Product Description

Ethiopians claim as their founding ancestor the Queen of Sheba who visited King Solomon 900 years before Christ. According to the Hebrew Bible and the Koran, when she travelled to Jerusalem with camels bearing spices, gold and precious stones, she consulted him about many serious matters. This wise woman told him all that was on her mind, and Solomon answered all her questions before she returned home bearing Solomon's son, Menelik. Today African theologians are increasing turning to the wisdom of their ancestors - be they Christian, Moslem, Jewish or simply custodians of what is called "traditional religion" - to free them from the chains of Western rationality. This wisdom is often conveyed by symbol, story and myth, in poetry, drama and other forms of art. It is also found in ancient inscriptions and manuscripts that have been preserved in Africa and nowhere else. This book attempts to overturn the ingrained prejudice within much academic theological work, which has often dismissed the pivotal role animals play in culture. It shows that African religious thought is informed by, and even dependent upon, human-animal relations. Consideration is given to the importance of hunting, and of animal sacrifice in religious ritual, as well as to the many ways in which animals exemplify and convey spiritual values. Drawing on a variety of disciplines - history, natural history, anthropology, philosophy, literature and ecology - Shelagh Ranger illustrates the rich resources available in Africa for students of theology who ask awkward questions. How does our Creator God intend the descendants of Adam and Eve to treat his other beloved creatures? Do species created millions of years ago have some purpose beyond providing food, clothing, entertainment, experimental material and spare parts for human beings? This book aims to challenge not only academic theologians but all those concerned about the use of natural resources and contemporary abuses of animals both wild and tame.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3520531 in Books
• Published on: 2002-08-23
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

About the Author
Shelagh Ranger is a graduate of Manchester University who has lived and worked for many years in Africa.