JERUSALEM OR BABYLON: REIMAGINING HOLY CITIES IN CONTEMPORARY AFRICA

Abstract

The four main sources of theology are scripture, tradition, reason, and experience. Experience has been dominant in African theology. This article continues in that tradition as it uses experience as captured in African literature to reflect theologically on Christian holiness in African cities. As shown in the article, literature is an often neglected but essential cognitive tool for engaging experience theologically. In as much as the African city is famed for decadence and loss of African experience, it is as holy as the biblical Jerusalem that has been considered the epitome of holiness in Jewish and Christian tradition.