Implications of the imago Dei (Gn 1:26) on gender equality and agrarian land reform in Zimbabwe
The creation of humanity (Gn 1:26–2:25) marks the climatic point of the creation process because after it, God is said to have rested. A clear marker that humans are the epitome of creation is the fact that they were created in God’s image (Gn 1:26). Unlike animals, humans have the capacity to think...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Afrikaans |
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AOSIS
2022-12-01
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| Series: | HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies |
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| Online Access: | https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/7688 |
| _version_ | 1797979398188564480 |
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| author | Canisius Mwandayi |
| author_facet | Canisius Mwandayi |
| author_sort | Canisius Mwandayi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The creation of humanity (Gn 1:26–2:25) marks the climatic point of the creation process because after it, God is said to have rested. A clear marker that humans are the epitome of creation is the fact that they were created in God’s image (Gn 1:26). Unlike animals, humans have the capacity to think, act with free will, exert self-control and also have a conscience. These distinctive characteristics earn humanity not only dominion over creation (Gn 1:28), but also the care towards the created order. The fact of having been created in God’s image, imago Dei, or to be godlike, is therefore associated with certain rights and responsibilities over creation. Further, being created in God’s image implies that human life itself is sacred and thus should not be terminated in any way, either by the individual themself or by any other person(s) (Gn 9:6). Given that human life is so sacred, such a rationale is invoked in the absolute prohibition on murder. Above all, being created in God’s image connotes gender equality – ‘male and female he created them’ (Gn 1:27b). In view of the land reform exercise in Zimbabwe, so much has happened, but the big question which remains is whether women have received a fair share in the land redistribution exercise. Making a womanist contextual reading of Genesis 1:26, this article seeks to reflect on the Zimbabwean land reform exercise, challenging the lack of gender inclusion in the redistribution exercise.
Contribution: Given that women theology is that of liberation, empowerment and affirmation, this research makes a unique contribution to women theologies as it pushes for women’s empowerment through fair land redistribution. By tapping into the implications of having been created in God’s image, the research has successfully argued that the current situation, whereby gender gaps in land ownership are still quite large, needs to be addressed as stewardship over creation was given to both men and women. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T05:38:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b708ea4fc80a4692a93d4240b4649899 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0259-9422 2072-8050 |
| language | Afrikaans |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T05:38:21Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies |
| spelling | doaj.art-b708ea4fc80a4692a93d4240b46498992022-12-22T10:18:21ZafrAOSISHTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies0259-94222072-80502022-12-01782e1e610.4102/hts.v78i2.76885538Implications of the imago Dei (Gn 1:26) on gender equality and agrarian land reform in ZimbabweCanisius Mwandayi0Department of Religious Studies, Midlands State University, Zvishavane, Zimbabwe; and Research Institute for Theology and Religion (RITR), Faculty of Arts, College of Human Sciences, University of South Africa, PretoriaThe creation of humanity (Gn 1:26–2:25) marks the climatic point of the creation process because after it, God is said to have rested. A clear marker that humans are the epitome of creation is the fact that they were created in God’s image (Gn 1:26). Unlike animals, humans have the capacity to think, act with free will, exert self-control and also have a conscience. These distinctive characteristics earn humanity not only dominion over creation (Gn 1:28), but also the care towards the created order. The fact of having been created in God’s image, imago Dei, or to be godlike, is therefore associated with certain rights and responsibilities over creation. Further, being created in God’s image implies that human life itself is sacred and thus should not be terminated in any way, either by the individual themself or by any other person(s) (Gn 9:6). Given that human life is so sacred, such a rationale is invoked in the absolute prohibition on murder. Above all, being created in God’s image connotes gender equality – ‘male and female he created them’ (Gn 1:27b). In view of the land reform exercise in Zimbabwe, so much has happened, but the big question which remains is whether women have received a fair share in the land redistribution exercise. Making a womanist contextual reading of Genesis 1:26, this article seeks to reflect on the Zimbabwean land reform exercise, challenging the lack of gender inclusion in the redistribution exercise. Contribution: Given that women theology is that of liberation, empowerment and affirmation, this research makes a unique contribution to women theologies as it pushes for women’s empowerment through fair land redistribution. By tapping into the implications of having been created in God’s image, the research has successfully argued that the current situation, whereby gender gaps in land ownership are still quite large, needs to be addressed as stewardship over creation was given to both men and women.https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/7688creationjambanjaimage of godzimbabwegenesis 1women. |
| spellingShingle | Canisius Mwandayi Implications of the imago Dei (Gn 1:26) on gender equality and agrarian land reform in Zimbabwe HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies creation jambanja image of god zimbabwe genesis 1 women. |
| title | Implications of the imago Dei (Gn 1:26) on gender equality and agrarian land reform in Zimbabwe |
| title_full | Implications of the imago Dei (Gn 1:26) on gender equality and agrarian land reform in Zimbabwe |
| title_fullStr | Implications of the imago Dei (Gn 1:26) on gender equality and agrarian land reform in Zimbabwe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Implications of the imago Dei (Gn 1:26) on gender equality and agrarian land reform in Zimbabwe |
| title_short | Implications of the imago Dei (Gn 1:26) on gender equality and agrarian land reform in Zimbabwe |
| title_sort | implications of the imago dei gn 1 26 on gender equality and agrarian land reform in zimbabwe |
| topic | creation jambanja image of god zimbabwe genesis 1 women. |
| url | https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/7688 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT canisiusmwandayi implicationsoftheimagodeign126ongenderequalityandagrarianlandreforminzimbabwe |