African Theological Journal for Church and Society

Christian “Dual Citizenship” and Civic Duty

Kevin Muriithi Ndereba — 2024-11-21

Christianity and Democracy in Nigeria

Hassan Musa — 2024-11-21

The history of Nigeria’s democracy has been an interesting and challenging one. It has been a very good move for Nigeria as a nation to embrace democratic form of government almost against military dictatorship. This has in many ways opened the country to more critical and viable engagements with local and international partners and kept it open to viable democratic exposure. This essay is an attempt to rethink the practical implication of democracy in Nigeria over and against any vested interest. It has been our suspicion that democracy has not taken hold in Nigeria let alone the entire African contexts. This could be discussed largely because of the ongoing struggles and contestations across ethnocentric, religiocentric and sociocentric boundaries that in many practical ways seek to exclude than to work for viable inclusive democracy for the good of all. It is our proposal that religion, like Christianity, in our perspective has a very vital role to play in providing constructive and inclusive democracy in Nigeria. This argument will be done mainly from a theological perspective although in some possible dialogue with other disciplines like sociology, political theory and history to say the least. The role of Christianity in providing us with principles of life that will serve as good and useful foundations for establishing and maintaining good democracy will be critically explored. This will not in the end lead to an excluded middle but in a sense will also highlight some responsibilities of even non-Christian citizens towards building an inclusive democracy for the good of all. This does not intend to provide a lasting solution for the democratic flaws of our country but rather to present a clarion call that will hopefully arose the conscience of the country in one way or another to the onerous responsibility that we all have towards constructing and maintaining a viable democracy that will not just be a tool in the hands of the majority only to feed their vested interest against the minority.

The Nexus of Politics, Religion, and Violent Extremism

John Peter Bwire — 2024-11-21

This study explores the impact of politico-religious extremist armed militia groups in Africa. Armed groups in Africa have caused destruction of both life and property, resulting in underdevelopment and making it difficult to engage in profitable and meaningful development and peace due to conflict. All regions in Africa have been affected by these armed groups; Al-Shabaab in East Africa, armed conflicts in Sudan, Uganda’s Joseph Kony in Central Africa, Boko Haram in West Africa, and ISIS in North Africa, among others, are both religiously and politically connected. These groups, driven by their ideologies of conflict and deep theological conceptions of a hermeneutical nature, claim either to fight for God or against those opposed to their ideologies. They assert that they have been excluded from democratic political processes or religious participation, leading to leadership struggles where a minority, or majority, group seems to be sidelined in political governance or religious recognition. Politico-religious conflicts have left behind destruction, including murder, loss of property, underdevelopment, insecurity, and food scarcity, among others.

The Nexus Of Politics, Religion, and Violent Extremism in Malawi

JONES HAMBURU MAWERENGA — 2024-11-21

This article explores the intersection of politics, religion, and violent extremism in Malawi. The aim is to interrogate the influence of politics and religion on violent extremism in Malawi from 1891 to 2003. The study employs qualitative research methods, specifically historiography. It argues that the conflation of politics and religion serves as a linchpin and justification for violent extremism, subsequently impacting the security, stability, and peacebuilding efforts in Malawi. Violent religio-political extremism in Malawi condones, and enacts violence with ideological or deliberate intent, based on two main factors: religion and politics. This extremism is characterized by attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors that reflect the extreme end of the political, religious, or ideological spectrum, thereby threatening the safety and security of the country. The article draws attention to the urgent need to address violent extremism in African communities by fostering peacebuilding, safety, and security.

A Contention for the Separation of Church and State in Kenya

Samuel Mwangi — 2024-11-21

The separation of church and state in Kenya has always been a polarizing issue due to its contentious nature. A significant problem, often overlooked in research, is the misunderstanding of the wording in the 2010 Constitution and the interpretation of High Court judgments concerning the separation issue. The interactions between political processes and the church in Kenya exacerbate this problem. If researchers fail to address the separation issue, Kenya may face similar challenges to those seen in the Western world. On one hand, if separation is not understood as a division of institutional jurisdictions rather than an extreme separatist view, the expression of religious beliefs could be severely restricted. Furthermore, without institutional separation, the church is likely to lose its moral authority and voice, especially if it becomes too closely aligned with the state. Lastly, without separation, the state may end up dictating religious expression if it assumes control over religious directions within the country. This study employed a qualitative research methodology through a literature review to understand the necessity of the separation of church and state. The literature review included an examination of the wording in both the revised 2008 and the 2010 Constitutions concerning relevant sections. Additionally, scholarly works discussing the involvement of the Kenyan church in the political process, Protestant Reformation views on separation, and the separation of politics and the state were reviewed. This paper aims to demonstrate that there should be a separation of church and state, provided it does not imply a separation of state and politics.

The Role of the Church in Political Reform

Yimenu Adimass Belay — 2024-11-21

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church has a profound historical connection with the state, which facilitated the development of Ethiopian education, judicial systems, medical practices, and literature within its context. It was impossible to separate the Ethiopian church from the Ethiopian state until the fall of Emperor Haile Selassie in 1974. The two entities were united from 325 AD to 1974 due to the widespread adoption of Christianity, with the kings being the main actors. However, since 1974, the government has been secular, and there is now a clear division between church and state, even though the relationship between state law and religion is not widely addressed in the Ethiopian context. This paper explores the impact of religious law on Ethiopian state law during the Middle Ages and its influence on Ethiopian identity. It also discusses the adoption of modern codified state law and the development of the current constitution in 1995. Although the Ethiopian use of religious laws in the public domain has inadequacies, the Fetha Nagast (Ethiopian king’s law) has contributed to the modern codified law of the state by acknowledging religious plurality and cultural diversity. The Fetha Nagast, as the law of religion and the state, held a significant place in Ethiopian history until 1974, making no distinction between church and state. This paper posits that, despite the replacement of religious laws with modern codified state laws aimed at unifying the Ethiopian population, insufficient consideration of Ethiopia’s religious contexts persists. Therefore, the church’s involvement in political reform is essential for developing a legal framework that transcends the ethnic ideology of the current situation and considers the religious history and context of Ethiopia. The positive influence of presenting the country’s laws from a Christian perspective is often overlooked due to the current constitution's Article 11:3, which states that the state and religion shall not interfere with each other. While the current constitution is inclusive and progressive, the ethnic-based ideological codification has left Ethiopia a fractured nation-state. Therefore, the church's role in political reform is crucial in the current Ethiopian context.

The Interface Between the Christian Concept of the Common Good, the African Concept of Ubuntu, and Politics

PAUL ABUDULAI YELINJE — 2024-11-21

The subject of Christianity and politics has generated numerous debates with varying scholarly strands. This centuries-long contention has resulted in three main perspectives on how Christians should engage in politics. One viewpoint advocates total involvement of Christians in politics (the involvement view), another supports a complete separation between Christianity and politics (the separation view), and the third promotes transformation (the transformation view). This work does not cover these main strands, as the paper aims to avoid entering into existing controversies. Instead, this paper explores the intricate interplay between the Christian concept of the Common Good, the African philosophy of Ubuntu, and their intersection within the realm of politics. Both concepts emphasize communal well-being, social harmony, and ethical responsibility towards others. The Christian understanding of the common good highlights the importance of promoting justice, solidarity, stewardship, and the well-being of all members of society. Ubuntu, deeply rooted in African tradition, stresses interconnectedness, compassion, and the intrinsic value of every individual within the community. This paper delves into how these philosophical frameworks converge and diverge in their approaches to addressing societal challenges and shaping political discourse. It examines how Christian teachings on love, justice, and service can inform political decision-making and policy formulation to advance the common good. Likewise, it explores how Ubuntu's emphasis on empathy, inclusivity, and human dignity can influence governance structures and foster a sense of shared humanity in political processes.

By analyzing the compatibility and tensions between these ideologies within political contexts, this paper sheds light on how combining Christian principles and Ubuntu philosophy can contribute to more ethical, inclusive, and people-centered governance practices. Ultimately, this exploration seeks to inspire dialogue and reflection on how diverse cultural and religious perspectives can enrich political theory and practice, towards building more just and compassionate societies. The paper advances four points to enhance a holistic integration of these concepts to mitigate tensions between religion and African politics. Although the context of this paper is Ghana, the author views it as applicable across Africa and the globe, primarily within jurisdictions experiencing conflict regarding Christian involvement in politics.

Religion and Politics in the Public Square

NetACT Staff — 2024-11-21

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