Pauline Challenge to African Masculinities: Reading Pauline Texts in the Context of HIV/AIDS

L Togarasei

doi:10.4314/actat.v32i1s.9

Abstract

This article discusses Pauline masculinity in the context of HIV/AIDS. If any success against HIV/AIDS is to be achieved, men need to be constructively involved in this struggle rather than merely being vilified. It is directed towards those who want to live by the ideals set by Paul. The article argues that in many ways Paul challenges dangerous masculinities and that, if his challenge is taken seriously, Christian communities may witness a decline in HIV prevalence. The article focuses specifically on Paul’s teaching on marriage and sex.

Highlights

The discipline of masculinities continues to generate a great deal of interest among scholars (Morrell 2001; Lindsay & Miescher 2003)
In this article I choose to focus on Paul’s teaching on marriage and sex to find out how this teaching can be used to address the challenge of HIV/AIDS
Hegemonic masculinity is not static. It is dynamic as it is affected by cultural changes in society. This can clearly be exemplified in the African context where, prior to the coming of the missionaries and the imperialists, traditional African masculinity was defined by specific behaviour patterns that underwent a major revolution with the coming of Western civilisation

Summary

INTRODUCTION

The discipline of masculinities continues to generate a great deal of interest among scholars (Morrell 2001; Lindsay & Miescher 2003). Some reasonable amount of work has been published on the subject but this is far from sufficient. This is especially so in the sphere of biblical studies. Moore & Anderson 2003; Byron 2006), currently few studies have engaged the Bible in addressing dangerous masculinities in times of HIV/AIDS. Paul addresses masculinities in many different ways, namely in his teaching on marriage, sex, and gender equity, and in his own self-understanding (Togarasei forthcoming). In this article I choose to focus on Paul’s teaching on marriage and sex to find out how this teaching can be used to address the challenge of HIV/AIDS. My argument is directed towards those who want to live by the ideals set by Paul, and they amount to at least 72% of sub-Saharan Africa’s population (www.oikumen.org)

DEFINITION OF MASCULINITY

MARRIAGE

CONCLUSION