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Middlesex University Research Repository an Open Access Repository Of Middlesex University Research Repository An open access repository of Middlesex University research http://eprints.mdx.ac.uk Smith, Trevor (2018) Christian theology emerging from the Akan single-tiered unitive perspective on reality. PhD thesis, Middlesex University / Oxford Centre for Mission Studies. [Thesis] Final accepted version (with author’s formatting) This version is available at: https://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/24205/ Copyright: Middlesex University Research Repository makes the University’s research available electronically. Copyright and moral rights to this work are retained by the author and/or other copyright owners unless otherwise stated. The work is supplied on the understanding that any use for commercial gain is strictly forbidden. A copy may be downloaded for personal, non-commercial, research or study without prior permission and without charge. Works, including theses and research projects, may not be reproduced in any format or medium, or extensive quotations taken from them, or their content changed in any way, without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). They may not be sold or exploited commercially in any format or medium without the prior written permission of the copyright holder(s). Full bibliographic details must be given when referring to, or quoting from full items including the author’s name, the title of the work, publication details where relevant (place, publisher, date), pag- ination, and for theses or dissertations the awarding institution, the degree type awarded, and the date of the award. If you believe that any material held in the repository infringes copyright law, please contact the Repository Team at Middlesex University via the following email address: [email protected] The item will be removed from the repository while any claim is being investigated. See also repository copyright: re-use policy: http://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/policies.html#copy Christian Theology Emerging from the Akan Single-Tiered Unitive Perspective on Reality Trevor H. G. Smith OCMS, PhD ABSTRACT My thesis proposes using the Akan single-tiered unitive perspective on reality in two ways: first, as a hermeneutical tool for reading and understanding African Christian theologies,* and second, as a means for opening up space in global conversations between African and western theologians on the relationship between the seen and unseen, the material and spiritual, and on the perceived fact-faith divide in the contemporary West. I have developed the term ‘single-tiered unitive perspective on reality’ to designate the idea, present in the literature under various other names, that the material and spiritual exist inseparably in an overlapping, permeable way that creates an interpretive landscape for the reading and writing of African Christian theologies. In considering the interpretive landscape which emerges from this single-tiered unitive perspective on reality, two terms become especially useful. The first is Andrew Walls’ ‘maps of the universe’, and the second is Kwesi Dickson’s ‘religio-culture’. Within the context of the single-tiered unitive perspective, these conceptual frames of reference provide us with secondary interpretive tools for analysing the work of the mostly Akan scholars and ideas discussed in this thesis, —particularly Kwame Bediako and his three- pronged use of identity as a new theological category. The single-tiered unitive perspective also provides the interpretive landscape—and various categories that are important in the make-up of that landscape – for what I am calling ‘analogical continuity’, which takes advantage of particular analogical ‘landing places’, or ‘bridges’ between the primal Akan and biblical ‘maps’ or conceptions of reality. I suggest that ‘analogical continuity’ offers a new way through the continuity-discontinuity debate by locating continuity at the level of the single-tiered perspective. Finally, use of the single-tiered unitive perspective sheds light on the contribution Akan theologians are making to the global theological conversation in two important areas: Christology and biblical anthropology. In these two areas I bring various Akan scholars into conversation with each other, using the interpretive lens of the single-tiered perspective to demonstrate where and why they differ even as they work from a common interpretive perspective on reality. *I use ‘African’ to refer to sub-Saharan Africa, with particular attention to Ghana. Christian Theology Emerging from the Akan Single-Tiered Unitive Perspective on Reality by Trevor H. G. Smith A.B. (College of William & Mary) M. Div. (Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary) Theology Director of Studies: J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu Second Supervisor: Diane Stinton House Tutor: Thomas Harvey A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the University of Middlesex Dedication To my parents, the Reverend Dr. W. Graham and Margaret G. Smith and to my wife, Joan S. Smith November 2017 Oxford Centre for Mission Studies ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This particular journey began seven years ago when I shared with a friend that I was ready to pursue a Doctor of Ministry degree. His comment, which has proved to be entirely false, was that for not much more work I could get a PhD. Having never pursued the former degree I can’t say how much more work the PhD has been. But I can say that these past seven years have been among the most enjoyable of my academic life. So, to Dr. Rollin Grams I say, thank you for getting me started! I must also express my deep appreciation to Dr. J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu, my Director of Studies for his encouragement which began by taking on an American who knew very little about the topic I presented to him. I am particularly in his debt for hosting my visit to Ghana and arranging interviews for me with Dr. John Pobee, Dr. Mary Bediako, Dr. Benhardt Quarshie, and Mercy Amba Oduyoye. Dr. Diane Stinton, my secondary supervisor, has proved a patient and careful reader of my work and along with Professor Asamoah-Gyadu offered invaluable critiques and advice for moving my research forward. To the entire community of the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies I offer my thanks for many weeks of fellowship, worship, and conversation. I am especially grateful to my House Tutor, Thomas Harvey, for his counsel and encouragement, to Ben Knighton for his insights into the African context, to Bernard Farr for his always astute comments, to Damon So and David Singh for their careful reading of my papers, to Andy Hartropp for pressing me to find my original contribution to my field, and to all the other tutors and staff at OCMS for making my time there so profitable. Special thanks is due to Ralph Bates, the OCMS librarian who many times pointed me in the right direction for finding important resources. I entered OCMS while Dr. Wonsuk Ma was Principal and am indebted to him for both his personal help and his extraordinary leadership of the Centre. Many students made significant contributions to my studies and I want to make special mention of Richard Haney for many hours of thoughtful conversation and encouragement; to Douglas Birdsall who led the way to Oxford; to Maqsood Kamil for his example of devotion to Christ in difficult times and places; to Kirk Sims for his initial tutorial on Ghana and his advice to purchase a pen scanner; and to Kevin Davis whose brilliance and curiosity inspired me – though I doubt he knows how much. My work could not have gone forward without the resources of several libraries so I must thank the librarians and staff of Oxford’s Bodleian libraries, the OCMS library, the libraries of Union Theological Seminary (both Richmond and Charlotte), Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Charlotte, Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte, and the several others that provided quiet places to think and work. And I would be remiss if I did not thank Ms. Hilary Guth for her copy editing. Finally, I want to thank my parents, the Rev. Dr. W. Graham and Margaret G. Smith who raised me in the love and knowledge of God and taught me from my earliest days what a Christian looked like such that I wanted that for my own life. And to my father in particular who instilled in me a love and respect for scholarship that led to this journey. I must also thank my dear wife, Joany, for her unfailing support and encouragement of my studies when she knew it would mean long absences from home and ‘days off’ in the library working on my research. My hope and prayer is that this work will promote and build up God’s Kingdom; for to God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit alone belongs all the honor and glory now and forever. Amen. 6 Table of Contents CHAPTER ONE – INTRODUCTION 1. BACKGROUND OF THIS STUDY .................................................................................... 11 2. RESEARCH QUESTION ................................................................................................. 16 3. METHODOLOGY—A THEOLOGICAL OBSERVER OF THE TACIT ................................... 16 4. TWO KEY TERMS: MAPS OF THE UNIVERSE AND RELIGIO-CULTURE .......................... 22 4.1 Maps of the Universe ........................................................................................... 22 4.2 Religio-Culture .................................................................................................... 27 5. THE UNEXPECTED PERSISTENCE OF THE SINGLE-TIERED UNITIVE PERSPECTIVE ........ 31 6. STRUCTURE OF THE THESIS ........................................................................................
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