Overcoming The Osu Caste System Among The Afro Igbo

It is the conviction of Sacramentum Caritatis as well as the fathers of the Second Vatican Council that active participation at Eucharistic celebration cannot be easily disassociated from active involvement in the Church's mission in the world. This present study in the light of the foregoing presuppositions, exposes some of such challenges confronting the Afro-Igbo Christian, with special focus on the menace of the osu caste system, and proposes ways towards its eradication. One of such ways remains strengthening the Eucharistic celebration through the process of the inculturation.

Why is the Osu caste system, a form of discrimination, still deep-seated in Igboland? Are the civil and human rights of the Osu not being violated? How does the system affect global perception on Igbo culture and her civilization? The Osu Caste Discrimination in Igboland: Impact on Igbo Culture and Civilization, which is sequel to The Osu Caste System in Igboland: A Challenge for Nigerian Democracy, describes the pain, grief and agony of those groaning under the Osu caste system in Igboland. The system ascribes an inferior Osu status to the group and limits their social interaction, marriage contracts and relationship of love with the Diala. Consequently, their daily lives are tormented by the associated Osu stigma, which hinders their social mobility and progress. Any person reading this book should reflect critically on the issue and join hands to dismantle the system for justice, fairness and social progress.

If there is no religion in the world, the world would more or less become a jungle. The world will be inhuman. Religion touches all aspects of human life. Identifying God's will in our world today has become a major problem for many religions of the world. In the past, in Igbo Traditional Religion, human sacrifice as well as the killing of twins were practised. For the Igbo traditionalists then, that was the will of the deities and equally not against God's will. But following the encounter of Igbo Traditional Religion with Christianity these are no longer practised. Misinterpretation of God's will by some religions of the world has given rise to religious violence, religious extremism, fanaticism and terrorism we are experiencing today in the world. For these problems to be resolved, it is pertinent that the study of various religions be taken seriously. This study should be aiming at better understanding, co-existence, respect for one another and frequent inter-religious dialogues among the various religions of the world. When this is achieved, the believers of various religions would realize that many are worshipping one God and their desire is to communicate with Him, although they may approach Him differently.

The doctoral thesis about Hieratikon of priest Lucian Petroaia brings to the researchers’ attention, the most important book of service of the orthodox priest. From a historical perspective, the author has carefully identified and investigated all editions of the Hieratikon printed in Romania, from 1508 to the present; from the point of view of analyzing the content of the Hieratikon, he follows the evolution of the order of the Holly Liturgy over 500 years, often comparing the text of the Romanian Hieratikon with that of the Greek Hieratikon and the Slavic Slujebnik. The interdisciplinary approach emphasizes the essential role that the Orthodox liturgical cult had for the assertion of Romanian culture, in the landscape of the European and Universal culture.

Fear runs rampant in the world today, including fears related to the rise of nationalism, refugees, political corruption, violence, religious extremism, and climate crises. Amid these existential realities, the biblical idea of "the fear of God" poses theological opportunities and challenges for those who address these themes in their preaching and public ministry. This collection of conference presentations from the 2018 meeting of Societas Homiletica focuses on how preaching and homiletical studies around the world address the rhetorical, biblical, political, and spiritual dimensions of fear as it has emerged in recent decades in church and society.