Would Mysticism be Useful to Zambian Lay and Religious Women?

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Periodical article

Title:	Would Mysticism be Useful to Zambian Lay and Religious Women?
Author:	Milingo, Tomaida L.C.
Year:	2005
Periodical:	The Journal of Humanities (Lusaka) (ISSN 1027-7455)
Volume:	5
Pages:	19-34
Language:	English
Notes:	biblio. refs.
Geographic terms:	Zambia Central Africa
Subjects:	mysticism Christianity women empowerment Religion and Witchcraft Cultural Roles religion Spiritualism Women and religion
Abstract:	Mystical spirituality gave women in the past the freedom from social ties which helped them to become autonomous because it was possible for women to enter the male world and escape the limitations of ordinary female existence. This paper examines Christian Western women mystics of the past who were social reformers and visionaries, as well as mysticism in African women, particularly Alice Lenshina - a Bemba woman - of the independent Lumpa Church in Zambia. With the coming of missionaries Bemba women lost their spiritual ownership of the land and territorial cults. The Lumpa Church was established in opposition to the mission churches and the colonial administration. Finally, the paper examines the possibilities of mysticism for today's women and concludes that, for women in Zambia, mysticism can be useful in their everyday life. What they need is time and space so that they can develop self-esteem, which they lack now. Bibliogr. [ASC Leiden abstract]