Academic literature on the topic 'Theologians – Africa – Biography'

AbstractTheological authority is of paramount importance for the future of African American Pentecostal public theology. Largely ignored as authoritative sources by white Pentecostals in the years following the Azusa Street Revival, black Pentecostals were often snubbed by black denominations as well. Consequently, at the traditional table of theological discourse, black Pentecostal pastors have been notably absent. The question of theological authority in black Pentecostalism can be answered, in part, by examining its historically relevant contributions to theology in general, and to black liberation theology in particular. Early social prophetic theologians left a treasure trove of leadership hermeneutics and models for public engagement. This article highlights four pastors who left legacies built on their roles as pioneers in the black Pentecostal movement. The biographic profiles reveal sources of i) historical authority within the broad contours of the black Pentecostal tradition, and, ii). innovative hermeneutics as valid models for engaging public theology.

Syed Farid Alatas’ Ibn Khaldun is a welcome addition to an emerging Khalduniansociology. It represents one of the few socio-historical studies of histhought that pays attention to this North African thinker’s historical milieuand life. Regarded by many scholars as a precursor of sociology, Ibn Khaldun(1332-1406) is also known for his contributions to the philosophy of history.His pioneering work, Kitāb al-‘Ibar, is more than just a historical account ofthe Arabs and Berbers. Popularly known as the Universal History, it containsthe important Muqaddimah (Prolegomenon) that details his “science of humansociety” (‘ilm al-ijtimā‘ al-insānī) or “science of human social organization”(‘ilm al-‘umrān al-basharī).This six-chapter book opens with “Ibn Khaldun’s Autobiography and HisCharacter,” which outlines his life and presents other biographies that providethe socio-intellectual context of his thought. The second chapter, “Ibn Khaldun’sScience of Society,” focuses on his founding of the science of humansociety and is followed by “Ibn Khaldun on Education and Knowledge,”which examines his modern educationist views of pedagogy and knowledgein terms of its social, political, and economic aspects. Alatas shows that IbnKhaldun’s perspective on education, as seen through the various lenses of historyand sociology, was refreshingly different from the then dominant perspectivesof philosophers, theologians, moralists, and jurists.The ensuing chapter, “The Reception of Ibn Khaldun,” situates him in theevolution of Islamic thought and contemporary social sciences, whereas thetwo final chapters, “The Significance of Ibn Khaldun for the Modern SocialSciences” and “Further Reading and Works Cited,” encapsulate Alatas’ suggestionsfor developing a Khaldunian sociology and include a list of furtherreadings, alongside discussions on works ranging from Ibn Khaldun’s biographyto critiques of his methodology.In the introductory chapter, which provides the context for the formationof Ibn Khaldun’s thought, readers are better able to appreciate his empiricallyoriented scholarship. Embedded in the politically fragmented Maghrebian society,his political career as a judge and government official required him toshift his political loyalties consistently. This played a determining role in developinghis ideas on how states rise and decline. Alatas highlights Ibn Khaldun’spolitical involvement as instrumental in his systematic uncovering of theflaws in existing historical works. Ibn Khaldun himself identifies seven causal ...

The influence of Abraham Kuyper (1837–1920) on South Africa in the spheres of Church History and Church Polity A short biography of Kuyper is followed by an attempt to qualify him as a typical theologian of the 19th century, as leader of the Doleantie-movement in the Dutch church and as a man of many parts. His personal contact with South Africa is traced, as well as his direct and indirect influence in the South African churches. It is interesting to note that the influence of Kuyper's theology in the Gereformeerde Kerke in Suid-Afrika was largely initiated by JD du Toit while his father, SJ du Toit, introduced Kuyper's theology in the Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk. Subsequently it was mainly the influence of the VU (Bavinck and Rutgers) which prevailed in the abovementioned churches.

This research proceeds from the premise that Okullu was a significant church leader in Kenya. His significance relates to his outspokenness on issues of social justice including the struggle for political liberation from the oppressive one party system and issues of human rights. The purpose of this dissertation is to reconstruct Okullu's Christian political theology through establishing what motivated him and the biblical basis for his socio-political activities. An attempt is made to reconstruct the socio-political environment, which gave birth and necessitated Okullu's prophetic ministry and to investigate the social and spiritual factors, which shaped him. The findings of the research reveal that Okullu spoke out of conviction. His theology of development and participation had its roots in evangelical and ecumenical perspectives emerging between the 1960's and early 1980's. For Okullu the mission of the church was the total liberation (salvation) of the whole person body, soul and spirit. Evangelism and social concern were mutually inclusive. The major sources of his theology were African socialism and the Bible. The ideals of African socialism, which he incorporated in his theology, which are in harmony with biblical principles were: the high value placed on the individual, the principle of equality and the central place of the community in development. He argued for a people-centred holistic development, which took account of the whole human person- body, soul and spirit. For Okullu, the biblical basis upon which Christians should act in a non- Christian society is the prophetic role of the church, founded upon the justice of God as illustrated in the writings of the Old Testament and continued in the concept of the 'kingdom of God' and the concept of 'God as judge in the teachings of Jesus Christ in the New Testament. Although Okullu affirmed the validity of the doctrine of separation in church-state relations, the concept of separation according to him does not fully explain the relationship. The separation is only institutional but at value level the two are bound together in the realm of ethics owing to their common origin in God. It is this integrated whole that gives the church its mandate for involvement in politics. Okullu's significance is demonstrated historically, by the literary out-put containing his socio-political challenges that faced Kenyan society in his time, testimony of others expressed in condolence letters and the views of groups of persons interviewed for this work. Okullu spoke out against injustices. He fought for human rights. His most significant contribution was spearheading the multi-party debate and the repeal of the section of the constitution of Kenya, which had made Kenya a single party system. His prophetic ministry was hammered out in the public arena. He was an Amos of his time.<br>Thesis (M.Th.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.