christianity and african traditional religion

CHRISTIANITY AND TRADITIONAL RELIGIONS IN AFRICA. European Christian missionaries from 16th century onwards see African religions as demonic, primitive, evil & stupid • 2. Religion enters into every aspect of the life of the Africans and it cannot be studied in isolation. This is called the Trinity. For instance, the Yoruba religion has historically been centered in southwestern Nigeria, the Zulu religion in southern Africa, and the Igbo religion in southeastern Nigeria. where one’s family came from. Differences between African Traditional Religion and Christianity. Seeing encounters between Christianity and African traditional religions as valuable, rather than hostile, is a complicated process, but Mbiti in the book says it is taking place. While both Christianity and African religion have a concept of a Supreme Being, Christians believe in a God who exists in three persons. Instead of bringing reconciliation and understanding, Christianity in this case brings division. African traditinal religion has always been pushed to the backstage and has been degraded and abused by us Afrricans and its the same all ova da world where the old tolerant religions have been dropped becuz of d monotheistic fanatical islam n christianity. Lines and paragraphs break automatically. THE RELATIONSHIP OF CHRISTIANITY TO AFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGION Part Two Continued from Part One (Taken from my book, African Traditional Religion in Biblical Perspective) (Liberals emphasize the continuity between ATR and Christianity. The members of these churches aim to be Christian without losing their African identity. The edition also has new information, more names for God in African languages, and an updated bibliography, a revised index and expanded appendices. between Christianity and African Traditional Religion. Both faith traditions have established a deep rapport around their fundamental element - God, he writes. Today, Christianity and Islam are religions practiced by the majority of people living in Africa. This is part of democracy. Christianity and African Traditional Religion Two Realities of a Different Kind by Bregje de Kok. Christianity was undoubtedly the religion created by those who conquered african nations. A rift occurs between the family and the extended family. About 10 per cent of the African population is still practicing some form of traditional religion today. CHRISTIANITY AND AFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGION IN KUMASI: A COMPARATIVE STUDY by Amponsah Samuel Effah B. African societies started to disintegrate when traditional religion was attacked. The cleric had travelled across the seas in the 19th century to tell "the heathens without religion" or "people with a primitive religion" about God. Since Christianity came in contact with the traditional religion, there has always been a sharp conflict between traditionalists and Christians. Religion in Africa. Christianity was undoubtedly the religion created by those who conquered african nations. The major faiths practiced in South Africa are Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, traditional African religions and Judaism. Scholar and theologian John Samuel Mbiti details how African peoples imagine and relate to God in all aspect of their lives. Traditional African Religion • 1. Native African historians and scholars, from mid-20th c. About 10 per cent of the African population is still practicing some form of traditional religion today. You can download the paper by clicking the button above. In Africa the traditional religions are a major source for the study of the African experience of God. This is called the Trinity. Early Christian missionaries in sub-Saharan Africa were less exacting than the missionaries of the 19th century. African Traditional Religion, Islam, and Christianity are three extremely different religions that have very different belief systems. In Africa the traditional religions are a major source for the study of the African experience of God. For more on African religions, see the related Oxford Bibliographies articles on African Traditional Religion and Islam in Africa. This is a pervasive religious worldview with a dominant and powerful influence on man in traditional Africa. They believe different things about life after we die on earth, they believe that different things are and are not God, and they believe different types of … A Cultural Christological Construct in Post-Missionary Africa.pdf, Change and Its Effect on Mission and Church Relationship, Cahiers d'études africaines Yoruba Christian video narrative and indigenous imaginations Dialogue and duelogue, Seedbeds and Models of Just Peacemaking in Nigeria from Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther to Date. This is the second edition of the book, which was released by Acton Publishers of Nairobi. Bibles in Africa arrived in English or French and scholars and theologians translated them into local African languages, using local words for God. However, a new version of the book "Concepts of God in Africa" (which relates the scene described above) says Christianity was actually helped by some aspects of traditional religion. Foreign anthropologists from late 19thc. Comments are moderated and may be edited. African Traditional Religion and Christianity agree that God has made covenants with humans. The religious beliefs, practices and the provision of social services of these immigrant religions have impacted on the religious and cultural life of the traditional communities. This creates a chasm in which it is apparently impossible for the Christian faith to meet African Traditional religion and African cultural practises. Academia.edu uses cookies to personalize content, tailor ads and improve the user experience. Foreign anthropologists from late 19thc. (Hons) Theology A Thesis submitted to the school of graduate studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS (AFRICAN ART AND CULTURE) Faculty of Art, College of Art and Social … He observed that African religion has many common features with the Christian and Jewish traditions, which contributed to the rapid expansion of Christianity. For centuries, African Traditional Religion in its myriad of forms was practiced by the majority of Africans, but in the last fifty years Christianity and Islam have become more prominent. Rev. conversions of the indigenous people, mainly, from African Traditional Religion (ATR) to the two mission religions. When a missionary asked Africans in Zanzibar to tell him something about their God, they simply said, "God thunders!" Hence, it cannot be avoided in the interaction between Christianity and African Traditional Religion. I do understand where you are coming from regarding it being used as a tool to up rise but I believe they wanted to uprise regardless of what religion was taught to them. take more objective view, seeing some value in social functions of African religions • 3. Instead of God keeping his distance from man, He, throughout history and today reaches down in love to draw humans toward him. My book … is a minute scoop from that tradition," Mbiti told ENInews, adding that it is a window into the richness of the African understanding of God. Its study has to go hand-in-hand with the study of the people who practise the religion. In a Bible translation, Olodumare will be used. Today, Christianity and Islam are religions practiced by the majority of people living in Africa. The traditional African religions (or traditional beliefs and practices of African people) are a set of highly diverse beliefs that include various ethnic religions.. Generally, these traditions are oral rather than scriptural, include belief in a supreme creator, belief in spirits, veneration of the dead, use of magic and traditional African medicine. "African culture is built and relayed largely on oral (and symbolic) tradition.". It is an important contribution to African Renaissance," he said. Differences between Christianity and traditional African beliefs and customs (Exodus 20:3-5,Hebrews 10:8-10) 1. Man quickly broke the covenants and that is what has caused a separation Creator God and humans. In the context of world views which are unfamiliar to western Christendom, I think this book is timely. While both Christianity and African religion have a concept of a Supreme Being, Christians believe in a God who exists in three persons. The latter confirms that African culture is predominently patriarchal. But before those two religions arrived, there were several traditional religions practiced. These statements await further exploration by African theologians. The literature on African Christianity is huge and often characterized by diverse colonial and religious perspectives and biases, requiring one to read it critically. constantly liable to misunderstand the African worldview and beliefs. Indigenous African religions are by nature plural, varied, and usually informed by one’s ethnic identity i.e. Since Christianity came in contact with the traditional religion, there has always been a sharp conflict between traditionalists and Christians. Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically. Some comments may be reproduced in print. These statements await further exploration by African theologians. "African culture is built and relayed largely on oral (and symbolic) tradition. The latest edition covers 550 African peoples and languages, compared with 300 in the first edition. But before those two religions arrived, there were several traditional religions practiced. No wonder Onyeidu (2006) writes that “there is a close link between religion which is a way of life and the society where it is found.” ii As such, in the dialogue between the African societies with Christianity, one can confidently say that the traditional religious setting paved way for the people’s acceptance of Christianity. London-based SPCK is the oldest Anglican mission organization and has been in publishing since 1698. African medicine was regarded as unscientific and some of its treatment methods were considered anti-Christian. For example…) In the 19th and 20th centuries, under the influence of a higher critical view of Scriptures and the evolutionary development … Some of their beliefs and practices like Caste-system (osu-one Points of Contrast between African Traditional Religion and Christianity God The understanding of God normally needs some refining when one comes from African Traditional Religion to be a Christian. But before those two religions arrived, there were several traditional religions practiced. European and other foreign settlers brought most of … The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly. When we speak of African Traditional Religion, we mean the indigenous religious beliefs I do understand where you are coming from regarding it being used as a tool to up rise but I believe they wanted to uprise regardless of what religion was taught to them. Differences between Christianity and traditional African beliefs and customs (Exodus 20:3-5,Hebrews 10:8-10) 1. To learn more, view our, TOWARDS AN IGBO-AFRICAN CHRISTOLOGY. This bitter conflict has led to wanton destruction of lives and property, and this has become a source of great worry to the writers. The beliefs and practices of the traditional religions in Africa can enrich Christian theology and spirituality." take more objective view, seeing some value in social functions of African religions • 3. There are common beliefs in Africa although the continent is a large with many different cultures and Key words: Religion, Christian, Influence, African traditional religion and Value systems Introduction: The African traditional society is a homogenous and close one with its unique characteristic features that set it apart from other cultures of the world. Changed the names and concepts around from african teachings and called it christianity. Belief in the Trinity . ATR is accommodated in the African Initiated Churches (AICs). An example given in the book is that among the Yoruba tribe of Nigeria, the word for God is Olodumare, or the Almighty. "This inevitably promotes the encounter between the two religious traditions in which African religion says 'yes' to biblical tradition and readily accommodates it [and] biblical tradition also says 'yes' to similar elements of African religion," says Mbiti in the book's preface. J ohn S. M biti is Professor of Theology and Comparative Religion in Makere University College, Uganda. By using our site, you agree to our collection of information through the use of cookies. I am not saying that converts to Christianity from African traditional beliefs practice polygamy, I am presuming your original purpose is to clarify what is acceptable and workable within Christianity for … In recent times these chasm is ever widening as Christians faced with the dilemma of engaging in their cultural practises are looked upon with disdain by their pastors and also by their fellow Christians as partaking in heathen cultural practices. African Religion and its Influence on Christianity and Islam Traditional African religion has been the basis of spirituality for the people of Africa. It records 1,600 names of God, including world's youngest nation, South Sudan where the term animist is often used to refer to the people's religion, but where is a traditional name for God. About 10 per cent of the African population is still practicing some form of traditional religion today. In a later post I will discuss some of the differences or contrast between African Traditional Religion and Christianity. To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to upgrade your browser. This book describes itself as: ‘a cultural, psychological study of the way Christian Malawians account for their involvement in African traditional religion’. Adherents of traditional religions in sub-Saharan Africa are distributed among 43 countries and are estimated to number over 100 million. The latter confirms that African culture is predominently patriarchal. Christianity and African Traditional Religion Two Realities of a Different Kind by Bregje de Kok. Scholar and theologian John Samuel Mbiti details how African peoples imagine and relate to God in all aspect of their lives. They will not appear online until approved and will be posted during business hours. African Traditional Religion: A De nition (1973), Omosade Awolalu in Yoruba Belief and Sacri cial Rites and John Mbiti in The Concept of God in Africa (1970) are a few examples of enabled African traditions to co-exist alongside the dominant world religions f o Christianity and Islam, and in many cases to form a syncretistic and eclectic religious system, drawing on elements from many sources. Today, Christianity and Islam are religions practiced by the majority of people living in Africa. However, a new version of the book "Concepts of God in Africa" (which relates the scene described above) says Christianity was actually helped by some aspects of traditional religion. John S. Mbiti. Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer. Sorry, preview is currently unavailable. Traditional healers were regarded as heathens because of their participation in African Traditional Religion. Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link. Belief in the Trinity . "This book calls for a thorough re-evaluation of the African cultural and religious heritage, giving it the appreciation it deserves," said Mugambi, who wrote the book's foreward. According to Jesse Mugambi, a Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies at the University of Nairobi the book reconfirms that the African cultural and religious heritage is founded on God, a concept that was not thought to exist in traditional religions. Changed the names and concepts around from african teachings and called it christianity. The traditional religions and worldviews do not have creeds, they do not have to be learnt, but caught, passed on and lived. Fredrick Nzwili | Ecumenical News International, Virtual tour of Mennonite museums and archives continues, COVID-19 cases rise among Mennonites in Waterloo Region, ‘The Daily Bonnet’ creator publishes book. Christianity has to address this traditional religious holism/organism and its pantheistic tendencies. Despite the intensity of Christian missionary effort and the thousand years of Muslim proselytising which have marked the various parts of Africa, African religions contiued to manifest vitality everywhere. Key words: Religion, Christian, Influence, African traditional religion and Value systems Introduction: The African traditional society is a homogenous and close one with its unique characteristic features that set it apart from other cultures of the world. "Numerically, Christianity is growing rapidly in Africa and Asia. Islam sat side by side with African traditional religions. The beliefs and practices of the traditional religions in Africa can enrich Christian theology and spirituality." The missionaries succeeded in spreading Christianity in Africa at a time when tribal religions were ignored or denigrated. Of Nairobi religion, Islam, Hinduism, traditional African religion and Christianity is AN important contribution to African,! 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