scholarly journals Prosperity Theology and African Traditional Religion

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew T Court
Keyword(s):  
Traditional Religion ◽  
African Religion ◽  
Traditional Religions ◽  
Religious Worldview ◽  
Prosperity Theology ◽  
African Traditional Religion ◽  
African Traditional Religions ◽  
Do So

Studies of Prosperity Theology in Africa have increased as research into Pentecostalism has burgeoned, but few theological analyses have explored the significance of African Traditional Religions and their role in shaping Prosperity Theology. While some studies have explored the resonance of Prosperity Theology and African Traditional Religions, they tend to do so briefly, or with a focus on sociology rather than theology. Through a case study of Nigerian Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, this research tests the thesis that many have intuited: Prosperity Theology resonates with traditional African religion, and these resonances contribute to an explanation of the expression and proliferation of Prosperity Theology in Africa. Evaluating the resonance of Oyakhilome’s teaching with African Traditional Religions (relying especially on John S. Mbiti’s work) demonstrates that Oyakhilome’s emphasis on accessing blessing, spiritual enemies, and activating power draws heavily on the resources of the typical African religious worldview.

John Mbiti on the Monotheistic Attribution of African Traditional Religions: A Refutation

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-34
Author(s):  
Adeolu Oluwaseyi Oyekan
Keyword(s):  
Traditional Religion ◽  
African Religions ◽  
Traditional Religions ◽  
Belief In God ◽  
Abrahamic Religions ◽  
African Traditional Religion ◽  
Religious Cultures ◽  
African Traditional Religions

John Mbiti, in his attempt to disprove the charge of paganism by EuroAmerican ethnographic and anthropological scholars against African Traditional Religions argues that traditional African religions are monotheistic. He insists that these traditional religious cultures have the same conception of God as found in the Abrahamic religions. The shared characteristics, according to him are foundational to the spread of the “gospel” in Africa. Mbiti’s effort, though motivated by the desire to refute the imperial charge of inferiority against African religions ran, I argue, into a conceptual and descriptive conflation of ATRs with monotheistic faiths. In this paper, I challenge the superimposition of Judeo-Christian categories upon African religions. I argue that monotheism is just a strand, out of many, that expresses belief in God(s), and that it differs substantially from the polytheistic pre-colonial African understanding of religion. I provide a panentheistic paradigm using traditional Igbo ontology and religion to refute Mbiti’s generalization. Keywords: Monotheism, African Traditional Religion, Igbo, Paganism, Theology.

A COMPERATIVE STUDY OF EXORCISM BETWEEN THE AFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGION AND PENTECOSTALISM

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
armstrong chanda
Keyword(s):  
Human Life ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Traditional Religion ◽  
Christian Churches ◽  
Traditional Religions ◽  
Analytical Perspective ◽  
History Of ◽  
Pentecostal Churches ◽  
Evil Spirits ◽  
African Traditional Religion

The belief in the existence of the evil spirits throughout the human history of religious beliefs and adherence has led to the belief that these evil spirits possess people and things and influence them to act weirdly and unholy hence the need to cast them away of the human life. Exorcism has been a prominent practice among the African traditional religions and Christian churches such as Pentecostals. They have been using exorcism to treat suspected victims of demonic possession. The practice of exorcism by ATRs and Pentecostal churches show some resemblance and dissimilarities. The similarities and dissimilarities between the two cover two major areas; diagnostic methods and exorcism practice. Each of the two religions has its distinctive and elaborate diagnostic and exorcism features, yet there are areas of semblance. Exorcism is an integral part of religion. Every religion practices this religious activity some more often than the others. Therefore, having a detailed glance at exorcism from the African traditional religion and Pentecostal churches from a comparative analytical perspective is imperative. An attempt to discuss the meaning of exorcism, healing, spirits, and spirit possession from both ATR and Pentecostalism is imperiously unavoidable.

scholarly journals Portrayal of Religious Syncretism in Akiki Nyabongo’s Novel: Africa Answers Back

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Mary Naula
Keyword(s):  
Religious Beliefs ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Traditional Religion ◽  
Foreseeable Future ◽  
Way Of Life ◽  
African Religions ◽  
Traditional Religions ◽  
Religious Syncretism ◽  
Religious Thoughts ◽  
African Traditional Religions

Akiki Nyabongo’s novel, “Africa answers back”, reveals that religious syncretism in Africa is a reality that has persistently painted Christianity as an offshoot of traditional African religions. Using qualitative content analysis that looks at the text for themes, meaning and underlying values, the study critically analyses the two major religious thoughts of African Traditional Religions and Christianity in the context of the rite of passage – pregnancy, naming, baptism, marriage, death and burial. The study found out that religious syncretism as portrayed in Africa Answers Back is evident in all the major rites of passage. The conflict portrayed between the two religious beliefs shows that syncretism is a major issue today among African Christians and it is likely to remain so for the foreseeable future. I conclude that most African Christians will take long to detach themselves from traditional African religious beliefs, because their way of life and practices are rooted in African traditional religion. I recommend continuous negotiations between African traditional religions and Christianity as each has something to offer to enrich their respective faiths.

scholarly journals Overcoming fear? A search for an empowering theological response to the fear of witchcraft among urban Zimbabwean Christians

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Collium Banda ◽  
Gift Masengwe
Keyword(s):  
Pastoral Care ◽  
Multidisciplinary Approach ◽  
Churches Of Christ ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Traditional Religions ◽  
Phenomenology Of Religion ◽  
The City ◽  
African Traditional Religions ◽  
Depth Interviews

How can we make theological sense of the resilience of the fear of witchcraft among indigenous Zimbabwean Christians? From the perspective of the transcendence and immanence of God, this article analyses the resilience of the fear of witchcraft among African Christians in Zimbabwe. The article uses results of a case study conducted in Zimbabwe in a congregation belonging to the Churches of Christ in Zimbabwe (COCZ) in the city of Bulawayo. Using focus group discussions and in-depth interviews, the study affirms that many African Christians struggle to overcome the fear of witchcraft in their lives. Witchcraft is feared because it is primarily viewed as an evil power that destroys life. The article analyses the awareness of witchcraft, the experiences of witchcraft and the responses to witchcraft among Zimbabwean Christians. The article proposes that African Christians be grounded on the transcendence and immanence of God as a way of overcoming the enduring fear of witchcraft.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: A meaningful response to the fear of witchcraft in Africa requires a multidisciplinary approach including phenomenology of religion, Christian doctrines and practical theology and pastoral care. The immanence and transcendency of God in a context of fear of witchcraft must be unpacked in the light of insights from phenomenology of religion, African traditional religions, discipleship and pastoral care.

scholarly journals The indigenisation of eco-theology: The case of the Lamba people of the Copperbelt in Zambia

2020 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lackson Chibuye ◽  
Johan Buitendag
Keyword(s):  
Mining Industry ◽  
Ecological Crisis ◽  
Traditional Religion ◽  
The People ◽  
Theological Perspective ◽  
African Context ◽  
African Traditional Religion ◽  
Mother Earth ◽  
The Impact

This article shows how eco-theology could and should be indigenised in an African context using the Copperbelt in Zambia as a case study. The ecological crisis worldwide has given rise to the call for everyone to work together to start caring about our natural environment. In theology, the response to this call received the name eco-theology. By means of a literature review, ethnographic information and governmental legislation, the article tries to illustrate how eco-theology could and should be indigenised in an African context using the Copperbelt in Zambia as a case study. This article makes an attempt to contribute to the needed ecological renewal by reinterpreting two traditions that inform thinking on the Copperbelt: Christianity and African traditional religion. The supernatural belief of the Lamba people is no longer embodied in this creation, and it is not too late for the people to form any indigenous environmental protection movement to protect the sacredness of mother Earth from further contamination and exploitation by strengthening, maintaining and respecting the traditional teachings and the cultural laws. Obedience to God’s command to tend creation is a quest for continued creation by humans, so that value is added to what is already in existence. This is embodied making the place we live in more beautiful, appealing and peaceful. Fruitfulness with sustainability becomes core values for interdependence and earth keeping.Contribution: We wish to address the ecological situation of the mining industry in Zambia from a theological perspective by assessing the impact of the copper mining and processing industry on humans, their environment and nature and by showing how the traditions of African traditional religion (ATR) thought can be transformed into tools to oppose this ecological disaster.

scholarly journals TOWARDS A CHRISTIAN APPROACH TO AFRICA TRADITIONAL RELIGION

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 118-131
Author(s):  
Nadi Maria de Almeida
Keyword(s):  
Religious Pluralism ◽  
Christian Theology ◽  
Traditional Religion ◽  
Local Religion ◽  
Traditional Religions ◽  
The People ◽  
Religious Dialogue ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Theological Challenge ◽  
African Traditional Religions

Inter-Religious dialogue is a demand for the mission. Based on the theological investigation of scholars who explore and write on the subject, the article analyses the theological challenge of Inter-Religious dialogue especially in approaching African Traditional Religions. The discussion concerns the Christian theology of religious pluralism with the local religion in Africa looking at the theological progress, not just from the abstract world of books, but also, from connecting with the life of the people, appreciating and connecting points of convergences with the local culture and religions. Still, a long way to go on the reflection and there needs to open wider our vision concerning the action of the Spirit that has been always present in Africa.  

scholarly journals African Traditional Religion in Contemporary Africa: The Case of Ghana

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Yaw Sarkodie Agyeman ◽  
Samuel Awuah-Nyamekye
Keyword(s):  
Religious Pluralism ◽  
Contemporary Society ◽  
Traditional Religion ◽  
General Survey ◽  
World Religions ◽  
Indigenous Religion ◽  
Adequate Theory ◽  
The World ◽  
African Traditional Religion

Globalisation does not permit any religion to be an island to itself. Indigenous  cultures  all  over  the  world  bear  the  brunt  of  a consequent  of  globalisation--religious  pluralism.  On  the  continent of  Africa,  the  five  major  world  religions,  notably  Christianity  and Islam, are slugging it out against each other and, most of the time, collectively  against  the  indigenous  religion  of  the  African.  Besides the challenges religious pluralism poses to the indigenous religion, Africa, like never before is being opened up for investment and the intrusion  of  the  mass  media  and  the  internet.  This  paper  is  a general  survey  examining  how  the  traditional  religion  of  the African is responding to these realities using Ghana as a case study. It  aims  at  an  understanding  of  the  current  manifestation/s  of  the religion.  The  paper  observes  that  syncretism  has  been  used  to analyse  the  current  expression  of  the  religion,  but  the  paper  takes the  position  that  syncretism  is  not  an  adequate  theory  to  explain current  developments  in  the  religion.  It  rather,  advocates thetheories  of  the  market  and  religious  field  as  additional  theories to  explain  current  developments  in  the  religious  space  in  Africa, and  for  that  matter,  Ghana.  The  paper  notes  that  though  there  is competition  in  the  market,  especially  from  impinging  religions especially  Christianity  and  Islam,  opportunities  have  been  opened to  the  indigenous  religion  making  it  to  assume  a  transnational posture. It concludes that the future of African Traditional Religion will  largely  depend  on  its  ability  to  respond  to  market  realities  in order to be continuously relevant to contemporary society. 

Rethinking Public Theology in Ethiopia: Politics, Religion, and Ethnicity in a Declining National Harmony

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-171
Author(s):  
Wondimu Legesse Sonessa
Keyword(s):  
Public Theology ◽  
Military Government ◽  
Human Flourishing ◽  
Traditional Religions ◽  
Ethnic Tensions ◽  
Religion And Ethnicity ◽  
Almost All ◽  
African Traditional Religions

Abstract Ethiopia is a country of multi-ethnic and multi-religious society. Almost all of its citizens claim affiliation with either Christianity, Islam, or African traditional religions. Adherents of these religions have been coexisting in respect and peace. However, there is a growing tension between the citizens since the downfall of the dictatorial military government of Ethiopia, which was displaced by the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), in 1991. Politics, religion, and ethnicity are the major causes of the declining national harmony under the current government. My claim is that addressing the declining national harmony caused by the religious, political, and ethnic tensions in Ethiopia requires of the EECMY to rethink its public theology in a way that promotes a national harmony that values peace, equality, justice, democracy, and human flourishing.

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