With the World Cup in South Africa, it is appropriate to take note of African religion -- for not only are Africans sports-mad, but they are the most religious people in the world.
In 1912, geographer George Kimball quipped, "The darkest thing about Africa has been our ignorance of it." For most Americans, not much has changed since Kimball's observation. Africa remains an enigma -- a vast space of a shamed colonial past, unstable governments and violence, poverty and AIDS.
When it comes to religion, Africa fares no better. In the 19th century, western Christians depicted Africa as a land of paganism, illicit sexuality, and witchcraft. At the outset of the 21st century, many westerners depict Africa as a continent full of religious zealots (both Christian and Muslim) who are trying to control other people's sexuality, and who kill their children on the grounds that they are witches.
A groundbreaking Pew Forum survey corrects these stereotypes, revealing complex religious diversity in Africa, where new Christian and Muslim majorities mix their faith with traditional tribal spiritual practices. Pew also clarifies an important misinterpretation of African religion. Since the publication of Philip Jenkins' book The Next Christendom, some western church leaders have argued that African Christianity is essentially theologically conservative -- thus, they have used the Jenkins thesis to politically manipulate European and North American denominations -- mostly to hold progressive churches hostage over issues related to LGBT persons in their midst.
Pew's survey offers a subtle corrective to the Jenkins thesis by saying:
Many Christians and Muslims in sub-Saharan Africa experience their respective faiths in a very intense, immediate, personal way. For example, three-in-ten or more of the people in many countries say they have experienced a divine healing, witnessed the devil being driven out of a person or received a direct revelation from God.
While many American Christians may hear this as "conservative," Pew points toward something different. The survey shows that African religion is experiential -- not necessarily conservative. In the west, conservative theology is an intellectual movement, it moves from the head. Conservatives start with how one interprets the Bible and then applies that interpretation to various issues. In Africa, by way of contrast, the dominant approach is from the heart and how one senses God's presence in life and the world around you. In other words, the western rubric of "liberal" and "conservative" have little or nothing to do with African religion -- that is, until western missionaries import their church fights into Africa.
That is exactly what is happening. Africa is becoming Stage Two of the American political and religious culture wars, a theater for religious imperialists to accomplish overseas what cannot be accomplished at home -- like denying women ordination to ministry and putting LGBT people back in closets. For the last two decades, right-wing Christians have been tromping all over Africa trying to appropriate native African experiential faith for their western theological agenda --making Africa a wedge issue -- and African Christians spiritual pawns -- in their seemingly endless quest to grasp theological power.
Africans leaders, however, keep rising above the imperialist crusade. One such leader is Desmond Tutu, whose powerful vision of a loving God commands authority across the globe. This week, another such church leader spoke voice in Washington, DC. Bishop Christopher Senyonjo, retired Anglican Bishop of West Buganda in Uganda, offered his thoughts on the anti-homosexuality bill now making its way through the Ugandan parliament.
About a decade ago, Bishop Senyonjo (who is a married straight man) began supporting human rights for LGBT people in his home country. For his trouble, he was denounced, threatened with death, excommunicated, and deposed from his church. To a packed house at the Center for American Progress, he spoke of one thing: God's love for all persons. He said that American "missionaries of hate" who go to Africa and stir up anger at homosexuals are "doing more harm than good, for when things go wrong in Africa, it affects the whole world." Bishop Senyonjo also claimed that the Holy Spirit is behind the movement toward loving all people, and that the truth of God's inclusive love will -- one day -- be fully revealed in both church and society.
The audience was mostly young, and Bishop Senyonjo captivated them. After his talk, they thronged to ask him questions. One young woman said to her friend, "It is so refreshing to hear a church leader speak clearly of God's love. They mostly talk about politics and power."
Therein is the genius of African religion: It is about the heart, not the head; it is about experience, not political control; for it is about love -- love of others, love of land, love of creation. Love is the experiential center of Desmond Tutu's theology. Love is the narrative thread of much great African literature, as Isak Dinesen explored or as African writer Alan Paton said, "But the one thing that has power completely is love, because when a man loves, he seeks no power, and therefore he has power."
One woman asked Bishop Senyonjo, "What in African culture might help defeat this anti-gay crusade?" He replied, "What helps us in Africa is that we are an extended family. We are connected. We strive to embrace as many people as possible as friends and draw them into our family. That is what we need to understand about homosexuals. They, too, are our family. And we love our family."
When you watch the soccer matches, know that behind all the hype is the living, beat heart of Africa -- the most religious continent in the world, a place where God is challenging all God's children to live together as extended family. Let's root for them to get to that goal!
Follow Diana Butler Bass on Twitter: www.twitter.com/dianabutlerbass
Rev. Mpho A. Tutu: Father's Day 2010: Why I Am Proud of My Father
Therefore, when Jesus speaks of the holy bond of marriage (Matthew 19) being between one man and one woman, the question should be, "Why is that holy to God?" instead of "You're not going to control my actions!" Yet we fear God's holiness for it means, inevitably, that we must change. But that change is to bring us closer to God and the living life He has for us, not to leave us dying in the darkness.
Focus on yourself & 'Judge not, lest ye be judged by the same measure with which you judge."
Experience really is the best teacher. If we can broaden the scope of that experience by showing people who we really are, acceptance can be achieved at a rapid pace. Granted, the photos of those poor men in the back of the pickup truck being taunted by the townspeople doesn't bode well for the immediate future. Your hearts go out to them. But they are beginning the discussion.
This of course means, that it's not just about the rights of LBGT people, but entitles religion and government to accuse *anyone* of being gay and jail or execute them whether the 'allegations' are even true or not.
Abraham, Noah, Moses, etc were called righteous, sons of the Lord of Righteousness, Justice. The Lord of Righteousness, because of their faith trust great Love of God first in all things. There sons of righteousness, Lord of Righteousness served God first, not man, nor their own flesh. Because of the great Love faith in God. They all had great Faith that God would,did serve his righteousness against their enemies. God won the battle for Moses, God said I WILL remain 7 Nations before you. God won the battle against Pharoah, not Moses, Moses gave praise glory to God for it. Moses obeyed and lead his people through and God did the rest. Noah also was found to be a righteous man, because of his faith in the Lord of Righteousness, started no wars, Abraham called also a righteous man, because of his faith in God.
Leaders, men of power who served the Lord of Righteousness Justice first, their nations prospers, received blessings. Those Leaders men of power who did not serve the Lord of Righteousness justice first in great in faith trust love of God first, but served their own greed, their empires fell, were destroyed. Feed my sheep
Not a fan of that god at all. If I were on facebook, I would unfriend him...
I especially like this part:
While many American Christians may hear this as "conservative," Pew points toward something different. The survey shows that African religion is experiential -- not necessarily conservative. In the west, conservative theology is an intellectual movement, it moves from the head.
------------
Yes, African spirituality is experiential, not cerebral. That is the fundamental difference between the African practice of "religion" and the European.
When one starts thinking, calling ourselves this or that with titles, thinking we have to be this or that, we take away from Christ, placing our own self interest first, judging ourselves to be better then others, or thinking we are holier then thou. We worship more what group we belong to then God himself. God died for all, all means all.
God said, I am coming to judge all the Nations on the terrible day of my wrath, means all Nations, gives no title but means all. Does not say I am coming to judge India, or Russia or British etc. But all Nations, us to.
Titles we give ourselves gives us no entry into Heaven, it is God's house not ours. Whom shall enter God's house will enter by God saying so.
God said In Heaven there is no Jew or Greek or man or woman etc.Those who seek to become one with God, who accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, there is no division in God's house. We are all sinners everyone of us, does matter what church we belong to. We are the church, it is not a building.
God said, do you not know that you are the temple of the Lord?
This article is kind of amusing. Do you all really think the African Christians are so stupid that these clever white American missionaries can con them into opposing homosexuality? The truth is that most of the African conversions are real and passionate. There are churches and pastors all over Africa that preach from the Bible and almost all of them are African! Like it or not, millions of African are BECOMEING evangelicals - not decieved by evangelicals, not merely backed financially by evangelicals - but BECOMEING evangelicals.
I have met people from Nigeria and Ghana who hold theological positions almost identical to American evangelicals from the South or Midwest. They are not ignorant about liberal theology- they simply reject liberal theology. The "personal and experiential religion" these Africans have has a name - it's called Pentecostalism!
God is he going to ask on judgment day, are you a conservative? a dem? Are you an RCC? Are you a evangelical? Or ask where is your gun? Or how much gold do you have? No, God tells us already what he will has ask on judgment day.
Jesus called himself son of man, son of God, a son is a child. Humble, little, never boasted nor allowed anyone to call him good, only God is good.
God said on judgment day what he will ask.
How much do you love me?
When I was hungry did you give me food?
When I was sick did you care for me?
When I had no place to lay my head, did you take me in?
When I was naked did you cloth me?
When I was lonely did you comfort me?
When I was in prison did you come and visit me?
But I called you Lord Lord Lord, God said he will say, get away from me, I know you not.
God is not a dead God, but an eternal God. We are to become the image spiritual character of who God is, not what a RCC is, or evangelical is, or a Protestant is or what ever. Cannot serve 2 masters. We are all call to become disciples of Christ. Jesus proved that when he walked the earth, did not join himself to any group, but solely to God his father. That is what got Jesus crucified, bowed to no authority on earth or group. Jesus disturbed the status quo of the Empire, or any authority which ruled by oppression. My fathers house is a house of prayer, not a den of thieves. God, Jesus father, was the only authority, honor, worship and served, was obedient to, no man on earth.
Very interesting in Africa they found God in their own personal way and that also Abraham his family father came from Africa. Africa interesting also had no text bible to go by either.
Africa, did they already know this, before us ? I found this, Jesus, when he walked the earth, had very few friends inside the temple authority for Jesus challenged their job security by teaching the people they didn't have to pay the priests for rituals baths or sacrificing live stock to be ok with God-for God was already within them and loved them just as they were, poor oppressed, diseased, out casts widow, orphans and refugees all enduring a brutal military occupation.
The authority of God up until 2,000 years ago was understood, preached to be eternal. What got What got Christ crucified was that Christ placed God in the very hearts of his hearers and elevated them to the same level Caesar claim to hold.
Jesus taught his listeners they didn't need any outside authority to tell them what was wrong or right. Jesus messages was the Divine authority is already in the heart of every human being and this remain a most revolutionary concept.
the Roman Occupying Forces crucified Christ because Jesus desturbed the states Quo of the Empire which ruled by oppression. Jesus taught liberation.
Jesus commands us not to collaberate with government also. In Jesus time when he walked the earth. church and government collaberated, behind closed doors, Jesus knew this why he got angry for the first time. Interesting Africa does not do this, when it comes to their faith in God. Very interesting.
EXACTLY. Africa is by far the most diverse continent with 2000 cultures and languages. There were no religious conflicts until missionaries came, mixing religion with their own national interest. There is no such thing as conservative or liberal in the way Africans believe.
However, the title was pretty confusing. I was expecting something about real African religions and philosophy as this is something, Western media never touches.
What I found in research. For it fits into what Christ was trying to teach us all. Church must know this?. Africa does not need priest, they need food. For God was already with us and loves us. We need no outside authority to tell us what is right or wrong. God has given us this to know, understand, right within each one of us.
Jesus message was that the divine authority is already in the heart of every human being and this reamain a most revolutionary concept. God said You need not look far for me, I am right where you stand. So true.
Why Jesus had very few friends in the temple authority for Jesus challenged their job security by reaching people this message of truth. Why Jesus was crucified.
the roman occupying forces crucified Christ because he disturbed the states quo of the Empire which ruled by oppression. Church and Government collabarated together. Jesus said. My fathers house is a house of prayer, not a den of thieves.