African Religions

Native Religions  Most African religions have a belief in a high god.  This high god is distant, retired, and uninvolved.

The Lesser Spirits  Most African religions are animistic, believing that the world is full of lesser spirits.  Lesser spirits rule creation and can be helpful or harmful.  Lesser spirits are subject to prayer, flattery, and sacrifice.

More on the lesser spirits  Plants, animals, weather, water, the Earth – all things are spirits or life forces  Lesser spirits are often personified in Gods or Goddesses  The most common worship is offering food and drink.

Ancestors  The living consult, pray to the dead to receive benefits and avoid harm  The fear of gods is unimportant compared to the fear of and respect for ancestors  Ancestors enforce the moral code  Ancestor spirits know and can control the future

Sacrifice  Most common is a daily offering of food and drink  Animal sacrifice is practiced on serious occasions  Human sacrifice is rarely present in African religions

Marriage  Chastity in marriage is highly valued  Polygamy is practiced by elites of many societies

Death  Making the dead comfortable in their new existence to prevent hauntings  Rapid burial  Dead can point out who caused their demise

Religious Leaders  Generally a minimal need for priests because rituals are performed by individuals  Some Western African religions have priests & priestesses for maintaining temples and altars

Prophets  Speak the words of gods in times of crisis

Non-native African Religions  Ancient Greeks religion influenced North Africa and Egypt  Christianity and Judaism have been present in Africa since the 1 st century  Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism brought to Africa by immigrants

African Religions Today  Colonialism, artificial nation states, urbanization, HIV/AIDS, political instability,and rapid population growth upset the traditional social orders of traditional religion  Traditional African religious practices have diminished, but have not been eliminated

Rise of Christianity & Islam challenges traditional African religions  Lesser spirits and ancestors become Christian Saints or Muslim Jinn  Movements combining African Christian, and/or Islamic beliefs and rituals are increasingly present