I am Peace…They are for War” (Ps 120 :7) : The Language of Peace in Sacred Texts and

AUTEUR : MICHAEL KODZO MENSAH

ABSTRACT

The question of peace has always been relevant for the African continent. This has become even more pertinent with the rise of violent religious extremism, political instability, and increasing threats to the security of women and children in society. A contributing factor to all of these is the manipulation of religious or sacred texts and the exploitation of their language to fan the flames of violence. This paper proposes that biblical texts such as Psalm 120 contain lessons for the right use of religious language to achieve the de-escalation of conflict and the preservation of peace. Using African Biblical Hermeneutics, the study brings the biblical text into dialogue with Adinkra, a type of African indigenous sacred text. It proposes that such a complementary engagement of the two textual traditions increases the chances for the transformation of violent language, and the reception and communication of the language of peace on the continent