Ghana Journal of Religion and Theology

Editor's Note

George Ossom-Batsa — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 20:01:57 +0000

Editorial Note

Creation, Sin, Wisdom: Interpreting Genesis 1- 3 In Its Ancient Near Eastern Context

Luca Mazzinghi — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 20:08:05 +0000

The paper studies Gen 2-3 as one large narrative unit consisting of the second creation narrative (Gen 2:4b-25) and the account of the fall (Gen 3) to answer two questions: Who are human beings? Why is evil present in the world? An attentive reading of Gen 2-3 in the light of the Exodus event reveals that a human being is a free and responsible creature of God, who does not know how to deal with his/her freedom and responsibility. Though humans refused God’s offer of salvation and crossed the limits of their createdness, and consequently were punished, they have also experienced the forgiveness of God. Therefore, while Gen 2 represents God’s creative action and his plan for humankind, Gen 3 epitomizes human failure to welcome God’s gift, which God punishes, offering at the same time his mercy and forgiveness.

Re-Examining יְהוָה רֹעִי in Psalm 23: Implications for Akan Translations and African Biblical Studies

Emmanuel Kojo Ennin Antwi — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 20:18:05 +0000

Psalm 23 is one of the psalms that are familiar to Ghanaians. The translation of יְהוָה רֹעִי in some Akan mother-tongue languages avoid the use of the shepherd imagery. The Mfantse translation, however, is very unique among the Akan translations. Its uniqueness lies in the translation of the shepherd imagery. The ‘shepherd’ is an indispensable imagery or a metaphor in the text. The rendering of יְהוָה רֹעִי as Awurade ne me hwefo in the Twi translations misses the imagery that the source text seeks to convey. This paper examines the place of ’adônâ rõ‘i in the source language and its translations in the Akan versions of the Bible. It deduces its implications for African Biblical Studies and suggests that in the next revision of the Twi translations, due consideration should be given to the shepherd imagery.

One Lord, One Body

Joshua Awienagua Gariba, Bernard Kwame Assenyoh — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 20:26:49 +0000

This paper focuses on what it means to be human from a biblical perspective and shows how this understanding forms part of the Church’s understanding and practices towards disability and persons with disability. Through our experience of the Ghanaian situation and scholarly works, we argue that as a Church, our understanding, attitudes, and practices towards persons with disability must change from the current exclusive and marginalizing frameworks to thoughts and behaviors that are integrative and inclusive. The paper contributes to our understanding of how the Ghanaian and African practice of communalism can deepen the biblical and theological anthropology of the church with regards to human disability. We conclude that the absence or limited participation of persons with disability in the church is a manifestation that it is the church that is rather disabled by the barriers it has constructed about disability and not persons with disability.

'Ethics of Values’ and Its Significance in Society: A Christian Perspective

Chiedu A. Onyiloha — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 20:33:13 +0000

The ethics of values is a specialized area of meta-ethics that emphasises the concept of good in society. It is often contrasted with the ethics of duty, and it is an area that has been neglected in recent times due to a poor index of awareness and application. This underscores the significance of this work. Values are central to human lives and civilisation. Consequently, the question: “What values should I seek or apply to a situation?” is more relevant than “What is it that is right for me to do?” in contemporary society. The researcher was motivated by these differences and also the need to place the ethics of values in its proper perspective. Therefore, the paper roots its thesis on the works of Hartmann, Perry, and Peschke including the ethical insights from John Paul II. The study approaches the subject from its theories, nature, types, and significance in society. The paper is based on Christian ethics, and it also applies phenomenology to analyse and discuss the subject. The analysis reveals that some persons are more interested in the rationalization of duty than the actual application of ethics and values to society. The latter, unarguably, is germane to fostering societal moral rectitude.

Uncovering the Complexities of Islamic Patriarchy in Jean Sasson's Desert Royal

Ramesh Prasad Adhikary — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 20:41:53 +0000

The objective of this research was to investigate how the Islamic practices of polygamy, early marriage, and the hegemony of Islamic doctrine subjugate and subordinate female characters in the novel Desert Royal. The paper analyzed the plight of female characters from the perspective of Islamic feminism to identify the crucial factors that led to their extreme subjugation. The approach used is the perspective of Islamic feminism, which helps in understanding the impact of Islamic practices on women's lives. The study found that the female characters in the novel are subjected to various harrowing experiences, including forced marriage, unequal treatment by their husbands, and institutionalized discrimination. It also highlights the pervasive influence of Islamic doctrine in Saudi Arabia and its impact on women's empowerment and freedom. The study concludes that the female characters in Desert Royal are subordinated, excluded, and alienated, and their lives prove that they are subaltern people in an Arabic land that is under the grip of Islamic patriarchy. The total separation of daughters from decision-making sections hinders the growth of the women's movement.

National Security and Good Governance in Nigeria: The Hermeneutical Imperative

Cyril Osilama Adamu — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 20:49:40 +0000

Nigeria is plagued with developmental problems and security challenges. Religion no doubt contributes a significant percentage to insecurity, despite its positives; and portends a grave danger which is highly inflammable. This is why any meaningful discourse on national security and good governance must consider the religious perspective as pivotal. The objective of this paper, therefore, is to examine how religious hermeneutics can contribute to national development, good governance, and security. Data were sourced using the qualitative phenomenological method, wherein the study seeks to investigate the religious lived experiences within the backdrop of religious hermeneutics. This paper adopts the antithesis of the philosophy of orthodoxy that does not present interpretations that fit in with the changed conditions of the world. The methodology of dynamic hermeneutics philosophy submits the findings that individuals or groups in specific historical situations can interpret their sacred texts in a way that facilitates violence and insecurity. The recommendation is that contemporary religious hermeneutics should at all times engender peace, security, and good governance.