Title:
A Theological interpretation of violence (חָמָס ) in relation to Joshua, Son of Nun : a paradigm for a Christian conflict prevention in Northern Nigeria
Author:
Audu, Bulus Makama
Published:
Stellenbosch University, November 2020
Thesis (PhD), Faculty of Theology, Department of Old and New Testament
Abstract:
This study is a response to ethnic/religious violence that plagues Northern Nigeria. Of even great concern is that this violence is sometimes perpetrated under the banner of faith and God. The study speculates that some of the perpetrators deliberately distort Scriptures to gratify their selfish interests and in the process manipulate unsuspecting believers to assist them in their selfish and cruel interests. However, some may be engaging in these grave acts in the belief that they are being obedient to Scripture and God. This may happen in at least two ways. They may be reading the Scripture literarily without the necessary skills to interpret the Word of God. They may also be the victims of the scrupulous leaders who use the Word of God to attain their selfish and cruel goals. These are the circumstances that motivate this study. In its response, the study proposes a paradigmatic reading of the Scripture. The study acknowledges that the Bible contains different theological approaches to violence. Some texts present violence as a divine instruction and thus portray God as sanctioning violence as a means to enforce obedience to Him. The Book of Joshua is an example of a book that contains such texts. Other texts however, present God as sponsoring rest and peace for both His own people and foreign nations. The Book of Chronicles is an example of such a book. In a situation where the Bible contains both violence orientated texts and peace orientated texts, readers of the Bible find themselves in a situation where they can endorse violence as divine obedience when it suits them and peace as divine obedience when it suits them. This study argues that these texts themselves, in their own contexts, are not in collaboration but in contestation. In its proposal for a paradigmatic reading of the Bible in the context of ethnic/religious context in Northern Nigeria, the study takes note of a few factors. The first one is that ethnicity is a contributory factor in the violence witnessed in Northern Nigeria. The second one is that religious diversity is also a contributory factor when not handled cautiously. In the light of these observation, it becomes imperative to distinguish between an exclusive ethnic/religious theology and an inclusive ethnic/religious theology. For this reason, the study engages in the reading of Joshua 6:1-27 and 1 Chronicles 7:20-29 as two texts representing two different theological perspectives on violence. With the help of two analytical tools, namely, de-ideologisation and Canonization, the study does exegesis of these texts. Specifically, the study investigates a character named Joshua in the two narratives. It examines his role in the occupation of Canaan and interprets that as also evincing an ideological perspective on violence. The study is of the opinion that the canonical presentation of Joshua carries elements serving as model for the people of YHWH to judge and act in their own circumstances. The study continues to evaluate the ideologies discernible in the two presentations of Joshua to confirm whether they are violence orientated or peace orientated. At this point the study examines the Northern Nigerian situation concerning ethnic/religious violence. The study then compares the theologies from Joshua and Chronicles to investigate which is proper to be a biblical paradigm for violent conflict prevention in Northern Nigeria. A peace orientated ideology is a proper paradigm for violent conflict prevention in Northern Nigeria, the study concludes. A paradigmatic approach does not only provide moral/ethical guidance but, additionally, also provides a theological framework to engage with Scripture. Such a framework collaborates with similar biblical theological perspectives and contests with contrasting biblical theological perspectives.