This article concerned itself with the modern encounter between Christianity and African Indigenous Religion (AIR) in Africa. At many points I see intriguing parallels between the biblical record and African religiosity. One of the things these diaspora African religions testify to is the beauty of African religions to engage a devotee on many spiritual levels. The Church in Africa, 1450-1950. In contrast, witchcraft beliefs persist. <> I want to reflect and write on this topic, but somehow it makes me feel frightened. All too often, the result is conflict and radicalisation. In four countries, for instance, half or more of the population believes that sacrifices to ancestors or spirits can protect them from harm. www.ej-theology.org Christianity and Indigenisation in Africa 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. startxref The first and most intriguing topic that immediately engaged my attention was the thinking of African peoples about God. 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. It includes Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti. 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. I cannot claim that I have witnessed much progress in that quest at the organizational level, but perhaps I had expected too much. For terms and use, please refer to our Terms and Conditions %PDF-1.7 % And in Botswana, Rwanda, South Africa and Zambia, the survey finds that 5% or less identify as Muslim. 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). That finished the interview. Its fundamental principle is that everything is spirit. The rapid growth of many religions in Africa and the revival of AIR in postcolonial Africa have made inter-religious dialogue an urgent necessity. This statistical tilting of Christendom from the north to the south, after 2,000 years, holds tremendous prospects and challenges. 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.
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