Biblical Principles of Marriage for Building Mutual Marital Relationships in Contemporary Africa with a Particular Reference to Hona Culture.
Publication Date: 23/10/2024
Author(s): Victor Umaru.
Volume/Issue: Volume 7 , Issue 4 (2024)
Abstract:
Modern Africans, especially Hona people, have attitudes towards marriage that are more akin to those of the Europeans of the same generation than their parents or grandparents, especially regarding the start of a relationship. Although some antiquated practices, like polygamy and the bride price, are a reminder that contemporary Africans still make an effort to stay connected to their history despite how the world has changed. Despite this assertion, one can gradually see the sudden disappearance of the cultural marriage pattern among the Hona people. The discursive and analytical approach used in this research to close this existential gap typically refers to the use of language as a social practice and established methods of generating the meanings of phenomena, knowledge, and reality, as well as the networks connecting them. Through this method, the researcher examines how meanings are created in human contact about the biblical guidelines for marriage. Christianity (religion) in Africa is progressively starting to rule Hona and some parts of Africa; the argument made in this paper is that biblical standards for marriage must be accepted among all races on the continents. The study’s findings reveal that marriage is instituted and invented by God; attached is the manual on how it can be operated for the beneficiary’s benefit. This manual is the Bible, available in almost every Christian home. If strictly adhered to its teachings, there will be no incidences of malfunctioning. Christian homes and marriages are having issues because the Manufacturer’s prescription is not followed. Therefore, the study pitched its tent that if marital relationships work, there is a need to understand the concept of “Oneness” different from sameness. Finally, there is a need to understand how the mind is structured. For marriage to be sustained, the paper recommends that submissiveness and love are non-negotiable traits between couples.
Keywords:
Biblical principles, Marriage, Building mutual marital relationships, Contemporary Africa, Hona culture, Submission, Love.