Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertations Graduate Research 2014 Towards a Missiological Model for Worldview Transformation among Adherents to African Traditional Religion in Yorubaland Kelvin Okey Onongha Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations Part of the African Languages and Societies Commons, History of Religions of Western Origin Commons, and the Missions and World Christianity Commons Recommended Citation Onongha, Kelvin Okey, "Towards a Missiological Model for Worldview Transformation among Adherents to African Traditional Religion in Yorubaland" (2014). Dissertations. 119. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/119 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your interest in the Andrews University Digital Library of Dissertations and Theses. Please honor the copyright of this document by not duplicating or distributing additional copies in any form without the author’s express written permission. Thanks for your cooperation. ABSTRACT TOWARDS A MISIOLOGICAL MODEL FOR WORLDVIEW TRANSFORMATION AMONG ADHERENTS TO AFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGION IN YORUBALAND by Kelvin Okey Onongha Adviser: Bruce L. Bauer ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: TOWARDS A MISSIOLOGICAL MODEL FOR WORLDVIEW TRANSFORMATION AMONG ADHERENTS TO AFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGION IN YORUBALAND Name of the researcher: Kelvin Okey Onongha Name and degree of faculty adviser: Bruce L. Bauer, D.Miss. Date completed: April 2014 Seventh-day Adventist missions in the western region of Nigeria are a century old, yet reversion to pre-Christian practices such as divination and sorcery are reported, especially during periods of personal crises. This study sought to understand the influence of the traditional worldview on the practices of divination and sorcery and to develop a model that would move the Yoruba Adventists from dependence on these practices to a biblically shaped faith and praxis. A grounded theory approach was adopted for conducting this qualitative research. Data were collected from two focus group discussions and from face-to-face interviews with five pastors, five diviners, and three members who had once consulted diviners. Concepts that emerged from the analyzed data revealed the need for a theory of worldview transformation. This theory entailed having better biblical explanations to counter existing worldview assumptions, the exigency of encountering the power of the gospel in a power-oriented context, and the importance of experiential relationships with Christ to replace the role of diviners in that context. The study culminated in a worldview transformation model that would lead Yoruba Adventists away from dependence upon pre-Christian customs to a biblically shaped worldview, and authentic faith and discipleship. Central to this worldview transformational paradigm is the Adventist doctrine of the Great Controversy. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary TOWARDS A MISSIOLOGICAL MODEL FOR WORLDVIEW TRANSFORMATION AMONG ADHERENTS TO AFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGION IN YORUBALAND A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy by Kelvin Okey Onongha April 2014 ©Copyright by Kelvin Okey Onongha 2014 All Rights Reserved TOWARDS A MISSIOLOGICAL MODEL FOR WORLDVIEW TRANSFORMATION AMONG ADHERENTS TO AFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGION IN YORUBALAND A dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy by Kelvin Okey Onongha APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: _________________________________ ________________________ Faculty Adviser, Director, PhD in Religion Bruce L. Bauer Thomas Shepherd Professor of World Mission __________________________________ ___________________________ Gorden R. Doss Dean, SDA Theological Seminary Professor of World Mission Jiří Moskala __________________________________ Wagner Kuhn Professor of World Mission __________________________________ Teresa Reeve Associate Professor of New Testament Contexts __________________________________ _________________________ Scott Moreau Date approved Professor of Intercultural Studies Wheaton College Dedicated to the Lord, my Provider, Inspiration, and Strength iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .............................................................................................. ix Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................. 1 Background of Study ...................................................................................... 1 Statement of Problem ...................................................................................... 5 Statement of Purpose ...................................................................................... 5 Research Questions ......................................................................................... 6 Theoretical Framework ................................................................................... 6 Methodology ................................................................................................... 7 Scope/Delimitations ........................................................................................ 8 Limitations ...................................................................................................... 9 Justification ..................................................................................................... 9 Validity ........................................................................................................... 10 Assumptions and Presuppositions ................................................................... 11 Chapter Outline ............................................................................................... 11 2. CULTURE AND RELIGION OR THE YORUBA PEOPLE ............................. 13 Yoruba History ................................................................................................ 13 Social Context ................................................................................................. 16 Cultural Context .............................................................................................. 22 Affective Facets of Yoruba Culture ............................................................ 22 Cognitive Facets of Yoruba Culture ........................................................... 26 Evaluative Facets of Yoruba Culture .......................................................... 29 Religious Context ............................................................................................ 31 Yoruba Cosmology ..................................................................................... 40 Olorun ..................................................................................................... 41 Orisa ........................................................................................................ 43 Obatala (Orisa nla) .............................................................................. 45 Orunmila (Ifa) ..................................................................................... 45 Ogun .................................................................................................... 45 Esu ....................................................................................................... 45 Sango ................................................................................................... 46 Osun .................................................................................................... 46 Ancestors ................................................................................................. 47 iv Islam in Yorubaland .................................................................................... 51 Yoruba Christianity ..................................................................................... 54 Aladura ........................................................................................................ 56 3. CONVERSION AND WORLDVIEW TRANSFORMATION .......................... 60 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 60 Conversion ...................................................................................................... 61 Definition ........................................................................................................ 62 Nature of Conversion ...................................................................................... 65 Factors Affecting Conversion ......................................................................... 67 Stages of Conversion ...................................................................................... 68 Psychological Paradigm .................................................................................. 70 Sociological Paradigm of Conversion ............................................................ 72 Educational Paradigm of Conversion ............................................................. 74 Anthropological Paradigms of Conversion