Christian Theology and African Traditions

A useful contribution to the engagement between Christian theology and non-Western cultures, bringing the traditional themes of theological discourse into meaningful dialogue with the traditions of Africa.

In this compelling work the evangelical theologian Matthew Michael sets out to reveal the unique nature of African Christianity and understand Christian theology in the context of the African worldview and traditions which have given African Christianityits unique religious stamp. Michael addresses the crucial obligation of Christianity to engage with African culture as a prerequisite to transforming African theology. He points out that a major flaw of Western missionary Christianisation was its failureto engage with African traditions, as a meaningful and vigorous Christianity cannot flourish within the African context without serious engagement with these traditions. Michael re-interprets traditional Christian doctrine, with careful consideration of Scripture, to best engage modern African understanding. His exploration of African Christianity goes beyond the classical Western experience and interpretations of Christian dogmas found in the works of Augustine, Aquinas, and Western missionaries, and reclaims the rich and ancient heritage of Christianity in Africa, a heritage so venerable and pervasive that it is as much African as Western. This thought-provoking work reveals Michael’s maturing theological reflections upon the crucial subject of Christian Systematic Theology in the African context, and will be of great interest to any individual interested in the dynamic field of African theology.

• By (author) Matthew Michael

"A well researched contribution to the necessary interaction that must take place between Christian doctrine and African traditions ... A masterpiece in the sense that it sets a pace for the objective religious engagement in a pluralistic religious continent. It is therefore, recommended for students of Christian studies, comparative studies, African studies, and general public readers."-Richard Adetunbi Ogunleye, Reviews in Religion & Theology, Volume 21, issue 3, July 2014"Michael alternates between summarising historical approaches to a wide array of theological topics and exploring African traditions... The diversity of the theological topics that Michael considers in this book offers an implicit rebuke to the too-seductive idea that all African theology can be boiled down to a position on homosexuality. Michael helpfully reminds us that there is much more to consider as we respond to God's love in our lives."-The Revd Jesse Zink, Church Times July 2014"Dr Michael succeeds in keeping a steady focus on both imminent contextual realities in Africa and also transcendental biblical truth [...] I would recommend this book to anyone engaging in ministry with Africans, either on the continent or within the diaspora [...] this book will also prove beneficial to those who listen to, engage with, and learn from other cultural perspectives on systematic theological issues."-Rohintan Mody, Churchman, Vol 128, Issue 3, (2014)"The result is a systematic theology that will engage and stimulate African readers. Western theologians will hear in Christian Theology and African Perspective a clear and articulate voice of mainstream African Christian thinking."-Todd Statham, in "Expository Times", vol. 126, issue 5, February 2015."...a valuable contribution with its study of the relationship between systematic theology and African traditions ... Michael's extensive footnotes show his familiarity with a wide range of theological works. This, coupled with his knowledge of African tradition, provides a fascinating perspective on systematic theology. Readers will gain both deeper understanding of the challenges of communicating theology to the African world and new insights into Christian theology when viewed through an African lens. ... The book will be particularly useful to missiology students and to theology students at the seminary level who wish to engage with traditions beyond the western perspective."-Randall McElwain, Theological Book Review, volume 26, no 1, 2014"The book throughout gives evidence of a lively, bold, and expansive mind at work, based on wide reading in the literature, with a fulsome apparatus of notes and bibliography deployed."-BookNotes for Africa, 2015"I was immensely impressed by this book. Evangelical Christianity is a major force in Africa, and it needs theologians of the erudition and insight of Dr Michael to temper the narrow and aggressive articulations with which evangelicalism is sometimes associated."-Kevin Ward, Modern Believing, Vol. 57 No. 4
—