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Principles for Developing Inculturated Theology in the Diverse African Context: Steps Beyond Traditional Heritages Jane Catherine Hagaba

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Principles for Developing Inculturated Theology in the Diverse African Context: Steps Beyond Traditional Heritages Jane Catherine Hagaba Duquesne University Duquesne Scholarship Collection Electronic Theses and Dissertations Fall 2009 Principles for Developing Inculturated Theology in the Diverse African Context: Steps beyond Traditional Heritages Jane Catherine Hagaba Follow this and additional works at: https://dsc.duq.edu/etd Recommended Citation Hagaba, J. (2009). Principles for Developing Inculturated Theology in the Diverse African Context: Steps beyond Traditional Heritages (Doctoral dissertation, Duquesne University). Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/611 This Immediate Access is brought to you for free and open access by Duquesne Scholarship Collection. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Duquesne Scholarship Collection. For more information, please contact [email protected]. PRINCIPLES FOR DEVELOPING INCULTURATED THEOLOGY IN THE DIVERSE AFRICAN CONTEXT: STEPS BEYOND TRADITIONAL HERITAGES A Dissertation Submitted to the McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts Duquesne University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy By Sr. Jane Catherine Hagaba December 2009 Copyright by Sr. Jane Catherine Hagaba 2009 PRINCIPLES FOR DEVELOPING INCULTURATED THEOLOGY IN THE DIVERSE AFRICAN CONTEXT: STEPS BEYOND TRADITIONAL HERITAGES By Sr. Jane Catherine Hagaba Approved November 9, 2009 Approved________________________________________________________________ Marie Baird, Ph.D., Dissertation Director Approved________________________________________________________________ George Worgul, Ph. D., Department of Theology, Chair Approved________________________________________________________________ Sean Kealy Professor of Biblical Studies Approved________________________________________________________________ Christopher Duncan, Ph.D., Dean McAnulty College of Liberal Arts iii ABSTRACT PRINCIPLES FOR DEVELOPING INCULTURATED THEOLOGY IN THE DIVERSE AFRICAN CONTEXT: STEPS BEYOND TRADITIONAL HERITAGES By Sr. Jane Catherine Hagaba December 2009 Dissertation supervised by Dr. Marie Baird: This dissertation critically examines the foundational significance of Christ for contextual theologies in the African Catholic Church. It begins with a presentation of Benezet Bujo’s approach and contextual methodology. As a critical study, this dissertation is premised on the principle that the object of Christianity is the transformation of peoples and their societies. Therefore, the study examines the ways in which African societies founded on an immutable principle of blood kinship can open to the Christian faith and to the globalizing world today. The dissertation grapples with this issue to unravel the weaknesses and limitations of African theologies of inculturation. The paper argues on the basis of empirical evidence and Vatican Council II teaching, and in view of a sound inculturation, that the primary root of the present cultural and human crisis on the African Continent is rooted in the diverse anthropologies and ontologies. iv The paper, in turn, appeals to theological anthropology in contemporary Catholic theological thought to discern the essential working principles and practical guidelines for contextual theological methodology. A major principle in this quest for a sound methodology is the meaning of Jesus of Nazareth for humanity in diversely constituted cultural settings. Having recognized Christology as a theological and anthropological principle, the dissertation brings out the Christian significance of the (traditional) Western social system for diverse cultures in Africa. v This dissertation is dedicated to my parents Silvestre Kambwere and Mary Therese Sieunda and Dr. James P. Hanigan and Dr. Louisa Coraluppi, with love and gratitude vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The actual writing of a dissertation is the responsibility of one person. It is equally true to say that the same is a product of many people. This dissertation qualifies in both regards, because the whole process of writing, up to its completion, would not have been possible without timely contributions, moral support and encouragement of many people. I would like to register my deepest gratitude to Sr. Anne Nasimiyu-Wasike, Ph.D. my Superior General at the time, and my religious community for recognizing my theological gifts and for giving me the opportunity to develop them. To the Sisters of St. Francis of the Providence of God, Pittsburgh, USA, I extend my sincere gratitude for their abundant financial and sisterly support, and for enabling me to acclimatize to a totally new environment. I am deeply indebted to Dr. Thomas Julian, my oncologist doctor, who did a tremendous work of giving me all the necessary treatment for breast cancer. Without that providential intervention, this project would not have reached this point. In the same vein, I would like to thank the Theology Department, Duquesne University, for the great financial assistance they gave, which covered the entire period of study, from the Masters’ degree through the Ph.D. program. Special thanks to Msgr. Sean Hogan, C. S. Sp. for his kind and timely support whenever I needed it. A big vote of thanks to all my theology professors for the unwavering dedication to high-spirited teaching and encouragement, understanding and without which the formulation and completion of this thesis would not have been possible. I particularly thank Dr. Anne Clifford for guiding me through the formulation of the thesis and the writing of the four chapters of the dissertation. I am grateful for the vii encouragement, support and recommendations which enabled me to clarify what I wanted to say. Special thanks also to Dr. Marie Baird who readily assumed the great responsibility of directing me after the departure of Dr. Clifford. Dr. Marie Baird’s meticulous and steady hand generated a great morale which carried me to the end. The list is long and endless. Regrettably, the names of many others who traveled this journey with me are not mentioned but their contributions are forever a part of this achievement. viii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………………………iv DEDICATION………………………………………………………………………....vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS…………………………………………………………....vii GENERAL INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………...1 CHAPTER I: THE Concept of African Theology…………………………………...7 • Introduction……………………………………………………………………..7 SECTION I A. An Overview of African Theology …………………………………………….12 • A Concept of African Theology………………………………………………...12 • A Historical-Theological Locale of African Theology…………………………14 • Points of Correlation: Pan-Africanism and the Historical-Theological Premises of African Theology………………………………………………….18 B. “African Theology in Its Social Context”………………………………………..20 • Bujo’s Programmatic Statements ……………………………………………...24 • The Contextual Problem: Western Domination in Africa………………………26 SECTION II Theological Foundations ………………………………………………….....................28 • A Theological Schema………………………………………………………….28 • The Rationale for the Proto-Ancestor Christological Foundations…………….28 • Ancestral Hermeneutics for Translating the Gospel into Cultural Categories……………………………………………………………………….31 • The Terrestrial Goal of the Proto-Ancestor Christology………………………..36 SECTION III A Critical Response……………………………………………………………..............40 • Inner Theological Consistency………………………………………………….42 • The Implications of the Proto-Ancestor Christology for Christian-Cultural Dialogue……………………………………………………..49 • Christian Faith and the Development of the African cultural Tradition………...54 SECTION IV A. The Significance of the African Synod (1994) for Contextual Theologies………………………………………………………………………..60 • An Overview of the Theological-Historical Context of the Synod……………...64 • John Paul II on Gospel Mission in Africa ………………………………………68 • The Synod as a Major Point Departure for Contextual Theologies……………...74 ix • A Legend of the Reactionary Approach to Contextual Theology……………….80 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………….82 CHAPTER II: The African Cultural Crisis…………………………………………..84 Introduction • The Challenge of Articulating the African Reality……………………………...84 • Technical Concerns……………………………………………………………..85 • The Method of Social Analysis………………………………………………….88 SECTION I An Overview of the African Social Economic Landscape………………………………91 • General Perceptions and Explication of Contemporary African Reality…………………………………………………………………………...95 • Intellectual and Philosophical Footprints from the African-Western Cultural Encounter……………………………………………………………..98 • The Crisis in Contemporary Social Analysis…………………………………..100 • The Human Freedom to Mould One’s Own Culture…………………………..104 • An Anthropological response to the Lopsidedness of Social Analysis………..106 • A Socio-Economic Response: Recognizing the Postmodern Twist…………...107 • The Meaning of Culture Remains Shrouded in Mystery………………………109 SECTION III A. What is Culture ....................................................................................................112 • Physical Anthropological View of Culture…………………………………….113 • A Summary of the African Theological Views on Culture…………………….116 B. The Second Vatican Council on the Meaning of Culture……………………….120 • The Human Person is the Ground of Culture…………………………………...120 • A Theological-Anthropological View of Culture………………………………122 SECTION IV Recognizing Cultural Diversity in Africa………………………………………127 Toward Understanding African Anthropologies and Ontologies……......................127 • The Existence of Two Religious Traditions in African Traditional Religions……………………………………………………………………….134
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