The Religion and Origins of South Africa
South African religion and origins is such a fascinating
topic. The history of the people and their beliefs attains to much of their
everyday life. Christianity was introduced to the Africans by Western
missionaries who clearly taught the foreign information even before the
Africans received independence. [1] Christianity was expected to die out during the
1960's, after much of Africa gained its independence. [2] This was exactly opposite
of what happened after the independence was acquired. [3] The people turned to Christianity by the
number. [4] Sub-Saharan Africa holds more Christians than the majority of Europe.
[5]
One indigenous religion is of the Religion of the San
People. [6] They believe in a powerful God of whom they pray to but they also
believe they can pray through a healer. [7] The trance dance is one of the most
important rituals within their religion. [8] During the trance dances, the women sit
in a circle while the men dance. [9] As the spirit enters the shamans from the San
during this time, they believe they can heal people. [10]
The
traditional indigenous religion of South Africa is simply stated in four
practices. First, the people exercise Ubuntu which is basically being a kind
and good citizen. [11] Secondly, the people believe in the concept of ancestor
worship. [12] Thirdly, they sacrifice animals to honor ancestors or during special
events. [13] Lastly, they focus on the significant aspects of each person’s life
such as marriage, starting a family/birth, initiation, and death. [14]
Picture: Christianity in South Africa
Some of the other religions present in South Africa are:
Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism. [15] These religions were
imported, brought into the country, by travelers or foreign settlers. [16] The
two most common the world seems to want to know about are Islam and Christianity.
Islam
came to South Africa by taking in people from Indonesia as slaves. [17] These people
brought their religion over with them and it spread in the South African
religious community. [18] As time passed the number of followers kept growing and
Islamic schools began forming. [19] As Islam schools formed, missionaries were also
teaching school and bringing in Christianity. [20] To date, Christianity has
been rising more in South Africa rather than Islam. [21]
References
[1]
Elphick, Richard. 2013. "Making African Christianity: Africans reimagining
their faith in colonial South Africa." Church History 82,
no. 3: 760-762. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials,
EBSCOhost (accessed May 29, 2015).
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Ibid.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Ibid.
[6]
"Different Religions of South Africa." Different Religions of
South Africa. Accessed May 29, 2015.
http://prep.bishops.org.za/academics/classpages/gr4/social science/DIFFERENT
RELGIONS OF SOUTH AFRICA.htm.
[6] Ibid.
[7] Ibid.
[8] Ibid.
[9] Ibid.
[10] Ibid.
[11] Ibid.
[6] Ibid.
[7] Ibid.
[8] Ibid.
[9] Ibid.
[10] Ibid.
[11] Ibid.
[12]
Ibid.
[13] Ibid.
[14] Ibid.
[15] Ibid.
[16] Ibid.
[17] Ibid.
[18] Ibid.
[19] Ibid.
[20] Ibid.
[14] Ibid.
[15] Ibid.
[16] Ibid.
[17] Ibid.
[18] Ibid.
[19] Ibid.
[20] Ibid.
[21] "Tolerance and Tension: Islam and Christianity in Sub-Saharan
Africa." Pew Research Centers Religion Public Life Project RSS. April 14,
2010. Accessed May 29, 2015. http://www.pewforum.org/2010/04/15/executive-summary-islam-and-christianity-in-sub-saharan-africa/.
Image #1:
Image #2: "Different Religions of South
Africa." Different Religions of South Africa. Accessed May 29, 2015.
http://prep.bishops.org.za/academics/classpages/gr4/social science/DIFFERENT
RELGIONS OF SOUTH AFRICA.htm.
Image #3: "Different Religions of South Africa." Different Religions of South Africa. Accessed May 29, 2015. http://prep.bishops.org.za/academics/classpages/gr4/social science/DIFFERENT RELGIONS OF SOUTH AFRICA.htm.
Image #4: "Tolerance and Tension: Islam and Christianity in Sub-Saharan Africa." Pew Research Centers Religion Public Life Project RSS. April 14, 2010. Accessed May 29, 2015. http://www.pewforum.org/2010/04/15/executive-summary-islam-and-christianity-in-sub-saharan-africa/.
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