An investigation into the timelessness of God Theology, with special reference to African Traditional religion

Abstract

The main aim of this thesis was to explore the timelessness of God theology while making special reference to African traditional religion. The ‘timelessness of God’ is a theological model taught in Western traditional theism. Owing to its development by historical figures like Augustine, Boethius, and Aquinas, this theological model posits that God is absolutely immutable, simple, and omniscient. Developed through the lens of Greek philosophy by the mentioned figures, these divine attributes place God out-side of time. To state that God is timeless within this context, implies that he exists, but he exists outside of time. This model continues to dominate theological discourses and, arguably, forms part of the chief theological engine that drives modern Christian theology. This thesis, however, contends that the timelessness of God theology is problematic for African Christians. Mainly, according to African Christianity, this model falls short in meeting Africans’ religious and spiritual needs. One such need is God’s answer to prayers: A timeless God cannot answer prayers, as this would make him mutable. I argue in this study that African Christians conceive God as coming from a worldview that is entrenched in African traditional religion. According to this worldview, God, contra the Western tradition, is in a dynamic give-and-take relationship with hu-man beings. This relationship is made possible because God is viewed by Africans as existing in time.