Phenomenological Approach to African Theology

2021 ◽  
pp. 108-131
Author(s):  
Mbosowo Bassey Udok
Keyword(s):  
Liberation Theology ◽  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
African Culture ◽  
African Theology ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Phenomenological Methodology ◽  
African Context

This chapter examines the phenomenological approaches to African theology. Over the years, there have been several attempts to think about theology to be a Western venture, thus resulting in such claims as “there is nothing like African theology.” This work seeks to investigate whether there truly is an African theology. It further analyzes the study of theology in an African context with respect to ethno-theology, inculturation theology, and Black or liberation theology. Using hermeneutical-phenomenological methodology, which seeks to interpret African theology with a view to bringing out its essence and of course reasons for its existence, findings show that employing phenomenological approaches like epoche or bracketing, eidetic reduction, and comparative approaches, African theology takes its primary data from the Bible, African tradition, and history. The chapter concludes that there is African theology with respect to African culture, nature, and experience.

scholarly journals Reading Psalm 90 in the African (Yoruba) perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
David T. Adamo
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Biblical Studies ◽  
Traditional Religion ◽  
African Culture ◽  
Biblical Hermeneutics ◽  
New Words ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Critical Methodology ◽  
Small Collection ◽  
African Context

Psalm 90 stands at a critical juncture in the overall scheme of the Psalter. It is also the first Psalm of the small collection which constitutes Book IV of the Psalter. Psalm 90 can be regarded as one of the magisterial Psalms. Psalm 90 is unique in four ways: (1) Psalm 90 is the first Psalm of Book IV with new words after the unresolved ending of Book III; (2) it is the only Psalm with a superscription dedicated to Moses; (3) Psalm 90 is the most popular and attested text of the Bible according to archaeological facts; (4) the chapter is the theological heart of the Psalter with its emphasis on God’s time and his reign. Unfortunately, however, many scholars have not paid much attention to how these Psalms are used as amulets, talismans, and medicine as attested by archaeological documents uncovered. The purpose of this article is to examine Psalm 90 in the African (Yoruba) context which has been supported by archaeological documents of Psalm 90 uncovered. Psalm 90 has been considered as a Psalm of protection, healing and success.Intradisciplinary and interdisciplinary implications: ‘Reading Psalm 90 in the African context’ interprets Psalm 90 in the light of African culture. It deals with biblical studies, exegesis, African traditional religion, and African cultural practices using historical-critical and African biblical hermeneutical methodologies. The Euro-American way is challenged, and African biblical hermeneutics methodology presents a legitimate historical-critical methodology.

Reading The Bible With African Lenses: Exodus 20:1–17 As Interpreted by Simon Kapwepwe

2021 ◽  
pp. 001452462110218
Author(s):  
Jonathan Kangwa
Keyword(s):  
Political Freedom ◽  
African Culture ◽  
Church Of Scotland ◽  
Free Church ◽  
African Identity ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Biblical Scholarship ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Freedom Fighters ◽  
African Context

The bible has been differently received, read, interpreted and appropriated in African communities. Political freedom fighters in Zambia used the bible to promote black consciousness and an awareness of African identity. The first group of freedom fighters who emerged from the Mwenzo and Lubwa mission stations of the Free Church of Scotland in North Eastern Zambia read and interpreted the bible in a manner that encouraged resistance against colonialism and the marginalization of African culture. This paper adds to current shifts in African biblical scholarship by considering Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe’s interpretation of Exodus 20:1–17 in the context of Zambia’s movement for political and ecclesiastical independence. Kapwepwe belonged to the first group of freedom fighters - fighting alongside Kenneth Kaunda who would become the first President of Zambia. The present paper shows how Kapwepwe brought the biblical text into dialogue with the African context to address urgent issues of his time, including colonialism.

scholarly journals African Theology in the 21st Century: Mapping Out Critical Priorities

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 213
Author(s):  
Humphrey Mwangi Waweru
Keyword(s):  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Christian Theology ◽  
Christian Faith ◽  
African Culture ◽  
African Theology ◽  
Traditional Religions ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Almost All ◽  
African Traditional Religions

There is a dialogue taking place in the area of African Theology; “do we call it African Christian theology or African Theology and how it relates to the African culture”? Depending on where one sits, any name will carry the day as long as it fulfills the academic desire intended. What is important is the dialogue that is taking place between the Bible and the African culture. Here, we shall take the name “African Theology” as the norm. It is evident in almost all ways that from a walk which is based on the mapping of African theology or from the wide variety of current understandings of its nature and task, there are several priorities in African Theology. A number of theologians today argue that the priorities of African theology are many. These include providing a clear and comprehensive dialogue between African culture and the Bible in relation to the African faith. They argue that the Bible has also been translated into local languages in order to enable the African cultures to become intelligible in the way they relate to the scriptures. On the other hand, others have prioritized the definition of African Theology so that they can deal with it from their perspective of African Traditional Religions. Also, others want to prioritize African Theology as a reflection of the praxis of Christian faith within a relatively deprived community. Therefore, this article seeks to briefly provide some priorities in African Theology, such as liberation, reconstruction, and poverty reduction theologies. In this study, we will proceed to explore the need for a definition of African Theology, how it relates to African Christian faith, and the challenges posed by African Theology to the Christian faith. We will conclude with the general guidelines on formulating the priorities of African theology.

scholarly journals Latin American liberation theology: Does it fit in the schema of African theology of reconstruction?

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Julius M. Gathogo
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Liberation Theology ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Critical Analysis ◽  
Global Dimension ◽  
Black Theology ◽  
Systematic Theology ◽  
African Theology ◽  
Majority World ◽  
African Context

Three decades after the proposal for a shift of theological paradigm, from liberation to reconstruction in an African context (1990-2020), it is worthwhile to ask: Was this proposal timely? Did the proposal speak for other related theologies of liberation in the majority-world such as Black theology of North America and more specifically, Latin American liberation theology? In this proposal, African theologies of liberation were urged to embrace this shift as the new norm. Such African theologies includes: African theology (the mother), Black theology of South Africa, and African women’s theology among others. Hence the proposal was contextual in that Africa was moving towards total independence from ‘Pharaohs’ who had colonised Africa since the Berlin conference of 1885/1886. With the African agenda appearing to have been taken care of, it is worthwhile to ask: Does this ‘well-taken care of’ African agenda mean anything to other liberationists theologians in the majority-world such as the Latin American liberation theology? This article sets on the premise that liberation theology can be done within reconstruction theology and vice versa, and as the situation and context demands. Hence, it is possible to cry for ‘liberation’ when in reality, it is liberation to reconstruct and/or liberation to consolidate the gains of previous liberation hence reconstruction. In its method and design, the article reviews the existing literature while making a critical analysis on matters under consideration.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This article explores the notion of reconstruction in an African context and gives it a global dimension by drawing from other contemporary theologies of the Majority-World such as Latin American theology and Black theology of North America. It involves the disciplines of Systematic theology, Contemporary theology, Liberation and Reconstruction theologies, and Missiology.

‘Limping, Yet Made to Climb a Mountain!’ Re-Reading the Vashti Character in the Hiv And Aids South African Context

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madipoane Masenya (Ngwan’A Mphahlele)
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
External Factor ◽  
Hiv And Aids ◽  
African Women ◽  
South African Context ◽  
Land Grabbing ◽  
The Bible ◽  
History Of ◽  
African Context

The history of the Christian Bible’s reception in South Africa was part of a package that included among others, the importation of European patriarchy, land grabbing and its impoverishment of Africans and challenged masculinities of African men. The preceding factors, together with the history of the marginalization of African women in bible and theology, and how the Bible was and continues to be used in our HIV and AIDS contexts, have only made the proverbial limping animal to climb a mountain. Wa re o e bona a e hlotša, wa e nametša thaba (while limping, you still let it climb a mountain) simply means that a certain situation is being aggravated (by an external factor). In this chapter the preceding Northern Sotho proverb is used as a hermeneutical lens to present an HIV and AIDS gender sensitive re-reading of the Vashti character in the Hebrew Bible within the South African context.

scholarly journals ‘Love the sinner, not the sin?’ Sexual and gender diversity in faith communities

2016 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Finn Reygan
Keyword(s):  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Faith Communities ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Sexual And Gender Minorities ◽  
African Theology ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Gender Minorities ◽  
Entry Points ◽  
Queer Communities ◽  
And Gender

While queer theology has foregrounded sexual and gender diversity in faith communities internationally, in South Africa, the emergence of a queer, African theology is necessary given that religion is often not a ‘safe space’ for sexual and gender minorities owing to theological violence. Advocacy for inclusion requires the development of theological capacity in queer communities so as to foster biblical, theological and interpretative resistance. There are a number of approaches available, including demythologising and reclaiming the Bible for queer communities, developing more redemptive interpretative options for queer inclusion and developing alternative discourses that challenge the heteropatriarchy of the Bible. Entry points for this work include Bible study; workshops and seminars for faith communities on sexual and gender diversity; the acceptance of a minimum pastoral threshold (or minimum levels of preparedness) for engaging with issues of sexual and gender diversity; and creating ecumenical spaces, cognizant of the local context, where such engagements can take place. This involves moving beyond a theology of compassion and essentialised notions of sexuality and gender so as to develop a queer, African, people’s theology that recognises the trauma experienced by sexual and gender minorities in faith communities.

scholarly journals Reading the Bible in the African context: Assessing Africa’s love affair with prosperity Gospel

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ntozakhe Cezula
Keyword(s):  
Biblical Interpretation ◽  
Prosperity Gospel ◽  
Bible Translation ◽  
African People ◽  
Traditional Religions ◽  
The Bible ◽  
African Context ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Bible Reading ◽  
Socio Economic Factors

The aim of this article is to examine Bible reading in the African context and the willingness and enthusiasm to embrace prosperity gospel in Africa. To achieve this objective, a discussion on the developments in biblical interpretation in Africa will first be presented. This will be done by examining three historical periods: colonial, independence and democratisation periods. This will be followed by an outline of migrations that have taken place from traditional religions to different versions of Christianity in different times in Africa. These migrations will be examined in connection with Bible translation. The relationship between prosperity gospel and African people in Africa will be discussed by considering the tools prosperity gospel uses to appeal to African people, namely the religio-cultural and socio-economic factors. The article will then provide its assessment of contextual reading in the prosperity gospel and a conclusion will follow.

scholarly journals KIAI AND ISLAMIC BANK (The Typology of Kiai Based on Their Perception and Behaviour toward Islamic Bank)

1970 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
AM. M. Hafidz MS ◽  
Agus Fakhrina
Keyword(s):  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Islamic Banks ◽  
Islamic Bank ◽  
Central Java ◽  
Conventional Banks ◽  
Important Position ◽  
Qualitative Phenomenological ◽  
And Behavior

This article aims to explain the perceptions and behavior of Moslem scholars (ulama/kiai) on the coast of Central Java toward Islamic banks. It is unassailable that finding out the kiai’s perception and behavior toward Islamic banks becomes unavoidable because the kiai occupies a very important position in the social structure as an agent of social change. In order to have an approriate understanding toward the perception and behavior, this study used qualitative-phenomenological approach. The main source of primary data were obtained from the kiai in Pekalongan region by using purposive sampling technique. Indepth-interview as the prominent method in gaining data was reinforced by observation method. To get validity of data, internal and external validity were performed. The former was taken through four stages, namely triangulation, emic process, member checking and prolonged time; and the latter through transferability. Data were analyzed inductively through three cronological steps, e.i. data reduction, display and conclusion drawing. Based on the perceptions and behavior of scholars toward Islamic banks, this study concludes that there are three categories of kiai. The first is an idealist compromise (kompromis-idealis) which argues that Islamic banks do not fully comply with sharia compliance yet, the use of Islamic banks is compulsory and conventional banks are not substitutes for Islamic banks. The second is a realistic compromise (kompromis realistis) which infers that Islamic banks are not fully accordance with sharia commpliance, the use of Islamic banks is not mandatory, but conventional banks are not substitutes for Islamic banks. The third is resistance (resisten) which argues that Islamic banks are not much different from conventional banks, so making use of Islamic bank is not obligation, and conventional banks substitute Islamic banks.

Coming of Age in African Theology: The Quest for Authentic Theology in African Soil

Exchange ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derrick Mashau ◽  
Martha Frederiks
Keyword(s):  
Coming Of Age ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
African Theology ◽  
African People ◽  
African Context ◽  
African Soil ◽  
World Christianity ◽  
The Many

AbstractThis article explores the concept of African theology from a historical and methodological point of view. It shows that there is not one type of theology that can be called African theology but that there is a cluster of diverse theologies which share a number of common characteristics: African theology is theology done in Africa, arising out of the identity of African people, using African concepts of thought and speaking to the African context. The authors signal that there is relatively little interaction between the various theologies developed on the continent and that much theology is a reaction to Western Christianity and Western colonialism. The article ends by concluding that the quest for African theologies is in full progress, as the contexts in the midst of which African theologies are developed continue to change. Yet, despite the many challenges African theologians face, their theologies speak of hope and life. This vitality of African theologies, according to the authors, is the contribution of African theologies to the discourse of world Christianity.

Kolaborasi Komponen Pendidikan Dalam Mewujudkan Pembelajaran Bermakna Pada Siswa Kelas II Sekolah Dasar

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 267
Author(s):  
Trivena Meiliana Koroh ◽  
Widiastuti Widiastuti
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Collaboration ◽  
Research Method ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Class Ii ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
School Students ◽  
Parent Collaboration ◽  
Direct Observations ◽  
Qualitative Descriptive

This research aims to describe the form of collaboration application between educational components in realizing learning in grade II elementary school students. The research method used is a qualitative descriptive research method with a phenomenological approach to question natural phenomena. The subjects of this study were 92 people, consisting of 31 students of class II-B, 1 teacher of class II-B, 1 parallel teacher of class II-A, 1 representative of the school in the curriculum field, and 31 parents of students. The primary data of this research are based on the results of direct observations, while the secondary data are from documents related to collaboration, such as lesson plans, teacher research results, and the author's reflections on observations. The research instrument using observation and documentation techniques in the data. The results showed that to improve the quality of students positively and with quality, it is necessary to manage education through good collaboration from the school, family, and community so that positive stimulus through the interaction of educational components can develop aspects of students holistically. This study concludes that there are three forms of collaboration for educational components that can be carried out in realizing classroom learning, namely teacher and student collaboration, teacher collaboration, parallel teachers, and vice principal in curriculum, and teacher and parent collaboration (PaL's).

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