An African Background to the Old Testament

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isaac Boaheng
Keyword(s):  
Old Testament ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Social Economic ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Adequate Understanding ◽  
African Perspective ◽  
The Right ◽  
Proper Interpretation ◽  
African Setting ◽  
Old Testament Studies

An African Background to the Old Testament is a brief introduction to the geographical, social, economic, political and religious backgrounds of the Old Testament from an African viewpoint. It is written to help (African) Bible students to have access to the right background information required for proper interpretation of Scripture within the African setting. The seven-chapter book, after a thorough examination of the geographical, social, economic, political and religious backgrounds of the Old Testament from an African perspective contends that Old Testament scholarship in Africa must be carried out by those with adequate understanding and experience of the African socio-cultural context and must be done through proper interaction with that context. The Book is written in a non-technical way to make it accessible to everyone. Every chapter is organized thematically in sub-headings. Each chapter also ends with a recap of the main points discussed and review questions to allow the student to reflect on what has been discussed before proceeding to the next chapter. Universities and Seminaries can use it as a textbook for undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Old Testament Studies.

scholarly journals Ritual Burning and Slaughtering in an AIC: Perspectives from Liturgical Studies and Old Testament Criticism

2012 ◽  
Vol 19 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 298-318
Author(s):  
Cas Wepener ◽  
Esias E. Meyer
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Old Testament ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Ritual Studies ◽  
Liturgical Studies ◽  
Old Testament Studies

Abstract This article offers the results of research in which two theological fields cooperated in order to investigate one specific repertoire of liturgical rituals. From the perspective of both Liturgical Studies, and its focus on the functioning of ritual within its cultural context, and Old Testament Studies, and a focus on how biblical critics understand certain rituals described in the Priestly texts in the Pentateuch, ritual burning and slaughtering in an AIC was studied. Ritual Studies is beginning to play a much more prominent role in the engagement with books such as Leviticus and Numbers and also in Liturgical Studies, and this article is an example of how these two disciplines can fruitfully cooperate in the study of liturgical rituals in an AIC in South Africa.

scholarly journals The right contextual information determining the success of communication on translation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zera Zu
Keyword(s):  
New Testament ◽  
Old Testament ◽  
Contextual Information ◽  
Relevance Theory ◽  
Background Information ◽  
The New Testament ◽  
The Right ◽  
Provide Background Information

As relevance theory shows, the success of communication crucially depends on the right contextual information being highly accessible at the right time. Thus it is not sufficient that this information is physically available somewhere in the receptor language; to become effective for comprehension it must be highly accessible mentally to the reader or hearer at the time when it is needed. Thus while it is true in a general way that the translation of Old Testament portions is important because they provide background information necessary for understanding the New Testament, for it to be profitable for the comprehension of a particular New Testament passage, readers must be able to access in their minds just those pieces of information from the Old Testament that are relevant to this specific passage.

scholarly journals A Historical-Critical and Morpho-Synthatic Interpretation of Luke 4:18-19

2020 ◽  
pp. 325-333
Author(s):  
Patrick Yankyera ◽  
Jonathan E.T. Kuwornu-Adjaottor ◽  
Emmanuel Kojo Ennin Antwi ◽  
Frimpong Wiafe
Keyword(s):  
Old Testament ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Social Needs ◽  
Biblical Text ◽  
Research Knowledge ◽  
Holistic Ministry ◽  
The Social ◽  
The One ◽  
The Right ◽  
Proper Interpretation

This paper examines the meaning of Luke 4:18-19 using the historical-critical method to establish the meaning of the text under study. The objective here is to investigate the origins of the pericope to understand “the world behind the text” as well as its applicability in contemporary Pentecostal/Charismatic churches in Ghana. This paper contends that finding out the accurate meaning of biblical text is relevant for Christian life and ministry. It discovers that Jesus makes it known that he is the focus of the foretold word of Isaiah. This confirms that he is the carrier of the Spirit, the gospel’s proclaimer, the eschatological prophet and the one who comes to set the oppressed free. He was bestowed with all the Spirit’s gifts and graces, not by measure, as it was on Old Testament kings, priests and prophets but by divine unction. The paper concludes that Jesus’ claim of having been mandated by God to accomplish the task of preaching salvation to humanity. His identification with the promised Messiah in the Isaianic prophecies indicates that he was commissioned and empowered to carry out a holistic ministry which involves not only preaching salvation but also meeting the social needs of people he encountered. The study recommends that proper interpretation of Scripture using the right tools should be adopted in order to ascertain the right meaning of biblical text such as Luke 4:18-19 for application. The study contributes to research knowledge on the holistic approach to ministry pointing out clearly that the ministry is not only for the spiritual growth of a person but also a person’s social wellbeing.

scholarly journals Does human germline genome editing violate human dignity? An African perspective

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bonginkosi Shozi
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Genome Editing ◽  
Human Dignity ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Critical Examination ◽  
International Human Rights ◽  
Liberal Democracies ◽  
African Perspective ◽  
International Human ◽  
The Right

ABSTRACT It has been variously claimed that alterations to the human genome for reproductive purposes ought to be prohibited on the basis that doing so is contrary to human dignity. This claim leads to the conclusion that germline genome editing (GGE) ought to be categorically banned in all states committed to upholding human dignity as a right recognized in international human rights documents, and which has been entrenched in the constitutions of many liberal democracies. But is it the case that the right to human dignity is necessarily opposed to GGE? This paper explores this question through critical examination of the concept of human dignity in international human rights, and how it has been interpreted by individual states. Recognizing that the interpretation of human dignity is shaped by cultural context, the paper explores an African perspective on this issue, using South African constitutional jurisprudence on human dignity as an example. It concludes that when viewed through the lens of the African ethic of Ubuntu, there is no justification for a categorical prohibition on GGE, on the grounds that it is contrary to human dignity. This illustrates the need for a global discourse on the regulation on genome editing to be sensitive to varying perspectives—specifically on value-laden questions such as the interpretation of human rights.

Notes on How to Read the Song of Songs

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Я. Эйделькинд
Keyword(s):  
Old Testament ◽  
Gender Stereotypes ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Lyric Poetry ◽  
Song Of Songs ◽  
Widespread Belief ◽  
Female Voices ◽  
Speaking Voice

Эта статья содержит ряд соображений о том, как читать Песнь песней. Будучи сборником лирической поэзии, Песнь песней работает в первую очередь со звуком и не имеет сюжета. Важную роль играет принцип разнообразия и контраста. Серьёзный тон сменяется юмористическим, и наоборот. Гендерные стереотипы сохраняют свою силу в одних случаях, но подрываются в других. Сексуальная физиология, вопреки распространенному мнению, не находится на первом плане — гораздо важнее эмоции (факт, противоречащий как «духовным», так и «плотским» прочтениям). Отождествление читателя с лирическим голосом ведёт к субъективным интерпретациям. Последние вполне законны, пока не претендуют на то, чтобы быть единственно верными. Три контекста помогают понять Песнь песней: древний культурный контекст, более узкий контекст Ветхого Завета и контекст лирической традиции от древности до наших дней. This article is an attempt to formulate some principles of reading the Songs of Songs that would take into account its genre and poetic features. Being a collection of lyric poetry, the Song of Songs works primarily with sound and has no plot. An important role in its composition plays the principle of diversity and contrast. A serious tone gives place to a humorous one, and vice versa. Female voices alternate with male ones; gender stereotypes in some cases retain their power, but in others are subverted. Sexual physiology, contrary to a widespread belief, is not in the foreground — much more important are emotions. This fact belies both “spiritual” and “carnal” readings. The Song of Songs involves an identification of the reader with the lyrical speaking voice and provokes subjective interpretations. These are legitimate as long as they do not pretend to be the only true ones. Three contexts help to understand Song of Songs: ancient cultural context, a narrower Old Testament context and the context of the lyrical tradition from antiquity to the present day.

scholarly journals Facing Death: Attitudes toward Physician-Assisted End of Life among Physicians Working at a Tertiary-Care-Hospital in Israel

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 6396
Author(s):  
Keren Dopelt ◽  
Dganit Cohen ◽  
Einat Amar-Krispel ◽  
Nadav Davidovitch ◽  
Paul Barach
Keyword(s):  
End Of Life ◽  
Tertiary Care Hospital ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Terminally Ill ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Medical Assistance In Dying ◽  
Terminally Ill Patients ◽  
The Right

The demand for medical assistance in dying remains high and controversial with a large knowledge gap to support optimal patient care. The study aimed to explore physicians’ attitudes regarding euthanasia and examine the factors that related to these attitudes. We surveyed 135 physicians working at a tertiary-care hospital in Israel. The questionnaire was comprised of demographic and background information, DNR procedure information, encounters with terminally ill patients, familiarity with the law regarding end-of-life questions, and Attitudes toward Euthanasia. About 61% agreed that a person has the right to decide whether to expedite their own death, 54% agreed that euthanasia should be allowed, while 29% thought that physicians should preserve a patients’ life even when they expressed the wish to die. A negative statistically significant relationship was found between the level of religiosity and attitudes toward euthanasia. The physicians’ attitudes towards euthanasia are quite positive when compared to other countries. The data shows a conflict of values: the sacredness of human life versus the desire to alleviate patients’ suffering. The Coronavirus-19 outbreak reinforces the importance of supporting physicians’ efforts to provide ethical and empathic communication for terminally ill patients. Future studies should aim to improve our understanding and treatment of the specific types of suffering that lead to end-of-life requests.

scholarly journals Maternal and child health: is making ‘healthy choices’ an oxymoron?

2020 ◽  
pp. 175797592096735 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felicia M. Low ◽  
Peter D. Gluckman ◽  
Mark A. Hanson
Keyword(s):  
Child Health ◽  
Maternal And Child Health ◽  
Social Economic ◽  
Policy Changes ◽  
Freedom Of Choice ◽  
Healthy Choice ◽  
Political Forces ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Right ◽  
And Child Health

The right to exercise choice is fundamental to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and it is assumed that all individuals generally enjoy freedom of choice in managing their health. Yet closer examination of this assumption calls into question its credibility and validity, especially with regard to maternal and child health around the globe. We argue that the concept of individual ‘healthy choice,’ particularly as applied to those with inadequate support and who are relatively disempowered, is flawed and unhelpful when considering the wider social, economic, and political forces underlying poor health. We instead propose that the realistic promotion of healthy choices requires acknowledging that agency lies beyond just the individual, and that individuals need to be supported through education and other structural and policy changes that facilitate a genuine ability to make healthy choices.

scholarly journals Humans created God in their image? An anthropomorphic projectionism in the Old Testament

2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ndikho Mtshiselwa ◽  
Lerato Mokoena
Keyword(s):  
Social Construction ◽  
Old Testament ◽  
Main Question ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Social Construct ◽  
Ancient Israel ◽  
The World ◽  
Genesis 1 ◽  
History Of ◽  
Old Testament Studies

The Old Testament projects not only a Deity that created the world and human beings but also one that is violent and male. The debate on the depiction of the God of Israel that is violent and male is far from being exhausted in Old Testament studies. Thus, the main question posed in this article is: If re-read as ‘Humans created God in their image’, would Genesis 1:27 account for the portrayal of a Deity that is male and violent? Feuerbach’s idea of anthropomorphic projectionism and Guthrie’s view of religion as anthropomorphism come to mind here. This article therefore examines, firstly, human conceptualisation of a divine being within the framework of the theory of anthropomorphic projectionism. Because many a theologian and philosopher would deny that God is a being at all, we further investigate whether the God of Israel was a theological and social construction during the history of ancient Israel. In the end, we conclude, based on the theory of anthropomorphic projectionism, that the idea that the God of Israel was a theological and social construct accounts for the depiction of a Deity that is male and violent in the Old Testament.

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