Full Text Available
Note: Clicking the button above will open the full text document at the original institutional repository in a new window.
Conflict between African theology and Christian religiosity: a pastoral challenge
Dissertation--University of Pretoria, 2025.
Saved in:
| Other Authors: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of Pretoria
2025
|
| Subjects: | |
| Tags: |
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1867613463118872576 |
|---|---|
| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Masango, Maake J.S |
| author_browse | Masango, Maake J.S |
| author_facet | Masango, Maake J.S |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | © 2024 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. |
| description | Dissertation--University of Pretoria, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/107228 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:36:32.683Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | University of Pretoria |
| publisherStr | University of Pretoria |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| spelling | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/107228 Conflict between African theology and Christian religiosity: a pastoral challenge Masango, Maake J.S bonangchopho68@gmail.com Mtshobane, Mangaliso Chopho, Bonang African Theology Christian Religiosity Conlict Pastoral Challange Dissertation--University of Pretoria, 2025. This study investigates The Conflict between African Theology and Christian Religiosity: A Pastoral Challenge, focusing on the theological, cultural, and pastoral tensions arising from the intersection of African Traditional Religion (ATR) and Christianity, particularly within the South African context. While Christianity was introduced through colonial missionary efforts, many African communities have retained aspects of their indigenous spirituality. This has led to a complex interplay between the two systems, often resulting in internal conflict, divided religious identities, and pastorally challenging their lifestyle. Using a qualitative research approach as a way of interrogating pastoral elements for caring. The study is grounded in Pollard’s (1997) Positive Deconstruction model and Gerkin’s (1997) Shepherding Theory as frameworks for pastoral care. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with religious leaders and community members to explore how the blending or rejection of African and Christian spiritualties affects worship, identity, and ministry. The study employs an interpretivist paradigm and grounded theory to uncover emerging themes related to worship practices, theological education, and cultural rituals. Findings 6 indicate that a core source of tension lies in the contrasting cosmologies of ATR and Christianity. While ATR promotes ancestral veneration, communal rituals, and Ubuntu, many Christian doctrines regard these as incompatible with biblical teachings. This leads to spiritual confusion, cultural alienation, and inadequate pastoral responses. In response, the study proposes a five-pillar reconciliation framework: (1) affirming the value of African spiritual traditions, (2) reinterpreting theology through an African lens, (3) enhancing culturally sensitive pastoral care, (4) promoting dialogue between Christian and ATR leaders, and (5) incorporating African spirituality into theological education. Ultimately, the research advocates for a contextual theology that bridges African and Christian spirituality without compromising core beliefs. It calls on churches and pastoral leaders to embrace cultural hybridity, foster respectful dialogue, and promote holistic care for believers navigating dual spiritual identities. The study offers both theoretical and practical tools for addressing one of the most persistent challenges in African pastoral theology. University of Pretoria PG Bursary Practical Theology MTh ( Practical theology ) Unrestricted Faculty of Theology and Religion SDG-10: Reduces inequalities 2025-12-12T07:34:17Z 2025-12-12T07:34:17Z 2026-04 2025-06-11 Dissertation * April ( A2026) http://hdl.handle.net/2263/107228 UPresearchdata.05096848 en © 2024 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria |
| spellingShingle | African Theology Christian Religiosity Conlict Pastoral Challange Conflict between African theology and Christian religiosity: a pastoral challenge |
| title | Conflict between African theology and Christian religiosity: a pastoral challenge |
| title_full | Conflict between African theology and Christian religiosity: a pastoral challenge |
| title_fullStr | Conflict between African theology and Christian religiosity: a pastoral challenge |
| title_full_unstemmed | Conflict between African theology and Christian religiosity: a pastoral challenge |
| title_short | Conflict between African theology and Christian religiosity: a pastoral challenge |
| title_sort | conflict between african theology and christian religiosity a pastoral challenge |
| topic | African Theology Christian Religiosity Conlict Pastoral Challange |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/107228 |