The Church and Gender Equality in Africa: Questioning Culture and the Theological Paradigm on Women Oppression

Ani Casimir, Matthew C. Chukwuelobe, Collins Ugwu

Department of Philosophy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
Department of Religion and Cultural Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
Institute of African Studies/Department of Philosophy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.

DOI: 10.4236/ojpp.2014.42024                

Abstract

Pope John Paul II made a historic apology to several groups oppressed by the church since its inquisition started. The late pontiff’s apology to women as a group was as a result of the obnoxious and oppressive denial of women’s human right by the Church and the greater society because of the wrong interpretation of the “submission” clause in the Bible. The subsequent re-interpretation of the submission clause in the Letter to the Ephesians strongly confirmed and affirmed the equality of man and woman and established the theological and philosophical basis for questioning oppressive cultural ethos in Africa and demanding for a theological paradigm shift which will help Africa to address the centuries old inequities, inequalities and injustices suffered and still borne by women in the 21^st century. This article captures the religious role and position of the church and defines the basis for calling for a new gender approach within the Church that will achieve gender equality in Africa.

Keywords

Gender; Culture; Christian Theology; Change; Submission Clause and Equality

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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