| dc.description.abstract | This study investigates Kipsigis Worldview items for better understanding of the Catholic
doctrine of salvation in Kericho Sub-County using inculturation approach. The problem
that led to the study is that even though there has been a deliberate effort by the Roman
Catholic Church (henceforth RCC) to inculturate Kipsigis cultural values, the Kipsigis
Worldview items have been neglected yet they are very important in Kipsigis philosophy
of life. Admitedly, songs, dances and prayers have been inculturated in popular liturgy
and catechesis leaving out the other fundamental items. Thus for a more effective
ministry to the Kipsigis, the RCC ought to inculturate the main Worldview items to better
propagate Good News of salvation thereby assisting the community or communities to
own it. This is among the issues the study strives to address. The study also sought to
contribute to knowledge by perusing the impact of Kipsigis Worldview items on a
beneficial explanation of the doctrine of salvation.
The main goal of this study, therefore, is to investigate Kipsigis Worldview items in
Kericho Sub-County so as to enhance a better understanding of the Catholic doctrine of
salvation using inculturation approach as a model for other ethnic communities. This is
achieved through the following specific objectives: to examine Kipsigis Worldview items
that enhance a better understanding of the RCC doctrine of salvation by means of
inculturation; to explore RCC‘s teachings and theologians‘ reflections on inculturation; to
confront emerging insights from Kipsigis Worldview items with RCC‘s and theologians‘
explanation of salvation eventually drawing out the emerging implications of the study
areas for further research.
The main hypothesis of the study is that the Kipsigis Worldview items when properly
investigated and critically analyzed contribute to a better understanding and propagation
of the RCC doctrine of salvation.This is specifically hypothesized as follows: critically
examined, employing inculturation approach, the Kipsigis Worldview items enhance
better understanding and elaboration of the RCC doctrine of salvation; the RCC and
theologians pragmatically advocate for the need to inculturate the aforementioned
Christian doctrine thereby providing invaluable teachings concerning inculturation; the
doctrine of salvation as expounded by RCC and theologians is invaluable but not
sufficient for African world-view; Kipsigis Worldview items vis-a-vis RCC together
with theologians‘ insights are invaluable in comprehending and elaborating the doctrine
of salvation. On the basis of this, far reaching implications and emerging
recommendations can be usefully drawn herewith.
The theoretical framework comprises four complementary theories that guided the study,
namely: Congar‘s general revelation theory; Boffs‘ mediation theory; redaction criticism
theory as propagated by scholars like Käsemann, Marxsen, Conzelmann, Fuchs and
Bornkamm; and Nyamiti‘s nexus mysteriorum theory. Boffs‘ theory supported this study
methodologically by giving the three important stages of doing research namely: social
analysis which involves inserting oneself into the base community (in our case Kipsigis
of Kericho Sub-County) to find out the state of affairs; the second stage is that of
hermeneutical mediation which involves finding the will of God found in the Scriptures
and genuine Christian Tradition on the issue at hand; and finally that of praxis which involves drawing out invaluable transforming recommendations. Redaction criticism
theory advises on the need to treat scriptural texts as unified literally units allowing
Biblical passages‘ analysis at scholarly level thereby enabling us to source scientifically
from the Scriptures. Congar‘s general revelation theory legitimized our effort by arguing
that all ethnic groups, including Kipsigis, are endowed with Godly characteristics and
means of salvation for it members, which challenged the study to find out the salvation
elements vital in understanding the RCC doctrine of salvation. Nyamiti‘s nexus
mysteriorum theory enables us to relate our opted for doctrine to other Christian doctrines
instructing on essential interconnection of Christian mysteries.
In attaining its goal the study adopted a case study complemented with eclectic approach
research design. This enabled the study to investigate and describe Kipsigis Worldview
items in detail in context and in totality. The study targeted fifty respondents twenty of
whom were Kipsigis traditionalists while the other thirty were members of the RCC in
Kericho Sub-County. Snowball sampling technique was used to identify twenty Kipsigis
traditionalists; non-probability purposive sampling technique was used to identify leaders
and members of the RCC. Data collection instruments used included; questionnaires, indepth
interviews, and focus group discussions. Data analysis was done at both literal and
interpretive level; Charles Nyamiti‘s methodological approach also played a very key
role in data analysis.
In its findings and analysis, the study revealed that the Kipsigis Worldview items are rich
with salvation items of anthropocentrism, vitality, dynamism, sacredness and
communality. These were drawn from its rites of passage, items that relate to day to day
activities and Kipsigis religious aspects. It further emerged that the RCC not only teaches
but also instructs on the need and urgency of inculturating the Gospel to enable fit into
particular cultural contexts. The insights emerged from various magisterial directives of
the Church and theologians‘ reflections thus encouraging us to undertake the study. It
also emerged that the RCC‘s theologians‘ reflections particularly the Western ones are
still useful but insufficient for our African worldview. On this foundation, the need to
inculturate the aforementioned doctrine among the Kipsigis of Kericho Sub-County and
others was shown to be indispensable.
Among other recommendations, the study recommended that, so as to make the doctrine
of salvation be more relevant and meaningful among the Kipsigis in Kericho SubCounty,
there was not only need to utilize Kipsigis items in catechesis. It is also
important to propagate salvation as the fundamental way of life utilizing Kipsigis
perception of salvation as elevated by the RCC‘s teachings and theologians‘ reflections
on it.
The study further triggers important areas for more research. One of these is that, by
virtue of the theory of nexus mysteriorum, other Christian mysteries like Christology,
Pneumatology, Ecclesiology and Eschatology can be explored using our case study as a
humble model. Another area for further study is that of inculturating the doctrine we
opted for from the point of view of other ethnic groups since the theory of general
revelation discloses that all communities, and not just that of the Kipsigis, are
gratutitously gifted with salvation characteristics that may be usefully exploited for a
more useful evangelization. | en_US |
