Paths of African Theology

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Emmanuel Martey

"Two major strands of theology have developed in Africa - inculturation and liberation - each in response to different needs. Emmanuel Martey's African Theology provides a clear, scholarly examination of these two basic approaches, solidly based on Martey's understanding of contemporary theology and his first-hand knowledge of Africa."--BOOK JACKET. "Martey first examines the historical background of each of these theological developments, especially relating to cultural and political movements enveloping the continent in the 1970s. In sub-Saharan Africa, struggles for independence from colonizers have resulted in inculturation theology. The defining aspect of this theology is that it pushes its roots firmly in African culture and traditions. In South Africa, on the other hand, Black Africans struggling against the oppressive systems of apartheid have turned to liberation theology."--BOOK JACKET. "Martey shows how the real hope for African theology lies in the dialectical encounter between these two approaches and in their potential for convergence. "The two foci (of liberation and inculturation)," Martey says, "are not contradictory, but complement each other." African Theology concludes by challenging African theologians to weld together the praxis of inculturation with that of liberation, in order to achieve an integrative vision for the continent."--BOOK JACKET.

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John Webster, George P. Schner

"This Reader brings together texts which articulate or debate with the mode of theology most commonly identified as 'postliberal'. It provides an introduction to this major contemporary theological option for students of systematic theology." "The wide sampling of theological writing represented here seeks to move beyond the dominant conventions of modern theology, by retrieving aspects of the classical Christian tradition and exploring its potential for creative and constructive theology in the modern context."--BOOK JACKET.

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Peter Kreeft

In short, straight-forward and unsentimental chapters, the author covers all the key areas for understanding and developing that intimate form of communication with our Creator that we call prayer. He covers such areas as the necessity of prayer, various motives and methods, steps, patience, suffering, sin, faith, and grace.

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Anthony J. Wilhelm

If Christ Among Us is an example of a new trend in explaining one's religious beliefs without denigrating those of others, we are better off than before--but not much better. The spirit of the book is obvious from the opening chapter's assertion that ""the story of Christ among us is a study of the Catholic faith."" The implication, of course, is that the story of Christ among us is not readily discernible in the non-Catholic churches, and in that respect Father Wilhelm has not broken with his preconciliar precursors. He has, however, dispensed with the vitriol that hitherto has been as necessary a part of apologetics as the various proofs of the existence of God. For the rest, the book follows the conventional lines of books written to explain, defend, and propagate the Catholic faith: the existence and knowability of God, the divinity of Christ, the foundation and authentic mission of the Catholic Church, etc. A rather unusual feature is that the author is at pains to emphasize what is common dogma in all Christian churches, and he does often present, somewhat summarily, the Protestant viewpoint on matters of difference. However, an overall impression of the author's inflexibility that expresses itself in the we-are-absolutely-right-and-they-are-absolutely-wrong syndrome, despite his good will and intentions, detracts from the purposes of his book. The older Catholics generally won't mind; the younger will.