"Mubabinge Bilolo's work is long overdue in English. Brilliantly, he has demonstrated that African philosophy, through his discussion of the cosmos-theologies of Ancient Egypt, is the genesis of most of the fundamental questions regarding the enigma of God and humanity. I cannot praise this work enough as of first importance in the reconstruction of Africa's place in human sciences". (Dr. Molefi Kete Asante, Professor, Temple University; USA).
Part One addresses 'Theological Foundations.' The five essays in this section deal with the Bible, Theology and Ecumenism. The subjects of theological methods, contextual hermeneutics, and appropriate curriculum are given special attention. Of course even foundational issues cannot be discussed in a vacuum and so each of the essays addresses these foundational subjects in the light of African realities. Part Two deals with 'Contemporary Issues.' It is particularly in this section that the traditional themes in African theology have been somewhat displaced by concerns which are today very pressing indeed. Three essays are devoted to the question of HIV/AIDS. This disease, which has devastated the African continent, demands a theological and practical response from those who claim to follow Jesus Christ. If the churches do not respond to this crisis with energy and determination we should not be surprised if the next generation wonders whether the Gospel has the power which we claim that it has. Two essays address the question of Islam and Muslim-Christian Relations in Africa. The resurgence of Islam in the world today is a concern of many. For those who believe in Jesus, this is a challenge which demands much wisdom and love. How should we respond to our Muslim neighbours? What are appropriate and thoughtful ways to share the love of Christ? Two further essays appear under the title of 'The Marginalized.' This could, of course, be a much large section. Those who suffer from AIDS could be included in this number, and one might have expected to see at least one essay on the place of women. In this volume, however, the 'disabled' and youth are highlighted. Both groups are clearly in need of the attention of the churches, and both groups are clearly misunderstood and neglected. The final section of Part Two contains essays, which focus attention on 'Theological Paedagogy.' All of the other contributions to this volume make suggestions and arguments about curriculum, resources, and issues of concern for theological educators. The causal aim of this book is that these essays may help us to reflect in an intentional way on the implications of contemporary realities for the future of theological education.
This Handbook of Theological Education in Africa is a fascinating witness to the explosive status quo of Theological Education. The historical and regional (inter alia) surveys open our eyes and ears to see and hear how fast it has taken root historically, geographically, and ecumenically. The landscape of African Theological Education has changed drastically during the final twenty to thirty years of the last century. There is very much to appreciate about it and what has been achieved. We have grounds to make us rejoice, and for which to thank the Lord. John Mbiti, Theologian and Philosopher, former Director of Bossey Ecumenical Institute The Handbook of Theological Education in Africa is unique, comprehensive and ambitious in its aim and scope. It is: - truly interdenominationally oriented, bringing perspectives from all major Christian traditions on the African continent - broad in geographical extension, collecting voices from all major regions of the vast African continent - life-centered and ecological in orientation, as voices are brought together on an impressive number of new key themes and contextual challenges for theological education in Africa - grounded in expertise, drawing on a pan-African unprecedented gathering of leading African theologians, men and women. We hope that this book, in its print and later digital versions, will make its way into the hands of African theological educators, will inspire students and will be a standard reference volume in all major African theological libraries, in both universities and church-related seminaries. Olav Fykse Tveit, WCC General Secretary The challenges of inclusiveness in African theological education are before us. The challenge to be ecumenical, meaning all Christians together; inclusiveness as serving a multi-religious continent with its islands is before ecumenical theological education. The challenges in terms of responding theologically to the issues that confront Africa - all of Africa - the religious, political, social, cultural issues and the challenges of people's spirituality and identity are to be on the radar of ecumenical theological education if theology is to be relevant in Africa. This Handbook of Theological Education in Africa has something for everybody. Mercy Oduyoye, Director of Institute of Women in Religion and Culture in Accra, Ghana This Handbook of Theological Education in Africa is a wake-up call for African churches to give proper prominence to theological education institutions and their programmes which serve them. We congratulate the editorial team for their magnificent work in bringing this Handbook together. This is a timely gift of the Church in Africa to the worldwide Church and will serve many generations of African theologians to come. Andre Karamaga, AACC General Secretary
Both resistance to and renewed interest in the sacraments mark current theological thought. This work acknowledges human limitations of the sacraments but stresses that God's relationship to human beings cannot be other than sacramental." Sacramental structures and events constitute salvation history, and thus permeate all theology. What makes this sacramental view comprehensible is faith; faith is an indispensable precondition for a sacramental theology. Therefore, the author first demonstrates the preconditions of faith on which sacramental theology rests, and what place it holds within the whole of theology. Following this, he briefly presents the concept of sacraments and the history of that concept, the teachings of Church tradition on sacraments in general, and the basic features of a sacramental theology. Next, he explains from a theological perspective the traditional sacraments of the Catholic Church, including related topics such as indulgences and sacramentals.
"Life is fundamentally a process of perpetual and mutual communication; and to communicate is to emit and to receive waves and radiations (minika ye minienie). This process of, receiving and releasing or passing them on (tambula ye tambikisa) is the key to human beings game of survival. A person is perpetually bathed by radiations' weight, (zitu kia minienie). The weight (zitu/demo) of radiations may have a negative as well as positive impact on any tiny being, for example a person who represents the most vibrating: "kolo" (knot) of relationships." "The following expressions are very common among the Bantu, in general, and among the Kongo in particular, which prove to us the antiquity of these concepts in the African continent; Our businesses are waved/shaken; our health is waved/shaken; what we possess is waved/shaken; the communities are waved/shaken: Where are these (negative) waves coming from (Salu bieto bieti nikunwa; mavimpi nikunwa; biltuvwidi nikunwa; makanda nikunwa: Kwe kutukanga minika miami)?" "For the Bantu, a person lives and moves within an ocean of waves/radiations. One is sensitive or immune to them. To be sensitive to waves is to be able to react negatively or positively to those waves/forces. But to be immune to surrounding waves/forces, is to be less reactive to them or not at all. These differences account for varying degrees in the process of knowing/learning among individuals" --BOOK Cover.
The language that is today called Egyptian Hieroglyphs was called Medu Neter by the inhabitants of the Nile Valley civilization . They called their country Kemet, not Egypt. Medu Neter is truly the classical language of Africa. Medu Neter is the oldest African Language for which there is a large body of written texts. There are more texts written in Medu Neter than in any other ancient world language. The people of Kemet left an abundance of detailed data which, until recent decades, was only available to Egyptologist, archeologists, anthropologists, museums and a select few scholars and collectors. Now, serious students can learn how to read what the Kemites wrote on papyrus, and on the temple walls. This book, the Writing System of Medu Neter takes the student step by step through the sound and writing system of this beautiful language. Learning Medu Neter may be one of the most interesting experiences that you will ever have.
Religious and Social Backgrounds of the Zulus -- Rise of the Independent Church Movement -- Government Policy -- Church and Community -- Leader and Follower -- Worship and Healing -- New Wine in Old Wineskins.
The authors present the importance of this African tradition. Kindezi (the art of babysitting) and the ndezi (the babysitters) provide extensive value and service to both society and the individual child, making for a cohesive, unified community.
Bishop Stephen Neill (1900-1984) was one of the most gifted figures of world Christianity during the twentieth century. Once referred to as a «much-tempted, brilliant, enigmatic man» his voluminous writings reveal little about the scholar himself. From his birth in Edinburgh to his stellar student career in Cambridge to his meteoric rise through the clerical ranks in South India, Bishop Neill's life was also riddled with discord. Based on interviews and archival research in India and England, Bishop Stephen Neill: From Edinburgh to South India answers many of the questions surrounding this distinguished Christian statesman's conflicted life up to the abrupt and puzzling termination of his bishopric. This biographical work takes the reader deep into the life and times of one of the doyens of Christian missions. Intersecting with many remarkable personalities during the first half of his life - William Temple, Amy Carmichael, Malcolm Muggeridge, V. S. Azariah, A. D. Nock, Foss Westcott, and Verrier Elwin - Neill's legacy remains. Through his life, readers will enter into the interwoven contexts of India and England during the final decades of the British Raj. Students of Christian missions and world Christianity will find this book indispensable to their libraries.
