The Christic Model of Eboussi Boulaga, a critical exposition and evaluation of an African recapture of Christianity

In this dissertation, we offer a systematic presentation and a critical appraisal of an African reappropriation of Christianity which deliberately gives little attention to the cultural problematic and, even discards the whole dogmatic period as a proper ground for its elaboration. So Eboussi Boulaga's "Christic Model" challenges the main current theological reflection in Africa as well as the main line theological inquiry in the Western Churches. Our contention in this study is to show that, from a systematic point of view, Eboussi's endeavour recapitulates "inculturation" and offers a better critical horizon for a responsible encounter between Africa and Christianity. This study puts forward that, in discarding the dogmatic period of Christianity as well as the cultural problematic of inculturation, Eboussi was positively choosing the Second Temple Judaism with its crisis and the African historical subject as a better grounded starting point for African theological investigations. Emerging from a dramatic historical situation, Africans will only find new life in living up to the Christic model which is but the Jewish-Christian way of solving the problem of universality to which Israel was confronted from the Maccabean revolt (175 B.C.) up to the insurrection of Bar Kochba (A.D. 135). The basic assumption is that from Israel's first serious revolt against a foreign Power to its last rebellion, the various Jewish movements or "sects" (Josephus) of the time, including Christianity, were answering the unique requirement of Israel's survival: " ... be very steadfast to keep and do all that is written in the Book of the law of Moses ... that you may not be mixed with these nations left among you ... For if you turn back, and join the remnant of this nation ... they shall be a snare and a trap for you, a scourge on your sides, and thorns in your eyes, till you perish from off this good land." (Joshua 23:2-13) Methodologically, this dissertation attempts to reconstruct the inner logic of Eboussi's thought from topical writings, i.e., writings first intended to address specific and timed events. The systematic presentation of the foundation, the process, the achievement and the implications of the Christic Model are grasped essentially from reading Eboussi's work and discussing this issue with him. It presupposes, nevertheless, as an indispensable background a constant discussion with efforts at African theologies of inculturation and liberation, as well as an inquiry into the second Temple Judaism with historians and exegetes of the two Testaments. The final result is a synthetic argumentative process rather than an analytic presentation. Part One clears the ground on which Eboussi Boulaga's reflection is rooted. The fundamental problem upon which all the subsequent choices, theses and hypotheses of Eboussi depend, i.e., the emergence of African consciousness of "self" and its implications for problems involved in paving a new path to the problematic of God in Africa. Part Two logically follows as an exposition of Eboussi's reappropriation of Christianity for Africa. It also considers what the "Christic model" entails for "God-talk" in Christianity. Part Three offers a critical appraisal of the Christic model by extending the reflection triggered by Eboussi's overall contribution to the various attempts of making Christianity African. The Christic model paves the way for a transforming faithfulness which goes beyond exclusivism in cults, rigorism in the practice of the law, and discrimination towards people with other human and religious worldviews. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)