Religions in Africa

Introduction

Religions in Africa is many-sided. Most Africans adhere to either Islam or Christianity. No single body of religious beliefs and followers can be identified as African. Possibly, however, to recognize similarities in worldviews and ritual processes across geographic and ethnic boundaries. Generally speaking, African religions hold that there is one God, the creator of a dynamic universe. Myths of various African peoples tell that, after setting the world in motion, the Supreme Being withdrew, and He remains remote from the matters of human life (Markham, 44).

Despite the universal belief in a Supreme Being, cults to the “high God” are notably missing from many African religions; prayers of petition or sacrificial offerings are intended for secondary divinities, who are messengers and intermediaries between the human and the God.

African religions are multifaceted. Most Africans follow either Christianity or Islam. Christianity and Islam contest which is larger, but many people that are followers of both religions also practice African traditional religions.

Religions in Africa

The majority of Africans are adherents of the Abrahamic religions: Islam and Christianity. Both religions are prevalent throughout Africa. These religions are often adapted to African cultural perspectives and native belief systems. It was projected in 2000 that Muslims forms 40.6% and Christians form 45% of Africa's population (Barnard, 26).

Christianity

Although Christianity existed far before the rule of King Ezana the Great of the Kingdom of Axum, the religion took a strong foot hold when it was declared a state religion in 330 AD. Analysing a date as to when Christianity emerged in Ethiopia will perhaps a mystery. The earliest and well known reference to the introduction of Christianity was when the evangelist Phillip converted an Ethiopian traveller in the first Century A.D. from the work of the follower. All scholars do agree on the fact that the traveller was a ...