The Theological Anthropology Underlying Libermann's Understanding of the "Evangelization of the Blacks" in Dialogue with the Theological Anthropologies of the East African Context: Implications for the Contemporary East African Catholic Church

This study was conceived primarily as an attempt to evaluate and critique the common assumption that Francis Mary Paul Libermann (1802-52) like any missionary during his age who went to Africa brought Good News of salvation, recreated self-esteem, confidence and self-respect in Africans who had been dehumanized by slavery. This tendency to overemphasize heroic exploits and contributions of self-sacrificing European missionaries and founders of missionary Religious Congregations often overlooks the part played by the people who were evangelized and their influence on the so called Christian heroes. Far from being a hagiology of Libermann, this study engages in an ideological dialogue by first, evaluating Libermann's theological anthropology of l'oeuvre des noirs in sitz im leben of the nineteenth century with its prejudices against Africans which can also be easily discerned in Libermann's writings and second, underlining important underpinnings of the East African religious traditions which played a critical role in the reception and acceptance of the Gospel message.</p><p> Drawing from Levinas' concept of the "other" sometimes referred to as the "face" which cannot be conceptualized, speaks to us, and is inviolable, I argue that Libermann too allowed the "other" that is, Africans, to speak to him. Using this insight I explore the relational notion of human being which is very prominent in the East African concept of person and its impact on Libermann's relationship with Africans, the primary object of his mission. Missionary activity in the East African context, I conclude is a dialogue, a listening experience that leads to metanoia (conversion) of both the evangelizer and evangelized.

Name thesis:degree_name

PhD

Level thesis:degree_level

Immediate Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Theology

Year dc:date.available

2013

Author dc:creator

• Nnamunga, Gerard Majella

Contributors dc:contributor

• Gerald M Boodoo
• George S Worgul
• Elochukwu E Uzukwu

• Dialogue
• East Africans
• Evangelization
• Libermann
• Spiritans

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/984

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dsc.duq.edu:etd-2000