African Traditional Ritual Expressions of Salvation: Contextualised Biblical Hermeneutic(s) as an Ecclesiological Praxis

Authors

  • Kibaara Titus Kirimi, PhD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47672/ejpcr.1040

Keywords:

African Traditional Religion, salvation, evil, rituals, genealogy, living dead, hermeneutics

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this article is threefold: First, to present the African traditional ritual concept of salvation. Second, to demonstrate that this concept subconsciously forms the worldview through which African Christians interpret biblical narratives and salvation. Third, to access if certain ecclesiastical practices are influenced by the African salvific expressions.

Methodology: The methodology used is exploratory, where aspects of African salvific rituals and selected ecclesiastical practices are explored. Part one of this article deals with African expressions of salvation. Three aspects of salvation in the African Traditional Religion (ATR) are; one- traditional rituals that ward-off evil, two- continuity of life through genealogies and three- consciousness of ancestral spiritual world/living dead.

Findings: The findings are that these three are the hallmarks of African worldview as expression of salvation. Part two of the article deals with ecclesiastical interventions, specifically on contextual biblical hermeneutic(s) expounded in worship praxis paved by African worldview. The typological and allegorical hermeneutical theories of biblical interpretation are enriched by traditional African concept of salvation in African Christianity.

Contribution to Theory and Practice: In practice the African Church ought to spread the salvation of Jesus Christ through contextually interpreted biblical rituals.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

Kibaara Titus Kirimi, PhD

Lecturer, The Presbyterian University of East Africa (PUEA).

Reverend, Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA).

References

Adamo, D. T. (2015). The Task and Distinctiveness of African Biblical Hermeneutic(s). OTE 28/1 (2015): 31-52

Adedeji, A. G. M. (2012). African concept of God, evil and salvation in African Traditional Religion (ATR): Critique from cultural view point. Journal of global intelligence and policy. Volume 5, Issue 9 (2012), pp. 45-55. Retrieved from EBSCOhost on 6/1/2022.

Awolalu, J.O. (1976). Sin and its removal in African traditional religion. Journal of the American academy of religion. Vol 44, no 2 (June, 1976), pp 275-387. Retrieved from EBSCOhost on 6/1/2022.

Briggs, R. S. (2006). What does hermeneutics have to do with biblical interpretation? HeyJ XLVII (2006), pp. 55-74

Clines, D. J. A. (1982). Biblical Hermeneutics in Theory and Practice, in Christian Brethren Review 31, 32 (1982): 65-76.

Decock, P.B. (2008). Allegorising: The relevance of an old method of interpretation. Acta Theologica Supplementum 11 2008.

Fiorenza, E. S. (1988). The ethics of biblical interpretation: Decentering biblical scholarship. Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 107, No. 1 (Mar., 1988), pp. 3-17

Gondwe, E. I. (2008). Breaking curses, including generational curses. Cambridge: Jesus work ministry.

Grillo, L. S. (2012). African ritual, in The Wiley-Blackwel Companion to African religions. Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Assessed online https://laurasgrillo.com/

Jensen, R. M. (2017). The cross: History, art and controversy. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.

Karangi, M. M. (2008). Revisiting the roots of Gikuyu culture through the sacred Mugumo tree. Journal of African Cultural Studies. Vol 20, No.1, June 2008, pp 117-132 Ebscohost.com

Karanja, J. (1998). The missionary movement in colonial Kenya: The foundation of African Inland Mission. Retrieved from https://books.google.co ke//book?

Mbiti, J. S. (1969). African Religion and Philosophy. Heinemann, London.

Ferm, D. W. (1986). The encounter of Christian faith and African religion, in Third World Liberation Theologies, ed. Dean Ferm, Orbis Books, Maryknoll, New York.

Mburu, E. (2019). African hermeneutics. Carlisle, Cumbria. Langham Publishing. Assessed as eBook preview on books.goggle.co.ke/books? On 8/4/2022.

Mugambi, J. N. K. (1989). Christological Paradigms in African Christianity. in J. N. K. Mugambi, and L. Magesa, eds. Jesus in African Christianity: Experimentation and Diversity in African Christology. Nairobi: Initiative Publishers, 1989, pp. 136-164.

Mveng, E. (1990). Identity in African Christianity. Torino: Society publishing international.

Nwuzor, D. N. (1977). A survey of African Christology. A doctoral thesis: University of Navara

Nyamiti, C. (1984). Christ as our ancestor: Christology from an African perspective, Mambo Press, Gweru.

Pobee, J. S. (1979). Towards an African theology. Nashville, Tennessee: Abingdon.

Pobee, J. S. (1985). Teaching the New Testament in an African context. The journal of religious thought, 42(2), 22-29.

Reynaud, D. (1998). Literary theory and biblical interpretation. In H. Rasi (Ed.), Christ in the classroom. Paper presented at the International Faith and Learning Seminar, Seminar Schloss Bogenhofen, Austria (pp. 279-292). Silver Spring, MD: Institute for Christian Teaching.

Smart, N. (1973a). The phenomenon of religion. New York: Seabury Press.

Wachege, P. N. (nd). Curses and cursing among the Agĩkũyũ: socio-cultural and religious benefits. https://profiles.uonbi.ac.ke/

Walton, J. H. (2002). Inspired Subjectivity and Hermeneutical Objectivity. TMSJ 13/1 (Spring 2002) 65-77

White, P. (2015). The concept of diseases and health care in African traditional religion in Ghana. HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 71(3), Art. #2762, 7 pages. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/ hts.v71i3.2762

Downloads

Published

2022-05-23

How to Cite

Kibaara , T. K. (2022). African Traditional Ritual Expressions of Salvation: Contextualised Biblical Hermeneutic(s) as an Ecclesiological Praxis. European Journal of Philosophy, Culture and Religion, 6(1), 19–29. https://doi.org/10.47672/ejpcr.1040

Issue

Section

Articles