<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>This article, based on the author’s doctoral research, offers a theological response to the traditional attitudes towards childlessness within the Bakossi community of South West Cameroon. Research reveals a prevalent negative attitude towards those—both men and women—who do not have children. This stigmatization is often reinforced within Christian communities by a reading of scripture that interprets the command to ‘be fruitful and multiply’ as referring exclusively to biological reproduction. In contrast to this, an African cultural feminist hermeneutic can be used to argue for a more holistic interpretation of scripture, one that draws out God’s concern for family, community and creation.</p>
</abstract>

This article, based on the author’s doctoral research, offers a theological response to the traditional attitudes towards childlessness within the Bakossi community of South West Cameroon. Research reveals a prevalent negative attitude towards those—both men and women—who do not have children. This stigmatization is often reinforced within Christian communities by a reading of scripture that interprets the command to ‘be fruitful and multiply’ as referring exclusively to biological reproduction. In contrast to this, an African cultural feminist hermeneutic can be used to argue for a more holistic interpretation of scripture, one that draws out God’s concern for family, community and creation.

Reconceiving the Theology of Procreation in Response to Stigmatisation of Childlessness<sup><xref ref-type="fn" rid="j_holiness-2021-0002_fn_001">1</xref></sup>

Holiness

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Reconceiving the Theology of Procreation in Response to Stigmatisation of Childlessness

This article, based on the author’s doctoral research, offers a theological response to the traditional attitudes towards childlessness within the Bakossi...

Reconceiving the Theology of Procreation in Response to Stigmatisation of Childlessness¹

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: Feb 04, 2022

Page range: 4 - 14

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/holiness-2021-0002

Keywords
Childlessness, Bible, African, Feminist, Cameroon

© 2021 Wang, published by Sciendo.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Reconceiving the Theology of Procreation in Response to Stigmatisation of Childlessness1

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: Feb 04, 2022

Page range: 4 - 14

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/holiness-2021-0002

KeywordsChildlessness, Bible, African, Feminist, Cameroon

© 2021 Wang, published by Sciendo.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Reconceiving the Theology of Procreation in Response to Stigmatisation of Childlessness¹

Keywords
Childlessness, Bible, African, Feminist, Cameroon