The liberation potential of the Shona culture and the Gospel: A post-feminist perspective

Abstract

The basic presupposition is that the original God-human-cosmos mutual interconnectedness or interrelationship is tarnished and distorted by evil in all its manifestations; that culture and the Gospel have seeds for restoring this intricate plexus of relationships impinging on humanity's creation and baptismal dignity of the imago Dei/Christi, the integrity of creation, and the baptismal vocation of sharing in the mission of Christ ad gentes (to the nations, cf. Mk 15:16). Challenges and contributions of liberation theology, in general, and feminist, eco-feminist and post-feminist perspectives, in particular, are critically examined in the backdrop of the Shona culture-Gospel creative dialogue. The spotlight is on the quest for a liberating, holistic, inclusive and responsible theanthropocosmic (theos/thea [God/ess - anthropos [humankind] - cosmos/world) theology sensitive to the signs of the times. Theological methodology highlights the mutual influencing of enculturation, evangelisation and incarnation.