Bachelor of Arts in Theology

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://192.168.4.170:4000/handle/20.500.12342/182

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2001 - 20022

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    Jesus The Medicine-Man/ Healer in The African Tradition
    (2002-02) Kaweri, Pelagio
    Healing is one of the greatest needs of the modem men and women. In Africa, with its numerous problems of poverty, sickness, political violence leading to death, people need healing more than any continent in the world. In traditional African societies, those who restore health to the sick are called medicine men or healers. Jesus did just that and so from the African point of view, he was indeed a healer. But very often. African healers fail to deal with certain sicknesses. Jesus was a healer per excellence, because he even overcame death so he remains forever a healer. In this long essay, we try to focus on the works of Jesus especially in his ministry of healing in comparison to an African healer. This work is divided into four Chapters. Chapter one presents the definition of sickness and kinds of sickness. The chapter also examines the background of sickness in human life. Chapter two presents the African attitude towards sickness. The areas tackled are; the traditional beliefs on sickness, causes and how Africans deal with sickness. Then comes chapter three in which sickness in the Bible is discussed. Chapter four is divided into three parts. The first part is a comparative study of Jesus and the traditional African healers. The second part of the chapter focuses on a Christology of healing. The last part of the chapter is a conclusion. It contains integrative reflections together with a general conclusion of the entire project. The research is limited to the library sources, only with few verbal interviews and personal experience with the sick people.
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    Veneration of Ancestors as a Vital Element of African Tradition Religion And The Possibilities of Its Inculturation In The Catholic Church in Africa.
    (Tangaza University College, 2001-02-07) Dominik, Waclaw
    In 1842, at the end of his retreat, before leaving for India, Marion Brasillac, the future founder of the Society of African Missions wrote several ideas that were to be his guidelines for mission. In his diary he noted: "Here are the special resolutions I made at the end of the retreat: I. To be a missionary with all my heart. 2. To neglect nothing for the advancement of God's work. 3. To seize every opportunity of preaching God's word. 4. To use every means I have - all my strength, all my study and effort - to contribute towards the formation of a native clergy". These words have been a point of reference for hundreds of SMA missionaries who following the example of our Founder, gave their lives in the service of people of African origin. Today, almost 144 years after the foundation of our Society, I want to engage myself definitively in the service of the African Church, as a missionary, especially among those who have not yet heard about Jesus Christ. The political, social, economic situation of contemporary Africa is a complicated one. It is within this context that I want to go to proclaim the Good News of salvation of Jesus Christ. My 9 years of formation helped me to find my own answer to the question 'Why do I want to spread the Gospel in Africa'. However, as good as this answer may be, lam convinced that it is not enough to be relevant to people among whom I am going to work. The basic question I have to find answer to, in line with the charism of SMA and my personal gifts. is 'How', by what means. I am to do so as to be relevant to people having their wn, highly structured culture'. This work is an attempt to give answer to this question. It is also an attempt to present a particular way in which the second and the third resolution of Marion Brasillac, mentioned above are understood by me in the present situation of Africa. To proclaim the Gospel among those who have not yet heard about Jesus Christ and have their own culture and religion, it is necessary to know the position of the Catholic Church concerning other religions and their relationship to Christ. For this reason, the first chapter deals with this issue. Further in the first chapter, after having looked at the position of the Church towards world religions with a special attention to African Traditional Religion, we will present the process of inculturation as the most appropriate way of proclaiming Jesus Christ in the contemporary Africa. People in Africa have very rich cultures, with their particular religious background. This culture is very different from my native Polish culture. It is distinct to such an extend that I find it indispensable to be well acquainted with this culture before starting my ministry. That is the reason for choosing such an approach in the second chapter. It would be impossible to look at all elements of African culture and religion. That is why I have chosen to look at the notion of ancestors in African Traditional Religion. There are basically two reasons for this choice: ancestors play a very important role in Africa and they have a special place in the pyramid of life. Because of this special place, some other elements of African Traditional Religion are going to be mentioned. The process of inculturation is not an easy one and usually requires a deep theological knowledge of Christianity and of local customs. These are the reasons for looking at the ways in which others considered the process of inculturat on of ancestor veneration. The second part of the third chapter deals with my personal proposals how to use this veneration in the practical situation of the proclamation of the Gospel in Africa at the beginning of the XXI century. The Christian approach to African Traditional Religion as presented above, seems to be well grounded in the Gospel and in the contemporary teaching of the Church. It is, basically, an approach of openness, of respect and of humility. We are aware that we do not 'bring God' from outside, but we try to discover his presence in African religious beliefs. This approach helps to achieve two things. First, we carry on the process of evangelisation as Jesus Christ asked us to do (cf , Mt 28: 19-20). Secondly, it allows us to deepen our own faith and understanding of God's action in the world. Looking at the mysterious ways in which God is to be found in ancestor veneration of African people, we can only stand in awe and repeat the words of the psalmist: