The theological reflection on the divine in the African context: a possible basis for dialogue with Islam

[摘要] English: The countries of Africa are experiencing important changes and development forms amajor part of their political agenda. It is a period of economic awakening. This.Renaissance of Africa is impossible to achieve without a new social order. This newsocial order is one that goes beyond sectional and ethnic hatred. This also implies aneed for religious tolerance based on an acceptable concept understood equally by allreligions and ethnic groups of Africa.In this thesis, the researcher sought to contribute to religious tolerance by looking atsimilarities and differences between the conceptions of the Divine held by the majorreligious traditions of Africa, viz. African traditional religion, Christianity and Islam. Thethesis also explored the possibility of employing the conception of the Divine as aunifying factor and a possible basis for dialogue between religious communities in amulti-religious society.The investigation articulated the following three basic convictions which are central tothe study:(a) The concept of the Divine in the African context is a complex one.(b) Christian theology in Africa has relevance for the ecumenical church.(c) Islam, like Christianity, also suffers from a religious ethnocentrism.In Chapter 1 attention was devoted to the problem and scope of the study, theconceptualisation of the problem, and the purpose and relevance of the study. Thechapter contains a historical survey of African traditional religion, Christian Mission andthe Islamic Da'wah in Africa. Lastly the researcher spelled out his personal stance asregards the subject under discussion and concluded with a discussion of Africantraditional religion, Christianity and Islam in Kenya.In Chapter 2 attention was devoted to the theological views on the Divine. This tookthe form of a general definition followed by specific attention to the way in which theconcept is understood from the African, Christian and Islamic points of view. Attentionwas paid to the way in which these religions understand the attributes of God and thenames of God and to how these views may contribute towards preparing the stage fordialogue. The African conception of the Divine has been misunderstood by Westernwriters, especially by the missionaries who initially had a pre-conceived notion ofAfricans and their understanding of God. The researcher discussed these viewscritically and concluded that Africans, like the Jews, believed in one God and that theirconcept of the Divine was evolving from simple to complex in a similar way as Yahwehof Israel and Allah of the Arabs also evolved from simple to complex up to the level atwhich the concept comes to us in the Bible and the Qur'an.In Chapter 3 the respective attitudes of African traditional religion, Christianity andIslam towards the Divine were explored. Emphasis was laid on the African Christianswho take the gospel to their fellow Africans and who can therefore be regarded asmissionaries among their own people. The Muslim attitude towards Allah and theDa'wah was also discussed.In Chapter 4 the theological views of the three religions on Monotheism, the Trinity andPredestination were explored. The findings revealed that the religions differ in thisregard. The differences are more pronounced between Christianity and Islam. It wasargued that, in order to achieve a religious symbiosis, the differences should be left tothe adherents of the respective religions while emphasis should be laid on the conceptof the Divine which is understood in a similar fashion in these religions. This couldserve to effect a working togetherness in a multi-religious society.In Chapter 5 attention was devoted to the condition of sin. Sin was discussed as themajor reason for the separation between man and the Divine. The views of the threereligions on sin and the resulting strained relationship with the Divine wereinvestigated .. The researcher believes that sin is the main cause of religious animositybetween the adherents of these religions in Africa and specifically in Kenya. Theremedy lies in looking to the Divine for a complete restoration and the possibility ofdialogue.The question of salvation was investigated in Chapter 6. In discussing the theology ofsalvation in the African traditional Religion, Christianity and Islam attention wasdevoted to the way in which the theology of salvation relates to the perception of theDivine in these religions. The differences between the ways in which Christianity andIslam understand of salvation were discussed critically and the responses of each ofthe religions were articulated.Chapter 7 contains a few concluding remarks and a way forward was discussed. Itwas stressed that a social order based on the concept of religious tolerance isnecessary in a multi-religious society. It is possible for people of different religions towork together under the umbrella of the concept of the Divine. Religious animosity isunnecessary in the 21st century and beyond, and quite untenable if Africa is to bedevelopmentally conscious. There are common areas where African traditionalreligion, Christianity and Islam agree - especially with regard to the concept of the. Divine. This should be emphasised in order to promote peace; yet the individualreligious differences should be respected as such. Attention was also devoted to theChristian witness in a multi-religious society and it was pointed out that Christiansshould learn to listen to other religions in order to be understood and accepted in theirwitness to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

[发布机构] University of the Free State