mixing of christianity and traditional african religions apush

(See the glossary for more information on juju. African Traditional Religion in the Context of increasing Christian and Islamic Encounter . A close geographical correlation exists between the location of African religion and the rapid expansion of the Christian faith. What is African Traditional Religion? African diaspora religions, also described as Afro-American religions, are a number of related beliefs that developed in the Americas in various nations of the Caribbean, Latin America and the Southern United States. Later, my theological studies in America and England did not challenge this position, since that was not a living issue for my professors and fellow students. African religions, Indigenous religions of the African continent. Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World, Chapter 3: Traditional African Religious Beliefs and Practices, Tolerance and Tension: Islam and Christianity in Sub-Saharan Africa, Next: Chapter 4: Interreligious Harmony and Tensions, Chapter 2: Commitment to Christianity and Islam, Chapter 4: Interreligious Harmony and Tensions, In the U.S. and Western Europe, people say they accept Muslims, but opinions are divided on Islam, In Western Europe, familiarity with Muslims is linked to positive views of Muslims and Islam, Q&A: Measuring attitudes toward Muslims and Jews in Western Europe, Europes Muslim population will continue to grow but how much depends on migration, The Growth of Germanys Muslim Population, Size & Demographic Characteristics of Religious Groups, Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures Project, 60% of Americans Would Be Uncomfortable With Provider Relying on AI in Their Own Health Care, Gender pay gap in U.S. hasnt changed much in two decades. These impinge upon their daily life- and experience of the Christian faith. 0000000676 00000 n During religious rites, believers sometimes enter a trancelike state in which the devotee may eat and drink, perform stylized dances, give supernaturally inspired advice to people, or perform medical cures or special physical feats; these acts exhibit the incarnate presence of the lwa within the entranced devotee. So I read on and on, and conducted field research to learn more and more. After that date there will be more Christians in the south than in the north. The church is composed largely of people who come out of the African religious background. About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. (+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax Vodou is an oral tradition practiced by extended families that inherit familial spirits, along with the necessary devotional practices, from their elders. In four countries (Chad, Guinea Bissau, Nigeria and Tanzania), the number of Christians and Muslims is more equally divided, with a ratio of less than two-to-one in either direction.2 The other countries surveyed are predominantly Christian with Muslim minorities of varying sizes. Awolawu and Depamu (1979) The bottom line then is that Africans who still wholly practice African indigenous religions are only about 10 percent of the African population, a fraction of what it used to be only a century ago, when indigenous religions dominated most of the continent. I have been greatly enriched by working at the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, 1974-1980. Model tested on tens of thousands of routine brain scans spotted disease risk with 90% accuracy, Experts on law, policy say originalist view used to overturn Roe could upend 76 ruling based on cruel, unusual punishment clause, Issues revolve around culture of viewing civilians as potential threats, concerns about self-protection in departments equipped with military-grade arms, Khalil Gibran Muhammad says College Board needs to stand firm behind curriculum, 2023 The President and Fellows of Harvard College. I have seen the quest more sharply. GAZETTE: Are ancestors considered deities in the traditional African cosmology? The fusion of cultures that was effected by the conquest of Alexander the Great (4th century bce ), his successors, and the Roman Empire tended to bring together a variety of religious and philosophical views that resulted in a strong tendency toward religious syncretism. These statements await further exploration by African theologians. Sign up for daily emails to get the latest Harvardnews. Dr. Mbiti is on the staff of the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, Switzerland. Indigenous African religions are by nature plural, varied, and usually informed by ones ethnic identity, where ones family came from in Africa. It is here that I have discovered the church in Burma, in the Pacific islands, the house church in China, the basic Christian communities in Latin America, the struggling church in South Africa, plus countless other endeavors of Christians all over the world. African spirituality has always been able to adapt to change and allow itself to absorb the wisdom and views of other religions, much more than, for example, Christianity and Islam. But I am grateful for that one step I may be taking under the light of this vision. Ancestors can offer advice and bestow good fortune and honor to their living dependents, but they can also make demands, such as insisting that their shrines be properly maintained and propitiated. What the data says about gun deaths in the U.S. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). This item is part of a JSTOR Collection. Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World, Tolerance and Tension: Islam and Christianity in Sub-Saharan Africa, Next: Chapter 2: Commitment to Christianity and Islam, Chapter 2: Commitment to Christianity and Islam, Chapter 3: Traditional African Religious Beliefs and Practices, Chapter 4: Interreligious Harmony and Tensions, In the U.S. and Western Europe, people say they accept Muslims, but opinions are divided on Islam, In Western Europe, familiarity with Muslims is linked to positive views of Muslims and Islam, Q&A: Measuring attitudes toward Muslims and Jews in Western Europe, Europes Muslim population will continue to grow but how much depends on migration, The Growth of Germanys Muslim Population, Size & Demographic Characteristics of Religious Groups, Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures Project, 60% of Americans Would Be Uncomfortable With Provider Relying on AI in Their Own Health Care, Gender pay gap in U.S. hasnt changed much in two decades. OLUPONA: We would lose a worldview that has collectively sustained, enriched, and given meaning to a continent and numerous other societies for centuries through its epistemology, metaphysics, history, and practices. I have concentrated these comments on the role of African background in my theological reflection. For example, sickness in the indigenous African worldview is not only an imbalance of the body, but also an imbalance in ones social life, which can be linked to a breakdown in ones kinship and family relations or even to ones relationship with ones ancestors. Nigeria, the most populous country in all of Africa, has the largest number of Muslims as well as the largest number of Christians in the region.3. I simply and honestly answered him that "for us in Africa, God is not dead." The Yoruba, however, do have a concept of a supreme being, called Olorun or Olodumare, and this creator god of the universe is empowered by the various orisa [deities] to create the earth and carry out all its related functions, including receiving the prayers and supplications of the Yoruba people. Ethiopia's Christian population, at 6 million in 1900, will grow to a projected 100 million in 2050. For example, followers can seek spiritual direction and relief from healers, medicine men and women, charms [adornments often worn to incur good luck], amulets [adornments often used to ward off evil], and diviners [spiritual advisers]. This material was prepared for Religion Online by Ted and Winnie Brock. The decisive word here is "only." Currently I am about to complete a book on this question of the encounter between the biblical faith and African religion. The WCCs very existence as a council of churches is a living hope. Y.91sC@o9sJL9@XMw`7\`1%nRjBS %U=a{N>. He must have been active among African peoples as he was among the Jewish people. (+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax One read Honest to God and a variety of other works in an effort to understand the hot debate then raging in Europe and America. Instead, God brought them, for the God described in the Bible is none other than the God who was already known in the framework of our traditional African religiosity. A belief in ancestors also testifies to the inclusive nature of traditional African spirituality by positing that deceased progenitors still play a role in the lives of their living descendants. Belief in the power of such objects is highest in Senegal (75%) and lowest in Rwanda (5%). This was an extremely liberating word in my theological thinking. In five countries (Tanzania, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Senegal and Mali) majorities express this belief. When this happens, then a passage such as Hebrews 1:1-3 rolls down like mighty waters, full of exciting possibilities of theological reflection. But Gods dealings with the African people are recorded, nevertheless, in living form -- oral communication, rituals, symbols, ceremonies, community faith. The statistical expansion of the Christian faith in Africa in this century is one of the considerations that led me back to the issue of its relation with African religion. Copyright by The Christian Century Foundation; used by permission. Updates? National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Vodou's role in Haitian mental health, Learn Religions - An Introduction to the Basic Beliefs of the Vodou (Voodoo) Religion, Ancient Origins - The Origins of Voodoo, the Misunderstood Religion, LiveScience - Voodoo: Facts About Misunderstood Religion, Vodou - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Vodou - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). 0000000016 00000 n I wish to apply "change of mind" here to mean theological growth, and not necessarily a rejection of or turnaround from ideas that I may have held ten years ago. Olupona, professor of indigenous African religions at Harvard Divinity School and professor of African and African-American studies in Harvards Faculty of Arts and Sciences, recently sat down for an interview about his lifelong research on indigenous African religions. endobj Author of. OLUPONA: Thats a mixed bag. I had it. Some African diasporans are returning to the continent to reconnect with their ancestral traditions, and they are encouraging and organizing the local African communities to reclaim this heritage. Since I myself had never heard any lectures on African religion, I set out to do research on the subject in order to teach the course adequately. Moreover, the religions developed in the Americas impact Africa in that devotees of the African diaspora have significant influence on practices in Africa. Islam And Christianity Christianity came first to the continent of Africa in the 1st or early 2nd century AD. Outline of the Curricular Framework: Anglicanization Atlantic slave trade "Atlantic World" Barbados (sugar) British-American system of slavery the Carolinas (rice) Caste system cereal crops Colonial resistance Dominion of New England Enlightenment Furs Great Awakening Indentured Servants Mercantilism Metis Models of colonization Molasses Act Indigenous religion in Africa is the way Africans understand and worship their god. It publishes a journal Anthropologica and has reclaimed the name of its former journal, Culture for its occasional online bulletin. That book was followed by a flurry of literature on the so-called "death of God" theology (if "theology" it was, for I would call it "atheology"). That which had been seen as the enemy of the gospel turns out (to me) to be indeed a very welcoming friend. This is in sharp contrast with the religious composition . Anthropologica is published for CASCA by University of Toronto Press. Vodou ritual activity (e.g., prayer, song, dance, and gesture) is aimed at refining and restoring balance and energy in relationships between people and between people and the spirits of the unseen world. Omissions? This statistical tilting of Christendom from the north to the south, after 2,000 years, holds tremendous prospects and challenges. In contrast, witchcraft beliefs persist. His research has helped to introduce and popularize new concepts in religious studies, such as the term reverse missionaries, referring to African prelates sent to Europe and the United States. Below is the article summary. The statistical expansion of the Christian faith in Africa in this century is one of the considerations that led me back to the issue of its relation with African religion. Indigenous African religion is primarily an oral tradition and has never been fully codified; thus, it allows itself to more easily be amended and influenced by other religious ideas, religious wisdom, and by modern development. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. 0000002264 00000 n interaction between the Christian churches and West African religious culture. Jacob Olupona, professor of indigenous African religions at Harvard Divinity School and professor of African and African-American studies in Harvards Faculty of Arts and Sciences, recently sat down for an interview about his lifelong research on indigenous African religions. Updates? Orthodox Christianity, although influenced by other religions, generally looked negatively upon these syncretistic movements. For starters, the word religion is problematic for many Africans, because it suggests that religion is separate from the other aspects of ones culture, society, or environment. For over 200 years, Africans, largely from the west coast of Africa, were brought to the United States in the slave trade. 93 0 obj While Islam and Christianity tend to . Robinson, came out. The introduced religions of Islam (in northern Africa) and Christianity (in southern Africa) are now the continents major religions, but traditional religions still play an important role, especially in the interior of sub-Saharan Africa. For six years I worked with the World Council of Churches in Geneva. But in practical terms, there is a Christian Yes to African religiosity. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. While some African cosmologies have a clear idea of a supreme being, other cosmologies do not. 4 0 obj (+1) 202-419-4372 | Media Inquiries. Vodou, also spelled Voodoo, Voudou, Vodun, or French Vaudou, a traditional Afro-Haitian religion. GAZETTE: What allows African indigenous religions to be so accommodating? 0000003641 00000 n Vodou is a worldview encompassing philosophy, medicine, justice, and religion. In most countries, however, less than one-in-twenty say this is their primary religious affiliation. Again, it doesnt reflect the multiplicity of ways that traditional African spirituality has conceived of deities, gods, and spirit beings. 0000001019 00000 n With it, one began to explore afresh the realm of Gods revelation and other treasures of our faith. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. x\u}4`P}E#(9q"%LCl'KLb)Sfgdq N The Pew Forums survey finds a similar number of people in Guinea Bissau identifying themselves as Muslim (38%) but a much higher percentage identifying themselves as Christian (62%) and very few describing themselves mainly as practitioners of traditional African faiths. I wont pray to an orisa, but I will affirm the importance of my connection with members of my age group. OLUPONA: My father, a faithful Anglican priest, was a good example. Its about getting tangible results. My interpretation of Israels history demands a new look at the history of African peoples, among whom this same God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob has indeed been at work. Today most Zairians belong to either the Catholic or Protestant church, and the Bira themselves are predominantly Catholic. Indigenous African spirituality today is increasingly falling out of favor. OLUPONA: I was raised in Africa during the 1960s, when the Yoruba community never asked you to chose between your personal faith and your collective African identity. Unlike in Europe and the United States, very few people in sub-Saharan Africa say they are unaffiliated with a particular faith. That would be a serious loss not only for Africans, but also for academics, researchers, writers, and general seekers of wisdom the world over. It includes Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti. The concept of the church as the body of Christ in the whole world is another growing development for me. The missionaries who introduced the gospel to Africa in the past 200 years did not bring God. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. stream Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. I feel deeply the value of biblical studies in this exercise, and the contribution of biblical insights in this development. About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. Yet . He sees the other faith as complementing and even adding spiritual potency to his own spiritual practice of constructing effective amulets. I should add that without claiming to be full members of indigenous traditions, there are many professed Christians and Muslims who participate in one form of indigenous religious rituals and practices or another. %PDF-1.3 GAZETTE: How have ancestors played a role in traditional societies? Maybe this is why I am not an Anglican priest. This article concerned itself with the modern encounter between Christianity and African Indigenous Religion (AIR) in Africa. In most countries surveyed, at least three-in-ten people believe in reincarnation, which may be related to traditional beliefs in ancestral spirits. Important lwa are celebrated on saints days (for example: Ogou on St. Jamess Day, July 25; Ezili Danto on the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, July 16; Danbala on St. Patricks Day, March 17; and the spirits of the ancestors on All Saints Day and All Souls Day, November 1 and November 2). Modernity has not put a total stop to its influence. Additionally, I will not discourage, disparage, or try and convert those who practice their form of African indigenous religions. These initiation rituals are already not as common in Africa as they were only 50 years ago, yet age-grade initiations have always helped young Africans feel connected to their community and their past. Of course, behind all these factors is the Holy Spirit working through them. Corrections? I have received much in a short period. The idea is that the traditional African practitioner who constructed that amulet believes in the efficacy of other faiths and religions; there is no conflict in his mind between his traditional African spirituality and another faith. First, the association of traditional African religion with an other-worldly orientation may appear problematic, given the "pragmatic" basis of this religion. There are also other parallels in social, political and cultural areas, just as there are some significant differences. This includes five countries (Cameroon, Chad, Guinea Bissau, Mali and Senegal) where more than half the population uses traditional healers. Traditional African religions and practices were brought to the Western hemisphere through the African diaspora and the slave trade, often resulting in a syncretic blending with Christianity. Everywhere he went in southwestern Nigeria, he never opposed or spoke out against African culture including initiation rites, festivals, and traditional Yoruba dress as long as it didnt directly conflict with Christianity. Some individuals have criticized these books -- and no book is perfect. While the recourse to traditional healers may be motivated in part by economic reasons and an absence of health care alternatives, it may also be rooted in religious beliefs about the efficacy of this approach. For the full article, see, New religions, independent churches, and prophetic movements, https://www.britannica.com/summary/African-religions. Focuses on the influences of Africans and African ideas on the mission enterprise, conversion, religious innovation, and church life, but it neglects to cover the . Most people in sub-Saharan Africa now identify with either Christianity or Islam. Authoring or editing more than half a dozen books on religion and African culture (including the recent African Religions: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press), Olupona has researched topics ranging from the indigenous religions of Africa to the religious practices of Africans who have settled in America.

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