Abstract

There is always empire and anti-empire in societies. An analytical lens needs to see both together to provide a better understanding of human society. This is particularly important when it comes to issues of religion which resides in some form in both empire and anti-empire. This presentation will unpack five points. Firstly it will present a brief historiography of the existence of empire and anti-empire mainly but not exclusively as it relates to Christianity. Secondly it will provide the main parameters of a social analysis of the nature of empire and anti-empire. Thirdly it will articulate the specific role of religion (again mainly Christianity) in the societies of empire and anti-empire. Fourthly it will apply these findings to the specific context of Africa (mainly South Africa) indicating two signs of empire and anti-empire in our past and present context. Finally it will provide some goals for Mission in 21 st century Africa which go beyond the empire/anti-empire paradigm. These are based on a vision of transformational authority centred in the paschal mystery.

Highlights

  • Empire, Anti-Empire and Religion: Articulating Analytical Lens of FaithThere has been a considerable amount of recent literature on the relationship between empire and religion based on the premises that empires use religion to achieve their goal of domination and growth and religions use empire to perpetuate their own growth and hegemony (Carey, H. 2008; Rieger 2007; Horsley 2003)

  • I want to propose that the empire/anti-empire paradigm needs to be overcome to create a Missiology for 21st century Africa

  • The paradigm within which such a missiology should be constructed is that of transformational authority in the sense we have argued for

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Summary

Summary

An analytical lens needs to see both together to provide a better understanding of human society This is important when it comes to issues of religion which resides in some form in both empire and anti-empire. It will provide the main parameters of a social analysis of the nature of empire and anti-empire. It will apply these findings to the specific context of Africa (mainly South Africa) indicating two signs of empire and anti-empire in our past and present context It will provide some goals for Mission in 21st century Africa which go beyond the empire/anti-empire paradigm. Keywords and Phrases African Christian Mission; Globalisation; Religion and Society; Theology of Empire; Theology of Antiempire; Theology of Authority; Development; Spirituality; Conversion

Introduction
A Dialectic of Control
Conclusion
32 See Carrier 1988
Full Text
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