HDS Course Listing

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HDS 2337

Christianity, Identity, and Civil Society in Africa

Jacob Olupona

Description

This course is a historical survey of the centuries-old Christian traditions in Africa. It begins with an outline of the trajectory of Christianity's origins and presence in Africa from its beginning in ancient Mediterranean lands through the early period of European missionaries to the contemporary period. The course provides the ethnography of the old mission churches, indigenous independent African churches, and contemporary evangelical and Pentecostal Charismatic movements. The course explores the role of Christianity in relation to historical, cultural, social, and material realities of the African continent. It examines a broad range of topical issues related to conversion, missionization, and the development and growth of Christian agencies in Africa in relation to the construction of social, theological, and religious identities, as well as Christianity's response to cultural pluralism, nationhood, citizenship, and civil society.

Enrollment Limited: No
Open to BTI Students: Yes

Course website

Scheduling

Half Course
Fall 2009
Tu., 2-4
Andover Hall, Room 118

Relationship to Program Requirements

Program Requirement	Area / Category / Art / Designation
MTS Area(s) of Focus	African and African American Religious Studies Religion and the Social Sciences Women, Gender, Sexuality, and Religion
MDiv Distribution Category/ies	African Religions Comparative
MDiv Art(s) of Ministry	Religious Education
ThM, pre-2007 MTS, and pre-2005 MDiv Area	Area 2
Language Course Designation(s)	n/a