2007/2008 COURSE CATALOGUE

NAIROBI, KENYA

Course: MARY AFST 544: Towards the Inculturation of Religious Community Life in Africa

Course Overview:
Course explores topics relevant to the inculturation of religious life in Africa. It examines the dynamics of inculturation from the 'bottom up'... i.e., the experience of women and men religious themselves in defining the evolving expression of their lives as Africans.

Basic elements of course

1) Importance of bringing to consciousness areas of lived conflict of values to free persons so that they themselves might choose to define evolving expression of faith.

2) Consider what may be inhibiting factors in the lives of women and men religious in the inculturation of religious life.

3) Implications of cultural context for the expression of religious life, including:

- socialization of members (religious formation/initiation)
- perception of the role of women and men
- models of social relationships in community
- role / place of the chief (superior) in group decision-making
- causes and expression of social conflict
- resolution of conflict within social group
- relationship with families
- among women, the relationship between their sense of close mutual solidarity and the attractiveness of religious community impact on the expression of 'common life'
- creative ritualizing... powerful language to be developed
- significance of details, such as dress, titles and markings of status

4) Identify where there are gaps between rhetoric and observed practice which point to areas of possible growth.

5) Different problems and challenges of inculturation of religious life as experienced in international congregations, in diocesan congregations...

Zaire, the place of the lecturer's research, will be a major reference point, with some consideration of the historical factors that have fostered the 'Africanisation' of religious life there. Also some reference will be made to Nigeria for a comparative frame of reference. However, the field research will focus on the religious communities in the Nairobi area. The participants will be encouraged to draw on their own experience and stimulated to reflect on their own specific, cultural context.

Course Organization

Week I

1) Introduction to material and methodology
    - Brief overview of 'inculturation from the bottom up'
    - 'Culture-shock' factor
2) Local models of social relationships as impacting community life and organization
3) Role of chief (i.e., superior) in social group, particularly as seen in group decision-making

Week II

1) Causes and expression of social conflict -- Coping with social conflict (resolution)
2) Expression of "common life"
3) Dynamics of inculturation from "bottom up"
4) Reflection: inculturation as incarnation...Paschal Mystery

Week III

1) Socialization and incorporation of newer members
2) Celibacy and the 'metaphor of maternity'
3) Rites of religious profession: pedagogy of religious life
4) Inculturation - living into the experience of the incarnation
5) Particular problems and challenges put to men and women religious
6) Wrap-up... emerging orientations towards the articulation of an African spirituality of religious life

CORE BOOKS (REQUIRED READING)

Arbuckle, Gerald. (1991). Earthing the Gospel. New York: Orbis. 

Schreiter, Robert J. (1985).Constructing Local Theologies. New York: Orbis Books. 

Shorter, Aylward. (1998). Celibacy and African Culture. Nairobi: Paulines Publications - Africa. 

Uzukwu, Elochukwu E. (1996). A Listening Church: Autonomy and Communion in African Churches. New York: Orbis. 

Waliggo, J. et al. (1986). Inculturation: Its Meaning and Urgency. Nairobi: St. Paul Publications - Africa. 

SELECTED BOOKS (RECOMMENDED)

Azevedo, Marcello de Carvalho. (1982). Inculturation and the Challenges of Modernity. Series 'Inculturation: Working Papers on Living Faith and Cultures', No. I. Centre Cultures and Religions, Gregorian University, Rome.  [Also in Walliggo. 1986. Inculturation...]

Bosch, David J. (1992). Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission. New York: Orbis Books. 

Bujo, Benezet. (1992). African Theology. Nairobi: St. Paul Publications - Africa. 

Burke, Joan F. (1988). 'Dossier: inculturation de la vie religieuse chez les Soeurs de Notre-Dame de Namur au Zaire.' Internal study for the Zaire Province of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.

________. (1990). Becoming an 'inside-outsider'. Journal of the Anthropological Society of Oxford XX, no. 3:219-27.

________. (1991). 'The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in Lower Zaire, a social and historical study.' D.Phil thesis (Social anthropology). University of Oxford. 

_______ . (1992a). 'A post-missionary situation: Zairean Catholic Sisters defining themselves' in Anthropology and Missionaries, edited by W. Pickering. Special issue of the Journal of the Anthropological Society of Oxford XXIII, no. 2:157-68. 

_______. (1992 b). 'These Catholic Sisters are all Mamas!' in Women and missions: Past and present, edited by F. Bowie, D. Kirkwood and S. Ardener. Oxford: Berg. 

_______. (1992 c). 'French: no one's language, therefore everyone's language' in Bilingual Women: anthropological approaches to second language use, edited by P. Burton, Ketaki Kushari Dyson and S. Ardener. Oxford: Berg. 

Campbell-Jones, Suzanne. (1979). In habit: An anthropological study of working nuns. London: Faber and Faber. 

Crollius, Ary A. Roest. (1984). What is so New About Inculturation? Series 'Inculturation: Working Papers on Living Faith and Cultures', No. V. Centre Cultures and Religions, Gregorian University, Rome.  [Also in Walliggo. 1986. Inculturation...]

Matungulu-Otene. (1979).Célibat Consacré pour une Afrique Assoiffée de Fécondite. Kinshasa, Zaire: Editions St-Paul, Afrique. 

_______. (1986). To Be with Christ Chaste, Poor and Obedient: an Essay in a Bantu Spirituality of the Vows. Nairobi: St. Paul Publications - Africa. 

_______.  (1982). Etre avec Pour Vivre Vrai: Essai d'une Spiritualite Bantu. Lubumbashi, Zaire: Editions St-Paul, Afrique. 

Mugambi, J.N.K., and Laurenti Magesa. (Eds.). (1989). Jesus in African Christianity: Experimentation and Diversity in African Christology. Nairobi: Initiatives Publishers. 

_______. (1990). Church in African Christianity: Innovative essays in Ecclesiology. Nairobi: Initiatives Publishers. 

Mutiso-Mbinda, John. (1986). 'Challenge to the African Local Church in (*) Nkéramihigo, Theoneste. 1984. Inculturation and the Specificity of Christian Faith. Series 'Inculturation: Working Papers on Living Faith and Cultures', no. V. Centre Cultures and Religions, Gregorian University, Rome.  [also in Waliggo: ch. 4]

Sanneh, Lamin. (1990).Translating the Message: The Missionary Impact on Culture. American Society of Missiology Series, No. 13. New York: Orbis Books. 

Schineller, Peter.  (1991). Inculturation: a Handbook. New York: Paulist Press. 

Vata-Diambanza. (1991). La Communauté, Lieu de l'Accueil Mutuel: Vivre en Communautes Missionnaires Internationales. Kinshasa, Zaire: St-Paul Editions, Afrique. 

Zahan, Dominique. (1979). The Religion, Spirituality and Thought of Traditional Africa. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 

Bediako, Kwame.  (1995). Christianity in Africa: The Renewal of a Non-Western Religion. New York: Orbis Books.

Bellagamba, Anthony. (1992). Mission and Ministry in a Global Church. New York: Orbis Books. 

Hillman, Eugene. (1993). Toward an African Christianity: Inculturation Applied. New York: Paulist Press. 

Magesa, Laurenti. (1997). African Religion: The Moral Traditions of Abundant Life. New York: Orbis Books. 

Martey, Emmanuel. (1979). African Theology: Inculturation and Liberation. New York: Orbis Books.

Okure, Teresa .  (1990). 'Inculturation: Biblical and Theological Bases.' In Inculturation of Christianity in Africa. Spearhead 50-88. Spearhead 112-114 Eldoret, Kenya: Amecea Gaba Publications.

Parratt, John. (1995). Reinventing Christianity: African Theology Today. Cambridge: Eerdmans Press. 

Schineller, Peter.  (1992). Inculturation and the Issue of Syncretism: What is the real issue. In Ukkpong, Justin  et al.., (Eds.), Evangelization in Africa in the third Millennium: Challenges and Prospects, pp.52-59. Proceedings of the First Theology week of the Catholic Institute of West Africa, Port Harcourt, May 6-11, 1990. Port Harcourt: CIWA Press.

Shorter, Aylward. (1988). Toward a Theology of Inculturation. New York: Orbis Books.

Uzukwu, Elochukwu E. (1996). A Listening Church: Autonomy and Communion in African Churches. New York: Orbis Book.