Journal of Christian Religious Studies

This study examines the historical relationship between the Church, civilization, and culture in Africa, with particular reference to Christianity and Igbo cultural institutions. It investigates how the Church has influenced the transformation, preservation, and reconstruction of Igbo family, religious, political, economic, educational, social, and cultural institutions. The study adopts a qualitative historical research design, utilizing scholarly books, journal articles, archival materials, and documented historical sources, which are subjected to thematic and historical analysis. Anchored in Inculturation Theory, the study examines the Church-culture encounter in Igbo land, particularly how Christianity interacts with indigenous cultural values, practices, institutions, and symbols while being interpreted and expressed within the local context. Findings reveal that Christianity contributed significantly to institutional transformation through missionary education, literacy, Christian marriage practices, worship, healthcare, social welfare, and new patterns of political and economic participation. However, the findings also demonstrate that the encounter was not a one-directional process of cultural replacement. Igbo Christians actively negotiated, appropriated, and reinterpreted Christianity through indigenous languages, communal values, music, social structures, and cultural symbols. The study concludes that the Church has functioned both as an agent of cultural transformation and as a significant platform for preserving and reconstructing aspects of Igbo cultural identity. The study recommends culturally sensitive theological education, indigenous-language Christian scholarship, and constructive engagement between the Church and African cultural institutions to promote contextualized and sustainable Christian civilization.

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