Papers by VENANT NTAKIRUTIMANA
The present paper is a Bachelor dissertation entitled: “The Theological and Ethical Understanding... more The present paper is a Bachelor dissertation entitled: “The Theological and Ethical Understanding of the Sabbath: Slavery or Liberation?”. Note that it was written in French and here is its translation in English. The main agenda of this dissertation is attempting to deduce from the Sabbath law a theology and ethics of liberation. The Sabbath law constituted a great challenge to the people of Israel and in the history of the Church, its observance has been controversial. This paper studies first what has been the aspiration and understanding of the Christians of the early Church, the patristic period and of the Reformation movement toward the Sabbath. As there are few churches in the world, so far in their doctrines, which observe the Sabbath as the day of rest, it secondly examines if the rest good number of churches simply adopt the attitude of indifference to it or have another comprehension of it? Thus, other related questions come to mind: Could it be that the Sabbath law was an unjust law or that its value is outdated and likely abandoned? Are the churches who observe it, right or wrong? Have they grasped the essential liberating aspect of its observance or they only know the legalistic formalism?
The Christian mission in African did not start in a vacuum because the Africans were already reli... more The Christian mission in African did not start in a vacuum because the Africans were already religious people and had positive traditions which contributed to the understanding of the Christian message. In the process of Christianity’s expansion in Africa, efficient African initiatives have took place. Dr. David B. Barrett, the editor of this book presents both the orthodox and unorthodox African initiatives in religion. Meanwhile, as new days come with new opportunities and challenges, Dr. Barrett required African Christians to find new initiatives in order to meet their contemporary needs. This paper puts at your disposal the summary of the book and my own assessment of it.
The assumption that “Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation” or that “outside the church, ther... more The assumption that “Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation” or that “outside the church, there is no salvation”, according to John Hick resulted of the egocentrism or romanticism of Christians. The Christocentrism must be replaced by the Theocentrism in order to recognize that other religions have a certain truth about God and can lead also to salvation. He calls this paradigm shift “the Copernican Revolution in Theology”. One can ask himself or herself if this paradigm shift is a positive insight to Christian mission or a challenge. Before the judgment, it’s necessary to listen attentively to what John Hick wants his readers to understand. This paper summarizes the important chapters of his book which explain his thesis, and presents my particular observation on it.
The pluralism in religion becomes increasingly the current subject of the theological discourse. ... more The pluralism in religion becomes increasingly the current subject of the theological discourse. Christianity by its biblical witnesses and doctrinal confessions such as the creeds claims that Jesus Christ is the one norm for the salvation of the world. However, despite its propagation to all continents, Christianity is surrounded by the various world religions which also claim having experience of God’s revelation and leading their adherents to salvation. Thus, that Jesus is the ‘only and true way of salvation’ confronts with that there exist other revelations, messengers, mediators, and then other ways of salvation. It is important to read Paul Knitter’s book in order to understand this phenomenon, its challenge to Christianity, distinct attitudes of Christianity toward other religions, and the Theo-centric view which, according to him, fits the inter-religious dialogue in the contemporary pluralistic world. This paper offers the summary of the book and my personal perception on it.
The Copernican Revolution in Theology, stressed by John Hick and praised by Paul Knitter, prefers... more The Copernican Revolution in Theology, stressed by John Hick and praised by Paul Knitter, prefers God at the center of the universe of Faiths to Christ. One can see Carl E. Braaten as the best resource person who analyzed critically the pluralistic theology promoted by the above both theologians. According to him, Christianity should not ignore the evidence of the pluralism phenomenon and its challenge to the Church missionary undertakings. I reformulate the main question dealt with by his book: If the world religions are ways of salvation and hold saviors or mediators other than Jesus Christ, isn’t it another Gospel? Furthermore, if the Christian theology can affirm this regardless the Christology which is biblical-based, and the ecclesiastical creeds (the doctrine of the Trinity), will this be still the Christian theology at work? Carl E. Braaten makes understanding that the world religions play a role of a Pedagogue to Jesus Christ and find their fulfillment only in him. This paper presents in summary the arguments of Carl E. Braaten towards the above relevant questions, and my individual observation on his book.
Drafts by VENANT NTAKIRUTIMANA
This research surveyed the theology of baptism in the Baptist Church which overestimates the imme... more This research surveyed the theology of baptism in the Baptist Church which overestimates the immersion baptism against the sprinkling baptism, and generates a challenging controversy to mission in Shyogwe diocese of the Anglican Church of Rwanda. The study opined that the Baptist baptism theology is misleading and takes advantage of the poor understanding of baptism complex significance by the Anglican congregants in Shyogwe diocese. Thus, the research investigated the connection between baptism and mission, the Baptist and Anglican understandings of baptism, the challenges of the Baptist theology of baptism to mission, and assessed the efficacy of the response of Shyogwe diocese with the authorisation of both the sprinkling and immersion baptisms.
Such as the literature review, the questionnaires and the interviews aided the data collection, the non-probability sampling techniques and qualitative approach applied in the interpretation and discussion of the findings. The research resulted in the following observations: Baptism is inherent of mission; the Baptist theology emphasises the immersion baptism alone and rejects the sprinkling baptism, and its influence effects, in Shyogwe diocese, the loss of members, unveiled discrimination among congregants, re-baptism longings, discredit of the baptismal sacrament and of the church; The meaning of baptism does not postulate the mode of water application but does demand God’s Word and power for the spiritual change of the candidate for baptism; The response of Shyogwe diocese toward the Baptist baptism theology with the acceptation of both the sprinkling and immersion baptisms is quite appropriate in relation to the Biblical and Anglican doctrines; its efficacy entails the thorough teaching about the multidimensional significance of baptism.
Uploads
Papers by VENANT NTAKIRUTIMANA
Drafts by VENANT NTAKIRUTIMANA
Such as the literature review, the questionnaires and the interviews aided the data collection, the non-probability sampling techniques and qualitative approach applied in the interpretation and discussion of the findings. The research resulted in the following observations: Baptism is inherent of mission; the Baptist theology emphasises the immersion baptism alone and rejects the sprinkling baptism, and its influence effects, in Shyogwe diocese, the loss of members, unveiled discrimination among congregants, re-baptism longings, discredit of the baptismal sacrament and of the church; The meaning of baptism does not postulate the mode of water application but does demand God’s Word and power for the spiritual change of the candidate for baptism; The response of Shyogwe diocese toward the Baptist baptism theology with the acceptation of both the sprinkling and immersion baptisms is quite appropriate in relation to the Biblical and Anglican doctrines; its efficacy entails the thorough teaching about the multidimensional significance of baptism.
Such as the literature review, the questionnaires and the interviews aided the data collection, the non-probability sampling techniques and qualitative approach applied in the interpretation and discussion of the findings. The research resulted in the following observations: Baptism is inherent of mission; the Baptist theology emphasises the immersion baptism alone and rejects the sprinkling baptism, and its influence effects, in Shyogwe diocese, the loss of members, unveiled discrimination among congregants, re-baptism longings, discredit of the baptismal sacrament and of the church; The meaning of baptism does not postulate the mode of water application but does demand God’s Word and power for the spiritual change of the candidate for baptism; The response of Shyogwe diocese toward the Baptist baptism theology with the acceptation of both the sprinkling and immersion baptisms is quite appropriate in relation to the Biblical and Anglican doctrines; its efficacy entails the thorough teaching about the multidimensional significance of baptism.