When Traditions Conflict – Can this Religion Be Saved?
Whenever I read a book that analyzes another culture, especially one written by someone who has personal knowledge and understanding of that culture as well as a research knowledge, I know I am at a disadvantage from the start. Such is the case with Christian Theology and African Traditions by Matthew Michael. As Michael works to contrast Western Christianity or Judeo-Christian tradition with that of Africa, I simply have to take his word for it. I have to trust that, despite his own biases or particular theological bents, he can act as a sort of theological and cultural tour guide, helping me navigate a terrain that is as foreign to me as the surface of the moon – I have seen it, but I certainly don’t understand it.
Matthew Michael boldly walks us through a variety of theological topics, indicating where African traditions and Christian theologies either mesh or conflict. It is Michael’s assertion that those who teach and lead in African Christianity must engage African traditions skillfully and knowledgeably if there is hope for depth and wholeness to emerge in much of the African church. Michael knows both Christian theology and African traditions as only one who identifies with both camps can – at least I assume he does. I noted particular theological ideologies with which I do not identify throughout the text, so I have to believe there are those who might also take issue with his interpretations of African traditions. Rather than try to suss out all of that, I chose to “translate” what Michael said into an American context. This is in no way a dismissal of what Michael is trying to say about the African context; I simply need more information before I can evaluate that. Instead, I am looking at some of the principles Michael suggests and trying to apply them to where I live and the culture I understand.
I first had the idea to translate Michael’s principles when I read his statement, “African Christians must prioritize between whose traditions should he or she venerate whether the traditions of his dead ancestors or of the living Christ…The African Christian can no longer put his allegiance wholly on the African worldview, but on a transformed African worldview.” (12) Well, shoot. If I switch the word “African” for the word “American” I am quickly convicted of not only how I live, but how I perpetuate the cause of Christ. I mean, I am as guilty as the next American for venerating the Constitution and the ancestors who built this country. I am also guilty of, shall we say, cherishing my Swedish (Irish, Dutch, Welsh) heritage in a way that borders on the obsessive. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing to honor our heritage or to value the foundations of our country. I’m simply recognizing that I often define my identity by those things rather than by who I am in Jesus.
Throughout Michael’s book, I went back and inserted “America” or “American” wherever the words “Africa” or “African” were written and noted that the conflicts in traditional worldview exist here as much as they do there. In both places, a religion that is a shadow of true Christianity makes a public appearance in politics, certain types of churches, and in the lives of the “faithful.” As Michael notes, “African Christianity has birthed a unique brand of Christianity, which is fundamentally shaped by African traditions and worldview. (223) I think it is safe to say that an author speaking to the American context could say the same thing. Wherever I travel and visit churches, I am reminded that American Christianity is a brand all its own. When Michael calls for a resolution to the conflict “arising from this encounter between the apostolic tradition and the age-old traditions of the African people,” (223) I can’t help but wonder what it would take to resolve this same conflict in American Christianity. Does our faith, generally speaking, reflect or even point to the apostolic tradition? Are we also in danger of landing in a place where Christianity will “become merely one of the many religious cults” in America? (224)
In the end, I think Michael’s advice to “Christian theology” in Africa is the advice Christians in America must consider if we hope to live into an authentic, Christocentric, biblically-oriented faith: “Encourage taking on the positive elements of the [American] traditions and positioning these elements in dialogue with the teaching of the scriptures.” (224) To that, I would add that we don’t have to venerate Western church leaders such as Luther, Wesley, and Calvin in order to maintain a vibrant American faith, but we do need to engage the lenses they offer to allow the history of our faith to dialogue with our nation’s traditions in light of Scripture. As we do, let’s those of us who have engaged in a somewhat myopic view of theology also engage voices we have not traditionally considered – the Womanist, Black, and Mujerista theologians – as a new way of seeing where our Western and American traditions have failed to give us the full perspective of Christ.
About the Author
Kristin Hamilton
13 responses to “When Traditions Conflict – Can this Religion Be Saved?”
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An interesting and clever idea to translate the text into your American context Kristin. Often, it’s the people who have moved away and lived in different cultures that can come back into their own culture and see things with fresh eyes. It’s healthy and helpful to do this!
Thank you Geoff. I feel like we have so much to learn from these other cultures!
Kristin, creative and thoughtful as usual.
Like you I thought about our American culture in several places – especially on the topic of the Holy Spirit. Michael said that the African Christians have an easier time accepting supernatural concepts because of their traditional beliefs in the spirits – good and evil.
In our materialistic American society we have the opposite problem. I tried to teach a lesson on Satan and demons at church and it was very clear that most people don’t think that there is a spirit world – or that it exists somewhere else far away. As you point out, every Christian culture needs to be in dialogue with the Scriptures.
Do we really believe what we say we believe?
Thanks Mary. I think that, since the Enlightenment, the Western church (with the exception of Pentecostals) has struggled with what to do about the presence of supernatural entities (including the Holy Spirit) in the Scriptures. So we just sort of ignore it all and give the HS a brief nod.
Yes Kristin! Wow what a powerful post! It is amazing how a simple word substitution can translate the cross cultural context of what Michael is writing about. In America, we are dealing with the same issues when it comes to our traditions and allegiance. We (American Christians) must also be willing to shift our worldview from our current American worldview. Great insights Kristin!
Thank you Christal. In this era of extreme nationalism and patriotism that borders on jingoism, it is really more important than ever that we surrender those things that don’t align with Scripture and speak truth.
Hey Kristen, great post, as usual. I had to look up “Mujerista theologians”. Very interesting. I would love to read some work in this area, or for that matter, any woman theologian. Think we’ll get that opportunity this next year? If not, I’ll just satiate my appetite for this with your posts and the other fabulous women theologians in our cohort. Do you have any theologian books written by women that are your favorites?
Oh my gosh, Jen, I will get you a list! Much of my research is looking at Womanist theology and searching for those places where white feminism has ignored the voices of women of color so I am learning more every day about these rich and beautiful voices. I’ll be more than happy to share!
Yes! list please 🙂
Okay Kristen you have now added additional labeled theology for me to look up.
If we replace the sentences with American or I makes it personal. Great insight.
Happy to give you something to look up, Lynda! 🙂
Thank you for the encouragement.
Kristin,
Love this post! I love what you did with substitutions ….it is critical that we all understand that we have a culture and a context that we are coming from and that are not identical to the gospel… but as Michael says that worldview can either be an asset or a hinderance to Christianity. This is true, not just of the African worldview
So true, Chip. I’m just beginning to see how my own worldview gets in the way of the gospel at times!