South Africa is a very diverse place. It is often called, “The Rainbow Nation” because it has so many integrated religions. The five major religions are Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, and, largest of all, Christianity.
Christianity makes up more than 80% of the religious population. Of those, most are protestant, a form of the Western Christian Church separate from the Roman Catholic Church. The main difference between the two is their concepts of God and the way the practice/worship. Some of these churches have Branched off into African Independent Churches. They have combined parts of christianity with native african tradition.
In terms indigenous african religion, it is known as The Religion of the San People. Everything is focused on community. Worshipping, funerals, and births, are all celebrated by the entire tribe. When you are born into a tribe, you usually stay with them most of your life. This helps build security and order, because everyone knows the basics of everyone else's pasts.
Family is also a large part of the tradition. Someone is always guided by their family, even if their family is hundreds of miles away. Ancestors are a major factor too. To communicate with God, that person must speak through their ancestor or through a shaman, because they are not holy enough to speak to God directly. To speak through a shaman, all of the men and woman of a tribe. The woman sit in a circle, with the men around them. In the center is the shaman. The woman clap a beat and sing, while the men dance in the outside circle. While this is happening, the shaman is possessed by an ancestor from someones family. Most ancestral spirits are kind and helpful. If someone is straying down the wrong path, t...
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...h the generations and even integrated themselves into other religions. We might think of South Africa as a cultural desert, but it is actually one of the most culturally rich places in the world.
Bibliography
1.) David Holt-Biddle. Culture Smart! South Africa. Random House Dis. Copyright 2007
2.) Micheal Brett, Philip Briggs, Brian Johnson-Barker, Marielle Renssen. Eyewitness: South Africa. DK publishing. Copyright 1999, 2013
3.) http://www.sahistory.org.za/african-traditional-religion. African Traditional Religion. N/A
4.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_South_Africa. Religion in South Africa. December 25, 2013.
5.) http://countrystudies.us/south-africa/52.htm. Religion. N/A
6.) http://prep.bishops.org.za/academics/classpages/gr4/social%20science/DIFFERENT%20RELGIONS%20OF%20SOUTH%20AFRICA.htm. Different Religions of South Africa. September 17, 2008.
Although not much is known about the Anasazi Pueblo religion, it is said that the religion is based on maintaining harmony with the natural world. The Anasazi were said to hold public and private ceremonies, at these different groups were in charge of different portions of events all important to the spiritual well-being of the society. In modern day rituals, villages would divide themselves into 2 separate groups each assuming different responsibilities, this is said to be similar to how the ancient Ana...
Many African religions have common tenets. They share a belief in a community of deities, the idea that ancestors serve as a way to communicate with these deities. They also share the belief that society as a whole is organized around values and traditions drawn from a common origin, which was created by one Supreme Being.... ... middle of paper ... ...
Religion was and remains a vital part of the lives of most Africans. For some it encompassed their entire existence. It substantiated and explained their place in the universe, their culture, and their relationship to nature and humankind. It also dictated their roles in the community and society at large. Religion among most African ethnic groups was not simply a faith or worship system, it was a way of life, a system of social control, a provider of medicine, and an organizing mechanism.
South Africa was positively affected in the way that before the Dutch and British, South Africa had been split up into many different tribes, who though they were free were not united. Through the centuries of hardship South Africa came out of apartheid very strong and the ANC has maintained a popularity of 60% popularity for all the elections since 1994. Economically South Africa has blossomed and is the 2nd largest economy in all of Africa and has managed to triple its GDP even though it has been less than 30 years since it has left apartheid, established democracy and freed itself from many international sanctions. South Africa’s economy still has many issues though for it is still an underdeveloped country which suffers from lack of education, employment, and crime. Socially South Africa remains strong as it is united under one goal of making its nation once again great, and it has maintained its heritage and culture. In fact, a quick look at a South African site will show many articles and memorials, of days in the past remembering the struggle for freedom. Politically, South Africa has remained strong and united with the ANC still carrying the vast majority of the votes and uses a governmental system quite similar to ours with a separation of powers and a thriving democratic system. Luckily, political diversity has also started to appear with many other groups appearing making the most out of South Africa’s democracy and all of which pledge freedom and are led by native
To Europeans, African cultures and religions were degraded and in need of transformation. Several Catholics and Protestants traversed all across Africa, seeking to convert natives to Christianity and enlighten them with the Westerners' way of life.
These practices vary between the many branches: Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodox churches, the Anglican communion and the tens of thousands of Protestant faith groups. Thousands of groups of protestants are divided into Liberal and Conservative wings. Christianity is the religion of 33% of the population, making it the largest religion in the world. Christianity is growing at a rate of 2.3% increase each year. " (Consultants)
Even though the European worlds have tried to claim Christianity as their religion, the teachings of Christianity are of universal application. Musa A.B Gaiya noted that, “There is strength in the Christian present in Africa they first dates from the apostolic period. It first entered Egypt and quickly spread to other [part of North Africa, namely Ethiopia, Nubia, and Maghreb area. These means Christianity was indigenized since Africa were themselves instrumental in the spread of the gospel” this has made Christianity not to be considered as a foreign religion. “Historically Christianity was thriving in Africa long before it reach American and British where most of the protestant missionaries come from. We can therefore call Christianity an Africa religion” . We may there...
Indigenous religions exist in every climate around the world and exhibit a wide range of differences in their stories, language, customs, and views of the afterlife. Within indigenous communities, religion, social behavior, art, and music are so intertwined that their religion is a significant part of their culture and virtually inseparable from it. These religions originally developed and thrived in isolation from one another and are some of the earliest examples of religious practice and belief. The modern world; however, has taken its toll on these groups and many of their stories, customs, and beliefs have been lost to, or replaced by, those brought in as a result of popular culture and the missionary work of Christians and Muslims.
Coster, P., & Woolf, A. (Eds.).(2011). World book: South Africa’s Anti-Apartheid Movement, (pp. 56-57). Arcturus Publishers: Chicago.
There is widespread belief in a supreme God, unique and transcendent. Africans have a sense of the sacred and sense of mystery; there is high reverence for sacred places, persons and objects; sacred times are celebrated. Belief in the after life is incorporated in myths and in funeral ceremonies. Religion enfolds the whole of life; there is a difference between life and religion. Ancestors mediate between God and men. It is believed that sin harms the public good; hence there are periodical purification rites in order to promote public welfare. Worship requires a fundamental attitude of strict discipline and reverence.
Bureau of African Affairs. (2011). Background Note: South Africa. Retrieved March 28, 2011, from http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2898.html
No, according to the Constitution of South Africa all have the right to their own religion uitteleef . No one can be forced to worship or not to worship. We agree with the law and feel that everyone is entitled to their own free choices .
The Zulus tribe is an independent clan and the largest ethnic group in South Africa. The Zulu clan reputation is well known for their proud, fierce, and barbaric behavior. According to Ethnologies, in 1816 a new chief Shaka Zulu conquered and created a nation that was named after him. His descendants made up the Zulu clan. During the year of 1820, Native Africans did not have any political rights. The king of the Zulu ethnic groups or clans was the only one allowed to have judicial and legislative power. Zulu chiefs steadily demanded increasing tribute to taxes from their acquired great wealth, commanded large armies; in many cases a Zulu military status allow men to achieve distinctions chiefdoms.
South Africa is a nation with a wonderful and varied culture. This country has been called “The Rainbow Nation”, a name that reflects the diversity of such amazing place. The different ethnic and cultural groups of the South Africa do, however, appreciate their own beliefs and customs. Many of these traditions, besides African culture, are influenced by European and Western heritage. The complex and diverse population of the country has made a strong impact to the various cultures. There are forty-five million people; about thirty million are black, five million white, three million coloured and one million Indians. The black population has a large number of rural people living in poverty. It is among these inhabitants that cultural customs are preserve the most.
Old South Africa is best described by Mark Uhlig, “The seeds of such violent conflict in South Africa were sown more than 300 years ago, with the first meetings of white settlers and indigenous black tribes in an unequal relationship that was destined one day to become unsustainable” (116).