Bøger af Augustine Chingwala Musopole

No sooner had northern Malawians started to become Christians in the late 19th century, than they began to compose hymns. Rather than attempting rational discourse or literary production, their first instinct was to sing and dance their faith. In this book Augustine Musopole offers us the first comprehensive analysis of the theology found in the hymns - a ground-breaking contribution to our understanding of African Christianity.

Africans have considered their ancestors the mediators between them and their creator, how come Christianity, it declared that there was one mediator between God and humanity, the man Christ Jesus. How do African Christians reconcile these two claims? The doctrine of the communion of saints is inadequate since sainthood and ancestorhood are not the same. since Jesus came to fulfill the law and the prophets among the Jews, it is argued that he did the same with the Africans. John the Baptist questions the viability of the Jewish ancestry in view of the coming of the Messiah. St. Paul has argued that both Jews and Gentiles are children of Abraham based on the faith through which Abraham was justified by God. Jesus fulfills, supersedes, and has become the one mediator. In him the role of the African ancestors is accomplished and they are also fulfilled in him. While the West have related to their ancestors through history, the Africans have done so ritualistically. The God of Jesus is also the God of our ancestors and through their life affirming traditions of wisdom, the also served the living God. They are the living dead in the living God.

While life is meant to be celebrated in its entirety, it faces challenges that baffle the mind, making it appear contradictory, rendering humanity often times vulnerable, helpless and hopeless. Yet there is some truth in the words of Max Erhmann, "With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world' that is fearfully and wonderfully made." These poems are conversations with myself on common themes of love, sexuality, nature, our evil ways, suffering, and even technology. I wanted to share my thoughts with those who are willing to eave-drop and listen to my silent conversation and experiences. One such person has observed: "I just finished reading your collection of poems, Me and My Thoughts. I enjoyed reading them very much, and I especially liked Greed of a Public Servant (very strong and moving), Daughters of Africa, Womanhood, and Remembering Africa, which all particularly stood out for me. I also completely enjoyed all the insight you shared on your very personal relationship to science, environment and God's part in it all." -Diana Hoff- (Louisville, Kentucky, USA)