Towards the sustainable well-being of communities: Africa, the modern empire and Christianity

Author

Attie S van Niekerk

Synopsis

The central thesis of this book focuses on the well-being of households and communities, as well as the ecology in Africa, which requires sustainable, desirable, effective and affordable practices. Such practices have to be formed by a combination of available things and thoughts from a multifaceted environment and different cultural traditions. It can happen spontaneously but can also be defined through scientific, multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary processes. This scholarly book combines things and thoughts from traditional African cultures, modernity and Christianity in diverse local landscapes. It demonstrates that practices are needed that make it possible to transcend existing destructive ways of living.

The book presents a scientific discourse on development in Africa, often characterised by modern paradigmsʼ hegemony. Van Niekerk, however, illustrates the relevance of African cultures and traditions and the Christian message for understanding development in the African context and finding ways toward the well-being of people and the planet. The methodology applied in this book integrates insights from African literature and philosophy, Christian theology and the analysis of practical development experiments.

Chapters

Chapter 1
Scene setting

Attie S van Niekerk
Chapter 2
Personal encounters

Attie S van Niekerk
Chapter 3
The way we think

Attie S van Niekerk
Chapter 4
What is the problem? The role of the modern empire

Attie S van Niekerk
Chapter 5
What is the problem?: The role of Christianity

Attie S van Niekerk
Chapter 6
The African incorporation of Christianity

Attie S van Niekerk
Chapter 7
The resilience of the African world

Attie S van Niekerk
Chapter 8
African ways to deal with modernity

Attie S van Niekerk
Chapter 9
The impact of the modern empire on African households

Attie S van Niekerk
Chapter 10
The impact of modernity on traditional personhood and community

Attie S van Niekerk
Chapter 11
Aspects of urbanisation in Africa

Attie S van Niekerk
Chapter 12
Is a different world possible?

Attie S van Niekerk
Chapter 13
Theological guidelines

Attie S van Niekerk
Chapter 14
A strategy for the sustainable well-being of communities

Attie S van Niekerk
Chapter 15
How can we put the strategy into practice?

Attie S van Niekerk

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