The African Christian and Islam

Description

During the summer of 2010 Ghana played host to the first ever conference held within Africa to focus solely on the relationship of the African Christian and Islam. The event was led by John Azumah in partnership with the Center of Early African Theology. The conference, chaired by Archbishop John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan of Abuja welcomed over 50 participants from across 27 African countries and several denominations. This book is a collection of the papers presented by 22 of the delegates forming a historical survey and thematic assessment of the African Christian and Islam. In addition, key information on the introduction, spread and engagement of Islam and Christianity within 9 African countries is presented. The book closes with Biblical reflections that opened each day of the conference, providing useful examples of Christians reading the Bible in reference to Islam.

Sujets

• Islam

Informations

• Publié par: Langham Creative Projects
• Date de parution: 14 juin 2013
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781907713958
• Langue: English

Extrait

The African Christian and Islam demystifies the mutual ignorance that is often common amongst African Christians and Muslims, thus building a vital bridge towards interreligious epistemology. The edited book provides a complex historiography of Africa’s religious tapestry, underscoring its robustness, spiritual and confessional variegatedness and unity, but also mutual dependence in growth, development and impact. While its main thrust is Christian critical reflections on the nature and manifestation of the particular ‘faces’ of Islam within African contexts; the book poses crucial challenges for a conscious articulation of a specifically African approach and engagement with Islam and Muslims. It also rejuvenates theological, missiological and existential import of Christian-Muslim relations. Such painstaking, non-essentialist reflections by scholars and religious practitioners based on varied regional contexts in Africa evince an indubitable backlash and corresponding challenge for an African Muslims’ critical reflection on Christianity. Not only on their encounter and engagement with Christians in the African context, but also for Christians and Muslims alike, to reflect on indigenous traditions that form the triad of Africa’s religious heritage. The urgency of such a book cannot be overstated at an increasingly insecure time in which the global arena is awash with incessant interreligious tensions, conflicts and violence. The book is a must-read for scholars, students and religious and political entrepreneurs who are genuinely committed to interreligious understanding and coexistence in Africa and globally.
Dr. Afe Adogame
World Christianity & Religious Studies
University of Edinburgh, UK
John Azumah is to be commended not only for his vision of, but also for bringing about the first conference of its kind on African Christian perspectives of Islam. A number of conferences have taken place on various aspects of Islam in Africa, but none has been as comprehensive or dedicated to the African Christian perspectives of Islam.
The stimulating papers from the conference contained in this volume have laid the foundation for African Christians to consider their relation to Muslims and Islam in the African context. They offer a basis for the development of critical biblical and theological obligations to engage with Muslims within the overall African context. Particularly valuable is the underlying approach of the papers. On the one hand they offer an overview of historical facts as well as insights into the contemporary nature of Islam in African. On the other hand they raise questions at various levels about the Christian obligation to relate meaningfully to fellow African Muslims.
The combination of theoretical context, empirical information and thoughtful analysis makes this volume an ideal text not just for theological students and pastors but to “rank and file” Christians and Muslims seeking to live and work together for peace and harmony in Africa and beyond.
Dr. Sigvard von Sicard
Department of Theology and Religion
University of Birmingham, UK

The African Christian and Islam
edited by
John Azumah
Lamin Sanneh

© 2013 by John Azumah and Lamin Sanneh
Published 2013 by Langham Monographs
an imprint of Langham Creative Projects
Langham Partnership
PO Box 296, Carlisle, Cumbria CA3 9WZ, UK
www.langham.org
ISBNs:
978-1-907713-972 Print
978-1-907713-965 Mobi
978-1-907713-958 ePub
John Azumah and Lamin Sanneh have asserted their 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.
Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™
Scriptures also taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Cover & Book Design: projectluz.com
Langham Partnership actively supports theological dialogue and a scholar’s right to publish but does not necessarily endorse the views and opinions set forth, and works referenced within this publication or guarantee its technical and grammatical correctness. Langham Partnership does not accept any responsibility or liability to persons or property as a consequence of the reading, use or interpretation of its published content.

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Contents

Cover


Acknowledgments


Introduction


Part One: A Historical Survey


Chapter 1 The African Christian and Islam: Historical and Religious Dimensions


Islam, Christianity, and Radical Reform and Social Change


Muslim Reform Movements


Christian Wind of Change


African Prophet


Challenge to Western Assumptions


Missionary Jealousy


Evaluation of Religious Experience


The African Muslim Commissioned


The African Christian Reinstated


Religious Experience and Transformation of the Self


Conclusion: Foresight in Hindsight


References


Chapter 2 Patterns of Christian-Muslim Encounters in Africa


Christianity’s First Contact with Africa


Encountering Muslims as Immigrants


Muslims as Invaders and Rulers


Africa as a Theatre for Islamic and Western Christian Missions


Africa as the ‘Spiritual Lung’ of the World: Problems and Prospects


Africa as a Fault Line in Christian-Muslim Relations


Towards an African Christian Approach to Islam


References


Chapter 3 Hermeneutical and Theological Resources in African Traditional Religions for Christian-Muslim Relations in Africa


Understanding African Traditional Religion


Impact of Evolutionary Theory


Christian/Islamic Missions and Traditional Religions


Islam and Indigenous African Traditions


Hermeneutical and Theological Resources in ATRs for Christian-Muslim Relations


Kinship and Hospitality


References


Chapter 4 The African Christian and Islam: Insights from the Colonial Period


The Colonial Context


Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther


Edward Wilmot Blyden


Why the African Attitude to Islam Differed from the European Attitude


Lessons for the Contemporary African Christian


Conclusion


References


Chapter 5 The African Christian and Islam: The Roman Catholic Perspective


A Bit of History


Christianity: An African Religion


Islam in Africa


The Scramble for Africa


Christian Approaches to Islam


Catholic Perspectives of Islam


Post-Vatican II Directives


Action on Ground


The Nigerian Case


Conclusion


References


Part Two: A Thematic Assessment


Chapter 6 Fault Lines in African Christian Responses to Islam


Responding to Militant Islam


Responding to Islam as an Ideology


Responding to Islamic Anti-Christian Polemic


Responding to Islami c Da’wah


Christian Response to Progressive Islam


Christian Response as a Witness to Islam


Conclusion


References


Chapter 7 Competition and Conflict: Pentecostals’ and Charismatics’ Engagement with Islam in Nigeria


Relationship between Christianity and Islam


Overview of the Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements


Growth of the Movements


Pentecostalism in the Literature


Impact of Pentecostalism


Historical Legacy of British Colonialism


Relationship to the State


Pentecostals’ and Charismatics’ Attitude towards Islam Since 1980


Internal Factors


Overzealousness


External Factors


Pentecostals and Charismatics become More Active in Opposition toward Islam


Pentecostals and Inter-faith Mediation and Bridge Building Efforts


Conclusion


References


Chapter 8 The African Christian and Ideological Islam


Origin of the Word ‘Islamism’


What Muslim Authors Think of Islamism