Bachelor of Arts in Theology

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    Youth towards a Theology of Reconstruction: A Salesian Perspective
    (Tangaza University College, 2001-02) Augustine, Jacob
    As we march with courage in this new era of science and technology, a century full of hope and great expectations, the youthful population of Africa, a valuable asset in hand charged with aspirations to excel and participate in the affairs of the world, challenge all those who are involved in youth ministry on the African soil. The education of the young with which a youth minister involves himself/herself should involve a 'liberating and empowering' method, a method that challenges the young to set the world on the move towards liberation. The words of Pope John Paul II in his address to World Youth Day 2000 speak of such pulsating response that is required of a person interested in the affairs of the world. "When you return home," says the pope, "do not grow lax. Reinforce and deepen your bond with the Christian communities to which you belong... paraphrasing St. Catherine of Siena's words, reminds you: if you arc what you should be, you will set the whole world ablaze'?" In response to the existing educational. socio-political and religious challenges that the African landscape faces today, the African theologians (since I990s) speak of "reconstruction of Africa" in their theological investigations. Likewise, having the interest of the young at heart, every Salesian is challenged to respond to and to educate young people towards this reconstruction project. How are we to venture into such renewal in spirit? What does it mean to be young and work for reconstruction by setting the world ablaze? Are the young just future possibilities and never a present potentialities, dying to participate in this reconstruction process? what are the possibilities for a Salesian style of ministry in Africa in this era of 'reconstruction'? These are some of the queries that will be dealt with in this essay. The adventurous, emotional and dynamic youth population is indeed a weapon in our hands to reconstruct a new Africa. Most of the time we x iew the period of the young as having a lot of problems and hence giving' becomes the end of all our youth ministries. This essay is aimed at showing not just how young people are sometimes seen as a problem. but also how they are people filled with energies to transform society. This quest to transform should be ‘iewed as a 'reconstruction project' which e need to inculcate in the young. The essay. is divided into two parts. Part one deals more with the theoretical part of the emerging theology of reconstruction and the Biblical foundations to such theology in Africa. Second part deals with the response of the Salesans of Don Bosco in Fastern Africa. Based on the Salesian educative method of Reason. Religion and Loving Kindness,2 this section shows how a breakthrough is necessary, in terms of a - reconstruction project' in our youth ministry, today. The concluding part of the essay discusses possible developments in the Salesian presences in the Eastern African province.
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    Reconciliation as a Model of Mission In Contemporary Africa.
    (Tangaza University College, 1999-02) Chinedu, Ojiekwe Ephraim
    It is God's wish to establish a community where brothers and sisters live in unity, through His Son, Jesus Christ.' In this community or society there will be no exploitation and oppression, no more war, hunger and thirst. There will be no more division. Hence, it will be a community of happy and prosperous people. Today, the reverse has been the case. In Africa, there are wars and violence of one kind or another. Poverty and the trauma of the displaced has been the African experience. The words "love", "hospitality", and "peace" which have been important words in the African vocabulary of life have lost their meaning. There appears to be nobody brave enough to accept responsibility for the situation. I believe that the task of building a peaceful, loving and caring African society can only be achieved if individuals and the community as a whole could go into themselves and discover, why they have problems, what they are and what the reasons for them are. Moreover, being able to enter into dialogue and to admit responsibility where it is necessary. This is because, "a civilization that cannot solve the problems it has caused is a decadent civilization'. Hence, the selfexamining, soul - searching and provocative questions which are valid for Africans today are: Why has Africa remained such a shameless beggar in the world of independent men and women? Why is the continent the laughing stock and dumping ground of the civilized world? What has been the nature of the African Church's mission? Has it been quite successful? What model of mission is suitable for Africa today? It is in the line of these questions that I was inspired to write this long essay under the topic: "Reconciliation as a model of mission in contemporary Africa". I am doing so with feelings of eagerness, longing and great desire to see African continent restored to her normal status. It is also my conviction that by taking Jesus as the "focal point" of our mission, we can break all barriers and engage in dialogue with ourselves and other people. Thus, we can build a humanized society where every member experiences the freedom and solidarity of the people of God. In the light of the goal and methodology of the project therefore, I would like to formulate the outline of the project into three chapters thus: CHAPTER 1. SEE: The need for reconciliation in contemporary Africa - What are those areas of life that need to be restored to harmony? CHAPTER 2. JUDGE: The church as mission - Has the Church been a reconciling community in the faces of these conflicts and divisions? CHAPTER 3. ACT: Reconciliation as a model of mission for contemporary Africa - What does God want? In chapter 1, after giving a general view of the African society, I will analyze the present political, socio - economic, and religious conditions experienced by the people. Moreover, I will illustrate more concretely these points with Nigeria and Senegal. In the second chapter, I will try to deliberate on the notion: "The Church as Mission". I shall look at the church's role in this situation. Is their approach to the situation very successful? Lastly, in the third chapter, I will take on what I would call the core of this project namely: in the light of the situation of the contemporary Africa and in the light of our evaluation from a missiological perspective, what line of action are we to adopt? What are to constitute our strategies in addressing the issue? With a general conclusion, I close my long essay.
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    Poor Representation and Participation of Women In Political Decision-Making Bodies A Challenge To The Church
    (Tangaza University College, 1999-02-12) Mutasingwa, Alexus
    The problem of under representation and participation of women at top levels of political decision-making bodies is a fact nearly everywhere in the world. By decision-making bodies I mean the government under either an executive president or prime minister. Other bodies are those such as parliaments, senates, cabinets of ministers and diplomatic offices. Members of those bodies are the most influential people in deciding how things should go in their countries and between their countries and the international community. They represent the rest of the population, which entrusts them with a responsibility to govern and make decisions for the interest of all people whom they represent. When we look at the composition of such bodies, we quickly notice male predominance and either total or a nearly total absence of women. Decisions made by those bodies are mainly made from a male perspective with almost no regard for the interests of women. That is not right, because men and women share equal dignity and status with equal rights in the societies. When one group is undermined and excluded from taking part in making decisions which affect it, is that justifiable? In many societies, women are denied their natural rights and are subjected to oppression and exploitation. That kind of relationship has been taken for granted by both men and women without questioning it. Right from childhood men and women see each other in terms of superior and inferior. Some activities and duties have been distributed according to gender, even if what has been assigned to one gender group can be better done by the opposite gender group. The Word of God challenges us to eliminate all forms of discrimination and promote justice and equality in all aspects of life. Love was the main theme in the teaching of Jesus. That is what he ordered his followers to strive for and try to spread. It is a duty of the church to ensure that the plan of God and the mission of Christ are fulfilled. It has to ensure that justice is done to each and every human person in the world. The exclusion of women or their poor participation in decision making is a justice issue. It goes against the Christian values which the Church stands for. That calls for measures to be taken to redress the situation. That is why the title of this work says that "Poor Representation and Participation of Women in Political Decision-Making Bodies : A Challenge to the Church ". By the Church I mean especially the Roman Catholic Church, but also all those who call themselves Christians and believers. The privilege of doing my theology studies in Kenya made me realise that Kenyan women are no exception from those of other parts of the world. I followed the events of the 1997 general elections in which many women took part. However, quite a few of them won seats in the parliament for instance. I listened to their complaints, I read comments by political analysts and talked with some voters. All that I learned inspired me to know more about women's concerns. I also attended a seminar course on the topic at Tangaza College and finally I decided to write my long essay on it. My experience in Kenyan politics is short but quite rich. Due to the rich experience I have had, I decided to write my paper with a reference to the Kenyan reality. The paper is divided into three main chapters. The first chapter deals with the analysis of the problem, making a kind of survey. The aim is to find out the intensity and the extent of the problem around the world and in Kenya in particular. The question to be asked is, what prevents women from taking part in political decision-making bodies? We shall also examine whether there is any significance in having women politicians or not. Chapter Two will try to make us aware of how the problem poses a challenge to the Christian faith. It will also show us how God views people and their problems and what the role of the church is and liturgical celebrations regarding the human situations. Chapter Three will try to offer some pastoral suggestions and possible solutions. An attempt will be made to give suggestions with concrete ways of going about them. This will be followed by a general conclusion. That will include an assessment of the situation and highlight some indicators or signs of hope for solving the problem, hence a brighter future.
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    Women in AMECEA Local Churches Challenges and Ropes
    (Tangaza University College, 1998-02-16) Dada, Romano Rokani
    Down through the centuries, the African woman has played major roles in the socioeconomic, political, cultural and religious development of society. Traditionally, women played the role of providing food for subsistence, were the primary agents of socialization, giving values, aspirations and moral foundation to their children and therefore being the pillars for the construction of balanced societies. Women also produced surplus food for barter trade and maintained the families when the men were out, either hunting, gathering, trading or raiding neighbouring ethnic communities for animals and more women. Today, their is great social change, women's situation and women's roles are greatly changing as they become more and more involved in different activities. This change, which is to be found at different levels, is also creating new needs and challenges that have to be met. The role of women in the society and in the church deserves a special attention. This has become a burning issue world-wide and Africa is not an exception. It is this reality which prompted me to give such a special attention, albeit restricted only to the AMECEA local Churches. The Encyclical letter, the Redeinptoris Missio, of Pope John Paul II, refers to the challenge presented, by women as a new Areopagus to which he invites the church to direct her commitment. These challenges can be classified in to the following headings: social, cultural, economic, religious and political. The recently concluded African Synod of Bishops came at a time when the African woman is so to say, rising from her down trodden social condition. She has been challenged to be herself, a true African woman, a person of dignity and self worth, a person who can participate fully in the church and society. The major challenge, however, is to rise above oppressive traditional structures, both in the church and society. In Chapter One, of this essay I will analyse the situation of women as it stands in the traditional African set-up; considering social, cultural, economic, political and religious perspectives. In Chapter Two, I will present a Christian Vision and Praxis, a biblical (Judaeo- Christian) experience and a brief analysis of the situation of women in the course of the history of the Church, citing some relevant encyclicals and other Church documents. Chapter Three, will offer some proposals to the Church and Society as to how to improve on the image of women and enhance their full participation in socio-cultural, economic, political and religious sphere. This topic is quite broad and extensive, for it raises many challenges. An attempt to discuss it exhaustively within a limited lenght of an Essay like this one will deprive the reader of a broader horizon. lnspite of this, my sincere wish is that while reading through this manuscript, the reader will be contented with the scope and the subject matter discussed.