StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

A Major Issue Surrounding Religion In Africa - Research Paper Example

Cite this document
Summary
This paper aims at providing an analysis of the contemporary issues that confront the continent especially related to religion. I will try to cover different religions that exist in this continent…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER98% of users find it useful
A Major Issue Surrounding Religion In Africa
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "A Major Issue Surrounding Religion In Africa"

? A MAJOR ISSUE SURROUNDING RELIGION IN AFRICA Submitted By Contents Introduction 3 Religious Plurality in Africa 4 History of Religion in Africa 4 Christology and Religious Pluralism 5 Foundational issues in Christian education 5 Theology of Christianity revisited in modern world 6 Effects of Globalization and Religious Pluralism 7 Conclusion 7 Bibliography 8 Introduction Africa today is standing at the crossroads of international affairs with multiple issues like politics, religion, and security is drawing international attention. This continent has combination of countries some have stability and set goals to be achieved while others are mired by religious, ethnic and political instability. The challenges that this continent is facing is presumed to not only haunt them in the next decade but they will be of concern to the wider international community as well. This paper aims at providing an analysis of the contemporary issues that confront the continent especially related to religion. I will try to cover different religions that exist in this continent. What are the major issues related to it? I will try to analyze them in the light of past and present so that a theme could be developed that connects the historical and contemporary world. In order to do so we have to peep into the traditional religions of Africa as well as into Islam, this is predominantly the current religion of Africa. I will also try to analyze how religion affects the continent today and what are the defining factors. An analysis of the issues surrounding religion is not possible in isolation. A number of other factors have their own strong impact ( (Deagan) on it such as development, culture, democratic environment, health and security, conflicts, arms and reconstruction. Any study done without taking into consideration all these facts will not be based on reality. In short we can say it will be inconclusive. So I will do a detailed analysis and will draw conclusion based on all these factors. We cannot deny the social importance of religion. Religion is an important strand of society. It provides a value system that underpins the foundation of society. Without a common value system of which religion is an important thread, the concept of society is not possible. Religious Plurality in Africa African history is very vast and old. Africa has religious plurality. Religious plurality means sharing of different religious traditions by the same family, immediate or extended, similar ethnic groups and nations. Many religions exist side by side. Members of the same family may follow different religions. If we take a closer look we can categorize the religions in Africa into three tiers, Traditional religions, Christianity and Islam. After Second World War self concept of Africans has changed due to political, intellectual changes around them. History of Religion in Africa The recorded history of Africa dates back to 3000 BC in Egypt. People worshipped gods like Isis, Horus, Osiris, Ra, and Hapi. This was the case within Egypt. In West Africa the trend was to worship single god like sky god. Monotheism that is belief in single god also originated in Egypt in 1300 B.C. that led to worshipping of Akenanten. Religious history is deeply influenced by political history. (History of Religions in Africa) Conquerors of Africa always influenced the religion of the region. Africa was conquered by Greeks, Romans and Phoenicians after the death of Akenanten and each of them influenced the concept of god. The great change in the religious beliefs of the Africans came in 300 AD. Roman emperors believed in Christianity and that is how Christianity entered this region. Even at that time Christianity was not the only religion. The Bantu faith, who believed in Polytheism, was also expanding in Southern Africa at that time. They believed in the powers of ghosts and evil powers, which supposedly had great influence on their lives. They worshipped ghosts of dead kings and heroes. Islam entered into this region in 600 AD. This shift back to monotheism brought great influence on Africans. Majority of the people converted to Islam and those who remained Christian fled to Europe. Islam still is the fastest growing religion in the region. Christology and Religious Pluralism Contemporary Africa is multi-religious. The host traditional religion upon which based is the two host religions, Christianity and Islam. Traditional religion was the most tolerant of all. This triple heritage of religion helps us in developing the theological considerations based upon reality, human experience. In Africa religion is not an independent entity it is reflective of the culture and very much part of the daily lives. It determines your values, ethics and ways of life. In modern Africa Christianity is followed by less than 30% of the population. The majority of the Africans are non- Christians. ( (Mbogu)So any theology that ignores the majority cannot be considered relevant. The effects of religio-cultural systems on human behavior are very important. Religious pluralism has its root in the language as well. Each language in its own distinct way experiences the truth. Hence language is an index of religion, culture, social, political diversity. Africans Christians hence are looking for new ways in interpreting the scripture that reflects their own culture, social and political condition. These different interpretations are the major issue surrounding religion in Africa. Foundational issues in Christian education Christianity has been greatly influenced by western world. Christian educators need to realize the importance of continuity and change. (Pazmino)Continuity is required in the form of essential biblical claims that have guided Christians for centuries. Change must be emphasized in the form of the application of theological concepts. They must be related to specific historical, cultural, social and personal variables. Theology of Christianity revisited in modern world There is growing prospect that Christianity is the minority religion in most parts of Asia, Europe, and Africa. Christianity has to change its outlook from being a superior faith and instead of looking down on other religions they have to learn to look across. The religious plurality which is brought by growing secularism in western countries and rapid growth in Islam demands Christianity to bring some changes in it theological conversations. The key to survive in this plural context is the readiness in engaging traditional dialogues and willingness to rethink one’s position in the light of the answers. Christian teachings as a yardstick in defining morals, ethics and truth no more holds the pre-eminent authority. (Thompson)Even in countries where majority of population is Christian people no more follow the ethics and morals of Christian teaching as supreme authority, although there are still followers who strictly follow these teachings. Besides religious plurality a number of internal factors have also worked in weakening the Christian authority. These factors includes different interpretations within Christianity, traditional Christian authority being questioned and poor ethical and moral judgments amongst trusted Christian authority. Christianity has many divisions in practice, belief and ideology to have one unquestionable authority and counter the problems aroused my religious plurality. Effects of Globalization and Religious Pluralism Globalization had its impact on Africa. Effect of globalization (Banchoff) on religion cannot be denied. Religion generally speaking acts as a defensive tool against effects of globalization on economic and cultural aspects. It is a way to fight for local identities against international. The globalization has another dimension to religion. It acts as making religion transnational i.e. crossing the geographical boundaries of nations. Hence the strong influence which European countries had over Christianity is now being questioned. Over the last two decades with large scale migration and advancement in technology religious communities have become a powerful force in world politics. Now religions have to evolve and rethink their roles in the new world. These international dimensions of religious pluralism have generally been ignored by scholars. This religious pluralism has given rise to both conflict and interreligious cooperation. This growing interreligious competition has given new meaning to the scope of religious freedom. Conclusion In Africa recent globalization and advancement in technology has given new meaning to their self concept. Now Christianity which is heavily influenced by Europeans is being questioned. Religious pluralism in Africa demands Christianity to evolve and take into consideration in its implementation the cultural, political and social aspects of the region to have the global universal appeal. In my opinion religious plurality is the major issue surrounding Christianity in Africa. Bibliography Banchoff, Thomas. Religious Pluralism, Globalization and world Politics. Oxford university press, 2009. Deagan, Heather. Africa today: culture, economics, religion, security. New York: Routledge, 2009. History of Religions in Africa. 2011. 17 Feb. 2011 . Mbogu, Nicholas Ibeawuchi. Christology and Religious Pluralism. Berlin: LIT Verlag, 2006. Pazmino, Robert W. Fundamental issues in Christian Education. USA: Baker Academic, 2008. Thompson, Livingstone. A Protestant Theology of Religious Pluralism. Germany: Peter Lang, 2009. Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“A Major Issue Surrounding Religion In Africa Research Paper”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/family-consumer-science/1407877-a-major-issue-surrounding-religion-in-africa
(A Major Issue Surrounding Religion In Africa Research Paper)
https://studentshare.org/family-consumer-science/1407877-a-major-issue-surrounding-religion-in-africa.
“A Major Issue Surrounding Religion In Africa Research Paper”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/family-consumer-science/1407877-a-major-issue-surrounding-religion-in-africa.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF A Major Issue Surrounding Religion In Africa

Ancient Religious Beliefs: Prehistoric to 1500 BC

This was common amongst the native and indigenous religions mainly in the Native America, Middle East, especially India, and in africa (Dubuisson, 2007).... This may lead to the adoption of certain values and beliefs that would eventually change the way each religion was when first conceived.... Though civilization was not evenly spread out, religion still managed to thrive in most of the areas.... From the prehistoric times to the Vedic period (around 1500 BC), certain areas of concern have been changing with major religions in the world playing party to different changes....
6 Pages (1500 words) Research Paper

Cultural Significance of Yoruba and Akan Groups

Today, Yoruba is also present not only in africa but also in the Americas especially in the Caribbean, South America and North America.... African History and Cultural Significance of Yoruba and Akan Groups Name University Course Date African History and Cultural Significance of Yoruba and Akan Groups africa is a continent of incomparable history and rich culture.... Slavery was passed onto africa by its European colonizers.... It began in 1444, when the Portuguese began shipping slaves from West africa to Europe....
9 Pages (2250 words) Essay

Religion in State Politics: Explaining Incorporation

religion in State Politics: Explaining Incorporation The outcome is that all over the globe the media, professionals, politicians, scientist of social issues and many ordinary people sense that they are bound to give heightened concentration to religion as social-political performer.... The study will investigate the state of politics relationship with religion since the start of the latter century.... This work investigate the interrelationship between faith and the state and whether religion should be privatize or deprivatize (incorporated) into the politics of the world....
11 Pages (2750 words) Essay

Major Issues and The Place of Traditional Religion

According to him it is difficult to talk of a single world view in africa because of the cultural heterogeneity that predominate Africa.... Olupona observes that in order not to alienate African from their traditional roots the contemporary religion not only in africa but in almost the rest of the Africa emphasis has remained on supernatural power, the only difference being that today deliverance is now from God rather than from Isangoma.... Chapter 3: The Place of Traditional religion in Contemporary South Africa In this chapter Olupona look at the effect of traditional religion to today's South Africa....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

The Idea of Culture and Religion for Africans

Blyden felt that African Americans could return at some point in time to africa and redeem Zionism.... The basis of an evolving pan-African vision is articulated in the article africa and the Africans.... The elimination of Slavery in the United States is regarded as an important link in the renewal of africa.... The author stated that the people of africa have become a hunting ground for other counties....
6 Pages (1500 words) Literature review

Religious Plurality as the Major Issue Surrounding Christianity in Africa

The paper "Religious Plurality as the major issue surrounding Christianity in Africa" highlights that religious pluralism has its root in the language as well.... If we take a closer look we can categorize the religions in africa into three tiers, Traditional religions, Christianity and Islam.... n analysis of the issues surrounding religion is not possible in isolation.... nbsp;… The recorded history of africa dates back to 3000 BC in Egypt....
5 Pages (1250 words) Research Paper

An Ethnographic Study of African-American Women

She never utilized the stroller since back in africa; she carried her children on her back, not pushing them from one place using a cart as she referred to the stroller.... ith her first six children, I included, she felt that the surrounding culture in africa benefited them more, with a native language, Christian values found in school, church, and the community.... Back, in africa, not only were we able to make friends rapidly, but parents befriended the other parents and sometimes, they were considered as part of the family (Greenhow, 2010)....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

South African Stereotypes in the Media

In as much as the Dutch were the first people to settle in South africa in 1652, they did not have any ideas of culture or education.... To the population of South africa, most had not embraced the concept of education and modern culture, until the arrival of the Europeans.... The Dutch introduced education after putting healthy culture across South africa in the mid-nineteenth century.... ducation has today become one of the fundamental rights of all children in South africa....
12 Pages (3000 words) Coursework
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us