Majawa, Alfred (1990) An African Christian Theology of Marriage Fidelity: With Special Reference to Marital Customs of the Yao of Southern Malawi. Licentiate thesis, Catholic University of Eastern Africa.
![[img]](http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/style/images/fileicons/application_pdf.png) |
PDF (An African Christian Theology of Marriage Fidelity)
2015_09_2700855820150919105825.pdf - Accepted Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (17MB) | Request a copy |
Abstract
As our title indicates the aim of this dissertation is study scientifically the Yao and Christian teaching on marriage fidelity in view of making an African Christian theology of marriage fidelity based on the Yao marital customs. Our work is primarily theological but at the same time it has a pastoral orientation towards making such theology appreciated, lived and experienced by Christians in the married life. There are two main reasons advanced for the choice of our study. First and foremost is theological. The African theological studies and literature have verified to us that though much has been written on the theology of matrimony, practically there is almost nothing on marriage fidelity. This draw back has contributed greatly to the root cause of marriage infidelity facing many a Christian today. Some pastors and many faithful seem not to understand substantially the biblical, theological and magisterial basis and arguments for Christian marriage fidelity. Therefore the field of our specialization, has made us find this topic challenging for its doctrinal impact in its core. We hope the study will be an inculturated theological contribution to the deeper and clearer understanding of marriage fidelity. Our study is a response to the call made by Pope John Paul II to the Zairean Bishops and African Christians in general: "The time is ripe for Africa to study and undertake systematic theological reflections on the positive African traditional values and accommodate them with Christian Gospel so as to have a deeper understanding of the Christian message." The second reason for the choice of our topic is pastoral. Today more than ever, married life in Africa is undergoing profound and rapid structural changes that are deeply affecting the fidelity in traditional marital unions. Our experience and field research have shown that the pastoral problem of marriage infidelity is a major reason for diversified social, moral and economic problems in Christian marriage. Many husbands and wives are leading unhappy life because they are victims of extra-marital relationship which is practiced by their spouses. We hope that our catechetical, spiritual and liturgical implications to be suggested at the end of our work will help married couples to counteract marital infidelity and make them live a happy married life. Our pastoral objective is implied in Pope John Paul II’s message which he gave in Nairobi, Kenya in 1985. The Pope said: "African theologians … must realize that their activity is not an end in itself, but a service rendered to the (entire African church) Bride of Christ. Their developed theological presentation of the Gospel message should be pastorally orientated and should help to alleviate social and moral problems, for which the people are seeking profound explanation and guidance from the Church." In order to attain our objectives, our work is divided into four chapters. The first chapter gives us the social and religious background of the Yao people. The understanding of their philosophy and worldview is of fundamental importance because it brings us to know better who the Yaos are, their original habitat, what they do and their cultural values and beliefs. Moreover we cannot adequately understand their cultural value of marriage fidelity without situating them in this background. All their cultural phenomena form one integrated socio-religious reality. Chapter two is an anthropological of the Yao customs of marriage fidelity. This is the core of our subject matter on the part of their marriage customs and it is here that we shall attempt to gain a deeper understanding of their values of marital fidelity. But in order to understand this phenomenon of marriage fidelity, we shall first study the Yao marriage in general and then seen how marital fidelity safeguards the properties of marriage. We shall expose the Yao understanding of marriage and marital fidelity in relation to their life in community. We shall also take into account the fact that Nlungu, their God, the ancestors and the society see to it that the value of fidelity is maintained by married people. It is in the third chapter that Christian theological understanding of marriage fidelity as presented in the Bible and Church teaching will be given. Owing to the limits imposed on our dissertation, the Christian teaching will be exposed briefly. After the biblical exposition of the topic we shall concentrate more on the contemporary theology of marriage fidelity. Finally, it is in the fourth chapter that we shall develop an African Christian theology of marriage fidelity based on the Yao marriage customs. We shall do this by first pointing out the analogies between the Yao and Christian understanding of marriage fidelity. This will lead us to further theological reflections on Christian marital fidelity viewed in the light of the Yao category of life.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Licentiate) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Marriage Fidelity, the Yao, Southern Malawi, African Christian Theology, Marital customs |
| Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BV Practical Theology |
| Divisions: | Afro-Christiana |
| Depositing User: | Mr Christopher Mapunda |
| Date Deposited: | 16 Mar 2016 11:58 |
| Last Modified: | 12 Feb 2018 12:11 |
| URI: | http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/316 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |