Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertations Graduate Research 2011 A Missiological Study of the Phenomenon of Dual Allegiance in the Seventh-day Adventist Church Among the Yoruba People of Nigeria Paul Adekunle Dosunmu Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations Part of the African Studies Commons, Missions and World Christianity Commons, and the Practical Theology Commons Recommended Citation Dosunmu, Paul Adekunle, "A Missiological Study of the Phenomenon of Dual Allegiance in the Seventh- day Adventist Church Among the Yoruba People of Nigeria" (2011). Dissertations. 29. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/29 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 A MISSIOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE PHENOMENON OF DUAL ALLEGIANCE IN THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH AMONG THE YORUBA PEOPLE OF NIGERIA by Paul Adekunle Dosunmu Adviser: Bruce L. Bauer ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: A MISSIOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE PHENOMENON OF DUAL ALLEGIANCE IN THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH AMONG THE YORUBA PEOPLE OF NIGERIA Name of researcher: Paul Adekunle Dosunmu Name and degree of adviser: Bruce L. Bauer, D.Miss. Date completed: December 2010 Problem Many Africans and members of other traditional societies of the world who still hold to a supernaturalistic and spiritualistic worldview visit diviners, shamans, spiritualistic herbalists, and the traditional medicine men and women who use enchantments, divination, charms, invocation of the spirit world, etc. They engage in such practices for various reasons which include, to diagnose and treat various ailments, both physical and psychological which plague their clients, a quest to know the future through divination, and also for the preparation of different kinds of charms and medicines. Christians, including some Yoruba Adventists, also engage in such consultations, a practice which is categorically condemned in the Scriptures, the normative source for the Christian faith and life. Purpose of the Study The purpose of this research was, first, to study the causes, forms, meanings, and ramifications of dual allegiance among Yoruba Seventh-day Adventists, and, second, to propose an Adventist response to dual allegiance among Yoruba Seventh-day Adventists. Method I used a basic or generic qualitative research approach to gather data for subsequent analysis and study. Data collection was done among Yoruba Seventh-day Adventists in Nigeria. Participants were interviewed regarding worldview, culture, causes for the calamities of life, solutions for the problem of life, their ethno-history, encounters with Christianity, and other experiences that generated a rich data supply for the study. Results The research showed that dual allegiance exists among the Yoruba Seventh- Adventists and it appears in different forms; it was caused by the discrepancies in the cultural and worldview specificities between the Christian missionaries and those of the Yoruba recipients; the lack of contextualization of the gospel to the Yoruba milieu; slavery in the history of the Yoruba, especially due to the participation in it by some Christian missionaries and bishops; failures in the three essential Christian encounters of allegiance, truth, and power; people movement; and the role of Ifa, the Yoruba deity of wisdom and divination in the missionary expeditions among the Egba, a sub-tribe in the nineteenth century. Conclusion and Recommendations Dual allegiance is a significant issue in the Seventh-day Adventist Church that needs a concerted effort to both detect and eliminate from within the believers. Critical contextualization is the process that will address the problem. A major emphasis is needed on the power of the gospel. Pastors and lay leaders of the church need to be trained in critical contextualization. The creation of a study center for African Traditional Religions and worldviews will help the denomination to better understand how to contextualize mission to Africans and other people groups with similar worldviews. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary A MISSIOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE PHENOMENON OF DUAL ALLEGIANCE IN THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH AMONG THE YORUBA PEOPLE OF NIGERIA A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy by Paul Adekunle Dosunmu December 2010 Copyright by Paul Adekunle Dosunmu 2010 All Rights Reserved A MISSIOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE PHENOMENON OF DUAL ALLEGIANCE IN THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH AMONG THE YORUBA PEOPLE OF NIGERIA A dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy by Paul Adekunle Dosunmu APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: _________________________________ ___________________________ Faculty Adviser, Director of Ph.D/Th.D. Program Bruce L. Bauer J. H. Denis Fortin Professor of World Mission _______________________________________ ________________________________ Gorden Doss Dean, SDA Theological Seminary Associate Professor of World Mission J. H. Denis Fortin Member _________________________________ ___________________________ Shirley Freed Lester Merklin Member Director, Global Center for Adventist- Coordinator, Leadership Program Muslim Relations Internal Examiner _________________________________ ___________________________ External Examiner: Charles H. Kraft Date approved Professor of Anthropology and Intercultural Communication, Fuller Theological Seminary DEDICATION Glory be to the Almighty God—the Creator, Sustainer, Righteous Judge, Gracious Redeemer and Coming King, Source of all knowledge, all wisdom, mercy, and understanding, and His Christ who died to save us from all our sins. To my dutiful, faithful wife, Rachael Abosede Olawumi Anike Alege Dosunmu. Jesus has done this for us. Jesus has won the battle. The degree is now acquired. The preparation is accomplished. By His Grace, we are now equipped to affirm the faith, and to change the world. My children, the four daughters: Shekinah, Shalom, Sharon, Shem, and the only son, Shammah of the Tribe of Adekunle Dosunmu, for your patience, love, acceptance, and endurance. During these so many years you endured so much. Thank God for the grace. TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................ viii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................................... ix ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ..................................................................................................x Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................1 Background of the Study ..................................................................................1 Statement of Problem ........................................................................................7 Purpose of the Study .........................................................................................8 Research Questions ...........................................................................................8 Research Design ................................................................................................8 Theoretical/Conceptual Framework ...............................................................10 Definition of Terms..........................................................................................12 Self as the Research Instrument ......................................................................18 Data Collection ...............................................................................................19 Purposive Sampling ...................................................................................20 Procedures ..................................................................................................20 Interviews ...................................................................................................22 Data Analysis ..................................................................................................22 Reliability and Validity ...................................................................................24 Generalizability or External Validity ..............................................................25 Delimitations ...................................................................................................26 Limitations ......................................................................................................26 Ethical Considerations ....................................................................................26 Summary ..........................................................................................................27 2. DUAL ALLEGIANCE: CAUSES AND BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVES .............29