The history of African religion is a strong deep religion dating back as far as centuries through original tribal religions, Islam, Christianity with some Judaism. Within this paper, I will briefly describe the spread of AIDS and the effect on each of these religions including tensions between each other and the already present traditional religions. Following these descriptions, I will take time to describe the main ideas behind each religion in a theological viewpoint as well as any social implications. These principles of each are long developed with distinct traditions and beliefs backing them through the centuries. Over the last 20 years or so, a new factor has developed in Africa applying extreme pressure on many of these long-lived
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In conquering Northern Africa, the missionaries concentrated on “blending indigenous practices with Islamic ones” (Falola 79-81). The main idea differing from many African religions was that of only one God: Allah. Further, an increased sense of unity in communities promoting Islam beliefs and encouragement to help community members in need “went against the practice of relations based on families and clans” (Falola 81). Overall, the advent of Islam incorporated an extreme sense of unity throughout all Islamic communities. Even without the flexibility, Islam without alterations looks favorable for possible converts. The religion is simple to understand, holds individual control and focuses on being a good person towards other members of the community. Although Islam may be flexible with the actual beliefs, the religion is very strict on whether or not one professes Islam as his/her religion. Therefore, the religion was flexible on some notes, but the African people had to go through the actual conversion to become Islam. The politics and social pressures were too great to …show more content…
Unlike Islam, Christianity recognizes Jesus as the Son of God who came to Earth as the second part to the Holy Trinity: The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Further, Jesus lived on earth, died for the sins of the people and then was resurrected and ascended into Heaven. The death and resurrection serve to show “God 's love for humanity and God 's forgiveness of human sins; and that by faith in Jesus one may attain salvation and eternal life” (encyclopaedia.com). Christians follow the teachings within The Bible with emphasis on the New Testament while still acknowledging parts of the Old Testament. A Christian focus differing from Islam is the potential for God’s influence in one’s present life. In an article focused on Islam/Christianity struggles in Nigeria, a Christian missionary says, “‘In Africa you virtually have to depend on divine intervention to have things working for you’… prayers that spigots will yield water and phones will have dial tones” (Martel). Unlike Islam, Christians can ask God to help in present life whereas the Islam can only hope for salvation and happiness in future lives all based on their present actions. Further description of Christianity will continue within the Judaism section through comparison and
In conquering Northern Africa, the missionaries concentrated on “blending indigenous practices with Islamic ones” (Falola 79-81). The main idea differing from many African religions was that of only one God: Allah. Further, an increased sense of unity in communities promoting Islam beliefs and encouragement to help community members in need “went against the practice of relations based on families and clans” (Falola 81). Overall, the advent of Islam incorporated an extreme sense of unity throughout all Islamic communities. Even without the flexibility, Islam without alterations looks favorable for possible converts. The religion is simple to understand, holds individual control and focuses on being a good person towards other members of the community. Although Islam may be flexible with the actual beliefs, the religion is very strict on whether or not one professes Islam as his/her religion. Therefore, the religion was flexible on some notes, but the African people had to go through the actual conversion to become Islam. The politics and social pressures were too great to …show more content…
Unlike Islam, Christianity recognizes Jesus as the Son of God who came to Earth as the second part to the Holy Trinity: The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Further, Jesus lived on earth, died for the sins of the people and then was resurrected and ascended into Heaven. The death and resurrection serve to show “God 's love for humanity and God 's forgiveness of human sins; and that by faith in Jesus one may attain salvation and eternal life” (encyclopaedia.com). Christians follow the teachings within The Bible with emphasis on the New Testament while still acknowledging parts of the Old Testament. A Christian focus differing from Islam is the potential for God’s influence in one’s present life. In an article focused on Islam/Christianity struggles in Nigeria, a Christian missionary says, “‘In Africa you virtually have to depend on divine intervention to have things working for you’… prayers that spigots will yield water and phones will have dial tones” (Martel). Unlike Islam, Christians can ask God to help in present life whereas the Islam can only hope for salvation and happiness in future lives all based on their present actions. Further description of Christianity will continue within the Judaism section through comparison and