Browsing by Author "Umaru, Kefas Kure"
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- ItemCorruption, human dignity, and an ethic of responsibility in Nigeria : a theological-ethical inquiry(Stellenbosch : Stellebosch University, 2020-11) Umaru, Kefas Kure; Forster, Dion Angus; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Systematical Theology and Ecclesiology.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Corruption is one of the greatest impediments preventing Nigeria from achieving its potential. It drains significant resources from the country’s economy, impedes development, weakens the social contract between the government and its people, and has created structures that undermine human dignity. Nigerians view their country as one of the world’s most corrupt in the world. They struggle daily with the impact of corruption while feeling incapable of making any significant or lasting change. In an effort to halt corruption, or at very least to minimize it, many anti-corruption agencies and campaigns have existed. Yet, the desired results have not yet been achieved. This calls for more work to be undertaken to address corruption from various perspectives in the Nigerian context. This certainly includes contributions from theology and ethics. This thesis aims to address the implications of corruption on human dignity in Nigeria by engaging Etienne de Villiers’ proposal for a contemporary Christian ethic of responsibility that addresses public morality. The study begins by presenting some background on the nature of corruption in Nigeria, outlining some causes, efforts toward curbing it and their limitations. It also considers how corruption in Nigeria threatens the dignity of persons. The study argues that the safeguarding of human dignity is an important theological and ethical concern. With the effects of corruption on human dignity being a point of concern, the question of ‘responsible action’ arises. Who is responsible for stopping corruption and safeguarding the dignity of persons in Nigeria? As an answer to this question, the study engages with the notions of an ethics of responsibility as a theological resource to contribute towards the struggle against corruption while safeguarding human dignity. In particular it considers the work of Etienne de Villiers. First, this is because he proposes a contemporary Christian ethics of responsibility that can address issues of public morality. Second, because he is an African Christian theologian whose work holds promise for contextualisation in Nigeria. The study makes a proposal for what such a contextualised ethic of responsibility for Nigeria may need to consider. The study shows that corruption is antithetical to human dignity. Yet, it is kept alive in Nigeria through inadequate leaders and their lack of responsible leadership. It is argued that an ethics of responsibility emphasises the need for co-responsibility between various social actors in political, economic and religious life, in order to combat corruption and safeguard human dignity. The project makes the following contributions to scholarly knowledge and the Nigerian context: An ethics of responsibility is argued to be relevant as a contribution to engage with various public moral issues – in this study the emphasis is upon corruption. Moreover, it provides new theological and ethical frameworks, that are based on Etienne de Villers’ ethics of responsibility, that can be considered in the Nigerian context. In this regard, this study is the first to consider Etienne de Villiers’ ethics of responsibility as a resource to theologically engage corruption and human dignity in Nigeria. The outcome of this task is that the study provides some theologically contextual resources to strengthen theologians, the churches, and Christians in their work for a corruption free Nigeria in which the dignity of human persons is protected and upheld.
- ItemSalvation as healing? : an analysis of Jesse Mugambi and Mercy Oduyoye’s soteriologies in the context of African prosperity gospels(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-12) Umaru, Kefas Kure; Marais, Nadia; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis is a study of the doctrine of salvation with particular reference to therapeutic interpretations. Discourses about salvation often center on that which comes in the hereafter, with less emphasis on the here–and-now dimensions of salvation, which has resulted in disparities in the interpretation of salvation within Christian theology. One of these divisions come from circles that embrace the gospel of prosperity, which focuses on wealth and health as proof of salvation, which is irreconcilable with the life experiences of some believers. Therefore, it has become of the utmost importance that salvation is understood properly and more broadly to bringing clarity and avoid such disparities. With a view to presenting a farreaching perspective on salvation, the current study critically investigates the notable works of two African theologians selected from many others, whose scholarly contributions to African Christian theology in general, and salvation in particular, have been remarkable. Chapter One sets out the background to the study and introduces certain concepts that are central to the study, so as to allow coherence in the rest of the thesis. Salvation is one of the essential Christain doctrines, but misconceptions in this regard have made it difficult to ascertain or to articulate its meaning appropriately. The previous view gave rise to different ways of explaining salvation, particularly within circles that embrace the gospel of prosperity, which sees health and wealth as proof of salvation. Unfortunately, no matter how important those forms of salvation are, many believers who have experienced salvation are not wealthy and do not enjoy good health. The above perspective calls for an integrative engagement with other theologians so as to present a balanced and broader view of salvation. For the purpose of considering salvation through a much wider lens, Jesse Mugambi’s and Mercy Oduyoye’s interpretations of salvation are examined in chapters 3 and four respectively. Mugambi is a Kenyan Anglican theologian whose salvific quest centres on reconstruction as a paradigm that befits Africa in the 21st century – rather than liberation, which has often been the norm. He discusses reconstruction as a form of salvation that covers social and structural dimensions, thereby presenting an understanding of salvation that is much broader than restricting it to either salvation from sin or the acquisition of wealth and health. Oduyoye is a Ghanian Methodist theologian who focuses her research work on the well-being of women and children in particular, but also that of society. Her research concerns more than the human quest for well-being – also that of society, with particular attention to justice and equality. Shaping an enabling society where individuals are acceptedand treated with dignity would go a long way to healing many of humanity’s problems, particularly those experienced by women and children, which is considered to be a form of salvation in the context of this study. Chapter 5 draws some conclusions from the preceding chapters and suggests three models for a therapeutic interpretation of salvation, namely reconciliation, transformation, and empowerment. Concerning the prosperity gospel’s perception of salvation and that of Mugambi and Oduyoye, the study concludes that none of those approaches is wrong in itself, but all could offer a better interpretation of salvation by including other perceptions. The study suggests that none of the approaches should be followed exclusively without including others. Integration would afford a balanced view of salvation that comprises different facets of life with particular reference to the therapeutic sense. In that way, the disparity in understanding salvation can be bridged.