...ATR vs. Taoism All the religions of the world differ from each other in many different ways, but some have very synonymous concepts and origins. In this case, ATR (African traditional religion) will be compared to Taoism. Now, African traditional religion is a label referring to a variety of religions indigenous to Africa. Like tribal religions from other parts of the world, African religious traditions are defined largely along community lines. Traditional African religions involve teachings, practices, and rituals that lend structure to indigenous African societies. These traditional African religions also play a large part in the cultural understanding and awareness of the people of their communities. Now, Taoism also known as Daoism refers to a variety of religious traditions that have played a major role in East Asia for over 2 thousand years. Taoist thought generally focuses on nature, men-cosmos correspondence, health, longevity, action through inaction, liberty, and spontaneity. Taoism has a few concepts that differ from ATR that I would like to point out. For example, Taoism has a “founder”.Laozi is the founder of Taoism who lived in 6th century BC. Taoism have a different kind of belief in deity. Taoist believes the supreme being/ultimate truth is beyond words or any conceptual understanding. When asked to name it, it is referred to as Tao or the Way. The Power of the Way is referred to as Te. Although Tao and Te are similar to other practices' ideas of God...
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...the continent of Africa, the natives lived well and created a tradition of wholeness. These natives created a society where African traditional religions embraced all aspects of life. Juju (also known to western as Voodoo or vodun) is one of these many religions that are widely practice in West Africa and the Americas. Unlike the strict parameters that are drawn in western religions between the secular and non secular world, Juju is a traditional religion that is all surrounding in all aspect of ones life. This essay will focus on Juju religion in West Africa and how it end up in the Americas. In modern day, most people in the western world have been taught to tribute Juju existence and development exclusively to the Fon tribe who inhabit the country of Benin in West Africa. However, there are more than thirty five different ethnic groups in West Africa who are responsible for the development of Juju religion. Another popular misconception regarding Juju’s religion is that it was developed in Haiti by African slaves who were transported to the new world. This theory is wrong, due to Haiti only been an independent republic since 1804, and some anthropologists have estimated Juju to be as much as 10,000 years old. Juju religion was already well established, completely developed and widely practice religion prior to its arrival in Haiti. Juju is also the official religion in Benin, the only African country that still proudly recognizes it as traditional religion. Western faith...
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...American Intercontinental University Social Structure HUMA 215 – Topics in Cultural Studies 9/8/12 Abstract Cultural syncretism has transformed and shaped our world today; because of encounters years and centuries before our time we have religion and even art. Our modern culture was contributed to by the happenings of yesterday. Social Structure Introduction The legacies of cultural syncretism in the Americas and Africa can be compared and contrasted with the resistance to cultural change that westerners experienced in China and India. These encounters have left many legacies of change and differences in the culture today. Had syncretism not occurred or if syncretism had taken root during earlier encounters in China or India the world today would be different. Various cultural factors in would affect the outcome of syncretism tremendously. Compare/ Contrast Cultural Syncretism Cultural syncretism was active in some societies but not in all; syncretism was not affective in more cultures because some cultures were simply more developed. With the expansion of cultural syncretism, it was easier for Africa and the Americas to adapt than China and India Westerners. Africa and the Americas separated into different tribes which caused them to be weaker than China, India, and the Westerners who created a nation (Sayre, 2013). An example of this cultural syncretism is the Aztec tribe, which was a fairly large tribe; the Aztecs had so many neighboring enemies because of...
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...they brought to our civilization. The Migration of Cultures By 1830 the United States consisted of 2.3 million out of 12.8 million were of African descent and upon them settling after being brought here from Africa they brought many traditions and impacted the culture today. When they came to the United States they brought scientific and technological systems from the West and Central Africa as well as many food dishes such as; gumbo and rice, millet, sorghum, watermelon and black-eyed peas. They also brought tradition with them regarding funerals, celebration festivals, arts, music, dugout canoes, the banjo and language which also had an effect on the European culture as well and this is known as Africanism (Nps.gov, n.d.). Africanism is directly related to African American and Creolization which asks the question when you stop and give to the American or European culture. They point out that the African culture has direct impact on Africa, African-American, Creolization, African-Jamaican and European cultures and when examine the roots trace back to Africa. However, there has been some controversial stating that African roots to America were long lost in slavery as some believe but state the only strong culture they have still impacted are Latin America and the Caribbean (Nps.gov, n.d.). Many have...
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...Introduction Cultural syncretism occurs when two opposite cultures mix and blend their cultural beliefs, whether they be political or religious, to produce or to start a new culture or religion. Historically, syncretism has been seen as an attempt to reconcile disparities between various cultures. Africa and the Americas both had help with other factors like weapons, religion, and technological advancements. When it came to cultural beliefs, China and India’s values were very different. They would operate from outside of the traditional beliefs, which made them much more resistant to syncretism. Compare and contrast the legacies of cultural syncretism in Africa and the Americas with the resistance to cultural change Westerners encountered in China and India. When different aspects of cultural philosophies or religions blend together and disparities are compromised, cultural syncretism occurs. According to the 1830 American census 2.3 million people were of African descent and there was only 12.8 million in the country (Joyner, 2003). Also of that 12.8 million 2.44% were free Africans, 15.56% were enslaved Africans and 82% were free white people (Joyner, 2003). Within the United States, the large number of Africans along with their culture greatly contributed to the culture and history of America. The people brought with them knowledge of science and technology from the West...
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...between twelve to twenty million slaves were brought to the Americas from Africa. An estimated two million Africans did not make it across the Atlantic to the Americas. The Atlantic Slave Trade was part of the Triangular Trade; trade that went from Europe to Africa on to the Americas then back to Europe, creating a triangular shape across the Atlantic Ocean. Millions of slaves were forced to come to the Americas from their home in Africa. This had many effects on not only Africa and the Americas, but the rest of the world also. So, what were the effects of the Atlantic Slave Trade? The biggest effect the Atlantic Slave Trade had was the help in the development of the Americas. Population loss and social disruption from trade caused the underdevelopment of Africa. The culture in the Americas also changed as the slaves brought their culture with them. Although there were many negative effects from the Atlantic Slave Trade there were also some positive ones. The slaves had a large impact on the development in the Americas as they caused the growth in agriculture and the economy. If the slaves were not brought over to the Americas, the development would not have been as fast or large. Because they were forced to work long hours and do jobs nobody else wanted to do. Because they were cheap labor, landowners could buy many so there would be more slaves to work in the fields and the production would be faster. The Americas mainly produced cash crops like cotton and sugar which they...
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...mainly the natural calamities like earthquakes and some occurring celestial bodies such as the meteors that have come into the earth. The failure of their religions to give them religious solutions make them to move to the world with no believes. Different understanding and interpretation of the bible among the Christians has led to the emergence of many churches. In the process of the emergence of the churches, some of the people who do not fit at any groups end up being atheists. Such people end up without any of their believes due to the failure of the bible to provide them with necessary interpretation of the same. For instance, one Kenyan has been pursuing people especially from his community to join him in the atheist world. He tells them of the kind of life one enjoys when he is in a in believe world. The has also embraced the media in his campaign for what he believes is true. It sounds absurd to some people but some people tend to think that maybe he has something to say. World demography on atheism reveals that 13% of the world population are atheists the highest numbers being from china and Scandinavia and the least numbers from Africa and America. Africa and America were both colonized by the Europeans and religion was one of the results of colonization. But there are more atheists in Europe than Africa and America. This means that the Europeans gave out their...
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...people does not necessarily mean they are free. There are many degrees and definitions of freedom throughout the history of America many different races, genders, and ethnicities experienced. The varieties of freedom come from multiple groups of people such as slaves, indentured servants, Native Americans, property owners, and Puritans. All of these groups had their own definition of freedom they experienced, ranging from little to no freedom, freedom from the land they possessed, and the freedom to worship any God they so choose. However, some of these freedoms conflicted with the freedoms of others. First and foremost, there were many groups of people who had little to no freedom in seventeenth – century North America. Among these people, there were the slaves who were forced upon their will to come over to America from Africa and work for the masters who claimed them. Slaves by far had the least amount of freedom given to them when they came to America. In slave work on the plantations is described in the words of Eric Foner as “far more demanding than in the household slavery common to in Africa, and death rate among slaves much higher” (p. 98). This shows how slaves had little to no freedom to choose how much or how long they wanted to work and the lifestyle the slaves lived was dictated by their masters. Another group of settlers that came to America to try and start a new life for were the indentured servants. These indentured servants, being about 2/3 of the Englishmen...
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...behaviors,activities, and beliefs. There will be three areas of the planet observed. The first will be one of the biggest areas called North America, second will be Africa, and the third will be Asia. As the mothership lands on the first of three locations to be observed, reporting will commence. On the area in North America known as the south or southern area, the researcher observes that this area has many different religious beliefs and practices. But in general they all believe in one thing “God”. As the researcher learns, the God they all believe in have some form of the same worship practices. Christians worship with prayer and gatherings on Sundays and read from a book called The Bible. Baptist does the same, although they have more singing during their worship hour.Catholics, Baptists, Christians, all say that God had a son named Jesus. The son named Jesus had lived a pure life and died for the sins of everyone. People believe that praying to him would help solve their problems. Looks like their belief systems are much alike in similar ways. The second destination of observation is another area called Africa. Here in Africa the researcher learned that most people here believe that Muslim is the religion of the black man, and christianity is the religion of the white man. Muslim is carried from Islam and people who practice this religion read from a book called The Quran. They also are told to dress differently. Others practice Christianity, and they read from the Bible...
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...Traditional Religion……………………………….5 Christianity, Islam…………………………………………..6 Influences of Religion on African Culture……………….6 Conclusion……………………………………………………13 References…………………………………………………...14 Introduction Africa is a continent of diversity. In this diversity there are hundreds of tribes and communities each practicing its own culture and religion. It would be very difficult to define Africa’s traditional religion as it would be difficult to define its culture. More so, it is extremely difficult to establish the dividing line between African Culture and African Religion. However, as much as there were many African Traditional Religions, their similarities were more dominant than their differences. We take up these similarities and encompass them as one African Traditional Religion. In this report, we explore the important aspects of Africa’s Traditional Religions and cultures that cut across the entire continent. This essay is based on various researches done by prominent scholars, historical background of Africa, news and books relevant to African studies. This report attempts to define religion, culture, and explores the major religions, African Traditional Religion (ATR), Christianity and Islam and their influence and impact on African culture. Africa is one of the World’s six continents. It is the second largest and second most populous continent after Asia. Other continents include; Asia, America-North, America-South...
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...1. What do you see as the negative and positive historical realities and religious images of Africa? Prior to slavery and colonization, African nations were technologically advance within their own means. From the resources at their disposal, they created the necessary technological advancements to sustain their traditions. Sadly, their technology could not combat that of Western nations, and they could not fight their oppression on an equal playing field. When looking at religious images in Africa, prior to exposure to Christianity, the Africans had their own traditional religious practices. After exposure and forced assimilation to Christianity, the Africans developed their own traditions on how to believe and worship God. 2. What impact (positive and negative)...
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...When the Pilgrims (new settlers) arrived in the new world also known as the Americas they were unprepared for the challenges that they were going to face throughout the time of them being there. The Mayflower, which was the ship that transported the crew across the sea. With the lost of most of the crew, the Pilgrims arrived in New England with the lack of equipment, and food the winter waited for them. If they were going to survive in the new world the settlers would have to learn new skills and manage to work with the Native Americans. In Of Plymouth plantation and ¨On being brought from Africa to America¨ we will see the struggle of people trying to find religion and surviving in an unknown place. After the Pilgrims traveled through the Atlantic ocean, they have arrived in the new world. The Americas was a new start for the settlers, a place where they can be free and where they can practice a new religion. The pilgrims left Europe in search for religious freedom. After the wreckage of the Mayflower the settlers were low on equipment, supplies, and food. Not knowing the...
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...on March 17, 2010 due to cancer. His working verse through life was Zechariah 4:6: "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord." Publication. Author: Adeyemo, T. Book title: Is Africa cursed?: A vision for the radical transformation of an ailing continent. Place of publication: Nairobi, Kenya: Publisher: WordAlive Publishers. Year of publication: 2009 2.) Manasseh Kwame Dakwa Bediako – Ghanaian theologian Manasseh Kwame Dakwa Bediako was born on 7 July 1945 in Ghana. He was the son of a police inspector and the grandson of a Presbyterian catechist and evangelist. Kwame Bediako was an outstanding African theologian of his generation. He was an ardent promoter of Bible translation into African languages. He was a man of towering intellect, but he didn’t use it to crush others, but to build them up and encourage them. After a serious illness he died on 10 June 2008. Publication. Author: Bedieko, K. Book Title: Theology and identity: The impact of culture upon Christian thought in the second century and in modern Africa. Publisher: Oxford: Regnum Books. Year of publication: (1992). 3.) Bosch, David Jacobus - South African theologian David Jacobus Bosch was born into an Afrikaner home on December 13, 1929, near the town of Kuruman in the Cape Province of South Africa. Bosch was a theologian trained in the classic, European tradition. His facility in languages (he was conversant in Afrikaans, English, German, Dutch, French, and Xhosa) enabled him to act as a...
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...Phillis Wheatley, a slave from Gambia, was the first black poet in America to publish numerous books and poems during the late 1700s. She was not treated as a slave as much as other slaves coming from Africa because her owners, the Wheatleys, took an immense interest in her being educated, (Andrew Spacey, Owlcation.com). Writings from the Latin, Greek and the Bible helped her learn to read and write. Her poems that would make her popular were influenced by famous poets- John Milton, Thomas Gray and Alexander Pope, (Jennifer Benka, Poets.Org). After releasing various poems, getting acknowledged by George Washington, and being nationally acclaimed all over the Colonies/ England, her poem, “On Being Brought From Africa to America,” brought mixed feelings on the attitude...
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...because there was a massive demand for labor, people were benefitting for it, and also it was justified. In the late 1400s, Atlantic Slave Trade started within three continents; North America, Europe, and Africa. Which resulted in the exchangement of ten million Africans to the Americas. This idea of expanding labour through slavery affected the world. Even though slavery is a horrible and an evil act, in the 1400s there was a massive demand for labor and most of the labor needed in the New Colonies were very intense and there was not enough settlers and indentured servants, a...
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