Living Between Two Worlds: Intrapersonal Conflicts Among Igbo Seminarians: An Enquiry

Bern, Berlin, Bruxelles, Frankfurt/M., New York, Oxford, Wien. Young men preparing for the catholic priesthood in Igboland live between the two often opposing epistemic worlds of their African Igbo people and of the mainly Euro-Christian seminary institution. The embedment in different epistemic traditions can be a source of enrichment. Often, however, they constitute sources of psychological conflict. This conflict is relevant in the process of assessing the suitability of admission to priesthood as well as for pastoral effectivity in an African context. The present work is a contribution to the transcultural Christian message of liberation and salvation. Contents: Theoretical Perspective - Traditional Approach to Intrapersonal Conflict - Intrapersonal Conflict and Epistemic Framework - African Epistemic System of Reference - Methodical Approach to Cultural Description - The Igbo and their Epistemic World - The Igbo and the Transformation of Consciousness - The Impact of these Changes on the Igbo Mind - Intrapersonal Conflict and Priestly Vocation - Empirical Study - Implications for Pastoral Theology and Therapy.