| The author investigates the doctrine of God in East African Christianity as it has been shaped by the missionary impact on African Christianity and by African traditional religions. All of this is set within the context of the challenges of everyday life in East Africa. Successive chapters analyze the very complex interplay of these various influences.;The final observation of African Christianity is that it presents a strong mixture of African culture which impacts and is directly impacted by African traditional religions. In the mix of these, Christian thought, though in an incomplete form, resonates. The current trend of Christianity then is a dialogue between African culture, which is steeped in a plurality of African beliefs, and scripture, which is continually seeking relevance in this culture without jeopardizing the essence of its message. The doctrine of God in East Africa then is discovering its distinct formation (directly and indirectly) by the Spirit, through the dialogue between faith and culture. The most effective source for a doctrine of God in East Africa is the book of Psalms, because it connects with both the everyday concerns of Africans and the passionate engagement with God in prayer and praise. |
