Doctoral Degrees (Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology)

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Browsing Doctoral Degrees (Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology) by browse.metadata.advisor "Hansen, Len"

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    “Corruption mocking at justice” : a theological-ethical perspective on public life in Tanzania and its implications for the Anglican Church in Tanzania
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015-12) Sebahene, Alfred uw’Imana; Hansen, Len; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology.
    ENGLISH ABTRACT: In recent years, the world has witnessed a global increased consciousness and attention to the challenges of corruption and injustice and the threats they pose to humanity. In the United Republic of Tanzania, too, such consciousness and attention have intensified as, in terms of corruption, the country currently faces a crisis as never before. This has not only prompted increased efforts by a variety of societal role players seeking solutions to this scourge, but it has also opened up new avenues of inquiry into the harsh realities of corruption and injustice. It is proposed that this also calls for urgent attention to these challenges by churches in general, and the Anglican Church of Tanzania in particular. In light of the above, this study examines the problem of corruption in Tanzania from a theological-ethical perspective. Its proceeds from the view that there exists a dynamic and “indissoluble” link (Kirkpatrick, 2010:41) between corruption and injustice in that it is proposed that curbing corruption correlates with an appropriately robust understanding of what constitutes justice in the Christian sense of the word and the ways in which corruption constitutes injustice and undermines justice. This study builds on the recognition that, while the Anglican Church of Tanzania has grown considerably in terms of its membership, its role in engaging corruption – as an element of public and personal morality – has in some senses been lagging behind. For this reason the study identifies theological-ethical guidelines to inform and add theological content to the discourse on the role of the Anglican Church of Tanzania in the public sphere in general and in the fight against corruption in particular. This study falls primarily within the field of Christian ethics, but on an intradisciplinary level also finds itself within the relatively new field called “public theology”. The study also draws insights from the biblical sciences and, on an interdisciplinary level, on input from secular anthropology, philosophy, political science, sociology, economics, and historical studies. The interdisciplinary engagement in this study already acknowledges that a theological-ethical perspective is not the only perspective on the challenges facing anti-corruption and injustice strategies. However, the study shows that the Anglican Church of Tanzania should contribute to the fight against corruption and injustice. And, being a Christian church, this can be done only in accordance with the gospel of Jesus Christ. To come to the latter conclusion and to give content to it, the study asks and answers the following interrelated questions: What is corruption and in/justice and how does it feature in Tanzanian society? For this a secular conceptual analysis is done as well as a contextual analysis of Tanzanian society in the past and today with regard to corruption. To find an answer to the question of why, from a theological-ethical perspective, corruption is wrong, the focus falls mainly on two elements, first the Christian doctrine of God and, second, on Christian understandings of humanity, or Christian anthropology. When looking at why the church be involved in the public sphere in general and especially with regard to the fight against corruption as injustice, different understandings of the nature of the Christian church is investigated and special attention is given to the views on the nature, role and modes of engagement of the church in the public domain in the view of public theologians past and present. Finally, this study asks to what extent these views of the role of the church in the public domain represents the reality of the life and witness of the Anglican Church of Tanzania. The study ends by exploring possible reasons for the current state of the Church’s involvement in these issues and suggestions as to how this may be stimulated, increased or improved.
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    Revisiting Pentecostal spiritualities with reference to African traditional religious practices and Pentecostal theologies of prayer in Ghana
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2023-03 ) Buertey, Joseph Ignatius Teye; Hansen, Len; Elorm-Donkor, Lord Abraham; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study examines prayer as practiced by Pentecostal churches in Ghana and the fact that new Ghanaian prayer practices are developing as variations of Classical Pentecostal Spirituality. The study focuses on Pentecostal Spirituality and theology of prayer while considering these new developments and situating them within an African Traditional spiritual context. It was established that primal, dualistic and causal ATR worldviews also confront many Africans with ideas of a cosmic struggle. Facing the latter challenge has led to adopting practices similar to, or at least influenced by, ATR practices, especially in neo-prophetic churches. Although admittedly, some Ghanaian Pentecostal spiritualities and practices are discontinuous to or broke with ATR worldviews and practices, it is postulated that some also are not or have not done so, particularly regarding prayer. Defining Pentecostal Spirituality as a praxis of integrated beliefs, practices, sensibilities and values, it was argued that Pentecostal Spirituality, with the Holy Spirit as its fulcrum, is particularly clear in its praxis and experiences of prayer. It was, furthermore, held that Pentecostal Spirituality can never be understood without reference to Pentecostal theology and vice versa, as ‘two sides of the same coin’. As such, both Pentecostal Spirituality and theology are discussed in detail. In evaluating Pentecostal theology of prayer, it is also shown that there may be many possible motives behind (Ghanaian) Pentecostal prayer, including fear, threat, uncertainty, joy, need and spiritual desire. Some of these drivers, however, have resulted in a shift from the more experiential Classical Pentecostal model of prayer to one of demand-driven causality – one that includes an increasing element of ‘glossolalic abuse’ that also needs careful theological attention. The Ghanaian Pentecostal theology of prayer is therefore conceptualised as transactionally Christological, spontaneously ‘glossolalic’, lyrically doxological, and ontologically authoritative. An investigation into the emerging neo-prophetic prayer practices revealed that the African worldview of evil and the proponent’s quest for the ‘magicalisation’ of instant results have led to the assimilated neo-prophetic sacramental and transactional ritual prayer evident at the prayer markets via prayer giants who monetise prayer. Refocusing on a theological examination of Pentecostal prayer practices, it was revealed that although the Pentecostal Spirituality of prayer is intended to attract people to and strengthen believers’ relationship with God, emerging prayer practices are mostly driven by fear and uncertainty, resulting in the pursuit of hierarchical, consequential, solution-centred prayers. In light of the findings, the study proposes a four-fold integrated prayer model (a modification of Horton-Clowney’s model) with the introduction of an African worldview as the fourth motive for prayer, whilst upholding that African Pentecostals do not pray driven by one motive but a combination of motives. Therefore, a contextual Pentecostal practice of prayer is proposed based on an ‘ACTS Model’, that takes into account African traditional praxis, the Christocentric Full Gospel, Transactional Nomenclature, and Spirit-centrality.