African philosophical foundation of a pneumatological controversy inside the church of Central African Presbyterian in Malawi

Abstract

I investigate the African philosophical foundations of a pneumatological controversy inside the Church of Central African Presbyterian (CCAP) in Malawi. While apparently the conflict consists in difficulties in embracing both the New Pentecostal Theology (NPT) and the Reformed Calvinist (protestant) Theology (RCT) within CCAP, it is rooted in the philosophical conflict between communitarianism and individualism. CCAP fully embraced the African communitarian philosophy mixed with Christian communism as its essence, while adherents of NPT followed individualism. Consequently, this affected the interpretation of the fundamental doctrines such as sola scriptura, sola grazia, and other practices. I suggest a philosophical solution constituting in  rebuilding African identity and a theological solution in promoting a new pneumatology based on the concept of enculturation.

Keywords: Pneumatology, Communitarianism, Individualism, African philosophy, inculturation