Transforming Masculinities in African Christianity: Gender Controversies in Times of AIDS

‘Van Klinken lucidly charts a shift from the “bad man” rhetoric that characterises masculinity discourses, instead portraying the complexities of masculinities and how they are being transformed and can transform in the face of the enormous challenges that the HIV pandemic poses. The book makes a significant contribution to the growing body of literature on masculinities. A must-read for all scholars interested in gender and masculinities.’Sarojini Nadar, University of KwaZulu-Natal , South Africa

‘Van Klinken introduces current debates on Christianity and masculinity by progressive African theologians while grounding them in the congregational realities of two Zambian churches. This is a thorough comparative study of African Christianities in the midst of the AIDS calamity. A contribution both to global Christianities and to gender discourse as they intersect with religious obligations, Van Klinken anchors his analysis of African patriarchy in a methodological move he calls “theological ethnography” and makes us attentive to the subtleties of the transformation of masculinities in local contexts. The incremental transformation of men toward responsible agency is presented as a move toward the fulfilment of an eschatological vision of gender justice.’Bjorn Krondorfer, Northern Arizona University, USA

‘This is an important study that throws new light on several fields at once: how Christianity is perceived concretely in sub-Saharan Africa, how different masculinities are being constructed and contested in that same region, and how both of these have an impact on combating HIV/AIDS there. Van Klinken’s contribution breaks new ground not only for African and religious studies, but is suggestive also of how religion and gender constructions might be transformed elsewhere as well.’Robert Schreiter, Catholic Theological Union, USA and author of Constructing Local Theologies