Sacramental Theology of Elochukwu Uzukwu in Light of Vatican II and Its Application in African Contexts

<p>Recognition of the indispensable intersection of faith and culture has become a major trend in the contemporary theology. This renewed approach emphasizes various anthropologies and cultures as locations of divine activity. Specifically, the Second Vatican Council’s understanding of sacraments as pneumatological, and ecclesiological, beyond the dominant Christological motif, and its call for profound adaptation gives a wide latitude for rethinking the sacraments. This provision overcomes the danger of enforcing a monocultural model of sacramental celebration, which can submerge local voices and separate sacramentality from symbols and values that resonate differently with various peoples and cultures. This dissertation shows how Elochukwu Uzukwu utilizes the provisions of Vatican II, in conjunction with resources from African traditional wisdom and culture, to argue for the emergence of truly local church and true border-crossing of sacramental and liturgical celebrations. To think of sacraments from this perspective highlights the African view of the human body, particularly its penchant for expressive worship and community – oriented celebrations, is a reality that seeks to bridge the disconnect between sacraments and ethics, thereby overcoming mere ritualism and making the sacraments more relevant. This approach finds justification in the long history of appropriating anthropological and sociological models to give expression to the reality of the Christian experience. The thesis is that rethinking the sacraments is a practical mission of the church in Africa, with implications in every aspect of Christian life and practice. The centrality and implications of the sacraments, especially in the Roman Catholic tradition, makes this approach a delicate but necessary theological investigation.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

PhD

Level thesis:degree_level

One-year Embargo

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Theology

Year dc:date.available

2017

Author dc:creator

• Osigwe, Emmanuel

Contributors dc:contributor

• George S. Worgul
• Marinus Iwuchukwu
• Radu Bordeianu

• African Theology
• Elochukwu Uzukwu
• Sacraments
• Vatican II
• Local Church
• Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/219

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dsc.duq.edu:etd-1237