Christianity and Suffering: African Perspectives

We often hear these days that the center of Christianity is moving toward the Global South and Africa is a key player in that movement. This makes the study of African Christianity and African realities important - even more so when it is being done by Africans themselves in their own context. The Africa Society of Evangelical Theology (ASET) was created to encourage research and sustained theological reflection on key issues facing Africa by and for African Christians and those working within African contexts. The volumes in the ASET series constitute the best papers presented at the annual conferences of ASET and together they seek to fill this important gap in the literature of Christianity.

Africa is all too familiar with suffering. Yet there is a dearth of sustained theological reflection on suffering by Africans, or for Africans. Christianity and Suffering: African Perspectives addresses this need and is the fruit of the 5th Annual Conference of the Africa Society of Evangelical Theology. The contributions address age-old issues like why God does not prevent or relieve human suffering; they wrestle with causes of suffering including witchcraft, poverty, curses, and war; and they also explore appropriate Christian responses to suffering, all from within the African context.

This book emanates from conference papers under the auspices of the Africa Society of Evangelical Theology. This is an attempt by eminent evangelical theologians to reflect upon suffering and pain from an African perspective. The authors have dealt with the doctrine of theodicy from an African setting, thus instilling Christian hope in the midst of pain, misery and untold suffering. They have endeavored to demonstrate that even in suffering our loving God is still in control.

Zablon Nthamburi, PhD

Professor of Theology, Africa Nazarene University, Nairobi, Kenya

Former Presiding Bishop of the Kenya Methodist Church

In this publication, the Africa Society of Evangelical Theology takes a look at Christianity and suffering from an African perspective. Personal and corporate sin leads to suffering. God is not seen as author but as Redeemer from both sin and suffering. Some writers expose unique African negative contributions to suffering, and other writers challenge the church in Africa to find and implement appropriate solutions.

Daryll Gordon Stanton, EdD

Former Chair, Department of Religion, Africa Nazarene University, Nairobi, Kenya