Defense Date

3-28-2023

Graduation Date

Spring 5-5-2023

Availability

Immediate Access

Submission Type

dissertation

Degree Name

PhD

Department

Theology

School

McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts

Committee Chair

Sebastian Madathummuriyil

Committee Member

Elochukwu Uzukwu

Committee Member

Radu Bordeianu

Keywords

Eurocentrism, Triumphalism, Interculturality, Inculturation, Interreligious Dialogue, Postmodernity, Detraditionalization, Consumerism, Tametsi

Abstract

The changing phases of religions, cultures, and world history in postmodernity call on the Catholic tradition to be religiously and culturally interreligious. The identity and mission of the Church can no longer be defined in a Eurocentric, triumphalist, or exclusivist term as in colonial times. As the Church expands to new religio-cultural and socio-political territories, the theological principles of dialogue, interculturality, listening, and inculturation must guide her mission. This dissertation, tracing the historical, cultural, and theological development of interreligious and cultural dialogue in the Catholic Church, argues that the Catholic Church of Ghana must engage religious and cultural diversity with a new outlook of dialogue and collaboration to promote national harmony in Ghana.

Interculturality, this dissertation contends that the Ghana Catholic Church needs to adopt a paradigm shift in the theology of marriage instead of assuming as normative the canonical form of the Council of Trent, which does not resonate with the culture of the Akans. The consequence of the ‘imposition’ of this tradition on the church of Ghana has resulted in the multiplicity of marriage ceremonies before an Akan married spouse can participate at the eucharistic table. This has resulted in eucharistic famine and ecclesial apathy in most parishes. This dissertation explores a new context that integrates the Catholic Holy Matrimony into the culture of the Akan marriage rite. Two models of Akan-Catholic marriage are proposed considering the theological, canonical, civil, and cultural requirements for the validity and celebration of marriage that is truly Akan and truly Catholic.

Language

English

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