Rakotondrazanany, Mamy Odon Evariste (2007) A Theology of Conversion Rooted in a Pragmatistic Aesthetics of Fihavanana (Unity) in Madagascar. Masters thesis, Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley.
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Abstract
For more than twenty years the majority of the Malagasies suffered all kinds of afflictions and torments under the yoke of a dictatorial regime. I argue that the historical events of 1991-92 and 2001-02 during which the Malagasies went on strike peacefully to put an end to the dictatorial regime portrayed the culmination of Malagasy liberation theology. Malagasy liberation theology had an intuitive character. In other words, it did not prove systematic as Latin American theologies did. However, the Malagasy liberation theology which took place intuitively lacked a vision. Without a vision, political change does not automatically create an impetus for social change. A workable new orientation of this liberation theology should take into consideration this aesthetic vision which ought to motivate the Malagasies to build a new and harmonious society. In my judgment, the cultural symbol of fihavanana (unity) provides a rich source for such an aesthetic vision. Using a metaphysical construct of experience, I define fihavanana as the Malagasies' communal experience which exemplifies their intuitive search for unity and harmony with others, ancestors, the environmental world, and God. Episcopal letters abound in emphasizing the importance of the fihavanana in different realms of the Malagasies' lives. The aesthetic vision ought to help the Malagasies to experience conversion. I then propose a theology of conversion rooted in the aesthetic experience of fihavanana which will take into consideration the Malagasies' sociopolitical life, their veneration of ancestors, and their relations to Islam.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Masters) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Viewing the Historical Events of 1991-92/2001-02 as the Culmination of the Malagasy Liberation theology, Making acquaintance with a Metaphysical Construct of Experience, Approaching a Fihavanana Culture with a Metaphysical Construct of Experience,Rooting a Theology of Conversion in the Esthetic Experience of Fihavanana, |
| Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BV Practical Theology |
| Divisions: | Afro-Christiana Jesuitica |
| Depositing User: | JHI Africa |
| Date Deposited: | 24 Jun 2014 08:00 |
| Last Modified: | 28 Jun 2024 08:34 |
| URI: | http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/96 |
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