| dc.description.abstract | The countries of Africa are experiencing important changes and development forms a
major part of their political agenda. It is a period of economic awakening. This
.Renaissance of Africa is impossible to achieve without a new social order. This new
social order is one that goes beyond sectional and ethnic hatred. This also implies a
need for religious tolerance based on an acceptable concept understood equally by all
religions and ethnic groups of Africa.
In this thesis, the researcher sought to contribute to religious tolerance by looking at
similarities and differences between the conceptions of the Divine held by the major
religious traditions of Africa, viz. African traditional religion, Christianity and Islam. The
thesis also explored the possibility of employing the conception of the Divine as a
unifying factor and a possible basis for dialogue between religious communities in a
multi-religious society.
The investigation articulated the following three basic convictions which are central to
the study:
(a) The concept of the Divine in the African context is a complex one.
(b) Christian theology in Africa has relevance for the ecumenical church.
(c) Islam, like Christianity, also suffers from a religious ethnocentrism.
In Chapter 1 attention was devoted to the problem and scope of the study, the
conceptualisation of the problem, and the purpose and relevance of the study. The
chapter contains a historical survey of African traditional religion, Christian Mission and
the Islamic Da'wah in Africa. Lastly the researcher spelled out his personal stance as
regards the subject under discussion and concluded with a discussion of African
traditional religion, Christianity and Islam in Kenya.
In Chapter 2 attention was devoted to the theological views on the Divine. This took
the form of a general definition followed by specific attention to the way in which the
concept is understood from the African, Christian and Islamic points of view. Attention
was paid to the way in which these religions understand the attributes of God and the
names of God and to how these views may contribute towards preparing the stage for
dialogue. The African conception of the Divine has been misunderstood by Western
writers, especially by the missionaries who initially had a pre-conceived notion of
Africans and their understanding of God. The researcher discussed these views
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critically and concluded that Africans, like the Jews, believed in one God and that their
concept of the Divine was evolving from simple to complex in a similar way as Yahweh
of Israel and Allah of the Arabs also evolved from simple to complex up to the level at
which the concept comes to us in the Bible and the Qur'an.
In Chapter 3 the respective attitudes of African traditional religion, Christianity and
Islam towards the Divine were explored. Emphasis was laid on the African Christians
who take the gospel to their fellow Africans and who can therefore be regarded as
missionaries among their own people. The Muslim attitude towards Allah and the
Da'wah was also discussed.
In Chapter 4 the theological views of the three religions on Monotheism, the Trinity and
Predestination were explored. The findings revealed that the religions differ in this
regard. The differences are more pronounced between Christianity and Islam. It was
argued that, in order to achieve a religious symbiosis, the differences should be left to
the adherents of the respective religions while emphasis should be laid on the concept
of the Divine which is understood in a similar fashion in these religions. This could
serve to effect a working togetherness in a multi-religious society.
In Chapter 5 attention was devoted to the condition of sin. Sin was discussed as the
major reason for the separation between man and the Divine. The views of the three
religions on sin and the resulting strained relationship with the Divine were
investigated .. The researcher believes that sin is.the main cause of religious animosity
between the adherents of these religions in Africa and specifically in Kenya. The
remedy lies in looking to the Divine for a complete restoration and the possibility of
dialogue.
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The question of salvation was investigated in Chapter 6. In discussing the theology of
salvation in the African traditional Religion, Christianity and Islam attention was
devoted to the way in which the theology of salvation relates to the perception of the
Divine in these religions. The differences between the ways in which Christianity and
Islam understand of salvation were discussed critically and the responses of each of
the religions were articulated.
Chapter 7 contains a few concluding remarks and a way forward was discussed. It
was stressed that a social order based on the concept of religious tolerance is
necessary in a multi-religious society. It is possible for people of different religions to
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work together under the umbrella of the concept of the Divine. Religious animosity is unnecessary in the 21st century and beyond, and quite untenable if Africa is to be developmentally conscious. There are common areas where African traditional religion, Christianity and Islam agree - especially with regard to the concept of the .Divine. This should be emphasised in order to promote peace; yet the individual religious differences should be respected as such. Attention was also devoted to the Chnsfian witness in a multi-religious society and it was pointed out that Christians should learnto listento other religions in order to be understood and accepted in their witnessto the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. | en_US |
