Elements of African Traditional Religion

Elements of African Traditional Religion

Author: Elia Shabani Mligo

Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published: 2013-08-02

Total Pages: 111

ISBN-13: 1621898245

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African Traditional religion (ATR) is one of the world religions with a great people and a great past. It is embraced by Africans within and outside the continent despite the various ethnic religious practices and beliefs. This book highlights and discusses the common elements which introduce African Traditional Religion as one unified religion and not a collection of religions. The major focus of the book is discussing the need for studying ATR in twenty-first-century Africa whereby globalization and multi-culture are prominent phenomena. Why should we study the religion of indigenous Africans in this age? In response to this question, the book argues that since ATR is part of the African people's culture, there is a need to understand this cultural background in order to contextualize Christian theology. Using some illustrations from Nyumbanitu worship shrine located at Njombe in Tanzania, the book purports that there is a need to understand African people's worldview, their understanding of God, their religious values, symbols and rituals in order to enhance meaningful dialogue between Christianity and African people's current worldview. In this case, the book is important for students of comparative religion in universities and colleges who strive to understand the various religions and their practices.


Book Synopsis Elements of African Traditional Religion by : Elia Shabani Mligo

Download or read book Elements of African Traditional Religion written by Elia Shabani Mligo and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2013-08-02 with total page 111 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: African Traditional religion (ATR) is one of the world religions with a great people and a great past. It is embraced by Africans within and outside the continent despite the various ethnic religious practices and beliefs. This book highlights and discusses the common elements which introduce African Traditional Religion as one unified religion and not a collection of religions. The major focus of the book is discussing the need for studying ATR in twenty-first-century Africa whereby globalization and multi-culture are prominent phenomena. Why should we study the religion of indigenous Africans in this age? In response to this question, the book argues that since ATR is part of the African people's culture, there is a need to understand this cultural background in order to contextualize Christian theology. Using some illustrations from Nyumbanitu worship shrine located at Njombe in Tanzania, the book purports that there is a need to understand African people's worldview, their understanding of God, their religious values, symbols and rituals in order to enhance meaningful dialogue between Christianity and African people's current worldview. In this case, the book is important for students of comparative religion in universities and colleges who strive to understand the various religions and their practices.


Christianity and African Culture

Christianity and African Culture

Author: J. N. Kanyua Mugambi

Publisher:

Published: 2002

Total Pages: 238

ISBN-13:

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Book Synopsis Christianity and African Culture by : J. N. Kanyua Mugambi

Download or read book Christianity and African Culture written by J. N. Kanyua Mugambi and published by . This book was released on 2002 with total page 238 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:


African Religions

African Religions

Author: Jacob K. Olupona

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2014

Total Pages: 177

ISBN-13: 0199790582

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This book connects traditional religions to the thriving religious activity in Africa today.


Book Synopsis African Religions by : Jacob K. Olupona

Download or read book African Religions written by Jacob K. Olupona and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2014 with total page 177 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book connects traditional religions to the thriving religious activity in Africa today.


African Traditional Religion Encounters Christianity

African Traditional Religion Encounters Christianity

Author: John Chitakure

Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published: 2017-11-07

Total Pages: 275

ISBN-13: 149824419X

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Right from the beginning of humankind, God has never deprived a people of his grace and revelation. In fact, God uses people's environment and culture to communicate his will. There is no single religion that can claim to have the exclusive possession of God's revelation, for God is too immense to be confined within one faith. Hence, it was erroneous, blasphemous, and misleading for some of the early Christian missionaries to Africa to claim that they had brought God to Africa, a mentality that implied the non-existence of God in Africa before their arrival. Of course, God was already in Africa, but the missionaries either failed to discern his presence or just disregarded the traces of his existence. This book explores the religious beliefs, practices, and values of the indigenous people of Africa at the time of the early missionaries' arrival, with particular reference to the Shona people of Zimbabwe. It also evaluates the extent of the missionarie's successes and challenges in converting Africans to Christianity. It finally surveys how African Christians have remained attached to the indigenous religious beliefs that used to provide answers to their existential questions.


Book Synopsis African Traditional Religion Encounters Christianity by : John Chitakure

Download or read book African Traditional Religion Encounters Christianity written by John Chitakure and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2017-11-07 with total page 275 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Right from the beginning of humankind, God has never deprived a people of his grace and revelation. In fact, God uses people's environment and culture to communicate his will. There is no single religion that can claim to have the exclusive possession of God's revelation, for God is too immense to be confined within one faith. Hence, it was erroneous, blasphemous, and misleading for some of the early Christian missionaries to Africa to claim that they had brought God to Africa, a mentality that implied the non-existence of God in Africa before their arrival. Of course, God was already in Africa, but the missionaries either failed to discern his presence or just disregarded the traces of his existence. This book explores the religious beliefs, practices, and values of the indigenous people of Africa at the time of the early missionaries' arrival, with particular reference to the Shona people of Zimbabwe. It also evaluates the extent of the missionarie's successes and challenges in converting Africans to Christianity. It finally surveys how African Christians have remained attached to the indigenous religious beliefs that used to provide answers to their existential questions.


African Traditional Religion and the Christian Faith

African Traditional Religion and the Christian Faith

Author: Cornelius Olowola

Publisher:

Published: 1993

Total Pages: 80

ISBN-13:

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This book provides a new, constructive and critical approach to African traditional religion, from the standpoint of Christian faith.


Book Synopsis African Traditional Religion and the Christian Faith by : Cornelius Olowola

Download or read book African Traditional Religion and the Christian Faith written by Cornelius Olowola and published by . This book was released on 1993 with total page 80 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book provides a new, constructive and critical approach to African traditional religion, from the standpoint of Christian faith.


How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind

How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind

Author: Thomas C. Oden

Publisher: InterVarsity Press

Published: 2010-07-23

Total Pages: 205

ISBN-13: 0830837051

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Thomas C. Oden surveys the decisive role of African Christians and theologians in shaping the doctrines and practices of the church of the first five centuries, and makes an impassioned plea for the rediscovery of that heritage. Christians throughout the world will benefit from this reclaiming of an important heritage.


Book Synopsis How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind by : Thomas C. Oden

Download or read book How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind written by Thomas C. Oden and published by InterVarsity Press. This book was released on 2010-07-23 with total page 205 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Thomas C. Oden surveys the decisive role of African Christians and theologians in shaping the doctrines and practices of the church of the first five centuries, and makes an impassioned plea for the rediscovery of that heritage. Christians throughout the world will benefit from this reclaiming of an important heritage.


Hearing and Knowing

Hearing and Knowing

Author: Mercy A. Oduyoye

Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published: 2009-07-01

Total Pages: 177

ISBN-13: 1606088610

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I would urge everyone to receive this book with openness and understanding. Written by an African Christian woman, it is a serious attempt to speak of the fullness of the Gospel to the specific African context. As one individual's struggle to give account of the hope that lies in her, it is a passionate and sincere work, and a welcome contribution to the growing genre of religious literature known as liberation theology. The author seeks not only to speak to us but also to move us and bring us to different ways of 'hearing and knowing.' She has succeeded with me. -Lamin Sanneh Center for the Study of World Religions, Harvard University This book is a remarkable synthesis of history, theology, and missions. It is one of the most important books of the decade because it is written by a Ghanian Christian woman who resides in Nigeria and has travelled the world-over demanding that we no longer allow traditional theological puzzles to go unexamined. Oduyoye's writings are like a breath of fresh air to women in ministry and in the church. -Katie G. Cannon Episcopal Divinity School Amber Oduyoye is Africa's leading woman theologian. In this book we meet a woman of faith reflecting in a scholarly and meditative way on Christianity in Africa. Learned in both the Western and African theological traditions, Professor Oduyoye brings constructive criticism to bear on each in the interest of promoting a wider community of wholeness. -Peter J. Paris Princeton Theological Seminary


Book Synopsis Hearing and Knowing by : Mercy A. Oduyoye

Download or read book Hearing and Knowing written by Mercy A. Oduyoye and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2009-07-01 with total page 177 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: I would urge everyone to receive this book with openness and understanding. Written by an African Christian woman, it is a serious attempt to speak of the fullness of the Gospel to the specific African context. As one individual's struggle to give account of the hope that lies in her, it is a passionate and sincere work, and a welcome contribution to the growing genre of religious literature known as liberation theology. The author seeks not only to speak to us but also to move us and bring us to different ways of 'hearing and knowing.' She has succeeded with me. -Lamin Sanneh Center for the Study of World Religions, Harvard University This book is a remarkable synthesis of history, theology, and missions. It is one of the most important books of the decade because it is written by a Ghanian Christian woman who resides in Nigeria and has travelled the world-over demanding that we no longer allow traditional theological puzzles to go unexamined. Oduyoye's writings are like a breath of fresh air to women in ministry and in the church. -Katie G. Cannon Episcopal Divinity School Amber Oduyoye is Africa's leading woman theologian. In this book we meet a woman of faith reflecting in a scholarly and meditative way on Christianity in Africa. Learned in both the Western and African theological traditions, Professor Oduyoye brings constructive criticism to bear on each in the interest of promoting a wider community of wholeness. -Peter J. Paris Princeton Theological Seminary


Christianity and African Traditional Religion

Christianity and African Traditional Religion

Author: Bregje de Kok

Publisher: African Books Collective

Published: 2004

Total Pages: 128

ISBN-13:

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This book describes itself as: 'a cultural, psychological study of the way Christian Malawians account for their involvement in African traditional religion'. It is a qualitative study of how Christians manage to be at the same time involved in African traditional religions, of which the Christian church, on the whole, disapproves. It lends insight into the ways in which individuals enact two different religions in their daily lives, focusing particularly on religious practices. It further aims to adopt a position of religious pluralism, representing the voices and perspectives of the peoples studied.


Book Synopsis Christianity and African Traditional Religion by : Bregje de Kok

Download or read book Christianity and African Traditional Religion written by Bregje de Kok and published by African Books Collective. This book was released on 2004 with total page 128 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book describes itself as: 'a cultural, psychological study of the way Christian Malawians account for their involvement in African traditional religion'. It is a qualitative study of how Christians manage to be at the same time involved in African traditional religions, of which the Christian church, on the whole, disapproves. It lends insight into the ways in which individuals enact two different religions in their daily lives, focusing particularly on religious practices. It further aims to adopt a position of religious pluralism, representing the voices and perspectives of the peoples studied.


Trajectories of Religion in Africa

Trajectories of Religion in Africa

Author: Cephas N. Omenyo

Publisher: Rodopi

Published: 2014-03-01

Total Pages: 399

ISBN-13: 9401210578

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The book, in the main, discusses issues relating to mission, ecumenism, and theological education and is presented in four sections. The first segment discusses works on ecumenical and theological education and assesses the relevance of the World Council of Churches. Other issues discussed in this segment relate to the interrelationships that exist between academic theology, ecumenism, and Christianity. The World Missionary Conference held in Edinburgh in 1910, which set the agenda for world-wide mission in a promising manner in the 1920s, is also assessed in this section of the work. The second segment, which covers Religion and Public Space, discusses works that examine the relationships between religion and power, religion and development, religion and traditional religious beliefs, and religion and practices in Africa. The third segment of the book treats Religion and Cultural Practices in African and how all these work out in couching out an African theology and African Christianity. Some of the issues discussed in this section related to African traditional philosophy, spiritism, and the interrelationships that exist between African Christianity and African Traditional Religion. The last segment of the book discusses the issue of African biblical hermeneutics and specifically looks at contemporary hermeneutical approaches to biblical interpretations in Africa.


Book Synopsis Trajectories of Religion in Africa by : Cephas N. Omenyo

Download or read book Trajectories of Religion in Africa written by Cephas N. Omenyo and published by Rodopi. This book was released on 2014-03-01 with total page 399 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The book, in the main, discusses issues relating to mission, ecumenism, and theological education and is presented in four sections. The first segment discusses works on ecumenical and theological education and assesses the relevance of the World Council of Churches. Other issues discussed in this segment relate to the interrelationships that exist between academic theology, ecumenism, and Christianity. The World Missionary Conference held in Edinburgh in 1910, which set the agenda for world-wide mission in a promising manner in the 1920s, is also assessed in this section of the work. The second segment, which covers Religion and Public Space, discusses works that examine the relationships between religion and power, religion and development, religion and traditional religious beliefs, and religion and practices in Africa. The third segment of the book treats Religion and Cultural Practices in African and how all these work out in couching out an African theology and African Christianity. Some of the issues discussed in this section related to African traditional philosophy, spiritism, and the interrelationships that exist between African Christianity and African Traditional Religion. The last segment of the book discusses the issue of African biblical hermeneutics and specifically looks at contemporary hermeneutical approaches to biblical interpretations in Africa.


The Bible and African Culture

The Bible and African Culture

Author: Humphrey Waweru

Publisher: African Books Collective

Published: 2012-03-25

Total Pages: 238

ISBN-13: 9966040099

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How can African theology survive the self-repetition of mere cultural apologia or contextualization-stereotypes, and mature into a critical theoretical discipline responding to the challenges of the postmodern world-order? Dr. Humphrey M. Wawe contributes here a sound theological reflection using the hitherto unused methodological paradigm of mapping the inroads in the transaction between the Bible and African culture.


Book Synopsis The Bible and African Culture by : Humphrey Waweru

Download or read book The Bible and African Culture written by Humphrey Waweru and published by African Books Collective. This book was released on 2012-03-25 with total page 238 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How can African theology survive the self-repetition of mere cultural apologia or contextualization-stereotypes, and mature into a critical theoretical discipline responding to the challenges of the postmodern world-order? Dr. Humphrey M. Wawe contributes here a sound theological reflection using the hitherto unused methodological paradigm of mapping the inroads in the transaction between the Bible and African culture.