THEMES IN IGWEBUIKE PHILOSOPHY AND THEOLOGY
Proceedings of an online Colloquium on Igwebuike Philosophy held from 20th January-20th July 2020
EDITOR
Ikechukwu Anthony KANU
First Published in 2020
A Publication of Igwebuike Research Institute (IRI)
COPYRIGHT © 2020 by The Igwebuike Research Institute (IRI)
ISBN: 978-978-985-903-0
INTRODUCTION
The concept Igwebuike began first as a methodology and philosophy. Gradually, its philosophical elements began to have serious implications for theological discourse, especially with the increasing need to do theology that arises from the philosophy of the African people. Such a theology would always have an inescapable element of philosophy, speaking to people in their own native context, because it is expressed in categories of thought that arises out of the philosophy of the African people. This affirms the reality of the link between philosophy and theology, especially regarding the links between the great philosophical questions and the mysteries of salvation which are studied in theology under the guidance of the higher light of faith. In Igwebuike theology, theology takes on the form of a bridge that connects the human person who lives within the context of a changing culture to God who is beyond the law of change.
The first paper in this collection of essays, focuses on Igwebuike theology of Ikwa Ogwe which attempts at building a bridge between two conflicting inheritances or worldviews of the African Christian: the Western heritage and the heritage of his/her ancestors. This is followed by Igwebuike theology of Omenani and Udi in relation to the understanding of culture as the seed of the Word of God, which already pre-existed in Africa even before the emergence of the Western missionaries. There is also a focus on Igwebuike as a traditional mode of communication.
Igwebuike as a complementary and holistic method of inquiry is also employed in the study of the relationship between the 1883 Code of Canon Law and the Second Vatican Council. This method is employed in the study of the Canon Law and the Holy Bible and the relationship between the Code of Canon Law and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Focusing on the Scripture, the Ninevites' reaction to Jonah's preaching of doom (Jonah 3:1-10) and the message of unity and harmony in Psalm 133 are studied in relation to Igwebuike philosophy.
This piece remains a major contribution to the corpus of literature on Igwebuike theology. I, therefore, introduce this piece to all lovers of African theology, culture and philosophy.
CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
