A Philosophy for the Christian Religious Education of the Igbo of Southeastern Nigeria: Thomas Groome's Shared Praxis Approach
Abstract
This study was a humanistic work, which examined the philosophy of the Christian education of the Igbo of Nigeria by the Holy Ghost (Irish) missionaries in the 19th and 20th centuries. Using historical, critical, philosophical and hermeneutical methods, the researcher exposed the prejudicial assumptions at the base of the Irish missionaries’ philosophy of education of the Igbo. Instead of allow their mis-education to continue, I argued for an alternative philosophy. Groome’s Shared Christian Praxis approach offered an alternative. Groome’s approach , not only problematized and deconstructed the extant philosophy, it also offered the foundation for reconstructing the alternative. Groome’s Shared Christian Praxis approach was effectively operationalized for pedagogical and curricular effects in how to adequately educate the Igbo in 1) Christian community/communion (Koinonia); 2) justice and peace and development (Diakonia); 3) understanding and teaching the new religion, Christianity (Didache); and 4) understanding what genuine Christian worship means and implies (Leitourgia/Kerygma ).
Subject Area
African Studies|Philosophy|Religious education
Recommended Citation
Nwabichie, Remigius Okonkwo, "A Philosophy for the Christian Religious Education of the Igbo of Southeastern Nigeria: Thomas Groome's Shared Praxis Approach" (2018). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI10930109.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI10930109
