Geistes- und Kulturwissenschaftliche Fakultät

This volume is the second edition (expanded and revised) of BiAS 4.
The articles in this volume are focused on shedding more light on the relationship between the Bible and Christian practices in African communities, African Churches and Christians. The reader will realise that obviously there is much more than one bridge from text to practise and at the end of the day one can even ask if the Bible suits as a manual for Christian life at all.

The article focuses on the beatitude of the poor in the social and religious context of historical Jesus. The original version of this makarism has to be seen as a religious statement which is not meant as a program of social reform. Yet it has political and socio-ethical implications as it connects the poor with God and his
kingdom. Those who are searching God have to go to the poor. A possible function of the beatitude of the poor in the struggle gainst poverty can be seen in the spiritual empowerment it gives to the poor themselves: Poverty is against God’s will; it is no divine punishment and does not separate from God. The poor will be liberated from suffering. Poverty has no place in the kingdom but will be eradicated.

Mirjam, ein jüdisches Mädchen vom Lande macht eine ungeheuere Karriere. Als Mutter des Messias wird Maria von der frühen Kirche recht bald auch als Gottesmutter und Himmelskönigin verehrt. Diese Entwicklung in Theologie und Frömmigkeit nimmt sich auch vorchristliche Denkmuster zu Diensten, die in Ägypten sehr beliebt und bekannt waren. Dessen brauchen sich Christ_innen von heute nicht zu schämen, sondern könnten daraus sogar marianische Impulse für das Miteinander der Religionen gewinnen.

Mirjam, a poor Jewish girl from an unimportant village in Galilee is making an astonishing career. Already in the first centuries CE Christians start to venerate her not only as the mother of the Messiah, but also as permanent Virgin, Queen of Heaven, Mother of God and Bride of God. This spiritual and dogmatic progress was supported also by pagan religious patterns– among them most prominently Egyptian traditions. Kuegler’s article uses the topic of divine milk to show early Christian Mariology in the context of Isis religion which was most popular in the Hellenistic-Roman world. It can also be seen how pagan concepts of divine milk influence later mariological developments– even when pagan religion had died out since long times.

The texts referring to Eucharist in John 6, John 13 and 1.Corinthians are not only spiritual texts. They also take stance in social and political conflicts. And they also may be read as documents of "Gender trouble" in the early Christian church.

This volume examines the phenomenon of prophets and prophecy in contemporary Zimbabwe. By applying insights from biblical studies and other approaches, the volume sheds light on how this contentious phenomenon has been discussed in the Zimbabwean context. The different chapters highlight the role of the Bible, gender, media, literature and other perspectives have influenced attitudes towards prophets and prophecy in Zimbabwe. While the phenomenon has been principally associated with the new wave of Pentecostalism, it remains critical to appreciate pre-existing attitudes towards prophets from African Initiated Churches (AICs), as well as traditional healers in African Indigenous Religions (AIRs). Contributors to this volume have explored the complexities that characterize prophets and prophecy. The volume is of interest to scholars in biblical studies, theology, religious studies, political science, anthropology, philosophy and other disciplines. General readers, church leaders and civil society activists will also find the chapters in this volume valuable.
The Editors and Contributors: Dr David BISHAU | Dr Kudzai BIRI |Dr Tarisayi A. CHIMUKA | Dr Anna CHITANDO | Prof Ezra CHITANDO | Nehemia CHIVANDIKWA | Agness CHIWARA | Dr Masiiwa Ragies GUNDA | Joyline GWARA | Shakespear HAMAUSWA | Prof Joachim KÜGLER | Dr Francis MACHINGURA | Prof Fainos MANGENA | Dr Charity MANYERUKE | Molly MANYONGANISE | Dr Tapiwa Praise MAPURANGA | Pauline MATEVEKE | Samson MHIZHA | Obert Bernard MLAMBO | Clemenciana MUKENGE | Dr Canisius MWANDAYI | Prof Tabona SHOKO | Dr Nisbert Taisekwa TARINGA | Prof Lovemore TOGARASEI | Dr Obvious VENGEYI | Clive Tendai ZIMUNYA

""This volume is about the christian songs of Paul Dzampah, a non-commercial Prophet in Accra, Ghana.
The Volume is edited by Joachim Kuegler and is provided with a biographical and theological introduction
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3-6nMTvPE4"""

The article focuses on the beatitude of the poor in the social and religious con-text of historical Jesus. The original version of this makarism has to be seen as a religious statement which is not meant as a program of social reform. Yet it has political and socio-ethical implications as it connects the poor with God and his kingdom. Those who are searching God have to go to the poor. A pos-sible function of the beatitude of the poor in the struggle against poverty can be seen in the spiritual empowerment it gives to the poor themselves: Poverty is against God’s will; it is no divine punishment and does not separate from God. The poor are people with a future; they will be liberated from suffering. Poverty has no place in God’s Kingdom but will be eradicated.

This volume was motivated by the realisation that AICs continue to be a significant player on Zimbabwe’s spiritual market. Members of predominantly Apostolic, but also Zionist, churches are highly visible in both rural and urban areas. Prophets from AICs are constantly in the news, alongside advertising their competence in urban areas. Thus it is high time to bring AICs being an important part of recent social reality in Zimbabwe back into academic focus.
BiAS 15 at the same time is ERA 1 which means that this volume opens a new sub-series to BiAS which is meant to explore religion in Africa in all its manifold manifestation, be it Christian or not.
The contributors:
Kudzai Biri | Tendai Chari | Vengesayi Chimininge | Ezra Chitando | Masiiwa Ragies Gunda | Francis Machingura | Molly Manyonganise | Richard S. Maposa | Tapiwa Praise Mapuranga | Pauline Mateveke | Robert Matikiti | Obert Bernard Mlambo | Taurai Ronald Mukahlera | Canisius Mwandayi | Lovemore Ndlovu | Munetsi Ruzivo | Fortune Sibanda | Elizabeth Vengeyi