Original Research

Christianity and the African traditional religion(s): The postcolonial round of engagement

David T. Adamo
Verbum et Ecclesia | Vol 32, No 1 | a285 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/ve.v32i1.285 | © 2011 David T. Adamo | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 06 October 2009 | Published: 31 October 2011

About the author(s)

David T. Adamo, University of South Africa, South Africa

Abstract

This article concerned itself with the modern encounter between Christianity and African Indigenous Religion (AIR) in Africa. It is essentially a postcolonial approach to what AIR and its essential characteristics is: God and humanity, sacrifices, afterlife and ancestors. The rapid growth of many religions in Africa and the revival of AIR in postcolonial Africa have made inter-religious dialogue an urgent necessity. Unlike the colonial encounter with AIR, which was characterised by hostility and the condemnation of AIR, the postcolonial encounter should be characterised by mutual respect, understanding, tolerance, and some level of freedom, liberation and genuineness. In this way, suspicion will be reduced, because despite the adherents’ confession of Christianity, AIR is not about to be extinct.

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