Making African Christianity

Robert J. Houle examines the history of faith among colonial Zulu Christians (known as amaKholwa,) in what would become South Africa, arguing that Africans successfully naturalized Christianity. Houle believes that before the religion could take hold, several aspects of Christianity needed to be 'translated' to fill critical gaps between existing African beliefs and Chritian tradition. This dual identity was difficult to reconcile through much of Zulu Christian history, but ultimately transformed both the Zulu Christians and their adopted faith.

An internationally recognized scholar highlights the important role the North African church played in the development of Christian thought. This accessible introduction brings Africa back to the center of the study of Christian history by focusing on key figures and events that influenced the history and trajectory of Christianity as a whole. Written and designed for the classroom, the book zeroes in on five turning points to show how North African believers significantly shaped Christian theology, identity, and practice in ways that directly impact the church today.

Thomas C. Oden surveys the decisive role of African Christians and theologians in shaping the doctrines and practices of the church of the first five centuries, and makes an impassioned plea for the rediscovery of that heritage. Christians throughout the world will benefit from this reclaiming of an important heritage.

Faith in African Lived Christianity – Bridging Anthropological and Theological Perspectives offers a comprehensive, empirically rich and interdisciplinary approach to the study of faith in African Christianity. The book brings together anthropology and theology in the study of how faith and religious experiences shape the understanding of social life in Africa. The volume is a collection of chapters by prominent Africanist theologians, anthropologists and social scientists, who take people’s faith as their starting point and analyze it in a contextually sensitive way. It covers discussions of positionality in the study of African Christianity, interdisciplinary methods and approaches and a number of case studies on political, social and ecological aspects of African Christian spirituality.

"In the beginning"--Being Zulu and Christian -- Conflicting identities -- Revival -- Naturalizing the faith -- A Zulu church -- Conclusion.

This is a study of the history and current condition of Christian Churches in Africa.