Transformational Theology: An African Perspective

This dissertation examines the implication of theology in the stunted development in Africa. The underlying assumption is that the prevailing theology of a people can affect their governing mentality and attitudes, and thus, their overall output in life. African societies exhibit religious orientations, involving pantheons of deities and spirit beings, which are believed to influence seasonal occurrences in the community, and events in the individual's life cycle such as birth, puberty, marriage, illness, old age, death, and prosperity. The fear of these deities and spirits constitutes the fundamental reality in the practice of African Traditional Religion and forms the basis of the traditional Africa worldview.

This research found out that belief and thought systems that are couched in African traditional worldview are not easily amenable to the transforming influence of Christianity, with the result that Christians are finding it difficult to truly respond to their God-given mandate to be the light of the world and salt of the earth. Christian ethos is yet to take root in the lives of many professors of the faith, and as such, they
have not been able to integrate their faith into every sphere of their daily live and endeavors.

This dissertation concludes that the current problem of underdevelopment in Africa is the interplay of several factors, which were largely controlled by the religious systems that nurtured and directed life in Africa. The African Traditional Religion along with the belief and thought systems that derive from it are ultimately responsibly for the present problem of underdevelopment in Africa. Many of the modern developed countries of the world are not standing on the foundation of their ancestral cultures, but blazed the trail of transformational experience as the people embraced the transforming power of Christianity. Africa can still join the race for development through the
absorption and integration of Christianity in their daily lives and businesses.

It is not within the scope of this work to define a categorical theological framework, but to serve as a little piece in the on going theological reflection and conversation that may one day give birth to a transformational theology that is truly African.