Ghana Journal of Religion and Theology

Editor's Note

George Ossom Batsa — Thu, 30 May 2024 17:04:01 +0000

Editorial

Christianity: An Indigenous African Religion

Kwaku Boamah, Felicity Apaah — Thu, 30 May 2024 17:15:11 +0000

A closer look at the 1^st – 5^th centuries demonstrates a crucial period of African influence on early Christian formation. The impact is seen across the emerging faith, from theological contributions to ecclesiastical leadership. The paper provides historical evidence of Africa's contact with Christianity, spanning from the days of Jesus through the Apostles' era to the patristic and modern eras. It, therefore, appraises the backgrounds and contributions of some major African Church Fathers and Mothers from the 2^nd – 5^th centuries. It further explores the place of African Christianity today particularly because the Edinburgh Conference of 1900 predicted that Christianity would be extinct in Africa. Still, today, Africa has become a major Christian center as part of the global south. The paper affirms that African Christianity has much to offer to global Christian expression and must therefore be allowed to interact with the culture to meet its adherents' needs.

Postcolonial Biblical Hermeneutics and Exegesis

Werner Kahl — Thu, 30 May 2024 17:21:28 +0000

The article traces the development of postcolonial Biblical hermeneutics and exegesis and he reflects on its significance as well as on problematic aspects. On closer scrutiny, it becomes clear that postcolonial Biblical hermeneutics and exegesis do not represent a unified approach to the Bible. It has been rather diversified and de-ideologized, especially due to contributions by scholars from the Global South. Traditional Western exegesis from a historical-critical perspective has been rather skeptical of the postcolonial paradigm, as is shown regarding the German exegetical discourse.

Akan And Hebrew Proverbs on Poverty: Metaphoric Conceptualisation

Charles Owiredu — Thu, 30 May 2024 17:26:07 +0000

This paper examines the metaphorical structure of poverty in Akan (a West African language) and Hebrew (a Semitic language) within the framework of the Conceptual Metaphor Theory. The study explores how poverty is expressed in the Biblical Book of Proverbs and compares the conceptualization of poverty by the Akan people in their proverbs to those in Hebrew. The aim is to establish whether the two languages manifest cross-linguistic or cross-conceptual similarities concerning understanding poverty. The data reveal similarities between Akan and Hebrew concerning the metaphoric conceptualization of poverty.

Liberation and Christianity in South Sudan

Zechariah Manyok Biar — Thu, 30 May 2024 17:31:10 +0000

Christianity in Africa is swaying between vigorous devotion to mundane flourishing and partial commitment to biblical principles that guarantee eternal life. Nevertheless, the quest for eternal life is conceivably still about liberating oneself from idol worship. Values of African Traditional Religions that many South Sudanese learned before becoming Christians seem more robust than the biblical values they now learn in their Churches. African values appear to be sturdier than biblical values. This study observes discussions in Bible study classes by Rejaf Diocese to understand what appeals more to Christians when discussing biblical passages. I examine possible gaps in biblical interpretation in this Diocese. I try to understand whether or not biblical values are articulated coherently in ways that shape the daily lives of Christians in South Sudanese churches.

Christian Theological Education and Discipleship

Babatunde Adedibu — Thu, 30 May 2024 17:40:32 +0000

Christian theological education and discipleship have been veritable mediums for instilling the appropriate spiritual virtues and characters in new converts. Previous scholarship on Christian theological education in the African context has underpinned the contributions and possibilities of theological education in African contexts to exploring the connectivity between Christian theological education and discipleship to underscore what they portend for resolving the church’s challenges and engendering development and transformation. Using analytical and historical approaches, the paper discusses the significance, challenges, and prospects of Christian Theological Education in Africa. It highlights the failures of the Church and how theological education and discipleship can serve as a panacea in tackling them. Finally, it argues for the repositioning of theological education towards mission, socioeconomic, and justice dimensions, especially in the Church and the state.

Gender-Based Violence and Its Effect on Mental Health: An Islamic Panacea

Sherifat Hussain-Abubakar — Thu, 30 May 2024 17:49:11 +0000

Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is an age-long universal problem that affects individuals’ mental health regardless of their gender, ethnicity, or faith. However, the female gender is the most affected by this ailment due to the societal power structure that favours the male gender. Women and girls experience at home and in public arenas varied forms of GBV that cause them physical, psychological, sexual, and economic harm. Consequentially, their mental health becomes impaired. This study explores how Islamic principles can be a panacea to GBV and its associated mental health effects by examining the Nigerian Hausa, Nupe, and Yoruba ethnic groups which have a reasonable percentage of Muslims. Taking into consideration the causes of GBV and its consequences, the study emphasizes the necessity for religious guidance to avert all forms of abuse and maintain mental serenity.

Appropriating Hajj as an Effective Peacebuilding Avenue Among Muslims in Ghana

Haruna Zagoon-Sayeed — Thu, 30 May 2024 17:55:37 +0000

Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam; and even though it is primarily a spiritual endeavour, its main objective is to make its participants peacebuilders when they return to their communities. This paper seeks to explore Hajj values for potential peacebuilding among Muslims in Ghana. The paper is an analysis of a qualitative study which utilized survey questionnaires; in-depth interviews; and participant observation as the main research techniques to collect data. The study found among other things that critical values of peacebuilding such as forgiveness, reconciliation, and good relationships are inherent in the performance of Hajj; and that Ghanaian Muslims who are passionate about Hajj can leverage these values to build peace among themselves and within communities in which they live. The study concludes that the Ghana Hajj Board can use its Hajj village concept to instill peacebuilding values in Muslims who participate in it annually.