In order to address the bewitchment endured by researchers who specialize in ATRs following the influence of the Abrahamic monotheisms on their research approach, this chapter contends that panentheism offers itself as a powerful antidote and more robust alternative. Through this concept, some of the fundamental features of ATRs like the immanence of God, creatio ex materia/co-creation, absence of hellfire, the limited-God thesis, and non-existence of the Devil are accorded intelligent and coherent explanations. Although in this chapter I invite Yorùbá theology as fulcrum to unpack the explanatory powers of panentheism for addressing these themes or features of ATRs, I occasionally take inspiration from other religious cultures both those within Africa, and those inspired by ATRs, like Candomblé, an Afro-Brazilian religion for reinforcing my thesis. From this perspective, I am able to submit that panentheism presents itself as the most plausible concept for explaining the distinct features of non-Abrahamic monotheisms like those of ATRs. While making the submission that panentheism best appropriates ATRs, I am also careful to not say that the concept is not strange to other theological explanations like process theology—an extension of process-relational philosophy.

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African Traditional Religions and the Explanatory Powers of Panentheism

  • Emmanuel Ofuasia

摘要

In order to address the bewitchment endured by researchers who specialize in ATRs following the influence of the Abrahamic monotheisms on their research approach, this chapter contends that panentheism offers itself as a powerful antidote and more robust alternative. Through this concept, some of the fundamental features of ATRs like the immanence of God, creatio ex materia/co-creation, absence of hellfire, the limited-God thesis, and non-existence of the Devil are accorded intelligent and coherent explanations. Although in this chapter I invite Yorùbá theology as fulcrum to unpack the explanatory powers of panentheism for addressing these themes or features of ATRs, I occasionally take inspiration from other religious cultures both those within Africa, and those inspired by ATRs, like Candomblé, an Afro-Brazilian religion for reinforcing my thesis. From this perspective, I am able to submit that panentheism presents itself as the most plausible concept for explaining the distinct features of non-Abrahamic monotheisms like those of ATRs. While making the submission that panentheism best appropriates ATRs, I am also careful to not say that the concept is not strange to other theological explanations like process theology—an extension of process-relational philosophy.