Emericist Episteme of Thomas Didymus in the African Socio-cultural Context
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Date
2019
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Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences
Abstract
The appellation, The Doubting Thomas, is
a derogatory nomenclature designating
stigma on one of the disciples of Jesus,
Thomas Didymus. His singular act of
demanding evidence before believing the
resurrection of Jesus has plagued him with
the stigma over many generations.
However, it is asserted that the iconic
disciple does not deserve such scathing
stigmatisation. This perspective could be
attributed to a number of factors. These
include the philosophy of empiricism
extent in the worldviews of many societies
around the world, such as seeing is
believing, gan ni a fiji among the Hausa,
and iroyin ko to a f’ojuba among the
Yoruba. The other is the utilitarian values
of the empirical culture to the African
social development efforts. The study
employed the Formalist Theory with
emphasis on its evidential tendencies to
interrogate the insistence of Thomas
Didymus on proof before acquiescing to
the appearance of Jesus at His resurrection.
The empirical culture in the model of
Thomas Didymus could, indeed, be
simulated by the African peoples in their
conception of inter-personal deeds and
dealings. Such will assure them caution
about and checks on the other person in
social dealings. In line with this, the
electorate, the laity, the aborigines,
children, and patients would scrutinize the
actions of the political office holders,
clergymen, the royal figures, parents and
physicians, in respective orders. Such an
orientation would end docility and levity
on the continent.