Reconciliation, Forgiveness and Violence in Africa: Biblical, Pastoral and Ethical Perspectives
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RECONCILIATION, FORGIVENESS AND VIOLENCE IN AFRICA Biblical, Pastoral and Ethical Perspectives Editors Marius J. Nel Dion A. Forster Christo H. Thesnaar DEDICATION In memory of H Russel Botman Reconciliation, Forgiveness and Violence in Africa: Biblical, Pastoral and Ethical Perspectives Published by African Sun Media under the SUN PReSS imprint All rights reserved Copyright © 2020 African Sun Media and the Stellenbosch University, Beyers Naudé Centre This publication was subjected to an independent double-blind peer evaluation by the publisher. Stellenbosch University and the publisher have made every effort to obtain permission for and acknowledge the use of copyrighted material. Refer all enquiries to the publisher. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic, photographic or mechanical means, including photocopying and recording on record, tape or laser disk, on microfilm, via the Internet, by e-mail, or by any other information storage and retrieval system, without prior written permission by the publisher. Views reflected in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. First edition 2020 ISBN 978-1-928480-52-5 ISBN 978-1-928480-53-2 (e-book) https://doi.org/10.18820/9781928480532 Set in Palatino Linotype Regular 10/12 Cover design, typesetting and production by African Sun Media SUN PReSS is an imprint of African Sun Media. Scholarly, professional and reference works are published under this imprint in print and electronic formats. This publication can be ordered from: [email protected] Takealot: bit.ly/2monsfl Google Books: bit.ly/2k1Uilm africansunmedia.store.it.si (e-books) Amazon Kindle: amzn.to/2ktL.pkL Visit africansunmedia.co.za for more information. TABLE OF CONTENT LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS . II FOREWORD . V Len Hansen INTRODUCTION . VII Marius J. Nel, Dion A. Forster & Christo H. Thesnaar 1. Matthew's Reconfiguring of Salvation in a Context of Oppression ........ 01 Marius J. Nel 2. Conquering Evil: Engaging Violence from the Perspective of Paul’s Letter to the Romans ................................................. 17 Endale Sebsebe Mekonnen 3. The Reconciliation of Lepers in Luke 5:12-15 and its Implications for Human Dignity: An African Perspective ................................ 33 Godwin Etukumana 4. Towards an (Im)possible Politics of Forgiveness? Considering the Complexities of Religion, Race and Politics in South Africa ........................ 51 Dion A Forster 5. Jesus within the Genres of the Human: Sylvia Wynter, African Philosophy, and Post-Colonial Conceptions of the Not Nonviolent Resistance of Jesus ................................................... 71 Alease Brown 6. Lessons From Mr. Noki: Empire, Structural Violence and the Missio Dei ... 93 Jaco Botha 7. Transferring Frozen Conflict to Future Generations: In Search of a Contextual Pastoral Approach ......................................... 111 CH Thesnaar 8. Reconciliation in Burundi Crisis: A Practical Theological Approach ........ 131 Benaya Niyukuri 9. The Praxis of Reconciliation Among Religious Groups in Northern Nigeria: A Pastoral Care Approach ........................... 149 Oholiabs D Tuduks 10. Transforming (Christian) Apartheid .................................... 171 Wilhelm Verwoerd i LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS NEW TESTAMENT PROF. MARIUS J. NEL Associate Professor of New Testament Chair of the Department of Old and New Testament Stellenbosch University Stellenbosch, South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5922-1594 DR. GODWIN ETUKUMANA Provost ECWA Theological Seminary Aba, Nigeria. Research Fellow Department of Old and New Testament Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa DR. ENDALE SEBSEBE MEKONNEN President of the Shiloh Bible College, Ethiopia Research Fellow Department of Old and New Testament Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY PROF. DION A. FORSTER Associate Professor of Systematic Theology and Ethics Chair of the Department of Systematic Theology Director of the Beyers Naudé Centre for Public Theology Stellenbosch University Stellenbosch, South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7292-6203 DR. ALEASE A. BROWN Post-Doctoral Fellow, Desmond Tutu Centre for Spirituality and Society University of the Western Cape Cape Town, South Africa ii LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS REV. JACO BOTHA Minister of the Dutch Reformed Church PhD candidate Stellenbosch University Stellenbosch, South Africa PRACTICAL THEOLOGY PROF. CHRISTO H. THESNAAR Professor of Practical Theology Head of the Unit for Reconciliation and Justice Beyers Naudé Centre for Public Theology Stellenbosch University Stellenbosch, Western Cape https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9388-1895 REV. BENAYA NIYUKURI Director of the Paraclete Counselling Mission PhD candidate Stellenbosch University Stellenbosch, South Africa DR. OHOLIABS D. TUDUKS Minister in the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) Lecturer in the Department of Religious Studies of Gombe State University, Nigeria PhD candidate Stellenbosch University Stellenbosch, South Africa BEYERS NAUDÉ CENTRE FOR PUBLIC THEOLOGY DR. WILHELM VERWOERD Researcher, Beyers Naudé Centre for Public Theology Stellenbosch University iii FOREWORD Writing on some themes is seldom the prerogative of a single theological discipline, let alone of a single theologian. Some themes require reflection that comes from a variety theological disciples, each with their particular methodological, and theological, resources. In fact, some themes are simply so multifaceted, and so central to the gospel and to our faith, that they must be reflected upon by all theological disciplines. Examples of such theological themes include those in the title of this publication: reconciliation, forgiveness, violence and, to the background of these, the theme of human dignity. Within, at the Beyers Naudé Centre for Public Theology we tend to agree with David Tracy, that all theology is intrinsically public discourse across the publics of the church, the academy and society at large. This volume contains a variety of rich and challenging essays that contribute to the wider discourse on public theology on the African continent as it relates to reconciliation, forgiveness, violence and human dignity. We are extremely proud of it, not only because it is the first publication from the Unit for Reconciliation and Justice that is housed in the Beyers Naudé Centre for Public Theology, or because it contains contributions by colleagues from all three the disciplinary environments in our Faculty, but also as it showcases the work of some of our doctoral candidates and doctoral alumni from across the continent. May this publication also represent a first step for them in a long and fruitful scholarly journey. Len Hansen Series Editor, Beyers Naudé Centre for Public Theology Series Stellenbosch University, February 2020 v INTRODUCTION This book is the result of an inter- and trans-disciplinary engagement with three ethical themes from an African perspective by researchers from Stellenbosch University. The themes in question are reconciliation, forgiveness and violence. The contributors firstly engaged with one or more of the identified ethical themes from their specific disciplinary perspectives in their respective contributions. Thereafter, a symposium was held at the Beyers Naude Centre for Public Theology at Stellenbosch University on the 13th of April 2017. The aim of the symposium was to expose colleagues working in different disciplines in the Faculty of Theology to the contributions of those working in disciplines other than their own. This resulted in an enriched multidisciplinary perspective on these complex themes within the African context. The contributors each reflect on issues that arise from their varied African contexts. However, it needs to be acknowledged that the character of the project is informed by the theological points of view of a group of scholars linked to a particular institution – the Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch University. It is, however, the hope of the contributors that this publication will serve as a first step towards a much more dynamic and inclusive conversion with scholars elsewhere in Africa, throughout the varied contexts of the Global South, and the wider wold. The publication is structured in such a way that it draws upon the disciplinary experience of three theological disciplines (Biblical Studies, Practical Theology and Systematic Theology – with a particular focus on Public Theology and Ethics). The engagement of these three disciplinary perspectives facilitates a nuanced and textured understanding of the complexity of reconciliation, forgiveness, and violence in various African contexts. The aim of the engagement of these three disciplines is to enrich the understanding of notions of human dignity in relation to this conversation. The relationship between the discourses of human dignity, violence, reconciliation and forgiveness offers a wealth of material for interdisciplinary academic research. This, in turn, enriches and further develops the disciplines from which the original contributions came. This book is premised on an understanding that human dignity is a complex concept that requires careful and rigorous consideration in order to explicate the implications for sound theology and practice. One of the challenges with human dignity discourses is that they are easily collapsed into utilitarian discussions of human rights and planetary rights. While this is a necessary outcome of responsible scholarship in the field,