Department of Humanities

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://repository.chuka.ac.ke/handle/chuka/261

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Browsing Department of Humanities by Subject "Catholic Church"

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    An assessment of christians’ perception of christian marriage in the catholic church, our lady of visitation deanery, diocese of Embu, Kenya
    (Chuka University, 2025) Mbogo, Gladwell Karimi
    Marriage is one of the most important social institutions in the society. In the Catholic Church, it holds a profound religious and social significance. The Catholic Church teaches that marriage is one of the seven sacraments. It emphasizes on monogamy and indissolubility of marriage. There is lack of comprehensive research examining Christian’s practice of Christian marriage within Our Lady of Visitation Deanery. This study sought to assess Christians’ perception of Christian marriage in the Catholic Church, Our Lady of Visitation Deanery, Diocese of Embu, Kenya. The study was guided by the following objectives; to examine the role of the church teachings in shaping perception of Christian marriage, to evaluate factors influencing Christians’ perception of Christian marriage, to determine strategies for expanding the perception and practice of Christian marriage and to analyze the impact of societal changes on Christian marriage practices in Our Lady of Visitation Deanery. This study adopted structural functionalism theory to provide a better understanding of marriage as a social institution that fulfils key societal functions such as preservation of marital norms and values. A descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The target population was 5020 people. A sample of 357 respondents including the Clergy, married couples, members preparing to marry and unmarried members were selected through stratified random sampling and purposive sampling techniques. The researcher used questionnaires, interview schedule and focus group discussions to gather information. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS version 29 to generate descriptive statistics and inferential statistics, while qualitative data from the Clergy and unmarried members was analyzed thematically using coding, categorization and identifying of emerging patterns to interpret meanings and relevance to the research. Key findings of the study showed that most Christians in our Lady of visitation deanery value Church marriage as a sacred covenant that symbolizes faith, love and divine blessing. The study concluded that although church teachings shape Christians perception of church marriage, there is a gap between doctrinal teachings and practice of marriage. It recommended strengthening marriage catechesis and premarital counselling, continuous marriage formation, integration of culture and faith and Community sensitization in order to enhance the practice of church marriage. This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on social-anthropological aspect of religion by showing how religion interacts with culture in shaping marriage practices and family relations.
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    Contribution of the catholic church in addressing environmental crisis in Chuka Igambang’ombe sub-county, Kenya
    (Chuka University, 2024) Gitonga Sarah Kagendo
    Environmental conservation is integral in combating global climate change in the twenty first century. The Catholic Church in Kenya has integrated environmental conservation into its mission and aligned it with its apostolic mandate to care for the spiritual and social welfare of humanity. In Chuka Igambang’ombe Sub-County, the Church participates in tree planting, river rehabilitation, soil conservation, and environmental campaigns during the World Environmental Day. However, despite these efforts, environmental challenges persist, including; deforestation, pollution, inadequate clean water sources, drought, and blocked drainage systems. This study aimed at evaluating the Contribution of the Catholic Church in addressing the environmental crisis in Chuka Igambang’ombe Sub-County. The objectives were to identify causes of environmental degradation in Chuka Igambang’ombe Sub-County, examine the Church's role in addressing environmental crisis in Chuka Igambang’ombe Sub-County, and assess Biblical and theological justifications of the Church involvement in environmental conservation. The study was guided by Liberative Solidarity theory which states that all creation needs to be liberated from oppression. A descriptive survey research design using qualitative and quantitative method was utilized. The study was carried in Chuka Igambang’ombe in Tharaka Nithi County which comprised of 10 parishes. A population of 15574 Church members comprising of 20 priests, 20 Development officials, 3663 youths, 4285 CMA ,7321 CWA was targeted by the survey. A sample of 10 priests, 10 Development committee members, 86 youths, 175 CWA and 98 CMA members was obtained for the study making a total of up to 389 members of the targeted population.Data was collected using questionnaires and interviews. Findings revealed significant factors contributing to environmental degradation, such as; deforestation, pollution, economic growth, burning of fossils, and population growth. The Church's approach is multifaceted, involving practical solutions, educational initiatives with theological foundations. Priests actively engaged in tree planting, construction of terraces, protection of water catchment areas, and educational seminars, showcasing a holistic commitment to environmental stewardship. Challenges, including cutting down trees, capital constraints, and scarcity of tree seedlings, were acknowledged. The study proposed several recommendations to enhance environmental conservation within the Catholic Church in Chuka Igambang’ombe Sub-County. These include, community specific conservation strategies, enhanced communication with priests, strengthened educational programs, consideration of socio-economic dimensions, collaboration with experts, and the implementation of a continuous monitoring and evaluation system. Furthermore, the study suggested avenues for further exploration, such as in depth theological studies on environmental stewardship, investigating the long-term impact of environmental conservation programs initiated by religious institutions, cross-cultural comparative studies, and exploring the potential policy implications of religious institutions' involvement in environmental conservation. These endeavors aimed to deepen understanding of environmental stewardship within religious communities and contribute to the development of effective and enduring conservation strategies