Barnabas Shabayang

DOI : https://doi.org/10.47191/ijsshr/v5-i9-31

Google Scholar Download Pdf
ABSTRACT

God is a supernatural, Eternal and Omnipotent Being. The rich Christian theology presents God as perfect unity in tri-personal mode of operation. Using the transcendental and contextual method, the research examines the exposition of trinitarian communion as the apex of security, love, unity and tranquility. This notion is captured in the Greek terms of perichoresis and Circumincession – meaning the penetration of the inner coinherence within the psychology of the Trinity. The research assesses the inner dynamics that forms the unity of God in Tri-personal essence, making it serve as a theological discourse to create a culture of peace, love, unity and justice in Africa. These features of metaphoric-psychic-spiritual realities captured manifestly, the ideals of divine essence espoused to model the human domain; thus, serving as remedy against the prevalent culture of feud, conflict and war. In its conceptual womb, Ubuntu structures and tailors a common hegemony of the philosophy of unity to mediate peace in Africa. Thus, the inner coinherence present in the essence of the Trinity is faith-in-action; paving way to resolving concrete African issues on security, finance, agriculture and the likes. The Communion of God in the Trinity therefore, is elixir of unity.

KEYWORDS:

Insecurity, Theology, Socio-political, Trinitarian Communion, Truth

REFERENCES

1) AGBONKHIANMEGHE, E. Orobator, Religion and Faith in Africa: Confessions of an Animist, Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books, 2018.

2) AINEAH, Agnes, Attack in Nigeria’s Kaduna State, “A Massacre against Natives”: Catholic Priest, Kaduna, 29 September, 2021/9:35pm (ACI Africa) Accessed in: https://middlebelttimes.com2021/09/27...

3) ATEMANKE, Jude, reporting on Interreligious Dialogue Vital “in fight against terrorism in Sahel”: SECAM PRESIDENT, Ouagadougou, 08 March, 2020/10:35pm (ACI Africa).

4) BINYAVANGA, Wainaina, www.granta.com/extracts/2615 , Accessed, Wednesday, 7th September, 2022.

5) BOFF, Leonardo, “Trinity,” in Systematic Theology: Perspectives from Liberation Theology, Jon Sobrino and Ignacio Ellacuria, eds, Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books, 1996.

6) DANIEL, M. Mengara, ed., Images of Africa: Stereotypes and Realities, Trenton, NJ: Africa World Press, 2001.

7) FORTE, Church: Icon of the Trinity, 191.

8) GUNTON, Colin E., The Promise of Trinitarian Theology, 2nd ed, Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1999.

9) GUTIERREZ, Gustavo, “Prophecy and Memory, “in The Option for the Poor in Christian Theology, ed. Daniel G. Goody (Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press, 2007).

10) __________., The Power of the Poor in History, New York: Orbis, 1983.

11) HAIGHT, Roger, “Liberation Theology” in The New Dictionary of Theology, ed. Joseph Komonchak et al, New Delhi: Pauline Publications, 2008

12) HOROWITZ, Donald, L., Ethnic Groups in Conflict, Berkely, Los Angeles, London: University of California Press, 1985.

13) HOUSE, H. Wayne, Charts of Christian Theology and Doctrine, Michigan: Zondervan, 1992.

14) ILO, Stan Chu, Ilo, Stan Chu, A Poor and Merciful Church: The Illuminative Ecclesiology of Pope Francis, Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books, 2018.

15) ____________., “Amoris Laetitia and the Logic of Mercy and Integration in an Illuminative Church,” in Love, Joy and Sex: African Conversation on Pope Francis’ Amoris Laetitia and the Gospel of Family in a Divided World, Paulines Publications West Africa, 2022.

16) ISIZOH, Denis Chidi, Sharing the Good News of Christ in Dialogue: Collected Writings, eds. Alfred C. Okakpu and Maureen O. Akabogu, Onitsha: Feros Prints & Co. Limited, 2010.

17) JOHN PAUL II, Address on the Liberative Power of the Trinity to Latin American Bishops, Puebla, January 28, 1979.

18) KUKAH, Matthew Hassan, “Nigeria What Time Is It & Where are We?” in Broken Truths: Nigeria’s Elusive Quest for National Cohesion, Abuja: PCJ Press Ltd, 2022.

19) MIROSLAV, Volf, “Being as God is: Trinity and Generosity,” in God’s Life in Trinity, ed. Miroslav Volf and Michael Welker, Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2006.

20) O’COLLINS, Gerald, “John PAUL II and the Development of Doctrine,” in The Legacy of John Paul II, eds. Gerald O’Collins and Michael A. Hayes, New York & London: Burns & Oates, 2008.

21) OSBORN, “The Greco-Roman World: Challenge and Response,” in History of Theology: The Patristic Period, Angelo Di Berardino, Basil Studer, eds., Volume I, Trans. Matthew J. O’Connell.

22) OTONKO, Jake Omang, The Complexities of the Nigerian Nation: Interrogating Human Rights, Religion and Society, Eiwa Press Nig. Ltd, 2020.

23) POPE FRANCIS, Evangelium Gaudium, The Joy of the Gospel, no. 198, Apostolic Exhortation, 2013.

24) POPE JOHN PAUL II, “Address at the Coliseum (7 May 2000); in AAS 93 (2000), pp. 677-679; Origins 30: 1 (2000).

25) SIMONETTI, Manilio, “The Beginnings of Theological Reflection in the West,” in History of Theology: The Patristic Period, Angelo Di Berardino, Basil Studer, eds., Volume I, Trans. Matthew J. O’Connell, Collegeville, Minnesota: The Liturgical Press, 1997.

26) SHABAYANG, Barnabas Samaila, African Catholic Priest as Elder, Reconcilier and Mediator: A Reflection of Christ’s Kenosis in the teachings of St. Pope John Paul II and the African Bishops, Kaduna: Benwood Graphix, 2017.

27) ____________., “The Holy Spirit and the Future of Catholicism in Africa,” in African Journal of Contextual Theology, Vol. 6, June, 2016.

28) SANDILE, Memela, https://www.news24.com/Archieves/City-Press/The-new-Africanness-20150429.

29) THE RIGHT USE OF TIME, https://youtube.com/watch?v=hOro8zP7slY , Accessed, Wedneday,7 th July, 2022 .

30) UZUKWU, Elochukwu, E., A Listening Church: Autonomy and Communion in African Churches, Enugu: SNAAP Press Ltd, 1996.

VOlUME 05 ISSUE 09 SEPTEMBER 2022