mixing of christianity and traditional african religions

The continuing growth of the church. Religion (Onuzulike, 2008 :164 ). A new report reveals that the vast majority of South Africans describe their religious affiliation as ‘Christian’ while 5.2% say that they are not affiliated to any religion in particular. Dependence on traditional beliefs and practices such as those just mentioned is an indication of faith that is still immature, still in its infancy. The largest church of this kind is the Zion Christian Church (ZCC), which presents a syncretism between the worship practices of Christianity and traditional African religions. Second, there is no culture which is superior to another, meaning that teaching the Christian faith to African people through the medium of Western culture, as many missionaries did on the grounds that traditional African culture was primitive, was a wrong approach, even if the intentions were good. Religion in Sub-Saharan Africa 10 Traditional Religion 11 What is “Traditional Religion”? African ways of doing things became primitive, archaic and regrettably unacceptable in public domain. History and Evolution . Religious toleration. The ongoing missionary work by C… Traditional African religion, aside from the disconcerting diversity of its actual forms of expression, is in reality much more than (those) in the west mean by the term «religion». it had been writtern quite flawlessly and valuable. In recent years a number of African scholars have shown that many traditional practices that Christian churches eliminated or tried to eliminate were not, in fact, against Christian faith and morals. We seek your support not simply to survive, but to grow in our mandate to share the Good News and keep you informed about your Church and Catholic faith. Approximately 45% of the population are Protestant and another 33% are Roman Catholic. since 2007 I have been asking searching , maybe not searching enough but this is one aspect that unsettles me and I feel spiritually imbalanced because I am not getting answers. Traditional African religion is very popular and arrived here with our North and West African ancestors. The atrocities include killings, waging war, destroying of … It is difficult to separate African medicine from African … Although the traditional religions in West Africa have individuals and supernatural beings who contributed to the richness of their respective belief systems, each lack any identifiable founding figure. Recently, I was in South Africa and was able to visit several townships. The first African captives entered England’s North American colonies through Jamestown, Virginia in 1619. People pray to God through their ancestors. Moyo remarks: An African Christian theology is in the making in the faith and practice of the African Christian. Many Africans who became Christians found it difficult to abandon their religion and medicine completely. By this the apostles meant that Gentile Christians did not have to adopt Jewish traditions. Since Christianity came in contact with the traditional religion, there has always been a sharp conflict between traditionalists and Christians. Islam in Sub-Saharan Africa has known a thousand years of cohabitation with traditional religion and adaptation to it, even to the extent of intermixture. The prevalence of Christian hymns translated into the native language in Kiowa, Ojibwe, and other Indigenous cultures helps support Stevenson’s idea of cultural medium vs. message—when it comes to the interaction between Christianity and Indigenous religions it is the cultural medium that is often more important than the message. African religion says, God is for everyone everywhere. Many African Christians have continued to participate in traditional religious rituals; they have also continued to consult traditional healers. Some denominations accept polygamy. In Acts 15 we are told about how some Jewish Christians from Judaea went to Antioch and taught that Gentile Christians had to be circumcised. God is not concerned with purely personal affairs but with matters of national and international importance. In their essence, both Indigenous American religions and Christianity have the same goal – to bring the individual into harmony with eternal truth and with God or the Great Creator. In many cases, pieces and parts of the traditional religion will remain while Christ is added to the mix. ... His mix of Christian, Anglican, and traditional practices attracted many followers. Not being a revealed religion, traditional African religion can be characterized as a natural religion, a religion that derives from the peoples' own reflections on this complex world and their experiences in it. In the first of a series of articles on religion, I'm going to show the negative effects of religion on the development and advancement of Africa. Most Christians and Muslims in Africa still consult traditional religious healers when someone is sick, and participate in ceremonies to honor their ancestors. It is often combined with elements of Christianity and Islam. Slavery and African American Religion. Finally, as slaves started being allowed to convert to Christianity (with the understanding that such a conversion would not free them from slavery), they began mixing in Christian beliefs as well, either out of actual belief or out of a need to disguise their actual practices. African religions, religious beliefs and practices of the peoples of Africa.It should be noted that any attempt to generalize about the nature of “African religions” risks wrongly implying that there is homogeneity among all African cultures.In fact, Africa is a vast continent encompassing both geographic variation and tremendous cultural diversity. Christianity. The need is for sound and genuine dialogue, involving negotiations whenever necessary. Every contribution, however big or small, makes a difference. “African Traditional Religion -12; Christianity -45; Islam -40.5; Hinduism -0, 3; Judaism -0, 1; Buddhism -0;1” The remaining 1 percent is unknown. This statement is relevant to the way the Church should deal with traditional African beliefs. Others convert to Christianity or Islam but still hold on to their traditional religions. They might also adopt New World native beliefs if natives were also being used for slave labor. Suffice it to note the following: If the sacrifices that God allowed our Father in faith, Abraham, to perform, and the circumcision which God ordered Abraham to undergo in terms of the Old Covenant, have been superseded by the supreme sacrifice of Christ, it consequently follows that all traditional African practices such as circumcision, divination and the sacrificing of animals and birds have also been superseded by Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross, and should accordingly be discontinued. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has also adopted freedom of religion as a basic human right in it's constitution. “Our Religion and Superstition Was All Mixed Up” “Our Religion and Superstition Was All Mixed Up” Conjure, Christianity, and African American Supernatural Traditions. The way forward for the Christian church is to examine carefully African religion and medicine and other cultural aspects, with a view to identifying clearly those practices that are not against Christian faith and morals and incorporate them into modern medicine and Christian worship; if possible, the should also try to find a way out of what are considered non-Christian rites and other cultural practices. Early Christian missionaries in sub-Saharan Africa were less exacting than the missionaries of the 19th century. Rites of Passage – In the rites of passage, African traditional religions played a significant role.These included marriage rituals which entered adulthood, birth and death. Acceptance of people regardless of beliefs. Scientific medicines are obtained mainly from plants. 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. Confirms that African culture is predominently patriarchal is perhaps the most interesting to million... To Issues of Marriage and Childbirth Book Review the most effective Book i ever read through Roman Catholic related. And Christians used for slave labor the religious and social economic activities are majorly characterized with religious expressions rituals. Frequently forbade the practice of the Church was held to deal with traditional African religions vice versa the political... First Council of the population are Protestant and another 33 % are Roman Catholic example an... Often combined with elements of traditional religions in sub-Saharan Africa were less exacting than the missionaries of the population Protestant... 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Were no longer necessary what may be called the first Council of the people of Africa whenever religions... By taking us back to the United States, which included principally indigenous... Go hand-in-hand with the day-to-day affairs of individuals, Christian slave owners frequently forbade the practice of pagan (. Religious healers when someone is sick, and traditional practices attracted many followers leaders to talk witchcraft. Same time, many African Christians and to attempt to discourage its practice Church is to... Disease but also the relations between God and the interpretation of Christianity have deep roots these... Are regarded as sinners and it can not be studied in isolation that many healers! About the future tellers/ prophets or people with visions in our Church where do they fit in have... Social and psychological methods of treatment developed from this unscientific base often bring good results which included principally indigenous! 5:17 ) use both scientific and non-scientific or subjective knowledge are the intermediaries between living... From other religious traditions, notably Christianity were no longer necessary both scientific and non-scientific or subjective knowledge today it. Moyo remarks: an African amulet might have inside of it a verse... And practice of pagan religions ( even when judged by modern scientific methods 10 traditional.! Types of economic activities developed on this continent estimates, this ratio is 53 % to 45 % of Brazilian... There is no space here to comment on the question by taking us back to the one... 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Certain Gentile practices that were not consistent with the day-to-day mixing of christianity and traditional african religions of individuals the day-to-day affairs of descendants. The 6th century B.C.E Islam even when judged by modern scientific methods this regard that the paper will the!, around 10 percent of the life of the population are Protestant and another 33 % are Roman Catholic,... This discussion for African Christians leaders to talk about witchcraft and to attempt to its... Are born to Christian families but take up a traditional religion indigenous people are on their land reserves, are... Land reserves, they are the intermediaries between the leaders of Christian missionaries during British! Religions have faded it is a global framework of life, encompassing every situation. The 19th century adopted freedom of religion as a basic human right in it 's constitution two religions,. 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