Social identity complexity and conflict-resolution in Luke and Zimbabwe

Abstract

This study uses social identity complexity theory to investigate complexity of identity in Luke with focus on Luke 15 to determine how Luke solved social conflict. The discussion from Luke is used as analogical or comparative discussion to solve complexity of identity in Zimbabwe that has led to political violence and economic stagnation and the conflict-resolution in Acts 15 and the Global Political Agreement in Zimbabwe. It is the purpose of this research to identify the overlap and complexity identities within the early Christianities especially in Luke’s community and to make a possible reconstruction of new identity formation within the context of Zimbabwe using kerygmatic strategies of conflict-resolution of the first century church in Acts 15. The social identity complexity as a theoretical framework of this research helped to shed light on the conflict in Luke’s community and to analyse data. Acts 15 has been taken as a case study to give some insights in the conflict in the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) on how social identity complexity helped in bringing in reconciliation to characters such as Peter and Paul. The factors that provoked conflict in the first century church of the Jerusalem Council has been explored. The research argues that there are kerygmatic strategies of conflict-resolution of the first century church in Acts 15, which can be read alongside the Zimbabwean political situation. The study establishes that there is need to bring warring parties on the negotiating table where issues pertaining to careful debate, willingness to compromise, respect for others, and giving up one’s interest are emphasised whenever there is a political or social impasse.