Supporting the Ethics of Abundant Life in Africa: A three-Pillar Framework from the Beatitudes in Matthew 5

Abstract

The concept of “abundant life” informs all sorts of human relations and actions within the African context. According to the ethics of abundant life, all actions should aim at increasing life energy while at the same time furthering cosmic unity. In this paper, I argue that the ethics of abundant life has had negative consequences on the socio-economic and political life of the entire continent. I also argue that this is due to its emphasis on communitarian responsibility over individual rights. is emphasis overshadows the role and importance of individual moral responsibility and accountability. As a support to this ethics, I suggest a three-pillar framework built on the virtues found in Beatitudes of the gospel of Matthew chapter ve. I argue that this framework will contribute to making all
moral agents fully responsible for their actions and improve the socio-economic and political conditions