Religion and Social Reconstruction in Africa

349 Pages·2018·1.665 MB·English

by  Elias Kifon Bongmba

Religion and Social Reconstruction
in Africa
Religion has played a major role in both the division and unification of
peoples and countries within Africa. Its capacity to cause, and to heal,
societal rifts has been well documented. This book addresses this powerful
societal force and explores the implications of a theology of reconstruction,
most notably articulated by Jesse N. K. Mugambi. This way of thinking
seeks to build on liberation theology, aiming to encourage the rebuilding of
African society on its own terms.
An international panel of contributors brings an interdisciplinary
perspective to the issues around reconstructing the religious elements of
African society. Looking at issues of reconciliation, postcolonialism, and
indigenous spirituality, among others, they show that Mugambi’s cultural
and theological insight has the potential to revolutionize the way people in
Africa address this issue.
This is a fascinating exploration of the religious facets of African life. As
such, it will be of great interest to scholars of religious studies, theology, and
African studies.
Elias Kifon Bongmba is Harry and Hazel Chavanne Chair in Christian
Theology and Professor of Religion at Rice University. He is author of The
Dialectics of Transformation in Africa. He is Managing Editor of Religious
Studies Review, and President of the African Association for the Study of
Religion.
Studies in World Christianity and Interreligious Relations
Series Editor: Frans Wijsen, Radboud University,
The Netherlands
The aim of this series is to publish scholarly works of high merit on relations
between believers of various streams of Christianity, as well as relations
between believers of Christianity and other religions. We welcome studies
from all disciplines, including multi- and interdisciplinary studies, which
focus on intra- and inter-religious relations and are non-denominational.
Editorial Board:
Michael Amaladoss (Chennai, India)
Francis Clooney (Cambridge, USA)
Fatimah Husein (Yogyakarta, Indonesia)
Diego Irarrazaval (Santiago, Chile)
Robert Schreiter (Chicago, USA)
Abdulkader Tayob (Cape Town, South Africa)
Anya Topolski (Nijmegen, The Netherlands)
The Decline of Established Christianity in the Western World
Interpretations and Responses
Edited by Paul Silas Peterson
Religion and Social Reconstruction in Africa
Edited by Elias Kifon Bongmba
For more information about this series, please visit: www.routledge.com/
religion/series/WCIR
Religion and Social
Reconstruction in Africa
Edited by Elias Kifon Bongmba
First published 2018
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2018 selection and editorial matter, Elias Kifon Bongmba;
individual chapters, the contributors
The right of Elias Kifon Bongmba to be identified as the author
of the editorial material, and of the authors for their individual
chapters, has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of
the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical,
or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including
photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or
retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks
or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and
explanation without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Bongmba, Elias Kifon, 1953– editor.
Title: Religion and social reconstruction in Africa / edited by
Elias Kifon Bongmba.
Other titles: Studies in world Christianity and interreligious relations.
Description: New York, NY : Routledge, 2018. | Series: Studies
in world Christianity and interreligious relations | Includes
bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2018011014 | ISBN 9780815348283 (hardback :
alk. paper) | ISBN 9781351167406 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Christianity—Africa. | Church and social
problems—Africa. | Christianity and other religions—Africa. |
Mugambi, J. N. Kanyua.
Classification: LCC BR1360 .R46 2018 | DDC 261.096—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018011014
ISBN: 978-0-8153-4828-3 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-351-16740-6 (ebk)
Typeset in Sabon
by Apex CoVantage, LLC
Essays in honor of
Professor Jesse Ndwiga Kanyua Mugambi
Ph.D., FKNAS, EBS
University of Nairobi,
Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies
In recognition of your Scholarship and Leadership in
African Theology and Religious Studies

Contents
Notes on contributors x
Preface xiii
Introduction: engaging religion and reconstruction 1
ELIAS KIFON BONGMBA
PART I
Biblical and ecclesial perspectives 15
1 Texts of affirmation rather than negation:
Jesse N. K. Mugambi and African biblical studies 17
KNUT HOLTER
2 The life of King David as a model of reconstruction 25
DAVID TUESDAY ADAMO
3 Worshipping God the spirit “in spirit and truth” in Africa:
one African woman’s reflections on John 4:19–24 35
MADIPOANE MASENYA (NGWAN’A MPHAHLELE)
4 Olódùmarè: the hidden but relevant God in the Yoruba
religious imagination 44
ENOCH OLUJIDE GBADEGESIN
5 Destiny and eschatology in Jesse N. K. Mugambi’s writings 56
JOHN FISCHER
6 The church of the future: dialogue on the ecclesiology
of Mugambi 70
ELIAS KIFON BONGMBA
7 Christian councils in Africa: whence? whither?: impressions 86
HAROLD MILLER
viii Contents
PART II
Liberation and reconstruction 97
8 Postcolonial positions – Jesse N. K. Mugambi and the
Christian responsibility in the socio-political sphere 98
MIKA VÄHÄKANGAS
9 Relating peace in African religion to theologies of liberation
and reconstruction 108
JOHN S. MBITI
10 Re-orientation: theology of reconstruction and intercultural
theology 124
FRANZ GMAINER-PRANZL
11 Reconstruction theology in action: exploring the
significance of Jesse N. K. Mugambi’s theological
contribution through a case study of Nairobi
Chapel/Mavuno church in Nairobi, Kenya 134
DIANE STINTON
12 Theology of reconstruction: a paradigm for reflection on
revitalization in African Christianity 153
KYAMA MUGAMBI
13 “. . . Then towards the rebuilding of our societies
now in Ruins” 171
NTOZAKHE SIMON CEZULA
14 Reconstructing mission: the church in Africa in the service
of justice, peace, and reconciliation 183
PHILOMENA NJERI MWAURA
PART III
Future trajectories on religion and theology in a global context 197
15 The reality of African religio-cultural identity in the context
of globalization 198
PETER MUTUKU MUMO
16 Integrity of mission in light of the gospel in Africa:
a perspective from an African in diaspora 212
TITE TIÉNOU
Contents ix
17 On freedom: risking a (faithful) reinterpretation 226
JAMES R. COCHRANE
18 The challenge facing the next generation of African theologians 243
LAURENTI MAGESA
19 Narratives of the future in African history: advancing
aspirations for liberation and reconstruction in Africa 256
LOREEN MASENO
20 African theology and African literature: rediscovering a
daring intellectual project 269
ABRAHAM WAIGI NG’ANG’A
21 Theological education in Africa: concerns and contribution
of Professor Jesse N. K. Mugambi 283
DICKSON NKONGE KAGEMA
22 Missions and money revisited 295
JONATHAN BONK
23 Managing religious diversity in Tanzania: Islamic
revivalism and modes of governance 311
FRANS WIJSEN
Index 329