Abstract
The notion of ubuntu as a moral theory in the South African and African contexts presents attractive norms of an African worldview that can be articulated and applied to contemporary Christian ethics. The proponents of ubuntu perceive it as an African philosophy based on the maxim, “a person is a person through other persons”, whereby the community prevails over individual considerations. It is not merely an empirical claim that our survival or well-being is causally dependent on others but is in essence capturing a normative account of what we ought to be as human beings. However, ubuntu has shortcomings that make it an impractical notion. Despite its shortcomings, ubuntu has natural ethic potential that enforces and engenders hospitality, neighbourliness, and care for all humanity. This article contributes to further conceptualisation and understanding of the notion of ubuntu and its relationship with hospitality in order to retrieve some principles that can be applied to effective and meaningful pastoral care. The principles drawn from ubuntu are juxtaposed with Christian principles and pastoral care to encourage embodiment of God by pastoral caregivers.
Highlights
Introduction and study frameworkThe notion of ubuntu as a moral theory in the South African and African contexts, presents attractive norms of an African world view that can be Magezi & Khlopa STJ 2021, Vol 7, No 1, 1–32 articulated and applied to contemporary Christian ethics
The proponents of ubuntu perceive it as an African philosophy based on the maxim, “a person is a person through other persons”, whereby the community prevails over individual considerations
Matolino and Kwindwingi (2013:197–200) assert that it is an outdated notion that does not have the capacity to shape the ethics in the current South African context as it is not suited to the social and ethical challenges of the present-day situation, notwithstanding that there is no fault with the ideal of ubuntu itself
Summary
The notion of ubuntu as a moral theory in the South African and African contexts, presents attractive norms of an African world view that can be Magezi & Khlopa STJ 2021, Vol 7, No 1, 1–32 articulated and applied to contemporary Christian ethics. For ubuntu to be considered from a Christian perspective and make a meaningful contribution to pastoral caregiving, Magezi (2017:111) argued that it should shift from a traditional ubuntu based on blood or geographical location to a liminal ubuntu where human beings are bound by Christ’s bond This will arguably enable ubuntu to restore African communal cultural behaviours and optimise its human care potential. The purpose of this article is to further conceptualise and understand the notion of ubuntu as a moral theory It is in this context that the more analytical and critical approaches to the attractive norms of an African worldview will be articulated and applied to contemporary Christian ethics to unravel the deeply embedded moral principles of ubuntu that could be employed for the embodiment of effective pastoral care in Africa. The notion of ubuntu and its undergirding principles are discussed before describing the link with hospitality and drawing some pastoral care principles
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
