Papers by matthew nwafor
International Journal of Sociology and Anthropology
Mgbakoigba: Journal of African Studies, 2016
In the recent time, African Christian scholars have been singing like a hymn, the need to incultu... more In the recent time, African Christian scholars have been singing like a hymn, the need to inculturate Christian religion in Africa. According to them, the Christian religion that the Western missionaries brought to Africa was packaged in the “garb” of Western culture and values. This situation in their view, has led to an inauthentic Christian life and syncretism among African Christians. The simple reason is because Christian religion like the Word made flesh has not been incarnated into African way of life. Instead of this very essential approach to evangelization, Christian missionaries of the West saw most of what Africans treasured and valued in their culture as devilish and demons to be cast out. However, following the emphasis on Mission as Dialogue with Culture which many Christian teachers and scholars have advocated, this paper investigates the possibility of being truly African and truly Christian and postulates that what would bring authentic Christian practice and good ...
Journal of Asian Research
In a world that desperately needs peace more than ever, the principle of Satyagraha becomes not o... more In a world that desperately needs peace more than ever, the principle of Satyagraha becomes not only important, but essential to achieve true and lasting peace. True peace, which is perfect, according to Thomas Aquinas, “cannot be achieved except where the appetite is directed to what is truly good”. This is the goal of humanity; however, this goal is elusive when justice is separated from peace. It is harmful when truth is sidelined in the pursuit of peace and even worse, when love is not made central in this goal. One philosophy of peacebuilding that reverses this anomaly is found embedded in Satyagraha. This paper aims to appraise and analyze this practical philosophy as the unfailing principle of peacemaking and peacebuilding.
Arts & Humanities Open Access Journal
In the Faculties of Arts and Humanities of universities, the two departments that have always fou... more In the Faculties of Arts and Humanities of universities, the two departments that have always found a "natural" connection which often has been proven hard to place apart from each other are the departments of religion and philosophy. Where there is a department of theology, the latest also finds itself a sister discipline to these other two. The reason is that all the three sciences usually come across in different ways in its separate field, the quest and search for the knowledge of the Ultimate Being or Reality. Though theology specifically emphasizes the use of faith as its important instrument for this study, it recognizes without any contradiction that its tool (faith) is never against the tools of the other two related disciplines-philosophy and its use of pure reason; and religion with its use of reason and other available approaches. Faith itself is never irrational or non-rational. It "presupposes natural knowledge." What is spectacularly different about it is that it involves but also goes beyond reason and rationality. This is not problematic as some scholars erroneously view it. If the subject matter of theology which philosophy and religion also study is viewed as transcendental and absolute by many scholars, it follows that the best valid and coherent way to establish its existence since it cannot be logically denied without running into vicious circle or infinite regress to the abhorrence and detest of the nature of reason itself, is the measure taken by faith. One only accepts what is beyond oneself. A non-absolute limited being cannot comprehend in totality the nature of an absolute non-limited being.
A comparison of Western individualism and African communalism in relation to human formation
The debate on the relationship between religion and morality is on the increase. With the wreakin... more The debate on the relationship between religion and morality is on the increase. With the wreaking of so many havocs in the name of religion today, there is a much wider belief that religion has no intrinsic or necessary connection with morality. What this implies is that the act of doing good is not necessarily linked or connected to religion such that those who do not believe in God or profess any religion can on their own perform good actions that can aid world’s peace. The nagging question is to discover how one who has no reference to a Supreme Being or Reality in his actions can live well for the good of the society. This paper defends that atheism is the bane of the crises and restiveness in our contemporary society but maintains that there are more interpretations to the meaning of this concept than mere disbelief in God. It holds that it is only when a proper analysis and hermeneutics are done on the concept of atheism as it sets out to do that we can fittingly endorse this position.
The description of the nature of God as one by scholars in the recent time has gained more laudab... more The description of the nature of God as one by scholars in the recent time has gained more laudable significance than it was in the past. Owing to this, religions which are labeled monotheistic earn more regard than those which are designated as polytheistic. Christianity, Islam and Judaism are often grouped among the former while African Traditional Religion is more often than not, without a proper examination, placed in the latter. This hasty conclusion poses a big problem for any scholar who wishes to know the true nature of African Traditional Religion which is rooted in God. The reason often given for this faux pas is that African Traditional Religion has an exceptional regard for the deities and the living-dead (the ancestors) who are the category of beings it equates with the Supreme Being. What this implies is a total denial of the Supreme Being in this religion. This research therefore aims at making a comparative study between one of the popularly acclaimed monotheistic religions (Christianity) and African Traditional Religion. It will do this by using analysis and library data collection to show the differences and similarities between these two religions. It will expose the various findings on Christianity especially its biggest group- the Catholic Church where there is a strong belief in the cult of the saints and the ministry of the angels. These two groups of beings in Christianity represent to a great extent; the deities and the ancestors in African Traditional Religion. They are venerated and even accorded some kind of worship yet Christian God has never been described as possessing a polytheistic nature. For this reason, our study maintains that since most of what attracted the concept of polytheism in African Traditional Religion are paralleled in Christianity without the latter losing its monotheistic nature, it follows then that God in African Traditional Religion can as well be designated as monotheistic. The work therefore recommends that an unbiased study be carried out on what constitutes the true nature of God in African Traditional Religion. The custodians of this religion who stand as their own theologians should be engaged in a sincere dialogue for this enterprise.
Below is the cliché among many an Igbo person especially elderly one when describing impossibilit... more Below is the cliché among many an Igbo person especially elderly one when describing impossibilities as stronger than difficulties: “Nani ihe amaghi ka aga-eme ya bu onwu”- translated as: the only thing one has no solution to, is death. By this statement in the face of unavoidable difficulties to an Igbo person, two things are implied:
(i) That death is a problem (ii) That death is inevitable. However, the problematic and inevitable nature of death does not leave death in Igbo worldview, a totally abominable phenomenon especially when the death weighed in their balance, is a good one. The reason is that death is also a pathway to “eternity” which denotes a situation in Igbo eschatology. Our work makes an analytical cum hermeneutical probe into the idea of death among the Igbo tribe of Nigeria.
Drafts by matthew nwafor
In recent days in the study of psychology, religion has assumed a very important position. What u... more In recent days in the study of psychology, religion has assumed a very important position. What used to be a common view among many psychologists and indeed many scholars that religion and its concepts are illusions have become an old story. We hear psychologists like Fromm and Allport refuting the atheistic position of their other colleagues like Freud and Ellis who described religion as an illusion or pathology. Instead of toeing such extreme line of thought, both chose the pathway of in medio stat that saves scholars from contemptible errors. Zinnbauer and Pargament (2005) note that while Fromm distinguished religion as authoritarian and as humanistic, Allport contrasted intrinsic religion from extrinsic religion. In religion as authoritarian, " people demean themselves in relation to a greater power " while in religion as humanistic, " God represents and empowers individuals' strength and self-realization " (p.24). For Allport, " the believer " lives " his or her religion and views faith as an ultimate value in itself " , while " the extrinsic believer " uses " religion in a strictly utilitarian sense to gain safe, social standing, or other secular or antireligious goals " (p.24). This middle position that attaches some relevance to religion against the quick massacre of its significance makes more sense when we consider that today, with the trend of interdisciplinary study in the academic " world " ; many psychologists apply the tools of religion, its practices and principles in their therapy. We hear many psychologists emphasize the power of forgiveness, love and even of the inner force which is equivalent to the religious notion of grace in handling some of the cases of their clients. The concern of the psychologist of religion is pragmatic dimension of religion; its benefits to human persons precisely, individual development and enhancement of quality of life. This informs the reason for the usual distinction often given by most psychologists between religion and spirituality. For instance, Merwe, in an on-line exposition points that " religion comprises socially constructed (cultural) beliefs and rituals, whereas spirituality entails transcendence, a psychic function that frees the individual from myopic self absorption. " In the analysis that led him to this conclusion, Merwe notes that initially, both concepts were used interchangeably until the latter half of the 20 th century. Both words " have the search for the sacred at their core. " However, citing Hill et.al (2000), he states that the difference lies on the fact that " religion is in addition associated with non-sacred goals (such as
Book Reviews by matthew nwafor
A review of the Laudato si of Pope Francis. An encyclical on environment and safety of the earth.... more A review of the Laudato si of Pope Francis. An encyclical on environment and safety of the earth. Popularly known as the "Love Letter Encyclical" because of its concern for all human persons on earth
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Papers by matthew nwafor
(i) That death is a problem (ii) That death is inevitable. However, the problematic and inevitable nature of death does not leave death in Igbo worldview, a totally abominable phenomenon especially when the death weighed in their balance, is a good one. The reason is that death is also a pathway to “eternity” which denotes a situation in Igbo eschatology. Our work makes an analytical cum hermeneutical probe into the idea of death among the Igbo tribe of Nigeria.
Drafts by matthew nwafor
Book Reviews by matthew nwafor
(i) That death is a problem (ii) That death is inevitable. However, the problematic and inevitable nature of death does not leave death in Igbo worldview, a totally abominable phenomenon especially when the death weighed in their balance, is a good one. The reason is that death is also a pathway to “eternity” which denotes a situation in Igbo eschatology. Our work makes an analytical cum hermeneutical probe into the idea of death among the Igbo tribe of Nigeria.