Sacred place and sacred presence: a conversation between the Njelele shrine in Zimbabwe and the action of Jesus in the temple in John 2:13-22.

Abstract

The Shona people of Zimbabwe who have found a new home in Christian churches, generally carry with them their cultural and social identities in terms of sacredness. These Africans sometimes have difficulties appropriating biblical realities connected to sacred space and sacred presence. This research project is aimed at creating a bridge between the Shona understanding of sacred places and the biblical interpretation. The purpose of this study is to assist the Shona people who have embraced Christianity, to appropriate the biblical sense of sacredness using their cultural heritage as a steppingstone. This study is steeped in African biblical scholarship, that utilizes the tri-polar theoretical framework. The framework is composed of three poles: the reader’s context (the Njelele shrine in Zimbabwe), the biblical text (John 2:13-22) and the ideo-theological pole (inculturation hermeneutics). A literature-based investigation on the socio-anthropological contexts of the Jews and the Shona people will be carried out. Inculturation hermeneutics will be used as a bridge to bring the two poles into a dialogue. This interpretation will point out their similarities, dissonances and aspects that the biblical text and the Shona people can learn from each other. The Shona Christians who are the ordinary readers of the Bible will appreciate the personal and societal transformation that is brought about by this kind of engagement. This method of interpretation will enhance the quality of their Christian lives.