The heritage of traditional African religions in Afro-Christian churches
The emergence and development of Afro-Christian churches constitutes the latest stage of African Christianity. Such "independent" or - less correct - "separatist" churches developed from Anglican, Lutheran and other Protestant churches, and less commonly on the basis of the Roman...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Print Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Wydawn. Uniw. Warszawskiego
1992
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| In: |
Africana bulletin
Year: 1992, Issue: 40, Pages: 73-92 |
| Further subjects: | B
Church
B Tradition B Africa B Religion B Cult B Christianity B Religious organization B Syncretism B Afrika südlich der Sahara Christianity Christliche Kirche Religious organization Cult Tradition Religion Syncretism |
| Summary: | The emergence and development of Afro-Christian churches constitutes the latest stage of African Christianity. Such "independent" or - less correct - "separatist" churches developed from Anglican, Lutheran and other Protestant churches, and less commonly on the basis of the Roman Catholic church, through separation from missionary churches or through internal divisions. Their number is estimated at more than 7.000 and they are said to group some fifteen million members. The author looks at the origins and characteristics of Afro-Christian churches and gives several examples of religious adaptation involving the cult of the ancestors, polygamy, and the role of women in controlling rituals and cults. Following B. G. M. Sundkler (1964), he divides Afro-Christian churches into two types: independent churches that split from missionary churches on the initiative of African priests dissatisfied with European paternalism ("Ethiopian" churches) and prophetic churches established as a result of the activities of clairvoyants (Zionist churches in South Africa and "praying" churches in Nigeria, known as Aladura). In addition he identifies a category of Afro-Christian churches which regard themselves as the discoverers of true Christianity, as well as a number of degenerated churches featuring dishonest healers, sham prophets and despots claiming to be superhuman. (Documentatieblad/ASC Leiden) |
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| ISSN: | 0002-029X |
| Contains: | In: Africana bulletin
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