A Different Way of Being

David Kirwa Tarus

Description

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
Kenya is a diverse nation, with many ethnic communities and cultural traditions. However, this diversity has led to deep divisions over the years, resulting in entrenched ethnopolitical tension and conflict. In this book, Dr David Kirwa Tarus advocates for a Christian theological response to the nation’s divisions by presenting various theological perspectives on anthropology, society, and politics including those of John Calvin and John Mbiti, as well as other prominent Kenyan theologians. This work traces the history of ethnopolitical conflict in Kenya and the church’s response from 1895 to 2013 and thoroughly examines how a reformed theology can provide a pathway to social cohesion in Kenya.
David Tarus humbly yet boldly challenges Kenyans to pursue national unity and peace by interrogating their allegiances to their ethnic communities and political parties. This book carefully argues why it is only a Christian identity, commitment to humanity as bearing the divine image, and the triune God himself, that can heal the divisions in this land and in turn bring an end to other social evils such as corruption, intolerance, and violence. Ethnopolitical conflict is not confined to one nation, and this study will bear much fruit in other contexts where people yearn for social cohesion.

Informations

• Publié par: Langham Creative Projects
• Date de parution: 28 février 2019
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781783685813
• Langue: English

Extrait

Dr Tarus’s work is an exemplary piece of historical, systematic, and contextual theology. He shows that a Christian theology of the divine image (drawing especially on Calvin’s theology) provides a foundation for overcoming ethno-political conflict in Kenya. Where class and ethnic differences too often fuel conflict, corruption, intolerance, and violence, Tarus argues that the Christian theology that all people bear the divine image anchors a vision for social and political unity that also recognizes, respects, and integrates diversity within that community. Tarus sets his constructive contribution in conversation with key voices in the history of African political theology. He also identifies and analyzes the challenges facing Christian political engagement in Kenya. Tarus writes, moreover, with an irenic, thoughtful, and compelling style.
Steven M. Studebaker, PhD
Howard and Shirley Bentall Chair in Evangelical Thought
Associate Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology,
McMaster Divinity College, Hamilton, Canada
Would you like to understand the genesis of ethno-political violence in Kenya and how you can address the vice by renewing God’s image in you? In this well-researched, interesting, objective and revolutionary book, Dr David Tarus invites theologians, religious leaders and scholars of religion, historians, and all Kenyans of goodwill to exercise heroic faith to remove any public leader who does the honor God. He challenges all Christians at the individual level to demonstrate Christian love which is extended beyond close kin and kith. This is a must-read for every Kenyan interested in “Unity, Peace and Liberty, Justice to be found within our borders.”
Eunice Kamaara, PhD
Professor of Religion, Ethics, and Gender Development,
Moi University, Kesses, Kenya

A Different Way of Being
Towards a Reformed Theology of Ethnopolitical Cohesion for the Kenyan Context
David Kirwa Tarus

© 2019 David Kirwa Tarus
Published 2019 by Langham Monographs
An imprint of Langham Publishing
www.langhampublishing.org
Langham Publishing and its imprints are a ministry of Langham Partnership
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ISBNs:
978-1-78368-580-6 Print
978-1-78368-581-3 ePub
978-1-78368-582-0 Mobi
978-1-78368-583-7 PDF
David Kirwa Tarus has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988 to be identified as the Author of this work.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher or the Copyright Licensing Agency.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan.
Scripture quotations, marked RSV, are from Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright ©1946, 1952, and 1971 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permisson. All rights reserved.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN: 978-1-78368-580-6
Cover & Book Design: projectluz.com
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To my mom who is now with Jesus .
Contents

Cover


Abstract


Acknowledgments


Chapter 1 Introduction


The Need for the Book


Definition of Key Terms


Literature Review


Research Methodology/Model/Framework


Structure of the Book


Chapter 2 History of Ethnopolitical Conflict in Kenya: 1895–2013


The Roots of Ethnopolitical Conflict in Kenya: The “Colonial Situation”


The Mau Mau Uprising and the Freedom of Kenya


The Roots of Ethnic-Based Coalitions and Political Parties in Kenya


Ethnopolitical Conflict during President Jomo Kenyatta’s Era (1963–1978)


Ethnopolitical Conflict during President Daniel Arap Moi’s Era (1978–2002)


Ethnopolitical Conflict during President Mwai Kibaki’s Era (2002–2013)


Conclusion


Chapter 3 The Church and Ethnopolitical Conflict in Kenya: 1982–2013


Ethnopolitical Conflict and the Church in Kenya: A Unified Voice (1982–2002)


Ethnopolitical Conflict and the Church in Kenya: A Divided Voice (2001–2008)


Ethnopolitical Conflict and the Church in Kenya: On the Road to Recovery (2008–2013)


Conclusion


Chapter 4 John Calvin’s Doctrine of the Image of God as a Basis for a Reformed Doctrine of Ethnopolitical Cohesion in Kenya


Defining “Reformed Tradition”


Resourcing the Reformed Tradition


Reformed Churches in Kenya


A Brief Biographical Sketch of John Calvin


Calvin’s Doctrine of the Image of God


Conclusion


Chapter 5 John Calvin’s Doctrine of the Christian Life in Relation to His Anthropology and Its Relevance for Ethnopolitical Cohesion in Kenya


The Role of an Individual Believer


Necessary Resources in the Renewal of God’s Image


The Implications of Calvin’s Doctrine of the Christian Life


Conclusion


Chapter 6 John Calvin’s Political Theology in Relation to His Anthropology and its Relevance for Ethnopolitical Cohesion in Kenya


The Overall Shape of Calvin’s Political Thoughts


Calvin on Christianity and Culture


The Source and Justification for Civil Government


Insights and Limitations of Calvin’s Political Theology for the Kenyan Context


Conclusion


Chapter 7 “A Hungry Stomach Has No Ears”: The Political Theology of David Gitari and Henry Okullu as Theological Responses to Ethnopolitical Conflict in Kenya


Bishop John Henry Okullu


Archbishop David Mukuba Gitari


Okullu, Gitari, and Calvin


Conclusion


Chapter 8 Jesse Mugambi’s Theology of Reconstruction as a Theological Response to Ethnopolitical Conflict in Kenya


A Brief Biography of Jesse Mugambi


The Roots of African Theology of Reconstruction


From Liberation to Reconstruction: The Thesis and Methods of ATOR


Support and Critique of Mugambi’s Reconstruction Theology


Contribution of Mugambi’s Reconstruction Theology to the Quest for Ethnic Cohesion


Conclusion


Chapter 9 John Mbiti’s Theologies of Identity, Culture, and Community as Theological Responses to Ethnopolitical Conflict in Kenya


A Brief Biography of John Samuel Mbiti


The Identity Question of Africa


Mbiti’s Theology of Culture


Mbiti’s Theology of Community


Mbiti and Calvin


Conclusion


Chapter 10 Conclusion, Limitations, and Further Research


Limitations of the Book


Further Research and Engaging Non-Christian Audiences


Appendix Response to Reinhold Niebhur’s Moral Man and Immoral Society


Bibliography


About Langham Partnership

Endnotes

Index
Abstract
This book provides a theological basis for social-political cohesion of Kenyan communities based on a study of the Reformed (John Calvin’s) theological anthropology, Christian life, and politics. The book also examines the works of four Kenyan theologians from a Reformed perspective. Its thesis is that the search for ethnic cohesion in Kenya is a theological task that calls for a new theological anthropology and politics. A new future in Kenya calls for a new way of being human, which can only be availed of when the Kenyan people respond to the divine call and grace and by learning to challenge the inherited visions of the world. The response to God’s call and grace means that the Kenyan people can look at their lives, their identities, in a new way. They can question and interrogate their allegiance to their ethnic communities and political parties and live differently. Only by looking deep into these realities can the Kenyan people find the lasting solution to the challenge of ethnopolitical conflict and, indeed, other social evils such as corruption, intolerance,