The concept of incarnation in philosophical and religious traditions juxtaposed the concept of incarnation in Christianity

Incarnation, as per definition in its simplistic form, wherein God assumes a human nature, is central to the Christian doctrine of faith. The premise upon which the uniqueness of the Christian doctrine of incarnation, as opposed to other religious traditions, is embedded in and among other texts of the Christian Bible, and in the Gospel according to John 1:1-18. This article will articulate some of the philosophies in existence at that time which may allegedly have influenced and elicited a response from the writer of the Gospel according to John (GAJ). An attempt will be made to understand how some of these philosophies view incarnation in forms that may not necessarily reflect incarnation as is traditionally understood in Christianity which is primarily ‘God becoming flesh’. Central to the understanding of Christian incarnation is the philosophical concept of logos which emanated in Greek philosophy. Finally, it should become apparent, that the understanding of ‘incarnation’ 1 , in some religious traditions, which will be explored, cannot claim the same uniqueness of the Christian tradition of ‘God becoming flesh’.https://www.pharosjot.compm2020Science of Religion and Missiolog

Gog and Magog : the renditions of Alexander the Great from the context of different pre-Islamic to Islamic traditions

This article follows the one published in Verbum et Ecclesia (Sukdaven & Ahmed, 2017: 1-10) which is associated with the Timbuktu Project at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. A translated edition of the manuscript ‘Qissat Dhul Qurnain: The story of the “Two Horned King” known as Alexander the Great’ makes reference to Gog and Magog (Sukdaven et al., 2015: 106-108). This article addresses two issues. Firstly, to place into context the current manuscript within a plethora of other renderings of Alexander the Great within other traditions commonly regarded as the ‘Alexander Romance’. Much has been written about the Alexander Romance and this article attempts to summarise the different traditions of the Alexander Romance as a precursor to the article. Secondly, in as much as this manuscript addresses many themes, the article will focus only on the theme surrounding Gog and Magog in the different Alexander Romance stories pre and post Islamic traditions.https://www.pharosjot.comam2021Science of Religion and Missiolog

Spreading of Islam without any violence in Central, East and West Africa as a case study

This article studies the violence in the spreading of Islam by conquest and the factors that influenced the development of Islam in Central, East, West and Southeastern Africa. Although the spreading of Islam in these territories had not been done by Islamic conquests, as perpetrated in North Africa and other regions of the Islamic world, the majority of the population in the countries such as Sudan, Chad, Mali, Sierra Leone and Madagascar are Muslims. The results of this article show that the emigrations into these regions had an important role in introducing Islam to the native inhabitants. These emigrations had occurred either freely, through trading by Muslim traders and religious scholars, or forcefully by escaping the political and religious violence perpetrated by Eastern rulers in different areas in Central Africa. In this emigration process, the effect of Islamic scholars, missionaries and Islamic traders together with communication intermediaries among the natives is striking and as the natives became familiar with Islam and Islamic culture, Islam gradually developed after generations of integration between Muslims and native tribes.http://www.hts.org.zaScience of Religion and Missiolog

Is Dhul Qarnayn, Alexander the Great? Reflecting on Muhammad Rāghib al-Ṭabbākh’s contribution on a translated manuscript discovered in Timbuktu on Dul Qarnayn

This article emanates from a manuscript found in Timbuktu and digitised. The digitised version was subsequently translated by a team of translators and published as a book: Qissat Dhul Qarnayn [Tale of the two-horned one]. The most important question raised in reading this manuscript was the identity of Dhul Qarnayn. Subsequently to this manuscript being published as a book, a book written by Muḥammad Rāghib al-Ṭabbākh in 1949 in Arabic was examined, and it detailed a comprehensive scholarly study of the different views among scholars at that time about Dhul Qarnayn and Alexander the Great. This article reflects on the views of Muḥammad Rāghib al-Ṭabbākh in his book together with the manuscript found in Timbuktu and brings together views that attempt to establish and understand who Dhul Qarnayn is or was and his adventures. INTRADISCIPLINARY AND/OR INTERDISCIPLINARY IMPLICATIONS : The article elaborates on a topic that has been discussed by historians and theologians of the Jewish, Christian and Islamic faiths. It forms part of the discussion on apocalyptic literature. Within the Islamic context, it is often discussed among scholars dealing with the exegesis of the Qur’an and the Hadith. Some Sufi scholars tend to discuss it as well. It has intrigued some archaeologists. It highlights some civilisational issues at the time.http://www.ve.org.zaam2018Science of Religion and Missiolog

A Timbuktu manuscript expressing the mystical thoughts of Yusuf-ibn-Said

This article is based on a Timbuktu manuscript listed in a digital form on the Library of Congress – Global Gateway. The authors of this article were involved in the translation and exegesis of the manuscript. Of significance, aside from the translation, is the exegetical analysis of the manuscript which was translated and written simultaneously in a poetic form so as to bring forth the intended beauty of the author of the manuscript. From the eighty-eight lines, eighty-three are dedicated to theosophical ethical thoughts as well as to the spiritual sarcasm of the author. The context addresses a reciprocal relationship between God and humanity and how humanity can experience the highest form of happiness in this world and the hereafter. Therefore this manuscript is not only a mystical text but also contributes to Islamic ethics. In the exegesis of the translated work, Qur’anic verses were incorporated to lend support to the text where necessary.http://www.ajol.info/index.php/jsram2017Science of Religion and Missiolog

The importance of recognising Zulu customs and values consistent with biblical principles in African missional approaches

This paper is a study of the importance of recognising customs and values in missionary endeavors with reference to Southern African Zulu (hereafter referred to as Zulu) customs and values. The objective was to determine how embracing Zulu customs and values contribute to missionary endeavors. The study also sought to investigate how employing Zulu customs and values as bridges can bring Christianity in harmony with Zulu culture. A wide range of books and other sources, primarily on African traditional religion were consulted. Apart from books, a review of the Bible on the importance of recognising customs and values in missionary endeavors was attempted. The findings showed that Zulu customs and values consistent with biblical principles enhance missionary endeavors. It was also found that Zulu customs and values consistent with biblical principles contribute towards promoting Christianity among African people and can nurture them spiritually. This study motivated and prepared gospel workers to focus on future missionary endeavors. Based on the study, it is recommended that customs and values consistent with biblical principles be embraced into missionary endeavors. Klaus Fiedler argues, “African is what is relevant for Africans,” of whatever origin a value or practice may be.http://www.ctbs.org.za/sa-baptist-journal-of-theologypm2020Science of Religion and Missiolog

Exploring the possibility for African traditional religion to be included in a reimagined scriptural reasoning model

In and among the many models developed for engaging in inter-religious dialogue was a model that became known as scriptural reasoning (SR). SR basically serves the purpose of being hospitable towards the Abrahamic religions. The current approach of SR, by virtue of its focus only on scripture as the basis of engagement, obviously excludes other faith traditions that possess no sacred scripture. One such religion is African traditional religion (ATR). As a result of this exclusion, this article intends to engage SR to consider reinterpreting imaginatively, or to use a synonym, to reconceptualise, its basis of only scripture as the primary source of engagement and as such to expand its basis to include religions with an oral-orientated tradition. This article explores such a possibility for the inclusion of ATR, as an oral tradition, to be considered as an equal partner in a reimagined SR or as a parallel model with similar guidelines and outcomes as found in SR

The ethical and spiritual project of Martin Prozesky: influences and interests

This article provides a cursory overview of the life and thought of Professor Martin Prozesky, and his contributions to academia via his ethical and spiritual project. There were many people of various personalities that influenced his life, including the path he chose in academia. Some of these were scholars, such as the internationally acclaimed Professors Alister Hardy, John Hick, Lloyd Geering, Ninian Smart, Wilfred Cantwell Smith, feminist Professors Mary Daly, Ursula King and Rosemary Radford Ruether, and various process theologians. Others were spiritual leaders such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Mahatma Gandhi, the Chief Rabbi of the orthodox United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth (1991 – 2013), Jonathan Sacks, and the Dalai Lama.From his base in Theology and Religious Studies to his move to Ethics and Spirituality it could be established that there are five main contributions in Martin Prozesky’s work which he had made to academia and of which cognizance should be taken. These are: (1) the religious philosophy of Friedrich Schleiermacher; (2) the development of a critical theology; (3) his values-based explanation of religion; (4) the debate about God; and (5) the need for a multi-cultural, even global, multi-disciplinary approach to applied ethics with special attention to African ethics. These contributions among other works are discussed in this article. (The article was made possible through an interview with Prof. Prozesky that was recorded and transcribed.)Keywords: religious philosophy, Friedrich Schleiermacher, critical theology, values-based explanation of religion, debate about God, multi-cultural approach, applied ethics, African Ethic

Religion, religion! Wherefore art thou, religion? Enactment in interreligious encounters as walking the talk

‘Interfaith dialogue’ is a term that generally assumes dialogue between different faiths. Much has been written about why, how and what form this dialogue should assume. Although many theories have been developed around this process, it remained theories and did not develop into praxis. Some of these theories include aspects of psychology, theology of religions, preconditions for dialogue, ethical theories, epistemology and even social constructs in relation to the economy, social justice and peace. In as much as these theories are important, and needed to be noted, the how to walk the talk in the encounters in interreligious dialogue is not often addressed. This article, therefore, addresses the ‘enacting’ element of interreligious encounters as human-to-human encounters in walking the talk. With the emphasis on human-to-human encounters, examples from history are considered to explicate these encounters and, finally, why the term ‘interreligious dialogue’ better expresses the human-to-human encounters than the term ‘interfaith dialogue’.HTS 75th Anniversary Maake Masango Dedication.This research is part of the research project, ‘African Written Intellectual Heritage’, directed by Dr Maniraj Sukdaven, Department of Science of Religion and Missiology, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Pretoria.http://www.hts.org.zaam2020Science of Religion and Missiolog