Browsing by Author "Kasonde, Francis Mubanga"

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    Moral Evaluation of Adultery In African Christian Perspective
    (Tangaza University College, 1998-02) Kasonde, Francis Mubanga
    Marriage has been one of the most important aspect of the people of Africa. thus in Africa, each and every person was expected to marry for that was very important. Despite having that important aspect, there have been problems in marriages and one of the problem is adultery. This problem has been there and will continue to be there. It is from this point of view that I have taken a moral evaluation of adultery in an African perspective. Thus in chapter one I have tried to see how the African looked at the matter of adultery in their own cultures and how reason made them arrive at the condemnation of it. This is clearly shown on how African look at marriage, obligations and duties of the partners in marriages where sex is concerned. Thus you find that the questions of childlessness, widow inheritance, hospitality and leviratic unions arises. What did they mean to the people and what was their concern? Thus I have tried to look at all these and in the end also tried to see what where their fears concerning adultery and how they condemned it and what punishment was given. In chapter two, I have taken a look at the biblical concept of adultery. This starting with the old testament view, seeing how marriage and sex was taken in a Jewish culture. How this took a turn from being natural law to divine law especially with the covenant bringing in the relationship between Yahweh and his people being considered as marriage and thus Faithfulness and fidelity being the important aspect of that covenant. This gives way to the teaching to Jesus Christ who comes with the perfection of that law by going back to the divine intention of God from the beginning. So this portrays the weakness of African culture and Jewish culture and strives for the real understanding of marriage as taught by the Christ. Thus marriage is a sacrament as taught by the Christ and sex has its proper place, that is in a validly contracted marriage where unity is an essential element and thus adultery is forbidden. It is from here that I take a look at the real situation here in Africa and the teaching of the church on marriage and sex in chapter three. Thus you see that there is some opposition especially concerning some African practices in marriages where sex is concerned and so you find that the church has taken a negative altitude and even tries to punish the people who practice these customs and so the faithful feel the church do not understand them. The church is very clear in its teaching on marriage and emphasises on the essential element of unity and thus excluding any third party in marriage and calls for faithfullnes,fidelity and even to be moderate as the previous popes proposed. Also sex in marriage should have a purpose of enhancing and portraying the love the couple has for each other and for procreation and thus adultery forbiden.Despite this adultery is still rampant in Africa and a lot has to be done to impart the gospel values. It is from this perspective that I chose this topic and it also helped me to re-live some of my past experiences like when my father died in 1988, and I had to convince my mother no to accept the widow inheritance ritual as practised by my bemba culture. I have also been having difficulties trying to understand why my uncle divorced his wife when he caught her committing adultery while he himself has at one time and another committed adultery. The methodology used in this essay is book research, my personal experiences and contact with different cultures of the countries I have been to in Africa mainly Zambia, Botswana, South Africa and Kenya. I have also read about other African cultures in my research and so I am not limited to those countries. It has been difficult to get statistics as the matter of adultery is a delicate issue in Africa and people are not open to talk about it. Inf act I nearly earned myself a good beating in Zambia when I started to ask some questions and taken that I am not married people thought I was being rude and not respecting elders. Despite this I was able to get some information from my uncle though he was very reluctant to do so and he allowed me to use his case as I have done in chapter two. I have also looked at the current teaching of the church on marriage and what the Vatican and canon law says. Thus this paper has really helped me in understanding some of the African customs and their values and obligations of marriage as well as understanding the church's teaching on marriage and the place of sex in marriage. Thus in the end I have come up with some suggestions which may help bring the two aspects together and see how the Christian values can influence the African culture.