Degree of Baccalaureate in Theology

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Browsing Degree of Baccalaureate in Theology by Author "Antuo, Ziem Albert"

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    The Church's Response to People Living With Hiv/Aids in Kenya As A New Phenomenon of Biblical "Leprosy
    (Tangaza University College, 2011) Antuo, Ziem Albert
    In some books of the Bible terms such as leprosy and leper are used in the text of the book. This is evident in both the Old Testament and the New Testament but then they are used extensively especially in the Old Testament with specific reference to the book of Leviticus. Lepers in the Bible are among the many sick people mentioned in the Bible but what is unique about this group of sick people is the attitude of the faith community towards these lepers. In the Bible lepers are often treated as social outcasts in the community because of the prejudice attached to their condition of infirmity. Regardless of the exact symptoms, and diagnosis of these various ailments, becoming "unclean" is the primary concern that all biblical sufferers of leprosy share.' The common prejudice associated with this ailment was that it renders the person unclean and this deprives the individual of an authentic human relationship with the rest of the community. Leprosy in the Bible was a disease for which there was then no cure but sometimes some people did recover from this disease.2 It was a disease which caused fear and revulsion among the people.3 Leprosy was not always seen as punishment, and lepers were not necessarily sinful people but before Jesus there was no suggestion that lepers should be cared for.4 Instead, because they were considered a danger to the community, they were banished until a priest certified that they were cured of the leprous condition (cf. Lev 13:9f0.5 Lepers could not mix with other members of society since this would result in pollution as this was the common conception. Lepers suffered exclusion with all its effects. In our time the prejudice against lepers may no longer prevail as it was during the biblical period. The attitudes toward lepers might have changed in our world today and the leprosy of our time is curable. By using the term leprosy our time I do not mean to say that it is the same as the "leprosy" of biblical period but we cannot also rule out the possibility that it was prevalent at that time. In today's world there exists another form of "leprosy" which threatens the lives of many people. It is feared by many, no cure has been discovered for it yet, and its victims are to a large extent treated as social outcast. Many are prejudiced about them and will not like to associate with them. HIV/AIDS and people living with HIV/AIDS to some extent can be seen as the "leprosy" and lepers of our time respectively. HIV/AIDS is a disease affecting many people in our world today regardless of age, class, religion and even geography. There are many Christians in the Church who are affected and afflicted by HIV/AIDS. Fr. Abraham Hailu a Comboni missionary priest in his article published in the New People magazine challenges us to see people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS as part of the body of Christ undergoing suffering and in need of our attention.6 He calls on all Christians to respond in the spirit of Evangelical charity. A response inspired and motivated by the teachings of Christ in the Gospels.