A Theological Evaluation of the Patriarchalistic Understanding of Authority and Submission in Marriage Contextualised Within the Kingdom of Swaziland
Curle, Neville
A Theological Evaluation of the Patriarchalistic Understanding of Authority and Submission in Marriage Contextualised Within the Kingdom of Swaziland - Johannesburg, South Africa South African Theological Seminary 2012 - 321p PDF A4 Abstract, TOC
Within societies, groups of people develop rules [both written and unwritten] to govern their relationships. Together these rules come to form what is known as ‘Culture’. One inhibitor to cultural change is male dominance. Because of heightened levels of androgens, male humans are genetically disposed towards control. In addition, childhood socialization encourages male dominance and female subjugation. Over time, this predisposition has led to a situation wherein a small number of men become dominant, while most men - and all women - are subjugated to their will. This has significant negative results: [1] the exposure of the working class to exploitation and [2]the abuse of women and children. This Paradigm of male dominance – Patriarchalism - is global. It has been shown to exist [to one degree or another] since the dawn of time across all Nations - regardless of the efforts of Feminists to prove otherwise. Even in the West, where there is a lower level of dominance, men fill most of the roles in high-status areas as well as high-status roles in low-status areas. Although the Paradigm has a cultural (as opposed to a faith) basis - within the World’s faiths, the Paradigm has been used to impose hierarchical structures. This has led to spiritual abuse, as some have sought to dominate other believers within those faiths. Politically, the evidence against such men is no less condemnatory. In the East and on the African Continent, single party dictatorships effectively dominate Nations of millions. Elsewhere Multi-national companies headed up by Billionaire Moguls control the fate of millions across the globe. Both forms achieve the goal of the predatory elite – effective control over the masses and financial over lordship. In Africa, the Paradigm has survived in a form similar to that in the time of Christ. This is true of the Kingdom of Swaziland. where significant similarities are found when the Traditional culture is compared to that of its Greco-Roman counterpart. Theologically, both Complementarians and Egalitarians want marriages that display God’s glory; both seek to do the will of God; both honestly interpret God’s word. Yet, their resultant interpretations are contrary. Once the Scriptures have been sifted through, we find two significant points of departure. For the Hierarchicalists, male leadership is critical to the debate and overrides all other considerations. To Egalitarians, mutual submission - as required by Galatians 3:28 and Ephesians 5:21 - constitutes the point of departure. This research focusses on five specific areas. Firstly, it records the social and historic development of the Patriarchalistic Paradigm. Secondly, it compares the culture of the Kingdom of Swaziland to the Greco Roman culture that existed at the time of Christ.Thirdly, it seeks to bridge the theological gap between Complementarians and Egalitarians through the application of Paul and Peter’s eschatological ‘already-not yet’ beliefs operating in the ‘now’. Fourthly, it outlines a practical theology of marriage that Believers can apply within any culture. Finally it theologically evaluates the Patriarchalistic understanding of Authority and Marriage within the context of the Kingdom of Swaziland.
Marriage--Roles in Marriage --Swaziland
A Theological Evaluation of the Patriarchalistic Understanding of Authority and Submission in Marriage Contextualised Within the Kingdom of Swaziland - Johannesburg, South Africa South African Theological Seminary 2012 - 321p PDF A4 Abstract, TOC
Within societies, groups of people develop rules [both written and unwritten] to govern their relationships. Together these rules come to form what is known as ‘Culture’. One inhibitor to cultural change is male dominance. Because of heightened levels of androgens, male humans are genetically disposed towards control. In addition, childhood socialization encourages male dominance and female subjugation. Over time, this predisposition has led to a situation wherein a small number of men become dominant, while most men - and all women - are subjugated to their will. This has significant negative results: [1] the exposure of the working class to exploitation and [2]the abuse of women and children. This Paradigm of male dominance – Patriarchalism - is global. It has been shown to exist [to one degree or another] since the dawn of time across all Nations - regardless of the efforts of Feminists to prove otherwise. Even in the West, where there is a lower level of dominance, men fill most of the roles in high-status areas as well as high-status roles in low-status areas. Although the Paradigm has a cultural (as opposed to a faith) basis - within the World’s faiths, the Paradigm has been used to impose hierarchical structures. This has led to spiritual abuse, as some have sought to dominate other believers within those faiths. Politically, the evidence against such men is no less condemnatory. In the East and on the African Continent, single party dictatorships effectively dominate Nations of millions. Elsewhere Multi-national companies headed up by Billionaire Moguls control the fate of millions across the globe. Both forms achieve the goal of the predatory elite – effective control over the masses and financial over lordship. In Africa, the Paradigm has survived in a form similar to that in the time of Christ. This is true of the Kingdom of Swaziland. where significant similarities are found when the Traditional culture is compared to that of its Greco-Roman counterpart. Theologically, both Complementarians and Egalitarians want marriages that display God’s glory; both seek to do the will of God; both honestly interpret God’s word. Yet, their resultant interpretations are contrary. Once the Scriptures have been sifted through, we find two significant points of departure. For the Hierarchicalists, male leadership is critical to the debate and overrides all other considerations. To Egalitarians, mutual submission - as required by Galatians 3:28 and Ephesians 5:21 - constitutes the point of departure. This research focusses on five specific areas. Firstly, it records the social and historic development of the Patriarchalistic Paradigm. Secondly, it compares the culture of the Kingdom of Swaziland to the Greco Roman culture that existed at the time of Christ.Thirdly, it seeks to bridge the theological gap between Complementarians and Egalitarians through the application of Paul and Peter’s eschatological ‘already-not yet’ beliefs operating in the ‘now’. Fourthly, it outlines a practical theology of marriage that Believers can apply within any culture. Finally it theologically evaluates the Patriarchalistic understanding of Authority and Marriage within the context of the Kingdom of Swaziland.
Marriage--Roles in Marriage --Swaziland