Date
8-29-2024
Department
Rawlings School of Divinity
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy
Chair
Robert Wayne Talley
Keywords
Christianity, West Africa, colonization, problem of evil, African Traditional, Religion (ATR), biblical hermeneutics, Millennials, Gen Z, Decline of Christianity in West Africa, West African Traditional Religion (WATR)
Disciplines
Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion
Recommended Citation
Blay, Christopher, "The Impact of Colonization, the Problem of Evil, and the African Traditional Religion Worldview on Biblical Hermeneutics in West Africa" (2024). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 5981.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/5981
Abstract
This research paper delves into the complex relationship between colonization, African Traditional Religion (ATR), the problem of evil, and their impact on interpreting biblical texts in West Africa. The study explores how historical colonization, cultural beliefs rooted in ATR, and the existential question of evil have shaped the lens through which Millennials and Gen Z in West Africa engage with Christianity.
Through an analysis of historical sources, scholarly works, and academic articles, this paper highlights how these factors have contributed to a decline in interest in Christianity among the youth in the region. The paper also emphasizes the importance of understanding this complex interplay to promote effective cross-cultural communication of the gospel of Christ.
