Divine Fortitude: A Reflection on the Incarnation of the Black Female Child Soldier

Abstract

Using anthropological research and firsthand accounts of the experiences of female child soldiers in Africa this chapter focuses on the themes of fortitude and hope that enable survival of the child soldier. Fortitude is defined as the intellectual and spiritual strength to persevere even in the midst of seemingly insurmountable odds. The author considers the imago dei, or the image of God in the female child soldier as the foundation of the argument for the notion of divine fortitude as a means of resistance. She draws upon Womanist theology to examine the doctrine of the incarnation as God, en sark, in the flesh. African religion informs her claim for the necessity for courage, sassiness, and smartness in girls to dismantle injustice, patriarchy, and social devaluation. Parker advocates for an intersectional approach for ecclesial leaders, policy makers and human rights organizations, particularly engaging interreligious dialogue, for the flourishing of women and girls.