Theological Thinking and Eurocentric Epistemologies: A Challenge to Theologians within Afriana Religious Studies

SMC Author

Joseph Drexler-Dreis

SMC Affiliated Work

1

Author Role

author

Status

Faculty

School

School of Liberal Arts

Department

Theology and Religious Studies

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-1-2018

Publication / Conference / Sponsorship

Journal of Africana Religions

Publisher/Venue

Penn State University Press

Description/Abstract

Motivated by the work of scholars of Africana religions, this essay questions whether theology as a mode of critical reflection that depends on Christian-centric understandings of revelation can contribute toward a liberation from colonial relations of power. Actualizing liberation in a meaningful way requires a liberation from Eurocentric loci of rationality, yet theologians’ movement toward liberation often proceeds precisely from such a site—namely, a reception of revelation dominated by the Mediterranean world and Europe. To explain this tension, I first consider how work within Africana religious studies challenges Christian theological ways of thinking. Second, I focus on uses of revelation in theology and consider how even nuanced understandings of revelation often remain mired epistemologically in colonial relations of power. I conclude by concretizing a question, prompted by scholars of Africana religions, that theologians must address within projects responding to colonial relations of power.

Keywords

Africana religious studies, decolonial thinking, liberation theology, revelation

Scholarly

yes

ISSN

2165-5413

Volume

6

First Page

27

Last Page

49

Disciplines

Arts and Humanities | Religion | Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion

Original Citation

Drexler-Dreis, Joseph. "Theological Thinking and Eurocentric Epistemologies: A Challenge to Theologians within Afriana Religious Studies," Journal of Africana Religions (2018): 27-49. https://muse.jhu.edu/article/683884

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS