Paganism, voodooism, witchcraft, fetishism, black magic, obyah and oleamare are but a mere sample of the many names relegated to a few of the righteously sacred religions of solely traditional indigenous african origin according to most european and europeanamerican educators, theologians and general missionaries who believe within themselves that. African origins of major western religions by yosef b. Ben critically examines the history, beliefs, and myths that are the. Afrikan origins of the major western religions first publish in ntinues to be one of dr bens most thoughtprovoking works.
If african traditional religion has its roots in tribes and clans, should it then be called african traditional religion or african traditional religions. Parrinder was an advocate for eliminating the words fetishism and primitive to refer to african polytheistic religion. The traditional african religions are a set of highly diverse beliefs that includes various ethnic. African origins of major western religions 9780933121294. Western scholars, such as sir james frazier, had had a fascination with african religions, either from the scientific point of view, as a phenomenon to be studied, or from a missionary point of view. Do the tools used by todays scholars of religion, their ways of gathering information, and their analytical categories function effectively and appropriately. Since then, the literature on the history of africa has grown considerably in both scope and quality, and many new themes have appeared. Ben reveals an untold history that many would prefer to froget. Independent churches, and biblical ideas and customs. Okon department of religious and cultural studies university of calabar, nigeria abstract this paper will identify some of the fundamental short comings in african ethnographic studies undertaken by europeans in the nineteenth century. Ethnicity and religion as sources of political division in.
African origins of major western religions 5 out of 5 based on 0 ratings. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. As he gazed at the pyramids, a stirring feeling overwhelmed him about the achievements of his ancestors. The new testament of the bible mentions several events in which africans were witnesses to the life of christ and the ministry of the apostles. List of books and articles about african religions. Classification of concepts and practices by enoch n. Because of the african religions dependence on oral stories, doctrine tends to be more flexible, changing in accordance to the immediate needs of religious followers. A 1685 law, for instance, prohibited the practice of african religions, and required all masters to christianize their slaves within eight days of. In reality the major zones merge into one another, so that there is an even greater variety of conditions. Religion in africa is multifaceted and has been a major influence on art, culture and philosophy. By highlighting the african influences and roots of these religions. Towards southern africa, the kushites seemed to have their own religion and worshipped their own gods. A network of mostly land but also sea trading routes, the silk road stretched from china to korea and japan in the east, and connected china through central asia to india in the south.
African origins of the major western religions yosef ben. This barcode number lets you verify that youre getting exactly the right version or edition of a book. Pdf western thought has influenced the way that religion is. African origins of major western religions by yosef a. Impact of globalization on the traditional african cultures. This theory began in the 18th century with the goal of recognizing the relative levels of civility in societies which in many modern cultures would be considered offensive. This critical examination of the history, beliefs and myths, remains instructive and fresh. African origins of western religion, christianity, dr. Their white masters, however, had other plans regarding the religious practice of their slaves. A major aspect of traditional african religions is the understanding that ascendants and their descendants are linked through a symbiotic relationship.
It has further given rise to the problem of nomenclature. A comparative study of the political and social systems of europe and black africa, from antiquity to the formation of modern states. Possibly one of the best books written of its kind. Our study of african religions examines the foundations of african thought, ethics, religious customs. We shall finally analyze briefly the concept of evil, ethics and justice in african traditional religion. Add to this the effects of climatic variation through time and you have an in. He compared african religion to other religions, not as inferior developments, but as equally advanced. Influx of wes tern imperialism into africa changed the african social structure and the pattern of family life. Ben, egypt, islam, judaeochristianity, judaism, nile valley, sais, the concept of god. African origins of the major western religions, yosef benjochannan, 1991, religion, 363 pages. Ethnicity and religion as sources of political division in africa. As a religion that emerged with the culture of particular peoples in africa. African religions, old and new religion in the early.
Research in the history of religions in west africa. The impact of foreign religions on christianity and islam watr b the impact of west african traditional religion on christianity and islam. In sierra leone, botswana, and burkina faso more than 33 percent follow african religion, although it is not the religion of the majority. Religion enters into every aspect of the life of the africans and it cannot be studied in isolation. This big religion chart is our attempt to summarize the major religions and belief systems of the world buddhism, christianity, hinduism, islam, judaism, and dozens more into a quickreference comparison chart. Ben reveals an untold history that many would prefer to forget. Ethnicity and religion as sources of political division in africa john f. When the vast majority of mankind in the western world refer to a slave it is the africanamerican or his african ancestor is mean.
An interview in the late 1990s with the future pope. Outside egypt, more in west africa, people seemed to worship one single god like the sky god or the rain god. This image has been perpetuated by every branch of western education and religion, both christian roman catholic and protestant and jewish all branches of judaism. Dickson university of ghana the research being carried out falls into four main categories. African origins of the major western religions yosef benjochannan. This study evaluates the relative divisiveness of ethnicity and religion as political identities in west africa. Religious believers have heard music as the voices of gods and the cacophony of devils, praised it as the purest form of spirituality, and condemned it as the ultimate in sensual depravity.
African origins of the major western religions first published in 1970, continues to be one of dr. He decided on a vocation to urge the descendants of these. The scholarship on african religions is wide and expansive. African origins of the major western religions by yosef a. West africa lies between 5 to 23 north latitude, 23 east longitude, and 20 west longitude. This paper shall concentrate on african cosmology world view, the philosophical nature and foundation of african traditional religion, the concept of time and the worship of god in african traditional religion. African origins of the major western religions, 1991. The core philosophy of african religions is formed by narratives about the creation of the universe cosmogony and the nature and structure of the world cosmology. In fact, traditional african families were well built, well fed, well dressed and well todo based on their customs and traditions. Distortion of facts in western ethnographic study of african religion, culture and society etim e. The worlds principal religions and spiritual traditions may be classified into a small number of major groups, although this is by no means a uniform practice. Ben identifies and corrects myths about the inferiority and primitiveness of the indigenous african peoples and their descendants. It is comprehensive in scope and very historical in perspective, examining each major religion by chapter.
By highlighting the african influences and roots of these religions, dr. African traditional religion has grown out of the african soil. Contemporary perspectives on religions in africa and the african. African origins of the major western religions by yosef. This course will introduce african religions and buddhism using approaches within the academic study. It is possible that the history of christianity in africa began when these africans shared what they witnessed with other africans. The silk road spanned the asian continent and represented a form of global economy when the known world was smaller but more difficult to traverse than nowadays. Pdf this paper focuses on the con icts between african traditional religion and christianity. Accepted 4 january, 2012 myths are accounts of the origin of societies and institutions not subject to rationalization but often. Which of these would be an example of the duties of the descendants in fulfillment of this relationship. This is the starting point for the chapter that follows, which is devoted to books on the history of africa. Africa mother of western civilization yosef benjochannan.
Buy african origins of major western religions by benjochannan, yosef a. Jul 17, 2015 from the african origins of the major western religions by dr. A film about black visual art cassandra wilson and gregory porter hanging out. By muata ashby 20080828 excerpt from the book african origins of civilization, religion, yoga spirituality and ethics philosophy by muata ashby 2002. African origins of the major western religions first. In 3000 bc, people were worshipping gods like isis, horus, osiris, ra, and hapi.
It is described as the product of thinking and experience of african forefathers and mothers of former generations. This acclaimed book by muata ashby is available at in several formats for your ereader. African origins of the major western religionsaudiobk pt 2 examinfo. For more than a five decades yosef benjochannan researcher, author, lecturer has led what has now become a mass effort to emphasize afrikan contributions to the world. The study of african spirituality in its own right is a recent phenomenon. Some african religions adopted different views through the influence of islam or even hinduism. It covers about onefifth of the territory of subsaharan africa and has a population of slightly more than 120 million people, about half of the total intertropical population of africa. Its study has to go handinhand with the study of the people who practise the religion. The african origins of western civilization, religion and ethics philosophy ebook. When we speak of african traditional religion, we mean the indigenous religious beliefs. African people often combine the practice of their traditional belief with the. African origins of the major western religions yosef. African traditional religion in a globalizing world.
Music and religion music and religion are closely linked in relationships as complex, diverse, and difficult to define as either term in itself. African religions, old and new religion in the early modern. Africa as territorial canvasses for sketching out islams sacred history. By highlighting the african influences and roots of these religions judaism, christianity and islam, dr. One of its notable features is its interdisciplinary nature, pulling in scholars of anthropology, comparative religion, archaeology literature, material culture, and geography. List of books and articles about african religions online. African people often combine the practice of their traditional belief with the practice of abrahamic. Economics, 65 pages download african origins of the major western religions, 0933121296, 9780933121294 salt of the earth christianity and the catholic church at the end of the millenium, pope benedict xvi, 1997, religion, 283 pages. African origins of the major western religions, 1991, 363. Today, the continents various populations and individuals are mostly adherents of christianity, islam, and to a lesser extent several traditional african religions.
The author links various afrikan pagan spiritual faiths and gods to each other juju, voodoo, odemare, sun worship, afrikan holy trinity and to all the major western religions. When african slaves were brought to the americas to work on plantations, they brought voodoo with them. In five of these countriesbenin, mozambique, guineabissau, liberia, and the ivory coastafrican religion is the majority religion. The earliest reference of religion in africa can be made in egypt. African origins of the major western religionsaudiobk pt 1 intro duration. Religion is the strongest element in traditional african culture and exerts great influence upon the conduct of the african.
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