Christians’ attitudes towards traditional medicine.

Abstract

This study involves a close examination of the real factors behind the persistent negative attitude toward the use of traditional medicine by the majority of Charismatic/Pentecostal churches in Africa; with a view to determine the extent to which one can confidently state that it is based on sound theological grounds. This study comprises how I observed/noted (not argued) that despite this, those whose attitudes should have by now been transformed by the prevalence and dominance of the discourse that permeates this work are strangely the ones who continue to harbour negative sentiments towards traditional remedies. Unlike other studies, which are based on an ideo-philosophical argument, this study rather constitutes observation, which, by itself, has turned out to be a critique of an existing ideo-philosophical argument. Theologians have done a sterling job in terms of highlighting the significance of retrieving and rejuvenating African culture; however, none of these theologians has tackled the subject of the Christian’s attitude towards indigenous medicine as a standalone project, even where this appreciation for traditional medicine is observed. Still, it does not receive unique appreciation as an issue that needs to be attended to. It is mired in the controversy of the unclearness between inyanga and isangoma. Senghor and his Negritude concept, Nkrumah with Pan-Africanism, Nyerere with the Ujamaa philosophy, and Kenyatta with the African economic cooperation ideology are the leading proponents of the revitalisation of African culture after colonialism, and they discuss all these concepts, except the Christian’s attitude toward indigenous medicine, and it is this gap that I intend to close. I am therefore not reinventing the wheel. It is also worth mentioning that most of the existing literature points to colonialism and missionary projects and the reflection of the damage that was birthed by the two, even in the post-colonial discourse. It is, however, my observation that there is another phenomenon that is missing, which is the human reaction to normality. Based on the main objective of this study, which is to contribute to a better and more informed understanding of this attitude with a view to develop a sound theological response to this enduring phenomenon, this study followed grounded theory as a methodological approach. Another truth behind the evasiveness and attitude of Charismatic/Pentecostal churches and communities towards traditional medicine is that scientists only discovered medicine from the trees, herbs, and flowers already produced by God. Many of the medicines in pharmacies originate from God’s creation. This submission in no way denounces the excellent work undertaken by scientists around the subject of medicine, but affirms that they only discovered what was already existing and that even the ability to discover is granted by God. Also, the inclusion of African traditional medical systems in the cosmopolitan mainstream would play a pivotal role in decreasing the burden of health institutions and offer an alternative way of healing. Finally, we need to educate and remind one another of forgotten normality and that forgetfulness is a result of the evolution of means of accessing intended good and that evolution is as a result of an ongoing human disposition to discover new reality.