St. Luke's Gospel and its Relevance for Africa Today
Contents
Section A: The Religious Heritage of Africa
This section aims at giving the student an appreciation of those elements of his/her religious background which are common to most African traditional religions.
Wholeness of Life
All aspects of human life and all its activities are related to the deity (a Divine Being). The need to be at one with the deity in every phase of life.
Man in Community
Kinship to both the living and the dead. Patterns of behavior.
The Unfolding Patterns of Life
Birth, childhood, transition to adulthood and marriage, old age, death and the state of those who have died. The rituals and traditions associated with these stages.
After Death, the World of Spirits in Everyday Life
The Supreme Being
Creator of the world and of all men.
System of Sacrifice, Offerings and Prayer
Special People, Such as Prophets, Priests, Healers
Section B: The Religious Heritage of the Jewish People at the Time of Christ
The main aim of this section is to give an understanding of attitudes and thinking generally current among the Jewish people at the time of Christ, to be developed in five themes.
The Land of Promise
The People
Covenant relationship with God.
The Temple
God's presence among his people.
The Law
A way of life expressing the covenant relationship.
The Messiah
Expectations of the Jewish people.
Section C: The Life and Teaching of Christ as Recorded in St. Luke's Gospel
The Gospel is to be studied in its entirety as an account of the life and teaching of Christ; attention being given to the significance of the events and teachings it records, not only for the people at Christ's time but also for the pupil in his contemporary environment.
(1) The significance of the Gospel for the people at the time of Christ should be studied in close relation to Section B above.
(2) The significance of the Gospel for the student in his contemporary environment should be studied in close relation to Section A.
