Reconciling the Conflict between Globalization and the Shambala Culture of “Silent Sexuality” by Applying Richard Osmer’s Four Tasks of Practical Theological Interpretation

Abstract

This article explores the influence of globalization on the culture of “silent sexuality” as practiced by the Shambala of Tanzania. It is guided by Richard Osmer’s Four Tasks of Practical Theological Interpretation. Significant impacts of globalization is that it has not only transported the good side of the economic and social development across the globe and connected people from different cultures or nations in the world; but has also changed the culture of the host communities. This change indicates that globalization and modernity are the most important and developed theories of the twentieth century. The process of globalization for example allows two different cultures to either coexist or create a dynamic or transformation to a new and third type of culture, one to be absorbed by the other. If the new incoming culture dominates local culture to absorb it, it sources a conflict between the two cultures, in this case the conflict between the Shambala culture of silent sexuality and the western culture. As a result of this cultural homogenization, the findings show that there are many sex related problems which have surfaced among the Shambala, such as unwanted teenage pregnancy, school dropout due to pregnancy and/or early marriage, abortion, rape, child prostitution and other problems. The paper recommends that the church is placed in a better position to play a role in assisting adolescents to deal with their sexuality in a responsible way in this society.