Biblical interpretation and the moral function of religion: Towards the building of a just and equitable society in Ghana

Abstract

Christianity has become commonplace in Ghana today, but there is something unique about its realisation and expression. Among Ghanaian Christians, the Bible is applied as a document of faith and conduct in ways that pay minimal attention to the separation between religion and morality. This practice is like allegorical interpretation, which reads the Bible as a resource for learning about Christian religious values and how they influence what people do, how they live, and the effect of both on the development of an equal and just society. But naturally, allegory presupposes the age-old question about the moral function of religion generally, and, in this case, of the relationship between religion and morality in ‘Ghanaian Christianities’. This paper argues that biblical exegetes in Ghana can lead the way toward a more systematic reading of the Bible from a moral perspective in the complex context of contemporary Ghana and the pluralism of faith it represents. It is suggested that a fruitful fulfilment of this difficult task can contribute significantly towards building a just and equitable Ghanaian society.