African Primal Worldviews: The Bedrock of African Christian Faith and Ethics
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Abstract
While some contemporary theologians share African Christian heritage, not all of them do. Studies have shown that African primal views pose several challenges to traditional Christian theology, primarily because it seeks to interpret Christian faith and ethics through African cultural, social, ethical, and religious lenses. Hence, the overarching problem that confronts this study is to find out whether Christian theology can be truly African without the involvement of African primal worldviews. Relevant theological and ethical methodologies, as well as qualitative techniques, were employed to achieve the study’s purpose. This includes both primary and secondary sources of data collection. After rigorous analysis and discussion, the study finds that primal views help in contextualising the gospel within African culture, which can challenge the idea that Christian theology is universally applicable without cultural adaptation. Hence, I recommend that both Westerners and Africans are to embrace a fuller understanding of salvation, which includes the spiritual, ethical/moral, and physical aspects that are in harmony with primal views. The goal should be to develop theology that is biblically faithful and culturally rooted. Though there are challenges, those challenges require continued critical engagement with modern realities and the inclusion of diverse African voices. The study fills the gap between the African religious thought and Christian faith, and also contributes meaningfully to the ongoing conversations about decolonising theology and promoting intercultural dialogue within the global church.
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Ron Macaulay, Global Theological Seminary, Adenta, Accra - Ghana.
Ron Macaulay, PhD, is an ordained Minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the Global Evangelical Church in Ghana. He is a Theology and Ethics lecturer at Global Theological Seminary, Adenta, Accra, and also serves as the Dean of Students. He holds a PhD in Theology and Ethics (SU, Rome), an MPhil in Study of Religions (UG, Legon), and a B.Th. His research interests and area of specialisation include Theological and Ethical studies. He published the following book and articles as his contribution to scholarship:
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