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African Theology: Key Personalities, Methodology, and Sources

Methodology

Their focus andRecommendation

1. Introduction

Theology is a discourse about God his being, nature and dealings with the created

order. It is talk-about God.

Although theology has such a foundation, it by nature is constructi!e one. It is likeconstructing a building uponsolidfoundation. And whenever the way it is constructed

seems inconvenient or unfit to the living conditions of its inhabitants the building may be

demolished and re-constructed, yet u"on the same foundation. Theology is nothing but

epressing the foundation in an intelligible manner using contemporary language andphilosophical epressions. Its foundation issolidbut its forms and tools of epression are

sub!ect to change.

After the "econd #orld #ar, when many African countries gained independence from

#esterncolonial power, African $hristianity also faced a %uestion of self-identity.$esmondTutustated, &African theology is the result of reaction against cultural andecclesiastical colonialism.'(African theology, therefore, took a path of &reactionary

theology', which was the result of attempts made to gain selfhood in $hristian thought by

remodelling the theology of missionaries in the colonial period. )

$efinition*

The term &African theology' for the first time emerged in African soil in (+ on

the conference of the All African $onference of $hurches AA$$/ in reaction to

such #estern ideologies.0

there eists no theology which is contet free,

1aul Tillick, in that &theology is the statement of the truth of $hristian message

and interpretation of this truth for e!erygeneration'.

M%iti*

$hristianity is a universal and cosmic faith. It was universali2ed on $alvary, and

cosmici2ed on the first 3aster 4ay. 5ur duty now is to locali2e this universality

and cosmicity. 3urope and America have westerni2ed it, the 5rthodo $hurches

have easterni2ed it6 here in Africa we must africani2e it. It belongs to the verynature of $hristianity to be sub!ect to locali2ation, otherwise its universality and

cosmicity become meaningless.7

(Gehman, 4oing African $hristian Theology, 0.)Gehman,Doing African Christian Theology, 0, 8ower, &African Theology. Its 9istory,4ynamics, "cope and :uture,' ((7.0;uke ;ungile 1ato, &African Theologies'7eligions in Africa?,International Review of Mission+*)0 5ctober

(+@/ 70(.

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Any given theology is defined within the framework of its socio-cultural, socio-

political, and socio-economic contet.

Therefore African theology is

o &There is some degree of fluidity with the phrase itself. "ome read it to

mean African $hristian theology, whereas others tend to understand it in

more general or generic sense as to include African Traditional religiousthought, including African Islamic thought.'

o It is about &the discourse which is being conducted by Africans, in order to

relate their own cultural and religious heritage to $hristianity.'In African

religious heritage the eperience of God is more practical, rather than

being a theoretical fad. In a way, Africans live their God-talk theology/instead of theori2ing or verbali2ing it.

o Theological Reflection and &'"ression %y Africans

o A (i%lical )aith of Africans S"ea*ing to African Soil

o $escri%ing +hrist as a (lac* Man-od

o

k

In this presentation, I will briefly present origins, key personalities, sources, issues, and

methodologies in African theologyBies.

. /rigin

Cuestion of self-identity, colonialism,

a. (lac* Theology 0struggle for the social and "olitical transformation inSouth Africaborn out of "outh African?s struggle with Apartide

%. 2i%eration Theology

c. (ac* to our +ulture 0Indigenous culture of African "eo"lei. +ultural o""ression 0anthro"ological o""ression )a%ella

and Torres, 1343

ii. In "chreiter?s own words*

:or too long, embracing $hrist and his message meant re!ection of African cultural

values, Africans were taught that their ancient ways were deficient or evil and had to beset aside if they hoped to be $hristians.@

iii.

i!.

d. Post+olonial African Theology

5. Prominent )igures

a. 6ohn Mi%it 0African Religion and Philoso"hy The Concept of God inAfrica

%. K7ame (edia*o

8. Sources for African Theology

D. E. F. . D. "chreiter. ed./Faces of Jesus in Africa, p. viii

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a. African Traditional Religions 0Africa9s Religious "ast "re +hristian

and "re Islam

%. +ulture 0early e'isting e'"eriences

i. Songs

ii. arrati!es

c. (i%le;. Methodologieseligion in Africa,

"upplements to the Dournal of >eligion in Africa KI ;eiden* 3. D. 8rill, (++/ ()@-)(.

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discontinuity in the dialectics of African traditional religions and

$hristianity.'

i!.

b. Fato

c. (edia*o and /thers

d. African Inde"endent +hurches>. Issues

a. Ada"tation, Inculturation

%. Social ?uestions

c. &"truggle with making a $hristiandogma meaningful.'((

d. Plurality

e.

4. +riti@ue on African Theology

a. It lost its +hristian Identity

. Recommendation

9ow biblically grounded, theologically vibrant, intellectually engaged, and contetuallysensitive theological proposals that would address the modern theological needs and

issues of 3thiopian evangelical $hristian community be formulated.

&'"lore: the theological felt need

Prioriti=e:

Research:

Scri"ture study

#rite theological "ro"osal

3. l

((5duyoye, 9earing and Fnowing, +.