I look forward to more similar postings like this one. Does your website have a newsletter I can subscribe to for new posts?

So what is your cultural climate that affects your dissertation writing?

Donovan

I like to start, not with Christian theology in Africa per se, but looking more at the traditional African religious context. An old classic but simple intro text is John S. Mbiti’s Introduction to African Religion (1975). I like Laurenti Magesa, African Religion: The Moral Traditions of Abundant Life (1997).

When it comes to Christian theology done in the African context, you can get an overview of different pioneers in African theology from Bénézet Bujo and Juvénal Ilunga Muya, eds. African Theology in the 21st Century: The Contribution of the Pioneers. Vol. 1 and 2 (so far).

For something on the concept of African theology, I like Kwame Bediako’s Theology and Identity: The Impact of Culture upon Christian Thought in the Second Century and in Modern Africa (Oxford: Regnum, 1992) because he likens the process of doing African theology to what the early church fathers were doing in translating the gospel into Greek thought forms. Bediako is brilliant, but he can be heavy going at times.

Then are some other great books in this list specifically addressing African Theology, but like I said, I’m just starting this journey, so maybe someone else can give a better recommendation.

Moses Owojaiye

Like me, you really spent so much time looking for an answer about that biblical 666. I have read much of that same interpretations such as yours in wikipedia and other websites.

The thing is, I’m not convinced by those interpretations because mostly, i can see biases against the Catholic Church from those who try to publish their interpretation. Some accusing the future pope to be the anti-Christ who bears the number 666. I also try to dig into these Hebrew Kabbalah and Greek numerology, including Pythagorean, numerology. The result still not convincing. The Chaldean numerology is better but it can be used only for our modern time interpretation using modern English alphabet.

I believe that ancient Imperial Rome was the Prostitute who sits on the red beast with 7 heads and 10 horns. Rev. 17 made it clear as the great city who rules the earth sitting on seven hills for which Rome is known for. The same chapter also made clear that the seven head are seven hills on which the woman sits. They are also seven king who rules on that city; five of them have fallen; the sixth is currently ruling; the 7th not yet; when he comes he will rule only for a short while; and the 8th ruler when he comes, he will breath life to the to the technically dead Act of Nero which is the persecution of Christians. And this Revival of Persecution was made possible by Emperor Domitian when he accused as atheist those who do not Acknowledge him “lord and god”. Was Domitian the 8th king mentioned in Rev. 17?

Roman history tells us that Augustus was the first Emperor of Rome bearing the blasphemous title “Divi Filius” (son of god) being the adopted son of the deified Juilius Caesar. After him Tiberius, then Caligula who assumed another blasphemous title “living god” later assassinated. Then came Claudius the 4th emperor, followed by Nero the 5th, who Instituted the bloody Persecution of Christians as an escape goat for burning Rome. With the death of Nero, the 1st dynasty of Roman emperors, the Julio-Claudian dynasty died with him.

A power struggle between three usurpers, Galba, Otho, and Vitilius ensued. Then came the 4th contestant Vespasian who was able to secure the imperial throne with the approval of the senate and the people of Rome with the enabling Law called the “Lex De Imperio Vespasiani”. It is clear that the 6th emperor of rome was Vespasian, and the 7th his son Titus, ruled only a short two years and two month. Then came the 8th, Domitian, Titus’ brother. Does it sounds indisputable?

Nero the 5th head was the first persecutor of Christians. After him ten more rulers of Rome will Revive the persecution whether intentional or political survival as it symbolizes ten horns of the beast. Domitian was the first horn of the beast Nero. Trajan was the second horn who also approved the punishment of known Christians. The third horn was Marcus Aurelius, the 4th Septimus Severus, 5th, Maximinus Thrax, 6th, Decius, 7th, Valerian, 8th, Aurelian, 9th, Diocletian, 10th Galerius, the last persecutor.

I believe the ruler who bears the number 666 has passed already during the 1st century. All clues points to the Flavian dynasty as the one who will come as the legal heir to the Julio-Claudian dynasty. They are the 2nd beast who revived the power of the 1st beast and uses the vast authority granted by the Senate and the people of Rome to Augustus.

As I said Chaldean Numerology is good only in our modern English Alphabet. 666 may have been taken from the usual Roman address to their emperor designate as it also appears on the coins of their rulers

In the case of Vespasian’s coins, his title and name appears on their coins as: IMP CEASAR VESPASIANUS, as also appears in his “LEX”, Imperator Caesar Vespasianus. Translating it to our modern English usage, (EMPEROR) (CAESAR) (VESPASIANUS). Applying Chaldean numerology to the name we get; (5+4+8+5+2+7+2) (3+1+5+3+1+2) (6+5+3+8+1+3+1+1+5+6+3). Adding them we get (33) (15) (42); adding them again to get the single digits of each, we get (3+3) (1+5) (4+2) = 666.

Check Chaldean numerology on the website:
http://www.spiritlink.com/kinds.html

Thanks

Armando Rances

Donovan

It took a bit of searching to come across your blog, but I’m glad I did. I’m one of the posters over at DEBATEitOUT.com, the fastest-growing online debate website on the internet today. I think you would be provide valuable insight to our readers. We post debate topics every day, where you have the opportunity to debate with people from around the world on popular issues. Very easy-to-use website.

Check it out when you get the chance.

Jason