The Origins and Development of African Theology


Book Description

The Origins and Development of African theology is a very informative survey of African theology over approximately the last twenty years. The author is widely read on the subject, as far as English publications go, and highlights the salient issues with balanced objectivity. The literature, both as discussed in the substance of the book and in the bibliography, is also a valuable source for further study of African theology. John Mbiti, author of Prayers of African Religion




African Origins of Monotheism


Book Description

African Origins of Monotheism recasts an African knowledge of God in a new and original way. It aims to recapture concepts of God as originally reflected upon by pristine African religious thinkers. Muzorewa is seeking after the traditional African understandings of the Divine, which trace their origins back before the rise of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Monotheism, he maintains, is the ancient view of God, ubiquitous across the continent of Africa; indeed, monotheism comes "out of Africa." The book challenges the way that the idea of God has been manipulated by Eurocentric agendas, by colonizers, enslavers, and empire builders, all of whom were using God-talk to achieve their own personal ends. In African thinking, the God concept is guided by a sense of the presence of the all-pervasive and omnipresent God, which has instilled in the people a sense of respect for life at all costs. Thus, respect is not based on a commandment or on fear but on a propensity for affinity.




African Theology


Book Description

Two major strands of theology have developed in Africa--inculturation and liberation--each in response to different needs. Emmanuel Martey's African Theology provides a clear, scholarly examination of these two basic approaches, solidly based on Martey's understanding of contemporary theology and his firsthand knowledge of Africa.Martey first examines the historical background of each of these theological developments, especially relating to cultural and political movements enveloping the continent in the 1970s. In sub-Saharan Africa, struggles for independence from colonizers have resulted in inculturation theology. The defining aspect of this theology is that it pushes its roots firmly in African culture and traditions. In South Africa, on the other hand, Black Africans struggling against the oppressive systems of apartheid have turned to liberation theology.Martey shows how the real hope for African theology lies in the dialectical encounter between these two approaches and in their potential for convergence. "The two foci (of liberation and inculturation)," Martey says, "are not contradictory, but complement each other." African Theology concludes by challenging African theologians to weld together the praxis of inculturation with that of liberation, in order to achieve an integrative vision for the continent.




How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind


Book Description

Thomas C. Oden surveys the decisive role of African Christians and theologians in shaping the doctrines and practices of the church of the first five centuries, and makes an impassioned plea for the rediscovery of that heritage. Christians throughout the world will benefit from this reclaiming of an important heritage.




Africa Study Bible, NLT


Book Description

The Africa Study Bible brings together 350 contributors from over 50 countries, providing a unique African perspective. It's an all-in-one course in biblical content, theology, history, and culture, with special attention to the African context. Each feature was planned by African leaders to help readers grow strong in Jesus Christ by providing understanding and instruction on how to live a good and righteous life--Publisher.




A History of the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians 1989-2007


Book Description

When African Theology was first formulated, women played just a small role. In 1989 Mercy Amba Oduyoye set out to change this by creating the Circle of Concerned African Theologians in order to them a voice. The Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians is an African Baby, born in an ecumenical surrounding. Though there were other movements addressing the issue of gender inequalities in church and society, circle theologies are distinct from other women's liberation movements in that they are theologies formed in the context of African culture and religion. This book traces the Circle history from 1989 to 2007.




The Oxford Handbook of African American Theology


Book Description

Named an Honor Book for Nonfiction by the Black Caucus of the American Library Association African American theology has a long and important history. With modern roots in the civil rights movements of the 1960s, African American theology has gone beyond issues of justice and social transformation to participate in broader dialogues of theological inquiry. The Oxford Handbook of African American Theology brings together leading scholars in the field to offer a critical and comprehensive analysis of this theological tradition in its many forms and contexts. Using an interdisciplinary approach, this Oxford Handbook examines the nature, structures, and functions of African American Theology. The volume surveys the field by highlighting its sources, doctrines, internal debates, current challenges, and future prospects in order to present key topics related to the wider palette of Black Religion in a sustained scholarly format. This formative collection presents current scholarship on African American Theology and scripture, eschatology, Christology, womanist theology, sexuality, ontology, the global economy, and much more. The contributors represent a diverse set of faith perspectives, adding to the layered discourses within the volume. These essays further important discussions on the pressing debates and challenges that shape black and womanist theologies.




Early North African Christianity


Book Description

An internationally recognized scholar highlights the important role the North African church played in the development of Christian thought. This accessible introduction brings Africa back to the center of the study of Christian history by focusing on key figures and events that influenced the history and trajectory of Christianity as a whole. Written and designed for the classroom, the book zeroes in on five turning points to show how North African believers significantly shaped Christian theology, identity, and practice in ways that directly impact the church today.




Methodologies of Black Theology


Book Description

Frederick L. Ware provides a classification and criticism of methodological perspectives in the academic study, interpretation, and construction of black theology in the U.S. from 1969 to the present, and establishes and recognizes three different schools of academic black theology: The Black Hermeneutical School The Black Philosophical School The Human Sciences School Similarities and differences are delineated in the identification of each school's representative thinkers and their views on the tasks, content, sources, norm, method, and goals of black theology.




Leadership and Authority


Book Description

""This book proposes that Christian theology in Africa can have a significant impact if a critical understanding of the socio-political situation in contemporary Africa is taken seriously. The Christian leadership in post-colonial Africa has cloned its understanding and use of authority on the Bula Matari model, which issued from the brutality of colonialism and political absolutism in post-colonial Africa. This model has caused many problems in churches, including dysfunction, conflicts, division and lack of prophetic ministry. The book proposes that Life-Community ecclesiology can liberate authority, where leadership is a function, not a status and 'apostolic succession' belongs to all the people of God. This is a superb book on leadership, which has implications for all in church leadership beyond the Congo. Ande analyzes how church leadership has often mimicked secular models in an unhelpful way. He critiques the use of power and privilege and offers an alternative model of life-community ecclesiology. This is an informative, instructive and compelling read."" Cathy Ross J V Taylor Fellow in Missiology, Oxford University, Manager, Crowther Centre for Mission Education, CMS ""Dr. Ande's book is a very important addition to the history of Christianity in the eastern Congo Democratic Republic. His careful study of the growth of the Anglican church in Boga and Aru clearly and vividly explores the different dynamics of church growth in these two areas. He is sensitive to the differing ways in which Ugandan Anglicanism has provided models for the development of the church in Congo, by a study both of the original evangelism from Buganda associated with Apolo Kivebulaya in Boga, and the more recent impact of Revivalist Christianity mediated through the West Nile during times of political confusion in both countries. The historical material is used with great insight to develop a constructive theology of power and authority in the church, and to critique existing structures of clerical and episcopal power."" Kevin Ward, Senior Lecturer, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Leeds Rt. Rev. Dr. Titre Ande Georges, Congolese, is currently the Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of Aru, Democratic Republic of Congo. He is a former principal of the Anglican Theological College, ISThA, at Bunia, and still lectures at the college. He has a PhD from the University of Birmingham.