Conflict theory in the inculturation of the Gospel in the Nso' of Cameroon
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17570/stj.2018.v4n2.a30Keywords:
conflict theory, critical theory, inculturation, Gospel, Nso’, missionary, culture and ChristianityAbstract
This article defines and describes conflict theory, critical theory and the views of some of their proponents, inculturation, the gospel, and Nso'. The article looks at conflict in Nso' that can be traced back to the fact that the missionaries did not understand certain aspects of Nso’ culture. Consequently, there was some conflict between Christianity and Nso' culture, particularly with ngwerong and ngiri - the core traditional social associations of the Nso' people. The article thus explains the tension that existed in the missionary era and still exists somehow today between Christianity and Nso' culture. In order to elucidate this tension, the author uses two examples: one on the encounter between one of the most dreaded masquerades and a parish priest (an early missionary in Nso' land), and the other on the main traditional social association in Nso' and the first Christians of Nso' origin. Having done that, the author outlines the incompatible activities of the traditional social associations of the Nso' people vis a vis the tenets of Christianity, showing that an understanding of these activities is necessary for the inculturation of the gospel in Nso'. In addition, the article equally shows that an understanding of the complexities and the dynamics involved in the relationship between Christ and culture is also necessary for the inculturation of the gospel. Furthermore, alluding to conflict theory and critical theory and using what he calls "consultative/dialogical"critical approach to cultural transformation, the author suggests how the tension between Christianity and Nso' culture could be curbed.
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2018 Peter Siysi Nyuyki
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
Please note that erroneous copyright information is given in the PDFs before Volume 9, 2023.