Nweke Kizito - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Nweke Kizito

Research paper thumbnail of Christianity and The Indigenous Spiritualties of The Igbo People: From Multi-Religiousness to Synculturation

Research paper thumbnail of Igbo Consciousness of Healing: Studying Daa Ada Ocha, a Local Healer in Mbaise

Journal of Consciousness Studies

The westernization of the Igbo people disrupted the stability of indigenousness in various sphere... more The westernization of the Igbo people disrupted the stability of indigenousness in various spheres of their socio-cultural reality. In certain spheres, the indigenousness seems irrevocably lost, while in other spheres, there is a re-emergence. Healing is one of those areas in which the Igbo people preserved their consciousness, enabling a renewal of Indigenous healing practices. They believe that a human being belongs to both the physical and the spiritual realms. Hence, in a human being is the interconnection of the physical and the spiritual, in all ramifications of life, including health. Using both a theoreticalanalytical method and exploring the enigmatic world of a traditional healer in a narrative method, this article aims at expounding on healing and the consciousness behind it with the Igbo people.

Research paper thumbnail of Confronting the Concepts of Truth in Igbo land from Christianity and the indigenous Spiritualities

SIST JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND HUMANITIES , 2023

On various existential phenomena and social settings, the Igbo person is the struggle for social ... more On various existential phenomena and social settings, the Igbo person is the struggle for social ethics. Pulled by Christianity on one side, and the indigenous spirituality on the other side, finding a balance in his existential values becomes challenging. Truth is one of those issues that reflect the complexities of the reality of Igbo people, a complexity that emerged with Christianity. In Christianity, truth is theological, theoretical, absolute, personified in Jesus Christ. The Igbo indigenous spiritualties consider truth practical and operational.

Research paper thumbnail of Introducing Christomatric: Examining Doctrine and Dialogue in the Proclamation of

Research paper thumbnail of MISSION AS DIALOGUE IN AFRICAN CONTEXT: PROPOSING THE MODEL OF MUTUAL ENRICHMENT AND SYN-CULTURATION

African Journal of Contextual Theology SIST, 2018

The story of Christian mission and Africa has been a tensive story with mixed feelings, involving... more The story of Christian mission and Africa has been a tensive story with mixed feelings, involving abuses of human beings and resources, deception, destruction and theft, but also education, science and technology, and human developments. The arrival of Christianity in Africa

Research paper thumbnail of Responding to new Imageries in African indigenous Spiritualties

Religious: Jurnal Studi Agama-Agama dan Lintas Budaya Journal of Religious and Cross-Cultural Studies, 2022

As a result of rash and incorrect assumptions, African spiritualities have been adulterated, bast... more As a result of rash and incorrect assumptions, African spiritualities have been adulterated, bastardized, and multiplied. Academic studies in African spiritualities "were mostly conducted by Europeans and Americans who were extremely biased and primarily focused their scholarship on comparing African religion with Christianity and Islam. I will approach the new images of African spiritualities from two perspectives: the conflict between religion and spirituality, and the demonization of African spiritualities. The goal of this study is to present a new picture of African spirituality from two perspectives: the tension between religion and spirituality, and the demonization of African spirituality. The study's findings indicate that there is a complicated phenomenon that disfigures African spirituality. In both indigenous spirituality in Africa, and in spirituality created by Africans in the diaspora, the problem of portraying demonic African styles and perspectives in expressing mundane and non-mundane realities seems accepted. There are three aspects in analyzing this: historical-racial, media-social, and ideological. These aspects cross over on the point of African religion versus spirituality.

Research paper thumbnail of Christianity and The Indigenous Spiritualties of The Igbo People: From Multi-Religiousness to Synculturation

Religious: Jurnal Studi Agama-Agama dan Lintas Budaya Journal of Religious and Cross-Cultural Studies, 2023

The Igbo people of Nigeria have historically maintained a rich and dynamic spiritual tradition. T... more The Igbo people of Nigeria have historically maintained a rich and dynamic spiritual tradition. The advent of Christianity introduced new dimensions to their spiritual landscape, leading to significant shifts in religious beliefs and practices. This study aims to explore the complexities and transformations in the Igbo spiritual landscape following the encounter with Christianity. It seeks to understand how the Igbo people navigate the coexistence of indigenous spirituality and Christian beliefs, and the resultant socio-cultural and religious dynamics. Employing a literature review and historical analysis, this study systematically examines scholarly works and historical records to unravel the complex interplay between Igbo indigenous spirituality and Christianity. The study found that the Igbo's flexibility in spiritual choices facilitated their rapid conversion to Christianity, influenced by practical advantages such as effective medicine, economic benefits, and efficient foreign social structures. However, this transition also entailed a mental shift, marked by the perception of the Christian God's superiority following military defeats against foreigners. The study highlights the intricate interplay between indigenous spiritualities and Christianity within the Igbo context. It underscores the role of practical factors, cultural adaptation, and perceived spiritual efficacy in shaping religious transformations. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of religious syncretism and the evolving nature of spiritual beliefs in multi-religious societies.

Research paper thumbnail of Contextualization as a Critical Transformative Agent in Christianity

Exchange, 2018

There is an increasing acceptance that every theology is contextual. There is an equally commensu... more There is an increasing acceptance that every theology is contextual. There is an equally commensurate rising concerns whether contextualization in theology is not undermining Christianity and devaluing the concept of ‘the Truth’. Among the reasons for this problem are the consequence of a blemished Christian history, the eternal truth of God in an ephemeral world, and the upsurge of pluralistic theologies with the ‘de-westernization’ of Christian theology. These have thematized contextualization in contemporary theology as important and at the same time, problematic. This work rather argues that contextualization has been part of Christianity in the interpretation and propagation of Christ’s message, and that as far as it is an indispensable aspect of Christian theologies, it must neither devalue Christian religiosity nor suggest that the eternal God who happened in history can be subjected to historicity. Through the exposé of the social-territorial, political, religious and econom...

Research paper thumbnail of Contextualization as a Critical Transformative Agent in Christianity

Exchange, 2018

There is an increasing acceptance that every theology is contextual. There is an equally commensu... more There is an increasing acceptance that every theology is contextual. There is an equally commensurate rising concerns whether contextualization in theology is not undermining Christianity and devaluing the concept of ‘the Truth’. Among the reasons for this problem are the consequence of a blemished Christian history, the eternal truth of God in an ephemeral world, and the upsurge of pluralistic theologies with the ‘de-westernization’ of Christian theology. These have thematized contextualization in contemporary theology as important and at the same time, problematic. This work rather argues that contextualization has been part of Christianity in the interpretation and propagation of Christ’s message, and that as far as it is an indispensable aspect of Christian theologies, it must neither devalue Christian religiosity nor suggest that the eternal God who happened in history can be subjected to historicity. Through the exposé of the social-territorial, political, religious and econom...

Research paper thumbnail of Christianity and The Indigenous Spiritualties of The Igbo People: From Multi-Religiousness to Synculturation

Research paper thumbnail of Igbo Consciousness of Healing: Studying Daa Ada Ocha, a Local Healer in Mbaise

Journal of Consciousness Studies

The westernization of the Igbo people disrupted the stability of indigenousness in various sphere... more The westernization of the Igbo people disrupted the stability of indigenousness in various spheres of their socio-cultural reality. In certain spheres, the indigenousness seems irrevocably lost, while in other spheres, there is a re-emergence. Healing is one of those areas in which the Igbo people preserved their consciousness, enabling a renewal of Indigenous healing practices. They believe that a human being belongs to both the physical and the spiritual realms. Hence, in a human being is the interconnection of the physical and the spiritual, in all ramifications of life, including health. Using both a theoreticalanalytical method and exploring the enigmatic world of a traditional healer in a narrative method, this article aims at expounding on healing and the consciousness behind it with the Igbo people.

Research paper thumbnail of Confronting the Concepts of Truth in Igbo land from Christianity and the indigenous Spiritualities

SIST JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND HUMANITIES , 2023

On various existential phenomena and social settings, the Igbo person is the struggle for social ... more On various existential phenomena and social settings, the Igbo person is the struggle for social ethics. Pulled by Christianity on one side, and the indigenous spirituality on the other side, finding a balance in his existential values becomes challenging. Truth is one of those issues that reflect the complexities of the reality of Igbo people, a complexity that emerged with Christianity. In Christianity, truth is theological, theoretical, absolute, personified in Jesus Christ. The Igbo indigenous spiritualties consider truth practical and operational.

Research paper thumbnail of Introducing Christomatric: Examining Doctrine and Dialogue in the Proclamation of

Research paper thumbnail of MISSION AS DIALOGUE IN AFRICAN CONTEXT: PROPOSING THE MODEL OF MUTUAL ENRICHMENT AND SYN-CULTURATION

African Journal of Contextual Theology SIST, 2018

The story of Christian mission and Africa has been a tensive story with mixed feelings, involving... more The story of Christian mission and Africa has been a tensive story with mixed feelings, involving abuses of human beings and resources, deception, destruction and theft, but also education, science and technology, and human developments. The arrival of Christianity in Africa

Research paper thumbnail of Responding to new Imageries in African indigenous Spiritualties

Religious: Jurnal Studi Agama-Agama dan Lintas Budaya Journal of Religious and Cross-Cultural Studies, 2022

As a result of rash and incorrect assumptions, African spiritualities have been adulterated, bast... more As a result of rash and incorrect assumptions, African spiritualities have been adulterated, bastardized, and multiplied. Academic studies in African spiritualities "were mostly conducted by Europeans and Americans who were extremely biased and primarily focused their scholarship on comparing African religion with Christianity and Islam. I will approach the new images of African spiritualities from two perspectives: the conflict between religion and spirituality, and the demonization of African spiritualities. The goal of this study is to present a new picture of African spirituality from two perspectives: the tension between religion and spirituality, and the demonization of African spirituality. The study's findings indicate that there is a complicated phenomenon that disfigures African spirituality. In both indigenous spirituality in Africa, and in spirituality created by Africans in the diaspora, the problem of portraying demonic African styles and perspectives in expressing mundane and non-mundane realities seems accepted. There are three aspects in analyzing this: historical-racial, media-social, and ideological. These aspects cross over on the point of African religion versus spirituality.

Research paper thumbnail of Christianity and The Indigenous Spiritualties of The Igbo People: From Multi-Religiousness to Synculturation

Religious: Jurnal Studi Agama-Agama dan Lintas Budaya Journal of Religious and Cross-Cultural Studies, 2023

The Igbo people of Nigeria have historically maintained a rich and dynamic spiritual tradition. T... more The Igbo people of Nigeria have historically maintained a rich and dynamic spiritual tradition. The advent of Christianity introduced new dimensions to their spiritual landscape, leading to significant shifts in religious beliefs and practices. This study aims to explore the complexities and transformations in the Igbo spiritual landscape following the encounter with Christianity. It seeks to understand how the Igbo people navigate the coexistence of indigenous spirituality and Christian beliefs, and the resultant socio-cultural and religious dynamics. Employing a literature review and historical analysis, this study systematically examines scholarly works and historical records to unravel the complex interplay between Igbo indigenous spirituality and Christianity. The study found that the Igbo's flexibility in spiritual choices facilitated their rapid conversion to Christianity, influenced by practical advantages such as effective medicine, economic benefits, and efficient foreign social structures. However, this transition also entailed a mental shift, marked by the perception of the Christian God's superiority following military defeats against foreigners. The study highlights the intricate interplay between indigenous spiritualities and Christianity within the Igbo context. It underscores the role of practical factors, cultural adaptation, and perceived spiritual efficacy in shaping religious transformations. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of religious syncretism and the evolving nature of spiritual beliefs in multi-religious societies.

Research paper thumbnail of Contextualization as a Critical Transformative Agent in Christianity

Exchange, 2018

There is an increasing acceptance that every theology is contextual. There is an equally commensu... more There is an increasing acceptance that every theology is contextual. There is an equally commensurate rising concerns whether contextualization in theology is not undermining Christianity and devaluing the concept of ‘the Truth’. Among the reasons for this problem are the consequence of a blemished Christian history, the eternal truth of God in an ephemeral world, and the upsurge of pluralistic theologies with the ‘de-westernization’ of Christian theology. These have thematized contextualization in contemporary theology as important and at the same time, problematic. This work rather argues that contextualization has been part of Christianity in the interpretation and propagation of Christ’s message, and that as far as it is an indispensable aspect of Christian theologies, it must neither devalue Christian religiosity nor suggest that the eternal God who happened in history can be subjected to historicity. Through the exposé of the social-territorial, political, religious and econom...

Research paper thumbnail of Contextualization as a Critical Transformative Agent in Christianity

Exchange, 2018

There is an increasing acceptance that every theology is contextual. There is an equally commensu... more There is an increasing acceptance that every theology is contextual. There is an equally commensurate rising concerns whether contextualization in theology is not undermining Christianity and devaluing the concept of ‘the Truth’. Among the reasons for this problem are the consequence of a blemished Christian history, the eternal truth of God in an ephemeral world, and the upsurge of pluralistic theologies with the ‘de-westernization’ of Christian theology. These have thematized contextualization in contemporary theology as important and at the same time, problematic. This work rather argues that contextualization has been part of Christianity in the interpretation and propagation of Christ’s message, and that as far as it is an indispensable aspect of Christian theologies, it must neither devalue Christian religiosity nor suggest that the eternal God who happened in history can be subjected to historicity. Through the exposé of the social-territorial, political, religious and econom...