Abstract

What is development? Who defines that one community/ country is “developed”, while another community/ country is “under-developed”? What is the relationship between religion and development? Does religion contribute to development or underdevelopment in Africa? These and related questions elicit quite charged reactions in African studies, development studies, political science and related fields. Africa’s own history, including the memory of marginalisation, slavery and exploitation by global powers ensures that virtually every discussion on development is characterised by a lot of emotions and conflicting views. In this volume scholars from various African countries and many different religions and denominations contribute to this debate. The editors and authors E. CHITANDO (Zimbabwe), M. R. GUNDA (Zimbabwe/ Germany), L. TOGARASEI (Botswana), J. KUGLER (Germany), A. O. ATIEMO (Ghana), S. AWUAH-NYAMEKYE (Ghana), S. K. BERMAN (Botswana), T. A. CHIMUKA (Lesotho), C. J. CHITA (Zambia), M. W. DUBE (Botswana), J. GATHOGO (Kenya), I. S. GUSHA (Zimbabwe), M. HARON (Botswana/ South Africa), S. F. JOHN (South Africa), C. J. KAUNDA (Zambia), M. M. KAUNDA (South Africa), S. M. KILONZO (Kenya), U. M. KIRIAGHE (Uganda), F. MACHINGURA (Zimbabwe), L. P. MASEKO (South Africa), L. MASENO (Kenya), P. MUNHENZVA (Zimbabwe), E. P. MOTSWAPONG (Botswana), N. MWALE (Zambia), C. MWANDAYI (Zimbabwe), H. J. NDZOVU (Kenya), B. NYAHUMA (Zimbabwe/ Germany), S. NYAWO (Swaziland), A. D. OMONA (Uganda), L. C. SIWILA (South Africa), B. TARINGA (Zimbabwe), N. T. TARINGA (Zimbabwe).

Highlights

  • Religion and Development in AfricaEzra Chitando, Masiiwa R

  • We find many of these ideas appealing at the level of ideology and political correctness, but, as indicated above, we remain wary of the subtle suggestion that there is a sense in which Africans are “differently human.”

  • We are hopeful that this volume extends reflections on religion and development by African scholars and avails further data on this key theme

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Summary

Introduction

Religion and Development in AfricaEzra Chitando, Masiiwa R. Africa’s own history, including the memory of marginalisation, slavery and exploitation by global powers ensures that virtually every discussion on development is characterised by a lot of emotions and conflicting views This is because the majority of the citizens of Africa continue to struggle to access the basics in life. The phrase liberating the word originating among biblical feminists, suggests two issues; first, it points to the inherent limitations of biblical scriptures (Russell 1985:137-146; Schüssler Fiorenza 1995:1-14) It places an ethical call on the reader/interpreter to take responsibility for liberating the word. All the three major religions observed in sub-Saharan Africa (African indigenous religions, Islam and Christianity), have historically been linked with development and provision of humanitarian services. In the world view of African indigenous religions, development is observed by emphasizing the establishment of a harmonious relationship between the human and the spiritual (ancestors, spirits, deities and God(s)) realms (Awuah-Nyamekye 2012). The World Conservation Strategy had called for a new ethic qualified as follows: the behaviour of entire societies towards the biosphere must be transformed if the achievement of conservation objectives is to be assured

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