Bachelor of Arts in Theology
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Item The Presence of Muslims and Its Impact on the Catholic Faith in Predominantly Christian Region(2016) Omuto, Odero GeorgeThe universal dimension of both Islam and Christianity is their missionary nature: both have a vocation in which they are called to witness and spread their religion. In the gospel according to Mathew the mission of the church is well stipulated “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” . This verse has its parallel in the Qur’an where in it is stated that “Go then to all mankind” The African continent was for a long time regarded as virgin land, a fertile soil waiting to receive the word of God. The reason being that after the wounds inflicted upon the African people by the slave trade, imperialism and colonialism there was a need for healing. More missionary activities were then focused in Africa and, in the Catholic Church, were given even greater emphasis through the Vatican II decree on Mission. African countries on the whole welcomed the missionaries in the hope of a better future and a time of healing. However, they still held on to their colonizers as their god fathers from whom they received development aid. The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 changed a lot of things in the world. One change was to open Africa for Islamization. The super power countries, after the Berlin saga, no longer paid as much attention to Africa as they did before. At the same time, within the church, the zeal in which Vatican II was received was dying out. The landscape was changing from missio ad extra to missio ad intra. The Catholic Church in Africa by this time was no longer a neophyte; it had local priests and most of the missionaries were going back to their homeland. As African Christians took ownership of their church and the number of foreign missionaries declined the question was, were the African Christians evangelized? Were they ready to continue with the mission of the Church? These questions are important because while the zeal for mission within the church seemed to be waning Islam, on the other hand, was just beginning to build up momentum in its Islamization spirit; it was in the wake of renaissance. This missionary drive of Islam was supported financially through the money generated from the oil wells that were being discovered in the Arab world. A major setback to Christian evangelization was globalization, as it became an instrument through which Muslims used to seek for proselytes and to counteract the effort of evangelization in Africa. Globalization had opened up space for expression. This resulted in a cross border networking, a platform where opinions, desires, beliefs, values and aspirations were aired. There were, and are, many positive dimensions to globalization, like advancement in technology and science, communication and better heath care. However, the other side of the coin was that globalization equally had negative effects like an increase in drug abuse, prostitution, and corruption. The very unfortunate thing was that some Muslims attributed these to Western Christian Civilization and they created a mirage that without Christian civilization all would be well. Kenya, a daughter of this global village and a mother to her citizens, has been struck with this globalization wave and compelled to open her doors. She has welcomed refugees and investors, and at the same time she has encouraged free movement of persons within the country in the hopes of creating a better nation. Article 32 of the Kenyan Constitution enshrines that “Every person has the right to freedom of conscience, religion, thought, belief and opinion.” The next section of the same article promotes public worship or manifestation of these religions through practice, observance and even teaching. This freedom, however, has brought challenges. Kenya as a nation has had to deal with Islamic radicalization in the name of Islamization. Islamization in Christian territories may not be a new phenomenon since its effects are evident in Europe, the Middle East and northern Africa. Conversely, what sends a cold chill in the communities of Homa Bay Diocese is the fact that it is at their door steps. This has led to stereotyping both at a national and local level and consequently poses a threat to peaceful and positive co-existence. It is undeniable that there has been a number of incidents of terrorist attacks in various parts of Kenya. Some of them being: Mwaura’s bar along Mfangano streetin Nairobi, Machakos bus terminal, a church at Ngara estate in nairobi, Westgate shopping mall, miners in Wajir, Mpeketoni, Garissa University and the most recent attack being masterminded by women dressed in hijab(a dress used by Muslim women) who ambushed a police station. These sporadic attacks have caused panic nationwide; citizens fear for their lives and at the same time fear for their children being recruited to these terror cells. It has even at times, disrupted the learning process in institutions. For instance, last year Migori Teachers Training Collage was closed for security reasons for fear of an Alshabab Attack. Hence in a country with porous borders, wallowing in an economic limbo because of the cancerous tumour of corruption eating its governing system, there are the inevitable concerns for security. Most communities in this regard have become cautious of any new denomination and religion creeping into their environs. A case of interest is the mushrooming of Muslims in places which were formerly termed as Christian territories. The presence of Muslims in Homa-Bay Diocese poses serious concerns and questions among Christian in regard to matters of evangelization and faith. An increase in the number of Muslims is perceived by some as a threat to the local indigenous Christians and to those practising African Traditional religion whose religiosity is undisputed. This rise in the number of Muslims has created a conflict since both the Catholic faithful, who are the majority, and the Muslims regard religion as a way of life. In such a situation of religious plurality there is a dire need for dialogue. It could be as suggested by the document of the Pontifical Council for Inter religious dialogue in 1984 that stated these forms as: the dialogue of life, the dialogue of theological exchange, the dialogue of action and the dialogue of religious experience .This could be the best way to cultivate an integral development and a lasting peace.Item The Mission of the Mill Hill Missionaries in Western Kenya from 1963 to 2016: Challenges and Achievements(Tangaza University College, 2016) Masiga, Odonya DavidSince the arrival of missionaries in East Africa a lot has taken place. This includes physical development in terms of infrastructure, introduction and improvement of formal education, health and social services. But at the core of this mission is the message of Jesus Christ, the Good News. All these other factors that have been brought and improved by the missionaries to point to the nature of the mission of Christ. The role of the missionaries was to show this love of Christ in a practical way, that the kingdom of God may be felt among the people. That being the main aim of the missionaries, the main question that we ask today is, “did they keep to the mission as it was supposed to or it was what they thought fit to do as missionary work?” The Mill Hill Missionaries have been in east Africa for more than a century. For this time they have carried out missionary work among some of the local communities here. This paper is going to investigate and to look into the missionary activities of the Mill Hill Missionaries, their impact, successes and failures in their mission here in East Africa especially in Western Kenya from the year 1963 to present. This year also marks the year Kenya gained her independence. This was also the moment that the people of Kenya were coming out of a colonial period and there were some negative sentiments towards the missionaries who were foreign since the missionaries were from Europe and the colonialist were also from Europe. It is significant to mention that this year (2016) the Mill Hill Missionaries are celebrating 150yrs of their foundation since 1866. These 150yrs mark a moment of looking back and counting the blessings that the Mill Hill have attained. It is also a moment of self-searching in terms of the methods of evangelization that were used and how relevant they have been in bringing the Good News of Christ, especially to those in the greatest need. This paper will also delve into what is the understating of mission according to different theologians and as well point out what the church teaches about mission and the evolution of its understanding from pre to post Vatican II to date. All these will be to shed light on the mission of the Mill Hill Missionaries and therefore point out the areas where they have kept to the mission of the Church within their own charism of “to love and to serve”, or they have deviated from that.Item How Exclusivism of Christian Churches In Kisii Diocese Is a Challenge to Evangelization(Tangaza University College, 2016) Omboto, Ondari CosmasThe Kisii people commonly known as the Abagusii, is an ethnic tribe belonging to a Bantu group which entered Kenya from the west. They are originally said to have migrated from Congo Zaire. Before Christianity was introduced to the abagusii, they believed in one supreme God who created the world but did not interfere directly in human affairs. The interference was rather caused by ancestor spirits(ebirecha),witches, and impersonal forces. The Abagusii believed that displeased ancestor spirits were responsible for disease, the death of people and livestock, and the destruction of crops. Today, most people in the Abagusii community claim to be followers of some form of Christianity. A Roman Catholic mission was first established in 1911 and a Seventh Day Adventist mission in 1913. There are four major denominations in Gusiiland: Roman Catholic, Seventh-Day Adventist, Swedish Lutheran, and the PentecostalAssemblies of God1. Roman Catholic and SDA cover 80% of Christian population and other Christian religions cover the rest.Item Modern Forms of Slavery in Kenya Causes, Experiences And Mission Responses(Tangaza University College, 2016) Kiilu, Kasia MichaelEverything that exists in this world owes its beginning to the supernatural Creator. This is a common understanding especially for all those who are creationists. One of the most rationally and beautifully created creatures is the human being. I look at myself, my fellow humans and see wonderful, sophiscated yet complex and complicated race of humanity. Among all other creatures, it is only humans that can understand each other through communication in various languages. They are the only ones to know and understand spirituality, social life, politics, technological inventions, and education, religious and scientific aspects. Despite all these nicely said characteristics proper to us as humans, there flows and follows another litany of evil, almost unspeakable and unthinkable things that humans have caused, practiced and done to the detriment of other human beings: Slavery, murder, theft, pollution, corruption, use of human parts as experimental species, exploitation and injustices. Blood is thicker than water, our ancestors said. This means that those people related should consider each other as people of one family and ought to live a good life together, protect, love, understand, cooperate and collaborate in doing and promoting peace and tranquility. But these vices and evils that emanate from being in such relationships leave a series of questions flowing in the minds of people: What has become of humanity? Out of the many evils in the world I would like to research and present modern-day slavery. We all claim to have one common origin, that is, from God our Creator. Regardless of our race, color, continent, development-wise and geographical placement, a big question remains: Why should one treat the other in such a disinterested and indifferent altitude to the extent of treating them as animals, without dignity? I mean the use of human beings as means to attain some malicious benefits. History repeats itself and what goes around comes around! Slavery was abolished many, many years ago but we still have practices that suggest that people are still slaves up-to-date. In this extended essay, I would like to dig deep into this element of inhuman practice and come up with the aspects that leave our fellow men, women, and children in the bondage of present-day slavery, knowingly or unknowingly, deliberately or ignorantly. I would like to start by presenting the ancient slavery in the first chapter. Here I will give definitions, Atlantic and Arab slave trades, biblical foundations, reasons, status and conditions of slavery, East African Slavery, effects and impacts, and finally slavery and slave trade abolition. The second chapter will talk about the present-day slavery and its challenges: Child slavery, early and forced marriages, forced labor, human trafficking and ‘unforgiving hearts’. The last chapter will be the way forward, the response to this modern-day slavery, how best to address and fight against these human malpractices. The methodology and approach will be mainly reading of books and other literature. My personal experiences and encounters will be presented as well. I took some time to talk to various people especially, a Police officer about the practice of child labour in Nairobi County. The underlying purpose of this long essay is really to bring to our people the awareness of, and presence of the practice of slavery, both directly and indirectly in our midst. Once the people are aware and informed, only then can we fight against it, help to rescue the victims and continue to promote the dignity, equity and equality of all people. The most appealing call for us today’s prophets and missionaries is, that of being transformative agents, who can bring about renewed independence, freedom, liberation, restore hope to men, women and children who continue to be mistreated, misused, abused, and humiliated through various acts of slavery.Item Muslim-Christian Relations in Muslim Predominant States: A Case Study of Zanzibar(Tangaza University College, 2017) Kweyamba, RespiciusChristianity has been in existence since the 1st Century in the Middle East. Islam was founded by Prophet Muhammad, born around 570 C.E in Mecca. Hence encounter between Muslims and Christians can be traced back to the 7th century. The Bible and Qur’an are the deposits of faith for Christians and Muslims respectively. From a religious point of view, both Muslims and Christians agree that they share in common origin, common humanity and common destiny. They all believe in One Creator of all that exists and who will judge them in the life to come. On the other hand, the animosity that exists between Muslims and Christians is influenced by differences in their truths of faith and relations over centuries. History has records of good and bad relations between Muslims and Christians. In this work, I intend to examine Muslim-Christian relations with particular reference to Zanzibar. Generally speaking, the relations between Muslims and Christians still leave much to be desired. There have been tension and animosity in different Muslim predominant states where Christians are minorities. They include countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Sudan, Somalia and Zanzibar. This arose curiosity in me to examine what transpires in Zanzibar where Christians are a minority. I lived in Zanzibar in the whole of 2014. As a Christian I had much fear of the Muslims, based on the perceived image the world has about Muslims and Islam. There is a common notion that “every terrorist is a Muslim but not every Muslim is a terrorist.” This comes as the aftermath of world terrorism in which Muslims are perceived to be ringleaders. 2 Personally I consider Zanzibar to be a special case and a role model as far as the relation between Muslims and Christians is concerned. Despite some few challenges between Muslims and Christians, Zanzibar still stands as an island where peaceful co-existence reigns. In this work I endeavor to tackle the following questions: How did Muslim and Christian communities emerge in Zanzibar? How are the relations between Muslims and Christians like in Zanzibar? What are the causes of some incidences of animosity between Muslims and Christians in Zanzibar? How do Christians perceive Muslims in Zanzibar and vice versa? I will also examine the efforts both religious groups make to improve Muslim- Christian relations in Zanzibar. I expect that this work will be resourceful and helpful to people who are committed to work for peaceful co-existence between Muslims and Christians in Zanzibar. It is an eye opener with regard to Muslim-Christian relations over centuries. This work is a call for change of perspective about Muslims as enemies or dangerous people.Item The Moral Evaluation Of Infertility With Regard To Abortion As A Threat To The Dignity Of Human Life In Today’s World(Tangaza University College, 2019-05-29) Kambale, Tsongo JustinAmong all the things that God created and found them good, there is life as a precious and indestructible gift that He providentially entrusted to the human person after creating him. This very same life that God gave the human person with the aim of sharing in his own life, was endowed with a sacred character due to its divine origin. However, over several decades, it happens at times that, because of various circumstances and attempts of the human person to rule himself, he or she falls within the temptation of undervaluing life by adhering to some particular and negative ideologies that threaten life. Some of these practices are for instance Abortion, the use of Contraceptives, Euthanasia, and so forth. All these practices are mostly oriented towards the economic gain since, if they are legalized in a particular country, those who opt for them are rewarded. All these are responsible for both man’s moral, social and psychological decline since they all go against God’s commandment that we shouldn’t kill. In addition, there are for instance countries whereby in order to strive against the large number of people, abortion is legalized as means through which the number of inhabitants may be adapted to the potentialities of the State. Others favor euthanasia as a means of getting rid of patients who have lost every kind of hope for them to recover their health; therefore, since the patients have become a burden to the family due to a lot of expenses in terms of medicine, through their consent or that of their families, they choose to undergo euthanasia which is called in other terms “the serein death”, rather than continuing suffering and to bother the family. Such a fact certainly overlooks the2 fact that no one here on earth has been entrusted the right to end up other people’s lives without God’s consent to whom such an act is exclusively reserved. In effect, all these kinds of ideologies are really against the Biblical teaching as well as the Magisterial teaching of the Church with regard to the dignity of human life. Having said that, of all the above-mentioned practices that challenge human life as well as the moral perspective of the human person, especially in our contemporary world, I would like to focus more upon Abortion itself as the evil practice of our times and some of the consequences that it has upon the practitioners. To be more concise, I am going to focus more over Induced abortion as far as the types of abortion are concerned. In fact, those practicing abortion and promoting it think that it is a means to free female creatures from men’s exploitation, but, on the contrary, it enhances men’s possibility of exploiting them since men are those who mostly induce them to abortion, especially when they are not ready to assume their responsibility towards the pregnant woman or lady after the incident has taken place. Needless to say, it is actually obvious that we are facing a very considerable moment of tending to substitute virtue to vice by opting for the easy things that we judge capable of providing us the best we need for our survival. While there are married couples longing for a child in order to stress more the unitive and procreative dimensions of marriage, there are others who joke with life by procuring abortion. Such a practice is done in various circumstances due to various causes such as safeguarding job, inability to assume the responsibility upon the newlyborn baby, traumatism, unwanted pregnancy and so forth. With regard to the consequences, we’ll base all our full interest on Infertility as an inconvenience of excessive induced abortion on the side on the woman since it’s really justifiable that there are women who were not born as such, but they end up becoming3 unproductive because of their adherence to some evil practices or the negative influence that they acquire from their environment. The next part will be about reflecting more over the relevance of human dignity with regards to the effects caused by both moral issues. More than that, through such a practice the human person is slowly losing all the moral values with regard to life and ends up in corrupting his conscience by rendering it unable to discern on that which is good in contrast with that which is evil. This is really a challenge upon which we should try to work so that we may bring the human person back to his initial state as wanted by the Creator. This eradication will be elaborated in the light of some moral recommendations whereby we shall try to give some possible solutions that will allow us to assist women who are victims of the nonnatural infertility due to their adherence to the practice of Abortion.Item The Vision Of The Ecclesiology Of Pope Francis: A Focus On Its Missionary Dimension In The Light Of Evangelii Gaudium(Tangaza University College, 2016-01) Munu, Chrysantus MbiemiehThe charismatic words and gestures of Pope Francis continue to attract the attention of the entire world, Catholics and non-Catholics alike, and people of other religious practices and traditions from across the globe. For us Catholics, Francis’ vision of what it means to be Church in our contemporary society has slowly emerged towards mission that is, going forth to others since he became pope in March 2013.1 The Holy Father wants the Church to face outward - to have a “missionary option,” to acquire a “missionary key” (EG, 27, 33, 34). He believes that “to go out of ourselves and to join others is healthy for us,” as human beings and as a Church (EG, 87). This in itself is good in the order of nature and in the order of grace. In putting this into reality we imitate the Lord who went forth first proclaiming the Gospel to all (EG, no. 24). This missionary and charismatic overtone will eventually “affect the way we communicate the message” of the Gospel to those we encounter (EG, no. 34). It is from this backdrop that Paul Zulehner in his contribution on the “Missionary Transformation of the Church” points out to the fact that behind the central issue of mission lies the question of the Church’s vision, by which the Holy Father is guided in his pontificate. It is primarily characterized by the renunciation of a moralizing approach in favor of a healing and therapeutic approach on the part of the Church; in which Francis refer to ahierarchy of truths and to compassion as the guiding principle in pastoral ministry.2 It is from this perspective that he says the Church must be freed of its structural, middle-class-focused self-absorption, for the church will only be healed by finding its way towards people on the periphery of life.3 Flowing from this one can conclude without an iota of doubt that the ecclesiological perspective of Francis is both appealing in its vitality and overwhelming in the challenges it presents to both the Christian community as a whole and to the individual believer. Even though Pope Francis has not written a systematic treatise on the church per se, a number of salient ecclesiological themes are present in his writings and in the talks he has delivered.4 Francis wants a Church that is on mission, reaching out to others and accompanying them, especially those on the periphery; a merciful Church that is hospitable for all those who have been wounded in this world; a Church that builds bridges, not walls. He wants a church that is poor and for the poor, one that rejects careerism; a church that is committed to encounter, inclusion and reconciliation, not one that is confrontational, self-referential or judgmental.5 He wants a synodal church, in which the bishops and faithful people walk together and authority is understood as service. The aim of this long essay will therefore be to show the missionary dimension of Pope Francis’ ecclesiology in the light of Evangelii Gaudium and its challenges towards the transformation of our contemporary society. To accomplish this task, the work will be compartmentalized into four chapters. Chapter one, will target the preliminary considerations that surround this topic and will eventually set a background to the entire work. In chapter two, we will explore the vision of his ecclesiology in the light of mission that is the church as communion, a church in solidarity and a servant church which will form the bedrock on which the entire work will depend.6 This vision of the Church faces challenges both from within and without the Church which is characterized by individualism, materialism among others. These tendencies or obstacles are in opposition to Francis’ missionary transformation. This will form the basis of chapter three. And finally, chapter four will focus on Francis’ vision of a vibrant and accommodative Church in the light of his ecclesiology. The work will end with a conclusion and a select bibliography.Item The Effects of Material Possession on the Ministerial Priesthood: A Study in the Archdiocese of Nyeri(Tangaza University College, 2016-06) Mwangi, Martin NguraThis Long Essay is intended to explore the effects and challenges posed by possession of material wealth by the Clergy in the Archdiocese of Nyeri. The world today has become secularised and the church is not spared and this has generated a lot of challenges on the priesthood ministry of the clergy. Possessing material wealth is not the issue, but, its effects and how it is administered and is the issue. The Church has been emphasizing on the need for the clergy to live a life of poverty and simplicity. Possession of wealth by the clergy was one of the reforms the Church has tried in some of the Church Councils. This issue needs a new approach other than the canons that were developed in the various Councils, as well as change of attitudes by the Clergy of what material wealth means to them.Item The Impact of Women Development in the Church: Case Study of the Catholic Women at Holy Savior Parish, Kafue Zambia(Tangaza University College, 2011) Sanicalimba, KellyThis essay is intended to show the dignity of women in today's society by studying the impact of the service of women in the development of the Church and the society at large. This case study intends to show how women are actively involved in the process of development of the Kafue Parish in Zambia in the Archdiocese of Lusaka. It has been my concern to find out how women have been contributing to the development of the Church in Zambia. In this particular instance, I have looked at a particular case that will give an overview of the role of women in the development of the Church in Zambia. A case study of my Parish, Kafue in Zambia was what I came out with to help investigate this scenario. For sometime, I would say 15 years; I have seen great improvement in the way women are trying to contribute to the development of the Parish. As the number of women joining various organizations that exists at the Parish has steadily increased. I have been asking myself why this is the case. Fifteen years ago it was not like that. This has been my experience and that is what the parishioners who have been attending the Parish are also asking. I AM interested to know what cultural values were embraced at that particular time and if at all they were in conflict with values held by the parishioners and the teachings of the church. What then has changed that their development efforts are being recognized? I am motivated to find out what these channels are that women currently have employed in their contributions to the development in the Church. Have they overcome some stigmatizations or rather stereotypes that were there in the past years? We will also investigate what contributions women have made in the whole area of leadership in the church. We will further look at its theological and sociological implications. It is my view that this paper will also help in further research concerning women in the church.Item The Impact of Women Development in the Church(Tangaza College, 2011) Sankalimba, KellyThis essay is intended to show the dignity of women in today's society by studying the impact of the service of women in the development of the Church and the society at large. This case study intends to show how women are actively involved in the process of development of the Kafue Parish in Zambia in the Archdiocese of Lusaka. It has been my concern to find out how women have been contributing to the development of the Church in Zambia. In this particular instance, I have looked at a particular case that will give an overview of the role of women in the development of the Church in Zambia. A case study of my Parish, Kafue in Zambia was what I came out with to help investigate this scenario. For sometime, I would say 15 years; I have seen great improvement in the way women are trying to contribute to the development of the Parish. As the number of women joining various organizations that exists at the Parish has steadily increased. I have been asking myself why this is the case. Fifteen years ago it was not like that. This has been my experience and that is what the parishioners who have been attending the Parish are also asking. I AM interested to know 1 what cultural values were embraced at that particular time and if at all they were in conflict with values held by the parishioners and the teachings of the church. What then has changed that their development efforts are being recognized? I am motivated to find out what these channels are that women currently have employed in their contributions to the development in the Church. Have they overcome some stigmatizations or rather stereotypes that were there in the past years? We will also investigate what contributions women have made in the whole area of leadership in the church. We will further look at its theological and sociological implications. It is my view that this paper will also help in further research concerning women in the church.