From Contextual Theology to African Christianity: The Consideration of Adiaphora from a South African Perspective

Abstract

Abstract:The move towards contextual Christianity in Africa is an essential venture if Christianity is to communicate with the African cultural heritage. As a universal religion, Christianity has to find an expression within the cultural context. However, the contextualization of Christianity in Africa appears to have permitted the practice of syncretism. It has resulted in the emergence of African Christianity, which is the amalgamation of Christianity and African Traditional Religion. The amalgamation of Christianity and African Traditional Religion appears to overlook the essence of both religions as there is currently no clarity on how Christianity can best be expressed within the African cultural and religious heritage. This paper employs the document review method to explore the things that fall in between-"adiaphora", which the proponents of contextual Christianity may have overlooked with regard to the African cultural and religious heritage. These include the pragmatic nature of the African cultural and religious heritage, and the African traditional methods of healing.

Identity formation at the dawn of liturgical inculturation in the Ethiopian Episcopal Church

“…For generations, Christianity has created contradictions for Africans: They have to decide whether to abandon their African customs for them to be legitimate Christian, or to maintain a dual life, following enthusiastically the Word God on Sunday and then diluting it during weekdays. Mokhoathi (2016a:2) comes to a similar observation that 'the strain of having to live by double standards for African converts brought about some difficulties in the appreciation of the Christian identity'. Furthermore, according to Mugambi (2002:520) the primary concern for African Christians was: 'What should be the proper relationship between Christian identity and a Christian's cultural identity?'…”

Decoloniality on Culture and Religion: Anglican Ritual performed on the Zulu King

“…Iheanacho (2021:3) asserts that "[r]eligions, like cultures, are porous by nature, on the recognition that they are open to intermixture and mutual borrowing from each other". This leads to some form of hybridisation or the amalgamation of religious beliefs within African culture (Mokhoathi, 2017;Stewart, 1999). That will always lead to modifications of spirituality in approaching daily challenges (Iheanacho, 2021).…”

“…That will always lead to modifications of spirituality in approaching daily challenges (Iheanacho, 2021). Although Christianity seems to be an overt part of the public life of many Africans, some individuals and communities continue to observe African rituals and beliefs, to help them cope with life's realities (Machinga, 2019;Mokhoathi, 2017). In a nutshell, Christianity can easily find a home in African culture, especially in aspects associated with ethics.…”

The forms of colonial Christianity and Zambian cultures in contemporary Zambia.

“…It is crucial to note that Africans had always had their belief systems, albeit raw, before Christianity arrived on the continent. Mokhoathi (2017) argues that in the African's quest to understand and relate to God in their context, they contextualise their form of theology visa-a-vis-African theology. In contrast, the forms of colonial Christianity thought of the Barotseland and Bembaland as the sites of heathenism and paganism.…”

“…If one is to speak of "revelation" or "inspiration" is not to be found in a book, not even primarily in the people's oral tradition, but in their lives. … African religion does not have a specific founder, no churches or mosques, no trained priests or pastors or sheikhs, no written books or scripture This is the exact point Mokhoathi (2017), and Naaman (2015) make when they say that African traditions [like Bemba tradition] cannot be separated from African cultures [like Bemba culture] since the African cosmology is holistic and constantly changing. In so doing, it also helps one recognise the Bemba culture within the context of an African traditional religious worldview.…”