The Christian Mind and Africa
While reading How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind by Thomas C. Oden, one thing continually ran through my mind. I was angry I had never been taught about the African influence on Christianity, but I was even more upset at myself for not figuring it out on my own. I have always known Athanasius, Origen, and Augustine had times spent in North Africa but it never dawned on my they were from Africa. I had always assumed they moved from Europe south. It is embarrassing to admit this prejudice thought.
One thing is clear in going through this book, Oden is passionate about this subject. I found it interesting and maybe a little strange Oden spent a large portion of the book encouraging theological scholars in Africa to pursue the majority of groundwork in proving his theory.
In chapter two, Oden talks of the seven ways Africa has shaped the Christian mind. He postulates that the library at Alexandria was the “model for university libraries all over Europe”.1
This is a very interesting idea, although the library at Alexandria was Hellenistic, it clearly was in Africa. Oden goes on to talk about the different influences seen in exegesis, dogma, and ecumenical decision making all having beginnings in African thought. In my mind the idea of Universities and colleges has always been something exported from Europe. Places like Oxford, The Sorbonne, Cambridge, and Salamanca to name a few. If you look up oldest universities in the world these and other European Universities populate the lists. They fail to mention any outside of Europe. Even if you make the parameters just Africa you will get universities started in the 1800’s. There are some mentions of Muslim schools, but there is no mention of any ancient schools in North Africa. If you dig deep enough there are discussions about the possibility of the materials from the Alexandrian library possibly surviving and being the basis for the beginnings of universities in Europe but that is where my search ended. It is possible but hard to prove the university system was based on the library of Alexandria, which would be a tremendous gift to the world.
The chapter which had the greatest affect on my heart was Defining Africa. What does it mean to be African. The statement “A demeaning prejudice has crept into historical lore that these great figures were not Africans at all–merely Europeans in disguise”2, speaks to the unintentional prejudice I already held and put a light on my own thinking. The idea of European seeds being what grew Christianity was something I held onto but not because of thinking less of the minds in Africa, I held onto them because I never thought it through. I have always admired Athanasius and his writings but never gave thought to where he was from. The discussion on what makes something indigenous was very interesting. If Christianity after 2000 years is not indigenous then neither is Islam, nor many of the settlers in South Africa, such as the Bantu, and other regions. How long does something have to have a history to be considered indigenous. Even in the Americas, the indigenous peoples came from Asian over the Bering Strait, so the question remains how long does something have to be part of the culture to be considered to represent that culture. I would argue over 2000 years would be plenty.
While it does not matter where a thought or a way of looking at scripture originated, as long as it holds to scripture and is not heretical, it does not hurt to give the proper respect to those who set the cornerstone in how we look at God. When the idea of African Christianity being a foundation for Western thought is looked at I think Oden has hit a nerve. Christians in Africa should be proud of their heritage and be able to understand where they have their beginnings.
Oden also discusses the seeds of martyrdom and ascetic monasticism within the African continent. These thing just add to the importance of understanding and discovering how Christianity and its belief systems were shaped.
I really enjoyed this book and it gave me a good perspective to see past my own blinders. While this book is far from a comprehensive treatise on the seeds of Christian thought in Africa, it does serve its purpose. To call those who would listen to examine our way of thinking, not to relegate those who we see as giants of theological thoughts to be something they are not, just because they spoke what could be considered a European language. My own thought process has been changed, and that makes all the work coming over the next three years more than worth the time and effort.
1. Thomas C. Oden, How Africa Shaped The Christian Mind: Rediscovering the African Seedbed of Western Christianity, (Downers Grove, Il: Invervartisty Press, 2007). 43-44
2. Ibid. 62.
About the Author
Jason Turbeville
A pastor, husband and father who loves to be around others. These are the things that describe me. I was a youth minister for 15 years but God changed the calling on my life. I love to travel and see where God takes me in my life.7 responses to “The Christian Mind and Africa”
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Hi Jason,
Looking forward to meeting you in person in a couple of weeks.
I so totally agree with this statement that you make: “I found it interesting and maybe a little strange Oden spent a large portion of the book encouraging theological scholars in Africa to pursue the majority of groundwork in proving his theory.” It was strange for me on two levels–why does he insist that African theologians need to be the ones to do these studies? And why didn’t he wait to write the book until he had the proof he wanted for this theories? I felt like I was reading a book with a lot af really great insights that had little or no backing in terms of historical research. He cited very few scholarly works throughout the book.
Why was it strange to you?
I guess it almost seemed as if he wanted others to do the heavy lifting? It could be he doesn’t feel it would be valid if white western researchers took on the project as opposed to African scholars.
I hope you don’t mind Jason, but I am going to steal your thought that Chapter two was worthy of your citation. I felt the same way but did not want to be found guilty of my first plagiarism. Us Pastors have to stick together (grin).
Jay,
You are more than welcome even without citation:). I just hope I don’t look to lost when I write.
I think one of greatest challenges when working cross culturally, like Oden, is to inspire local believers to rise above the place the their society (or the west) has stereotyped what can be done. Unfortunately this is something we see in the church as well. I do think sometime we need to be released from those preconceived notions and set free to do what God has called us to do. Thanks for you thoughts.
I also found the fact that Africa is never credited for its contribution to the university system shocking and appalling. We have always been told that the oldest places of higher education are from Europe, but I like the thought that Africa gets to take some credit and dispell some of the negative stereotypes. I also loved when you said…”Christians in Africa should be proud of their heritage and be able to understand where they have their beginnings.”, because I couldn’t agree more. Loved hearing your heart come through on your post and look forward to hearing more from you.
Jason,
I appreciated your post, especially when you considered “a way of looking at scripture” and how and where it originated. While Oden makes a lot of claims for Africa’s place in the legacy of Christianity, I was disappointed that he did not give more praise and glory to the One who inspired the Word and way of God, the Holy Spirit. When I read Oden, it felt like he was saying something like this, “Of course the Holy Spirit did this, but Africa…” As a result, I struggled to give him the respect for his thesis that I am sure it deserves.
I look forward to meeting you in South Africa!
Stand firm,
M Webb