AUC Theologica is a peer-reviewed journal for theology published twice a year. As we publish original papers in English, German, French, and Italian, our mission is to serve as a platform both for Czech researchers, who can present their research results in these languages, and for international contributors, who are invited to enter the academic theological discussion in the heart of Europe.
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Each issue consists of two sections. The thematic section presents papers of the same focus. The section called ‘Varia’ invites papers dealing with various theological themes from the perspective of all Christian traditions. Our current and past issues are approachable for free on this website in the form of Open Access.
AUC THEOLOGICA, Vol 15 No 2 (2025), 153–174
ArticleContemporary African Postcolonial Theology: Found Balance, Interreligious and Interdenominational Dialogue, Rehabilitation of Relations with Traditional Religions, and Reflection on Syncretisms
Ondřej Havelka
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14712/23363398.2026.20
published online: 19. 05. 2026
abstract
African postcolonial theology is the application of postcolonial critique to African theology, with the main aim of critiquing hegemonic ideological constructions and providing legitimacy to alternative theological views. African theologians developing postcolonial theology argue that the previously dominant Western form of Christianity indiscriminately imposed on Africa in the second phase of Africa’s Christianization is in fact determined, shaped and defined by European colonialism, which implies and reinforces notions such as Eurocentrism, colonial exploitation and the superiority of European values and culture over African values. Therefore, there is a need to critically examine the history of the African mission and develop alternative interpretations to colonial-tinged narratives. The aim of this article is to examine the current state of postcolonial theology, which has been shaped by a long and arduous journey to find its own balance after a painful period of colonial dictatorship, violence, and complete cultural and religious intolerance, but also a difficult period of postcolonial epistemic violence, subalternity, and hybridity. We pay special attention to the relationship to interreligious dialogue, traditional African religions, and the syncretisms of Christianity and traditional religions. The outlined issues are elaborated through the method of own long-term field research in the field of African Christianity and its relationship with traditional African religions.
keywords: Postcolonial theology; African theology; Black theology; African Christianity; Interreligious dialogue

Contemporary African Postcolonial Theology: Found Balance, Interreligious and Interdenominational Dialogue, Rehabilitation of Relations with Traditional Religions, and Reflection on Syncretisms is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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ISSN: 1804-5588
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