Record Details

The decolonising of theology through African proverbs

In die Skriflig

 
 
Field Value
 
Title The decolonising of theology through African proverbs
 
Creator Resane, Kelebogile T.
 
Subject — proverbs; African; theology; culture; philosophy; wisdom; ethics.
Description The decolonisation of theology has been a subject in academia for almost 60 years. In this article, although referring to African proverbs as a way of decolonising theology all the proverbs are in the Setswana language, which the author is knowledgeable of and is conversant with; however, most of these proverbs cut across tribal, ethnic, and geographical boundaries. The objectives are, among others, to demonstrate the richness of African philosophy and wisdom expressed through proverbs, idioms, and folklore. These proverbs are sapient and capable of articulating theology, therefore making theology contextual and relevant for Africans. Definitions of proverbs start the discussions. A literature review and common knowledge are used to validate the facts stated. Three areas are chosen where and how the proverbs can be used to formulate and validate theological truth. Firstly, the area of ethics where proverbs are used in ethical instructions regarding morality and values, community and cooperation, leadership, family life, as well as respect and integrity. The second area is theologising through proverbs by which dogmatisation can be achieved highlighting the view of theology, a database in theologising, an authority base, and hermeneutical principle. Thirdly, proverbs can be used to strengthen communion ecclesiology. The conclusion is drawn that theology can unshackle itself from the clutches of colonialism, if African philosophy and wisdom expressed through proverbs can be engaged in hermeneutical processes and the contextualisation of theology in the African context.Contribution: The article engages the Setswana language, African philosophy, and theology to strengthen the theme of decolonising theology. It is both interdisciplinary and intradisciplinary as it engages anthropology, linguistics, human philosophy, theological ethics, dogmatics, and ecclesiology.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor
Date 2023-10-03
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — —
Format text/html application/epub+zip text/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/ids.v57i1.2995
 
Source In die Skriflig/In Luce Verbi; Vol 57, No 1 (2023); 7 pages 2305-0853 1018-6441
 
Language eng
 
Relation
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:

https://indieskriflig.org.za/index.php/skriflig/article/view/2995/7936 https://indieskriflig.org.za/index.php/skriflig/article/view/2995/7937 https://indieskriflig.org.za/index.php/skriflig/article/view/2995/7938 https://indieskriflig.org.za/index.php/skriflig/article/view/2995/7939
 
Coverage — — —
Rights Copyright (c) 2023 Kelebogile T. Resane https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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