mixing of christianity and traditional african religions apush

I have met here the church not only in its geographical outreach but also in its historical roots -- seeing, for example, the rich traditions of the Orthodox Church, the universality of the Roman Catholic Church (even though it is based in the Vatican), the reconciling positioning of the Anglican Communion, the dynamic vitality of African independent churches, and so on. Humans are spirits who inhabit the visible world. Omissions? Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Chapter 1: Religious Affiliation. African religions, Indigenous religions of the African continent. ), In addition to expressing high levels of belief in the protective power of sacrificial offerings and sacred objects, upwards of one-in-five people in every country say they believe in the evil eye, or the ability of certain people to cast malevolent curses or spells. I am not a historian, and I have not done careful thinking in this direction. GAZETTE: How have ancestors played a role in traditional societies? (1981) and Ph.D. (1983) in the history of religions from Boston University. 0000014025 00000 n Indeed, ten years ago I had no significant theological position. The rapid growth of many religions in Africa and the revival of AIR in postcolonial Africa have made inter-religious dialogue an urgent necessity. At Makerere University I taught New Testament, African religion and other courses. On returning home, the learned professor wrote an article using my brief answer as his title. In these congregations, knowledge is passed on through a ritual of initiation (kanzo) in which the body becomes the site of spiritual transformation. Updates? It publishes a journal Anthropologica and has reclaimed the name of its former journal, Culture for its occasional online bulletin. OLUPONA: Your question underscores an important facet about African spirituality: It is not a closed theological system. But I have discovered that there is also the fundamental factor of African religion, without which this phenomenal expansion of Christianity would not be a reality. Vodou represents a syncretism of the West African Vodun religion and Roman Catholicism by the descendants of the Dahomean, Kongo, Yoruba, and other ethnic groups who had been enslaved and transported to colonial Saint-Domingue (as Haiti was known then) and partly Christianized by Roman Catholic missionaries in the 16th and 17th centuries. X0#J++?U;_3_gmx9[F\"{,Um1yu 9 ?ce%9EG`N: &U0EHC$p4=$'=DlX6M_7,--" Olupona earned his bachelor of arts degree in religious studies from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in 1975. It is essentially a postcolonial approach to what AIR and . GAZETTE: It sounds like African indigenous religions are dynamic, inclusive, and flexible. But for many Africans, religion can never be separated from all these. 75 19 In this case, so-called "salvation history" must widen its outreach in order to embrace the horizons of other peoples histories. 0000015705 00000 n According to the 2003 Demographic and Health Survey, for example, Muslims constituted 50% of the population, while the 2008 DHS figure is 45% and the Nigerian Ministry of Healths 2008 estimate is 50%. Robinson, came out. 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. Its fundamental principle is that everything is spirit. I should also state that there are signs of the revival of African indigenous practices in many parts of Africa. The church is composed largely of people who come out of the African religious background. 0000000676 00000 n Holding or maintaining to a uniform doctrine is not the essence of indigenous African religions. It may be, and needs to be, a qualified and critical Yes. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. (See the glossary for more information on juju. I told my father that I was coming home, he recalled. 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. I cannot claim that I have witnessed much progress in that quest at the organizational level, but perhaps I had expected too much. I was like a snail shyly peeping out of its house after a heavy thunderstorm. trailer ancient Rome: Religious and cultural life in the 3rd century, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/religious-syncretism, Academia - Religious Syncretism as a Syncretistic Concept: The Inadequacy of the " World Religions " Paradigm in Cross-Cultural Encounter. As a resident fellow, Sherman will teach a study group on negotiation and diplomacy this semester. << /Length 5 0 R /Filter /FlateDecode >> Yet . Their history has a theological meaning. For example, in 14 of the 19 countries surveyed, more than three-in-ten people say they sometimes consult traditional healers when someone in their household is sick. These impinge upon their daily life- and experience of the Christian faith. In five countries (Tanzania, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Senegal and Mali) majorities express this belief. It was during the Belgian colonial period that the first Catholic and Protestant missionaries came to this region of Zaire. "The success of Christianity and Islam on the African continent in the last 100 years has been extraordinary, but it has been, unfortunately, at the expense of African indigenous religions," said Olupona. religious syncretism, the fusion of diverse religious beliefs and practices. What the data says about gun deaths in the U.S. 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. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya and Uganda, between 10% and 15% of respondents are Muslim. This number has since grown rapidly, to the point that in 1980 there are estimated to be 200 million Christians (or about 45 per cent of the population). Christianity has scored a triumph over the traditional religious life of the Bira. (+1) 202-419-4300 | Main African spirituality is truly holistic. But I am grateful for that one step I may be taking under the light of this vision. 0000002884 00000 n OLUPONA: Yes, its a mixed bag because in the African diaspora mostly due to the slave trade starting in the 15th century indigenous African religions have spread and taken root all over the world, including in the United States and Europe. Par consquent, Mbali-Dieu est la rponse crative des Biras une rencontre religieuse syncrtique. 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. The missionaries who introduced the gospel to Africa in the past 200 years did not bring God. GAZETTE: What will Africa lose if it loses its African indigenous worldview? He went on to conduct some of the most significant research on African religions in decades. Corrections? Ancestors also serve as intermediaries (see ancestor worship). They proclaimed the name of Jesus Christ. There is no room to describe them, and I can mention only two or three of them briefly. Updates? For this reason, some African theologians take African religiosity to be one of the sources of theological reflection (besides the Bible, Christian heritage, etc.). 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. This chapter includes information on: Download chapter 1 in full (6-page PDF, <1MB), 1 The Horn of Africa is a peninsula in the easternmost part of North East Africa, on the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. 0000001791 00000 n The first and most intriguing topic that immediately engaged my attention was the thinking of African peoples about God. The award allows Olupona a year of study and research in Germany; he is on leave this year (201516). The original constitution defined the organization's mandate as providing a forum for the exchange of ideas among ethnologists. When this happens, then a passage such as Hebrews 1:1-3 rolls down like mighty waters, full of exciting possibilities of theological reflection. They have also fostered a greater feeling of individual self-worth by acknowledging important milestones in ones life, including becoming an adult or an elder. 93 0 obj Awolawu and Depamu (1979) Muslim populations are especially concentrated in a large geographic belt running west to east from Senegal to the Horn of Africa.1 Southern Africa is predominantly Christian. Yet consider that in 1900 most Africans in sub-Saharan Africa practiced a form of indigenous African religions. I am tantalized by the fact that my vision cannot cope with that horizon. That finished the interview. As for the belief in God, it appears that the Bira have utilized Christianity to make their traditional God Mbali less remote and more caring, a change which has also made the Christian God more compassionate and forgiving . Read our research on: Congress | Economy | Gender. The concept of the church as the body of Christ in the whole world is another growing development for me. Consequently, people are discovering that the biblical faith is not harmful to their religious sensibilities. GAZETTE: What else would we lose if we lost traditional African Religions? This is not a biblical distinction. (a) The Structures of African Traditional Religions: Sometimes it is a difficult task among scholars to choose a unanimous name for the religious traditions and beliefs of the African people. (back to text), 3 Nigerias 2006 census did not ask about religious affiliation, and recent estimates of the numbers of Muslims and Christians in the country vary. The Yoruba diviners, for example, draw on this extensive indigenous knowledge every day by consulting Ifa, an extensive literary corpus of information covering science, medicine, cosmology, and metaphysics. It is a way of life, and it can never be separated from the public sphere. Anthony Chiorazzi, who has an M.Phil. Instances of religious syncretismas, for example, Gnosticism (a religious dualistic system that incorporated elements from the Oriental mystery religions), Judaism, Christianity, and Greek religious philosophical conceptswere particularly prevalent during the Hellenistic period (c. 300 bcec. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. In February 1974 a group of 120 anthropologists launched the Canadian Ethnology Society/socit canadienne d'ethnologie (CESCE), because they felt there was room for an association of anthropologists separate from the Canadian Sociology and Anthropology Association (CSAA) which was dominated by sociologists. It doesnt have a fixed creed, like in some forms of Christianity or Islam. But I feel that the issue of looking at African history in light of the biblical understanding of history is clearly called for. Fewer say it is paramount to their faith to attend religious services (39%), avoid sex before marriage (30%) or oppose abortion . Nevertheless, since 1900, Christians in Africa have grown from approximately 7 million to over 450 million today. Corrections? Take em with a grain of salt. At many points I see intriguing parallels between the biblical record and African religiosity. Revelation is given not in a vacuum but within particular historical experiences and reflections. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. But it is nevertheless a working Yes and one that demands theological understanding. In contrast, witchcraft beliefs persist. This bitter conflict has led to wanton destruction of lives and property, and this has become a source of great worry to the writers. One African theologian, Gabriel Setiloane, has even argued that the concept of God which the missionaries presented to the Sotho-Tswana peoples was a devaluation of the traditional currency of Modimo (God) among the Sotho-Tswana. African development. 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. Alternate titles: Vaudou, Vodun, Voodoo, Voudou, vodon, Elizabeth McAlister Associate Professor of Religion, Weslyan University. I want to reflect and write on this topic, but somehow it makes me feel frightened. 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. 1996 Canadian Anthropology Society A prominent European New Testament professor visited Makerere University and interviewed me on what I thought about the "death of God" discussion. 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. The theological horizon continues to expand. Foreign religions simply dont have that same connection to the African continent. Since the Bible tells me that God is the Creator of all things, his activities in the world must clearly go beyond what is recorded in the Bible. 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. My research into and teaching of African religion has led to another important area of development. He has researched and written about such diverse religious cultures as the Hare Krishnas, Zoroastrians, Shakers, and the Old Order Amish. It will keep me chewing for a long time, and it will most certainly feed my theological development. 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 . Current articles and subscription information can be found at www.christiancentury.org. 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. But Gods dealings with the African people are recorded, nevertheless, in living form -- oral communication, rituals, symbols, ceremonies, community faith. Religious pluralism serves peace. For instance, in a few years time, I pray that I will be participating in an age-grade festival for men around 70 years of age called Ero in my native Nigerian community in Ute, in Ondo state. Indigenous African spirituality today is increasingly falling out of favor. GAZETTE: But yet you said its a mixed bag? Religion Online is designed to assist teachers, scholars and general seekers who are interested in exploring religious issues. GAZETTE: Are ancestors considered deities in the traditional African cosmology? African scholars Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. 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. I have seen the quest more sharply. Par contre, les croyances en la sorcellerie ont persist. 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. Abstract. 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. I also celebrate and honor the kings festivals and ceremonies in my hometown and other places where I live and do research. The more I peeped into African religious insights about God, the more I felt utterly unable to use the word "only" in this case. But after braving that first blizzard in a land far from his native Nigeria, Olupona stuck it out and earned his Ph.D. That would be a serious loss not only for Africans, but also for academics, researchers, writers, and general seekers of wisdom the world over. God is not insensitive to the history of peoples other than Israel. According to all the major surveys, Christianity and Islam each represent approximately 40 percent of the African population. There is no centralized hierarchy, no single leader, and no official spokesperson, but various groups sometimes attempt to create such official structures. 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. Currently I am about to complete a book on this question of the encounter between the biblical faith and African religion. For terms and use, please refer to our Terms and Conditions So, "Lord, help Thou my unbelief!" 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. settlements formed by African slaves who ran away from imprisonment the Americas Ifa is an indispensable treasure trove of knowledge that cant be duplicated elsewhere; much of its knowledge has been handed down from babalawo [Ifa priest/diviner] to babalawo for centuries. In particular, the concepts about God provide one area of great commonality. In the cities, local hierarchies of priestesses or priests (manbo and oungan), children of the spirits (ounsi), and ritual drummers (ountgi) comprise more formal societies or congregations (sosyete). Indigenous African religions are by nature plural, varied, and usually informed by ones ethnic identity, where ones family came from in Africa. (back to text), Photo credit: Sebastien Desarmaux/GODONG/Godong/Corbis, Part of the Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures Project, 1615 L St. NW, Suite 800Washington, DC 20036USA There are also other parallels in social, political and cultural areas, just as there are some significant differences. In respect and honor of my culture, I also dress in my traditional Nigerian attire when Im in my country. 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. Read our research on: Congress | Economy | Gender, Side by side with their high levels of commitment to Christianity and Islam, many people in the countries surveyed retain beliefs and rituals that are characteristic of traditional African religions. This is, obviously, a general statement, one which needs detailed elaboration. Most people in sub-Saharan Africa now identify with either Christianity or Islam. Anthropologica is published for CASCA by University of Toronto Press. They do this by having Africans increasingly identify themselves as either Muslim or Christian, thus denying their unique African worldview that has always viewed as evidenced in their creation myths everything as unified and connected to the land, the place were ones clan, lineage, and people were cosmically birthed. When we identify the God of the Bible as the same God who is known through African religion (whatever its limitations), we must also take it that God has had a historical relationship with African peoples. As the map also shows, the ratio of Christians to Muslims increases the further south one goes in the continent. Spiritual activities like prayer, thanksgiving, and the making of sacrifices were well-established facts of life for the existence and continuation of the community. In lieu of these traditional African ways of defining oneself, Christianity and Islam are gradually creating a social identity in Africa that cuts across these indigenous African religious and social identities. Islam And Christianity Christianity came first to the continent of Africa in the 1st or early 2nd century AD. They include the work of missionaries (of whom there are about 40,000 today, without counting their family members); the work of African Christians in evangelism and pastoral care (their numbers are infinitely greater than those of overseas missionaries, and include men, women and children, both lay and ordained); the role of Christian schools; the translation and distribution of the Bible (which is now available in full or in part in nearly 600 of Africas 1,000 languages); and the ending of the colonial era during the decades 1960-1980.

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