Original Research
Community healing and the role of pastoral care of the ill and suffering in Africa
In die Skriflig/In Luce Verbi | Vol 40, No 3 | a356 |
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/ids.v40i3.356
| © 2006 V. Magezi
| This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 30 July 2006 | Published: 30 July 2006
Submitted: 30 July 2006 | Published: 30 July 2006
About the author(s)
V. Magezi,, South AfricaFull Text:
PDF (127KB)Abstract
The extended family (community) in Africa plays a crucial role in the process of healing. However, while the role of the community is invaluable, many scholars overlook its other side. This article argues for a critical consideration of the healing role of the community in Africa and offers a critique of African community healing in the light of pastoral healing. Pastoral healing as a spiritual and faith perspective is juxtaposed with the healing process within African traditional communities. Since these two communities operate from different perspectives, in many cases they are competing forces in the process of healing – a difference that aggravates pain. This article thus carefully describes the process of healing both within a faith community (with its acts of “koinonia”) and the African traditional community, and concludes by proposing a healthy integration of these systems.
Keywords
Christian Healing In Africa; Community Healing; Pastoral Care And The Extended Family; Pastoral Care In Africa; Pastoral Healing In Africa
Metrics
Total abstract views: 4072Total article views: 7100
Crossref Citations
1. History and developments of pastoral care in Africa: A survey and proposition for effective contextual pastoral caregiving
Vhumani Magezi
HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies vol: 75 issue: 4 year: 2019
doi: 10.4102/hts.v75i4.5423