Suchergebnisse

Cover -- Book Title -- Copyright -- Table of Contents -- Introduction -- 1 What Is 'Sacred Violence'? -- 2 Violent Origins, Origins of Violence -- 3 Girardian 'Founding Murder' -- 4 Violence, the Archaic Sacredand Judaeo-Christian Revelation -- 5 Passion, Resurrection -and How We Come by Reconciliation -- 6 Taking Thought for Reconciliation -- Appendix 'From Animal to Human', 'On Religion' -- Cited Texts and Further Reading -- Back cover.

What is 'sacred violence'? -- Violent origins, origins of violence -- Girardian 'Founding Murder' -- Violence, the archaic sacred and Judaeo-Christian revelation -- Passion, resurrection - and how we comre by reconciliation -- Taking thought for reconciliation -- Appendix : 'from animal to human,' 'on religion' : conversations with René Girard.

'Religion' can be used to mean all kinds of things, but a substantive definition - based on the premise of superhuman powers - can clarify much. It allows us to attempt to differentiate religion from culture, ethnicity, morality and politics. This definition of religion necessarily implies a perception of reality. Until recent centuries in the West, and in most cultures still, the ordinary, natural and immediate way of understanding and experiencing reality was in terms of otherworldly or spiritual forces. However, a cognitive shift has taken place through the rise of science and its subsequent technological application. This new consciousness has not disproved the existence of spiritual forces, but has led to the marginalization of the other-worldly, which even Western churches seem to accept.

This volume focuses on the role Christian churches have played in Africa's democratisation movements since the late 1980s. In some cases churchmen have presided over national conferences; in many, Christians comprise arguably the most significant segment of civil society. In some countries pastoral letters have challenged dictators; in others, churches have provided an essential support for the status quo. The book comprises both theoretical analyses and case studies. The theoretical discussions include the history of Church-State relations; theology and democracy; Pentecostalism and democracy; the problems of consolidating democracy. The 13 case studies sketch the historical context, and then critically examine developments up till late 1993. The book will prove particularly useful to students of Third World Christianity, African historians and political scientists, and all interested in the socio-political role of Christianity