Browsing by Author "Muke, Nagaju"

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    Ministry of reconciliation in the context of ethnic ideology and genocide : a theological evaluation of the Presbyterian Church in Rwanda
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2016-11-22) Muke, Nagaju; Simon, David Xolile; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology and Missiology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation frames the1994 genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi in Rwanda, which took over a million people’s lives as a result of the contextual factors emerging from Rwandan history. Given the destruction of social cohesion after the 1994 genocide, this study employs a realist evaluation approach proposed by Pawson and Tilley (1997; 2004) to develop a theological understanding and definition of reconciliation, which incorporates the need to truly address the context of modern Rwanda. A realist approach includes interrogating the context of interventions in order to understand how and why mechanisms can trigger particular outcomes. In conducting this realist evaluation of the history leading up to the 1994 genocide, ethnic ideology is identified as the main factor creating division. This ideology was a phenomenon artificially created and introduced by policies of colonialists and missionaries, exploited by the “Hutu power” movement after independence, and reinforced by the sectarian policies of the Rwandan government. This ideology sought to categorize the Hutu, Tutsi and Twa communities as ethnically and racially distinct, despite the fact that they all share one ethnicity, one language and a common heritage as Banyarwanda. Taking this understanding of ethnic ideology as a description of the underlying problem in Rwanda, this dissertation seeks to apply theological resources for understanding reconciliation in a way that can undo the effects of ethnic ideology. This new vision of reconciliation will be used to evaluate how the ministry of the Presbyterian Church in Rwanda (PCR) also referred to by its French name, l’ Eglise Prebytérienne au Rwanda (EPR), addresses ethnic ideology and responds to the effects and consequences of the 1994 genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi. A closer look at the development of ethnic ideology through Rwandan national and church history, as well as consideration of the various government-led attempts at reconciliation will inform this evaluation. It was found that the EPR has shown significant achievements in the process of reconciliation, but that ethnic ideology still persists. This finding highlights the need for the EPR to provide a clear theology of a shared identity versus one national ethnic identity “Ndi Umunyaranda” (I am a Rwandan) provided by the government in post-genocide Rwanda, which will help church members and other Rwandans to overcome divisions related to ethnicity.