Islam has remained largely confined to the sahara and the northern mediterranean coast. As i mentioned several times, missionaries came into the african context and the early assessment was a negative assessment of african traditional religion. Nkrumah asserted that islamic civilization and christianity are both part of the historical experience of precolonial africa. Some years ago l attempted to compare african traditional religion, judaism, christianity and islam, and it can be a good food. The paperback of the christianity, islam, and orisareligion. Not only am i interested in the mechanics of the christianization of the slaves but my curiosity also extends further into the mutual interaction between the slaves original african traditional religion and christianity, from the 1600s to the time of emancipation. Interaction of christianity, judaism, and islam ap world. A free ebook version of this title is available through luminos, university of california presss open access. Christianity was the first world religion on the continent and spread across north africa from the 1st century c. The first five chapters are devoted to a study of the interaction between islam and traditional religion. Traditional african religions generally believe in an afterlife, one or more spirit worlds, and ancestor worship is an important basic concept in mostly all african religions. The vast majority of people practiced traditional african religions, while adherents of christianity and islam combined made up less than a quarter of the population, according to historical estimates from the world religion database. Three traditions in comparison and interaction by j.
Islam and christianity in subsaharan africa pew forum. Christianity, islam, and orisa religion university of california press. The interaction between christian religion and african. Today, the continents various populations and individuals are mostly adherents of christianity, islam, and to a lesser extent several traditional african religions. As is the case for most of subsaharan africa, african traditional religion atr is the indigenous religion of sierra leone. Religion, religion and society, christianity, islam, judaism the modern concept of the abrahamic religions has roots in christian theology, the academic study of the near east, and the study of islam. Critical questions in this debate include whether religion and science are compatible, whether religious beliefs can be. The african christian and islam demysti es the mutual ignorance that is often common amongst african christians and muslims, thus building a vital bridge towards interreligious epistemology. By the end of the 2nd century it had reached the region around carthage. This book provides an account of the origins, development and character of islam as a religion, civilisation and form of society, and instrument of power. In this comparative study, at once historical and anthropological, peel explores the intertwined character of the three religions and the dense imbrication of religion in all. Nkrumah s statement underscores the central place of religion for africans. Three traditions in comparison and interaction the anthropology of christianity book 18 ebook. The book series studies of religion in africa covers the historical, empirical, and analytical comparative works on the religious.
This article concerned itself with the modern encounter between christianity and african indigenous religion air in africa. In this comparative study, at once historical and anthropological, peel explores the intertwined character of the three religions and the dense imbrication of religion in all aspects of yoruba history up to. When we speak of african traditional religion, we mean the indigenous religious beliefs and practices of the africans. Christians interactions with african muslims and with african nonbelievers.
Pdf christianity and the african traditional religions. List of books and articles about african religions. Africa is a religiously plural society with interaction between people of different religions and diverse value systems. Although there are other religions in africa such as islam and judaism, this study concentrates on african. An introduction to the religion and history of islam. Muslim look at the belief of their injil, original gospel of jesus, important to the theories of the islamic people. These two religions share a common origin in the middle east.
Christianity in africa not separately but together, as lived religions in dynamic. Interaction between christian and african traditional religions. Peel 19412015 died shortly before this book went to press. The international journal of african historical studiesthe book demonstrates a rigorous analysis of the social character of religion in light of historical changes and enduring cultural practices.
This book is a collection of the papers presented by 22 of the delegates forming a historical survey and thematic assessment of the african christian and islam. In her booklength study of the history of christianity and the. It is essentially a postcolonial approach to what air. Traditional african religions have shared notable relationships with other religions, cultures, and traditions. It does not exist in a vacuum or up there in the blues but among humans. The interaction between islam and african traditional religion in zimbabwe silindiwe zvingowanisei introduction there is much truth in the dictum of the ancient greek philosopher, democritus, that nothing has sprung from. It arrived in this region shortly after its establishment in arabia, but francois constantin argues that few scholars have taken an interest in the development of islam in postcolonial east africa. Focusing on the yoruba of nigeria and in the diaspora, peel examines the role of culturespecific factors in the transmission and reception of christianity and islam in nigeria. Historians of science and of religion, philosophers, theologians, scientists, and others from various geographical regions and cultures have addressed numerous aspects of the relationship between religion and science. Although christianity and islam have added distinct elements to african religions, each has been and continued to be adapted to and shaped by africas indigenous religious heritage ambrose moyo, 2007. The yoruba of southwestern nigeria are exceptional for the copresence among them of three religious traditions. Traditional african religion and other religions wikipedia. This attitude is continued by some indigenous clerics and religious leaders to such an extent that sierra leone indigenous religion slir and its practitioners continue to be marginalised in sierra.
The book begins by looking at the challenge of islam, the oldest foreign religion to have existed in east africa. But, until recently, muslimchristian encounters have not been a major focus of. Written by elizabeth isichei, a leading scholar in this field, a history of christianity in africa examines the origins and development of christianity in africa from the early story of egyptian christianity to the spectacular growth, vitality, and diversity of the churches in africa today. Yale university historian lamin sanneh stated that african christianity was not just an exotic, curious phenomenon in an obscure part of the world, but that african christianity might be the shape of things to come. Pentecostalism, globalisation, and islam in northern cameroon. These two external spheres were the source of contrasting cultural influences, notably those emanating from the world religions. In little more than a century, the religious landscape of subsaharan africa has changed. Nov 17, 2005 christianity, especially protestantism, demanded a complete abandonment of african culture and religion, and a total dedication to christianity. Christianity, islam, and orisareligion reading religion. It is natural that the values and customs of societies in foreign countries would differ from those of our muslim societies. He was professor emeritus of anthropology and sociology at the school of oriental and african. Adherents of traditional religions in subsaharan africa are distributed among 43 countries and are estimated to number over 100 million although the majority of africans today are adherents of christianity or islam, african people often combine the practice of their traditional belief with the practice of abrahamic religions. The african continent is home to more than 6,000 different ethnic and cultural groups, each with its own religious traditions. The african origins of western civilization, religion, and ethics philosophy.
The research tools used, namely interview and observation of transitional rites and festivals, made it possible to explore both the religious and sociocultural history of the people, which existed, mostly in oral tradition. Islam holds him to be gods messiah, prophet, and righteous servant. In addition, key information on the introduction, spread and engagement of islam and christianity within 9 african countries is presented. The inception, evangelization and missionary activities of christianity and islam in nkusukumekumfienyan traditional area in the central region of ghana resulted in the conversions of the indigenous people, mainly, from african traditional religion atr to the two mission religions. About christianity and islam in dialogues concerning jesus christ the messiah by shabir ally the similarities jesus is one of the greatest persons ever to have walked the earth.
Islam, christianity, and the indigenousorisareligion. This essay by sherif abdel azeem is a great work done by the author who realized through his research that islam is free of all the fabrications that they claim to affect the position of women in islam. Religious interactions in a changing african rural society. Focusing on the yoruba of nigeria and in the diaspora, peel examines the role of culturespecific factors in the transmission and reception of christianity and islam in nigeria, setting out a convincing case for how the cultural past shapes and is. As a result of the influence of christian missionaries and western colonialism, christianity became firmly entrenched in most of africa by the 1900s. As of 1900, both muslims and christians were relatively small minorities in the region. African traditional religion by parrinder, geoffrey and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Christianity, islam, and orisareligion three traditions in comparison and interaction. Introduction each society has its own social circumstances with its own traditions, formalities, values and customs. The impact of african traditional religious beliefs and. He saw african society as deeply entrenched in african traditional religion and further broadened by islam and christianity.
Y download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. It is a revivifying shot in the arm for comparatism, and an invitation to think afresh about the relations between christianity, islam and orisareligion both within nigeria and in the wider world. African religion and its influence on christianity and. In her booklength study of the history of christianity and the christian. In this comparative study, at once historical and anthropological, peel explores the intertwined character of the three religions and the dense imbrication of. Karin barber, professor of african cultural anthropology at the university of birmingham. Both texts offer an account of the life and works of jesus.
The christian science monitor is an international news organization that delivers thoughtful, global coverage via its website, weekly magazine, online. Christianity in africa began in egypt in the middle of the 1st century. In this comparative study, at once historical and anthropological, peel explores the intertwined character of the three religions and the dense imbrication of religion in all aspects of yoruba history up to the present. In this final part of the summary lectures of african traditional religion, our goal is now to engage in the christian interaction with this material. It is described as the product of thinking and experience of african forefathers and mothers of. He was professor emeritus of anthropology and sociology at the school of oriental and african studies, university of london. In the words of lord headley, islam and christianity. Conflicts between african traditional religion and. And they were patient enough with me to let me find my own path as i explored kemetic science, santeria, and ifa. This unprecedented work is the first onevolume study of the history of christianity in africa. Browse in religion oxford scholarship online oxford.
Christianity and islam have different scriptures, with christianity using the bible and islam using the quran, though muslims believe that both the quran and the christian gospel, termed injeel, were sent by god. Project muse christianity, islam, and orisareligion. The author, professor of comparative religion in uganda, describes and compares the position of traditional african religion, christianity, islam and bahai faith on selected moral issues relevant to africa today. Spread of religion in africa christianity and islam essay. While hesitating to make generalizations about african traditional reli gions, the author concedes that they have three common. Religion, history of christianity this book explores the life of ambrose jessup tomlinson, chronicling his childhood and family life, spiritual journey, missionary work, and his role in establishing the church of god. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or. Christianity, islam, and orisareligion the anthropology of. The book demonstrates a rigorous analysis of the social character of religion in light of historical changes and enduring cultural practices. Yet these many traditions have much in common, including an almost universal belief in a supreme being, a close interconnection between the sacred and nonsacred, and a reliance on oral tradition to transmit teachings and beliefs down through the generations. Islam and christianity christianity came first to the continent of africa in the 1st or early 2nd century ad. This is a 3hour summary lecture on the basic components of african traditional religions.
Religion in africa is multifaceted and has been a major influence on art, culture and philosophy. They used african spirituality books to teach me the truth about the african origins of christianity, judaism, and islam. An introduction to the religion and history of islam by i ozigbo. It is the religion which resulted from the sustaining faith held by the forebears of the present africans, and which is being practised today in various forms and. In aksum, trade was essential to the kingdoms development in northwestern ethiopia, as it was strategically located geographically on a major trade route linking india with the rest of africa, the mediterranean, and arabia p. Christian missionary enterprise in the niger delta, 18641918. This book contains a selection of papers originally delivered at a conference hosted by the university of zimbabwe in june 1994 under the theme.
The interaction between islam and african traditional religion in zimbabwe presentation silindiwe zvingowanisei 1. One problem the book raises, however, is that of attributing unique identities to ancient north african christianity. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading christianity, islam, and orisareligion. J d y peel the yoruba of southwestern nigeria are exceptional for the copresence among them of three religious traditions. Although christianity and islam have added distinct elements to african religions, each has been and continued to be adapted to and shaped by.
The purpose of this is to help to orient a person who would like to work in the context of africa. Women in islam vs women in the judeochristian tradition. Islam, christianity, and the indigenous orisa religion. Atr african traditional religion introduction three religions dominates african continent. Nevertheless, the bulk of africa has been converted to christianity and not islam, mostly in the subsahara. Christianity and the african traditional religions. Apr 04, 20 some years ago l attempted to compare african traditional religion, judaism, christianity and islam, and it can be a good food. Christians are known as children of the book by the muslims. Some african religions adopted different views through the influence of islam or even hinduism. It covers the spread of islam from morocco through subsaharan africa to afghanistan and from turkey through inner asia and. These differences place the muslim living in such societies, in a constant state of questing about what is permissible for him and what is not.
An abhorrence of the state, so far as it was independent of religion, a feeling unknown in the ancient world, pervades both christianity and islam, christianity first struggled to secure recognition in the state and afterwards fought with the state for predominance. A critical and appreciative perspective 3 these questions, we will first seek to develop a better grasp of religion as a major constituent of the worldview of african people. Islam, christianity, and the indigenous orisareligion. Relationship between religion and science wikipedia. Moreover, it is complemented by gilliam mary bediakos essay on christianity and primal religions in part iii. Africa, along with latin america, has taken on a much larger role in contemporary christian politics and activism. This paper focuses on the conicts between african traditional religion and christianity. African religion and its influence on christianity and islam traditional african religion has been the basis of spirituality for the people of africa. Ancient african christianity is therefore significant because it is a onestopshop in engaging important issues and current scholarship dealing with ancient north african christianity. Both christianity and islam in africa can be seen as african religions that.
African traditional religion has grown out of the african soil. Oral tradition says the first muslims appeared while the prophet mohammed was. Among the baganda and and africans, some priests and priestrasses lived a celibate life just like the roman catholic church and partly by. Interreligious dialogue in black africa among christianity, islam and atrs. The edited book provides a complex historiography of africas religious tapestry, underscoring its robustness, spiritual and confessional variegatedness and unity, but also mutual dependence in growth, development and impact. Islam supplanted christianity in the region in the 7th century. Christianity and islam both facilitated the growth of subsaharan african kingdoms, both in the east and west. Welcome to the summary lecture of african traditional religions. Important africans who influenced the early development of christianity include tertullian, perpetua, felicity, clement of alexandria, origen of alexandria, cyprian, athanasius and augustine of hippo. It is necessary to have the perception of the basic concept of the word conflict before exploring the extensive area of conflicts between african traditional religion and christianity. Some experts predict the shift of christianitys center from the european industrialized nations to africa and asia in modern times.
Christianity, islam, and orisareligion book depository. A history of christianity in africa elizabeth isichei. Christianity islam and orisa religion download pdfepub. Chapter five islamic challenges in african christianity. If at times i find myself disagreeing with the christians, it is not over the religion of jesus, but over the altered shape and, features that it developed after the departure of christ. Muata ashbys book sets the stage with discussions of kemetic ancient egyptian civilization, and how the original teachings of the great shepsu led to the rise of other traditions like ayurveda on the indian subcontinent and, of course, christianity. List of books and articles about christianity in africa.
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