@article{gunda_african_2009, title = {African theology of reconstruction: the painful realities and practical options!}, volume = {38}, issn = {0166-2740}, doi = {10.1163/157254309X38174}, shorttitle = {African theology of reconstruction}, abstract = {Abstract Reconstruction theology in Africa has been the latest theological project coming out of Africa, beginning in 1990 it has gradually established itself and from 2003 a number of publications have come out on the subject. This paper seeks to make an addition to this growing list of publications. In this paper, I question the validity of the blame of external forces for all the woes that Africa is going through now. I instead propose that a functional reconstruction theology should primarily tackle the evil that we commit against ourselves. When we deal with this evil we have a likelihood of bringing African people into a proper unified group that can stand together against foreign elements. I also take issue with the selection of Nehemiah as the model upon which we can do our reconstruction theology. It is in this context that this paper suggests the prophet Amos over and above Jesus as the right model needed to confront the sort of problems we face as Africans. There is need for the church in Africa to undergo a reconstruction of its own after which the church can lead in the African reconstruction. This paper brings to the fore the painful realities of internally perpetrated evils, which are bigger than has been appreciated in many earlier contributions.}, pages = {84--102}, number = {1}, journaltitle = {Exchange}, shortjournal = {Exchange}, author = {Gunda, Masiiwa R.}, urldate = {2020-07-10}, date = {2009}, keywords = {{AFRICAN} {THEOLOGY}, Africa., Bible. Old Testament -- Theology, Christianity and culture, Christianity and politics, Church and social problems, {OLD} {TESTAMENT}, {RECONSTRUCTION} {THEOLOGY}, Reconstruction ({US} history, 1865-1877), Theology}, }