Hopfe ch03 ppt
- 2. © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Native Religions • There is no one African religion, theology, worldview, or ritual system • Because many African religions began in ancient times, few written records exist of early origins or practices – Most of what is known about African religion was collected by anthropologists, missionaries, or Africans who recalled
- 3. © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Native Religions • The High God – The belief in a supreme High God who created the world and then withdrew from active participation in it was common is polytheistic religions – Many African religions believe that the High God has little contact with the daily events of the world • Ex. Yoruba creation myth
- 4. © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Native Religions • The High God – The Nuer of Sudan were an exception, because they believed that God played an active role in human affairs – He is believed to be the guardian of moral law, punishing the wicked and rewarding the good – The Nuer also believe that they can appeal to the High God for help or blessing
- 5. © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Native Religions • The Lesser Spirits – Most Africans were animistic, or believed that the universe is populated with spirits as well as human and animals – The spirits can be beneficial or harmful – Some African religions have temples to the storm gods, and others worship the Earth • Ex. Ashanti culture
- 6. © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Native Religions • The Lesser Spirits – Water is seen as a sacred element • When African religions use water in ceremonies, it must be sacred, living water – it must come from a living source like a spring or river – Worship of the lesser spirits varies from minor recognition to elaborate systems of worship • Ex. Yoruba worship of Osun
- 7. © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Native Religions • Ancestors – The most commonly recognized force in African religion is the ancestors – Many Africans believe that ancestors continue to take an active interest in living people and can do good or evil • Because of their power, the ancestors are feared and respected – perhaps more than any of the gods • Ancestors can be capricious or unpredictable
- 8. © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Native Religions • Ancestors – Because of their fear of the ancestors, Africans offered gifts and sacrifices to them – The ancestors were believed to actually own the land, so the living Africans simply enjoyed their hospitality – Ancestors are believed to communicate with the living in dreams and sometimes more directly – like causing them injury
- 9. © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Native Religions • Sacrifice – African religions usually include rituals and sacrifices that seek to appease the gods • Daily offerings are the most common sacrifice and help to maintain a good relationship with the spirits • Animal sacrifices are used less often. A portion of the animal is given to the ancestors, which strengths the bond between the ancestors and the living.
- 10. © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Native Religions • Rites of Passage – In most societies, important moments in life (like birth, puberty, marriage, and death) are marked by ritual • In many African cultures, children are not given a name until after the first week of life • Because so many children die in their first days in Africa, families want to make sure that the baby is not a “ghost child” there to trick them into loving him or her
- 11. © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Native Religions • Rites of Passage – Puberty • Initiation rituals – Harsh physical trials for boys – Seclusion for girls • Circumcision – Common for boys – Involves girls in some cultures – Marriage • Mostly considered to be a secular contract
- 12. © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Native Religions • Rites of Passage – Death is surrounded by a great deal of ritual, which is intended to make the dead more comfortable for their journey – Many steps are taken to prevent the dead from returning to haunt their villages or families • Money, food, trinkets, tools, and weapons are buried with the dead body
- 13. © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Native Religions • Religious Leaders – Because many aspects of African religion can be practiced by individuals, there is not as great of a need for priests – The most common religious specialist is the spiritual curer • The curer finds the spiritual cause of disease and provides a cure • Curers use a combination of herbal remedies, spiritual powers, and prayer for healing
- 14. © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Native Religions • Religions Leaders – Healers • The Acholi have a healer called the ajwaka, who attempts to draw the jok (or illness) out of the sick person – Diviners are almost as important as healers. The diviner’s task is to use spiritual powers and knowledge to find the causes of present misfortunes, past secrets, or things to come.
- 15. © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Native Religions • Religious Leaders – One of the most enduring leadership figures is the chief-king • Not all African cultures have kings, but those that do look upon them with awe – The chief king is regarded as the tribal connection to the ancestors and are revered as living symbols of the tribe • Monarchs represent their people, so a sick monarch means a sick land
- 16. © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Non-native African Religions • North Africa was strongly influenced by Greek and Egyptian culture • Christianity has played an important role, and Judaism has also flourished – There is a distinct branch of Judaism in Ethiopia among the Falasha people • Islam came to African when early followers fled to Ethiopia to avoid persecution
- 17. © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Non-native African Religions • Christianity – Christianity experienced its greatest growth in Africa in the 1950s • Missionary work took off when the Bible became readily available in African languages • Other faiths – Hinduism, Buddhism, and Baha’i also spread through Africa in the nineteenth century
- 18. © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. African Religions Today • Colonialism has taken a serious toll on African religions – Colonialism has caused the breakup of traditional tribal units – It also caused the division of many regions into new nations • Modernization and urbanization has also changed African culture
- 19. © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. African Religions Today • Traditional African religions are closely linked to specific places • Modern life has decreased the importance of place and ethnicity for many Africans • In many places, the belief in lesser spirits has taken the form of Christian saints or Muslim jinn
- 20. © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. African Religions Today • Religion and Violence – Most conflicts in Africa pit rival ethnic groups against each other – In countries with large Christian and Muslim populations, there have been conflicts between those two groups – A 25-year civil war raged in Sudan between the Muslim north and the Christian south, causing millions of deaths