Shona traditional religion : its effects on the church and biblical perspective /
by Fanuel Tagara Chandomba.
- 1986.
- vi, 108 leaves, bound ; 29 cm.
Typescript. A Ministry Perspective Project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts, Columbia Graduate School of Bible and Missions, Columbia, South Carolina, 1986. Bibliography: leaves 107-108. 1. Introduction to Shona Traditional Religion 2. Functions of Religion 3. The Shona Beliefs and Concept of the Universe 4. The Shona Family Structure: Kinship and Ancestors 5. Biblical Perspective on Ancestor Practices 6. Shona Spirits and Mediums 7. The Divine-Healer-Herbalist, Witchcraft, and Sorcery
Description of the Problem -- Description of Attempts to Solve the Problem -- Description of Proposed Strategy to Solve the Problem. Definition of Religion -- Function of Religion -- Religion and Myths -- Religion and Rituals -- Rites of Passage. The Nature of the Universe -- The Universe Is Eternal -- The Universe Has Order -- The Shona Concept of God -- Shona Imaginations of God -- What God does -- Human images of God -- The attributes of God -- God is merciful -- God is good -- God is all-powerful -- God is present everywhere -- Origin and Summary of Shona Concepts of God -- Shona Concept of Man -- The Shona and the World of Spirits -- Man at the Center of the Universe -- Man and Human Relationships -- Man's Power Limited -- Man and Myths -- Man and the Departed -- Conclusion -- Biblical Perspective to Shona Concepts of the Universe, God, and Man. The Shona Family and Kinship -- The Shona Family and the Function of Marriage -- Ancestor Worship -- Status of the Ancestors -- The Qualification of an Ancestor -- The Mutual Dependence of Ancestor and the Living -- The Shona Practices of Ancestor Worship. The Bible and Family Structure -- The Bible and Ancestors -- The Bible and Family Welfare -- The Bible and Place of the Dead -- The Bible and Communication with the Dead -- The Bible and Confrontational Prayer -- God as the Source of Blessings -- Christ the Only Mediator. Avenging Spirits -- Compensation -- Exorcism -- Preventive Measures Against Future Attacks -- Stranger Spirits -- Types and Skills by Stranger Spirits -- Possession by Stranger Spirits -- Argument Over Possession by a Stranger Spirit -- The Community or Territorial Spirits -- Spirit Mediums and Political Struggle -- Spirit Mediums and Religious Role -- Rain rituals -- Ritual ceremony. Shona Diviner-Herbalist (Nganga) -- Magic -- Charms and Fetishes -- The Power of Words -- Witchcraft -- Divine-Healer-Herbalist -- Types of Nganga -- The Call of a Nganga -- Divination and Healing -- Divine Proceess -- Removal of the cause of illness -- Medical treatment -- Biblical Perspective to Shona Spirits and Mediums, Witchcraft, and Divination -- Biblical Perspective -- Mixed Reactions -- Challenge to study Scriptures -- God speaks through His Word -- Records of demon possession -- Power encounters -- Conclusion.
Columbia Graduate School of Bible and Missions.--Ministry Perspective Project.