title: Taking up the cudgels against gay rights? Trends and trajectories in African Christian theologies on homosexuality.
abstract: Against the background of the HIV epidemic and the intense public controversy on homosexuality in African societies, this article investigates the discourses of academic African Christian theologians on homosexuality. Distinguishing some major strands in African theology, that is, inculturation, liberation, women's and reconstruction theology, the article examines how the central concepts of culture, liberation, justice, and human rights function in these discourses. On the basis of a qualitative analysis of a large number of publications, the article shows that stances of African theologians are varying from silence and rejection to acceptance. Although many African theologians have taken up the cudgels against gay rights, some "dissident voices" break the taboo and develop more inclusive concepts of African identity and African Christianity.
authors.affiliation: Department of the Study of Religions, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, London, UK. adriaanvanklinken@gmail.com
authors.forename: Adriaan S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: van Klinken
authors.forename: Masiiwa Ragies
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Gunda
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D002835:Christianity; D003469:Culture; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology; D006716:Homosexuality / Q000941:ethics*; D006806:Human Rights / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D011287:Prejudice; D012071:Religion and Sex