TY  - BOOK
AU  - Kwarteng, Lawrence A.
TI  - Inculturation of the Scriptures in the Light of ‘Inayan’ and ‘Lawa’ for the Evangelization of the Kankana–eys, Philippines
PY  - 2020///
CY  - Johannesburg South Africa
PB  - South African Theological Seminary
N2  - It  is  appealing  to  embrace  the  belief  that  we  arrive  at a  philosophical  position  based  on our worldview, which  is  largely affected  by  our  socio-cultural  settings.  Our  worldview  is  so imbedded in our system that it is difficult for us to break away from that viewpoint. The same is true  in  a  Christian  context.  Every  Christian  has  his/her own  way  of  interpreting  the  scriptures, and it is only when we step back and objectively examine carefully what we believe against what is  written  in  Scripture  that  we  begin  to  question  how  accurately  our  worldview  reflects  the biblical teaching (Froise 1989). Our church history reveals that since around the mid–1970s, the issue of contextualization has engaged both the older churches of the Euro-American  ̳West‘ and the younger,  ̳emergent churches‘ of the non-western world (Maggay2013). The  growth of tensions  between the two cultures of Euro-American Christianity and the  young emergent  churches  of  the  non-western  world reflects an endless  struggle.    Apparently,  the tendency  to  base  our  Christian  faith,  beliefs  and  practice  on  a  single  particular  culture  and worldview  has  enormous  significance  as modernity  is  developing.  This  thesis  illustrates  how culture (not only influence) frames in a comprehensive way the manner in which a local church community reads, appropriates, and communicates the scriptures. As a specific case in point, this paper examines the beliefs of ‘Lawa’and  ̳Inayan’of the Kankana-eysof Benguet and attempts to differentiate between what is purely cultural and what is religious and biblical.  ̳Kankana-ey‘refers to  people  Filipino indigenous group of the Northern Philippines. They are  part  of  a  collective  group  of  indigenous  people  known  as  the  Igorot.  The Kankana-eysof Benguet  are the  majority  ethnic  group  in  the  municipalities  of Kapangan,  Bakun,  Kibungan, Buguias and Mankayan. ̳Inayan‘signifies fear of the perceived ancestral spirits and the Supreme Being. Thus, this sense of Inayan prevents a person from doing unpleasant things to others or the Deity.  ̳Lawa‘is theconcept of bearing a threat or curse: The law reflects a prescribing function of inayan over behavioural choices to  ̳conform or else‘it will result in ̳fear‘and  ̳dread.‘Lawausually refers to something spoken in a negative statement to emphasize the action to be obeyed. The  ̳call  to  obey‘or lawameans  ̳evil,  forbidden  thing‘,  or  ̳it  is  improper,  it  is  wrong,  unfit, morally bad, and indecent. ‘It  was  revealed  that  there  is  a  strong  appeal  to inculcate Inayanand Lawa in  the  light  of  the scriptures for the evangelization of the Kankana-eys.  Ignorance of the practice of spirituality of Lawanda Inayan ,has  contributed  to  religious  dualism  among  the Kankana-eyChristians.  Thisthesis  suggests  a  practical  approach  of inculturation,  demonstrating  that  the  Christian  faith  is powerful  enough to deal with spiritual powers in every  culture.  These practical  approaches  can break  out  of  the  limitations  of  ̳enlightenment  theology’. In  this  way,  the  evangelization  of  the gospel  can  be  more  effective  in  the  Christian  ministries  among  the Kankana-eys.  Furthermore, this study is intended to be useful in both missionary work and local evangelization
ER  -