The Perceived Nature of God in Europe and in Africa
Missiology: An International Review October 1, 2010 DOI: 10.1177/009182961003800404 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that the context-dependence of meaning causes serious loss of content in theological language between the West and Africa, so genuine African theology must be done in African languages. Proposes that examining cultural labels for God and altered states of consciousness, especially in Africa, supports this conclusion. |
Abstract
Context-dependence of meaning resulting in serious loss of content of theological language between the West and Africa, leads to the conclusion that genuine African theology must occur using African languages. To verify this conclusion, this article considers the use of distinct labels for reference to God arising from different “cultures,” followed by a study of altered states of consciousness and their impact on theology, especially in Africa.