african traditional religion and christianity

In Christianity, prayers are offered to God through a medium, Jesus Christ and in traditional african religion, prayers are offered to God through a medium, ifa or sango or amadioha etc. About 10 per cent of the African population is still practicing some form of traditional religion today. No ethnic group is motivated to teach another ethnic group its forms of religion and convert them. Very few African Christian theologians have found a way of being part of what I would like to name "the making of an African Christianity." In four countries, for instance, half or more of the population believes that sacrifices to ancestors or spirits can protect them from harm. take more objective view, seeing some value in social functions of African religions • 3. West African contains the largest populations that are still following African Traditional Religion. And in the 2nd century, a new religion became popular in Egypt, as well as in Ethiopia and Eritrea. The Biblical teaching is that human have one life on earth, a single judgment, and then everlasting rest or punishment of the soul. It … Kingship is integral to African belief systems for at least two reasons. African Traditional Religions are specific to each ethnic group on the continent. 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. African Faith: Mile Wide and Half Inch Deep? John S. Mbiti. The beliefs and practices of the traditional religions in Africa can enrich Christian theology and spirituality." Belief in the Trinity . African Traditional Religion, Islam, and Christianity African Traditional Religion, Islam, and Christianity are three extremely different religions that have very different belief systems. Both believe in a supreme God. Name . site = "ghanaweb.com"; African Traditional Religion, Islam, and Christianity African Traditional Religion, Islam, and Christianity are three extremely different religions that have very different belief systems. African Traditional Religion, Islam, and Christianity are three extremely different religions that have very different belief systems. Traditional Beliefs Blending The next category includes religions based on worshiping animals, the land, In christianity, they believe that God is the alpha and omega, and in traditional African religion, they also believe the same. But before those two religions arrived, there were several traditional religions practiced. African Traditional Religion has grown out of the African soil. document.write(user + '@' + site + ''); It is described as the product of thinking and experience of African forefathers and mothers of former generations. While everyone is entitled to their religion, it is the same religion which has shaped Africa's history especially with the advent of imperialism and colonialism upon which it was built. The evangelistic mandate of Christianity and the very nature of Jehovah God encompasses all ethnic groups on the planet. Foreign anthropologists from late 19thc. Religion in Africa does not encourage creativity, invention or critical thinking, because of its conservative or static. At times rulers have been described as gods or as endowed with God's divinity. Besides, a case can even be made that there was an African influence on Martin Luther’s inspiration to work towards the protestant reformation that hit Europe in the sixteenth century. Ghana The evangelistic mandate of Christianity, and the very nature of Jehovah God, encompasses all ethnic groups on the planet for all time. It has become customary in modern times to discuss the history of African Christianity focusing only on the period dating back to the colonial days. Later, an Ethiopian eunuch was converted and baptized into the Christian faith on his way back to his country by Philip. African Religion and its Influence on Christianity and Islam Traditional African religion has been the basis of spirituality for the people of Africa. Indeed, the conflict that eventually led to the development of the Nicene Creed was one that took place between Athanasius and Arius who were both Christian leaders in Egypt. Just like traditional religions in Africa, so do the other two-abovementioned monotheist religions have different branches within themselves, but can be grouped together according to some guidelines. A number of Africans have been calling for the overthrow of Christianity in Africa since it is one of the colonial influences we inherited. Pew Foundation There are common beliefs in Africa although the continent is a large with many different cultures and Differences between African Traditional Religion and Christianity. But before those two religions arrived, there were several traditional religions practiced. African websites Popularity: 12% [? Send your news stories to First, in the origin myths of several peoples, such as the Baganda of Uganda and the Edo of Nigeria, the first king or chief of the community was endowed with the sacred power of the Supreme Deity. All Rights Reserved The following is an excerpt from African Traditional Religion versus Christianity by Dmitry Usenco. Christianity: An African traditional religion « Prev . Further, around the fourth century, Egypt had become a stronghold of Christianity. Religion enters into every aspect of the life of the Africans and it cannot be studied in isolation. Designed by Wordpress Theme Designer Wordpress Theme Designer, Muslims, Christians, and Animists Live in Peace in Africa, Similarities between Christianity and Africa Traditional Religion, Africa South of the Sahara - Standford University. But this post-colonial habit of limiting discussions of the history of African Christianity to the period beginning from the colonial days needs to be corrected since it has made it difficult for many to view Christianity apart from colonialism. Karl Grebe, Wilfred Fon. In 1534 while recalling his dialogue with Michael the Deacon, an Ethiopian cleric, Luther wrote: “We have also learned from him, that the rite which we observe in the use of administration of the Lord’s Supper and the Mass, agrees with the Eastern Church.” Does it include our beliefs that getting formal education is the Whiteman’s way of enslaving us? I am referring to those calling for the complete burial of biblical Christianity (with its gospel, morals and spirituality) in these parts. and features to To the credit of the Europeans though, they were more evangelistic in their Christianity than the Ethiopians had been which may explain why the Orthodox Ethiopian church did not spread through the rest of Africa the way the gospel did under the European missionaries. Rev. J ohn S. M biti is Professor of Theology and Comparative Religion in Makere University College, Uganda. No longer was reference made to African culture, it became barbarism. African News Sin in African Traditional Religion is mostly concerned with transgression of morals or community norms. Differences between Christianity and traditional African beliefs and customs (Exodus 20:3-5,Hebrews 10:8-10) 1. user = "newswires"; In African Traditional Religion creator God is distant from man. These investigations of Black Christianity throughout the Antebellum centuries detangle the duplicitous nature of God and abuse in religion today. Once upon a time I was a Christian, born to Christian practising parents. Copyright © 1994 - 2020 GhanaWeb. Pope In African Traditional Religion one can be possessed in order to gain some privileged knowledge. witches. This bitter conflict has led to wanton destruction of lives and property, and this has become a source of great worry to the writers. However this has a lot of problems. Native African historians and scholars, from mid-20th c. Topic: The Impact of African Traditional Religious Beliefs and Cultural Values on Christian-Muslim Relations in Ghana from 1920 through the Present: A Case Study of Nkusukum-Ekumfi-Enyan traditional area of the Central Region. There are common beliefs in Africa although the continent is a large with many different cultures and site = "ghanaweb.com"; This religion is found in all African peoples. Similarilities between Christianity and Traditional African Religion (Hebrews 1:1,Matthew 5:17,Exodus 34:10-28) Just like in Christianity, traditional African religion has organised practices. Egypt The result has been the enormous diversity of religious expressions found world-wide today from the endless variety of Hinduism to the monotheism of Judaism, Islam and Christianity and to oriental philosophies of Shinto, Taoism, a Buddhism and Confucianism. Is it un-African to want to leave old ways and seek better progressive ways of living? Some of their beliefs and practices like Caste-system (osu-one Abrahamic religions are widespread throughout Africa. In African Traditional Religion, man has often made covenants with God. Some claim that Christianity is foreign to African culture and impedes African originality and development. The African Traditional Religion of one ethnic group does not motivate its believers to teach and convert people from another ethnic group. His religion lay at the bottom of religious evolution, whereas Islam and Judaism and Christianity were at the top since they’re monotheistic. When we speak of African Traditional Religion, we mean the indigenous religious beliefs Many forms of African Traditional Religion teach that the spirits of the dead can be born back into the realm of the living. 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. As a result, there are declining numbers of followers of traditional indigenous religions and very few atheists or agnostics. The majority of Africans are adherents of Christianity or Islam. Most practitioners of African Traditional Religion have an understanding of a creator God, but this normally refined and broaden when one becomes a Christian. African Traditional Religion It’s a featured Speakeasy selection, and there are still limited review copies available for qualified reviewers.. There is no one “African Traditional; Religion”, there are many, and Christianity could be said to be one of them, since it has been in Africa as long as it has been in Europe, and almost as long as it has been in Asia. african sports Christianity and Islam are leading religious traditions — each has in excess of 250 million followers in Africa. These statements await further exploration by African theologians. Abstract This article concerned itself with the modern encounter between Christianity and African Indigenous Religion (AIR) in Africa. terrorism Today, Christianity and Islam are religions practiced by the majority of people living in Africa. user = "features"; Ioannis Kyriakakis Traditional African Religion, Cosmology and Christianity Journal for the Study of Religions and Ideologies, vol. 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. As in the early twentieth century period in Africa, contemporary trends relating to the relation between religion and politics in Africa often reflect not only what occurs locally, but are also connected to what takes place outside the region. Hence, it cannot be avoided in the interaction between Christianity and … In christianity, they believe that God is the alpha and omega, and in traditional African religion, they also believe the same. This article concerned itself with the modern encounter between Christianity and African Indigenous Religion (AIR) in Africa. Many Africans across the continent are becoming more open about the idea of blending of traditional African religious practices with various other religions, including Christianity and Islam. These spirit do not carry the desires of humans to the Creator God. In Christianity God has been close to the human race throughout history and today reaches down in love to draw humans toward him. POLITICS AND RELIGION: POLITICS AND AFRICAN RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS. Native African historians and scholars, from mid-20th c. It is noteworthy that when the Europeans came with Christianity they were not bringing something wholly foreign to African soil. As is often noted, over the last three decades of the twentieth century and into the twenty-first century, religion has generally had a considerable impact on politics in many regions of the world, not just in Africa. What is African? Brief Account of ATR and Christianity: African Traditional Religion (ATR) Man’s search for God has led to many pathways. African Traditional Religions are the religious systems that developed among the people of Africa in the course of the thousands of years that had rolled through the ages of history. Religious Dialog Jomo Kenyatta, in his book, Facing Mount Kenya, suggested that the European missionaries used Christianity to swindle the African, when he painted the humorous picture of the Bible-holding missionaries teaching the Africans who had the land to pray with their eyes closed yet when the prayer was over the situation had been reversed - the missionaries had the land and the Africans possessed the Bible. Kenya 11, issue 32 (Summer 2012) 25 Kiernan, J. J ohn S. M biti is Professor of Theology and Comparative Religion in Makere University College, Uganda. Christ was tempted in all the ways men were tempted, so He is a sympathetic mediator. According to Thomas C. Oden, an American theologian, Africa took the lead in exploring and understanding significant Christian theological ideas before Europe (and a thousand years later, North America) recognized the decisive nature of such ideas. Christianity came to Africa from the outside, it happened, as the legend says, in 42, then the Orthodox Coptic Church was formed by the Apostle Mark. Although animism still is in fact present in Africa like fetishism or juju, it is simply inadequate as an all-encompassing expression that is descriptive properly of African Traditional Religion. It is best distinguished as ATR. Instead of God keeping his distance from man, He, throughout history and today reaches down in love to draw humans toward him. document.write(user + '@' + site + ''); African Traditional Religions are specific to each ethnic group on the continent. Chat with us via WhatsApp on +233 55 2699 625. How Christianity And Islam Blended Into Traditional African Beliefs The three categories The first includes religions that are based on worshiping ancestors, spirits, or gods. According to David D. Daniels III, Professor of World Christianity at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, Martin Luther made fifteen references to the then-contemporary empire of Christian Ethiopia. I am not referring to those calling for the jettisoning of westernized expressions of Christianity (like the liturgies used in churches, sermons in English, and western forms of dressing etc). There are differences and similarities between African Traditional Religion and Christianity. Does it include our marginalization of the mentally and physically disabled? In Christianity possession of the Holy Spirit of God is both the sign of being “sons of God” and the source of power and comfort. Indeed, present at Apostle Peter’s Pentecost sermon (which converted 3000 people) were among others people from Egypt and Cyrene (present day Libya). And more importantly: Is Christianity not a part of African heritage? 5. The revival As we African Christian intellectuals continue to meet to discuss Christianity and African culture, other African Christians are in the process daily of shaping a Christianity that will be at home in Africa and in which Africans will be at home. History of African traditional religion. In a later post I will discuss some of the differences or contrast between African Traditional Religion and Christianity. African Traditional Religion, its encounter with Christianity, and its fundamental tenets. CHRISTIANITY AND TRADITIONAL RELIGIONS IN AFRICA. African people often combine the practice of their traditional belief with the practice of Abrahamic religions. African Traditional Religion and Christianity agree that God has made covenants with humans. African Traditional Religion and Christian Counseling. Christian worship is done in churches while African traditional religion, worship is done in sacred places for example shrines and caves, under trees, grave yards. African Traditional Religions are still practiced today, along with Christianity and Islam. Traditional African Religion • 1. Igbo people hold most sacred, the Earth (Ala) on which they tread and from which they draw means of sustenance and vital resources such as food, crops, water, and so forth. The evangelistic mandate of Christianity and the very nature of Jehovah God encompasses all ethnic groups on the planet. Every folk in Africa has its own particular religion and religious system guiding their life and their human activities in the world from day to day. The original religions of Africa “are not static”; according to Mayo, “contacts with Christian and Islamic traditions have brought about transformations and syncretism of all three” a perfect example of the triple heritage of Africa[5]. The issue of the relationship between the Christian faith and traditional beliefs and practices has been an important consideration since the very early days of the Church. Leave a Reply. It is not brought from outside. If one does harm to someone in your his own ethnic group, it a more serious sin than if one commits it against someone of another group.

// ]]> 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 the purpose of dialogue and what is not. In Africa the traditional religions are a major source for the study of the African experience of God. All rights reserved. Christian worship is done in churches while African traditional religion, worship is done in sacred places for example shrines and caves, under trees, grave yards. between Christianity and African Traditional Religion. [CDATA[ Developed by PSD to Wordpress . In christianity Christ came and became a sacrificial lamb in order to appease God on behalf of mankind and in traditional African religion, they also offer animals and sometimes humans in order to appease God for their sins. google_ad_client = "pub-7864554516342528"; /* afrel post box */ google_ad_slot = "9337195813"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; He placed some emphasis on Christianity since it is a dominant religion in Ghana and also a religion he once practised. John S. Mbiti . // Three persons available for qualified reviewers African Religion, african traditional religion and christianity believe that reveals... Further, around the fourth century, a new Religion became popular in Egypt as! Atr and Christianity agree that God is the alpha and omega, and in African! Religion and Christianity takes the “ groaning ” of humans to the race! Tempted in all the ways men were tempted, so the thinking goes spirits, especially! 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Are distributed among 43 countries and are estimated to number over 100 million by Roy Tanck requires Player! Thinking, because of its conservative or static, primitive, evil & stupid • 2 discuss... Indigenous religions and Judaism the 2nd century, a new Religion became popular in Egypt, as well in! Christianity not a part of African religions • 3 one can be born into! To God s way of enslaving us review copies available for qualified reviewers and traditions that can guarantee progress our! Converted and baptized into the lives of all believers a result, there are still following African Traditional religions specific... In a later post I will discuss some of the world, so is! Are a major source for the overthrow of Christianity and Islam are leading religious traditions — each in! Ancestral spirits, and the very nature of Jehovah God, encompasses all ethnic groups on the planet for time... Or ask favors of the Traditional religions are specific to each ethnic is! 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