Panel 114: Christian Engagement in Times of HIV/AIDS in Africa: Religious Subjectivities in the Field of Sexuality and Reproduction

Christian groups have become important players in educating people about sexuality, relationships and health-related questions in the region of Africa. Under the influence of AIDS, issues of reproduction and of population growth, Christian groups are engaging with questions of sexuality and reproduction and make it a theological theme that critically questions current   patterns of relationships. These are formulated in an agenda of ‘Christian awareness’, which creates space for people to reflect on ideas, decisions and actions in this field. Awareness-raising campaigns are operating on the assumption that self-consciousness leads to behavioral change. This panel will investigate the power of Christian groups to introduce a new awareness in the field of sexuality and reproduction. It questions the disciplining force of Christianity by interpreting its messages of selfreflexivity as a tool that people use to reposition themselves in their relationships and visà-vis local cultural traditions and obligations. The panel will explore the current changes brought in by HIV/AIDS prevention campaigns on two levels: on the level of the individual and on the level of the public domain where Christian campaigns lead to contestations between social groups, collectives or institutions. The panel focuses comparatively on different African countries where Christian activism and ensuing tensions have become notable.