.5 The notion of fatherhood/73
3.6 Fatherhood as a contentious notion in Christian theological discourse/78
3.7 The detrimental impact of paternal absence on parenting within the family and society/80
3.8 Conclusion/82
CHAPTER 4 EMBRACING THE NOTION OF FATHERHOOD AND PRACTICAL THEOLOGY: ADOPTING AN APPROACH OPPOSITE TO THE DETRIMENTAL TRENDS OF THIS NOTION/84
4.1 Rationale/84
4.2 Goals and objectives/85
4.3 Introduction/85
4.4 Parenting grounded in biblical principles/89
4.5 Principles of fatherhood in the Bible/90
4.6 Re establishing authentic fatherhood: Proposed guidelines from a biblical perspective/91
4.6.1 Fundamentals of biblical paternity and reinvigorated values /91
4.6.2 Becoming a father influenced by Father God through the Bible/93
4.6.3 The significance of the domestic altar or communal gathering within the household/94
4.6.4 The importance of prayer gatherings /94
4.6.5 The efficacy of biblical studies/94
4.6.6 The significance of faith in children's lives/95
4.6.7 The Eucharist/95
4.6.8 The significance of participating in church services/ 95
4.7 Pragmatic paternal guidance from a scriptural viewpoint to foster family well being/97
4.7.1 Leadership and exemplification/97
4.7.2 Provision and safeguarding/98
4.7.3 Discipline and affection/98
4.7.4 Spiritual leadership/98
4.7.5 Fatherhood and self image/99
4.7.6 Character versus career or profession /101
4.8 Re establishing authentic fatherhood within the family unit/ 107
4.9 What is the sole path for fathers?/107
4.10 Final analysis by the author/
CHAPTER 5 THE ROLE OF SCRIPTURE IN DEFINING FATHERHOOD: AN OLD TESTAMENT ANALYSIS/111
5.1 Rationale/111
5.2 Introduction/111
5.3 Methods of articulating the notion of Divine fatherhood in the Old Testament/112
5.3.1 Comprehensive delineations/112
5.3.2 ‘Abba’ utilised as a mode of address/113
5.3.3 Instruction in doctrinal/113
5.3.4 Humanity as the likeness of God/114
5.3.5 The Creator is a trinitarian deity/114
5.3.6 The metaphor of fatherhood/114
5.4 Scriptural authority regarding fatherhood/116
5.4.1 Truths about Father God in the Old Testament/116
5.4.2 God is the Progenitor of all humanity /116
5.4.3 God is the primordial Father/117
5.4.4 Divine authority anticipates reverence and esteem/117
5.5 Patriarchal paternity in the Old Testament/118
5.5.1 The father figure as an authority in the Old Testament/118
5.5.2 The paternal figure as a leader in the Old Testament/ 118
5.5.3 Human fatherhood transcends patriarchal fatherhood/119
5.5.4 The paternal role in the Old Testament/120
5.5.5 The paternal figure as educator/121
5.6 Essential significance of terrestrial fatherhood/122
5.7 The terrestrial father must embody the paternal qualities of God/122
5.8 The relevance of the cited passages from the Hebrew Bible to modern fatherhood/124
5.9 Conclusion/125
CHAPTER 6 PROMOTING FAMILY WELL BEING IN A CATASTROPHIC SOCIETAL CONTEXT OF SOCIAL AND DESTRUCTIVE ILLS: A PRACTICAL AND THEOLOGICAL ENGAGEMENT/126
6.1 Rationale/126
6.2 Introduction/127
6.3 Family and well being /128
6.3.1 Family /129
6.3.2 Well being/133
6.4 The South African nation and the transformations in family structure/135
6.5 The absence of fathers as a detrimental societal issue/137
6.6 Gender Based Violence/139
6.7 Moral deterioration and the absence of values/141
6.8 The fundamental nature concerning familial well being/144
6.8.1 The significance of family well being/144
6.8.2 The significance of Christian principles/145
6.8.3 Robust families are essential in contemporary society/145
6.8.4 Church attendance is essential for the welfare of families/146
6.9 Conclusion/147
CHAPTER 7 MISSIONAL PARENTING AND MISSIONAL FATHERHOOD AS CORRECTIVE AND RESTORATIVE CONCEPTS TO PROMOTE FAMILY WELL BEING IN SOCIETY/148
7.1 Rationale/148
7.2 Introduction/149
7.3 The ecclesiastical mandate of the church in familial ministry/150
7.4 The relationship model of God the Father and His Son in the New Testament/151
7.5 Missional parenting/152
7.5.1 What is the mechanism of missional parenting?/152
7.5.2 Missiological tenets/155
7.6 Missional fatherhood/159
7.6.1 What is missional fatherhood?/159
7.6.2 Four essential elements of missional paternity/159
7.6.3 Characteristics of a missional father/160
7.7 Transitioning from theory to application/161
7.8 Conclusion/162
CHAPTER 8 TRANSFORMING FATHERLESS CHILDREN THROUGH FAITH AS A STRENGTH BASED APPROACH TO ENSURE WELL BEING, STABILITY AND EFFICACY IN FAMILIES/164
8.1 Justification/164
8.2 Introduction/164
8.3 Inquiry and objective of this chapter/167
8.4 The problem of fatherless children and dislocated households in South Africa/168
8.5 The faith Perspective/171
8.5.1 The perspective of faith as a source of strength within the familial context/171
8.5.2 The concept of divine fatherhood in Scripture/173
8.5.3 Transforming fatherless children and families through divine fatherhood/175
8.6 Suggestions/177
8.7 Conclusion/178
CHAPTER 9 ELEVATING AND ADDING VALUE TO FAMILY WELL BEING BY UNDERSCORING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MOTHERHOOD AND WOMANHOOD IN BOTH FAMILIAL AND SOCIETAL CONTEXTS/180
9.1 Rationale/180
9.2 Introduction/181
9.3 Motherhood in context/184
9.3.1 The notion of "motherhood"/184
9.3.2 The scriptural concept of motherhood/186
9.3.3 Is motherhood a significant sphere in contemporary South Africa? /188
9.4 Womanhood in context/191
9.4.1 The notion of womanhood/191
9.4.2 The scriptural concept of womanhood/192
9.4.3 Crimes against women: A pragmatic theological assessment /193
9.5 Conclusion/196
CHAPTER 10 THE CHURCH’S ROLE IN PROMOTING FAMILY WELL BEING IN SOUTH AFRICAN SOCIETY/197
10.1 Rationale/197
10.2 Introduction/198
10.3 The church’s role and calling in addressing father absence as a detrimental social ill in South African society/201
10.4 The relationship model between Father God and Jesus Christ in the New Testament/202
10.5 The missio Dei and missiological basis of the church in relation to families and society/203
10.5.1 The missio Dei in the context of church, family, and society/203
10.5.2 The missiological role and services of the church/204
10.5.4 Congregations and the divine mission (Matt 28:18–20)/206
10.5.5 Churches as co labourers with God (Rom 10:14–15; 2 Cor 6:1)/206
10.5.6 The ecclesiastical community and divine stewardship (Jn 17:11 24; Eph 4:7, 12–16; Jn 13:34–35)/206
10.5.7 The ecclesiastical body and the dominion of God (Col 3:1– 4)/207
10.5.8 The perspective of Luke Acts on mission and evangelism in terms of families/207
10.5.9 The church's missional contribution to families and society/210
10.6 Conclusion/211
CHAPTER 11 DADDY IS GONE!/213
11.1 My background and live experience/213
11.2 The insights I gained from the concept of fatherhood/216
11.3 My enthusiasm for fatherhood is manifested through scholarly pursuits and research/
11.4 Conclusion/224
11.5 Concise biography/224
11.6 My philosophy of fatherhood /226
Final Words: A Call to Restoration/227
About the Author/229
References/231
In an era where the integrity of the family unit faces unprecedented challenges, and where the role of fathers is often questioned or diminished, Prof. Fazel Ebrihiam Freeks courageously confronts a profound societal dilemma: the crisis of father absence. With unwavering conviction and a heart deeply attuned to both scripture and society, this book offers a timely and transformative contribution.
Family Well‑Being and Paternal Absence in South African Society: Addressing the Anti‑Fatherhood Sentiment through a Biblical Lens is more than an academic monograph. It is a passionate call for restoration—a plea for the recognition of fathers as essential pillars of both family life and societal stability. Drawing from years of personal experience, scholarly research, and theological reflection, Prof. Freeks exposes the far‑reaching consequences of fatherlessness while illuminating pathways toward healing and redemption.
As one engages with the pages of this work, it becomes evident that the heart of the father is not merely a biological connection, but a spiritual vocation designed by God Himself. Through a practical theological approach, Freeks equips fathers, families, faith communities, and society at large to embrace their God‑ordained roles with courage and compassion.
This is a book for our time. It speaks not only to South Africa but to every nation grappling with broken homes and fractured identities. May its message inspire transformation and rekindle hope where despair has taken root.
Rev. Cosmin‑Tudor Ciocan
Editor‑in‑Chief, DIALOGO Journal
Universitatea „Ovidius” din Constanța